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Anarion

2026-10-25T05:19:31Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}{{Hurmu article}}{{Woodrow Article}}
{{Hurmu Senator
|fullname = Anarion Masamune Sasuke Benimaru von Adrestia
|image = Anarion the Great.png
|image-2 = Imperial Federation CoA 1.png
|Tenurebegins = 1.I.{{AN|1746}}
|Tenureends = 24.VII.{{AN|1751}} ({{AgeAN|1746|1751}})
|positions = Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]
|senate = [[Fourteenth Senate|XIV]]
|elected = [[1745 Senate of the Lakes election|1745]]
|faction = [[Draconic Humanist List|Draconic Humanist]]
|OHLline =
|comment =
|gender =
|Race = Ralgonese
|species =
|hairstyle =
|eyecolour =
|skincolour =
|other =
|father = Prince Masamune III
|mother =
|spouse = [[Qasima Çakar]]
|children = 25 (see below)
|birthdate = 1701 ({{AgeAN|1701}})
|birthplace =
|deathdate =
|deathplace =
|}}

'''Anarion''' is the current Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]. Known as "The Great" since {{AN|1734}} within the Imperial Federation, the Emperor has presided over a near-uninterrupted period of explosive population growth, empire-wide infrastructure development, and booming economy, even during such hard times as the [[Recession of 1737]].

Known as a (mostly) just and fair ruler, Emperor Anarion has been known to act with a fair hand toward the Empire's many territories, Ralgonese or otherwise. This was most recently demonstrated by his decision in {{AN|1757}} to honor a referendum in which the [[Treaty concerning the Transfer of Kita-Mylecia|Geneva Autonomous Region]] chose to depart the Imperial Federation and join with [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]]. On the other hand, his eccentricities are [[Incidents at the Imperial Court|known to the public]], right alongside most of his considerable group of progeny.

Within the [[Imperial Federation]], Anarion exercises strong executive and judicial control within the Empire, while preferring to leave legislative affairs with the Imperial Senate and the newly formed Parliament. Day-to-day executive affairs have increasingly been delegated to a highly-trained Cabinet-type group of ministers within the Imperial Court. Under his tenure, the Ralgonese as part of the Imperial Federation reached its greatest extent in history in both territory and population. Anarion's reign of {{AgeAN|1705|noAN=y}} is already unmatched by nearly every Ralgonese ruler before him except for [[Nobunag'an IV]] of the erstwhile [[Holy Ralgon Empire]]. Near the end of {{AN|1758}}, Anarion became the ruler with the second-longest reliably documented reign in Ralgonese history with 53 years. Only counting his personal rule, he already surpassed his predecessor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro of Ralgon's]] rule of {{AgeAN|1673|1705}} in {{AN|1757}}.

Within [[Hurmu]], Anarion was elected to the [[Senate of the Lakes]] for the [[Draconic Humanist List]] in the [[1745 Senate of the Lakes election]]. He served as an active Senator for 6 years, then stood for re-election in the [[1751 Senate of the Lakes election|1751 election]] at the second position of the list, but was not re-elected. He was succeeded in that seat by [[Nobunag'an|Emperor Emeritus Nobunag'an]]. In {{AN|1762}}, he installed his eldest (and most eminently qualified) son, [[Masamune V]], as a junior Co-Emperor to allow for continuation of his own extensive travel-intensive duties throughout the Empire, and to allow more attention and physical presence in [[Drag'os]], which hosted the second imperial capital of [[Glacier City]].

== Biography ==

=== Early Life & Regency ===

Born in {{AN|1701}} as '''Anarion Masamune Sasuke Benimaru von Adrestia''' and initially crowned as Prince Masamune IV, he is a direct descendant of [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]] via the House of Ral and its cadet branch, the House of Adrestia, founded in 1675 by Prince Masamune I. Having taken the throne in {{AN|1705}} just before his fourth birthday, his entire reign until his 21st birthday was under the regency of the Hawkins Family, the Dukes of Gondolin, acting on the advice and consent of the Imperial Senate.

While the Emperor was able to exercise soft power over time during the Regency due to his status, this was blunted by his eccentric personality combined with his chaos-inducing antics at court. While this posed constant headache to the Court, the reality was that the vast majority of the child Emperor's stunts were meant only as a minor nuisance. In efforts to curb a few of his more unorthodox hobbies, the Regency Council redoubled efforts to acquire a suitable bride, ideally before he could finish university studies abroad and subsequently take the throne in his own right. Thus it was that, On 12.II.1720, he [[Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar|married]] [[Qasima Çakar]]. As such, he automatically became a [[Knight of the Holy Lakes]]. The Emperor continued to study abroad until {{AN|1726}}, earning a master's degree in international relations at [[Metzler University]] in [[Shireroth]]. Shortly upon graduation, he returned home to assume power as the Emperor on the last month of that year, granting the country its first full-fledged monarch since the death of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] a quarter-century earlier.

=== Early Reign ({{AN|1726}}-{{AN|1740}}) ===

{{WIP}}

=== Height of Power ({{AN|1740}}-{{AN|1760}}) ===

{{WIP}}

== Personality ==

The eccentric personality of the Emperor was already a known quantity during the Regency, and it was hoped that a combination of age and the duties of matrimony would considerably abate these tendencies. While he was indeed kept busy with his imperial duties and truly extraordinary number of children (which at once caused awe and panic in the Court), this not only failed to blunt the Emperor's love of unusual antics and creative spirit, but the reverse instead happened. Despite having most of his children watched very closely by a constantly increasing assortment of nurses and governesses, the Emperor's children took on their father's eccentric streak and, eventually, triggered a feedback loop that resulted in well-known [[incidents at the Imperial Court]].

While the Emperor was no slouch in his duties, and instead contributed to unprecedented prosperity in the Empire, it still came at the cost of many courtiers' sanity. Many were made to deal with the increasingly creative nuisances that the imperial family were constantly engineering, ranging from (convincingly realistic) fake vermin running about chaotically at court to the Emperor's occasional tendencies to deliberately host mad scientists with bizarre experiments at Court sessions. Although the Emperor did possess a sadistic streak in punishing the harshest criminals to appear before his person, it was deemed something of a divine gift that this proclivity did not extend to tormenting the commonfolk outside of the Palace. (In fact, it was widely remarked that his many children were perfectly behaved nearly everywhere but the palace grounds.)

== Family ==

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, Emperor Anarion is {{AgeAN|1701|noAN=y}} years old. He has a truly extraordinary number of children, with twenty-five known progeny by his wife, [[Qasima Çakar]] by {{AN|1738}}. All of these children are ostensibly eligible to contest the throne under Imperial Federation law upon the vacancy of the throne, but elections are due to be held during that time -- the first such contest set to happen in centuries. The eldest is a boy, being a fraternal twin with a sister, born in {{AN|1728}}. A third child, a boy, was born on {{AN|1730}}, and a fourth child, a girl, was born in {{AN|1731}}, followed by another boy at the end of that same year. In {{AN|1734}}, the Emperor and his wife welcomed a rare set of sextuplets into the family. The birth of the eleventh child in any family was a sacred moment to any Ralgonese due to religious principles, and so the occasion was declared a national holiday. The next year saw a set of septuplets born to the family, much to the concern (if not dismay) of the Imperial Court, given the already-eccentric personalities of the existing children. By {{AN|1738}}, he and his wife marked the birth of their 25th child, part of a set of triplets. Due to the physical toll that delivering so many progeny had on the Empress, they decided to have no more children directly through their union. It was further agreed that, should Anarion be permitted to sire any further progeny, they would only be legitimized solely through both the Empress's written consent, and only then on Imperial decree on the consent of the Imperial Senate. As of {{AN|1757}}, however, such a question was never seriously brought up, and the Emperor has had no other known paramours, never mind illegitimate children.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}}, Anarion is still looking forward to a veritable army of grandchildren. And few within the Imperial Court's inner circle are looking forward to it.

== Titles ==

Anarion was given the epithet "The Great" by the [[Imperial Senate]] in {{AN|1740}}, the only Ralgonese ruler given such a designation since {{AN|1450}} during a rare victorious phase of the [[Great Swamp War]]. He was also given the epithet "Beloved of Th'ror" in {{AN|1755}}, on the 50th jubilee of his reign. At the end of the Regency in {{AN|1726}}, he was given the ceremonial title *''Defender of the Senate and Peoples of the Imperial Federation''" and "''Defender of the [[Draconic|Draconic Faith]]''." As Emperor of the Imperial Federation, he is also the "''Guardian of the [[Glacier City|Glacier Mountain]]''", Head of the House of Adrestia, and Great Chieftain of the House of Ral.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, Anarion currently holds the following functional titles. If he gained or otherwise received those titles after the definitive end of the [[Conquest of Valora|Imperial Federation's civil conflict]] in {{AN|1715}}, the date will be listed.

'''As Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]:'''
 Primary titles:

*King of the [[Adrestia|Realm of Adrestia]]
**Sovereign Prince of [[Gondolin]]
**Lord Paramount of the [[Nixtorm|Dominions of Nixtorm]]
**Lord Protector of [[Blore Heath]] ({{AN|1728}})
**King of [[Eriador]]
**Prince of [[Realm of Alphaville|Alphaville]]
*Emperor of all [[Ralgon|Ralgons]]
**Supreme Overlord of [[Drag'os]]
**King of [[Stormhold]]
**King of the [[Scarterra|Two Scarterras]]
**High King of [[Valora]]
**King of [[Tar-Palantir]]
**Prince of [[Nova Victoria]] ({{AN|1756}})
*Sovereign Prince of [[Haifa]] ({{AN|1728}})
**Protector of the City of [[Abeis]] ({{AN|1737}})
**Guardian of the [[Straits of Haifa|Southern Straits]] ({{AN|1737}})
*High King of [[Eternia|the Eternian States]] ({{AN|1733}})

Secondary titles: 
*Sovereign Prince of [[Beihagh]] ({{AN|1740}})
*Guardian of the [[Mala|Mala First Nations]] ({{AN|1732}} & {{AN|1754}})
*Overlord of [[Dromosker Island]] & Great Chief of the [[Askerr]] ({{AN|1757}})
*Overlord of [[Anzu-Nergal]] ({{AN|1758}})
*Lord of the Dominions Beyond the Seas

'''As part of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]:'''
*Knight of the Order of the Holy Lakes ({{AN|1720}})
*Former [[Senator of the Lakes]] ({{AN|1745}}-{{AN|1751}}
*Overlord of [[Anzu-Nergal]] ({{AN|1758}})

== Ancestry ==

While this is an incomplete list, this is the one official genealogists use in determining rights to succession, specific forms of nobility, and connection to the Imperial Household, both in Adrestia and within the greater empire.
Reigning monarchs in bold.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon|Nobunag'an IV]] of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- married 8 times, had issue with 5. (All spouses died from age and other natural causes, without having divorced). Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the penultimate being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}), and the last one, [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] ({{AN|1716}}, m. {{AN|1746}})
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** WIP
*** Several descendants of little note.
** WIP
*** [[Draeg'ar Ral IX|Draeg'ar Ral I & IX]], Crown Prince Draeg'ar XXIV & IX of Ralgon; later became Emperor Draeg'ar I of [[Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1718}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Emperor Anarion]]. He reigned over the rump state of [[Valora]] in concert with local rulers, until the country was conquered and partitioned between the [[Imeperial Federation]] and the [[Mondosphere]]. He spent the rest of his life in obscurity.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral X|Draeg'ar II & X]], Prince of South Valora (♂ {{AN|1710}}-; r. {{AN|1718}}-) Prince Draeg'ar II took the throne from his 84-year-old father as his only son from this marriage late in life to a much younger woman. He is seen as a puppet of [[Mondo]], who rules [[South Valora]] following its partition after the Imperial Federation's [[Conquest of Valora]].
**Benimaru Ral IV, Prince of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}; Benimaru's mother was Princess Rani of [[Nixtorm]] (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1649}}), King Nobunag'an's first wife. Although a successful career soldier, he lived in relative obscurity. He never took the throne, and died of natural causes.)
*** (three other children)
***Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1624}}-; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1680}}) 
****'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1664}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Crowned King in 1680, he oversaw a massive expansion of his realm. Prince Masamune died of complications from wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 by his son Masamune III, outliving [[Shiro]] by only a few days.
***** (two other children)
*****Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1701}}) Masamune III was executed at the age of 21 for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was imprisoned for life on [[Devil's Island]] as soon as their only son was born.)
******'''[[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' Known initially as Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]], he was later crowned Emperor during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]]. Married [[Qasima Çakar]] of [[Çakaristan]] (♀ {{AN|1701}} - ) in {{AN|1720}}, acquiring knighthood in the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]. He has an impressive number of natural-born children with his wife: 18 in total, as of {{AN|1734}}.

== Family and Descendants ==

Emperor Anarion had an impressive 25 children in {{AN|1734}} by his wife [[Qasima Çakar]], who he married in {{AN|1720}}. They stopped delivering more progeny after {{AN|1738}} due to the physical toll of delivering so many children. His legitimate progeny and current house is listed below.

{{Tree list}}
*'''[[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' Married [[Qasima Çakar]] of [[Çakaristan]] (♀ {{AN|1701}} - ) in {{AN|1720}}. Known initially as Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]], he was later crowned Emperor during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]]. Acquired knighthood in the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] by marriage. Had 25 legitimate children from this marriage by the end of {{AN|1738}}.
** [[Masamune V|Prince Masamune Takeshi Celeborn]] (♂ {{AN|1728}} -) Known officially as Prince Masamune V of [[Adrestia]], he was born minutes before his twin sister, taking his name from diverse cultures in the empire, and after his still-living ancestor, [[Nobunag'an]]. To the dismay of the court, he and his twin sister share their father's fondness for oddities, although his interests are more macabre. He's taken to love fire more than the court would otherwise like. Far more than the court would otherwise like. Attended the [[Peace Academy]] with his sister Mariko from {{AN|1746}} to {{AN|1750}}.
** Princess Mariko Luthien (♀ {{AN|1728}} -) Born minutes after her twin brother, taking her name from diverse cultures in the empire. To the dismay of the court, both she and her older brother share their father's fondness for oddities. While little else is known, what is clear from insider sources is that she has taken a rather excessive interest in the carnivorous plants. Attended the [[Peace Academy]] with her brother Masamune from {{AN|1746}} to {{AN|1750}}.
** Prince Dalgar'on Hikaru Elent'ar (♂ {{AN|1730}} He is one of the few to share a name with past reigning monarchs, yet not be assigned the traditional numeral with his princely name. Has not yet made any public appearance.
** Princess Lianna Toshiko (♀ {{AN|1731}} - ) One of the few to ever take a non-Ralgonese name in the Imperial Household. Sent with her brother, Chidao, to [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] in {{AN|1740}} during her childhood to receive a world-class education in that country, under the guardianship of [[Nobunag'an IV]].
** Prince Ieyasu Chidao Turg'on (♂ {{AN|1731}} - ) Born in [[Glacier City]], named partly after the [[Chidao Emperor]]. Sent with his sister, Lianna, to [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] in {{AN|1740}} during his childhood to receive a world-class education in that country, under the guardianship of [[Nobunag'an IV]].
** Princess Takara Yavan'na (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) First of a set of sextuplets.
** Princess Mako Nien'na (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Second of a set of sextuplets.
** Princess Kaguya Meli'as (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Third of a set of sextuplets.
** Prince Takaharu Fing'on (♂ {{AN|1733}} - ) Fourth of a set of sextuplets.
** Prince Satoshi Ayreon Mand'os --- (♂ {{AN|1733}} - ) Fifth of a set of sextuplets. One of the few to be given a non-Ralgonese name. Named partly after [[Kaiser Ayreon IV]].
** Princess Noriko Ra'ni (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Sixth of a set of sextuplets. Was given an older Ralgonese name, after a legendary woman warrior.
** Prince Tadakatsu Maeg'or (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) First of a set of septuplets. Named after ancient Ralgonese and Menelmacari heroes.
** Princess Masako Nien'na (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Second of a set of septuplets. Named after a previous queen of [[Ralgon]]
** Prince Shinzo Fean'or (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Third of a set of septuplets. Named after a mythical king of [[Menelmacar]].
** Princess Yasuko Tsubaki (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Fourth of a set of septuplets. Named after a quasi-legendary female warrior who supposedly lived in the Ralgonese Dark Ages.
** Princess Yoko Miri'na (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Fifth of a set of septuplets.
** Prince Kenshiro Sind'ar (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Sixth of a set of septuplets. Named after a semi-legendary sailor.
** Prince Balaeri'on Musashi (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Seventh of a set of septuplets. Named after a previous king of [[Ralgon]].
** Prince Azul'on Toshiie (♂ {{AN|1735}} - ) The elder of two twins (M/M). Named after a previous king of [[Ralgon]].
** Prince Valac'ar Shiro (♂ {{AN|1735}} - ) The younger of two twins (M/M). Named after Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], but is always answers to Valac'ar.
** Princess Matsu Ancalin'ai (♀ {{AN|1737}} - ) The elder of two twins (F/M).
** Prince Hiruzen Ancalag'on (♂ {{AN|1737}} - ) The younger of two twins (F/M). Named after a semi-mythical warrior from ancient Zamma.
** Princess Shuna Mir'ai (♀ {{AN|1738}} - ) First of a set of triplets. Her name is rumored to come from an altered form of an ancient word meaning "reflecting light."
** Princess Toshi Ilien (♀ {{AN|1738}} - ) Second of a set of triplets. Her name comes from one of several ancient Ralgonese words meaning "moon."
** Prince Katsumoto Elend'ar (♂ {{AN|1738}} - ) Third of a set of triplets. Named after an ancient hero.

[[Category:people]]
[[Category:Living members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category: Ralgonese members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category:Metzler University Alumni]]

{{Imperial Federation Nav}}

Masamune V

2026-10-25T05:17:04Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}{{Hurmu article}}
{{People
|fullname = Masamune Takeshi Celeborn von Adrestia
|aka = ''Prince Masamune V''
|image = Masamune V.png
|gender = Male
|species = Human
|Race = [[Ralgon|Ralgonese]]–[[Çakari]]
|hairstyle = Blonde hair
|eyecolor = Blue-Gray
|skincolor = Light
|other = '''Issue:''' none (unmarried)
|father = [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]] (Emperor of the Imperial Federation)
|mother = [[Qasima Çakar]]
|birthdate = 1728 ({{AgeAN|1728}})
|birthplace = [[Gondolin]], [[Adrestia]]
|deathdate =
|deathplace =
|residence = The Imperial Palace, [[Gondolin]]
|nationality = {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}} ([[Ralgon|Ralgonese]]) {{Team flag|Order of the Holy Lakes}}
|allegiance =
|occupation = [[Hurmu Fyrð|Aspirant Officer]], Prince
|}}

'''Prince Masamune V''' of the [[Imperial Federation]] was born in {{AN|1728}} as '''Prince Masamune Takeshi Celeborn von Adrestia'''. The fifth to bear the name ''Masamune'', he is also styled as ''Prince Masamune V of [[Adrestia]]'', which is his current princely name. He was born minutes before his twin sister, Mariko, taking his name from diverse cultures in the empire, and after his still-living ancestor, [[Nobunag'an]]. In {{AN|1746}}, the family's name was changed and "Adrestia" was adopted as a simple surname to reflect the prestige of his family (while other laws were passed banning individuals from illegally taking this name for themselves).

From his father's side, he is part of the House of Adrestia, the ruling dynasty of the [[Imperial Federation]]. This in turn is the Western (and main) branch of the House of Ral, from which his direct (and still-living) ancestor [[Nobunag'an IV]] originates.

He is the eldest child of Emperor [[Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]], out of an astonishing 24 other siblings. While the Imperial Federation is an elective monarchy (this being done through the Senate), he is, nonetheless, the Emperor's heir-presumptive. He reached his 18th birthday in {{AN|1746}}. He and his twin sister [[Mariko von Adrestia|Princess Mariko]] are essentially inseparable, and tend to be fiercely protective of each other. However, their respective obligations would eventually part the twins from one another, as was the case with many of their siblings. Beginning in {{AN|1760}}, Mariko took up permanent residence in [[Hurmu]], while Masamune remained in the [[Imperial Federation]]. Since then, he has become heir-presumptive to the throne, and considered the most highly qualified for national leadership out of his father's many children (which is saying much indeed, given their mutual competitiveness and their large number).

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, {{PAGENAME}} is {{AgeAN|1728|noAN=y}} years old. He has no known children, familiar with the strain of so many imperial progeny, and instead prefers instead to contemplate that issue somewhat later in life.

== Biography ==

=== Early Life ===

Born in [[Gondolin]], [[Adrestia]] in {{AN|1728}}, he is the eldest of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion's]] 25+ children. Masamune, the fifth prince of Adrestia by that name, arrived minutes before his twin sister, Mariko. Celebrations were held for weeks in the capital, as the birth of twins was considered an auspicious start to the Emperor's young family.

Their father proved extremely fond of his children, and proved fiercely protective of them. Furthermore, Masamune and his twin sister took after their father's eccentric tendencies. And to the dismay of the court, he and his twin sister shared their father's rather intense fondness for oddities, and Masamune's interests could be just as macabre as his father's. He's took to love fire more than the court would otherwise like... far more than the court would otherwise like. (Multiple incidents at the Imperial Court involved him, his father, and more than one of his siblings setting fireworks off inside the Palace to cause "well-structured" disturbances "to keep the little rabbits on their toes," in his father's later words).

Multiple courtiers attempted (at the cost of their careers) to separate the rapidly increasing flock of noisy, relentlessly restless children from their father to give them a more "proper" education than they deemed possible under their father's overly protective vigilance, and worse, infectiously eccentric attitude. Unfortunately for them, Anarion wised up, and in an act engineered directly to spite these same people, pre-empted notions of "extra summer education." By this, he sent his two oldest children during several summers beginning in {{AN|1732}} to the court of [[Mondo]], who Emperor Anarion was especially fond of at the time. To compound his expression of displeasure with the Court, the Emperor sent more of his immense brood of children to live with Mondo (a "known ravenous eccentric") for separate periods of time when Masamune was home, "to keep his good friend company."

From {{AN|1740}}, the two children would also spend every other summer or winter season visiting the family of their mother [[Qasima Cakar|Empress Qasima]], alternating with (increasingly large) groups of other siblings as the years went by. He was known to others as a civilized, well-mannered boy, even if an odd one by most standards. He remained inseparable from his twin sister, and was deemed (at least by his father) as a role model for his younger siblings, most of whom took after their father's eccentricities in their own fashion. The fact that Masamune's own morbid interests never ceased was attributed by some in the Imperial Court to [[Anarion|his father's]] and [[Mondo|Mondo's]] influence -- a rumor Masamune himself has actively avoided addressing as he grew older.

=== Education ===

Masamune reached his 18th birthday in {{AN|1746}}, fully completing his intensive post-secondary and preliminary military studies in the same year.

In accordance with the imperial family's tradition, Masamune and his twin sister were given notice that it was preferred that they went through their university education overseas. This would be done to familiarize themselves with the world and its peoples outside of the Imperial Federation, and gain appreciation for what their home country had, and needed improvements on if they were to rule or otherwise occupy consequential posts in the imperial government.

After intense deliberations (these involving unsolicited advice from the Imperial Court) of the imperial family abroad for international education, in {{AN|1746}}, Masamune went with his twin sister [[Princess Mariko Adrestia]] to began attendance at the [[Peace Academy]] in [[Hurmu]] from {{AN|1746}} to {{AN|1750}}. This formed a compromise between those wanting to send the Emperor's eldest children to [[Shireroth]], [[Çakaristan]], and [[New Alexandria]]. It also coincided closely to Anarion's own [[1745 Senate of the Lakes election|election]] to the [[Senate of the Lakes]], a fact that most likely helped Masamune and his sister land a spot in the extremely competitive school.

=== Political Career ===

While Emperor [[Anarion]] was in Hurmu on Senatorial duties, Masamune was increasingly called upon to act as his father's proxy in court. After {{AN|1751}}, Emperor Anarion returned to his full-time duties as Emperor, but continued his tendency to spend significant time in the various parts of the country. This was especially true since [[Nobunag'an IV]], usually the Emperor's proxy, was himself [[1745 Senate of the Lakes election|elected to the Holy Lakes Senate]] in {{AN|1745}}, with his tenure ending in {{AN|1762}}. By that point, Masamune had already grown accustomed to acting in his father's place, and was firmly rooted in the capital city, while his sister had long been a resident of [[Hurmu]] by this point.

In order to avoid the problem of over two dozen eligible contenders fighting a likely-deadly succession dispute, the Emperor Anarion pre-empted this possibility by naming his eldest son as his junior Co-Emperor in {{AN|1762}}, a type of move nearly unheard of in Ralgonese history. By being crowned into this role early, succession would be automatic, although reversible in the event of his removal or demise. Publicly, it was billed as a rare form of political appointment to allow Masamune to exercise his usual duties without facing any uncertain succession issues. Although the Emperor was still in his prime, he was already nearing sixty years of age, and the Court publicly pitched the move as a means to place a highly competent, young face at the top to gain vital rulership experience... and privately as a means to avoid his far more eccentric siblings from effectively ruining the court's already-strained atmosphere.

== Ancestry ==

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|1= 1. Masamune V
|2= 2. [[Anarion]] (Masamune IV)
|3= 3. [[Qasima Çakar]]
|4= 4. Masamune III
|5= 5. –
|6= 6. [[Akbar Çakar]] [[Tobu Emperor]], [[Çakaristan|Sultan of Çakaristan]]
|7= 7. [[Jodha Avchat]]
|8= 8. Masamune II
|9= 9. –
|10= 10. –
|11= 11. –
|12= 12. [[Ümit Çakar]]
|13= 13. Hamida Banu
|14= 14. [[Rajesh Avchat]]
|15= 15. Rani Champavati
|16= 16. Masamune XIV & I
|17= 17. –
|18= 18. –
|19= 19. –
|20= 20. –
|21= 21. –
|22= 22. –
|23= 23. –
|24= 24. Hasan Çakar
|25= 25. Mandira Farrah
|26= 26. –
|27= 27. –
|28= 28. –
|29= 29. –
|30= 30. –
|31= 31. –
}}</center>
{{ahnentafel bottom}}

[[Category:people]]
[[Category:Living members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category: Ralgonese members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]

Eridu

2026-07-21T17:46:07Z

Cosmic Fury:

One of the six Realms with full representation in [[the Hexarchy]]'s government, '''Eridu''' is one of the country's three most powerful realms, alongside [[Karnak]] and [[Arumen]]. It has direct representation on the High Council, holding one of its three permanent seats alongside major realms (remaining seats allocated or shared amongst the so-called Minor Realms of [[Suza]], [[Asshyria]], [[Kunapura]], [[Pyrax]], and others.) Eridu has the largest economy in the Hexarchy (closely followed by [[Karnak]]), the fourth-largest GDP per capita (after [[Kunapura]], [[Eventide Islands]], and Karnak), and its second-largest population (after [[Karnak]]).

Eridu is an elective monarchy, in which the new leader is selected every fifteen years from amongst the senior-most ruling families in the country. Since the unification of the region just before {{AN|1685}}, Eridu has elected six kings, the first in {{AN|1685}} and the next election (the seventh) is scheduled for {{AN|1760}}. The current king, Puannum of Eridu (𒁍𒀭𒉡𒌝), has reigned the entirety of his term ({{AN|1745}}-{{AN|1760}}). Should a king vacate the throne mid-term, an ''Acting King'' takes his place until the next election. Eridu has had two such rulers in its history, both reigning for less than five years. No king, once reigning or acting, is permitted to assume the throne again. Former kings tend to represent the Hexarchy abroad as ambassadors to major Micrasian nations.

''Not to be confused with the unrelated city of [[Constancian Eridu]].''

== Geography ==

Eridu is bordered to the west by the [[Empty Quarter]], to the east and north by the White and Red Rivers, [[New Alexandria]] across the extended [[East Bank Territory]] region, to the southwest by [[Asshyria]] and to the south by the sea, known locally as the [[Gulf of Eridu]]. Eridu shares a nearby maritime border by river or sea with the [[Eventide Islands]], [[New South Caputia]], and the [[Isles of Caputia]] belonging to [[New Alexandria]].

Eridu consists of four regions. The oldest is the White River region, centered on the realm's largest city, [[Enkidu]]. The area surrounding Enkidu is heavily urbanized, and houses the Hexarchy's largest conurbation outside of [[Ashtaroth]]. Eridu's eastern territory sits on both banks of the White River (the east bank region being sparsely populated). This region consists of Eridu's most important economic centers. The second-oldest settled regions are located in the Red River Valley, which anchors the north end of Eridu's territory. Its western end orders the city-region of [[Marduk]]. The western region contains the largest inhabited region of Eridu, and is home to the city of [[Atlantys]], Eridu's provincial capital. This area is one of the agricultural centers of [[The Hexarchy]], providing most food bound for neighboring provinces and cities. The fourth region consists of most of Eridu's central interior, and that is dominated by [[Ereshkigal Forest]], where human habitation is impossible due to its dangerous fauna, hostile terrain, and extremely dense vegetation that makes reliable travel impossible even without apex predators of all kinds hunting travelers down for their next lunch.

=== [[Ereshkigal Forest]] ===
{{main|Ereshkigal Forest}}

The deep interior of Eridu is home to the expansive, hostile [[Ereshkigal Forest]], one of the most dangerous locations to humans in all of [[Micras]]. A vast jungle characterized by dense, mega-sized vegetation, the forest is home to the most diverse set of apex predators on the planet. Nature preserve laws in the Forest's interior are some of the harshest on [[Micras]], to avoid disturbing and provoking its incredibly dangerous fauna to further violence. The Forest is known specifically for the extreme conditions it holds for humans who venture past the walled area, these being first completed in {{AN|1700}} and expanded aggressively in response to the Forest's endless variety of dangerous creatures of all sizes. Known as the "Zoo of Death," it houses one of the few tropical ecosystems where most biomass consists of predators instead of herbivorous creatures, allowing the jungle to continue its overgrowth and forcing predators to evolve increasingly sophisticated methods of both hiding and hunting their prey.

Deep in the interior, permanent structures of any kind are progressively strictly regulated and limited to military structures to observe conditions inside the forest. Any surviving trespassers, poachers, and the like are very severely punished -- usually by being shoved back into the forest and left to the mercy of its dangerous fauna. Occasionally, this fauna does escape, only to be culled by roving armed patrols. Poachers have attempted to take the hybridized variants of [[Jingdaoese valleytiger]], often only to wind up dead long before the authorities arrive to salvage the situation.

Ereshkigal Forest is only separated from the water by narrow corridors to the north and south, wherein the vast majority of Eridu's overland trade flows to the rest of the country. In the south, the [[Pan-Keltian Highway]] follows on its main branch through the Hexarchy from [[New Alexandria]], passing south of the Forest. This area is one of the most fortified areas on the planet meant to deter animal incursions, rather than defend from other civilizations' attacks. The Pan-Keltian Highway splits at the west end. The north end runs through the capital of [[Atlantys]] before arriving at [[Marduk]]. A smaller branch runs through [[Midway]] at the fringes of the vast [[Empty Quarter]], and the main branch continuing through [[Kunapura]] to the west of Eridu.

[[Category:Hexarchy]]

Imperial Federation

2026-07-07T02:19:07Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}{{SANE article}}
{{Feature|September, 2022}}
{{Infobox Nation Comprehensive
|fullname = The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Valora, Haifa, and Eternia
|commonname = Ralgon
|flag = File:Imperial Federation 1.png
|coa = File:Imperial Federation CoA 1.png
|motto = ''For God and Empire''
|anthem = Anchors Aweigh
|map =File:IFR_1740.png
|mapversions = ???
|capital =Gondolin (executive, administrative) Glacier City (religious, legislative)
|largecity = Glacier City, SAR
|lang = Ralgonese (official) Standard (official; regional)
|demnoun = Imperial Ralgonese (alternate)
|demadj = Imperial; Ralgonese Adrestian; Drag'osian; Eternian; Haifan
|govtype = Executive Monarchy
|headofstatetitle = Emperor
|headofstate = [[Anarion|Anari'on I]] (formerly called Masamune of Adrestia)
|religion = [[Draconic]] (Ralgonese regions) (other native and folk religions)
|headofgovernmenttitle = Viceroy
|headofgovernment = Nikamura Hawkins, Grand Duke of Gondolin
|legislature = Imperial Senate
|estdate = Winter, {{AN|228}} (traditional) October 23rd, {{AN year|1665}} (as [[Ralgon]] on MCS map) May, {{AN|1706}} (as the Imperial Federation) 
|agerank =
|area =
|arearank =
|pop = 317,994,774 ({{AN|1750}} census)
|activepop =
|currency = Imperial Guilder (£)
|calendar = [[Norton Calendar]] (secular) Draconic Calendar (religious)
|timezone = CMT+8 to +10:30 (Keltia) CMT-10:30 (Cibola)
|electricity = 100 V at 50 Hz
|abbrev = IFR
|drives_on = left
|gauge = 1500 mm (freight) 1000 mm (passenger; urban) 1435mm ([[Cibolan Rail|Cibolan Express]])
|site = [https://micras.org/mwiki/Category:Imperial%20Federation Category Page] [https://micras.org/mwiki/User:Cosmic_Fury User Page]
|forum = [https://bastionunion.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=1646&sid=32557dfeb48c60af1428753bfb403f56 Old Forum]
|animal = leviathan
|food = crocodile meat
|drink = Menelmacari whiskey
|tree = Al-Hamra sequoia
}}

'''The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Adrestia, Haifa, and Eternia''', known better as '''The Imperial Federation''', is a set of Imperialist, unified, sovereign states that coalesced in {{AN|1706}} following the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], being reorganized into its present form in {{AN|1724}} following various military and political campaigns aimed at centralizing the empire and its peripheries in the aftermath of recent waves of expansion. The Imperial Federation consists of three constituent countries, in addition to a number of free cities (such as [[Nova Victoria]]) and dependencies (such as [[Imperial Eura]]). A fourth constituent country, [[Eternia]], was formed from that kingdom and nearby dependencies in {{AN|1733}}, leading to a name change of the country's name. The present name was formed when [[Adrestia]] and its subordinate territories were separated from [[Ralgon|Greater Ralgon]] in {{AN|1756}}, and [[Valora]] finally absorbed into [[Ralgon]] as a constituent part of that consituent country.

At present, the Imperial Federation's constituent countries consist of the following. Firstly, [[Ralgon]] is located on a large portion of northern [[Cibola]], and includes [[Drag'os]], [[Valora]], [[West Valora]], [[East Valora]], [[Tar-Palantir]], and [[New Ralgon]]). It hosts one of the two imperial capitals, [[Glacier City]], having been the center of Ralgonese culture since time immemorial. Secondly, [[Adrestia]] is located on the east end of Keltia and includes the areas of [[South Island]] and surrounding areas, [[Nixtorm]] (and its own territories), the Isles of Eriad'or (including the new settlements of [[Scarterra]], [[Northwest Territory]], and [[Al Hamra]]. Adrestia hosts the other of the two imperial capitals, that being [[Gondolin]], founded c.{{AN|1675}}. Thirdly, [[Haifa Bassaridia]] (known simply as [[Haifa]], covers majority-Bassarid lands along the straits of the same name. Fourthly, the country of [[Eternia]] consists of that country and surrounding island groups, having joined in {{AN|1733}}. A number of autonomous territories and dependencies exist, such as [[Bomei Island]], [[Beihagh]], [[North Corum]], and [[Dromosker Island]]. It also maintains important populations in the [[International Mandate]].

A regional great power, the Imperial Federation possesses one of the strongest naval forces on Micras. However, outside of its home regions, it relies heavily on permanent bases (including various island and coastal colonies) to maintain connectivity and maritime security between its far-flung overseas regions, particularly [[Eternia]]. The Imperial Federation has variously partnered with its neighbors to hold far-flung territories. One example is the Imperial Federation's efforts to maintain peace in [[Keltia]]'s deep interior, especially [[Haifa]], where [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] aided efforts to bring order to the region, aiding integration of millions into the imperial fold and the expansion of its already-large defense industry. The other is the partnership with [[Floria]] during the [[Corum War]] to secure additional territory to link the core of the empire with [[Eternia]] and [[Beihagh]] and other far-flung areas, and thus complete a far less vulnerable maritime connection were it to come into conflict with foreign powers.

In the government's early days, its solution to remedy its chronic overextension was to join the [[Raspur Pact]] in late {{AN|1706}} to counter its weakness in an army and air force that still remained relatively small for a nation of this size. In later decades, it adopted a pattern of regional political, economic, and military alliances to protect mutual interests and enable clear power projection. Although the Imperial Federation joined few other supranational organizations, it nonetheless made paradoxical moves to adopt a largely peaceful coexistence with its neighbors and upgrading its military might, to defeat its issues of controlling such a large amount of maritime territory and maintaining free, safe trade throughout its now-vast maritime empire. Recent years have been characterized by the accelerated population growth and consolidation of its holdings, largely eschewing further territorial expansion despite continual opportunities to press farther into [[The Green]] in Keltia.

== Overview ==

The original core of what is now the Imperial Federation was formed from the Kingdom of [[Adrestia]], founded in {{AN|1675}}, and the Kingdom of [[Drag'os]], which existed as a unified polity under the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] after c. {{AN|1655}}. Adrestia's first ruler (and the progenitor of the current Emperor) was Masamune of House Adrestia, crowned as [[Emperor Anari'on]] at the age of {{AgeAN|1701|1706}} in 1706, shortly before their complete victory in a succession struggle over the Imperial Crown, after the death of its holder, Ralgon Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro I]] the year prior. The Empire is governed under the tenets of [[Draconic Humanism]], a combined religion and political ideology, which forms the basis of rule throughout most of the empire.

The Empire holds an estimated population of 317,994,774 in the {{AN|1750}} census, up from the previous estimate of 299,542,930 reported to the [[Raspur Pact]] authorities in {{AN|1740}}, in addition to another few million living in recently incorporated [[North Corum]] and [[Dromosker Island]], minus those living in [[Geneva]]. Population growth during the 1750's AN was driven by booming prosperity in territory acquired in the prior two decades, and in [[Glacier City]] with new breakthroughs in construction and food production technologies allowing an ever-greater population capacity. The Imperial Federation is the fifth-most populated country on Micras, with some 50.5% of the country's population on the island of [[Drag'os]] alone, and another 30.1% living on [[Adrestia]]. The Empire's largest city, the metropolis of [[Glacier City]], serves as the cultural and religious center of the Imperial Federation, and its wealthiest economic hub, in rivalry with the Imperial captial of [[Gondolin]] for the title. Glacier City is also one of the world's largest and most populous cities, with approximately 49,220,000 living in its legally defined area on the far eastern end of the same island in {{AN|1750}}. The Imperial Court sits at Gondolin, with Glacier City acting as a second capital and the seat of the Imperial Senate due to its profound religious importance.

The Imperial Federation shares few land borders with others on its island territories, most of those borders being old exclaves belonging to others during the Imperial Federation's expansions near its core settlements following the rise of the then-principality of [[Adrestia]] in the decades following {{AN|1680}}. In its heartland in [[South Island]], it shares a land border with a tiny exclave of [[Çakaristan|Çakaristan's]] possession of [[Tarria]]. The Imperial Federation's most notable land border on [[Cibola]] is with [[Mondosphere]] to the south on the [[Cibola]] mainland, as a result of the subsequent partitions that followed the [[Conquest of Valora]] in {{AN|1715}}. After further expansion added [[Nordhafen]] and [[East Valora]], there is a new land border with [[Gogledd Cybwl]], a constituent republic of [[Sanama]]. Since the Imperial Federation's expansion onto the Keltian mainland after {{AN|1695}}, they also border [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] on the east coast of mainland Keltia, and hold sovereign base areas near [[Windsor]], held jointly with [[New Alexandria]]. The Imperial Federation also shares certain [[Mala]] territories in condominium with [[New Alexandria]] in the same region. The constituent country of [[Bassaridia|Haifa Bassaridia]], to the north on the mainland, borders the protected state of [[Matamoros]] to the east, [[The Green]] on the west, and [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] to the northwest. [[Eternia]] has a short land border on an uninhabitable section of tundra only with [[Etourney]], via an exclave in its frigid northeast coast.

The new Imperial Federation's government was formed from a union of the victorious factions of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], and more recently from the [[Conquest of Valora]] that saw the final reunification of the Ralgon states, albeit this time under a much larger empire. While Drag'osian factions lost the war, those with Ralgonese ancestry still control most of the government due to their huge population (compared with much of the rest of the empire), with minority control being only at regional levels. Ralgonese people form the majority population in the unified Adrestia and Drag'os territories (as well as most of present-day [[Valora]], with [[Glacier City]] holding equal status as [[Gondolin]] as one of the Imperial Federation's two imperial cities. Most the empire's territories are directly formed around these two polities. Nixtorm, now a large territory, remained loyal and sent troops to fight, and was awarded its own place in the new Imperial Senate. The same happened with Scarterra, the northern half of which was repatriated to Ralgon following a major land swap with [[Calbion]] that restored all of its former territories, along with the Badlands and the freeport region of [[Duro]]. The infant government applied to join the [[Raspur Pact]], due to the very strong influence of [[Draconic Humanism]] and [[National humanism]] within its highest ranks, while relations with neighboring [[Calbion]] have continued to significantly warm under the new government, after years of animosity following the terrorist attack on Glacier City at the hands of the [[Iron Company]] in {{AN|1673}}.

==Etymology==
The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Adrestia, Eternia, and Haifa takes its name as a collective of older polities that have made up the modern empire since approximately 1665 AN, when it was first included as Ralgon on the MCS map. Although no longer its own consolidated country as of {{AN|1756}}, so-called "Greater Ralgon" consists of the two Ralgonese states of Adrestia and Drag'os, and are considered as the same greater polity under Imperial law due to their shared sovereign. These two now form two of the empire's four constituent countries, and are by far the two most populated as well. The name changed in {{AN|1723}}, albeit unofficially, to reflect the inclusion of most former [[Bassarid]] homelands into the Empire, and the increased dependence of [[Tar-Palantir]] on its surrounding provinces. Every few decades or so, the Imperial Federation has changed its name to reflect the co-equal status of the most powerful portions of its multipolar empire.

=== Ralgonese Peoples ===
The Ralgon name comes from a combination of "Ral," the name of the people which originated in what is now [[Stormhold]] on the island of [[Drag'os]], and "gon" which denotes a people, or a sense of belonging in the ancient Ralgonese language. The homeland of the Ralgonese peoples is a territory called [[Stormhold]], itself located on [[Drag'os]], a large island territory located just off northern [[Cibola]]. As for [[Drag'os]] itself, it takes its name after the fire god worshipped in the [[Draconic]] religion. According to local mythology, it was a reincarnation of Drag'os who founded the first Ralgon state in Stormhold, which itself takes its name from an early ruler who preferred to worship Glaur'on, the god of water, wisdom, and storms.

After the unification of the Ralgonese and ethnically related nations on Drag'os in 1655, [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]] commissioned expeditions to colonize a group of islands near Keltia to expand the empire's territory in case of further natural disasters at home, a near-daily occurrence on Drag'os. Adrestia itself was named after one of the early great saints of the Draconic Church, and like the Ralgonese on Drag'os, Adrestia came to likewise rule over the entirety of its own region. It is from the two Ralgonese peoples that the Imperial Federation draws its present strength, authority, and legitimacy over its other dominions across the [[Great Western Sea|Great Western Ocean]].

=== Other Dominions ===
Nixtorm's history is almost as old as Ralgon was, and the origins of its formerly tribal name are now lost to history. It is thought that Nixtorm was a primordial word for the people of the Stormlands, due to the wet climate on Drag'os's eastern seaboard. These peoples took the name with them when they relocated to southeast [[Keltia]] following the first [[Ralgon Civil War]] in 1685. They retained loyalty to their Ralgonese cousins to the present day.

Valora is a collection of provinces on the mainland of [[Cibola]] as well as the island of [[Tar-Palantir]]. Formerly its own country, its much more populated northern half was annexed following the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in the early 1700's.

Scarterra is, loosely, a collection of two separated provinces, thanks to an exodus of its peoples following the 1685 crisis, which saw much of the island overrun with disasters, geological and otherwise. The province was reformed on Drag'os following the island's reunification in the early 1700's. Dubbed "New Scarterra," in the Isles of Eriador (near [[South Island]]), this houses a number of the barons that chose to establish and maintain their domains overseas. Scarterra proper consists in great part of returnees from what is now known as [[Inis Balar]] following the mainland's repatriation. Since then, both areas have been populated heavily with Menelmacari and other Ralgonese ethnic groups in the following years, leading to a minority-"native" population there.

Tar-Palantir is an island named after the ancient [[Menelmacar|Menelmacari]] traditions, some of which Tar-Palantir's colonizers have begun to revive in recent years. The island's namesake was a ruler of the Ralgonese state of Stormhold, and served as one of the founders of what would form the core of modern Drag'osian government until the recent [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in 1705-1707 AN. Other such influences are found throughout the Imperial Federation's holdings on Keltia, where many cities are named after mythological people or objects from Menelmacari histories uncovered since the revival of interest in the early 1700's AN. The island's majority ethnicity consists of a mixed Valoran and Menelmacari heritage, with political leanings to the former despite the latter's heavy linguistic and cultural influences.

==History==

=== The Early Period (228 AN - 1178 AN) ===

Also known as the Dark Ages, this was period of factionalism and endless crises for Ralgon. History from this period is scarce, although certain pieces do survive. For instance, the Ralgonese tribes dispersed throughout modern-day [[Drag'os]], and by {{AN|1200}} were a single polity that was situated in a strategic location in the south-center of the island. The chief enemies of the period were primarily the hostile fauna, notably the dragons. While the insectoid lifeforms of the [[Great Swamp]] were a dire threat, they were, by and large, manageable by this time. The lightning dragons were, however, a far different story, for they were responsible for the near-extinction of the Ralgonese peoples on the island on several occasions, the worst by far being in {{AN|228}}, before which recorded history apparently does not survive outside of modern [[Glacier City]], the mountainous environment in which the locals found life-saving shelter. The current principal Ralgonese ruling tribes descend from those same refugees who eventually spread throughout the island in the next thousand years.

It was around the year {{AN|800}} that the nascent [[Draconic]] religion was first recorded being adopted by Ralgonese chieftains and petty rulers. Archaeological evidence concludes that Draconic originated in the Badlands to the northwest of the island, where (ironically) the dragons lived in the highest concentrations. Outside of religious proselytization, events were largely cyclical throughout the island until the year {{AN|1178}}, with the eastern and western portions maintaining no contact, with the Ralgonese nobility eventually finding their way into the courts of other territories in a bid to consolidate the region against the dragons and Great Swamp "bugs" ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_gigantism gigantic insectoid species of a wide variety]). However, a major dragon attack by an elder lightning dragon and its retinue destroyed most of the nobility, and the region in the east experienced a violent political reset, while the west was so devastated by the dragon attacks that its peoples fell entirely out of contact with the rest of the world until nearly {{AN|1680}}.

The slowly modernizing [[Glacier City]] survived the onslaught, as did certain nobility in the environs of Valeria in the most well-defended areas of Stormhold. It was shortly after this catastrophe that the first universities began to appear in the country, some being relics of old conflicts, now solidified and given "universal" privileges to act as education institutions. For institutions that survive to the point, such as the [[University of Glacier City]], these same organizations' origins are typically tied to Draconic Temples in their respective cities, only detaching centuries later as each entity grew too large for the other to reasonably house or manage. The attacks, while devastating on the frontier populations and the inland dwellers, forced a population concentration and accelerated the region's rapid onset of industrialization (and better defenses).

=== The Intermediate Period (1178 AN - 1655 AN) ===
The Intermediate Period was defined by the initiation of the Great Swamp Wars in earnest to take back the inland regions and relieve agricultural pressure on the rapidly growing population, as fishing could only sustain so many people, despite the abundant waters and large prey items that the fishing industry could readily target. By the time {{AN|1200}} rolled around, these wars had begun in earnest, with each of the various surviving eastern polities on Drag'os attempting to assert their own control away from the coastal regions and into the fertile, well-watered lands between the coast and the Great Swamp. Exploration during these times was limited to the eastern half of the island, due to the Great Divide to the west acting as too great a physical barrier, especially with hostile dragons inhabiting the region.

Overall, the Great Swamp Wars, were the series of long-term conflicts that formed both the definition and basis of the Ralgon nation until c. {{AN|1680}}. The so-called "War" was neither a single conflict, nor was it fought between nations. Instead, it was a conflict fought between the peoples inhabiting the island of [[Drag'os]] and the megafauna of various sorts that inhabited the Badlands, which were divided into eastern and western halves by the Great Divide (itself a series of mountain ranges that divided the island in two). The War may be divided into four phases marked by significant events: The Atomic Bombardment of 1450, the Dark Age, the Atomic Bombardment of 1672, and the Western Campaign of 1680.

The initial phases of the conflict lasted until c. {{AN|1400}}, with modernizing weapons enabling the surviving polities of Stormhold, Nixtorm, Scarterra, and others to compete directly with the most dangerous fauna inland for natural resources. However, their pathological hostility towards humans and the high reproduction replaced losses while inflicting grievous setbacks on the Ralgonese defenders. A stalemate was achieved until Stormhold manufactured an atomic device that it successfully deployed in the depths of the Great Swamp in the year {{AN|1450}}, which wiped out the dragon population on the eastern half of the island, almost to the last creature. However, the atomic blast had existentially dangerous consequences: it irradiated the already-large bugs, and permanently drove most lightning dragons into lifelong killing frenzies that nearly, again, wiped out all life on the island. The only thing saving them was, ironically, more nukes until their store had run dry. Making a resolution to never use fissile warheads again, the idea was seemingly set aside permanently to sustain the growing tide of giant bugs now crawling out of the Great Swamp in record numbers. While a stalemate was eventually reached once again, the Ralgonese were still driven even closer to the coast, and the population situation eventually began to deteriorate despite extremely high fertility rates among women.

The tides began to slowly turn under the reign of [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]], whose clan and subordinate tribes initially controlled only the coastal fringes of what is now [[Stormhold]]. After the Ralgon tribes colonized and settled the fertile and secure valleys and coastlines at the far east end of the island, the settlement known as [[Glacier City]] quickly grew to dwarf its mother country in population due to a general lack of hardship. By the time Nobunag'an came into power in {{AN|1594}}, The resulting boost in manpower and territory propelled the Ral clans to form the Ralgon nation, which slowly forced their way north and east to link up with other peoples in the region, most notably those from what used to be the regions of [[Nixtorm]], [[Aurora]], and [[Scarterra]]. With their forces and technology combined, the new Ralgon state went on to defeat the enemy, with Nobunag'an IV going down in history as the man who saved his people from extinction. The country would eventually modernize enough to deploy a non-fissile atomic weapon in {{AN|1672}}, near the end of Nobunag'an's reign, in time for [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] to come in to ostensibly finish the job.

=== Late Ralgon Period ({{AN|1655}} - {{AN|1706}}) ===

The Ralgon of the late period eventually grew into a quasi-feudal empire that remained closed to the world until c. {{AN|1655}}. The Ralgon Empire has heavily influenced and/or governed the entire island of Dragos (known to the wider world as "El Dorado") for its first two centuries, and despite attempts to colonize and control more hospitable lands abroad, internal crises ranging from overpopulation in [[Glacier City]] to difficulties controlling the hinterland proved to be its eventual downfall. After having initially consolidated diplomatic control of most of the island (and at great cost), the Ralgon Empire developed some of the world's most advanced science, engineering, and medicine, which it used to briefly take over the island in a "manifest destiny" style of expansion. This golden age proved ephemeral, however. From {{AN|1680}} to {{AN|1700}} the central Ralgon government lost almost its entire frontier and nearly two-thirds of its heartlands in Drag'os in quick succession to a series of cataclysmic events during the so-called Crisis of the 1680's (which affected many other major such as [[Frankish Empire]], [[Stormark]], and others). Some of these same physical, natural, and economic upheavals spurred the government into military/political disasters as the [[Ralgon Civil War]] and the [[Cibolan Reconquista]].

Due to this series of military and political disasters, the central government also slowly lost its grip on its colonies, which continued to grow rapidly in size and population, sometimes at their mother country's expense. Power struggles at home and endless wars were waged abroad on mainland [[Cibola]] in a desperate effort for the Empire to hold onto its remaining authority, but to little avail. The Ralgon state was reduced to a mere shadow of itself on its own homeland, having shrunk some 80 percent, with foreign powers such as the [[Bassarid Empire]] and [[Calbion]] occupying parts of [[Drag'os]] during the ensuing few decades, this occupation being a cause of public shaming for the already-weak government. These wars continued until the Holy Ralgon Empire's final recognized Emperor, [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], formally declared that he would bequeath his crown in an otherwise illegal act to the Prince of Adrestia upon his death. This managed to stave off the undead in northern Cibola and the various rebelling clans and tribes remaining in the newly created in [[The Green]] now surrounding Ralgon on all sides.

The central government barely continued to hold authority under this agreement until shortly after the unexpected illness and death of Emperor Shiro to a very rare and aggressive form of cancer in {{AN|1704}}. In a state of confusion and caught unprepared against this sudden development, the central government found itself leaderless and Adrestia with only a child on the throne. In the power struggle that immediately followed, the central government rallied around the Imperial Senate. In a closed-door ceremony, the majority of the Dragosian-based Senators deliberately excluded their more powerful colonies and nominated their own candidate in [[Prince Draegar Ral]]. This immediately triggered a civil conflict wherein pro-Adrestian and pro-Senate forces vied for control over imperial authority. While the pro-Adrestian faction remained mostly united throughout the war, the pro-Senate faction divided almost immediately due to the dubious circumstances behind both contenders' claim to the Imperial Throne, with Glacier City's defection to Adrestian interests and a following political purge in the city proving the trigger for the civil war to begin.

After the defection of [[Glacier City]], much of [[Dragon's Reach]], [[Nova Victoria]], and the massive naval infrastructure that all of these provided, the war quickly proved to be one-sided in favor of the now-powerful maritime empire the Ralgons had originally built abroad. The new government of the Empire took shape out of these factions, with Glacier City taking pre-eminent authority over Drag'os due to Stormhold's desire to remain pro-Senate. The island's heavily defensible terrain rapidly lead to a slow grind in the land war for Adrestian naval forces, which weren't used to fighting wars deep inland. The pro-Adrestian military forces grossly underperformed in mainland Cibola, where the remainders of the pro-Draeg'ar Senate eventually relocated, and in deep inland parts of [[Drag'os]] and the mountainous frontiers deep inside of the recently conquered [[Tar-Palantir]] island territories. However, the front was extremely one-sided for Adrestian forces inland, and the lines formed along the interiors of the empire's Cibolan territories as fighting dragged to a stalemate along the few remaining active fronts. The [[Ralgon War of Succession]] lasted nearly two years, until the Holy Ralgon Empire finally fell to pro-Adrestian forces, whose diplomats and troops went on to win political victories. The near-total military victory at home, following the complete restoration by diplomacy of former Ralgonese territories in the heartland, finally crushed what little determination organized Senate resistance had left to fight.

=== Early Years of the Federation ({{AN year|1706}}-{{AN year|1715}}) ===
With the end of the war came the prices that needed to be paid for victory. While the pro-Adrestian forces found themselves with near-total victory, the casualty count was high and they still lost the inland territories of mainland Cibola to the opposing camps. The remainder of the Senate needed to be dealt with, and the government of Drag'os rebuilt after the model of [[Draconic Humanism]], which was going to be a long and costly process. The Adrestian Navy had ranged this entire region of the world flushing out and destroying resistance among anti-Imperial factions, and this was a difficult task to accomplish in far-flung territories like Dragospire and Ryugawa. However, their efforts were far from pointless, as the now-Imperial Federation Navy had uncontested control of its seas, albeit at the cost of terrible overextension (for which it eventually compensated by abandoning certain remote outposts).

The Imperial Federation quickly found that it had greatly overextended due to unprecedented territorial gains. With a massive empire to run, the central government was forced to consolidate its vast holdings, but it would not abandon territories outside of its historic periphery pointlessly. Instead, deals were reached with [[Calbion]] at the end of 1706 during the closing phases of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to trade off their strategic island colonies off northwest Keltia, as well as the greater half of the baronies of Scarterra (which were compensated with large holdings elsewhere in the empire), for the last remaining foreign territory on the Ralgonese homelands. Following this huge political victory, though, the vast majority of the people of Scarterra emigrated to other portions of the empire, following their respective lords or barons. The exceptions were a great part of those civilians who stayed in the Dragospire territory, many of whom became Calbain subjects, having sympathized with the Senatorial forces. However, this overextension of Imperial military assets was to be felt for years to come, with the Imperial Navy unable to extend the Army's reach farther than the already-vast holdings controlled by the centers of power in Gondolin and Glacier City.

The legacy of Emperor Shiro was felt throughout the Empire, and the concept of open rebellion so soon after his death raised a specter of national guilt that needed to be quashed. Thanks to the efforts of the central government's propaganda machine (rumored to be helped by humanist organizations elsewhere), the war was spun as protecting the late Emperor's legacy and fulfilling his hard-fought dream with him as a guardian spirit of sorts, rather than spurning it with such a radical change of government. With these changes afoot, the Imperial Federation was forced to be relatively quiet in world affairs, with the notable exception of the [[Ludwiggian-Monovian War]], which saw Imperial forces send materiel to help Raspur Forces deliver a strong conclusion to the fighting.

==== Post-War Expansions (1715-{{AN year}}) ====

===== Conquest of Valora (1715-1718) =====
{{main|Conquest of Valora}}

The Imperial Federation had bided its time wisely, although this was completely unknown to the Emperor, now a teenager, never mind his government, which had done its best to combat Imperial overextension of military assets in the few years following the Imperial victory over the rump state now known as Valora {{AN year|1706}}, the latter ironically consisting only in small part of formal Valoran territory, with the rest being Ralgonese holdings under central government control in name only in most places.

The peace generated by the stalemate was only an illusion, however. The two states were, at least formally, still in a state of war with each other, although Draegarist loyalists to the south were questioning the reasoning for this to begin with. The [[Ralgon Reconquista]] and its prior [[Cibolan Reconquista]] were still official government policy, on both sides now. With the abandonment of northern Cibola by [[Sanama]] in 1717, the Imperial Federation was, temporarily, given leave to do whatever they wanted at the flank of "New Ralgon", the initial territory formed by the Draegarist government as a buffer between their new capital of Yixing and the considerable naval forces prowling at every major coast of the country.

The Imperial Federation, strengthened by its military expansion in the past ten years, knew exactly what to do and how to respond. They launched a flanking invasion from the freshly liberated "New Cibola" (nicknamed because of the new populations from old cities on [[Drag'os]]), and before a year was out, effective military movements and a few key battles were effectively all it took for the Imperial Federation's military juggernaut, with Raspur backing, to trigger the weakened Valora's near-total collapse outside of its heartland deep in Cibola's interior. While the Imperial Federation could only content itself with Valora's northern half and western coastlines, this was still exactly what they wanted, as they secured the unclaimed [[Green]] for themselves in the process and left Valora's remaining territory to be absorbed by Mondo in an act of self-preservation.

==== Post-Conquest Expansions (1718-1721) ====
{{Main|Operation Icebox}}
{{Main|Imperial Eura}}

The Imperial Federation's efforts to expand off the coast of Eura was, by comparison to Valora, far easier and significantly more uneventful. However, securing sovereignty over parts of the new territories eventually carried a significant financial price tag that stung the Imperial Court's efforts to fully develop these new territories for several years. Authority had long collapsed in the region, but aside from low-threat pirates, hostile forces were scarcely found, with most of the regions' populations welcoming the return of security and prosperity to the islands off the coast of Eura. Named the Forgotten Isles in the years leading up to it, the only presence of authority over the past five years in the area was a very large Imperial Navy base centered on the port city of [[Farquat]].

From this centralized base, the Imperial Federation quickly consolidated what it was now calling "Imperial Eura," which was just a collection of islands off the southern coast of the continent. The region quickly gained renewed strategic importance following first contact with a nation to the far south of Micras, known to the Imperials as "Frigia" (which turned out later to be simply the western portion of that country). While the islands were initially inhabited by only a few thousand people, they were located directly between the Imperial bases south of Eura and Tapfer farther to the west. Meanwhile, their position next to a new trading partner made acquiring these islands peacefully a top priority of the Imperial Court. Details aside, the natives eventually agreed to sell the islands outright, but charged the Imperial Federation a significant price, which included a hefty sum of hard currency, as well as large modernization investments on part of the Imperials, as both had major priorities of their own in building the region's peripheries to a modern standard.

{{Main|Operation Thunder Drop}}
{{Main|Imperial Haifa}}

In terms of economic and military might, the Imperial Federation had reached yet another plateau of power and prosperity following the annexation of Valora following the Conquest. Having freed the majority of its now battle-tested personnel, the Imperial Court sought to give their soldiers something to keep themselves sharpened on, as well as a way to integrate formerly Valoran soldiers into the Imperial armed forces. The opportunity quickly came for both the small Imperial Federation Army and the brown water elements of the Imperial Federation Navy to test their mettle on an entirely new front: [[Haifa]]. Unfortunately, they got more than they initially bargained for in these efforts.

The region had fallen apart in the wake of the [[Haifo-Palliscian Trad Union|Bassarid Empire's]] collapse of authority in the region by {{AN|1718}}. Given the meteoric rise in importance of the Strait of Haifa to maritime trade between the [[Imperial Federation]] and its far-northern neighbors in [[Normark]], the Imperial Federation quickly occupied strategic points in the region, hoping to expand their influence and instill order in the region after models successfully implemented in places like [[Tar-Palantir]], [[Valora]], and elsewhere in the Empire. However, these efforts were almost immediately forced to a slow grind by the [[Confederation of the Dispossessed]]. The situation was not helped by a strained treasury, as the Imperial Court was also focused on building the new Euran and Trans-Euran territories in [[North Frigia]] and [[Imperial Eura]], and rebuilding [[New Ralgon]] and [[North Valora]].

In the midst of these operations and significant financial investments in building (or rebuilding) its recent gains, the Imperial Federation's expansions slowed down, as it continued to focus its military operations on construction, securing the seas, and otherwise hammering away at the Haifan situation. Peace would not come to the latter for several years. The slowdown of Imperial expansion was interrupted by the full consolidation and recognition by the MCS of its consolidation of the Imperial Federation's Euran territories.

=== Modern Period (1722-) ===

==== Extended Regency Period (1722-1727) ====
The Imperial Federation entered 1722 AN with renewed vigor. It had sent the Emperor [[Anarion]] to university at [[Metzler University]] in 1719 with the intention of education the already-powerful leader in statecraft, economics, and other vital skills for his station. He spent his time there learning how the Shireithians reintegrated their now-vast holdings in the early 1700's, with the expectation to apply those lessons to the Imperial Federation, which went through a similar period of dramatic expansion only recently. After his marriage to [[Qasima Çakar]] in 1720, the relevant authorities jointly agreed that Qasima would join her new husband in [[Shirekeep]] to attend the same university so as to keep the couple together. The Emperor turned 21 in 1722 AN, and would otherwise have formally taken power at Gondolin. However, he extended the Regency by two years as he wished to complete his studies abroad. The Emperor is scheduled to graduate in 1723, where he will remain in the city until his wife graduates that next year. He is expected to spend time strengthening ties between the Imperial Federation and other members of the Raspur Pact during his time abroad, until he travels to another center of Raspur Pact power for graduate studies. He is expected to extend the Regency once more until 1726, but this remains a subject of speculation.

The Imperial Federation conducted pauses on its territorial expansion during this time to further consolidate its far-flung holdings throughout Micras. Although the Imperial Federation aimed for great power status and could theoretically achieve this through its thalassocratic doctrine, its army and air force remained comparatively small for a country of that size and scope across the oceans. The military situation over the prior several years brought this weakness into sharp relief, and the Imperial Federation spent more time consolidating territorial gains and encouraging settlement to stabilize (and possibly even expand) its farthest-flung frontiers in Keltia and elsewhere. Deep in the Keltian interior, military situation stabilized on the resurgence of a new Bassarid state (albeit greatly reduced) in [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]]. In this sense, the long-running policy of peaceful integration of formerly [[Bassarid]] peoples (whether or not recently annexed) slowly paid off. The takeover of that country stabilized the military situation to the [[Strait of Haifa]]'s west bank, allowing the Imperials to cement and legitimize their hold on the so-called "Central Zone" (south and east of Lake Monovia). This in turn allowed them to continue their extraterritorial expeditions on the Haifan East Bank, allowing them to retain and stabilize the region over the next few years.

Emperor [[Anarion]] ascended to formally take personal power in {{AN|1727}}, after he chose to briefly delay his return, having finished his studies at [[Metzler University]] in international affairs at [[Shirekeep]]. Instead of immediately returning home, however, he embarked on a grand tour in [[Shireroth]] in late {{AN|1726}} with his wife, in which he learned more of the greater empire's system of governance, which he intended to partially implement on his return. His coronation was held on New Year's Day, {{AN|1727}}, in a lavish ceremony.

==== Reign of Emperor [[Anarion]] ====

Pacification of Imperial-held [[Bassaridia]] was achieved by {{AN|1728}}, by which time the Imperial Federation was able to focus on integrating its other far-flung territories, especially those near Eternia. Otherwise, the initial years of the Emperor's reign were characterized by a period of stability and quiet in the internal government, as well as integrating formerly antagonist elements back into Imperial society, in an effort to close the chapters on the previous civil wars permanently. The following years would be spent quietly, with slower movements on a military aspect, instead with the Imperial government focused on consolidating control through building infrastructure and supply chains to both redevelop the region and give freedom of movement to its labor force, and strengthen military capabilities by drastically shortening the armed forces' supply chains throughout the region. This was accomplished through {{AN|1730}}, by which time the region slowly stabilized into a larger, consolidated bloc covering most of inland Keltia along the Haifa strait, from the northern Bassarid-majority areas to the increasingly diverse populations of the Northwest Territory (now called West Menelmacar), centered on [[Blore Heath]] and other settlements.

In the far-flung region of [[Eternia]], preparations were underway to integrate the protectorate's economy with its formerly northern frontiers, and with [[Imperial Eura]]. With the expansion of trade within the region following [[Oportia|Oportia's]] expansion, the Imperial Federation's island territories off the coast of Eura further increased in economic and strategic importance. With both territories slowly sinking into Imperial control, annexation would become a quiet subject of conversation within the halls of power. While there was little enthusiasm for direct action by {{AN|1730}}, given the Emperor Anarion's own focus squarely on strengthening Imperial infrastructure, particularly within the northwestern regions, there was merit in integrating these valuable domains into a so-called "Greater Eternia," under the imperial banner.

==== 1730's Economic Boom ====

In the former [[Valora]] region, efforts to reintegrate the region continued apace, with the mixing of the Valoran and Ralgonese populations forming a supermajority of (non-undead) inhabitants in the region. Centered around [[Nova Victoria]], it would form effectively another core Ralgon province by the opening of the 1730's AN. Cross-border migration with [[South Valora]] continued through these years, with subsections of North Valora's more conservative Valorans wary of the prospect of complete assimilation with their Ralgonese brethren. However, these figures did little to impact popular sentiment, due to the return of normalcy to the region under Imperial auspices. With prosperity no longer a pipe dream for most of the population, but increasingly accessible to those outside the ruling class, anti-Imperial sentiment remained minimal throughout this period, contributing to a period of quiet the region had not seen since the brief [[Barbary]] period some 50 years prior. The area would be effectively reintegrated with the rest of Ralgonese-populated regions by {{AN|1735}}.

Internal expansion would follow into the 1730's, with the increasing growth of periphery regions leading to a heavy population boom throughout the Empire. Increasing industrialization in the provinces and near-complete restoration of infrastructure in the [[Haifa]] regions contributed to not only a greatly increased output of manufactured goods, but the development of vast, valuable farmlands along the entire Strait of Haifa region. With mass interchanges of peoples between the various provinces and dominions, the demographic changes saw the Imperial Federation become more cosmopolitan throughout the early 1730's. In turn, this contributed to a renewal of Imperial Federation military strength, namely in ships and aircraft used to protect trade and territorial interests in far-flung places like Eura.

This increased political and economic strength was especially felt on the peripheries, and the effect was that the Imperial Federation's central government became far more capable of administering its less densely populated territories. With an increasing presence on, and influence over, [[Eternia]], the decision to entertain proposals for annexation were finally entertained by both parties for the first time. Eventually, a complex agreement was made to annex the region by the end of {{AN|1733}}, in which the Eternian islands could be consolidated with most of [[Imperial Eura]], then collectively given autonomy similar to that of other Provinces of the Empire. While Eternia would keep its local monarchy on its mainland, the newly constituted "Greater Eternia" would nonetheless name the Imperial Federation as its formal suzerain and send representatives to the Senate, and name Anarion as Emperor of Eternia. Thus, the islands would be able to fully benefit from [[Raspur Pact]] membership, as well as direct representation within the greater empire.

==Government==

===Defence===
{{main|Grand Armada of the Sunfire Sea}}

==Foreign Relations==
{{main|Ralgonese Foreign Relations}}

A member of the [[Raspur Pact]] since {{AN|1706}}, the Imperial Federation is a rising great power, with control over much of Northern Cibola and Southeast Keltia by {{AN|1720}}, with heavily populated colonies in other regions such as the far south of Eura and [[Haifa]] after {{AN|1730}}. While the Imperial Federation Navy grants a near-global reach that contributes to a considerable overseas empire, power projection over land remains limited outside of its home regions, as showcased during its participation in the [[Corum War]] and its aftermath from {{AN|1747}} to {{AN|1754}}. The Imperial Federation's status as a rising power has been closely tied to its territorial expansion and massive population growth during the 1700's AN. Its population in {{AN|1705}} after the recovery during the [[Ralgonese War of Succession]] was just over 200 million. The Imperial Federation grew rapidly under the long reign of [[Anarion]], eventually passing 350 million in {{AN|1757}}. A long period of growth spurred near-continual territorial expansion between {{AN|1715}} and {{AN|1755}}, after which policy shifted to aggressive internal development rather than seeking fresh territorial gains abroad.

The Imperial Federation's rise to global prominence was relatively recent, starting with its victory in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in {{AN|1706}}. For most of its history as the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]], Ralgonese power was confined to coastal waters for most of their existence on the [[MCS]] map, especially after the [[Ralgon Civil War|1680's crises]]. Early expansions after [[Conquest of Valora]] overextended the government, necessitating close cooperation with other [[Raspur Pact]] powers. This state of affairs would last until c.{{AN|1740}}, when the Imperial Federation had become capable of further consolidations, as seen after the [[Rusjar Negotiations]] that saw it assume full control of [[Beihagh]] from {{AN|1740}}.

From the transition of the Regency to the personal reign of [[Anarion]] from {{AN|1726}}, the Imperial Federation saw a period of rapid growth that prepared it to absorb the shock left by the [[Streïur uis Faïren|near-collapse of the Rapsur Pact]] from {{AN|1739}} to {{AN|1741}}. By {{AN|1745}}, the Imperial Federation had already become capable of acting as a primary partner during regional wars far afield of its home territory. Between {{AN|1747}} and {{AN|1754}}, it partnered with [[Floria]] and saw victory in the [[Corum War]]. During {{AN|1750}} and beyond, further anti-piracy actions alongside [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] brought peace to [[Haifa]]. Despite some territorial loss there, the Imperial Federation reached a peak in its territorial extent by {{AN|1755}}, and population continued to grow rapidly.

Alongside its membership in the Pact, the Imperial Federation enjoys warm relations through other countries as well, including [[Çakaristan]], which signed a marriage pact in which [[Qasima Çakar]] married the Emperor in {{AN|1720}}. Additionally, the Emperor is, by virtue of his marriage, a member of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]], although he has not been observed openly exercising privileges associated with this title. The Imperial Federation also enjoys good relations with [[Floria]], its ally during the [[Corum War]]. The Imperial Federation is also in a [[Treaty on Mutual Defence between the Imperial Federation and Bassaridia Vaeringheim|regional alliance]] with [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] since {{AN|1757}}. It also enjoys special status with [[New Alexandria]], its neighbor as well as co-signatory of the [[Treaty of Qorali]] that oversees joint protection of the [[Mala|Mala peoples]] since the original [[1732 Memorandum of Understanding|1732 agreement]].

=== Raspur Pact ===

{{main|Raspur Pact}}

The thalassocratic history of the Imperial Federation may be traced to [[Adrestia]], which built the vast majority of its own military power through its navy. Meanwhile, [[Ralgon]] had built up its power with its massive array of cutting-edge artillery and anti-air defense systems, accounting for the [[Great Swamp War]] and the campaign against the island's incredibly dangerous dragon population. With the majority of the country's ground forces tied down in domestic pacification, the navy became the new Imperial Federation's mainstay in maintaining hegemony over its often-sparsely populated frontiers. Membership in the Raspur Pact provided a convenient solution to these pressing questions, allowing the Imperials to continue focusing its ground forces on domestic matters, while constantly assisting with operations with its increasingly large, experienced, and powerful navy.

The Imperial Federation also signed agreements signed with [[Eternia]] during its independence, making it a protectorate of sorts. The relationship gave the Imperial Federation a strong trading network to rare minerals, but also additional justifications for settling the isles south of Eura with a very rapidly-growing colony. Eternia was subsequently annexed as a constituent country of the Imperial Federation in {{AN|1733}}. [[Beihagh]] followed in {{AN|1740}} after the [[Rusjar Negotiations]] and [[North Corum]] was annexed after the [[Corum War]] ended in {{AN|1754}}.

=== Dynastic Policies ===

{{main|Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar}}

Historically, the Ralgonese ruling houses had little dynastic connections to foreign royalty. With rapidly dwindling numbers past {{AN|1680}} with its various crises, abdications, reforms, and stripping of titles, the now-Imperial House eventually found itself bereft of members to marry off. Eventually, only the Emperor himself was a major asset in this regard. Because of this two-fold problem, the Regency Council in {{AN|1715}} decided firmly that the Imperial Federation's ruling house should belong to a prestigious network. The government conducted inquiries, therefore, and began looking for partners outside of its usual sphere of diplomatic affairs.

Eventually, an offer was settled between the [[Shahanshah of Çakaristan]], [[Jaaguzan]]. Under the auspices of this agreement, [[Anarion]] married [[Qasima Çakar]], the daughter of [[Akbar Çakar]] (the former ruler of [[Çakaristan]] and [[Jodha Avchat]]. The marriage took place in {{AN|1720}}, when Anarion was 19 and Qasima was 18. The two then traveled to Shirekeep for university studies, placing the matter of offspring until Anarion's formal coronation and assumption of full-time duties as Emperor by {{AN|1726}}. By extension, Anarion also became a [[Knight of the Holy Lakes]], forming a strong family-based connection with [[Hurmu]] as well. The two had an impressive twenty-five children, the last set arriving in {{AN|1738}}.

==Economy==

==Science & Technology==

==Geography==
=== Position on Micras===

On Micras, the majority of the Imperial Federation's holdings and population centers are concentrated in two places: Southeast [[Keltia]] (so-called "Greater Adrestia"), and Northern [[Cibola]] (especially [[Drag'os]], known to past cartographers as [[El Dorado]]). In addition to its traditional heartlands, the Imperial Federation holds extensive territory in those same regions and, through a network of regional and global alliances and treaties with neighbors, enjoys hegemony over increasingly well-defined maritime regions between these territorial concentrations. As such, the Imperial Federation has many maritime neighbors on Micras, the most extensive of such borders being with [[Calbion]], which coexists with the Imperials on both the [[Keltia]] and [[Cibola]] oceans in their respective areas of influence. The Imperial Federation also controls a concentration of colonies abroad, notably concentrated off the southern coast of Eura (namely called [[Imperial Eura]], including large islands near the protectorate of [[Eternia]] as well).

Greater Adrestia holds in its orbit territories on the southeast corners of [[Keltia]], with inland holdings as far as [[Haifa]] and as far down the coast as [[Nixtorm]]. The maritime territory between Adrestia, Nixtorm, and [[Blore Heath]] are possessed almost in their entirety by the Imperials. However, two exceptions exist: [[Windsor]], a colony of [[Lac Glacei]], and an exclave of [[Çakaristan|Çakaristan's]] called [[Çakari oceanic territory|Tarria]], both being native reservations, and extremely small in size compared to nearby Imperial populations, territorial holdings, and military installations. (As such, they are not considered a security risk, although the central government has made their peaceful incorporation through purchase or exchange a core part of its long-term agenda in recent years.)

The Imperial Federation's sway over portions of Northern [[Cibola]] are far better defined. [[Drag'os]], from its megalopolis in [[Glacier City]], controls both its home island as well as [[Tar-Palantir]] (itself formerly called [[Frigga Island]] under [[Stormark|Storish]] rule) and swathes of northern Cibola, consisting of [[New Ralgon]] (centered on the city of [[Nova Victoria]], [[Valora]] (specifically, its more populated northern half), and [[Imperial Cibola]] (by far the most sparsely populated of these territories). Far to the Southeast of these lies [[Bomei Island]], a strategic holding the Imperials use to protect their interests in the region and connect to the Antarctic Territory.

In terms of its extended imperial holdings, the Imperial Federation has several neighbors on land. On mainland [[Cibola]], it shares two land borders. The more notable one is with the [[Mondosphere]] to the south on the [[Cibola]] mainland, where the two share the former territory of [[Valora]] after its {{AN|1715}} partition. The other border is a narrow coastal strip on northern Cibola bordering [[Calbion]], which also shares extensive maritime borders with the Imperial Federation elsewhere on Cibola and Keltia. On mainland Keltia, the Imperial Federation shares a narrow land border on the mainland coast with [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]], and off the same coast with [[Windsor]], a colony of [[Lac Glacei]], where the Imperials occupy a pair of military bases on and near the island as its own sovereign territory. Across from the Imperial Federation's newest territories along the [[Strait of Haifa]] lies [[Anahuaco]], and on the further bank to the northeast lies [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]].

===Domestic Overview===

{{WIP}}

These territories contribute to a newly global empire that supplanted Ralgon after its violent, two-year [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that finally concluded in the final days of 1706 AN.

The Imperial Federation has, in addition to recent gains elsewhere, reclaimed the entirety of [[Ralgon|Ralgon's]] former territory, and made additional, significant gains abroad in naval bases outside of their traditional sphere of activity in the [[Great Western Sea]]. The Imperial Federation consists of several distinct geographic divisions of various importance: States, Dominions, and Territories. States tend to have their own Dominions, and Dominions their own Territories, with dependent districts belonging entirely within their parent unit. From most to least important of such independent divisions, the Empire consists of the Ralgonese states of [[Adrestia]], and [[Drag'os]], which have imperial status. Independent Dominions include Nixtorm and Tar-Palantir, located near their respective suzerain states, possess Princely status. [[Scarterra]] is unusual in that it also possesses princely status but is divided between its newer settlements on the Isles of Eriador and its reclaimed homelands on the north coast of Drag'os.

The other free-standing territories with Senate representation include [[Eriador]] (which includes the former Al Hamra and the former New Scarterra), [[Nova Victoria]], and [[Bomei Island]]. Territories with self-rule, but without representation in the Senate include the penal colony [[Devil's Island]] (now relocated to [[Eura]] and renamed to its Ralgonese translation), the majority [[Umraism|Umraist]] Gold Coast, and the sparsely populated, native-majority Northwest Territory.

Dependent territories include the Naval Base Eura and the Imperial Antarctic Territory, both of which have only one major settlement each, and the Sovereign Base Areas formed concurrently with [[Lac Glacei]] during their execution of the [[Mala'anje Repatriation Act]]. In addition, [[Imperial Haifa]] was recently added to the Imperial fold, but at great cost in materiel and local manpower. Together, these territories make up a vast, consolidated maritime empire that has reached the zenith of its power, influence, and geographical size.

=== Keltian Holdings ===

The Imperial Federation holds significant land on mainland Keltia since its expansion following the Succession War. This territory is generally divided into three parts: Nixtorm, and the two frontier territories in the Gold Coast, and the sparsely populated settlements in the Northwest Territory. Recently, the addition of [[Imperial Haifa]] has expanded the Imperial Federation's reach of the [[Strait of Haifa]], but at great cost due to heavy armed resistance from the [[Confederacy of the Dispossessed]].

==== Nixtorm ====

Originally located on mainland [[Drag'os]], the territory of Nixtorm consists of a group of large islands off the southeastern end of Keltia. Now a densely populated territory, Nixtorm is a region which depends heavily on trade for its economy. It imports resources from its mainland holdings of Inner Nixtorm (located just across the channels on Southeast Keltia) and distributes mineral resources, crops, and other items across the Empire and to international trading partners. Inner Nixtorm is the breadbasket of the entire Keltian coastal region, and rare earth deposits found on Nixtorm's rocky shores provide valuable exports, or fuel for the nuclear reactors under construction throughout the territory.

==== Gold Coast ====

Sparsely populated, the Gold Coast is home to nomads, traders, and prospectors. The region is known for its coastal fishing villages, and for the deserts inland that are very rich in gold and silver deposits. Due to the inhospitable climate, there are very few heavily populated settlements far from the coast. The region has large reserves of fossil fuel, which are traded for grain from Nixtorm's fertile mainland holdings to the south. The coasts are rich economic hubs, and many Ralgonese and other Imperials make their way to the Gold Coast from situations of near-destitution from overcrowded places like newly reconquered areas in [[Drag'os]] in an attempt to make it big. Few do, and so the Imperial Federation must now contend with a territory with extreme economic and social inequalities, in a vast, stretched out nation where Draconic Humanism is the dominant ideology in the Imperial Court.

Gold Coast's border with the [[Green]] deep in mainland Keltia is incredibly porous, leading to a strange mix of peaceful anarchy in the Imperial Federation deserts on the one hand, and desperados and brigands just beyond the zone of positive control exercised by the Federation's authorities. It is currently unknown whether the stretched Imperial Armed Forces are able to project their capabilities so far inland, but efforts have been made (albeit halfheartedly). This has made the region the Imperial Federation's near-equivalent of a "wild west," with efforts at establishing law and order largely being left to local forces.

==== Northwest Territory ====

Full of ethnic Menelmacari civilians, this is one of the few major regions in the Imperial Federation from which the majority of the colonizing settlers were not Ralgonese (or Drag'osian) in origin, the other in the West being New Menelmacar. The region consists of mostly small settlements, with native diasporas from other nations finding the region a welcoming change from the rest of the ultramodern, Ralgonese-majority Imperial Federation regions on the islands east of Keltia. For many years, the region is strategically insignificant to the Imperial government outside of its coastal areas. For a time, it and represented the pinnacle of the Imperial Court's version of their so-called "Manifest Destiny." Since the Northwest Territory represents the extent of it all, little effort was spent on forcibly pacifying the region's interior prior to the inclusion of [[Imperial Haifa]], with the local authorities being instead directed to pursue strong policies of coexistence with any native or minority groups within these lands. With some sense of irony, the inclusion of Blore Heath in subsequent years following the [[Bassarid]] collapse in the late 1710's AN only strengthened the security of the region.

Like the Gold Coast, the Imperial Federation exerts little control deep inland. However, unlike the Gold Coast, little in the way of violence exists in these territories. This is largely due to the lack of resources exploitable by single individuals, as well as strong native title to interior lands, making it unattractive for people in pursuit of half-baked get-rich-quick schemes. Violent crimes happen with far less frequency than other mainland Keltian holdings, leading the rural portions of the region (especially away from the coastlines) to develop a reputation for being a sort of utopia for those who seek peace without expectation of economic reward. As a result, the territory has rapidly become a destination for older Imperials to retire after decades of service to the state.

The main exception is the regions north of [[Blore Heath]] along the [[Strait of Haifa]]. Already a populous settlement, Blore Heath's relatively peaceful assimilation into Imperial control strengthened the settlement's economic output, and anchored the region between the Strait of Haifa and its narrow land border with [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] to the southwest. This change also cemented the Northwest Territory as the Imperial Federation's largest Ralgonese-minority territory outside of [[Valora|(North) Valora]].

==== Imperial Haifa ====
{{WIP}}

The Imperials occupied Haifa from {{AN|1718}}, but until the mid-1720's AN, the territory relied almost entirely on military support to survive, until a generalized peace was brokered allowing for the integration of the locals into the Imperial Federation's patchwork of territories organizing themselves in the formerly Bassarid regions near Haifa. Consisting of a patchwork of territories anchored around the east and south ends of [[Lake Morovia]], the territory is anchored by its garrisons based out of Abeis in the interior, and along islands located on the [[Strait of Haifa]] immediately adjacent to these land-based territories. The islands depend on the home government's military for their continued existence, with Imperial hold on these areas being tied only to constant, and costly, investments on holding them against enemies seemingly on all sides.

===Cibolan Holdings===

===Overseas Territories===

Overseas territories are technically rife within the Imperial Federation, by virtue of it being a thalassocracy. However, three territories most notably fall well outside of the so-called Core Regions on Cibola and Keltia: [[Bomei Island]], [[Devil's Island]], and the so-called [[Naval Base Eura]]. The latter is a large naval installation located off the southern cost of Eura off an island of respectable size. While Devil's Island is clearly a penal colony, Bomei Island's similar status is a legal gray area, due to the relative freedom of its inhabitants, be their residence voluntary or mandatory.

====Bomei Island====

{{main|Bomei Island}}

Formerly a penal colony meant to house the country's elites during times of political upheaval and instability, the island's importance has seen itself transform into a strategic asset for [[Raspur Pact]] forces, while doubling as a getaway destination of sorts for the country's upper classes. The massive naval bases on the island aside, the territory holds rapidly increasing infrastructure meant to cater to the Imperial Federation's rapidly expanding upper classes, thanks to the island's mild climate and excellent location near major countries like [[Natopia]], the [[Mondosphere]], and other prime destinations.

====Devil's Island & South Beihagh====

{{main|Devil's Island}}
{{main|South Beihagh}}

Until its assets' relocation to [[Eura]] in a land swap with [[Çakaristan]], Devil's Island was the primary center of the Imperial Federation's power on the continent of Corum and the sole lynchpin of Ralgonese power projection into [[Eura]], namely [[Imperial Eura]] and [[Eternia]] (which later joined the Imperial Federation). Primarily serving as both a penal colony and a large naval base, Devil's Island doubled as one of two areas that Raspur Pact forces had at their disposal in the region, the other being [[Natopia|Natopia's]] [[Naya Island]]. Although the island was also meant as a staging area to colonize portions of the exotic continent of [[Corum]], this never came to pass. Instead, the island was ceded to [[Çakaristan]]'s [[Jaihabar|Jaihabar Sultanate]] in {{AN|1720}} as part of a larger deal that included, among other territorial transfers, the [[Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar]].

Control of Devil's Island remained in Çakaristan's hands until the [[Jaihabar Vortex]] resulted in [[Çakaristan]] abruptly offering to cede the island back to the Imperial Federation in late {{AN|1739}} during the aftermath of the [[Jaihabar Vortex]], with the handover complete by New Year's Day of {{AN|1740}}. The nature of the island's value would be forever changed due to a continued lack of Ralgonese territorial ambitions beyond the island's confines. Instead, strategic interest in the island remained squarely on the island itself. The island offered a large population for its small size, as well as its favorable location, natural harbors, and defensibility. A respectable population of non-[[Çakaristan|Çakari]] citizens on former [[Jaihabar]] had also chosen to stay on the island rather than leave the continent altogether, dramatically changing the island's former demographics and turning the island into a valuable territory in and of itself in short order. While it lacked the same economic importance as its sister territory in [[South Beihagh]], Devil's Island still remained a strategic entrepot due to a much higher capacity for both permanent and passing naval assets that [[South Beihagh]] had little capacity to host over longer periods of time.

An alternate colony, named in Ralgonese as ''Akuma-jima,'' was established in {{AN|1720}} immediately south of the island of [[Beihagh]] (itself a Ralgonese territorial condominium held alongside [[Suren]]) in the wake of the {{AN|1720}} transfer of [[Devil's Island]]. Named after the original Devil's Island, the island became known more properly as [[South Beihagh]] over time. This fortified island was promptly established during this time to serve as an alternate trade node passing through the larger Euran market. More importantly, it served to secure the condominium with [[Beihagh]] to the north, and the island quickly found itself an effective link between the Imperial Federation's naval assets elsewhere with [[Imperial Eura]] and the resource-rich country of [[Eternia]]. The island's economy quickly grew from trade links established via Eura, enriched by stable Imperial control of the region and constant pass-through of both civilian and military assets. The island's importance to Imperial Federation trade and security in the region similarly contributes to the island's strong security, which continued seeing economic growth during the 1730's AN, only hampered by the [[Recession of 1737]]. Further, the lax immigration policy enjoyed by the non-penal settlements on the island have driven the local economy, strengthening Gondolin's reasons for staying put (which, by design, is a core tenet of the Humanist government in charge). The island would retain its economic importance past {{AN|1740}}, despite the lessened strategic emphasis on the island following the re-addition of [[Devil's Island]] to the Imperial Federation beginning that same year.

Past {{AN|1740}}, the islands would serve to grant the other strategic redundancy, as the Imperial Federation continued to emphasize economic growth in its Euran territory. Devil's Island would see its penal colony swiftly re-established, given the Imperial Federation's stated desire to avoid hosting a long-term prison for deported persons in South Beihagh, itself unfavorable for setting aside the necessary land for such institutions. Ultimately, it quickly proved that South Beihagh had regional economic potential as the result of trade with Eura, and Devil's Island profited from higher harbor capacity and proximity to Corum. Both would be integrated into a single territorial unit that included Ralgonese holdings outside of Greater Eternia and its mainland holdings in [[Keltia]] and [[Cibola]].

====Imperial Eura====

{{main|Imperial Eura}}

Imperial Eura consists of a patchwork of territories anchored on Naval Base Eura. With its military center based on what is otherwise known as the Isle of Eura, the islands' culture, economy, and most other aspects of life are dominated by the Imperial Grand Armada's presence on Eura, with settlements from merchant families and other colonists from the mainland ramping up after 1720 AN. The base supports [[Raspur Pact]] efforts in the region, courtesy of imperial forces operating in the region. Although a token garrison mans the other islands, the base is very well-fortified despite its relative lack of history, and short time under the occupation of the Imperial Federation.

The island holds an unnamed town outside of the base. Consisting of some 20,000 civilian personnel, the civilians are outnumbered by the land-based garrison on the military sides of the island (although not by much) and by the naval forces (which number up to 50,000 during major events). The rest of the islands on the island chain are dominated by civilian-led governance, with the colony expected to ascend from dependency status to Princely status as early as 1725 AN. The rapidly growing population of the islands reflects both the booming economy and strategic importance of this territory to Imperial interests in Eura and the south of Micras as a whole. The resource-rich islands have already contributed to the Federation's economy, with the islands expected to become more integrated into their mother country as the years roll by.

====Naval Base on Tiegang====

{{main|International Mandate#Imperial Federation: Mechazawa Naval Base}}

The Imperial Federation controls the Adrestian Quarter's naval base in the [[International Mandate]]. Known until recently as the "Adrestian Royal Navy Base Tiegang," it was renamed in {{AN|1709}} after Vice Admiral Saizo Mechazawa, who went on to represent the Ralgonese peoples after his retirement. The base is considered the property of the Imperial Federation, although it does not exercise sovereignty over the base. The people living on the island are ostensibly ruled by an elected governor who answers to Tiegangese authorities. However, the island is still influenced by now-Duke Saizo of Eastern Appolonia, who permanently lives there with certain members of his family.

Although the Imperial Federation has few legitimate interests on Appolonia, Tiegang itself nonetheless hosts several tens of thousands of Ralgonese citizens living there, many of whom relocated there after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that saw the (lopsided) fracture of the Ralgonese world along ideological and political lines. Like on Bomei Island, unusually high freedoms of personal expression are tolerated there, although lese majeste laws continue to hold effect even over these far-flung populations.

== Climate & Topography==

==Education==

Three types of post-secondary institutions exist in Ralgon: Private, public, and government-sponsored research institutes. A mixture of these schools rank near the top of the world's universities for factors including pedagogy, alumni outcomes, research output, and institutional financial performance. Most of Ralgon's best public universities also happen to remain self-sustaining in nature; that is, they do not need government funding and actually provide additional income to the government in some few cases. This remains the case even after the severity of the 1685 Crisis.

In recent years, focus on Ralgon's sole remaining overseas possessions prior to {{AN|1685}} by its then-current government drove a concentration schools in Greater Adrestia onto the top of the global league tables. Among these are the elite University of Adrestia (known globally by its abbreviation of UA), which holds a massive endowment of its own. Other high-ranking universities in the de facto independent territory include the Gondolin Institute of Science (GIS), the Naval Academy at Alexandria, and the University of Alphaville (run as a UA satellite campus until 1690, in cooperation with Bassarid faculty).

===Universities===
''(For a detailed list of major universities in the Ralgon, see the below articles.)''

{{main|List of universities in Ralgon}}

====Glacier City University====
{{main|Glacier City University}}

Glacier City University (known by its acronym of GCU) is an elite university located in the Semi-Autonomous Region (SAR) of the same name. Founded as a university in 1076, GCU is the oldest institute of higher education in continuous operation in the Imperial Federation, and the second-oldest university in the country. It is also among the oldest institutions of higher learning on the Cibola continent, having educated over 75% of the former Holy Ralgon Empire's heads of state, among countless other elites within the country.

It is considered an "ancient university" -- that is, an institution of higher learning formed as a university (regardless of its purpose or existence before said formation) before the Draconic faith became the state religion in 1178. It is one of only three such institutions in continuous operation since that date, with the latest of its other six peers being claimed (at least temporarily) by the devastating effects of the long-term 1680's General Crisis.

The University is world-renowned for its engineering and materials science programs, with graduates leading such projects as the construction of the [[Erazm Bridge Consortium]] and ground-breaking developments in ship technology for the recently re-organized [[Grand Armada of the Imperial Federation]], which consists of 250 modernized ships (and some 75 outdated ones) with the same defensive engineering that ensured Ralgon's survival during its darkest days. Its endowment is the second-largest in the Ralgonese state, at around 37 billion Guilders. Housing notable global policy institutes such as the Chidao Emperor Institute for Jing Studies, the university's headquarters remain in the Mountain City after over 600 years. GCU remains the only institution allowed to own property within the Imperial City's inner sanctum, and is also the only non-government organization allowed to operate within the city without an active permit.

Until the fall from prominence of the [[Stormhold]] region as the center of political life in the Empire, Glacier City U long maintained a rivalry with Temple University in Valeria. To this day, the two enjoy top rankings in Micras, especially in the fields of medicine, earth science, and biology. Glacier City University attained renewed prominence on the island of [[Drag'os]] as a part of the aftermath of the [[Ralgon Civil War|1685 Crisis]] and the [[Ralgon War of Succession|War of Succession]] that ended in 1706, due to the university's location in a region generally safe from political violence of any significance (with the sole exception of the 1705 city purge). It was one of the few ancient universities to survive intact; Temple University suffered a drop in the rankings, supplanted by the University of Gondolin, which has taken up some of the old rivalries.

=== Temple University===
{{main|Temple University}}

Temple University (known simply as TU) was originally founded in 425 AN in what is now the city of Valeria by Draconic missionaries, as a religious institute for higher learning. Itself attached to the Holy Temple of Drag'os in the same city (and originally in the same building), the institution was founded to train high-ranking religious personnel in both theology and in statecraft (a skill badly needed at the time by such people). The institution formed into a University in 1046, and adopted its current name in 1298, after the City of Valeria took over the university on behalf of the Ralgon king's government.

The modern Temple University preserves is its original 1046 name, and also serves as the flagship institution of the eponymous system (as a homage to the University's foundations with the Church). Thanks to a heavily increased endowment after the national government purchased the University, it has rapidly grown from an already-elite status to a world-class university in its own right. Although it suffered significantly during the general crises that defined the 1680's to 1705 AN, the modern university still enjoys the massive resources it slowly built over its 700-year history as a university. Temple University maintains its still-strong prominence that relies on a combination of a massive endowment -- the sixth-highest in Ralgon, at 27 billion Guilders, and its system of sister institutions to keep up with the never-ending pace of modernization in the country. This network of academics buoyed the university after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], which saw the city of Valeria stripped of imperial status because of its government's support of the pretenders (who themselves were exiled to [[Valora]]). From battle damage to the loss of students and faculty to the resulting exodus from the city, the university sustained a substantial hit to its endowment (no less than 9 billion Guilders) and a significant drop in the world university rankings that will likely take at least two or three decades to recover from.

Despite its recent woes, the University has no shortage of talent. The university is known for its sheer number of graduates within the Imperial Federation's education system, with nearly half the Dragosian mainland's top 10% of income earners being graduates of one of the schools in the TU system. Most of the City of Valeria's leaders are graduates of the flagship campus, which is known for its strict admissions standards, despite its massive size of over 85,000 students (about 50,000 of which are undergraduate). While the quality of the rivalry the University maintains with Glacier City U has taken damage in recent years, the university still excels in materials science and engineering, and still occupies top rankings worldwide fields of theoretical physics and mathematics.

===University of Gondolin===

Formed in 1672 AN, the University of Gondolin is, by far, the youngest of the elite universities in the Ralgon Empire. The university was founded in what is now Adrestia by the Emperor Shiro of Ralgon to educate the colonists. Following the discovery of precious resources in unprecedented abundance, the university found itself with a massive endowment, spurring extremely rapid growth during its initial few years. Unlike its companion institution, the University of Adrestia, the University of Gondolin operates no satellite campuses outside of its own metropolitan region, allowing a greater concentration of star faculty and other vital resources.

The university is known for its state-of-the-art naval science and space science departments. Its School of Draconic Studies is also widely praised as being on par with giants such as the ancient Glacier City University. The institution has already counted several famous and infamous graduates among its relatively distinguished alumni. Among them is the current Crown Prince of Adrestia, the future Masamune III, who graduated in 1700 AN with a undergraduate dual degree in global affairs and aerospace engineering at the age of 21 before moving abroad for further study. Another is [[Sargon Gilgamesh-Pilagga Azulpolassar|Sargon Azulpolassar]], a prominent noble from [[The Hexarchy]] who graduated in 1693. The university's rapid rise to prominence comes on the heels of Adrestia's prosperity; thus, the university made moves to insulate itself from possible periods of political upheaval during the late 1690's. This strategy paid off, as the city was rocked by the financial strain of bearing the costs of victory in the Ralgon Succession War in the first decade of the 1700's. Careful investment and restricting admissions to a smaller, more manageable student body lead to strengthened reputation abroad by the time the war ended and financial prosperity began to be felt in all quarters of the now-large metropolis.

Although being smaller than its companion institution, the University of Adrestia (and system), the university holds by far the largest endowment in the Imperial Federation, valued at over 50 billion Guilders as of 1707 AN, thanks to heavy and frequent donations by the Royal Family of Adrestia and shrewd financial management. This has allowed the university to cement its assets and begin another round of heavy expansion into the coming century. The rise of the city to prominence in recent years is mostly thanks to the growing status of the city of Gondolin, and its designation as one of the two Imperial Cities allowed further increases in the university's budget for frontier sciences. The university also owns substantial investments in the Alphaville Spaceport, as well as Anarion Spaceport in the Antarctic Territory (along with several research bases in the same).

===University of Adrestia System===
{{WIP}}
Like its counterpart the University of Gondolin, the University of Adrestia was founded in 1672 AN, shortly before the international recognition of the colony as part of the Ralgon Empire. It used to be the same institution as UG, but the two split amicably to allow each university to respectively focus on the needs of Gondolin and the wider Adrestia regions. Although this caused a split in endowment award, the discovery of vast resources on the islands promptly made such a state of affairs relatively moot. The university system has expanded to cover education on the entirety of

This huge amount of resources gradually allowed the University of Adrestia to rapidly grow into the largest education system in the Ralgon Empire, overtaking the Temple University system in {{AN|1697}} (some 12 years post-Crisis). The university enjoys an enrolment of about 98,500 between all of its campuses, the flagship branch at the UA Gondolin being by far the most competitive to enter for aspiring students. Although the flagship campus is at Gondolin, the institution educates leaders in the liberal arts as well as in humanities, being better regarded in these fields than its rival institution of UG.

===University of Nixtorm===

===Western Imperial University===

Western Imperial University is one of the Imperial Universities, opened during the first years of the Imperial Federation. Shortly known as Western, the large university was founded in {{AN|1708}} with branch campuses in major cities to serve elite students in the new frontiers of the Empire on the Keltian mainland. Designed initially to train local government officials as well as native aristocracy, the university opened to gifted commoners hoping for jobs in places that offer higher standards of living, such as the Core Regions of Adrestia or Glacier City. The university is unique to the Imperial Federation in the fact that it is the only Imperial University that does not have a designated flagship campus.

===Anarion University===

Anarion University is a military-sponsored school founded in [[Gondolin]] by the regency of the Imperial Federation in {{AN|1706}}, by decree. Unlike other university systems, Anarion University was created specifically as an international university, with branch campuses in [[Valeria]], [[Glacier City]], and other major settlements throughout the Empire. The latest branch was opened in [[Nova Victoria]] in time for New Year's celebrations on 1710 AN, welcoming its first cohort of students there for Ralgonese Studies, offered jointly with the Chidao Institute for Foreign Studies, itself based in Glacier City. It plans to welcome its first degree-seeking classes by {{AN|1712}}.

The offerings at the university consists of international-based study. Notably, business majors and global studies are offered. The university's flagship campus in [[Alphaville, SAR]] now ranks 50th-60th on the national tables despite to its very young age, thanks to large funding projects and patronage by the imperial family.

==Demographics==

{{see also|Demographics of the Imperial Federation}}

===Population===

==== Pre-Crisis ({{AN|1655}}-{{AN|1685}})====

Conducting a census has, historically, been a major challenge in the Imperial Federation's predecessor states, owing in large part to very high birth and death rates (among the male population) due to constant warfare and paradoxically strong economic growth due to said replacements. This was, mostly, due to the old [[Great Swamp War]] and related national conflicts that saw high casualties against the dangerous fauna inland, which were contained near the time of the Imperial Federation's ascent to power during a second series of civil wars in {{AN|1706}}.

The population during the closing stages late in the second phase of [[Great Swamp War]] had peaked to about 124,254,005 in {{AN year|1665}} under [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon|Nobunag'an IV the Wise]]. Following the ascension of which shot to 159,255,163 in {{AN year|1675}} during a brief phase of prosperity under Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro I the Valiant]]. Records for {{AN|1680}} posted a population of roughly 164 million, during which a strong Ralgon diaspora was dispersed to countries like the [[Hexarchy]] and [[International Mandate]], and during which [[Adrestia]] was first formed, leading to an explosion in population to unknown numbers by {{AN|1685}}, although much of this population had moved to colonies abroad, mostly to territories now under Imperial Federation control.

====Post-Crisis ({{AN|1686}}-{{AN|1717}})====

The {{AN|1685}} Crisis and the attendant [[Ralgon Civil War]] nearly destroyed the country, and reduced its controlled population back under 164 million people, roughly at 1680 levels, with a further 40 million Ralgonese scattered over [[Drag'os]] and other lands near or adjacent to Ralgonese territories at the time. The resulting pressures of an overpopulation crisis nearly ended the country, with these pressures in part triggering the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].

=====Imperial Territory =====

By the time it expanded to nearly its present-day territory in {{AN|1706}}, the Imperial Federation had reclaimed most of former Ralgon's population, and recorded a delayed "1705" census of 204,174,665 within the Imperial Federation's controlled territory and Ralgonese living in its environs in disputed or contested areas. The rapid consolidation, expansion, and movement of Ralgonese back to Imperial territory led to a population of 209,279,031 in the {{AN|1710}} census. This number grew to 213,673,890 by {{AN|1715}} thanks to a baby boom as a result of an influx of territory, resources, and new populations being absorbed into the rapidly growing empire as it fought to combat overextension by encouraging said baby boom to partially solve. A preliminary census estimate taken in {{AN|1717}} after the [[Conquest of Valora]] assessed the Imperial population (minus Valora) had increased another 1.32% to an estimated 216,494,000, a result of large population centers continuing to rise on the coastlines of [[Keltia]] and the northern areas of [[New Menelmacar]].

=====Valoran Territory=====

In the same time, [[Valora]] had recorded a population of 15,639,728 in its metropole areas in {{AN|1707}}, some 25% of which lived in and around the now-major city of Yixing, which became the cultural and political center for both the Ralgonese and Valoran peoples in the politically paralyzed country. The Valoran urban population contracted by 5.7% to 14,748,263 due to repeated, protracted crises in the region's interior. An estimated 25% of the country lived off the grid, or in other urban areas, or were rural, or had refugee status, these states of living being unclearly defined and often found in common due to the country's bitter military, economic, environmental, and political situations. After the [[Conquest of Valora]], some 74% of the population was found to be on the new Imperial side of the territory. The rest were undead that migrated to South Valoran side of the border forming after the war's conclusion.

A census conducted in the close of {{AN|1717}} found that Imperial Valora, New Ralgon, and Imperial Cibola (both east and west) consisted of a grand total of just over 16,075,000 people, not counting the remaining Vanic and anti-Ralgonese/Valoran rebels, nor the remaining undead that found themselves inexplicably under the service of Imperial troops. (Rumor has it that Emperor Anarion was fascinated by the comical way these undead moved and wanted a contingent of them for his own amusement, so Mondo let him have a few hundred as part of the partition agreement. In return, Mondo got [[Kaek]], which in turn did not know and did not care that the transition took place so quickly.)

====Modern Period ({{AN|1717}} -)====

On its formation c. {{AN|1705}}, the Imperial Federation experienced an explosion in population following its victory in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], and further during the decade-plus that followed the cold war between it and its much smaller splinter, [[Valora]]. In {{AN|1717}}, the Imperial Federation executed the [[Conquest of Valora]] and subsumed most of its population, further adding to its expanding population.

An estimate of the Imperial Federation proper yielded a population estimate of 216,494,000, and its newly absorbed territories of New Ralgon, Imperial Cibola, and Imperial (North) Valora held a census that counted approximately 16,075,000 people (not counting the undead and/or stateless persons). This yielded an estimated population of 232,569,000 at the close of {{AN|1717}}, or a strong increase of 13.9% from the {{AN|1705}} census. It was expected that the post-1710's population growth would begin to favor natural birth rates more than annexations, as the Imperial Federation shifts its focus towards peacetime nation building, and the Emperor Anarion comes of age to a period of unprecedented prosperity for the Ralgonese nations of Micras.

Imperial Federation

2026-07-07T02:14:19Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Foreign Relations */

{{Imperial Federation Article}}{{SANE article}}
{{Feature|September, 2022}}
{{Infobox Nation Comprehensive
|fullname = The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Valora, Haifa, and Eternia
|commonname = Ralgon
|flag = File:Imperial Federation 1.png
|coa = File:Imperial Federation CoA 1.png
|motto = ''For God and Empire''
|anthem = Anchors Aweigh
|map =File:IFR_1740.png
|mapversions = ???
|capital =Gondolin (executive, administrative) Glacier City (religious, legislative)
|largecity = Glacier City, SAR
|lang = Ralgonese (official) Standard (official; regional)
|demnoun = Imperial Ralgonese (alternate)
|demadj = Imperial; Ralgonese Adrestian; Drag'osian; Eternian; Haifan
|govtype = Executive Monarchy
|headofstatetitle = Emperor
|headofstate = [[Anarion|Anari'on I]] (formerly called Masamune of Adrestia)
|religion = [[Draconic]] (Ralgonese regions) (other native and folk religions)
|headofgovernmenttitle = Viceroy
|headofgovernment = Nikamura Hawkins, Grand Duke of Gondolin
|legislature = Imperial Senate
|estdate = Winter, {{AN|228}} (traditional) October 23rd, {{AN year|1665}} (as [[Ralgon]] on MCS map) May, {{AN|1706}} (as the Imperial Federation) 
|agerank =
|area =
|arearank =
|pop = 317,994,774 ({{AN|1750}} census)
|activepop =
|currency = Imperial Guilder (£)
|calendar = [[Norton Calendar]] (secular) Draconic Calendar (religious)
|timezone = CMT+8 to +10:30 (Keltia) CMT-10:30 (Cibola)
|electricity = 100 V at 50 Hz
|abbrev = IFR
|drives_on = left
|gauge = 1500 mm (freight) 1000 mm (passenger; urban) 1435mm ([[Cibolan Rail|Cibolan Express]])
|site = [https://micras.org/mwiki/Category:Imperial%20Federation Category Page] [https://micras.org/mwiki/User:Cosmic_Fury User Page]
|forum = [https://bastionunion.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=1646&sid=32557dfeb48c60af1428753bfb403f56 Old Forum]
|animal = leviathan
|food = crocodile meat
|drink = Menelmacari whiskey
|tree = Al-Hamra sequoia
}}

'''The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Adrestia, Haifa, and Eternia''', known better as '''The Imperial Federation''', is a set of Imperialist, unified, sovereign states that coalesced in {{AN|1706}} following the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], being reorganized into its present form in {{AN|1724}} following various military and political campaigns aimed at centralizing the empire and its peripheries in the aftermath of recent waves of expansion. The Imperial Federation consists of three constituent countries, in addition to a number of free cities (such as [[Nova Victoria]]) and dependencies (such as [[Imperial Eura]]). A fourth constituent country, [[Eternia]], was formed from that kingdom and nearby dependencies in {{AN|1733}}, leading to a name change of the country's name. The present name was formed when [[Adrestia]] and its subordinate territories were separated from [[Ralgon|Greater Ralgon]] in {{AN|1756}}, and [[Valora]] finally absorbed into [[Ralgon]] as a constituent part of that consituent country.

At present, the Imperial Federation's constituent countries consist of the following. Firstly, [[Ralgon]] is located on a large portion of northern [[Cibola]], and includes [[Drag'os]], [[Valora]], [[West Valora]], [[East Valora]], [[Tar-Palantir]], and [[New Ralgon]]). It hosts one of the two imperial capitals, [[Glacier City]], having been the center of Ralgonese culture since time immemorial. Secondly, [[Adrestia]] is located on the east end of Keltia and includes the areas of [[South Island]] and surrounding areas, [[Nixtorm]] (and its own territories), the Isles of Eriad'or (including the new settlements of [[Scarterra]], [[Northwest Territory]], and [[Al Hamra]]. Adrestia hosts the other of the two imperial capitals, that being [[Gondolin]], founded c.{{AN|1675}}. Thirdly, [[Haifa Bassaridia]] (known simply as [[Haifa]], covers majority-Bassarid lands along the straits of the same name. Fourthly, the country of [[Eternia]] consists of that country and surrounding island groups, having joined in {{AN|1733}}. A number of autonomous territories and dependencies exist, such as [[Bomei Island]], [[Beihagh]], [[North Corum]], and [[Dromosker Island]]. It also maintains important populations in the [[International Mandate]].

The original core of what is now the Imperial Federation was formed from the Kingdom of [[Adrestia]], founded in {{AN|1675}}, and the Kingdom of [[Drag'os]], which existed as a unified polity under the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] after c. {{AN|1655}}. Adrestia's first ruler (and the progenitor of the current Emperor) was Masamune of House Adrestia, crowned as [[Emperor Anari'on]] at the age of {{AgeAN|1701|1706}} in 1706, shortly before their complete victory in a succession struggle over the Imperial Crown, after the death of its holder, Ralgon Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro I]] the year prior. The Empire is governed under the tenets of [[Draconic Humanism]], a combined religion and political ideology, which forms the basis of rule throughout most of the empire.

The Empire holds an estimated population of 317,994,774 in the {{AN|1750}} census, up from the previous estimate of 299,542,930 reported to the [[Raspur Pact]] authorities in {{AN|1740}}, in addition to another few million living in recently incorporated [[North Corum]] and [[Dromosker Island]], minus those living in [[Geneva]]. Population growth during the 1750's AN was driven by booming prosperity in territory acquired in the prior two decades, and in [[Glacier City]] with new breakthroughs in construction and food production technologies allowing an ever-greater population capacity. The Imperial Federation is the fifth-most populated country on Micras, with some 50.5% of the country's population on the island of [[Drag'os]] alone, and another 30.1% living on [[Adrestia]]. The Empire's largest city, the metropolis of [[Glacier City]], serves as the cultural and religious center of the Imperial Federation, and its wealthiest economic hub, in rivalry with the Imperial captial of [[Gondolin]] for the title. Glacier City is also one of the world's largest and most populous cities, with approximately 49,220,000 living in its legally defined area on the far eastern end of the same island in {{AN|1750}}. The Imperial Court sits at Gondolin, with Glacier City acting as a second capital and the seat of the Imperial Senate due to its profound religious importance.

The Imperial Federation shares few land borders with others on its island territories, most of those borders being old exclaves belonging to others during the Imperial Federation's expansions near its core settlements following the rise of the then-principality of [[Adrestia]] in the decades following {{AN|1680}}. In its heartland in [[South Island]], it shares a land border with a tiny exclave of [[Çakaristan|Çakaristan's]] possession of [[Tarria]]. The Imperial Federation's most notable land border on [[Cibola]] is with [[Mondosphere]] to the south on the [[Cibola]] mainland, as a result of the subsequent partitions that followed the [[Conquest of Valora]] in {{AN|1715}}. After further expansion added [[Nordhafen]] and [[East Valora]], there is a new land border with [[Gogledd Cybwl]], a constituent republic of [[Sanama]]. Since the Imperial Federation's expansion onto the Keltian mainland after {{AN|1695}}, they also border [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] on the east coast of mainland Keltia, and hold sovereign base areas near [[Windsor]], held jointly with [[New Alexandria]]. The Imperial Federation also shares certain [[Mala]] territories in condominium with [[New Alexandria]] in the same region. The constituent country of [[Bassaridia|Haifa Bassaridia]], to the north on the mainland, borders the protected state of [[Matamoros]] to the east, [[The Green]] on the west, and [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] to the northwest. [[Eternia]] has a short land border on an uninhabitable section of tundra only with [[Etourney]], via an exclave in its frigid northeast coast.

The new Imperial Federation's government was formed from a union of the victorious factions of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], and more recently from the [[Conquest of Valora]] that saw the final reunification of the Ralgon states, albeit this time under a much larger empire. While Drag'osian factions lost the war, those with Ralgonese ancestry still control most of the government due to their huge population (compared with much of the rest of the empire), with minority control being only at regional levels. Ralgonese people form the majority population in the unified Adrestia and Drag'os territories (as well as most of present-day [[Valora]], with [[Glacier City]] holding equal status as [[Gondolin]] as one of the Imperial Federation's two imperial cities. Most the empire's territories are directly formed around these two polities. Nixtorm, now a large territory, remained loyal and sent troops to fight, and was awarded its own place in the new Imperial Senate. The same happened with Scarterra, the northern half of which was repatriated to Ralgon following a major land swap with [[Calbion]] that restored all of its former territories, along with the Badlands and the freeport region of [[Duro]]. The infant government applied to join the [[Raspur Pact]], due to the very strong influence of [[Draconic Humanism]] and [[National humanism]] within its highest ranks, while relations with neighboring [[Calbion]] have continued to significantly warm under the new government, after years of animosity following the terrorist attack on Glacier City at the hands of the [[Iron Company]] in {{AN|1673}}.

Despite the military power it commands, the Imperial Federation's reach does not extend in significant force outside of its home regions, with reliance on permanent bases to maintain its overseas empire and ensure concrete ties between its constituent countries. The government has variously managed periods of rapid rise and overextension, with its military finally expanded sufficiently to allow sustainable consolidation of its holdings, this expected by {{AN|1760}}. The Imperial Federation has variously partnered with its neighbors to hold far-flung territories. One example is the Ralgonese government's constant struggle to maintain holdings in [[Keltia]]'s deep interior, especially [[Imperial Haifa]], where [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] aided efforts to bring order to the region, aiding integration of millions into the imperial fold and the expansion of its already-large defense industry. The other is the partnership with [[Floria]] during the [[Corum War]] to secure additional territory to link the core of the empire with [[Eternia]] and [[Beihagh]] and other far-flung areas, and thus complete a far less vulnerable maritime connection were it to come into conflict with foreign powers.

In the government's early days, its solution to remedy its chronic overextension was to join the [[Raspur Pact]] in late {{AN|1706}} to counter its weakness in an army and air force that still remained relatively small for a nation of this size. In later decades, it adopted a pattern of regional political, economic, and military alliances to protect mutual interests and enable clear power projection. Although the Imperial Federation joined few other supranational organizations, it nonetheless made paradoxical moves to adopt a largely peaceful coexistence with its neighbors and upgrading its military might, to defeat its issues of controlling such a large amount of maritime territory and maintaining free, safe trade throughout its now-vast maritime empire. Recent years have been characterized by the accelerated population growth and consolidation of its holdings, largely eschewing further territorial expansion despite continual opportunities to press farther into [[The Green]] in Keltia.

==Etymology==
The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Adrestia, Eternia, and Haifa takes its name as a collective of older polities that have made up the modern empire since approximately 1665 AN, when it was first included as Ralgon on the MCS map. Although no longer its own consolidated country as of {{AN|1756}}, so-called "Greater Ralgon" consists of the two Ralgonese states of Adrestia and Drag'os, and are considered as the same greater polity under Imperial law due to their shared sovereign. These two now form two of the empire's four constituent countries, and are by far the two most populated as well. The name changed in {{AN|1723}}, albeit unofficially, to reflect the inclusion of most former [[Bassarid]] homelands into the Empire, and the increased dependence of [[Tar-Palantir]] on its surrounding provinces. Every few decades or so, the Imperial Federation has changed its name to reflect the co-equal status of the most powerful portions of its multipolar empire.

=== Ralgonese Peoples ===
The Ralgon name comes from a combination of "Ral," the name of the people which originated in what is now [[Stormhold]] on the island of [[Drag'os]], and "gon" which denotes a people, or a sense of belonging in the ancient Ralgonese language. The homeland of the Ralgonese peoples is a territory called [[Stormhold]], itself located on [[Drag'os]], a large island territory located just off northern [[Cibola]]. As for [[Drag'os]] itself, it takes its name after the fire god worshipped in the [[Draconic]] religion. According to local mythology, it was a reincarnation of Drag'os who founded the first Ralgon state in Stormhold, which itself takes its name from an early ruler who preferred to worship Glaur'on, the god of water, wisdom, and storms.

After the unification of the Ralgonese and ethnically related nations on Drag'os in 1655, [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]] commissioned expeditions to colonize a group of islands near Keltia to expand the empire's territory in case of further natural disasters at home, a near-daily occurrence on Drag'os. Adrestia itself was named after one of the early great saints of the Draconic Church, and like the Ralgonese on Drag'os, Adrestia came to likewise rule over the entirety of its own region. It is from the two Ralgonese peoples that the Imperial Federation draws its present strength, authority, and legitimacy over its other dominions across the [[Great Western Sea|Great Western Ocean]].

=== Other Dominions ===
Nixtorm's history is almost as old as Ralgon was, and the origins of its formerly tribal name are now lost to history. It is thought that Nixtorm was a primordial word for the people of the Stormlands, due to the wet climate on Drag'os's eastern seaboard. These peoples took the name with them when they relocated to southeast [[Keltia]] following the first [[Ralgon Civil War]] in 1685. They retained loyalty to their Ralgonese cousins to the present day.

Valora is a collection of provinces on the mainland of [[Cibola]] as well as the island of [[Tar-Palantir]]. Formerly its own country, its much more populated northern half was annexed following the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in the early 1700's.

Scarterra is, loosely, a collection of two separated provinces, thanks to an exodus of its peoples following the 1685 crisis, which saw much of the island overrun with disasters, geological and otherwise. The province was reformed on Drag'os following the island's reunification in the early 1700's. Dubbed "New Scarterra," in the Isles of Eriador (near [[South Island]]), this houses a number of the barons that chose to establish and maintain their domains overseas. Scarterra proper consists in great part of returnees from what is now known as [[Inis Balar]] following the mainland's repatriation. Since then, both areas have been populated heavily with Menelmacari and other Ralgonese ethnic groups in the following years, leading to a minority-"native" population there.

Tar-Palantir is an island named after the ancient [[Menelmacar|Menelmacari]] traditions, some of which Tar-Palantir's colonizers have begun to revive in recent years. The island's namesake was a ruler of the Ralgonese state of Stormhold, and served as one of the founders of what would form the core of modern Drag'osian government until the recent [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in 1705-1707 AN. Other such influences are found throughout the Imperial Federation's holdings on Keltia, where many cities are named after mythological people or objects from Menelmacari histories uncovered since the revival of interest in the early 1700's AN. The island's majority ethnicity consists of a mixed Valoran and Menelmacari heritage, with political leanings to the former despite the latter's heavy linguistic and cultural influences.

==History==

=== The Early Period (228 AN - 1178 AN) ===

Also known as the Dark Ages, this was period of factionalism and endless crises for Ralgon. History from this period is scarce, although certain pieces do survive. For instance, the Ralgonese tribes dispersed throughout modern-day [[Drag'os]], and by {{AN|1200}} were a single polity that was situated in a strategic location in the south-center of the island. The chief enemies of the period were primarily the hostile fauna, notably the dragons. While the insectoid lifeforms of the [[Great Swamp]] were a dire threat, they were, by and large, manageable by this time. The lightning dragons were, however, a far different story, for they were responsible for the near-extinction of the Ralgonese peoples on the island on several occasions, the worst by far being in {{AN|228}}, before which recorded history apparently does not survive outside of modern [[Glacier City]], the mountainous environment in which the locals found life-saving shelter. The current principal Ralgonese ruling tribes descend from those same refugees who eventually spread throughout the island in the next thousand years.

It was around the year {{AN|800}} that the nascent [[Draconic]] religion was first recorded being adopted by Ralgonese chieftains and petty rulers. Archaeological evidence concludes that Draconic originated in the Badlands to the northwest of the island, where (ironically) the dragons lived in the highest concentrations. Outside of religious proselytization, events were largely cyclical throughout the island until the year {{AN|1178}}, with the eastern and western portions maintaining no contact, with the Ralgonese nobility eventually finding their way into the courts of other territories in a bid to consolidate the region against the dragons and Great Swamp "bugs" ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_gigantism gigantic insectoid species of a wide variety]). However, a major dragon attack by an elder lightning dragon and its retinue destroyed most of the nobility, and the region in the east experienced a violent political reset, while the west was so devastated by the dragon attacks that its peoples fell entirely out of contact with the rest of the world until nearly {{AN|1680}}.

The slowly modernizing [[Glacier City]] survived the onslaught, as did certain nobility in the environs of Valeria in the most well-defended areas of Stormhold. It was shortly after this catastrophe that the first universities began to appear in the country, some being relics of old conflicts, now solidified and given "universal" privileges to act as education institutions. For institutions that survive to the point, such as the [[University of Glacier City]], these same organizations' origins are typically tied to Draconic Temples in their respective cities, only detaching centuries later as each entity grew too large for the other to reasonably house or manage. The attacks, while devastating on the frontier populations and the inland dwellers, forced a population concentration and accelerated the region's rapid onset of industrialization (and better defenses).

=== The Intermediate Period (1178 AN - 1655 AN) ===
The Intermediate Period was defined by the initiation of the Great Swamp Wars in earnest to take back the inland regions and relieve agricultural pressure on the rapidly growing population, as fishing could only sustain so many people, despite the abundant waters and large prey items that the fishing industry could readily target. By the time {{AN|1200}} rolled around, these wars had begun in earnest, with each of the various surviving eastern polities on Drag'os attempting to assert their own control away from the coastal regions and into the fertile, well-watered lands between the coast and the Great Swamp. Exploration during these times was limited to the eastern half of the island, due to the Great Divide to the west acting as too great a physical barrier, especially with hostile dragons inhabiting the region.

Overall, the Great Swamp Wars, were the series of long-term conflicts that formed both the definition and basis of the Ralgon nation until c. {{AN|1680}}. The so-called "War" was neither a single conflict, nor was it fought between nations. Instead, it was a conflict fought between the peoples inhabiting the island of [[Drag'os]] and the megafauna of various sorts that inhabited the Badlands, which were divided into eastern and western halves by the Great Divide (itself a series of mountain ranges that divided the island in two). The War may be divided into four phases marked by significant events: The Atomic Bombardment of 1450, the Dark Age, the Atomic Bombardment of 1672, and the Western Campaign of 1680.

The initial phases of the conflict lasted until c. {{AN|1400}}, with modernizing weapons enabling the surviving polities of Stormhold, Nixtorm, Scarterra, and others to compete directly with the most dangerous fauna inland for natural resources. However, their pathological hostility towards humans and the high reproduction replaced losses while inflicting grievous setbacks on the Ralgonese defenders. A stalemate was achieved until Stormhold manufactured an atomic device that it successfully deployed in the depths of the Great Swamp in the year {{AN|1450}}, which wiped out the dragon population on the eastern half of the island, almost to the last creature. However, the atomic blast had existentially dangerous consequences: it irradiated the already-large bugs, and permanently drove most lightning dragons into lifelong killing frenzies that nearly, again, wiped out all life on the island. The only thing saving them was, ironically, more nukes until their store had run dry. Making a resolution to never use fissile warheads again, the idea was seemingly set aside permanently to sustain the growing tide of giant bugs now crawling out of the Great Swamp in record numbers. While a stalemate was eventually reached once again, the Ralgonese were still driven even closer to the coast, and the population situation eventually began to deteriorate despite extremely high fertility rates among women.

The tides began to slowly turn under the reign of [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]], whose clan and subordinate tribes initially controlled only the coastal fringes of what is now [[Stormhold]]. After the Ralgon tribes colonized and settled the fertile and secure valleys and coastlines at the far east end of the island, the settlement known as [[Glacier City]] quickly grew to dwarf its mother country in population due to a general lack of hardship. By the time Nobunag'an came into power in {{AN|1594}}, The resulting boost in manpower and territory propelled the Ral clans to form the Ralgon nation, which slowly forced their way north and east to link up with other peoples in the region, most notably those from what used to be the regions of [[Nixtorm]], [[Aurora]], and [[Scarterra]]. With their forces and technology combined, the new Ralgon state went on to defeat the enemy, with Nobunag'an IV going down in history as the man who saved his people from extinction. The country would eventually modernize enough to deploy a non-fissile atomic weapon in {{AN|1672}}, near the end of Nobunag'an's reign, in time for [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] to come in to ostensibly finish the job.

=== Late Ralgon Period ({{AN|1655}} - {{AN|1706}}) ===

The Ralgon of the late period eventually grew into a quasi-feudal empire that remained closed to the world until c. {{AN|1655}}. The Ralgon Empire has heavily influenced and/or governed the entire island of Dragos (known to the wider world as "El Dorado") for its first two centuries, and despite attempts to colonize and control more hospitable lands abroad, internal crises ranging from overpopulation in [[Glacier City]] to difficulties controlling the hinterland proved to be its eventual downfall. After having initially consolidated diplomatic control of most of the island (and at great cost), the Ralgon Empire developed some of the world's most advanced science, engineering, and medicine, which it used to briefly take over the island in a "manifest destiny" style of expansion. This golden age proved ephemeral, however. From {{AN|1680}} to {{AN|1700}} the central Ralgon government lost almost its entire frontier and nearly two-thirds of its heartlands in Drag'os in quick succession to a series of cataclysmic events during the so-called Crisis of the 1680's (which affected many other major such as [[Frankish Empire]], [[Stormark]], and others). Some of these same physical, natural, and economic upheavals spurred the government into military/political disasters as the [[Ralgon Civil War]] and the [[Cibolan Reconquista]].

Due to this series of military and political disasters, the central government also slowly lost its grip on its colonies, which continued to grow rapidly in size and population, sometimes at their mother country's expense. Power struggles at home and endless wars were waged abroad on mainland [[Cibola]] in a desperate effort for the Empire to hold onto its remaining authority, but to little avail. The Ralgon state was reduced to a mere shadow of itself on its own homeland, having shrunk some 80 percent, with foreign powers such as the [[Bassarid Empire]] and [[Calbion]] occupying parts of [[Drag'os]] during the ensuing few decades, this occupation being a cause of public shaming for the already-weak government. These wars continued until the Holy Ralgon Empire's final recognized Emperor, [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], formally declared that he would bequeath his crown in an otherwise illegal act to the Prince of Adrestia upon his death. This managed to stave off the undead in northern Cibola and the various rebelling clans and tribes remaining in the newly created in [[The Green]] now surrounding Ralgon on all sides.

The central government barely continued to hold authority under this agreement until shortly after the unexpected illness and death of Emperor Shiro to a very rare and aggressive form of cancer in {{AN|1704}}. In a state of confusion and caught unprepared against this sudden development, the central government found itself leaderless and Adrestia with only a child on the throne. In the power struggle that immediately followed, the central government rallied around the Imperial Senate. In a closed-door ceremony, the majority of the Dragosian-based Senators deliberately excluded their more powerful colonies and nominated their own candidate in [[Prince Draegar Ral]]. This immediately triggered a civil conflict wherein pro-Adrestian and pro-Senate forces vied for control over imperial authority. While the pro-Adrestian faction remained mostly united throughout the war, the pro-Senate faction divided almost immediately due to the dubious circumstances behind both contenders' claim to the Imperial Throne, with Glacier City's defection to Adrestian interests and a following political purge in the city proving the trigger for the civil war to begin.

After the defection of [[Glacier City]], much of [[Dragon's Reach]], [[Nova Victoria]], and the massive naval infrastructure that all of these provided, the war quickly proved to be one-sided in favor of the now-powerful maritime empire the Ralgons had originally built abroad. The new government of the Empire took shape out of these factions, with Glacier City taking pre-eminent authority over Drag'os due to Stormhold's desire to remain pro-Senate. The island's heavily defensible terrain rapidly lead to a slow grind in the land war for Adrestian naval forces, which weren't used to fighting wars deep inland. The pro-Adrestian military forces grossly underperformed in mainland Cibola, where the remainders of the pro-Draeg'ar Senate eventually relocated, and in deep inland parts of [[Drag'os]] and the mountainous frontiers deep inside of the recently conquered [[Tar-Palantir]] island territories. However, the front was extremely one-sided for Adrestian forces inland, and the lines formed along the interiors of the empire's Cibolan territories as fighting dragged to a stalemate along the few remaining active fronts. The [[Ralgon War of Succession]] lasted nearly two years, until the Holy Ralgon Empire finally fell to pro-Adrestian forces, whose diplomats and troops went on to win political victories. The near-total military victory at home, following the complete restoration by diplomacy of former Ralgonese territories in the heartland, finally crushed what little determination organized Senate resistance had left to fight.

=== Early Years of the Federation ({{AN year|1706}}-{{AN year|1715}}) ===
With the end of the war came the prices that needed to be paid for victory. While the pro-Adrestian forces found themselves with near-total victory, the casualty count was high and they still lost the inland territories of mainland Cibola to the opposing camps. The remainder of the Senate needed to be dealt with, and the government of Drag'os rebuilt after the model of [[Draconic Humanism]], which was going to be a long and costly process. The Adrestian Navy had ranged this entire region of the world flushing out and destroying resistance among anti-Imperial factions, and this was a difficult task to accomplish in far-flung territories like Dragospire and Ryugawa. However, their efforts were far from pointless, as the now-Imperial Federation Navy had uncontested control of its seas, albeit at the cost of terrible overextension (for which it eventually compensated by abandoning certain remote outposts).

The Imperial Federation quickly found that it had greatly overextended due to unprecedented territorial gains. With a massive empire to run, the central government was forced to consolidate its vast holdings, but it would not abandon territories outside of its historic periphery pointlessly. Instead, deals were reached with [[Calbion]] at the end of 1706 during the closing phases of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to trade off their strategic island colonies off northwest Keltia, as well as the greater half of the baronies of Scarterra (which were compensated with large holdings elsewhere in the empire), for the last remaining foreign territory on the Ralgonese homelands. Following this huge political victory, though, the vast majority of the people of Scarterra emigrated to other portions of the empire, following their respective lords or barons. The exceptions were a great part of those civilians who stayed in the Dragospire territory, many of whom became Calbain subjects, having sympathized with the Senatorial forces. However, this overextension of Imperial military assets was to be felt for years to come, with the Imperial Navy unable to extend the Army's reach farther than the already-vast holdings controlled by the centers of power in Gondolin and Glacier City.

The legacy of Emperor Shiro was felt throughout the Empire, and the concept of open rebellion so soon after his death raised a specter of national guilt that needed to be quashed. Thanks to the efforts of the central government's propaganda machine (rumored to be helped by humanist organizations elsewhere), the war was spun as protecting the late Emperor's legacy and fulfilling his hard-fought dream with him as a guardian spirit of sorts, rather than spurning it with such a radical change of government. With these changes afoot, the Imperial Federation was forced to be relatively quiet in world affairs, with the notable exception of the [[Ludwiggian-Monovian War]], which saw Imperial forces send materiel to help Raspur Forces deliver a strong conclusion to the fighting.

==== Post-War Expansions (1715-{{AN year}}) ====

===== Conquest of Valora (1715-1718) =====
{{main|Conquest of Valora}}

The Imperial Federation had bided its time wisely, although this was completely unknown to the Emperor, now a teenager, never mind his government, which had done its best to combat Imperial overextension of military assets in the few years following the Imperial victory over the rump state now known as Valora {{AN year|1706}}, the latter ironically consisting only in small part of formal Valoran territory, with the rest being Ralgonese holdings under central government control in name only in most places.

The peace generated by the stalemate was only an illusion, however. The two states were, at least formally, still in a state of war with each other, although Draegarist loyalists to the south were questioning the reasoning for this to begin with. The [[Ralgon Reconquista]] and its prior [[Cibolan Reconquista]] were still official government policy, on both sides now. With the abandonment of northern Cibola by [[Sanama]] in 1717, the Imperial Federation was, temporarily, given leave to do whatever they wanted at the flank of "New Ralgon", the initial territory formed by the Draegarist government as a buffer between their new capital of Yixing and the considerable naval forces prowling at every major coast of the country.

The Imperial Federation, strengthened by its military expansion in the past ten years, knew exactly what to do and how to respond. They launched a flanking invasion from the freshly liberated "New Cibola" (nicknamed because of the new populations from old cities on [[Drag'os]]), and before a year was out, effective military movements and a few key battles were effectively all it took for the Imperial Federation's military juggernaut, with Raspur backing, to trigger the weakened Valora's near-total collapse outside of its heartland deep in Cibola's interior. While the Imperial Federation could only content itself with Valora's northern half and western coastlines, this was still exactly what they wanted, as they secured the unclaimed [[Green]] for themselves in the process and left Valora's remaining territory to be absorbed by Mondo in an act of self-preservation.

==== Post-Conquest Expansions (1718-1721) ====
{{Main|Operation Icebox}}
{{Main|Imperial Eura}}

The Imperial Federation's efforts to expand off the coast of Eura was, by comparison to Valora, far easier and significantly more uneventful. However, securing sovereignty over parts of the new territories eventually carried a significant financial price tag that stung the Imperial Court's efforts to fully develop these new territories for several years. Authority had long collapsed in the region, but aside from low-threat pirates, hostile forces were scarcely found, with most of the regions' populations welcoming the return of security and prosperity to the islands off the coast of Eura. Named the Forgotten Isles in the years leading up to it, the only presence of authority over the past five years in the area was a very large Imperial Navy base centered on the port city of [[Farquat]].

From this centralized base, the Imperial Federation quickly consolidated what it was now calling "Imperial Eura," which was just a collection of islands off the southern coast of the continent. The region quickly gained renewed strategic importance following first contact with a nation to the far south of Micras, known to the Imperials as "Frigia" (which turned out later to be simply the western portion of that country). While the islands were initially inhabited by only a few thousand people, they were located directly between the Imperial bases south of Eura and Tapfer farther to the west. Meanwhile, their position next to a new trading partner made acquiring these islands peacefully a top priority of the Imperial Court. Details aside, the natives eventually agreed to sell the islands outright, but charged the Imperial Federation a significant price, which included a hefty sum of hard currency, as well as large modernization investments on part of the Imperials, as both had major priorities of their own in building the region's peripheries to a modern standard.

{{Main|Operation Thunder Drop}}
{{Main|Imperial Haifa}}

In terms of economic and military might, the Imperial Federation had reached yet another plateau of power and prosperity following the annexation of Valora following the Conquest. Having freed the majority of its now battle-tested personnel, the Imperial Court sought to give their soldiers something to keep themselves sharpened on, as well as a way to integrate formerly Valoran soldiers into the Imperial armed forces. The opportunity quickly came for both the small Imperial Federation Army and the brown water elements of the Imperial Federation Navy to test their mettle on an entirely new front: [[Haifa]]. Unfortunately, they got more than they initially bargained for in these efforts.

The region had fallen apart in the wake of the [[Haifo-Palliscian Trad Union|Bassarid Empire's]] collapse of authority in the region by {{AN|1718}}. Given the meteoric rise in importance of the Strait of Haifa to maritime trade between the [[Imperial Federation]] and its far-northern neighbors in [[Normark]], the Imperial Federation quickly occupied strategic points in the region, hoping to expand their influence and instill order in the region after models successfully implemented in places like [[Tar-Palantir]], [[Valora]], and elsewhere in the Empire. However, these efforts were almost immediately forced to a slow grind by the [[Confederation of the Dispossessed]]. The situation was not helped by a strained treasury, as the Imperial Court was also focused on building the new Euran and Trans-Euran territories in [[North Frigia]] and [[Imperial Eura]], and rebuilding [[New Ralgon]] and [[North Valora]].

In the midst of these operations and significant financial investments in building (or rebuilding) its recent gains, the Imperial Federation's expansions slowed down, as it continued to focus its military operations on construction, securing the seas, and otherwise hammering away at the Haifan situation. Peace would not come to the latter for several years. The slowdown of Imperial expansion was interrupted by the full consolidation and recognition by the MCS of its consolidation of the Imperial Federation's Euran territories.

=== Modern Period (1722-) ===

==== Extended Regency Period (1722-1727) ====
The Imperial Federation entered 1722 AN with renewed vigor. It had sent the Emperor [[Anarion]] to university at [[Metzler University]] in 1719 with the intention of education the already-powerful leader in statecraft, economics, and other vital skills for his station. He spent his time there learning how the Shireithians reintegrated their now-vast holdings in the early 1700's, with the expectation to apply those lessons to the Imperial Federation, which went through a similar period of dramatic expansion only recently. After his marriage to [[Qasima Çakar]] in 1720, the relevant authorities jointly agreed that Qasima would join her new husband in [[Shirekeep]] to attend the same university so as to keep the couple together. The Emperor turned 21 in 1722 AN, and would otherwise have formally taken power at Gondolin. However, he extended the Regency by two years as he wished to complete his studies abroad. The Emperor is scheduled to graduate in 1723, where he will remain in the city until his wife graduates that next year. He is expected to spend time strengthening ties between the Imperial Federation and other members of the Raspur Pact during his time abroad, until he travels to another center of Raspur Pact power for graduate studies. He is expected to extend the Regency once more until 1726, but this remains a subject of speculation.

The Imperial Federation conducted pauses on its territorial expansion during this time to further consolidate its far-flung holdings throughout Micras. Although the Imperial Federation aimed for great power status and could theoretically achieve this through its thalassocratic doctrine, its army and air force remained comparatively small for a country of that size and scope across the oceans. The military situation over the prior several years brought this weakness into sharp relief, and the Imperial Federation spent more time consolidating territorial gains and encouraging settlement to stabilize (and possibly even expand) its farthest-flung frontiers in Keltia and elsewhere. Deep in the Keltian interior, military situation stabilized on the resurgence of a new Bassarid state (albeit greatly reduced) in [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]]. In this sense, the long-running policy of peaceful integration of formerly [[Bassarid]] peoples (whether or not recently annexed) slowly paid off. The takeover of that country stabilized the military situation to the [[Strait of Haifa]]'s west bank, allowing the Imperials to cement and legitimize their hold on the so-called "Central Zone" (south and east of Lake Monovia). This in turn allowed them to continue their extraterritorial expeditions on the Haifan East Bank, allowing them to retain and stabilize the region over the next few years.

Emperor [[Anarion]] ascended to formally take personal power in {{AN|1727}}, after he chose to briefly delay his return, having finished his studies at [[Metzler University]] in international affairs at [[Shirekeep]]. Instead of immediately returning home, however, he embarked on a grand tour in [[Shireroth]] in late {{AN|1726}} with his wife, in which he learned more of the greater empire's system of governance, which he intended to partially implement on his return. His coronation was held on New Year's Day, {{AN|1727}}, in a lavish ceremony.

==== Reign of Emperor [[Anarion]] ====

Pacification of Imperial-held [[Bassaridia]] was achieved by {{AN|1728}}, by which time the Imperial Federation was able to focus on integrating its other far-flung territories, especially those near Eternia. Otherwise, the initial years of the Emperor's reign were characterized by a period of stability and quiet in the internal government, as well as integrating formerly antagonist elements back into Imperial society, in an effort to close the chapters on the previous civil wars permanently. The following years would be spent quietly, with slower movements on a military aspect, instead with the Imperial government focused on consolidating control through building infrastructure and supply chains to both redevelop the region and give freedom of movement to its labor force, and strengthen military capabilities by drastically shortening the armed forces' supply chains throughout the region. This was accomplished through {{AN|1730}}, by which time the region slowly stabilized into a larger, consolidated bloc covering most of inland Keltia along the Haifa strait, from the northern Bassarid-majority areas to the increasingly diverse populations of the Northwest Territory (now called West Menelmacar), centered on [[Blore Heath]] and other settlements.

In the far-flung region of [[Eternia]], preparations were underway to integrate the protectorate's economy with its formerly northern frontiers, and with [[Imperial Eura]]. With the expansion of trade within the region following [[Oportia|Oportia's]] expansion, the Imperial Federation's island territories off the coast of Eura further increased in economic and strategic importance. With both territories slowly sinking into Imperial control, annexation would become a quiet subject of conversation within the halls of power. While there was little enthusiasm for direct action by {{AN|1730}}, given the Emperor Anarion's own focus squarely on strengthening Imperial infrastructure, particularly within the northwestern regions, there was merit in integrating these valuable domains into a so-called "Greater Eternia," under the imperial banner.

==== 1730's Economic Boom ====

In the former [[Valora]] region, efforts to reintegrate the region continued apace, with the mixing of the Valoran and Ralgonese populations forming a supermajority of (non-undead) inhabitants in the region. Centered around [[Nova Victoria]], it would form effectively another core Ralgon province by the opening of the 1730's AN. Cross-border migration with [[South Valora]] continued through these years, with subsections of North Valora's more conservative Valorans wary of the prospect of complete assimilation with their Ralgonese brethren. However, these figures did little to impact popular sentiment, due to the return of normalcy to the region under Imperial auspices. With prosperity no longer a pipe dream for most of the population, but increasingly accessible to those outside the ruling class, anti-Imperial sentiment remained minimal throughout this period, contributing to a period of quiet the region had not seen since the brief [[Barbary]] period some 50 years prior. The area would be effectively reintegrated with the rest of Ralgonese-populated regions by {{AN|1735}}.

Internal expansion would follow into the 1730's, with the increasing growth of periphery regions leading to a heavy population boom throughout the Empire. Increasing industrialization in the provinces and near-complete restoration of infrastructure in the [[Haifa]] regions contributed to not only a greatly increased output of manufactured goods, but the development of vast, valuable farmlands along the entire Strait of Haifa region. With mass interchanges of peoples between the various provinces and dominions, the demographic changes saw the Imperial Federation become more cosmopolitan throughout the early 1730's. In turn, this contributed to a renewal of Imperial Federation military strength, namely in ships and aircraft used to protect trade and territorial interests in far-flung places like Eura.

This increased political and economic strength was especially felt on the peripheries, and the effect was that the Imperial Federation's central government became far more capable of administering its less densely populated territories. With an increasing presence on, and influence over, [[Eternia]], the decision to entertain proposals for annexation were finally entertained by both parties for the first time. Eventually, a complex agreement was made to annex the region by the end of {{AN|1733}}, in which the Eternian islands could be consolidated with most of [[Imperial Eura]], then collectively given autonomy similar to that of other Provinces of the Empire. While Eternia would keep its local monarchy on its mainland, the newly constituted "Greater Eternia" would nonetheless name the Imperial Federation as its formal suzerain and send representatives to the Senate, and name Anarion as Emperor of Eternia. Thus, the islands would be able to fully benefit from [[Raspur Pact]] membership, as well as direct representation within the greater empire.

==Government==

===Defence===
{{main|Grand Armada of the Sunfire Sea}}

==Foreign Relations==
{{main|Ralgonese Foreign Relations}}

A member of the [[Raspur Pact]] since {{AN|1706}}, the Imperial Federation is a rising great power, with control over much of Northern Cibola and Southeast Keltia by {{AN|1720}}, with heavily populated colonies in other regions such as the far south of Eura and [[Haifa]] after {{AN|1730}}. While the Imperial Federation Navy grants a near-global reach that contributes to a considerable overseas empire, power projection over land remains limited outside of its home regions, as showcased during its participation in the [[Corum War]] and its aftermath from {{AN|1747}} to {{AN|1754}}. The Imperial Federation's status as a rising power has been closely tied to its territorial expansion and massive population growth during the 1700's AN. Its population in {{AN|1705}} after the recovery during the [[Ralgonese War of Succession]] was just over 200 million. The Imperial Federation grew rapidly under the long reign of [[Anarion]], eventually passing 350 million in {{AN|1757}}. A long period of growth spurred near-continual territorial expansion between {{AN|1715}} and {{AN|1755}}, after which policy shifted to aggressive internal development rather than seeking fresh territorial gains abroad.

The Imperial Federation's rise to global prominence was relatively recent, starting with its victory in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in {{AN|1706}}. For most of its history as the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]], Ralgonese power was confined to coastal waters for most of their existence on the [[MCS]] map, especially after the [[Ralgon Civil War|1680's crises]]. Early expansions after [[Conquest of Valora]] overextended the government, necessitating close cooperation with other [[Raspur Pact]] powers. This state of affairs would last until c.{{AN|1740}}, when the Imperial Federation had become capable of further consolidations, as seen after the [[Rusjar Negotiations]] that saw it assume full control of [[Beihagh]] from {{AN|1740}}.

From the transition of the Regency to the personal reign of [[Anarion]] from {{AN|1726}}, the Imperial Federation saw a period of rapid growth that prepared it to absorb the shock left by the [[Streïur uis Faïren|near-collapse of the Rapsur Pact]] from {{AN|1739}} to {{AN|1741}}. By {{AN|1745}}, the Imperial Federation had already become capable of acting as a primary partner during regional wars far afield of its home territory. Between {{AN|1747}} and {{AN|1754}}, it partnered with [[Floria]] and saw victory in the [[Corum War]]. During {{AN|1750}} and beyond, further anti-piracy actions alongside [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] brought peace to [[Haifa]]. Despite some territorial loss there, the Imperial Federation reached a peak in its territorial extent by {{AN|1755}}, and population continued to grow rapidly.

Alongside its membership in the Pact, the Imperial Federation enjoys warm relations through other countries as well, including [[Çakaristan]], which signed a marriage pact in which [[Qasima Çakar]] married the Emperor in {{AN|1720}}. Additionally, the Emperor is, by virtue of his marriage, a member of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]], although he has not been observed openly exercising privileges associated with this title. The Imperial Federation also enjoys good relations with [[Floria]], its ally during the [[Corum War]]. The Imperial Federation is also in a [[Treaty on Mutual Defence between the Imperial Federation and Bassaridia Vaeringheim|regional alliance]] with [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] since {{AN|1757}}. It also enjoys special status with [[New Alexandria]], its neighbor as well as co-signatory of the [[Treaty of Qorali]] that oversees joint protection of the [[Mala|Mala peoples]] since the original [[1732 Memorandum of Understanding|1732 agreement]].

=== Raspur Pact ===

{{main|Raspur Pact}}

The thalassocratic history of the Imperial Federation may be traced to [[Adrestia]], which built the vast majority of its own military power through its navy. Meanwhile, [[Ralgon]] had built up its power with its massive array of cutting-edge artillery and anti-air defense systems, accounting for the [[Great Swamp War]] and the campaign against the island's incredibly dangerous dragon population. With the majority of the country's ground forces tied down in domestic pacification, the navy became the new Imperial Federation's mainstay in maintaining hegemony over its often-sparsely populated frontiers. Membership in the Raspur Pact provided a convenient solution to these pressing questions, allowing the Imperials to continue focusing its ground forces on domestic matters, while constantly assisting with operations with its increasingly large, experienced, and powerful navy.

The Imperial Federation also signed agreements signed with [[Eternia]] during its independence, making it a protectorate of sorts. The relationship gave the Imperial Federation a strong trading network to rare minerals, but also additional justifications for settling the isles south of Eura with a very rapidly-growing colony. Eternia was subsequently annexed as a constituent country of the Imperial Federation in {{AN|1733}}. [[Beihagh]] followed in {{AN|1740}} after the [[Rusjar Negotiations]] and [[North Corum]] was annexed after the [[Corum War]] ended in {{AN|1754}}.

=== Dynastic Policies ===

{{main|Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar}}

Historically, the Ralgonese ruling houses had little dynastic connections to foreign royalty. With rapidly dwindling numbers past {{AN|1680}} with its various crises, abdications, reforms, and stripping of titles, the now-Imperial House eventually found itself bereft of members to marry off. Eventually, only the Emperor himself was a major asset in this regard. Because of this two-fold problem, the Regency Council in {{AN|1715}} decided firmly that the Imperial Federation's ruling house should belong to a prestigious network. The government conducted inquiries, therefore, and began looking for partners outside of its usual sphere of diplomatic affairs.

Eventually, an offer was settled between the [[Shahanshah of Çakaristan]], [[Jaaguzan]]. Under the auspices of this agreement, [[Anarion]] married [[Qasima Çakar]], the daughter of [[Akbar Çakar]] (the former ruler of [[Çakaristan]] and [[Jodha Avchat]]. The marriage took place in {{AN|1720}}, when Anarion was 19 and Qasima was 18. The two then traveled to Shirekeep for university studies, placing the matter of offspring until Anarion's formal coronation and assumption of full-time duties as Emperor by {{AN|1726}}. By extension, Anarion also became a [[Knight of the Holy Lakes]], forming a strong family-based connection with [[Hurmu]] as well. The two had an impressive twenty-five children, the last set arriving in {{AN|1738}}.

==Economy==

==Science & Technology==

==Geography==
=== Position on Micras===

On Micras, the majority of the Imperial Federation's holdings and population centers are concentrated in two places: Southeast [[Keltia]] (so-called "Greater Adrestia"), and Northern [[Cibola]] (especially [[Drag'os]], known to past cartographers as [[El Dorado]]). In addition to its traditional heartlands, the Imperial Federation holds extensive territory in those same regions and, through a network of regional and global alliances and treaties with neighbors, enjoys hegemony over increasingly well-defined maritime regions between these territorial concentrations. As such, the Imperial Federation has many maritime neighbors on Micras, the most extensive of such borders being with [[Calbion]], which coexists with the Imperials on both the [[Keltia]] and [[Cibola]] oceans in their respective areas of influence. The Imperial Federation also controls a concentration of colonies abroad, notably concentrated off the southern coast of Eura (namely called [[Imperial Eura]], including large islands near the protectorate of [[Eternia]] as well).

Greater Adrestia holds in its orbit territories on the southeast corners of [[Keltia]], with inland holdings as far as [[Haifa]] and as far down the coast as [[Nixtorm]]. The maritime territory between Adrestia, Nixtorm, and [[Blore Heath]] are possessed almost in their entirety by the Imperials. However, two exceptions exist: [[Windsor]], a colony of [[Lac Glacei]], and an exclave of [[Çakaristan|Çakaristan's]] called [[Çakari oceanic territory|Tarria]], both being native reservations, and extremely small in size compared to nearby Imperial populations, territorial holdings, and military installations. (As such, they are not considered a security risk, although the central government has made their peaceful incorporation through purchase or exchange a core part of its long-term agenda in recent years.)

The Imperial Federation's sway over portions of Northern [[Cibola]] are far better defined. [[Drag'os]], from its megalopolis in [[Glacier City]], controls both its home island as well as [[Tar-Palantir]] (itself formerly called [[Frigga Island]] under [[Stormark|Storish]] rule) and swathes of northern Cibola, consisting of [[New Ralgon]] (centered on the city of [[Nova Victoria]], [[Valora]] (specifically, its more populated northern half), and [[Imperial Cibola]] (by far the most sparsely populated of these territories). Far to the Southeast of these lies [[Bomei Island]], a strategic holding the Imperials use to protect their interests in the region and connect to the Antarctic Territory.

In terms of its extended imperial holdings, the Imperial Federation has several neighbors on land. On mainland [[Cibola]], it shares two land borders. The more notable one is with the [[Mondosphere]] to the south on the [[Cibola]] mainland, where the two share the former territory of [[Valora]] after its {{AN|1715}} partition. The other border is a narrow coastal strip on northern Cibola bordering [[Calbion]], which also shares extensive maritime borders with the Imperial Federation elsewhere on Cibola and Keltia. On mainland Keltia, the Imperial Federation shares a narrow land border on the mainland coast with [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]], and off the same coast with [[Windsor]], a colony of [[Lac Glacei]], where the Imperials occupy a pair of military bases on and near the island as its own sovereign territory. Across from the Imperial Federation's newest territories along the [[Strait of Haifa]] lies [[Anahuaco]], and on the further bank to the northeast lies [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]].

===Domestic Overview===

{{WIP}}

These territories contribute to a newly global empire that supplanted Ralgon after its violent, two-year [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that finally concluded in the final days of 1706 AN.

The Imperial Federation has, in addition to recent gains elsewhere, reclaimed the entirety of [[Ralgon|Ralgon's]] former territory, and made additional, significant gains abroad in naval bases outside of their traditional sphere of activity in the [[Great Western Sea]]. The Imperial Federation consists of several distinct geographic divisions of various importance: States, Dominions, and Territories. States tend to have their own Dominions, and Dominions their own Territories, with dependent districts belonging entirely within their parent unit. From most to least important of such independent divisions, the Empire consists of the Ralgonese states of [[Adrestia]], and [[Drag'os]], which have imperial status. Independent Dominions include Nixtorm and Tar-Palantir, located near their respective suzerain states, possess Princely status. [[Scarterra]] is unusual in that it also possesses princely status but is divided between its newer settlements on the Isles of Eriador and its reclaimed homelands on the north coast of Drag'os.

The other free-standing territories with Senate representation include [[Eriador]] (which includes the former Al Hamra and the former New Scarterra), [[Nova Victoria]], and [[Bomei Island]]. Territories with self-rule, but without representation in the Senate include the penal colony [[Devil's Island]] (now relocated to [[Eura]] and renamed to its Ralgonese translation), the majority [[Umraism|Umraist]] Gold Coast, and the sparsely populated, native-majority Northwest Territory.

Dependent territories include the Naval Base Eura and the Imperial Antarctic Territory, both of which have only one major settlement each, and the Sovereign Base Areas formed concurrently with [[Lac Glacei]] during their execution of the [[Mala'anje Repatriation Act]]. In addition, [[Imperial Haifa]] was recently added to the Imperial fold, but at great cost in materiel and local manpower. Together, these territories make up a vast, consolidated maritime empire that has reached the zenith of its power, influence, and geographical size.

=== Keltian Holdings ===

The Imperial Federation holds significant land on mainland Keltia since its expansion following the Succession War. This territory is generally divided into three parts: Nixtorm, and the two frontier territories in the Gold Coast, and the sparsely populated settlements in the Northwest Territory. Recently, the addition of [[Imperial Haifa]] has expanded the Imperial Federation's reach of the [[Strait of Haifa]], but at great cost due to heavy armed resistance from the [[Confederacy of the Dispossessed]].

==== Nixtorm ====

Originally located on mainland [[Drag'os]], the territory of Nixtorm consists of a group of large islands off the southeastern end of Keltia. Now a densely populated territory, Nixtorm is a region which depends heavily on trade for its economy. It imports resources from its mainland holdings of Inner Nixtorm (located just across the channels on Southeast Keltia) and distributes mineral resources, crops, and other items across the Empire and to international trading partners. Inner Nixtorm is the breadbasket of the entire Keltian coastal region, and rare earth deposits found on Nixtorm's rocky shores provide valuable exports, or fuel for the nuclear reactors under construction throughout the territory.

==== Gold Coast ====

Sparsely populated, the Gold Coast is home to nomads, traders, and prospectors. The region is known for its coastal fishing villages, and for the deserts inland that are very rich in gold and silver deposits. Due to the inhospitable climate, there are very few heavily populated settlements far from the coast. The region has large reserves of fossil fuel, which are traded for grain from Nixtorm's fertile mainland holdings to the south. The coasts are rich economic hubs, and many Ralgonese and other Imperials make their way to the Gold Coast from situations of near-destitution from overcrowded places like newly reconquered areas in [[Drag'os]] in an attempt to make it big. Few do, and so the Imperial Federation must now contend with a territory with extreme economic and social inequalities, in a vast, stretched out nation where Draconic Humanism is the dominant ideology in the Imperial Court.

Gold Coast's border with the [[Green]] deep in mainland Keltia is incredibly porous, leading to a strange mix of peaceful anarchy in the Imperial Federation deserts on the one hand, and desperados and brigands just beyond the zone of positive control exercised by the Federation's authorities. It is currently unknown whether the stretched Imperial Armed Forces are able to project their capabilities so far inland, but efforts have been made (albeit halfheartedly). This has made the region the Imperial Federation's near-equivalent of a "wild west," with efforts at establishing law and order largely being left to local forces.

==== Northwest Territory ====

Full of ethnic Menelmacari civilians, this is one of the few major regions in the Imperial Federation from which the majority of the colonizing settlers were not Ralgonese (or Drag'osian) in origin, the other in the West being New Menelmacar. The region consists of mostly small settlements, with native diasporas from other nations finding the region a welcoming change from the rest of the ultramodern, Ralgonese-majority Imperial Federation regions on the islands east of Keltia. For many years, the region is strategically insignificant to the Imperial government outside of its coastal areas. For a time, it and represented the pinnacle of the Imperial Court's version of their so-called "Manifest Destiny." Since the Northwest Territory represents the extent of it all, little effort was spent on forcibly pacifying the region's interior prior to the inclusion of [[Imperial Haifa]], with the local authorities being instead directed to pursue strong policies of coexistence with any native or minority groups within these lands. With some sense of irony, the inclusion of Blore Heath in subsequent years following the [[Bassarid]] collapse in the late 1710's AN only strengthened the security of the region.

Like the Gold Coast, the Imperial Federation exerts little control deep inland. However, unlike the Gold Coast, little in the way of violence exists in these territories. This is largely due to the lack of resources exploitable by single individuals, as well as strong native title to interior lands, making it unattractive for people in pursuit of half-baked get-rich-quick schemes. Violent crimes happen with far less frequency than other mainland Keltian holdings, leading the rural portions of the region (especially away from the coastlines) to develop a reputation for being a sort of utopia for those who seek peace without expectation of economic reward. As a result, the territory has rapidly become a destination for older Imperials to retire after decades of service to the state.

The main exception is the regions north of [[Blore Heath]] along the [[Strait of Haifa]]. Already a populous settlement, Blore Heath's relatively peaceful assimilation into Imperial control strengthened the settlement's economic output, and anchored the region between the Strait of Haifa and its narrow land border with [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] to the southwest. This change also cemented the Northwest Territory as the Imperial Federation's largest Ralgonese-minority territory outside of [[Valora|(North) Valora]].

==== Imperial Haifa ====
{{WIP}}

The Imperials occupied Haifa from {{AN|1718}}, but until the mid-1720's AN, the territory relied almost entirely on military support to survive, until a generalized peace was brokered allowing for the integration of the locals into the Imperial Federation's patchwork of territories organizing themselves in the formerly Bassarid regions near Haifa. Consisting of a patchwork of territories anchored around the east and south ends of [[Lake Morovia]], the territory is anchored by its garrisons based out of Abeis in the interior, and along islands located on the [[Strait of Haifa]] immediately adjacent to these land-based territories. The islands depend on the home government's military for their continued existence, with Imperial hold on these areas being tied only to constant, and costly, investments on holding them against enemies seemingly on all sides.

===Cibolan Holdings===

===Overseas Territories===

Overseas territories are technically rife within the Imperial Federation, by virtue of it being a thalassocracy. However, three territories most notably fall well outside of the so-called Core Regions on Cibola and Keltia: [[Bomei Island]], [[Devil's Island]], and the so-called [[Naval Base Eura]]. The latter is a large naval installation located off the southern cost of Eura off an island of respectable size. While Devil's Island is clearly a penal colony, Bomei Island's similar status is a legal gray area, due to the relative freedom of its inhabitants, be their residence voluntary or mandatory.

====Bomei Island====

{{main|Bomei Island}}

Formerly a penal colony meant to house the country's elites during times of political upheaval and instability, the island's importance has seen itself transform into a strategic asset for [[Raspur Pact]] forces, while doubling as a getaway destination of sorts for the country's upper classes. The massive naval bases on the island aside, the territory holds rapidly increasing infrastructure meant to cater to the Imperial Federation's rapidly expanding upper classes, thanks to the island's mild climate and excellent location near major countries like [[Natopia]], the [[Mondosphere]], and other prime destinations.

====Devil's Island & South Beihagh====

{{main|Devil's Island}}
{{main|South Beihagh}}

Until its assets' relocation to [[Eura]] in a land swap with [[Çakaristan]], Devil's Island was the primary center of the Imperial Federation's power on the continent of Corum and the sole lynchpin of Ralgonese power projection into [[Eura]], namely [[Imperial Eura]] and [[Eternia]] (which later joined the Imperial Federation). Primarily serving as both a penal colony and a large naval base, Devil's Island doubled as one of two areas that Raspur Pact forces had at their disposal in the region, the other being [[Natopia|Natopia's]] [[Naya Island]]. Although the island was also meant as a staging area to colonize portions of the exotic continent of [[Corum]], this never came to pass. Instead, the island was ceded to [[Çakaristan]]'s [[Jaihabar|Jaihabar Sultanate]] in {{AN|1720}} as part of a larger deal that included, among other territorial transfers, the [[Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar]].

Control of Devil's Island remained in Çakaristan's hands until the [[Jaihabar Vortex]] resulted in [[Çakaristan]] abruptly offering to cede the island back to the Imperial Federation in late {{AN|1739}} during the aftermath of the [[Jaihabar Vortex]], with the handover complete by New Year's Day of {{AN|1740}}. The nature of the island's value would be forever changed due to a continued lack of Ralgonese territorial ambitions beyond the island's confines. Instead, strategic interest in the island remained squarely on the island itself. The island offered a large population for its small size, as well as its favorable location, natural harbors, and defensibility. A respectable population of non-[[Çakaristan|Çakari]] citizens on former [[Jaihabar]] had also chosen to stay on the island rather than leave the continent altogether, dramatically changing the island's former demographics and turning the island into a valuable territory in and of itself in short order. While it lacked the same economic importance as its sister territory in [[South Beihagh]], Devil's Island still remained a strategic entrepot due to a much higher capacity for both permanent and passing naval assets that [[South Beihagh]] had little capacity to host over longer periods of time.

An alternate colony, named in Ralgonese as ''Akuma-jima,'' was established in {{AN|1720}} immediately south of the island of [[Beihagh]] (itself a Ralgonese territorial condominium held alongside [[Suren]]) in the wake of the {{AN|1720}} transfer of [[Devil's Island]]. Named after the original Devil's Island, the island became known more properly as [[South Beihagh]] over time. This fortified island was promptly established during this time to serve as an alternate trade node passing through the larger Euran market. More importantly, it served to secure the condominium with [[Beihagh]] to the north, and the island quickly found itself an effective link between the Imperial Federation's naval assets elsewhere with [[Imperial Eura]] and the resource-rich country of [[Eternia]]. The island's economy quickly grew from trade links established via Eura, enriched by stable Imperial control of the region and constant pass-through of both civilian and military assets. The island's importance to Imperial Federation trade and security in the region similarly contributes to the island's strong security, which continued seeing economic growth during the 1730's AN, only hampered by the [[Recession of 1737]]. Further, the lax immigration policy enjoyed by the non-penal settlements on the island have driven the local economy, strengthening Gondolin's reasons for staying put (which, by design, is a core tenet of the Humanist government in charge). The island would retain its economic importance past {{AN|1740}}, despite the lessened strategic emphasis on the island following the re-addition of [[Devil's Island]] to the Imperial Federation beginning that same year.

Past {{AN|1740}}, the islands would serve to grant the other strategic redundancy, as the Imperial Federation continued to emphasize economic growth in its Euran territory. Devil's Island would see its penal colony swiftly re-established, given the Imperial Federation's stated desire to avoid hosting a long-term prison for deported persons in South Beihagh, itself unfavorable for setting aside the necessary land for such institutions. Ultimately, it quickly proved that South Beihagh had regional economic potential as the result of trade with Eura, and Devil's Island profited from higher harbor capacity and proximity to Corum. Both would be integrated into a single territorial unit that included Ralgonese holdings outside of Greater Eternia and its mainland holdings in [[Keltia]] and [[Cibola]].

====Imperial Eura====

{{main|Imperial Eura}}

Imperial Eura consists of a patchwork of territories anchored on Naval Base Eura. With its military center based on what is otherwise known as the Isle of Eura, the islands' culture, economy, and most other aspects of life are dominated by the Imperial Grand Armada's presence on Eura, with settlements from merchant families and other colonists from the mainland ramping up after 1720 AN. The base supports [[Raspur Pact]] efforts in the region, courtesy of imperial forces operating in the region. Although a token garrison mans the other islands, the base is very well-fortified despite its relative lack of history, and short time under the occupation of the Imperial Federation.

The island holds an unnamed town outside of the base. Consisting of some 20,000 civilian personnel, the civilians are outnumbered by the land-based garrison on the military sides of the island (although not by much) and by the naval forces (which number up to 50,000 during major events). The rest of the islands on the island chain are dominated by civilian-led governance, with the colony expected to ascend from dependency status to Princely status as early as 1725 AN. The rapidly growing population of the islands reflects both the booming economy and strategic importance of this territory to Imperial interests in Eura and the south of Micras as a whole. The resource-rich islands have already contributed to the Federation's economy, with the islands expected to become more integrated into their mother country as the years roll by.

====Naval Base on Tiegang====

{{main|International Mandate#Imperial Federation: Mechazawa Naval Base}}

The Imperial Federation controls the Adrestian Quarter's naval base in the [[International Mandate]]. Known until recently as the "Adrestian Royal Navy Base Tiegang," it was renamed in {{AN|1709}} after Vice Admiral Saizo Mechazawa, who went on to represent the Ralgonese peoples after his retirement. The base is considered the property of the Imperial Federation, although it does not exercise sovereignty over the base. The people living on the island are ostensibly ruled by an elected governor who answers to Tiegangese authorities. However, the island is still influenced by now-Duke Saizo of Eastern Appolonia, who permanently lives there with certain members of his family.

Although the Imperial Federation has few legitimate interests on Appolonia, Tiegang itself nonetheless hosts several tens of thousands of Ralgonese citizens living there, many of whom relocated there after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that saw the (lopsided) fracture of the Ralgonese world along ideological and political lines. Like on Bomei Island, unusually high freedoms of personal expression are tolerated there, although lese majeste laws continue to hold effect even over these far-flung populations.

== Climate & Topography==

==Education==

Three types of post-secondary institutions exist in Ralgon: Private, public, and government-sponsored research institutes. A mixture of these schools rank near the top of the world's universities for factors including pedagogy, alumni outcomes, research output, and institutional financial performance. Most of Ralgon's best public universities also happen to remain self-sustaining in nature; that is, they do not need government funding and actually provide additional income to the government in some few cases. This remains the case even after the severity of the 1685 Crisis.

In recent years, focus on Ralgon's sole remaining overseas possessions prior to {{AN|1685}} by its then-current government drove a concentration schools in Greater Adrestia onto the top of the global league tables. Among these are the elite University of Adrestia (known globally by its abbreviation of UA), which holds a massive endowment of its own. Other high-ranking universities in the de facto independent territory include the Gondolin Institute of Science (GIS), the Naval Academy at Alexandria, and the University of Alphaville (run as a UA satellite campus until 1690, in cooperation with Bassarid faculty).

===Universities===
''(For a detailed list of major universities in the Ralgon, see the below articles.)''

{{main|List of universities in Ralgon}}

====Glacier City University====
{{main|Glacier City University}}

Glacier City University (known by its acronym of GCU) is an elite university located in the Semi-Autonomous Region (SAR) of the same name. Founded as a university in 1076, GCU is the oldest institute of higher education in continuous operation in the Imperial Federation, and the second-oldest university in the country. It is also among the oldest institutions of higher learning on the Cibola continent, having educated over 75% of the former Holy Ralgon Empire's heads of state, among countless other elites within the country.

It is considered an "ancient university" -- that is, an institution of higher learning formed as a university (regardless of its purpose or existence before said formation) before the Draconic faith became the state religion in 1178. It is one of only three such institutions in continuous operation since that date, with the latest of its other six peers being claimed (at least temporarily) by the devastating effects of the long-term 1680's General Crisis.

The University is world-renowned for its engineering and materials science programs, with graduates leading such projects as the construction of the [[Erazm Bridge Consortium]] and ground-breaking developments in ship technology for the recently re-organized [[Grand Armada of the Imperial Federation]], which consists of 250 modernized ships (and some 75 outdated ones) with the same defensive engineering that ensured Ralgon's survival during its darkest days. Its endowment is the second-largest in the Ralgonese state, at around 37 billion Guilders. Housing notable global policy institutes such as the Chidao Emperor Institute for Jing Studies, the university's headquarters remain in the Mountain City after over 600 years. GCU remains the only institution allowed to own property within the Imperial City's inner sanctum, and is also the only non-government organization allowed to operate within the city without an active permit.

Until the fall from prominence of the [[Stormhold]] region as the center of political life in the Empire, Glacier City U long maintained a rivalry with Temple University in Valeria. To this day, the two enjoy top rankings in Micras, especially in the fields of medicine, earth science, and biology. Glacier City University attained renewed prominence on the island of [[Drag'os]] as a part of the aftermath of the [[Ralgon Civil War|1685 Crisis]] and the [[Ralgon War of Succession|War of Succession]] that ended in 1706, due to the university's location in a region generally safe from political violence of any significance (with the sole exception of the 1705 city purge). It was one of the few ancient universities to survive intact; Temple University suffered a drop in the rankings, supplanted by the University of Gondolin, which has taken up some of the old rivalries.

=== Temple University===
{{main|Temple University}}

Temple University (known simply as TU) was originally founded in 425 AN in what is now the city of Valeria by Draconic missionaries, as a religious institute for higher learning. Itself attached to the Holy Temple of Drag'os in the same city (and originally in the same building), the institution was founded to train high-ranking religious personnel in both theology and in statecraft (a skill badly needed at the time by such people). The institution formed into a University in 1046, and adopted its current name in 1298, after the City of Valeria took over the university on behalf of the Ralgon king's government.

The modern Temple University preserves is its original 1046 name, and also serves as the flagship institution of the eponymous system (as a homage to the University's foundations with the Church). Thanks to a heavily increased endowment after the national government purchased the University, it has rapidly grown from an already-elite status to a world-class university in its own right. Although it suffered significantly during the general crises that defined the 1680's to 1705 AN, the modern university still enjoys the massive resources it slowly built over its 700-year history as a university. Temple University maintains its still-strong prominence that relies on a combination of a massive endowment -- the sixth-highest in Ralgon, at 27 billion Guilders, and its system of sister institutions to keep up with the never-ending pace of modernization in the country. This network of academics buoyed the university after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], which saw the city of Valeria stripped of imperial status because of its government's support of the pretenders (who themselves were exiled to [[Valora]]). From battle damage to the loss of students and faculty to the resulting exodus from the city, the university sustained a substantial hit to its endowment (no less than 9 billion Guilders) and a significant drop in the world university rankings that will likely take at least two or three decades to recover from.

Despite its recent woes, the University has no shortage of talent. The university is known for its sheer number of graduates within the Imperial Federation's education system, with nearly half the Dragosian mainland's top 10% of income earners being graduates of one of the schools in the TU system. Most of the City of Valeria's leaders are graduates of the flagship campus, which is known for its strict admissions standards, despite its massive size of over 85,000 students (about 50,000 of which are undergraduate). While the quality of the rivalry the University maintains with Glacier City U has taken damage in recent years, the university still excels in materials science and engineering, and still occupies top rankings worldwide fields of theoretical physics and mathematics.

===University of Gondolin===

Formed in 1672 AN, the University of Gondolin is, by far, the youngest of the elite universities in the Ralgon Empire. The university was founded in what is now Adrestia by the Emperor Shiro of Ralgon to educate the colonists. Following the discovery of precious resources in unprecedented abundance, the university found itself with a massive endowment, spurring extremely rapid growth during its initial few years. Unlike its companion institution, the University of Adrestia, the University of Gondolin operates no satellite campuses outside of its own metropolitan region, allowing a greater concentration of star faculty and other vital resources.

The university is known for its state-of-the-art naval science and space science departments. Its School of Draconic Studies is also widely praised as being on par with giants such as the ancient Glacier City University. The institution has already counted several famous and infamous graduates among its relatively distinguished alumni. Among them is the current Crown Prince of Adrestia, the future Masamune III, who graduated in 1700 AN with a undergraduate dual degree in global affairs and aerospace engineering at the age of 21 before moving abroad for further study. Another is [[Sargon Gilgamesh-Pilagga Azulpolassar|Sargon Azulpolassar]], a prominent noble from [[The Hexarchy]] who graduated in 1693. The university's rapid rise to prominence comes on the heels of Adrestia's prosperity; thus, the university made moves to insulate itself from possible periods of political upheaval during the late 1690's. This strategy paid off, as the city was rocked by the financial strain of bearing the costs of victory in the Ralgon Succession War in the first decade of the 1700's. Careful investment and restricting admissions to a smaller, more manageable student body lead to strengthened reputation abroad by the time the war ended and financial prosperity began to be felt in all quarters of the now-large metropolis.

Although being smaller than its companion institution, the University of Adrestia (and system), the university holds by far the largest endowment in the Imperial Federation, valued at over 50 billion Guilders as of 1707 AN, thanks to heavy and frequent donations by the Royal Family of Adrestia and shrewd financial management. This has allowed the university to cement its assets and begin another round of heavy expansion into the coming century. The rise of the city to prominence in recent years is mostly thanks to the growing status of the city of Gondolin, and its designation as one of the two Imperial Cities allowed further increases in the university's budget for frontier sciences. The university also owns substantial investments in the Alphaville Spaceport, as well as Anarion Spaceport in the Antarctic Territory (along with several research bases in the same).

===University of Adrestia System===
{{WIP}}
Like its counterpart the University of Gondolin, the University of Adrestia was founded in 1672 AN, shortly before the international recognition of the colony as part of the Ralgon Empire. It used to be the same institution as UG, but the two split amicably to allow each university to respectively focus on the needs of Gondolin and the wider Adrestia regions. Although this caused a split in endowment award, the discovery of vast resources on the islands promptly made such a state of affairs relatively moot. The university system has expanded to cover education on the entirety of

This huge amount of resources gradually allowed the University of Adrestia to rapidly grow into the largest education system in the Ralgon Empire, overtaking the Temple University system in {{AN|1697}} (some 12 years post-Crisis). The university enjoys an enrolment of about 98,500 between all of its campuses, the flagship branch at the UA Gondolin being by far the most competitive to enter for aspiring students. Although the flagship campus is at Gondolin, the institution educates leaders in the liberal arts as well as in humanities, being better regarded in these fields than its rival institution of UG.

===University of Nixtorm===

===Western Imperial University===

Western Imperial University is one of the Imperial Universities, opened during the first years of the Imperial Federation. Shortly known as Western, the large university was founded in {{AN|1708}} with branch campuses in major cities to serve elite students in the new frontiers of the Empire on the Keltian mainland. Designed initially to train local government officials as well as native aristocracy, the university opened to gifted commoners hoping for jobs in places that offer higher standards of living, such as the Core Regions of Adrestia or Glacier City. The university is unique to the Imperial Federation in the fact that it is the only Imperial University that does not have a designated flagship campus.

===Anarion University===

Anarion University is a military-sponsored school founded in [[Gondolin]] by the regency of the Imperial Federation in {{AN|1706}}, by decree. Unlike other university systems, Anarion University was created specifically as an international university, with branch campuses in [[Valeria]], [[Glacier City]], and other major settlements throughout the Empire. The latest branch was opened in [[Nova Victoria]] in time for New Year's celebrations on 1710 AN, welcoming its first cohort of students there for Ralgonese Studies, offered jointly with the Chidao Institute for Foreign Studies, itself based in Glacier City. It plans to welcome its first degree-seeking classes by {{AN|1712}}.

The offerings at the university consists of international-based study. Notably, business majors and global studies are offered. The university's flagship campus in [[Alphaville, SAR]] now ranks 50th-60th on the national tables despite to its very young age, thanks to large funding projects and patronage by the imperial family.

==Demographics==

{{see also|Demographics of the Imperial Federation}}

===Population===

==== Pre-Crisis ({{AN|1655}}-{{AN|1685}})====

Conducting a census has, historically, been a major challenge in the Imperial Federation's predecessor states, owing in large part to very high birth and death rates (among the male population) due to constant warfare and paradoxically strong economic growth due to said replacements. This was, mostly, due to the old [[Great Swamp War]] and related national conflicts that saw high casualties against the dangerous fauna inland, which were contained near the time of the Imperial Federation's ascent to power during a second series of civil wars in {{AN|1706}}.

The population during the closing stages late in the second phase of [[Great Swamp War]] had peaked to about 124,254,005 in {{AN year|1665}} under [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon|Nobunag'an IV the Wise]]. Following the ascension of which shot to 159,255,163 in {{AN year|1675}} during a brief phase of prosperity under Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro I the Valiant]]. Records for {{AN|1680}} posted a population of roughly 164 million, during which a strong Ralgon diaspora was dispersed to countries like the [[Hexarchy]] and [[International Mandate]], and during which [[Adrestia]] was first formed, leading to an explosion in population to unknown numbers by {{AN|1685}}, although much of this population had moved to colonies abroad, mostly to territories now under Imperial Federation control.

====Post-Crisis ({{AN|1686}}-{{AN|1717}})====

The {{AN|1685}} Crisis and the attendant [[Ralgon Civil War]] nearly destroyed the country, and reduced its controlled population back under 164 million people, roughly at 1680 levels, with a further 40 million Ralgonese scattered over [[Drag'os]] and other lands near or adjacent to Ralgonese territories at the time. The resulting pressures of an overpopulation crisis nearly ended the country, with these pressures in part triggering the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].

=====Imperial Territory =====

By the time it expanded to nearly its present-day territory in {{AN|1706}}, the Imperial Federation had reclaimed most of former Ralgon's population, and recorded a delayed "1705" census of 204,174,665 within the Imperial Federation's controlled territory and Ralgonese living in its environs in disputed or contested areas. The rapid consolidation, expansion, and movement of Ralgonese back to Imperial territory led to a population of 209,279,031 in the {{AN|1710}} census. This number grew to 213,673,890 by {{AN|1715}} thanks to a baby boom as a result of an influx of territory, resources, and new populations being absorbed into the rapidly growing empire as it fought to combat overextension by encouraging said baby boom to partially solve. A preliminary census estimate taken in {{AN|1717}} after the [[Conquest of Valora]] assessed the Imperial population (minus Valora) had increased another 1.32% to an estimated 216,494,000, a result of large population centers continuing to rise on the coastlines of [[Keltia]] and the northern areas of [[New Menelmacar]].

=====Valoran Territory=====

In the same time, [[Valora]] had recorded a population of 15,639,728 in its metropole areas in {{AN|1707}}, some 25% of which lived in and around the now-major city of Yixing, which became the cultural and political center for both the Ralgonese and Valoran peoples in the politically paralyzed country. The Valoran urban population contracted by 5.7% to 14,748,263 due to repeated, protracted crises in the region's interior. An estimated 25% of the country lived off the grid, or in other urban areas, or were rural, or had refugee status, these states of living being unclearly defined and often found in common due to the country's bitter military, economic, environmental, and political situations. After the [[Conquest of Valora]], some 74% of the population was found to be on the new Imperial side of the territory. The rest were undead that migrated to South Valoran side of the border forming after the war's conclusion.

A census conducted in the close of {{AN|1717}} found that Imperial Valora, New Ralgon, and Imperial Cibola (both east and west) consisted of a grand total of just over 16,075,000 people, not counting the remaining Vanic and anti-Ralgonese/Valoran rebels, nor the remaining undead that found themselves inexplicably under the service of Imperial troops. (Rumor has it that Emperor Anarion was fascinated by the comical way these undead moved and wanted a contingent of them for his own amusement, so Mondo let him have a few hundred as part of the partition agreement. In return, Mondo got [[Kaek]], which in turn did not know and did not care that the transition took place so quickly.)

====Modern Period ({{AN|1717}} -)====

On its formation c. {{AN|1705}}, the Imperial Federation experienced an explosion in population following its victory in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], and further during the decade-plus that followed the cold war between it and its much smaller splinter, [[Valora]]. In {{AN|1717}}, the Imperial Federation executed the [[Conquest of Valora]] and subsumed most of its population, further adding to its expanding population.

An estimate of the Imperial Federation proper yielded a population estimate of 216,494,000, and its newly absorbed territories of New Ralgon, Imperial Cibola, and Imperial (North) Valora held a census that counted approximately 16,075,000 people (not counting the undead and/or stateless persons). This yielded an estimated population of 232,569,000 at the close of {{AN|1717}}, or a strong increase of 13.9% from the {{AN|1705}} census. It was expected that the post-1710's population growth would begin to favor natural birth rates more than annexations, as the Imperial Federation shifts its focus towards peacetime nation building, and the Emperor Anarion comes of age to a period of unprecedented prosperity for the Ralgonese nations of Micras.

Imperial Federation

2026-07-07T01:27:55Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Dynastic Policies */

{{Imperial Federation Article}}{{SANE article}}
{{Feature|September, 2022}}
{{Infobox Nation Comprehensive
|fullname = The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Valora, Haifa, and Eternia
|commonname = Ralgon
|flag = File:Imperial Federation 1.png
|coa = File:Imperial Federation CoA 1.png
|motto = ''For God and Empire''
|anthem = Anchors Aweigh
|map =File:IFR_1740.png
|mapversions = ???
|capital =Gondolin (executive, administrative) Glacier City (religious, legislative)
|largecity = Glacier City, SAR
|lang = Ralgonese (official) Standard (official; regional)
|demnoun = Imperial Ralgonese (alternate)
|demadj = Imperial; Ralgonese Adrestian; Drag'osian; Eternian; Haifan
|govtype = Executive Monarchy
|headofstatetitle = Emperor
|headofstate = [[Anarion|Anari'on I]] (formerly called Masamune of Adrestia)
|religion = [[Draconic]] (Ralgonese regions) (other native and folk religions)
|headofgovernmenttitle = Viceroy
|headofgovernment = Nikamura Hawkins, Grand Duke of Gondolin
|legislature = Imperial Senate
|estdate = Winter, {{AN|228}} (traditional) October 23rd, {{AN year|1665}} (as [[Ralgon]] on MCS map) May, {{AN|1706}} (as the Imperial Federation) 
|agerank =
|area =
|arearank =
|pop = 317,994,774 ({{AN|1750}} census)
|activepop =
|currency = Imperial Guilder (£)
|calendar = [[Norton Calendar]] (secular) Draconic Calendar (religious)
|timezone = CMT+8 to +10:30 (Keltia) CMT-10:30 (Cibola)
|electricity = 100 V at 50 Hz
|abbrev = IFR
|drives_on = left
|gauge = 1500 mm (freight) 1000 mm (passenger; urban) 1435mm ([[Cibolan Rail|Cibolan Express]])
|site = [https://micras.org/mwiki/Category:Imperial%20Federation Category Page] [https://micras.org/mwiki/User:Cosmic_Fury User Page]
|forum = [https://bastionunion.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=1646&sid=32557dfeb48c60af1428753bfb403f56 Old Forum]
|animal = leviathan
|food = crocodile meat
|drink = Menelmacari whiskey
|tree = Al-Hamra sequoia
}}

'''The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Adrestia, Haifa, and Eternia''', known better as '''The Imperial Federation''', is a set of Imperialist, unified, sovereign states that coalesced in {{AN|1706}} following the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], being reorganized into its present form in {{AN|1724}} following various military and political campaigns aimed at centralizing the empire and its peripheries in the aftermath of recent waves of expansion. The Imperial Federation consists of three constituent countries, in addition to a number of free cities (such as [[Nova Victoria]]) and dependencies (such as [[Imperial Eura]]). A fourth constituent country, [[Eternia]], was formed from that kingdom and nearby dependencies in {{AN|1733}}, leading to a name change of the country's name. The present name was formed when [[Adrestia]] and its subordinate territories were separated from [[Ralgon|Greater Ralgon]] in {{AN|1756}}, and [[Valora]] finally absorbed into [[Ralgon]] as a constituent part of that consituent country.

At present, the Imperial Federation's constituent countries consist of the following. Firstly, [[Ralgon]] is located on a large portion of northern [[Cibola]], and includes [[Drag'os]], [[Valora]], [[West Valora]], [[East Valora]], [[Tar-Palantir]], and [[New Ralgon]]). It hosts one of the two imperial capitals, [[Glacier City]], having been the center of Ralgonese culture since time immemorial. Secondly, [[Adrestia]] is located on the east end of Keltia and includes the areas of [[South Island]] and surrounding areas, [[Nixtorm]] (and its own territories), the Isles of Eriad'or (including the new settlements of [[Scarterra]], [[Northwest Territory]], and [[Al Hamra]]. Adrestia hosts the other of the two imperial capitals, that being [[Gondolin]], founded c.{{AN|1675}}. Thirdly, [[Haifa Bassaridia]] (known simply as [[Haifa]], covers majority-Bassarid lands along the straits of the same name. Fourthly, the country of [[Eternia]] consists of that country and surrounding island groups, having joined in {{AN|1733}}. A number of autonomous territories and dependencies exist, such as [[Bomei Island]], [[Beihagh]], [[North Corum]], and [[Dromosker Island]]. It also maintains important populations in the [[International Mandate]].

The original core of what is now the Imperial Federation was formed from the Kingdom of [[Adrestia]], founded in {{AN|1675}}, and the Kingdom of [[Drag'os]], which existed as a unified polity under the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] after c. {{AN|1655}}. Adrestia's first ruler (and the progenitor of the current Emperor) was Masamune of House Adrestia, crowned as [[Emperor Anari'on]] at the age of {{AgeAN|1701|1706}} in 1706, shortly before their complete victory in a succession struggle over the Imperial Crown, after the death of its holder, Ralgon Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro I]] the year prior. The Empire is governed under the tenets of [[Draconic Humanism]], a combined religion and political ideology, which forms the basis of rule throughout most of the empire.

The Empire holds an estimated population of 317,994,774 in the {{AN|1750}} census, up from the previous estimate of 299,542,930 reported to the [[Raspur Pact]] authorities in {{AN|1740}}, in addition to another few million living in recently incorporated [[North Corum]] and [[Dromosker Island]], minus those living in [[Geneva]]. Population growth during the 1750's AN was driven by booming prosperity in territory acquired in the prior two decades, and in [[Glacier City]] with new breakthroughs in construction and food production technologies allowing an ever-greater population capacity. The Imperial Federation is the fifth-most populated country on Micras, with some 50.5% of the country's population on the island of [[Drag'os]] alone, and another 30.1% living on [[Adrestia]]. The Empire's largest city, the metropolis of [[Glacier City]], serves as the cultural and religious center of the Imperial Federation, and its wealthiest economic hub, in rivalry with the Imperial captial of [[Gondolin]] for the title. Glacier City is also one of the world's largest and most populous cities, with approximately 49,220,000 living in its legally defined area on the far eastern end of the same island in {{AN|1750}}. The Imperial Court sits at Gondolin, with Glacier City acting as a second capital and the seat of the Imperial Senate due to its profound religious importance.

The Imperial Federation shares few land borders with others on its island territories, most of those borders being old exclaves belonging to others during the Imperial Federation's expansions near its core settlements following the rise of the then-principality of [[Adrestia]] in the decades following {{AN|1680}}. In its heartland in [[South Island]], it shares a land border with a tiny exclave of [[Çakaristan|Çakaristan's]] possession of [[Tarria]]. The Imperial Federation's most notable land border on [[Cibola]] is with [[Mondosphere]] to the south on the [[Cibola]] mainland, as a result of the subsequent partitions that followed the [[Conquest of Valora]] in {{AN|1715}}. After further expansion added [[Nordhafen]] and [[East Valora]], there is a new land border with [[Gogledd Cybwl]], a constituent republic of [[Sanama]]. Since the Imperial Federation's expansion onto the Keltian mainland after {{AN|1695}}, they also border [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] on the east coast of mainland Keltia, and hold sovereign base areas near [[Windsor]], held jointly with [[New Alexandria]]. The Imperial Federation also shares certain [[Mala]] territories in condominium with [[New Alexandria]] in the same region. The constituent country of [[Bassaridia|Haifa Bassaridia]], to the north on the mainland, borders the protected state of [[Matamoros]] to the east, [[The Green]] on the west, and [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] to the northwest. [[Eternia]] has a short land border on an uninhabitable section of tundra only with [[Etourney]], via an exclave in its frigid northeast coast.

The new Imperial Federation's government was formed from a union of the victorious factions of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], and more recently from the [[Conquest of Valora]] that saw the final reunification of the Ralgon states, albeit this time under a much larger empire. While Drag'osian factions lost the war, those with Ralgonese ancestry still control most of the government due to their huge population (compared with much of the rest of the empire), with minority control being only at regional levels. Ralgonese people form the majority population in the unified Adrestia and Drag'os territories (as well as most of present-day [[Valora]], with [[Glacier City]] holding equal status as [[Gondolin]] as one of the Imperial Federation's two imperial cities. Most the empire's territories are directly formed around these two polities. Nixtorm, now a large territory, remained loyal and sent troops to fight, and was awarded its own place in the new Imperial Senate. The same happened with Scarterra, the northern half of which was repatriated to Ralgon following a major land swap with [[Calbion]] that restored all of its former territories, along with the Badlands and the freeport region of [[Duro]]. The infant government applied to join the [[Raspur Pact]], due to the very strong influence of [[Draconic Humanism]] and [[National humanism]] within its highest ranks, while relations with neighboring [[Calbion]] have continued to significantly warm under the new government, after years of animosity following the terrorist attack on Glacier City at the hands of the [[Iron Company]] in {{AN|1673}}.

Despite the military power it commands, the Imperial Federation's reach does not extend in significant force outside of its home regions, with reliance on permanent bases to maintain its overseas empire and ensure concrete ties between its constituent countries. The government has variously managed periods of rapid rise and overextension, with its military finally expanded sufficiently to allow sustainable consolidation of its holdings, this expected by {{AN|1760}}. The Imperial Federation has variously partnered with its neighbors to hold far-flung territories. One example is the Ralgonese government's constant struggle to maintain holdings in [[Keltia]]'s deep interior, especially [[Imperial Haifa]], where [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] aided efforts to bring order to the region, aiding integration of millions into the imperial fold and the expansion of its already-large defense industry. The other is the partnership with [[Floria]] during the [[Corum War]] to secure additional territory to link the core of the empire with [[Eternia]] and [[Beihagh]] and other far-flung areas, and thus complete a far less vulnerable maritime connection were it to come into conflict with foreign powers.

In the government's early days, its solution to remedy its chronic overextension was to join the [[Raspur Pact]] in late {{AN|1706}} to counter its weakness in an army and air force that still remained relatively small for a nation of this size. In later decades, it adopted a pattern of regional political, economic, and military alliances to protect mutual interests and enable clear power projection. Although the Imperial Federation joined few other supranational organizations, it nonetheless made paradoxical moves to adopt a largely peaceful coexistence with its neighbors and upgrading its military might, to defeat its issues of controlling such a large amount of maritime territory and maintaining free, safe trade throughout its now-vast maritime empire. Recent years have been characterized by the accelerated population growth and consolidation of its holdings, largely eschewing further territorial expansion despite continual opportunities to press farther into [[The Green]] in Keltia.

==Etymology==
The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Adrestia, Eternia, and Haifa takes its name as a collective of older polities that have made up the modern empire since approximately 1665 AN, when it was first included as Ralgon on the MCS map. Although no longer its own consolidated country as of {{AN|1756}}, so-called "Greater Ralgon" consists of the two Ralgonese states of Adrestia and Drag'os, and are considered as the same greater polity under Imperial law due to their shared sovereign. These two now form two of the empire's four constituent countries, and are by far the two most populated as well. The name changed in {{AN|1723}}, albeit unofficially, to reflect the inclusion of most former [[Bassarid]] homelands into the Empire, and the increased dependence of [[Tar-Palantir]] on its surrounding provinces. Every few decades or so, the Imperial Federation has changed its name to reflect the co-equal status of the most powerful portions of its multipolar empire.

=== Ralgonese Peoples ===
The Ralgon name comes from a combination of "Ral," the name of the people which originated in what is now [[Stormhold]] on the island of [[Drag'os]], and "gon" which denotes a people, or a sense of belonging in the ancient Ralgonese language. The homeland of the Ralgonese peoples is a territory called [[Stormhold]], itself located on [[Drag'os]], a large island territory located just off northern [[Cibola]]. As for [[Drag'os]] itself, it takes its name after the fire god worshipped in the [[Draconic]] religion. According to local mythology, it was a reincarnation of Drag'os who founded the first Ralgon state in Stormhold, which itself takes its name from an early ruler who preferred to worship Glaur'on, the god of water, wisdom, and storms.

After the unification of the Ralgonese and ethnically related nations on Drag'os in 1655, [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]] commissioned expeditions to colonize a group of islands near Keltia to expand the empire's territory in case of further natural disasters at home, a near-daily occurrence on Drag'os. Adrestia itself was named after one of the early great saints of the Draconic Church, and like the Ralgonese on Drag'os, Adrestia came to likewise rule over the entirety of its own region. It is from the two Ralgonese peoples that the Imperial Federation draws its present strength, authority, and legitimacy over its other dominions across the [[Great Western Sea|Great Western Ocean]].

=== Other Dominions ===
Nixtorm's history is almost as old as Ralgon was, and the origins of its formerly tribal name are now lost to history. It is thought that Nixtorm was a primordial word for the people of the Stormlands, due to the wet climate on Drag'os's eastern seaboard. These peoples took the name with them when they relocated to southeast [[Keltia]] following the first [[Ralgon Civil War]] in 1685. They retained loyalty to their Ralgonese cousins to the present day.

Valora is a collection of provinces on the mainland of [[Cibola]] as well as the island of [[Tar-Palantir]]. Formerly its own country, its much more populated northern half was annexed following the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in the early 1700's.

Scarterra is, loosely, a collection of two separated provinces, thanks to an exodus of its peoples following the 1685 crisis, which saw much of the island overrun with disasters, geological and otherwise. The province was reformed on Drag'os following the island's reunification in the early 1700's. Dubbed "New Scarterra," in the Isles of Eriador (near [[South Island]]), this houses a number of the barons that chose to establish and maintain their domains overseas. Scarterra proper consists in great part of returnees from what is now known as [[Inis Balar]] following the mainland's repatriation. Since then, both areas have been populated heavily with Menelmacari and other Ralgonese ethnic groups in the following years, leading to a minority-"native" population there.

Tar-Palantir is an island named after the ancient [[Menelmacar|Menelmacari]] traditions, some of which Tar-Palantir's colonizers have begun to revive in recent years. The island's namesake was a ruler of the Ralgonese state of Stormhold, and served as one of the founders of what would form the core of modern Drag'osian government until the recent [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in 1705-1707 AN. Other such influences are found throughout the Imperial Federation's holdings on Keltia, where many cities are named after mythological people or objects from Menelmacari histories uncovered since the revival of interest in the early 1700's AN. The island's majority ethnicity consists of a mixed Valoran and Menelmacari heritage, with political leanings to the former despite the latter's heavy linguistic and cultural influences.

==History==

=== The Early Period (228 AN - 1178 AN) ===

Also known as the Dark Ages, this was period of factionalism and endless crises for Ralgon. History from this period is scarce, although certain pieces do survive. For instance, the Ralgonese tribes dispersed throughout modern-day [[Drag'os]], and by {{AN|1200}} were a single polity that was situated in a strategic location in the south-center of the island. The chief enemies of the period were primarily the hostile fauna, notably the dragons. While the insectoid lifeforms of the [[Great Swamp]] were a dire threat, they were, by and large, manageable by this time. The lightning dragons were, however, a far different story, for they were responsible for the near-extinction of the Ralgonese peoples on the island on several occasions, the worst by far being in {{AN|228}}, before which recorded history apparently does not survive outside of modern [[Glacier City]], the mountainous environment in which the locals found life-saving shelter. The current principal Ralgonese ruling tribes descend from those same refugees who eventually spread throughout the island in the next thousand years.

It was around the year {{AN|800}} that the nascent [[Draconic]] religion was first recorded being adopted by Ralgonese chieftains and petty rulers. Archaeological evidence concludes that Draconic originated in the Badlands to the northwest of the island, where (ironically) the dragons lived in the highest concentrations. Outside of religious proselytization, events were largely cyclical throughout the island until the year {{AN|1178}}, with the eastern and western portions maintaining no contact, with the Ralgonese nobility eventually finding their way into the courts of other territories in a bid to consolidate the region against the dragons and Great Swamp "bugs" ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_gigantism gigantic insectoid species of a wide variety]). However, a major dragon attack by an elder lightning dragon and its retinue destroyed most of the nobility, and the region in the east experienced a violent political reset, while the west was so devastated by the dragon attacks that its peoples fell entirely out of contact with the rest of the world until nearly {{AN|1680}}.

The slowly modernizing [[Glacier City]] survived the onslaught, as did certain nobility in the environs of Valeria in the most well-defended areas of Stormhold. It was shortly after this catastrophe that the first universities began to appear in the country, some being relics of old conflicts, now solidified and given "universal" privileges to act as education institutions. For institutions that survive to the point, such as the [[University of Glacier City]], these same organizations' origins are typically tied to Draconic Temples in their respective cities, only detaching centuries later as each entity grew too large for the other to reasonably house or manage. The attacks, while devastating on the frontier populations and the inland dwellers, forced a population concentration and accelerated the region's rapid onset of industrialization (and better defenses).

=== The Intermediate Period (1178 AN - 1655 AN) ===
The Intermediate Period was defined by the initiation of the Great Swamp Wars in earnest to take back the inland regions and relieve agricultural pressure on the rapidly growing population, as fishing could only sustain so many people, despite the abundant waters and large prey items that the fishing industry could readily target. By the time {{AN|1200}} rolled around, these wars had begun in earnest, with each of the various surviving eastern polities on Drag'os attempting to assert their own control away from the coastal regions and into the fertile, well-watered lands between the coast and the Great Swamp. Exploration during these times was limited to the eastern half of the island, due to the Great Divide to the west acting as too great a physical barrier, especially with hostile dragons inhabiting the region.

Overall, the Great Swamp Wars, were the series of long-term conflicts that formed both the definition and basis of the Ralgon nation until c. {{AN|1680}}. The so-called "War" was neither a single conflict, nor was it fought between nations. Instead, it was a conflict fought between the peoples inhabiting the island of [[Drag'os]] and the megafauna of various sorts that inhabited the Badlands, which were divided into eastern and western halves by the Great Divide (itself a series of mountain ranges that divided the island in two). The War may be divided into four phases marked by significant events: The Atomic Bombardment of 1450, the Dark Age, the Atomic Bombardment of 1672, and the Western Campaign of 1680.

The initial phases of the conflict lasted until c. {{AN|1400}}, with modernizing weapons enabling the surviving polities of Stormhold, Nixtorm, Scarterra, and others to compete directly with the most dangerous fauna inland for natural resources. However, their pathological hostility towards humans and the high reproduction replaced losses while inflicting grievous setbacks on the Ralgonese defenders. A stalemate was achieved until Stormhold manufactured an atomic device that it successfully deployed in the depths of the Great Swamp in the year {{AN|1450}}, which wiped out the dragon population on the eastern half of the island, almost to the last creature. However, the atomic blast had existentially dangerous consequences: it irradiated the already-large bugs, and permanently drove most lightning dragons into lifelong killing frenzies that nearly, again, wiped out all life on the island. The only thing saving them was, ironically, more nukes until their store had run dry. Making a resolution to never use fissile warheads again, the idea was seemingly set aside permanently to sustain the growing tide of giant bugs now crawling out of the Great Swamp in record numbers. While a stalemate was eventually reached once again, the Ralgonese were still driven even closer to the coast, and the population situation eventually began to deteriorate despite extremely high fertility rates among women.

The tides began to slowly turn under the reign of [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]], whose clan and subordinate tribes initially controlled only the coastal fringes of what is now [[Stormhold]]. After the Ralgon tribes colonized and settled the fertile and secure valleys and coastlines at the far east end of the island, the settlement known as [[Glacier City]] quickly grew to dwarf its mother country in population due to a general lack of hardship. By the time Nobunag'an came into power in {{AN|1594}}, The resulting boost in manpower and territory propelled the Ral clans to form the Ralgon nation, which slowly forced their way north and east to link up with other peoples in the region, most notably those from what used to be the regions of [[Nixtorm]], [[Aurora]], and [[Scarterra]]. With their forces and technology combined, the new Ralgon state went on to defeat the enemy, with Nobunag'an IV going down in history as the man who saved his people from extinction. The country would eventually modernize enough to deploy a non-fissile atomic weapon in {{AN|1672}}, near the end of Nobunag'an's reign, in time for [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] to come in to ostensibly finish the job.

=== Late Ralgon Period ({{AN|1655}} - {{AN|1706}}) ===

The Ralgon of the late period eventually grew into a quasi-feudal empire that remained closed to the world until c. {{AN|1655}}. The Ralgon Empire has heavily influenced and/or governed the entire island of Dragos (known to the wider world as "El Dorado") for its first two centuries, and despite attempts to colonize and control more hospitable lands abroad, internal crises ranging from overpopulation in [[Glacier City]] to difficulties controlling the hinterland proved to be its eventual downfall. After having initially consolidated diplomatic control of most of the island (and at great cost), the Ralgon Empire developed some of the world's most advanced science, engineering, and medicine, which it used to briefly take over the island in a "manifest destiny" style of expansion. This golden age proved ephemeral, however. From {{AN|1680}} to {{AN|1700}} the central Ralgon government lost almost its entire frontier and nearly two-thirds of its heartlands in Drag'os in quick succession to a series of cataclysmic events during the so-called Crisis of the 1680's (which affected many other major such as [[Frankish Empire]], [[Stormark]], and others). Some of these same physical, natural, and economic upheavals spurred the government into military/political disasters as the [[Ralgon Civil War]] and the [[Cibolan Reconquista]].

Due to this series of military and political disasters, the central government also slowly lost its grip on its colonies, which continued to grow rapidly in size and population, sometimes at their mother country's expense. Power struggles at home and endless wars were waged abroad on mainland [[Cibola]] in a desperate effort for the Empire to hold onto its remaining authority, but to little avail. The Ralgon state was reduced to a mere shadow of itself on its own homeland, having shrunk some 80 percent, with foreign powers such as the [[Bassarid Empire]] and [[Calbion]] occupying parts of [[Drag'os]] during the ensuing few decades, this occupation being a cause of public shaming for the already-weak government. These wars continued until the Holy Ralgon Empire's final recognized Emperor, [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], formally declared that he would bequeath his crown in an otherwise illegal act to the Prince of Adrestia upon his death. This managed to stave off the undead in northern Cibola and the various rebelling clans and tribes remaining in the newly created in [[The Green]] now surrounding Ralgon on all sides.

The central government barely continued to hold authority under this agreement until shortly after the unexpected illness and death of Emperor Shiro to a very rare and aggressive form of cancer in {{AN|1704}}. In a state of confusion and caught unprepared against this sudden development, the central government found itself leaderless and Adrestia with only a child on the throne. In the power struggle that immediately followed, the central government rallied around the Imperial Senate. In a closed-door ceremony, the majority of the Dragosian-based Senators deliberately excluded their more powerful colonies and nominated their own candidate in [[Prince Draegar Ral]]. This immediately triggered a civil conflict wherein pro-Adrestian and pro-Senate forces vied for control over imperial authority. While the pro-Adrestian faction remained mostly united throughout the war, the pro-Senate faction divided almost immediately due to the dubious circumstances behind both contenders' claim to the Imperial Throne, with Glacier City's defection to Adrestian interests and a following political purge in the city proving the trigger for the civil war to begin.

After the defection of [[Glacier City]], much of [[Dragon's Reach]], [[Nova Victoria]], and the massive naval infrastructure that all of these provided, the war quickly proved to be one-sided in favor of the now-powerful maritime empire the Ralgons had originally built abroad. The new government of the Empire took shape out of these factions, with Glacier City taking pre-eminent authority over Drag'os due to Stormhold's desire to remain pro-Senate. The island's heavily defensible terrain rapidly lead to a slow grind in the land war for Adrestian naval forces, which weren't used to fighting wars deep inland. The pro-Adrestian military forces grossly underperformed in mainland Cibola, where the remainders of the pro-Draeg'ar Senate eventually relocated, and in deep inland parts of [[Drag'os]] and the mountainous frontiers deep inside of the recently conquered [[Tar-Palantir]] island territories. However, the front was extremely one-sided for Adrestian forces inland, and the lines formed along the interiors of the empire's Cibolan territories as fighting dragged to a stalemate along the few remaining active fronts. The [[Ralgon War of Succession]] lasted nearly two years, until the Holy Ralgon Empire finally fell to pro-Adrestian forces, whose diplomats and troops went on to win political victories. The near-total military victory at home, following the complete restoration by diplomacy of former Ralgonese territories in the heartland, finally crushed what little determination organized Senate resistance had left to fight.

=== Early Years of the Federation ({{AN year|1706}}-{{AN year|1715}}) ===
With the end of the war came the prices that needed to be paid for victory. While the pro-Adrestian forces found themselves with near-total victory, the casualty count was high and they still lost the inland territories of mainland Cibola to the opposing camps. The remainder of the Senate needed to be dealt with, and the government of Drag'os rebuilt after the model of [[Draconic Humanism]], which was going to be a long and costly process. The Adrestian Navy had ranged this entire region of the world flushing out and destroying resistance among anti-Imperial factions, and this was a difficult task to accomplish in far-flung territories like Dragospire and Ryugawa. However, their efforts were far from pointless, as the now-Imperial Federation Navy had uncontested control of its seas, albeit at the cost of terrible overextension (for which it eventually compensated by abandoning certain remote outposts).

The Imperial Federation quickly found that it had greatly overextended due to unprecedented territorial gains. With a massive empire to run, the central government was forced to consolidate its vast holdings, but it would not abandon territories outside of its historic periphery pointlessly. Instead, deals were reached with [[Calbion]] at the end of 1706 during the closing phases of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to trade off their strategic island colonies off northwest Keltia, as well as the greater half of the baronies of Scarterra (which were compensated with large holdings elsewhere in the empire), for the last remaining foreign territory on the Ralgonese homelands. Following this huge political victory, though, the vast majority of the people of Scarterra emigrated to other portions of the empire, following their respective lords or barons. The exceptions were a great part of those civilians who stayed in the Dragospire territory, many of whom became Calbain subjects, having sympathized with the Senatorial forces. However, this overextension of Imperial military assets was to be felt for years to come, with the Imperial Navy unable to extend the Army's reach farther than the already-vast holdings controlled by the centers of power in Gondolin and Glacier City.

The legacy of Emperor Shiro was felt throughout the Empire, and the concept of open rebellion so soon after his death raised a specter of national guilt that needed to be quashed. Thanks to the efforts of the central government's propaganda machine (rumored to be helped by humanist organizations elsewhere), the war was spun as protecting the late Emperor's legacy and fulfilling his hard-fought dream with him as a guardian spirit of sorts, rather than spurning it with such a radical change of government. With these changes afoot, the Imperial Federation was forced to be relatively quiet in world affairs, with the notable exception of the [[Ludwiggian-Monovian War]], which saw Imperial forces send materiel to help Raspur Forces deliver a strong conclusion to the fighting.

==== Post-War Expansions (1715-{{AN year}}) ====

===== Conquest of Valora (1715-1718) =====
{{main|Conquest of Valora}}

The Imperial Federation had bided its time wisely, although this was completely unknown to the Emperor, now a teenager, never mind his government, which had done its best to combat Imperial overextension of military assets in the few years following the Imperial victory over the rump state now known as Valora {{AN year|1706}}, the latter ironically consisting only in small part of formal Valoran territory, with the rest being Ralgonese holdings under central government control in name only in most places.

The peace generated by the stalemate was only an illusion, however. The two states were, at least formally, still in a state of war with each other, although Draegarist loyalists to the south were questioning the reasoning for this to begin with. The [[Ralgon Reconquista]] and its prior [[Cibolan Reconquista]] were still official government policy, on both sides now. With the abandonment of northern Cibola by [[Sanama]] in 1717, the Imperial Federation was, temporarily, given leave to do whatever they wanted at the flank of "New Ralgon", the initial territory formed by the Draegarist government as a buffer between their new capital of Yixing and the considerable naval forces prowling at every major coast of the country.

The Imperial Federation, strengthened by its military expansion in the past ten years, knew exactly what to do and how to respond. They launched a flanking invasion from the freshly liberated "New Cibola" (nicknamed because of the new populations from old cities on [[Drag'os]]), and before a year was out, effective military movements and a few key battles were effectively all it took for the Imperial Federation's military juggernaut, with Raspur backing, to trigger the weakened Valora's near-total collapse outside of its heartland deep in Cibola's interior. While the Imperial Federation could only content itself with Valora's northern half and western coastlines, this was still exactly what they wanted, as they secured the unclaimed [[Green]] for themselves in the process and left Valora's remaining territory to be absorbed by Mondo in an act of self-preservation.

==== Post-Conquest Expansions (1718-1721) ====
{{Main|Operation Icebox}}
{{Main|Imperial Eura}}

The Imperial Federation's efforts to expand off the coast of Eura was, by comparison to Valora, far easier and significantly more uneventful. However, securing sovereignty over parts of the new territories eventually carried a significant financial price tag that stung the Imperial Court's efforts to fully develop these new territories for several years. Authority had long collapsed in the region, but aside from low-threat pirates, hostile forces were scarcely found, with most of the regions' populations welcoming the return of security and prosperity to the islands off the coast of Eura. Named the Forgotten Isles in the years leading up to it, the only presence of authority over the past five years in the area was a very large Imperial Navy base centered on the port city of [[Farquat]].

From this centralized base, the Imperial Federation quickly consolidated what it was now calling "Imperial Eura," which was just a collection of islands off the southern coast of the continent. The region quickly gained renewed strategic importance following first contact with a nation to the far south of Micras, known to the Imperials as "Frigia" (which turned out later to be simply the western portion of that country). While the islands were initially inhabited by only a few thousand people, they were located directly between the Imperial bases south of Eura and Tapfer farther to the west. Meanwhile, their position next to a new trading partner made acquiring these islands peacefully a top priority of the Imperial Court. Details aside, the natives eventually agreed to sell the islands outright, but charged the Imperial Federation a significant price, which included a hefty sum of hard currency, as well as large modernization investments on part of the Imperials, as both had major priorities of their own in building the region's peripheries to a modern standard.

{{Main|Operation Thunder Drop}}
{{Main|Imperial Haifa}}

In terms of economic and military might, the Imperial Federation had reached yet another plateau of power and prosperity following the annexation of Valora following the Conquest. Having freed the majority of its now battle-tested personnel, the Imperial Court sought to give their soldiers something to keep themselves sharpened on, as well as a way to integrate formerly Valoran soldiers into the Imperial armed forces. The opportunity quickly came for both the small Imperial Federation Army and the brown water elements of the Imperial Federation Navy to test their mettle on an entirely new front: [[Haifa]]. Unfortunately, they got more than they initially bargained for in these efforts.

The region had fallen apart in the wake of the [[Haifo-Palliscian Trad Union|Bassarid Empire's]] collapse of authority in the region by {{AN|1718}}. Given the meteoric rise in importance of the Strait of Haifa to maritime trade between the [[Imperial Federation]] and its far-northern neighbors in [[Normark]], the Imperial Federation quickly occupied strategic points in the region, hoping to expand their influence and instill order in the region after models successfully implemented in places like [[Tar-Palantir]], [[Valora]], and elsewhere in the Empire. However, these efforts were almost immediately forced to a slow grind by the [[Confederation of the Dispossessed]]. The situation was not helped by a strained treasury, as the Imperial Court was also focused on building the new Euran and Trans-Euran territories in [[North Frigia]] and [[Imperial Eura]], and rebuilding [[New Ralgon]] and [[North Valora]].

In the midst of these operations and significant financial investments in building (or rebuilding) its recent gains, the Imperial Federation's expansions slowed down, as it continued to focus its military operations on construction, securing the seas, and otherwise hammering away at the Haifan situation. Peace would not come to the latter for several years. The slowdown of Imperial expansion was interrupted by the full consolidation and recognition by the MCS of its consolidation of the Imperial Federation's Euran territories.

=== Modern Period (1722-) ===

==== Extended Regency Period (1722-1727) ====
The Imperial Federation entered 1722 AN with renewed vigor. It had sent the Emperor [[Anarion]] to university at [[Metzler University]] in 1719 with the intention of education the already-powerful leader in statecraft, economics, and other vital skills for his station. He spent his time there learning how the Shireithians reintegrated their now-vast holdings in the early 1700's, with the expectation to apply those lessons to the Imperial Federation, which went through a similar period of dramatic expansion only recently. After his marriage to [[Qasima Çakar]] in 1720, the relevant authorities jointly agreed that Qasima would join her new husband in [[Shirekeep]] to attend the same university so as to keep the couple together. The Emperor turned 21 in 1722 AN, and would otherwise have formally taken power at Gondolin. However, he extended the Regency by two years as he wished to complete his studies abroad. The Emperor is scheduled to graduate in 1723, where he will remain in the city until his wife graduates that next year. He is expected to spend time strengthening ties between the Imperial Federation and other members of the Raspur Pact during his time abroad, until he travels to another center of Raspur Pact power for graduate studies. He is expected to extend the Regency once more until 1726, but this remains a subject of speculation.

The Imperial Federation conducted pauses on its territorial expansion during this time to further consolidate its far-flung holdings throughout Micras. Although the Imperial Federation aimed for great power status and could theoretically achieve this through its thalassocratic doctrine, its army and air force remained comparatively small for a country of that size and scope across the oceans. The military situation over the prior several years brought this weakness into sharp relief, and the Imperial Federation spent more time consolidating territorial gains and encouraging settlement to stabilize (and possibly even expand) its farthest-flung frontiers in Keltia and elsewhere. Deep in the Keltian interior, military situation stabilized on the resurgence of a new Bassarid state (albeit greatly reduced) in [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]]. In this sense, the long-running policy of peaceful integration of formerly [[Bassarid]] peoples (whether or not recently annexed) slowly paid off. The takeover of that country stabilized the military situation to the [[Strait of Haifa]]'s west bank, allowing the Imperials to cement and legitimize their hold on the so-called "Central Zone" (south and east of Lake Monovia). This in turn allowed them to continue their extraterritorial expeditions on the Haifan East Bank, allowing them to retain and stabilize the region over the next few years.

Emperor [[Anarion]] ascended to formally take personal power in {{AN|1727}}, after he chose to briefly delay his return, having finished his studies at [[Metzler University]] in international affairs at [[Shirekeep]]. Instead of immediately returning home, however, he embarked on a grand tour in [[Shireroth]] in late {{AN|1726}} with his wife, in which he learned more of the greater empire's system of governance, which he intended to partially implement on his return. His coronation was held on New Year's Day, {{AN|1727}}, in a lavish ceremony.

==== Reign of Emperor [[Anarion]] ====

Pacification of Imperial-held [[Bassaridia]] was achieved by {{AN|1728}}, by which time the Imperial Federation was able to focus on integrating its other far-flung territories, especially those near Eternia. Otherwise, the initial years of the Emperor's reign were characterized by a period of stability and quiet in the internal government, as well as integrating formerly antagonist elements back into Imperial society, in an effort to close the chapters on the previous civil wars permanently. The following years would be spent quietly, with slower movements on a military aspect, instead with the Imperial government focused on consolidating control through building infrastructure and supply chains to both redevelop the region and give freedom of movement to its labor force, and strengthen military capabilities by drastically shortening the armed forces' supply chains throughout the region. This was accomplished through {{AN|1730}}, by which time the region slowly stabilized into a larger, consolidated bloc covering most of inland Keltia along the Haifa strait, from the northern Bassarid-majority areas to the increasingly diverse populations of the Northwest Territory (now called West Menelmacar), centered on [[Blore Heath]] and other settlements.

In the far-flung region of [[Eternia]], preparations were underway to integrate the protectorate's economy with its formerly northern frontiers, and with [[Imperial Eura]]. With the expansion of trade within the region following [[Oportia|Oportia's]] expansion, the Imperial Federation's island territories off the coast of Eura further increased in economic and strategic importance. With both territories slowly sinking into Imperial control, annexation would become a quiet subject of conversation within the halls of power. While there was little enthusiasm for direct action by {{AN|1730}}, given the Emperor Anarion's own focus squarely on strengthening Imperial infrastructure, particularly within the northwestern regions, there was merit in integrating these valuable domains into a so-called "Greater Eternia," under the imperial banner.

==== 1730's Economic Boom ====

In the former [[Valora]] region, efforts to reintegrate the region continued apace, with the mixing of the Valoran and Ralgonese populations forming a supermajority of (non-undead) inhabitants in the region. Centered around [[Nova Victoria]], it would form effectively another core Ralgon province by the opening of the 1730's AN. Cross-border migration with [[South Valora]] continued through these years, with subsections of North Valora's more conservative Valorans wary of the prospect of complete assimilation with their Ralgonese brethren. However, these figures did little to impact popular sentiment, due to the return of normalcy to the region under Imperial auspices. With prosperity no longer a pipe dream for most of the population, but increasingly accessible to those outside the ruling class, anti-Imperial sentiment remained minimal throughout this period, contributing to a period of quiet the region had not seen since the brief [[Barbary]] period some 50 years prior. The area would be effectively reintegrated with the rest of Ralgonese-populated regions by {{AN|1735}}.

Internal expansion would follow into the 1730's, with the increasing growth of periphery regions leading to a heavy population boom throughout the Empire. Increasing industrialization in the provinces and near-complete restoration of infrastructure in the [[Haifa]] regions contributed to not only a greatly increased output of manufactured goods, but the development of vast, valuable farmlands along the entire Strait of Haifa region. With mass interchanges of peoples between the various provinces and dominions, the demographic changes saw the Imperial Federation become more cosmopolitan throughout the early 1730's. In turn, this contributed to a renewal of Imperial Federation military strength, namely in ships and aircraft used to protect trade and territorial interests in far-flung places like Eura.

This increased political and economic strength was especially felt on the peripheries, and the effect was that the Imperial Federation's central government became far more capable of administering its less densely populated territories. With an increasing presence on, and influence over, [[Eternia]], the decision to entertain proposals for annexation were finally entertained by both parties for the first time. Eventually, a complex agreement was made to annex the region by the end of {{AN|1733}}, in which the Eternian islands could be consolidated with most of [[Imperial Eura]], then collectively given autonomy similar to that of other Provinces of the Empire. While Eternia would keep its local monarchy on its mainland, the newly constituted "Greater Eternia" would nonetheless name the Imperial Federation as its formal suzerain and send representatives to the Senate, and name Anarion as Emperor of Eternia. Thus, the islands would be able to fully benefit from [[Raspur Pact]] membership, as well as direct representation within the greater empire.

==Government==

===Defence===
{{main|Grand Armada of the Sunfire Sea}}

==Foreign Relations==
{{main|Ralgonese Foreign Relations}}

A member of the [[Raspur Pact]] since {{AN|1706}}, the Imperial Federation is a regional great power, with control over much of Northern Cibola and Southeast Keltia by {{AN|1720}}, with heavily populated colonies in other regions such as the far south of Eura and [[Haifa]]. The Imperial Federation actively pursues aspirations to attain great power status. While the Imperial Navy grants a near-global reach that contributes to a considerable overseas empire, the central government has found itself incapable of nearly the same level of power projection in matters involving primarily land operations outside of Cibola, eastern Keltia, and in proximity to its holdings on Eura. With a rapidly growing population, the Imperial Federation grew to over 250 million inhabitants as of {{AN|1730}}, thanks in part to a continuously booming economy under the current Emperor [[Anarion]], high fertility, and territorial expansion into heavily populated regions through the 1720's. The Imperial Federation enjoys a strong industrial sector, advanced military (especially their navy), and cutting edge feats of engineering into the present day.

However, the Imperial Federation's rise to global prominence has only occurred in the years following its now-current government's victory in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], having been almost entirely confined to coastal waters for most of their existence on the [[MCS]] map, especially after the 1680's crises. With the Imperial Federation only recovering from its overextension after the [[Conquest of Valora]] through the 1710's and 1720's, the nation has tended to operate on the global stage in concert with other [[Raspur Pact]] powers. Additionally, the scope of the Imperial Federation's foreign affairs is, largely, limited to interactions within the [[Raspur Pact]]. These are major issues that the Imperial government has attempted to prepare the new Emperor, [[Anarion]], to address on his planned ascension to formally rule the country by {{AN|1725}}. However, the new Emperor's favored policies remained those of a modest pace of territorial expansion, focusing instead on internal development and allowing the empire's power projection capabilities to catch up to long-term economic, human, and territorial gains over the past two decades.

Alongside its membership in the Pact, the Imperial Federation enjoys warm relations through other countries as well, including [[Çakaristan]], which signed a marriage pact in which [[Qasima Çakar]] married the Emperor in {{AN|1720}}. Additionally, the Emperor is, by virtue of his marriage, a member of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]], although he has not been observed openly exercising privileges associated with this title.

=== Military Matters ===

{{main|Raspur Pact}}

The thalassocratic history of the Imperial Federation may be traced to [[Adrestia]], which built the vast majority of its own military power through its navy. Meanwhile, [[Ralgon]] had built up its power with its massive array of cutting-edge artillery and anti-air defense systems, accounting for the [[Great Swamp War]] and the campaign against the island's incredibly dangerous dragon population. With the majority of the country's ground forces tied down in domestic pacification, the navy became the new Imperial Federation's mainstay in maintaining hegemony over its often-sparsely populated frontiers. Membership in the Raspur Pact provided a convenient solution to these pressing questions, allowing the Imperials to continue focusing its ground forces on domestic matters, while constantly assisting with operations with its increasingly large, experienced, and powerful navy.

The Imperial Federation also signed agreements signed with [[Eternia]] during its independence, making it a protectorate of sorts. The relationship gave the Imperial Federation a strong trading network to rare minerals, but also additional justifications for settling the isles south of Eura with a very rapidly-growing colony. Eternia was subsequently annexed as a constituent country of the Imperial Federation in {{AN|1733}}. [[Beihagh]] followed in {{AN|1740}} after the [[Rusjar Negotiations]] and [[North Corum]] was annexed after the [[Corum War]] ended in {{AN|1754}}.

=== Dynastic Policies ===

{{main|Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar}}

Historically, the Ralgonese ruling houses had little dynastic connections to foreign royalty. With rapidly dwindling numbers past {{AN|1680}} with its various crises, abdications, reforms, and stripping of titles, the now-Imperial House eventually found itself bereft of members to marry off. Eventually, only the Emperor himself was a major asset in this regard. Because of this two-fold problem, the Regency Council in {{AN|1715}} decided firmly that the Imperial Federation's ruling house should belong to a prestigious network. The government conducted inquiries, therefore, and began looking for partners outside of its usual sphere of diplomatic affairs.

Eventually, an offer was settled between the [[Shahanshah of Çakaristan]], [[Jaaguzan]]. Under the auspices of this agreement, [[Anarion]] married [[Qasima Çakar]], the daughter of [[Akbar Çakar]] (the former ruler of [[Çakaristan]] and [[Jodha Avchat]]. The marriage took place in {{AN|1720}}, when Anarion was 19 and Qasima was 18. The two then traveled to Shirekeep for university studies, placing the matter of offspring until Anarion's formal coronation and assumption of full-time duties as Emperor by {{AN|1726}}. By extension, Anarion also became a [[Knight of the Holy Lakes]], forming a strong family-based connection with [[Hurmu]] as well. The two had an impressive twenty-five children, the last set arriving in {{AN|1738}}.

==Economy==

==Science & Technology==

==Geography==
=== Position on Micras===

On Micras, the majority of the Imperial Federation's holdings and population centers are concentrated in two places: Southeast [[Keltia]] (so-called "Greater Adrestia"), and Northern [[Cibola]] (especially [[Drag'os]], known to past cartographers as [[El Dorado]]). In addition to its traditional heartlands, the Imperial Federation holds extensive territory in those same regions and, through a network of regional and global alliances and treaties with neighbors, enjoys hegemony over increasingly well-defined maritime regions between these territorial concentrations. As such, the Imperial Federation has many maritime neighbors on Micras, the most extensive of such borders being with [[Calbion]], which coexists with the Imperials on both the [[Keltia]] and [[Cibola]] oceans in their respective areas of influence. The Imperial Federation also controls a concentration of colonies abroad, notably concentrated off the southern coast of Eura (namely called [[Imperial Eura]], including large islands near the protectorate of [[Eternia]] as well).

Greater Adrestia holds in its orbit territories on the southeast corners of [[Keltia]], with inland holdings as far as [[Haifa]] and as far down the coast as [[Nixtorm]]. The maritime territory between Adrestia, Nixtorm, and [[Blore Heath]] are possessed almost in their entirety by the Imperials. However, two exceptions exist: [[Windsor]], a colony of [[Lac Glacei]], and an exclave of [[Çakaristan|Çakaristan's]] called [[Çakari oceanic territory|Tarria]], both being native reservations, and extremely small in size compared to nearby Imperial populations, territorial holdings, and military installations. (As such, they are not considered a security risk, although the central government has made their peaceful incorporation through purchase or exchange a core part of its long-term agenda in recent years.)

The Imperial Federation's sway over portions of Northern [[Cibola]] are far better defined. [[Drag'os]], from its megalopolis in [[Glacier City]], controls both its home island as well as [[Tar-Palantir]] (itself formerly called [[Frigga Island]] under [[Stormark|Storish]] rule) and swathes of northern Cibola, consisting of [[New Ralgon]] (centered on the city of [[Nova Victoria]], [[Valora]] (specifically, its more populated northern half), and [[Imperial Cibola]] (by far the most sparsely populated of these territories). Far to the Southeast of these lies [[Bomei Island]], a strategic holding the Imperials use to protect their interests in the region and connect to the Antarctic Territory.

In terms of its extended imperial holdings, the Imperial Federation has several neighbors on land. On mainland [[Cibola]], it shares two land borders. The more notable one is with the [[Mondosphere]] to the south on the [[Cibola]] mainland, where the two share the former territory of [[Valora]] after its {{AN|1715}} partition. The other border is a narrow coastal strip on northern Cibola bordering [[Calbion]], which also shares extensive maritime borders with the Imperial Federation elsewhere on Cibola and Keltia. On mainland Keltia, the Imperial Federation shares a narrow land border on the mainland coast with [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]], and off the same coast with [[Windsor]], a colony of [[Lac Glacei]], where the Imperials occupy a pair of military bases on and near the island as its own sovereign territory. Across from the Imperial Federation's newest territories along the [[Strait of Haifa]] lies [[Anahuaco]], and on the further bank to the northeast lies [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]].

===Domestic Overview===

{{WIP}}

These territories contribute to a newly global empire that supplanted Ralgon after its violent, two-year [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that finally concluded in the final days of 1706 AN.

The Imperial Federation has, in addition to recent gains elsewhere, reclaimed the entirety of [[Ralgon|Ralgon's]] former territory, and made additional, significant gains abroad in naval bases outside of their traditional sphere of activity in the [[Great Western Sea]]. The Imperial Federation consists of several distinct geographic divisions of various importance: States, Dominions, and Territories. States tend to have their own Dominions, and Dominions their own Territories, with dependent districts belonging entirely within their parent unit. From most to least important of such independent divisions, the Empire consists of the Ralgonese states of [[Adrestia]], and [[Drag'os]], which have imperial status. Independent Dominions include Nixtorm and Tar-Palantir, located near their respective suzerain states, possess Princely status. [[Scarterra]] is unusual in that it also possesses princely status but is divided between its newer settlements on the Isles of Eriador and its reclaimed homelands on the north coast of Drag'os.

The other free-standing territories with Senate representation include [[Eriador]] (which includes the former Al Hamra and the former New Scarterra), [[Nova Victoria]], and [[Bomei Island]]. Territories with self-rule, but without representation in the Senate include the penal colony [[Devil's Island]] (now relocated to [[Eura]] and renamed to its Ralgonese translation), the majority [[Umraism|Umraist]] Gold Coast, and the sparsely populated, native-majority Northwest Territory.

Dependent territories include the Naval Base Eura and the Imperial Antarctic Territory, both of which have only one major settlement each, and the Sovereign Base Areas formed concurrently with [[Lac Glacei]] during their execution of the [[Mala'anje Repatriation Act]]. In addition, [[Imperial Haifa]] was recently added to the Imperial fold, but at great cost in materiel and local manpower. Together, these territories make up a vast, consolidated maritime empire that has reached the zenith of its power, influence, and geographical size.

=== Keltian Holdings ===

The Imperial Federation holds significant land on mainland Keltia since its expansion following the Succession War. This territory is generally divided into three parts: Nixtorm, and the two frontier territories in the Gold Coast, and the sparsely populated settlements in the Northwest Territory. Recently, the addition of [[Imperial Haifa]] has expanded the Imperial Federation's reach of the [[Strait of Haifa]], but at great cost due to heavy armed resistance from the [[Confederacy of the Dispossessed]].

==== Nixtorm ====

Originally located on mainland [[Drag'os]], the territory of Nixtorm consists of a group of large islands off the southeastern end of Keltia. Now a densely populated territory, Nixtorm is a region which depends heavily on trade for its economy. It imports resources from its mainland holdings of Inner Nixtorm (located just across the channels on Southeast Keltia) and distributes mineral resources, crops, and other items across the Empire and to international trading partners. Inner Nixtorm is the breadbasket of the entire Keltian coastal region, and rare earth deposits found on Nixtorm's rocky shores provide valuable exports, or fuel for the nuclear reactors under construction throughout the territory.

==== Gold Coast ====

Sparsely populated, the Gold Coast is home to nomads, traders, and prospectors. The region is known for its coastal fishing villages, and for the deserts inland that are very rich in gold and silver deposits. Due to the inhospitable climate, there are very few heavily populated settlements far from the coast. The region has large reserves of fossil fuel, which are traded for grain from Nixtorm's fertile mainland holdings to the south. The coasts are rich economic hubs, and many Ralgonese and other Imperials make their way to the Gold Coast from situations of near-destitution from overcrowded places like newly reconquered areas in [[Drag'os]] in an attempt to make it big. Few do, and so the Imperial Federation must now contend with a territory with extreme economic and social inequalities, in a vast, stretched out nation where Draconic Humanism is the dominant ideology in the Imperial Court.

Gold Coast's border with the [[Green]] deep in mainland Keltia is incredibly porous, leading to a strange mix of peaceful anarchy in the Imperial Federation deserts on the one hand, and desperados and brigands just beyond the zone of positive control exercised by the Federation's authorities. It is currently unknown whether the stretched Imperial Armed Forces are able to project their capabilities so far inland, but efforts have been made (albeit halfheartedly). This has made the region the Imperial Federation's near-equivalent of a "wild west," with efforts at establishing law and order largely being left to local forces.

==== Northwest Territory ====

Full of ethnic Menelmacari civilians, this is one of the few major regions in the Imperial Federation from which the majority of the colonizing settlers were not Ralgonese (or Drag'osian) in origin, the other in the West being New Menelmacar. The region consists of mostly small settlements, with native diasporas from other nations finding the region a welcoming change from the rest of the ultramodern, Ralgonese-majority Imperial Federation regions on the islands east of Keltia. For many years, the region is strategically insignificant to the Imperial government outside of its coastal areas. For a time, it and represented the pinnacle of the Imperial Court's version of their so-called "Manifest Destiny." Since the Northwest Territory represents the extent of it all, little effort was spent on forcibly pacifying the region's interior prior to the inclusion of [[Imperial Haifa]], with the local authorities being instead directed to pursue strong policies of coexistence with any native or minority groups within these lands. With some sense of irony, the inclusion of Blore Heath in subsequent years following the [[Bassarid]] collapse in the late 1710's AN only strengthened the security of the region.

Like the Gold Coast, the Imperial Federation exerts little control deep inland. However, unlike the Gold Coast, little in the way of violence exists in these territories. This is largely due to the lack of resources exploitable by single individuals, as well as strong native title to interior lands, making it unattractive for people in pursuit of half-baked get-rich-quick schemes. Violent crimes happen with far less frequency than other mainland Keltian holdings, leading the rural portions of the region (especially away from the coastlines) to develop a reputation for being a sort of utopia for those who seek peace without expectation of economic reward. As a result, the territory has rapidly become a destination for older Imperials to retire after decades of service to the state.

The main exception is the regions north of [[Blore Heath]] along the [[Strait of Haifa]]. Already a populous settlement, Blore Heath's relatively peaceful assimilation into Imperial control strengthened the settlement's economic output, and anchored the region between the Strait of Haifa and its narrow land border with [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] to the southwest. This change also cemented the Northwest Territory as the Imperial Federation's largest Ralgonese-minority territory outside of [[Valora|(North) Valora]].

==== Imperial Haifa ====
{{WIP}}

The Imperials occupied Haifa from {{AN|1718}}, but until the mid-1720's AN, the territory relied almost entirely on military support to survive, until a generalized peace was brokered allowing for the integration of the locals into the Imperial Federation's patchwork of territories organizing themselves in the formerly Bassarid regions near Haifa. Consisting of a patchwork of territories anchored around the east and south ends of [[Lake Morovia]], the territory is anchored by its garrisons based out of Abeis in the interior, and along islands located on the [[Strait of Haifa]] immediately adjacent to these land-based territories. The islands depend on the home government's military for their continued existence, with Imperial hold on these areas being tied only to constant, and costly, investments on holding them against enemies seemingly on all sides.

===Cibolan Holdings===

===Overseas Territories===

Overseas territories are technically rife within the Imperial Federation, by virtue of it being a thalassocracy. However, three territories most notably fall well outside of the so-called Core Regions on Cibola and Keltia: [[Bomei Island]], [[Devil's Island]], and the so-called [[Naval Base Eura]]. The latter is a large naval installation located off the southern cost of Eura off an island of respectable size. While Devil's Island is clearly a penal colony, Bomei Island's similar status is a legal gray area, due to the relative freedom of its inhabitants, be their residence voluntary or mandatory.

====Bomei Island====

{{main|Bomei Island}}

Formerly a penal colony meant to house the country's elites during times of political upheaval and instability, the island's importance has seen itself transform into a strategic asset for [[Raspur Pact]] forces, while doubling as a getaway destination of sorts for the country's upper classes. The massive naval bases on the island aside, the territory holds rapidly increasing infrastructure meant to cater to the Imperial Federation's rapidly expanding upper classes, thanks to the island's mild climate and excellent location near major countries like [[Natopia]], the [[Mondosphere]], and other prime destinations.

====Devil's Island & South Beihagh====

{{main|Devil's Island}}
{{main|South Beihagh}}

Until its assets' relocation to [[Eura]] in a land swap with [[Çakaristan]], Devil's Island was the primary center of the Imperial Federation's power on the continent of Corum and the sole lynchpin of Ralgonese power projection into [[Eura]], namely [[Imperial Eura]] and [[Eternia]] (which later joined the Imperial Federation). Primarily serving as both a penal colony and a large naval base, Devil's Island doubled as one of two areas that Raspur Pact forces had at their disposal in the region, the other being [[Natopia|Natopia's]] [[Naya Island]]. Although the island was also meant as a staging area to colonize portions of the exotic continent of [[Corum]], this never came to pass. Instead, the island was ceded to [[Çakaristan]]'s [[Jaihabar|Jaihabar Sultanate]] in {{AN|1720}} as part of a larger deal that included, among other territorial transfers, the [[Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar]].

Control of Devil's Island remained in Çakaristan's hands until the [[Jaihabar Vortex]] resulted in [[Çakaristan]] abruptly offering to cede the island back to the Imperial Federation in late {{AN|1739}} during the aftermath of the [[Jaihabar Vortex]], with the handover complete by New Year's Day of {{AN|1740}}. The nature of the island's value would be forever changed due to a continued lack of Ralgonese territorial ambitions beyond the island's confines. Instead, strategic interest in the island remained squarely on the island itself. The island offered a large population for its small size, as well as its favorable location, natural harbors, and defensibility. A respectable population of non-[[Çakaristan|Çakari]] citizens on former [[Jaihabar]] had also chosen to stay on the island rather than leave the continent altogether, dramatically changing the island's former demographics and turning the island into a valuable territory in and of itself in short order. While it lacked the same economic importance as its sister territory in [[South Beihagh]], Devil's Island still remained a strategic entrepot due to a much higher capacity for both permanent and passing naval assets that [[South Beihagh]] had little capacity to host over longer periods of time.

An alternate colony, named in Ralgonese as ''Akuma-jima,'' was established in {{AN|1720}} immediately south of the island of [[Beihagh]] (itself a Ralgonese territorial condominium held alongside [[Suren]]) in the wake of the {{AN|1720}} transfer of [[Devil's Island]]. Named after the original Devil's Island, the island became known more properly as [[South Beihagh]] over time. This fortified island was promptly established during this time to serve as an alternate trade node passing through the larger Euran market. More importantly, it served to secure the condominium with [[Beihagh]] to the north, and the island quickly found itself an effective link between the Imperial Federation's naval assets elsewhere with [[Imperial Eura]] and the resource-rich country of [[Eternia]]. The island's economy quickly grew from trade links established via Eura, enriched by stable Imperial control of the region and constant pass-through of both civilian and military assets. The island's importance to Imperial Federation trade and security in the region similarly contributes to the island's strong security, which continued seeing economic growth during the 1730's AN, only hampered by the [[Recession of 1737]]. Further, the lax immigration policy enjoyed by the non-penal settlements on the island have driven the local economy, strengthening Gondolin's reasons for staying put (which, by design, is a core tenet of the Humanist government in charge). The island would retain its economic importance past {{AN|1740}}, despite the lessened strategic emphasis on the island following the re-addition of [[Devil's Island]] to the Imperial Federation beginning that same year.

Past {{AN|1740}}, the islands would serve to grant the other strategic redundancy, as the Imperial Federation continued to emphasize economic growth in its Euran territory. Devil's Island would see its penal colony swiftly re-established, given the Imperial Federation's stated desire to avoid hosting a long-term prison for deported persons in South Beihagh, itself unfavorable for setting aside the necessary land for such institutions. Ultimately, it quickly proved that South Beihagh had regional economic potential as the result of trade with Eura, and Devil's Island profited from higher harbor capacity and proximity to Corum. Both would be integrated into a single territorial unit that included Ralgonese holdings outside of Greater Eternia and its mainland holdings in [[Keltia]] and [[Cibola]].

====Imperial Eura====

{{main|Imperial Eura}}

Imperial Eura consists of a patchwork of territories anchored on Naval Base Eura. With its military center based on what is otherwise known as the Isle of Eura, the islands' culture, economy, and most other aspects of life are dominated by the Imperial Grand Armada's presence on Eura, with settlements from merchant families and other colonists from the mainland ramping up after 1720 AN. The base supports [[Raspur Pact]] efforts in the region, courtesy of imperial forces operating in the region. Although a token garrison mans the other islands, the base is very well-fortified despite its relative lack of history, and short time under the occupation of the Imperial Federation.

The island holds an unnamed town outside of the base. Consisting of some 20,000 civilian personnel, the civilians are outnumbered by the land-based garrison on the military sides of the island (although not by much) and by the naval forces (which number up to 50,000 during major events). The rest of the islands on the island chain are dominated by civilian-led governance, with the colony expected to ascend from dependency status to Princely status as early as 1725 AN. The rapidly growing population of the islands reflects both the booming economy and strategic importance of this territory to Imperial interests in Eura and the south of Micras as a whole. The resource-rich islands have already contributed to the Federation's economy, with the islands expected to become more integrated into their mother country as the years roll by.

====Naval Base on Tiegang====

{{main|International Mandate#Imperial Federation: Mechazawa Naval Base}}

The Imperial Federation controls the Adrestian Quarter's naval base in the [[International Mandate]]. Known until recently as the "Adrestian Royal Navy Base Tiegang," it was renamed in {{AN|1709}} after Vice Admiral Saizo Mechazawa, who went on to represent the Ralgonese peoples after his retirement. The base is considered the property of the Imperial Federation, although it does not exercise sovereignty over the base. The people living on the island are ostensibly ruled by an elected governor who answers to Tiegangese authorities. However, the island is still influenced by now-Duke Saizo of Eastern Appolonia, who permanently lives there with certain members of his family.

Although the Imperial Federation has few legitimate interests on Appolonia, Tiegang itself nonetheless hosts several tens of thousands of Ralgonese citizens living there, many of whom relocated there after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that saw the (lopsided) fracture of the Ralgonese world along ideological and political lines. Like on Bomei Island, unusually high freedoms of personal expression are tolerated there, although lese majeste laws continue to hold effect even over these far-flung populations.

== Climate & Topography==

==Education==

Three types of post-secondary institutions exist in Ralgon: Private, public, and government-sponsored research institutes. A mixture of these schools rank near the top of the world's universities for factors including pedagogy, alumni outcomes, research output, and institutional financial performance. Most of Ralgon's best public universities also happen to remain self-sustaining in nature; that is, they do not need government funding and actually provide additional income to the government in some few cases. This remains the case even after the severity of the 1685 Crisis.

In recent years, focus on Ralgon's sole remaining overseas possessions prior to {{AN|1685}} by its then-current government drove a concentration schools in Greater Adrestia onto the top of the global league tables. Among these are the elite University of Adrestia (known globally by its abbreviation of UA), which holds a massive endowment of its own. Other high-ranking universities in the de facto independent territory include the Gondolin Institute of Science (GIS), the Naval Academy at Alexandria, and the University of Alphaville (run as a UA satellite campus until 1690, in cooperation with Bassarid faculty).

===Universities===
''(For a detailed list of major universities in the Ralgon, see the below articles.)''

{{main|List of universities in Ralgon}}

====Glacier City University====
{{main|Glacier City University}}

Glacier City University (known by its acronym of GCU) is an elite university located in the Semi-Autonomous Region (SAR) of the same name. Founded as a university in 1076, GCU is the oldest institute of higher education in continuous operation in the Imperial Federation, and the second-oldest university in the country. It is also among the oldest institutions of higher learning on the Cibola continent, having educated over 75% of the former Holy Ralgon Empire's heads of state, among countless other elites within the country.

It is considered an "ancient university" -- that is, an institution of higher learning formed as a university (regardless of its purpose or existence before said formation) before the Draconic faith became the state religion in 1178. It is one of only three such institutions in continuous operation since that date, with the latest of its other six peers being claimed (at least temporarily) by the devastating effects of the long-term 1680's General Crisis.

The University is world-renowned for its engineering and materials science programs, with graduates leading such projects as the construction of the [[Erazm Bridge Consortium]] and ground-breaking developments in ship technology for the recently re-organized [[Grand Armada of the Imperial Federation]], which consists of 250 modernized ships (and some 75 outdated ones) with the same defensive engineering that ensured Ralgon's survival during its darkest days. Its endowment is the second-largest in the Ralgonese state, at around 37 billion Guilders. Housing notable global policy institutes such as the Chidao Emperor Institute for Jing Studies, the university's headquarters remain in the Mountain City after over 600 years. GCU remains the only institution allowed to own property within the Imperial City's inner sanctum, and is also the only non-government organization allowed to operate within the city without an active permit.

Until the fall from prominence of the [[Stormhold]] region as the center of political life in the Empire, Glacier City U long maintained a rivalry with Temple University in Valeria. To this day, the two enjoy top rankings in Micras, especially in the fields of medicine, earth science, and biology. Glacier City University attained renewed prominence on the island of [[Drag'os]] as a part of the aftermath of the [[Ralgon Civil War|1685 Crisis]] and the [[Ralgon War of Succession|War of Succession]] that ended in 1706, due to the university's location in a region generally safe from political violence of any significance (with the sole exception of the 1705 city purge). It was one of the few ancient universities to survive intact; Temple University suffered a drop in the rankings, supplanted by the University of Gondolin, which has taken up some of the old rivalries.

=== Temple University===
{{main|Temple University}}

Temple University (known simply as TU) was originally founded in 425 AN in what is now the city of Valeria by Draconic missionaries, as a religious institute for higher learning. Itself attached to the Holy Temple of Drag'os in the same city (and originally in the same building), the institution was founded to train high-ranking religious personnel in both theology and in statecraft (a skill badly needed at the time by such people). The institution formed into a University in 1046, and adopted its current name in 1298, after the City of Valeria took over the university on behalf of the Ralgon king's government.

The modern Temple University preserves is its original 1046 name, and also serves as the flagship institution of the eponymous system (as a homage to the University's foundations with the Church). Thanks to a heavily increased endowment after the national government purchased the University, it has rapidly grown from an already-elite status to a world-class university in its own right. Although it suffered significantly during the general crises that defined the 1680's to 1705 AN, the modern university still enjoys the massive resources it slowly built over its 700-year history as a university. Temple University maintains its still-strong prominence that relies on a combination of a massive endowment -- the sixth-highest in Ralgon, at 27 billion Guilders, and its system of sister institutions to keep up with the never-ending pace of modernization in the country. This network of academics buoyed the university after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], which saw the city of Valeria stripped of imperial status because of its government's support of the pretenders (who themselves were exiled to [[Valora]]). From battle damage to the loss of students and faculty to the resulting exodus from the city, the university sustained a substantial hit to its endowment (no less than 9 billion Guilders) and a significant drop in the world university rankings that will likely take at least two or three decades to recover from.

Despite its recent woes, the University has no shortage of talent. The university is known for its sheer number of graduates within the Imperial Federation's education system, with nearly half the Dragosian mainland's top 10% of income earners being graduates of one of the schools in the TU system. Most of the City of Valeria's leaders are graduates of the flagship campus, which is known for its strict admissions standards, despite its massive size of over 85,000 students (about 50,000 of which are undergraduate). While the quality of the rivalry the University maintains with Glacier City U has taken damage in recent years, the university still excels in materials science and engineering, and still occupies top rankings worldwide fields of theoretical physics and mathematics.

===University of Gondolin===

Formed in 1672 AN, the University of Gondolin is, by far, the youngest of the elite universities in the Ralgon Empire. The university was founded in what is now Adrestia by the Emperor Shiro of Ralgon to educate the colonists. Following the discovery of precious resources in unprecedented abundance, the university found itself with a massive endowment, spurring extremely rapid growth during its initial few years. Unlike its companion institution, the University of Adrestia, the University of Gondolin operates no satellite campuses outside of its own metropolitan region, allowing a greater concentration of star faculty and other vital resources.

The university is known for its state-of-the-art naval science and space science departments. Its School of Draconic Studies is also widely praised as being on par with giants such as the ancient Glacier City University. The institution has already counted several famous and infamous graduates among its relatively distinguished alumni. Among them is the current Crown Prince of Adrestia, the future Masamune III, who graduated in 1700 AN with a undergraduate dual degree in global affairs and aerospace engineering at the age of 21 before moving abroad for further study. Another is [[Sargon Gilgamesh-Pilagga Azulpolassar|Sargon Azulpolassar]], a prominent noble from [[The Hexarchy]] who graduated in 1693. The university's rapid rise to prominence comes on the heels of Adrestia's prosperity; thus, the university made moves to insulate itself from possible periods of political upheaval during the late 1690's. This strategy paid off, as the city was rocked by the financial strain of bearing the costs of victory in the Ralgon Succession War in the first decade of the 1700's. Careful investment and restricting admissions to a smaller, more manageable student body lead to strengthened reputation abroad by the time the war ended and financial prosperity began to be felt in all quarters of the now-large metropolis.

Although being smaller than its companion institution, the University of Adrestia (and system), the university holds by far the largest endowment in the Imperial Federation, valued at over 50 billion Guilders as of 1707 AN, thanks to heavy and frequent donations by the Royal Family of Adrestia and shrewd financial management. This has allowed the university to cement its assets and begin another round of heavy expansion into the coming century. The rise of the city to prominence in recent years is mostly thanks to the growing status of the city of Gondolin, and its designation as one of the two Imperial Cities allowed further increases in the university's budget for frontier sciences. The university also owns substantial investments in the Alphaville Spaceport, as well as Anarion Spaceport in the Antarctic Territory (along with several research bases in the same).

===University of Adrestia System===
{{WIP}}
Like its counterpart the University of Gondolin, the University of Adrestia was founded in 1672 AN, shortly before the international recognition of the colony as part of the Ralgon Empire. It used to be the same institution as UG, but the two split amicably to allow each university to respectively focus on the needs of Gondolin and the wider Adrestia regions. Although this caused a split in endowment award, the discovery of vast resources on the islands promptly made such a state of affairs relatively moot. The university system has expanded to cover education on the entirety of

This huge amount of resources gradually allowed the University of Adrestia to rapidly grow into the largest education system in the Ralgon Empire, overtaking the Temple University system in {{AN|1697}} (some 12 years post-Crisis). The university enjoys an enrolment of about 98,500 between all of its campuses, the flagship branch at the UA Gondolin being by far the most competitive to enter for aspiring students. Although the flagship campus is at Gondolin, the institution educates leaders in the liberal arts as well as in humanities, being better regarded in these fields than its rival institution of UG.

===University of Nixtorm===

===Western Imperial University===

Western Imperial University is one of the Imperial Universities, opened during the first years of the Imperial Federation. Shortly known as Western, the large university was founded in {{AN|1708}} with branch campuses in major cities to serve elite students in the new frontiers of the Empire on the Keltian mainland. Designed initially to train local government officials as well as native aristocracy, the university opened to gifted commoners hoping for jobs in places that offer higher standards of living, such as the Core Regions of Adrestia or Glacier City. The university is unique to the Imperial Federation in the fact that it is the only Imperial University that does not have a designated flagship campus.

===Anarion University===

Anarion University is a military-sponsored school founded in [[Gondolin]] by the regency of the Imperial Federation in {{AN|1706}}, by decree. Unlike other university systems, Anarion University was created specifically as an international university, with branch campuses in [[Valeria]], [[Glacier City]], and other major settlements throughout the Empire. The latest branch was opened in [[Nova Victoria]] in time for New Year's celebrations on 1710 AN, welcoming its first cohort of students there for Ralgonese Studies, offered jointly with the Chidao Institute for Foreign Studies, itself based in Glacier City. It plans to welcome its first degree-seeking classes by {{AN|1712}}.

The offerings at the university consists of international-based study. Notably, business majors and global studies are offered. The university's flagship campus in [[Alphaville, SAR]] now ranks 50th-60th on the national tables despite to its very young age, thanks to large funding projects and patronage by the imperial family.

==Demographics==

{{see also|Demographics of the Imperial Federation}}

===Population===

==== Pre-Crisis ({{AN|1655}}-{{AN|1685}})====

Conducting a census has, historically, been a major challenge in the Imperial Federation's predecessor states, owing in large part to very high birth and death rates (among the male population) due to constant warfare and paradoxically strong economic growth due to said replacements. This was, mostly, due to the old [[Great Swamp War]] and related national conflicts that saw high casualties against the dangerous fauna inland, which were contained near the time of the Imperial Federation's ascent to power during a second series of civil wars in {{AN|1706}}.

The population during the closing stages late in the second phase of [[Great Swamp War]] had peaked to about 124,254,005 in {{AN year|1665}} under [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon|Nobunag'an IV the Wise]]. Following the ascension of which shot to 159,255,163 in {{AN year|1675}} during a brief phase of prosperity under Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro I the Valiant]]. Records for {{AN|1680}} posted a population of roughly 164 million, during which a strong Ralgon diaspora was dispersed to countries like the [[Hexarchy]] and [[International Mandate]], and during which [[Adrestia]] was first formed, leading to an explosion in population to unknown numbers by {{AN|1685}}, although much of this population had moved to colonies abroad, mostly to territories now under Imperial Federation control.

====Post-Crisis ({{AN|1686}}-{{AN|1717}})====

The {{AN|1685}} Crisis and the attendant [[Ralgon Civil War]] nearly destroyed the country, and reduced its controlled population back under 164 million people, roughly at 1680 levels, with a further 40 million Ralgonese scattered over [[Drag'os]] and other lands near or adjacent to Ralgonese territories at the time. The resulting pressures of an overpopulation crisis nearly ended the country, with these pressures in part triggering the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].

=====Imperial Territory =====

By the time it expanded to nearly its present-day territory in {{AN|1706}}, the Imperial Federation had reclaimed most of former Ralgon's population, and recorded a delayed "1705" census of 204,174,665 within the Imperial Federation's controlled territory and Ralgonese living in its environs in disputed or contested areas. The rapid consolidation, expansion, and movement of Ralgonese back to Imperial territory led to a population of 209,279,031 in the {{AN|1710}} census. This number grew to 213,673,890 by {{AN|1715}} thanks to a baby boom as a result of an influx of territory, resources, and new populations being absorbed into the rapidly growing empire as it fought to combat overextension by encouraging said baby boom to partially solve. A preliminary census estimate taken in {{AN|1717}} after the [[Conquest of Valora]] assessed the Imperial population (minus Valora) had increased another 1.32% to an estimated 216,494,000, a result of large population centers continuing to rise on the coastlines of [[Keltia]] and the northern areas of [[New Menelmacar]].

=====Valoran Territory=====

In the same time, [[Valora]] had recorded a population of 15,639,728 in its metropole areas in {{AN|1707}}, some 25% of which lived in and around the now-major city of Yixing, which became the cultural and political center for both the Ralgonese and Valoran peoples in the politically paralyzed country. The Valoran urban population contracted by 5.7% to 14,748,263 due to repeated, protracted crises in the region's interior. An estimated 25% of the country lived off the grid, or in other urban areas, or were rural, or had refugee status, these states of living being unclearly defined and often found in common due to the country's bitter military, economic, environmental, and political situations. After the [[Conquest of Valora]], some 74% of the population was found to be on the new Imperial side of the territory. The rest were undead that migrated to South Valoran side of the border forming after the war's conclusion.

A census conducted in the close of {{AN|1717}} found that Imperial Valora, New Ralgon, and Imperial Cibola (both east and west) consisted of a grand total of just over 16,075,000 people, not counting the remaining Vanic and anti-Ralgonese/Valoran rebels, nor the remaining undead that found themselves inexplicably under the service of Imperial troops. (Rumor has it that Emperor Anarion was fascinated by the comical way these undead moved and wanted a contingent of them for his own amusement, so Mondo let him have a few hundred as part of the partition agreement. In return, Mondo got [[Kaek]], which in turn did not know and did not care that the transition took place so quickly.)

====Modern Period ({{AN|1717}} -)====

On its formation c. {{AN|1705}}, the Imperial Federation experienced an explosion in population following its victory in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], and further during the decade-plus that followed the cold war between it and its much smaller splinter, [[Valora]]. In {{AN|1717}}, the Imperial Federation executed the [[Conquest of Valora]] and subsumed most of its population, further adding to its expanding population.

An estimate of the Imperial Federation proper yielded a population estimate of 216,494,000, and its newly absorbed territories of New Ralgon, Imperial Cibola, and Imperial (North) Valora held a census that counted approximately 16,075,000 people (not counting the undead and/or stateless persons). This yielded an estimated population of 232,569,000 at the close of {{AN|1717}}, or a strong increase of 13.9% from the {{AN|1705}} census. It was expected that the post-1710's population growth would begin to favor natural birth rates more than annexations, as the Imperial Federation shifts its focus towards peacetime nation building, and the Emperor Anarion comes of age to a period of unprecedented prosperity for the Ralgonese nations of Micras.

Imperial Federation

2026-07-07T01:27:42Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Dynastic Policies */

{{Imperial Federation Article}}{{SANE article}}
{{Feature|September, 2022}}
{{Infobox Nation Comprehensive
|fullname = The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Valora, Haifa, and Eternia
|commonname = Ralgon
|flag = File:Imperial Federation 1.png
|coa = File:Imperial Federation CoA 1.png
|motto = ''For God and Empire''
|anthem = Anchors Aweigh
|map =File:IFR_1740.png
|mapversions = ???
|capital =Gondolin (executive, administrative) Glacier City (religious, legislative)
|largecity = Glacier City, SAR
|lang = Ralgonese (official) Standard (official; regional)
|demnoun = Imperial Ralgonese (alternate)
|demadj = Imperial; Ralgonese Adrestian; Drag'osian; Eternian; Haifan
|govtype = Executive Monarchy
|headofstatetitle = Emperor
|headofstate = [[Anarion|Anari'on I]] (formerly called Masamune of Adrestia)
|religion = [[Draconic]] (Ralgonese regions) (other native and folk religions)
|headofgovernmenttitle = Viceroy
|headofgovernment = Nikamura Hawkins, Grand Duke of Gondolin
|legislature = Imperial Senate
|estdate = Winter, {{AN|228}} (traditional) October 23rd, {{AN year|1665}} (as [[Ralgon]] on MCS map) May, {{AN|1706}} (as the Imperial Federation) 
|agerank =
|area =
|arearank =
|pop = 317,994,774 ({{AN|1750}} census)
|activepop =
|currency = Imperial Guilder (£)
|calendar = [[Norton Calendar]] (secular) Draconic Calendar (religious)
|timezone = CMT+8 to +10:30 (Keltia) CMT-10:30 (Cibola)
|electricity = 100 V at 50 Hz
|abbrev = IFR
|drives_on = left
|gauge = 1500 mm (freight) 1000 mm (passenger; urban) 1435mm ([[Cibolan Rail|Cibolan Express]])
|site = [https://micras.org/mwiki/Category:Imperial%20Federation Category Page] [https://micras.org/mwiki/User:Cosmic_Fury User Page]
|forum = [https://bastionunion.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=1646&sid=32557dfeb48c60af1428753bfb403f56 Old Forum]
|animal = leviathan
|food = crocodile meat
|drink = Menelmacari whiskey
|tree = Al-Hamra sequoia
}}

'''The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Adrestia, Haifa, and Eternia''', known better as '''The Imperial Federation''', is a set of Imperialist, unified, sovereign states that coalesced in {{AN|1706}} following the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], being reorganized into its present form in {{AN|1724}} following various military and political campaigns aimed at centralizing the empire and its peripheries in the aftermath of recent waves of expansion. The Imperial Federation consists of three constituent countries, in addition to a number of free cities (such as [[Nova Victoria]]) and dependencies (such as [[Imperial Eura]]). A fourth constituent country, [[Eternia]], was formed from that kingdom and nearby dependencies in {{AN|1733}}, leading to a name change of the country's name. The present name was formed when [[Adrestia]] and its subordinate territories were separated from [[Ralgon|Greater Ralgon]] in {{AN|1756}}, and [[Valora]] finally absorbed into [[Ralgon]] as a constituent part of that consituent country.

At present, the Imperial Federation's constituent countries consist of the following. Firstly, [[Ralgon]] is located on a large portion of northern [[Cibola]], and includes [[Drag'os]], [[Valora]], [[West Valora]], [[East Valora]], [[Tar-Palantir]], and [[New Ralgon]]). It hosts one of the two imperial capitals, [[Glacier City]], having been the center of Ralgonese culture since time immemorial. Secondly, [[Adrestia]] is located on the east end of Keltia and includes the areas of [[South Island]] and surrounding areas, [[Nixtorm]] (and its own territories), the Isles of Eriad'or (including the new settlements of [[Scarterra]], [[Northwest Territory]], and [[Al Hamra]]. Adrestia hosts the other of the two imperial capitals, that being [[Gondolin]], founded c.{{AN|1675}}. Thirdly, [[Haifa Bassaridia]] (known simply as [[Haifa]], covers majority-Bassarid lands along the straits of the same name. Fourthly, the country of [[Eternia]] consists of that country and surrounding island groups, having joined in {{AN|1733}}. A number of autonomous territories and dependencies exist, such as [[Bomei Island]], [[Beihagh]], [[North Corum]], and [[Dromosker Island]]. It also maintains important populations in the [[International Mandate]].

The original core of what is now the Imperial Federation was formed from the Kingdom of [[Adrestia]], founded in {{AN|1675}}, and the Kingdom of [[Drag'os]], which existed as a unified polity under the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] after c. {{AN|1655}}. Adrestia's first ruler (and the progenitor of the current Emperor) was Masamune of House Adrestia, crowned as [[Emperor Anari'on]] at the age of {{AgeAN|1701|1706}} in 1706, shortly before their complete victory in a succession struggle over the Imperial Crown, after the death of its holder, Ralgon Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro I]] the year prior. The Empire is governed under the tenets of [[Draconic Humanism]], a combined religion and political ideology, which forms the basis of rule throughout most of the empire.

The Empire holds an estimated population of 317,994,774 in the {{AN|1750}} census, up from the previous estimate of 299,542,930 reported to the [[Raspur Pact]] authorities in {{AN|1740}}, in addition to another few million living in recently incorporated [[North Corum]] and [[Dromosker Island]], minus those living in [[Geneva]]. Population growth during the 1750's AN was driven by booming prosperity in territory acquired in the prior two decades, and in [[Glacier City]] with new breakthroughs in construction and food production technologies allowing an ever-greater population capacity. The Imperial Federation is the fifth-most populated country on Micras, with some 50.5% of the country's population on the island of [[Drag'os]] alone, and another 30.1% living on [[Adrestia]]. The Empire's largest city, the metropolis of [[Glacier City]], serves as the cultural and religious center of the Imperial Federation, and its wealthiest economic hub, in rivalry with the Imperial captial of [[Gondolin]] for the title. Glacier City is also one of the world's largest and most populous cities, with approximately 49,220,000 living in its legally defined area on the far eastern end of the same island in {{AN|1750}}. The Imperial Court sits at Gondolin, with Glacier City acting as a second capital and the seat of the Imperial Senate due to its profound religious importance.

The Imperial Federation shares few land borders with others on its island territories, most of those borders being old exclaves belonging to others during the Imperial Federation's expansions near its core settlements following the rise of the then-principality of [[Adrestia]] in the decades following {{AN|1680}}. In its heartland in [[South Island]], it shares a land border with a tiny exclave of [[Çakaristan|Çakaristan's]] possession of [[Tarria]]. The Imperial Federation's most notable land border on [[Cibola]] is with [[Mondosphere]] to the south on the [[Cibola]] mainland, as a result of the subsequent partitions that followed the [[Conquest of Valora]] in {{AN|1715}}. After further expansion added [[Nordhafen]] and [[East Valora]], there is a new land border with [[Gogledd Cybwl]], a constituent republic of [[Sanama]]. Since the Imperial Federation's expansion onto the Keltian mainland after {{AN|1695}}, they also border [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] on the east coast of mainland Keltia, and hold sovereign base areas near [[Windsor]], held jointly with [[New Alexandria]]. The Imperial Federation also shares certain [[Mala]] territories in condominium with [[New Alexandria]] in the same region. The constituent country of [[Bassaridia|Haifa Bassaridia]], to the north on the mainland, borders the protected state of [[Matamoros]] to the east, [[The Green]] on the west, and [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] to the northwest. [[Eternia]] has a short land border on an uninhabitable section of tundra only with [[Etourney]], via an exclave in its frigid northeast coast.

The new Imperial Federation's government was formed from a union of the victorious factions of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], and more recently from the [[Conquest of Valora]] that saw the final reunification of the Ralgon states, albeit this time under a much larger empire. While Drag'osian factions lost the war, those with Ralgonese ancestry still control most of the government due to their huge population (compared with much of the rest of the empire), with minority control being only at regional levels. Ralgonese people form the majority population in the unified Adrestia and Drag'os territories (as well as most of present-day [[Valora]], with [[Glacier City]] holding equal status as [[Gondolin]] as one of the Imperial Federation's two imperial cities. Most the empire's territories are directly formed around these two polities. Nixtorm, now a large territory, remained loyal and sent troops to fight, and was awarded its own place in the new Imperial Senate. The same happened with Scarterra, the northern half of which was repatriated to Ralgon following a major land swap with [[Calbion]] that restored all of its former territories, along with the Badlands and the freeport region of [[Duro]]. The infant government applied to join the [[Raspur Pact]], due to the very strong influence of [[Draconic Humanism]] and [[National humanism]] within its highest ranks, while relations with neighboring [[Calbion]] have continued to significantly warm under the new government, after years of animosity following the terrorist attack on Glacier City at the hands of the [[Iron Company]] in {{AN|1673}}.

Despite the military power it commands, the Imperial Federation's reach does not extend in significant force outside of its home regions, with reliance on permanent bases to maintain its overseas empire and ensure concrete ties between its constituent countries. The government has variously managed periods of rapid rise and overextension, with its military finally expanded sufficiently to allow sustainable consolidation of its holdings, this expected by {{AN|1760}}. The Imperial Federation has variously partnered with its neighbors to hold far-flung territories. One example is the Ralgonese government's constant struggle to maintain holdings in [[Keltia]]'s deep interior, especially [[Imperial Haifa]], where [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] aided efforts to bring order to the region, aiding integration of millions into the imperial fold and the expansion of its already-large defense industry. The other is the partnership with [[Floria]] during the [[Corum War]] to secure additional territory to link the core of the empire with [[Eternia]] and [[Beihagh]] and other far-flung areas, and thus complete a far less vulnerable maritime connection were it to come into conflict with foreign powers.

In the government's early days, its solution to remedy its chronic overextension was to join the [[Raspur Pact]] in late {{AN|1706}} to counter its weakness in an army and air force that still remained relatively small for a nation of this size. In later decades, it adopted a pattern of regional political, economic, and military alliances to protect mutual interests and enable clear power projection. Although the Imperial Federation joined few other supranational organizations, it nonetheless made paradoxical moves to adopt a largely peaceful coexistence with its neighbors and upgrading its military might, to defeat its issues of controlling such a large amount of maritime territory and maintaining free, safe trade throughout its now-vast maritime empire. Recent years have been characterized by the accelerated population growth and consolidation of its holdings, largely eschewing further territorial expansion despite continual opportunities to press farther into [[The Green]] in Keltia.

==Etymology==
The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Adrestia, Eternia, and Haifa takes its name as a collective of older polities that have made up the modern empire since approximately 1665 AN, when it was first included as Ralgon on the MCS map. Although no longer its own consolidated country as of {{AN|1756}}, so-called "Greater Ralgon" consists of the two Ralgonese states of Adrestia and Drag'os, and are considered as the same greater polity under Imperial law due to their shared sovereign. These two now form two of the empire's four constituent countries, and are by far the two most populated as well. The name changed in {{AN|1723}}, albeit unofficially, to reflect the inclusion of most former [[Bassarid]] homelands into the Empire, and the increased dependence of [[Tar-Palantir]] on its surrounding provinces. Every few decades or so, the Imperial Federation has changed its name to reflect the co-equal status of the most powerful portions of its multipolar empire.

=== Ralgonese Peoples ===
The Ralgon name comes from a combination of "Ral," the name of the people which originated in what is now [[Stormhold]] on the island of [[Drag'os]], and "gon" which denotes a people, or a sense of belonging in the ancient Ralgonese language. The homeland of the Ralgonese peoples is a territory called [[Stormhold]], itself located on [[Drag'os]], a large island territory located just off northern [[Cibola]]. As for [[Drag'os]] itself, it takes its name after the fire god worshipped in the [[Draconic]] religion. According to local mythology, it was a reincarnation of Drag'os who founded the first Ralgon state in Stormhold, which itself takes its name from an early ruler who preferred to worship Glaur'on, the god of water, wisdom, and storms.

After the unification of the Ralgonese and ethnically related nations on Drag'os in 1655, [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]] commissioned expeditions to colonize a group of islands near Keltia to expand the empire's territory in case of further natural disasters at home, a near-daily occurrence on Drag'os. Adrestia itself was named after one of the early great saints of the Draconic Church, and like the Ralgonese on Drag'os, Adrestia came to likewise rule over the entirety of its own region. It is from the two Ralgonese peoples that the Imperial Federation draws its present strength, authority, and legitimacy over its other dominions across the [[Great Western Sea|Great Western Ocean]].

=== Other Dominions ===
Nixtorm's history is almost as old as Ralgon was, and the origins of its formerly tribal name are now lost to history. It is thought that Nixtorm was a primordial word for the people of the Stormlands, due to the wet climate on Drag'os's eastern seaboard. These peoples took the name with them when they relocated to southeast [[Keltia]] following the first [[Ralgon Civil War]] in 1685. They retained loyalty to their Ralgonese cousins to the present day.

Valora is a collection of provinces on the mainland of [[Cibola]] as well as the island of [[Tar-Palantir]]. Formerly its own country, its much more populated northern half was annexed following the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in the early 1700's.

Scarterra is, loosely, a collection of two separated provinces, thanks to an exodus of its peoples following the 1685 crisis, which saw much of the island overrun with disasters, geological and otherwise. The province was reformed on Drag'os following the island's reunification in the early 1700's. Dubbed "New Scarterra," in the Isles of Eriador (near [[South Island]]), this houses a number of the barons that chose to establish and maintain their domains overseas. Scarterra proper consists in great part of returnees from what is now known as [[Inis Balar]] following the mainland's repatriation. Since then, both areas have been populated heavily with Menelmacari and other Ralgonese ethnic groups in the following years, leading to a minority-"native" population there.

Tar-Palantir is an island named after the ancient [[Menelmacar|Menelmacari]] traditions, some of which Tar-Palantir's colonizers have begun to revive in recent years. The island's namesake was a ruler of the Ralgonese state of Stormhold, and served as one of the founders of what would form the core of modern Drag'osian government until the recent [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in 1705-1707 AN. Other such influences are found throughout the Imperial Federation's holdings on Keltia, where many cities are named after mythological people or objects from Menelmacari histories uncovered since the revival of interest in the early 1700's AN. The island's majority ethnicity consists of a mixed Valoran and Menelmacari heritage, with political leanings to the former despite the latter's heavy linguistic and cultural influences.

==History==

=== The Early Period (228 AN - 1178 AN) ===

Also known as the Dark Ages, this was period of factionalism and endless crises for Ralgon. History from this period is scarce, although certain pieces do survive. For instance, the Ralgonese tribes dispersed throughout modern-day [[Drag'os]], and by {{AN|1200}} were a single polity that was situated in a strategic location in the south-center of the island. The chief enemies of the period were primarily the hostile fauna, notably the dragons. While the insectoid lifeforms of the [[Great Swamp]] were a dire threat, they were, by and large, manageable by this time. The lightning dragons were, however, a far different story, for they were responsible for the near-extinction of the Ralgonese peoples on the island on several occasions, the worst by far being in {{AN|228}}, before which recorded history apparently does not survive outside of modern [[Glacier City]], the mountainous environment in which the locals found life-saving shelter. The current principal Ralgonese ruling tribes descend from those same refugees who eventually spread throughout the island in the next thousand years.

It was around the year {{AN|800}} that the nascent [[Draconic]] religion was first recorded being adopted by Ralgonese chieftains and petty rulers. Archaeological evidence concludes that Draconic originated in the Badlands to the northwest of the island, where (ironically) the dragons lived in the highest concentrations. Outside of religious proselytization, events were largely cyclical throughout the island until the year {{AN|1178}}, with the eastern and western portions maintaining no contact, with the Ralgonese nobility eventually finding their way into the courts of other territories in a bid to consolidate the region against the dragons and Great Swamp "bugs" ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_gigantism gigantic insectoid species of a wide variety]). However, a major dragon attack by an elder lightning dragon and its retinue destroyed most of the nobility, and the region in the east experienced a violent political reset, while the west was so devastated by the dragon attacks that its peoples fell entirely out of contact with the rest of the world until nearly {{AN|1680}}.

The slowly modernizing [[Glacier City]] survived the onslaught, as did certain nobility in the environs of Valeria in the most well-defended areas of Stormhold. It was shortly after this catastrophe that the first universities began to appear in the country, some being relics of old conflicts, now solidified and given "universal" privileges to act as education institutions. For institutions that survive to the point, such as the [[University of Glacier City]], these same organizations' origins are typically tied to Draconic Temples in their respective cities, only detaching centuries later as each entity grew too large for the other to reasonably house or manage. The attacks, while devastating on the frontier populations and the inland dwellers, forced a population concentration and accelerated the region's rapid onset of industrialization (and better defenses).

=== The Intermediate Period (1178 AN - 1655 AN) ===
The Intermediate Period was defined by the initiation of the Great Swamp Wars in earnest to take back the inland regions and relieve agricultural pressure on the rapidly growing population, as fishing could only sustain so many people, despite the abundant waters and large prey items that the fishing industry could readily target. By the time {{AN|1200}} rolled around, these wars had begun in earnest, with each of the various surviving eastern polities on Drag'os attempting to assert their own control away from the coastal regions and into the fertile, well-watered lands between the coast and the Great Swamp. Exploration during these times was limited to the eastern half of the island, due to the Great Divide to the west acting as too great a physical barrier, especially with hostile dragons inhabiting the region.

Overall, the Great Swamp Wars, were the series of long-term conflicts that formed both the definition and basis of the Ralgon nation until c. {{AN|1680}}. The so-called "War" was neither a single conflict, nor was it fought between nations. Instead, it was a conflict fought between the peoples inhabiting the island of [[Drag'os]] and the megafauna of various sorts that inhabited the Badlands, which were divided into eastern and western halves by the Great Divide (itself a series of mountain ranges that divided the island in two). The War may be divided into four phases marked by significant events: The Atomic Bombardment of 1450, the Dark Age, the Atomic Bombardment of 1672, and the Western Campaign of 1680.

The initial phases of the conflict lasted until c. {{AN|1400}}, with modernizing weapons enabling the surviving polities of Stormhold, Nixtorm, Scarterra, and others to compete directly with the most dangerous fauna inland for natural resources. However, their pathological hostility towards humans and the high reproduction replaced losses while inflicting grievous setbacks on the Ralgonese defenders. A stalemate was achieved until Stormhold manufactured an atomic device that it successfully deployed in the depths of the Great Swamp in the year {{AN|1450}}, which wiped out the dragon population on the eastern half of the island, almost to the last creature. However, the atomic blast had existentially dangerous consequences: it irradiated the already-large bugs, and permanently drove most lightning dragons into lifelong killing frenzies that nearly, again, wiped out all life on the island. The only thing saving them was, ironically, more nukes until their store had run dry. Making a resolution to never use fissile warheads again, the idea was seemingly set aside permanently to sustain the growing tide of giant bugs now crawling out of the Great Swamp in record numbers. While a stalemate was eventually reached once again, the Ralgonese were still driven even closer to the coast, and the population situation eventually began to deteriorate despite extremely high fertility rates among women.

The tides began to slowly turn under the reign of [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]], whose clan and subordinate tribes initially controlled only the coastal fringes of what is now [[Stormhold]]. After the Ralgon tribes colonized and settled the fertile and secure valleys and coastlines at the far east end of the island, the settlement known as [[Glacier City]] quickly grew to dwarf its mother country in population due to a general lack of hardship. By the time Nobunag'an came into power in {{AN|1594}}, The resulting boost in manpower and territory propelled the Ral clans to form the Ralgon nation, which slowly forced their way north and east to link up with other peoples in the region, most notably those from what used to be the regions of [[Nixtorm]], [[Aurora]], and [[Scarterra]]. With their forces and technology combined, the new Ralgon state went on to defeat the enemy, with Nobunag'an IV going down in history as the man who saved his people from extinction. The country would eventually modernize enough to deploy a non-fissile atomic weapon in {{AN|1672}}, near the end of Nobunag'an's reign, in time for [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] to come in to ostensibly finish the job.

=== Late Ralgon Period ({{AN|1655}} - {{AN|1706}}) ===

The Ralgon of the late period eventually grew into a quasi-feudal empire that remained closed to the world until c. {{AN|1655}}. The Ralgon Empire has heavily influenced and/or governed the entire island of Dragos (known to the wider world as "El Dorado") for its first two centuries, and despite attempts to colonize and control more hospitable lands abroad, internal crises ranging from overpopulation in [[Glacier City]] to difficulties controlling the hinterland proved to be its eventual downfall. After having initially consolidated diplomatic control of most of the island (and at great cost), the Ralgon Empire developed some of the world's most advanced science, engineering, and medicine, which it used to briefly take over the island in a "manifest destiny" style of expansion. This golden age proved ephemeral, however. From {{AN|1680}} to {{AN|1700}} the central Ralgon government lost almost its entire frontier and nearly two-thirds of its heartlands in Drag'os in quick succession to a series of cataclysmic events during the so-called Crisis of the 1680's (which affected many other major such as [[Frankish Empire]], [[Stormark]], and others). Some of these same physical, natural, and economic upheavals spurred the government into military/political disasters as the [[Ralgon Civil War]] and the [[Cibolan Reconquista]].

Due to this series of military and political disasters, the central government also slowly lost its grip on its colonies, which continued to grow rapidly in size and population, sometimes at their mother country's expense. Power struggles at home and endless wars were waged abroad on mainland [[Cibola]] in a desperate effort for the Empire to hold onto its remaining authority, but to little avail. The Ralgon state was reduced to a mere shadow of itself on its own homeland, having shrunk some 80 percent, with foreign powers such as the [[Bassarid Empire]] and [[Calbion]] occupying parts of [[Drag'os]] during the ensuing few decades, this occupation being a cause of public shaming for the already-weak government. These wars continued until the Holy Ralgon Empire's final recognized Emperor, [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], formally declared that he would bequeath his crown in an otherwise illegal act to the Prince of Adrestia upon his death. This managed to stave off the undead in northern Cibola and the various rebelling clans and tribes remaining in the newly created in [[The Green]] now surrounding Ralgon on all sides.

The central government barely continued to hold authority under this agreement until shortly after the unexpected illness and death of Emperor Shiro to a very rare and aggressive form of cancer in {{AN|1704}}. In a state of confusion and caught unprepared against this sudden development, the central government found itself leaderless and Adrestia with only a child on the throne. In the power struggle that immediately followed, the central government rallied around the Imperial Senate. In a closed-door ceremony, the majority of the Dragosian-based Senators deliberately excluded their more powerful colonies and nominated their own candidate in [[Prince Draegar Ral]]. This immediately triggered a civil conflict wherein pro-Adrestian and pro-Senate forces vied for control over imperial authority. While the pro-Adrestian faction remained mostly united throughout the war, the pro-Senate faction divided almost immediately due to the dubious circumstances behind both contenders' claim to the Imperial Throne, with Glacier City's defection to Adrestian interests and a following political purge in the city proving the trigger for the civil war to begin.

After the defection of [[Glacier City]], much of [[Dragon's Reach]], [[Nova Victoria]], and the massive naval infrastructure that all of these provided, the war quickly proved to be one-sided in favor of the now-powerful maritime empire the Ralgons had originally built abroad. The new government of the Empire took shape out of these factions, with Glacier City taking pre-eminent authority over Drag'os due to Stormhold's desire to remain pro-Senate. The island's heavily defensible terrain rapidly lead to a slow grind in the land war for Adrestian naval forces, which weren't used to fighting wars deep inland. The pro-Adrestian military forces grossly underperformed in mainland Cibola, where the remainders of the pro-Draeg'ar Senate eventually relocated, and in deep inland parts of [[Drag'os]] and the mountainous frontiers deep inside of the recently conquered [[Tar-Palantir]] island territories. However, the front was extremely one-sided for Adrestian forces inland, and the lines formed along the interiors of the empire's Cibolan territories as fighting dragged to a stalemate along the few remaining active fronts. The [[Ralgon War of Succession]] lasted nearly two years, until the Holy Ralgon Empire finally fell to pro-Adrestian forces, whose diplomats and troops went on to win political victories. The near-total military victory at home, following the complete restoration by diplomacy of former Ralgonese territories in the heartland, finally crushed what little determination organized Senate resistance had left to fight.

=== Early Years of the Federation ({{AN year|1706}}-{{AN year|1715}}) ===
With the end of the war came the prices that needed to be paid for victory. While the pro-Adrestian forces found themselves with near-total victory, the casualty count was high and they still lost the inland territories of mainland Cibola to the opposing camps. The remainder of the Senate needed to be dealt with, and the government of Drag'os rebuilt after the model of [[Draconic Humanism]], which was going to be a long and costly process. The Adrestian Navy had ranged this entire region of the world flushing out and destroying resistance among anti-Imperial factions, and this was a difficult task to accomplish in far-flung territories like Dragospire and Ryugawa. However, their efforts were far from pointless, as the now-Imperial Federation Navy had uncontested control of its seas, albeit at the cost of terrible overextension (for which it eventually compensated by abandoning certain remote outposts).

The Imperial Federation quickly found that it had greatly overextended due to unprecedented territorial gains. With a massive empire to run, the central government was forced to consolidate its vast holdings, but it would not abandon territories outside of its historic periphery pointlessly. Instead, deals were reached with [[Calbion]] at the end of 1706 during the closing phases of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to trade off their strategic island colonies off northwest Keltia, as well as the greater half of the baronies of Scarterra (which were compensated with large holdings elsewhere in the empire), for the last remaining foreign territory on the Ralgonese homelands. Following this huge political victory, though, the vast majority of the people of Scarterra emigrated to other portions of the empire, following their respective lords or barons. The exceptions were a great part of those civilians who stayed in the Dragospire territory, many of whom became Calbain subjects, having sympathized with the Senatorial forces. However, this overextension of Imperial military assets was to be felt for years to come, with the Imperial Navy unable to extend the Army's reach farther than the already-vast holdings controlled by the centers of power in Gondolin and Glacier City.

The legacy of Emperor Shiro was felt throughout the Empire, and the concept of open rebellion so soon after his death raised a specter of national guilt that needed to be quashed. Thanks to the efforts of the central government's propaganda machine (rumored to be helped by humanist organizations elsewhere), the war was spun as protecting the late Emperor's legacy and fulfilling his hard-fought dream with him as a guardian spirit of sorts, rather than spurning it with such a radical change of government. With these changes afoot, the Imperial Federation was forced to be relatively quiet in world affairs, with the notable exception of the [[Ludwiggian-Monovian War]], which saw Imperial forces send materiel to help Raspur Forces deliver a strong conclusion to the fighting.

==== Post-War Expansions (1715-{{AN year}}) ====

===== Conquest of Valora (1715-1718) =====
{{main|Conquest of Valora}}

The Imperial Federation had bided its time wisely, although this was completely unknown to the Emperor, now a teenager, never mind his government, which had done its best to combat Imperial overextension of military assets in the few years following the Imperial victory over the rump state now known as Valora {{AN year|1706}}, the latter ironically consisting only in small part of formal Valoran territory, with the rest being Ralgonese holdings under central government control in name only in most places.

The peace generated by the stalemate was only an illusion, however. The two states were, at least formally, still in a state of war with each other, although Draegarist loyalists to the south were questioning the reasoning for this to begin with. The [[Ralgon Reconquista]] and its prior [[Cibolan Reconquista]] were still official government policy, on both sides now. With the abandonment of northern Cibola by [[Sanama]] in 1717, the Imperial Federation was, temporarily, given leave to do whatever they wanted at the flank of "New Ralgon", the initial territory formed by the Draegarist government as a buffer between their new capital of Yixing and the considerable naval forces prowling at every major coast of the country.

The Imperial Federation, strengthened by its military expansion in the past ten years, knew exactly what to do and how to respond. They launched a flanking invasion from the freshly liberated "New Cibola" (nicknamed because of the new populations from old cities on [[Drag'os]]), and before a year was out, effective military movements and a few key battles were effectively all it took for the Imperial Federation's military juggernaut, with Raspur backing, to trigger the weakened Valora's near-total collapse outside of its heartland deep in Cibola's interior. While the Imperial Federation could only content itself with Valora's northern half and western coastlines, this was still exactly what they wanted, as they secured the unclaimed [[Green]] for themselves in the process and left Valora's remaining territory to be absorbed by Mondo in an act of self-preservation.

==== Post-Conquest Expansions (1718-1721) ====
{{Main|Operation Icebox}}
{{Main|Imperial Eura}}

The Imperial Federation's efforts to expand off the coast of Eura was, by comparison to Valora, far easier and significantly more uneventful. However, securing sovereignty over parts of the new territories eventually carried a significant financial price tag that stung the Imperial Court's efforts to fully develop these new territories for several years. Authority had long collapsed in the region, but aside from low-threat pirates, hostile forces were scarcely found, with most of the regions' populations welcoming the return of security and prosperity to the islands off the coast of Eura. Named the Forgotten Isles in the years leading up to it, the only presence of authority over the past five years in the area was a very large Imperial Navy base centered on the port city of [[Farquat]].

From this centralized base, the Imperial Federation quickly consolidated what it was now calling "Imperial Eura," which was just a collection of islands off the southern coast of the continent. The region quickly gained renewed strategic importance following first contact with a nation to the far south of Micras, known to the Imperials as "Frigia" (which turned out later to be simply the western portion of that country). While the islands were initially inhabited by only a few thousand people, they were located directly between the Imperial bases south of Eura and Tapfer farther to the west. Meanwhile, their position next to a new trading partner made acquiring these islands peacefully a top priority of the Imperial Court. Details aside, the natives eventually agreed to sell the islands outright, but charged the Imperial Federation a significant price, which included a hefty sum of hard currency, as well as large modernization investments on part of the Imperials, as both had major priorities of their own in building the region's peripheries to a modern standard.

{{Main|Operation Thunder Drop}}
{{Main|Imperial Haifa}}

In terms of economic and military might, the Imperial Federation had reached yet another plateau of power and prosperity following the annexation of Valora following the Conquest. Having freed the majority of its now battle-tested personnel, the Imperial Court sought to give their soldiers something to keep themselves sharpened on, as well as a way to integrate formerly Valoran soldiers into the Imperial armed forces. The opportunity quickly came for both the small Imperial Federation Army and the brown water elements of the Imperial Federation Navy to test their mettle on an entirely new front: [[Haifa]]. Unfortunately, they got more than they initially bargained for in these efforts.

The region had fallen apart in the wake of the [[Haifo-Palliscian Trad Union|Bassarid Empire's]] collapse of authority in the region by {{AN|1718}}. Given the meteoric rise in importance of the Strait of Haifa to maritime trade between the [[Imperial Federation]] and its far-northern neighbors in [[Normark]], the Imperial Federation quickly occupied strategic points in the region, hoping to expand their influence and instill order in the region after models successfully implemented in places like [[Tar-Palantir]], [[Valora]], and elsewhere in the Empire. However, these efforts were almost immediately forced to a slow grind by the [[Confederation of the Dispossessed]]. The situation was not helped by a strained treasury, as the Imperial Court was also focused on building the new Euran and Trans-Euran territories in [[North Frigia]] and [[Imperial Eura]], and rebuilding [[New Ralgon]] and [[North Valora]].

In the midst of these operations and significant financial investments in building (or rebuilding) its recent gains, the Imperial Federation's expansions slowed down, as it continued to focus its military operations on construction, securing the seas, and otherwise hammering away at the Haifan situation. Peace would not come to the latter for several years. The slowdown of Imperial expansion was interrupted by the full consolidation and recognition by the MCS of its consolidation of the Imperial Federation's Euran territories.

=== Modern Period (1722-) ===

==== Extended Regency Period (1722-1727) ====
The Imperial Federation entered 1722 AN with renewed vigor. It had sent the Emperor [[Anarion]] to university at [[Metzler University]] in 1719 with the intention of education the already-powerful leader in statecraft, economics, and other vital skills for his station. He spent his time there learning how the Shireithians reintegrated their now-vast holdings in the early 1700's, with the expectation to apply those lessons to the Imperial Federation, which went through a similar period of dramatic expansion only recently. After his marriage to [[Qasima Çakar]] in 1720, the relevant authorities jointly agreed that Qasima would join her new husband in [[Shirekeep]] to attend the same university so as to keep the couple together. The Emperor turned 21 in 1722 AN, and would otherwise have formally taken power at Gondolin. However, he extended the Regency by two years as he wished to complete his studies abroad. The Emperor is scheduled to graduate in 1723, where he will remain in the city until his wife graduates that next year. He is expected to spend time strengthening ties between the Imperial Federation and other members of the Raspur Pact during his time abroad, until he travels to another center of Raspur Pact power for graduate studies. He is expected to extend the Regency once more until 1726, but this remains a subject of speculation.

The Imperial Federation conducted pauses on its territorial expansion during this time to further consolidate its far-flung holdings throughout Micras. Although the Imperial Federation aimed for great power status and could theoretically achieve this through its thalassocratic doctrine, its army and air force remained comparatively small for a country of that size and scope across the oceans. The military situation over the prior several years brought this weakness into sharp relief, and the Imperial Federation spent more time consolidating territorial gains and encouraging settlement to stabilize (and possibly even expand) its farthest-flung frontiers in Keltia and elsewhere. Deep in the Keltian interior, military situation stabilized on the resurgence of a new Bassarid state (albeit greatly reduced) in [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]]. In this sense, the long-running policy of peaceful integration of formerly [[Bassarid]] peoples (whether or not recently annexed) slowly paid off. The takeover of that country stabilized the military situation to the [[Strait of Haifa]]'s west bank, allowing the Imperials to cement and legitimize their hold on the so-called "Central Zone" (south and east of Lake Monovia). This in turn allowed them to continue their extraterritorial expeditions on the Haifan East Bank, allowing them to retain and stabilize the region over the next few years.

Emperor [[Anarion]] ascended to formally take personal power in {{AN|1727}}, after he chose to briefly delay his return, having finished his studies at [[Metzler University]] in international affairs at [[Shirekeep]]. Instead of immediately returning home, however, he embarked on a grand tour in [[Shireroth]] in late {{AN|1726}} with his wife, in which he learned more of the greater empire's system of governance, which he intended to partially implement on his return. His coronation was held on New Year's Day, {{AN|1727}}, in a lavish ceremony.

==== Reign of Emperor [[Anarion]] ====

Pacification of Imperial-held [[Bassaridia]] was achieved by {{AN|1728}}, by which time the Imperial Federation was able to focus on integrating its other far-flung territories, especially those near Eternia. Otherwise, the initial years of the Emperor's reign were characterized by a period of stability and quiet in the internal government, as well as integrating formerly antagonist elements back into Imperial society, in an effort to close the chapters on the previous civil wars permanently. The following years would be spent quietly, with slower movements on a military aspect, instead with the Imperial government focused on consolidating control through building infrastructure and supply chains to both redevelop the region and give freedom of movement to its labor force, and strengthen military capabilities by drastically shortening the armed forces' supply chains throughout the region. This was accomplished through {{AN|1730}}, by which time the region slowly stabilized into a larger, consolidated bloc covering most of inland Keltia along the Haifa strait, from the northern Bassarid-majority areas to the increasingly diverse populations of the Northwest Territory (now called West Menelmacar), centered on [[Blore Heath]] and other settlements.

In the far-flung region of [[Eternia]], preparations were underway to integrate the protectorate's economy with its formerly northern frontiers, and with [[Imperial Eura]]. With the expansion of trade within the region following [[Oportia|Oportia's]] expansion, the Imperial Federation's island territories off the coast of Eura further increased in economic and strategic importance. With both territories slowly sinking into Imperial control, annexation would become a quiet subject of conversation within the halls of power. While there was little enthusiasm for direct action by {{AN|1730}}, given the Emperor Anarion's own focus squarely on strengthening Imperial infrastructure, particularly within the northwestern regions, there was merit in integrating these valuable domains into a so-called "Greater Eternia," under the imperial banner.

==== 1730's Economic Boom ====

In the former [[Valora]] region, efforts to reintegrate the region continued apace, with the mixing of the Valoran and Ralgonese populations forming a supermajority of (non-undead) inhabitants in the region. Centered around [[Nova Victoria]], it would form effectively another core Ralgon province by the opening of the 1730's AN. Cross-border migration with [[South Valora]] continued through these years, with subsections of North Valora's more conservative Valorans wary of the prospect of complete assimilation with their Ralgonese brethren. However, these figures did little to impact popular sentiment, due to the return of normalcy to the region under Imperial auspices. With prosperity no longer a pipe dream for most of the population, but increasingly accessible to those outside the ruling class, anti-Imperial sentiment remained minimal throughout this period, contributing to a period of quiet the region had not seen since the brief [[Barbary]] period some 50 years prior. The area would be effectively reintegrated with the rest of Ralgonese-populated regions by {{AN|1735}}.

Internal expansion would follow into the 1730's, with the increasing growth of periphery regions leading to a heavy population boom throughout the Empire. Increasing industrialization in the provinces and near-complete restoration of infrastructure in the [[Haifa]] regions contributed to not only a greatly increased output of manufactured goods, but the development of vast, valuable farmlands along the entire Strait of Haifa region. With mass interchanges of peoples between the various provinces and dominions, the demographic changes saw the Imperial Federation become more cosmopolitan throughout the early 1730's. In turn, this contributed to a renewal of Imperial Federation military strength, namely in ships and aircraft used to protect trade and territorial interests in far-flung places like Eura.

This increased political and economic strength was especially felt on the peripheries, and the effect was that the Imperial Federation's central government became far more capable of administering its less densely populated territories. With an increasing presence on, and influence over, [[Eternia]], the decision to entertain proposals for annexation were finally entertained by both parties for the first time. Eventually, a complex agreement was made to annex the region by the end of {{AN|1733}}, in which the Eternian islands could be consolidated with most of [[Imperial Eura]], then collectively given autonomy similar to that of other Provinces of the Empire. While Eternia would keep its local monarchy on its mainland, the newly constituted "Greater Eternia" would nonetheless name the Imperial Federation as its formal suzerain and send representatives to the Senate, and name Anarion as Emperor of Eternia. Thus, the islands would be able to fully benefit from [[Raspur Pact]] membership, as well as direct representation within the greater empire.

==Government==

===Defence===
{{main|Grand Armada of the Sunfire Sea}}

==Foreign Relations==
{{main|Ralgonese Foreign Relations}}

A member of the [[Raspur Pact]] since {{AN|1706}}, the Imperial Federation is a regional great power, with control over much of Northern Cibola and Southeast Keltia by {{AN|1720}}, with heavily populated colonies in other regions such as the far south of Eura and [[Haifa]]. The Imperial Federation actively pursues aspirations to attain great power status. While the Imperial Navy grants a near-global reach that contributes to a considerable overseas empire, the central government has found itself incapable of nearly the same level of power projection in matters involving primarily land operations outside of Cibola, eastern Keltia, and in proximity to its holdings on Eura. With a rapidly growing population, the Imperial Federation grew to over 250 million inhabitants as of {{AN|1730}}, thanks in part to a continuously booming economy under the current Emperor [[Anarion]], high fertility, and territorial expansion into heavily populated regions through the 1720's. The Imperial Federation enjoys a strong industrial sector, advanced military (especially their navy), and cutting edge feats of engineering into the present day.

However, the Imperial Federation's rise to global prominence has only occurred in the years following its now-current government's victory in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], having been almost entirely confined to coastal waters for most of their existence on the [[MCS]] map, especially after the 1680's crises. With the Imperial Federation only recovering from its overextension after the [[Conquest of Valora]] through the 1710's and 1720's, the nation has tended to operate on the global stage in concert with other [[Raspur Pact]] powers. Additionally, the scope of the Imperial Federation's foreign affairs is, largely, limited to interactions within the [[Raspur Pact]]. These are major issues that the Imperial government has attempted to prepare the new Emperor, [[Anarion]], to address on his planned ascension to formally rule the country by {{AN|1725}}. However, the new Emperor's favored policies remained those of a modest pace of territorial expansion, focusing instead on internal development and allowing the empire's power projection capabilities to catch up to long-term economic, human, and territorial gains over the past two decades.

Alongside its membership in the Pact, the Imperial Federation enjoys warm relations through other countries as well, including [[Çakaristan]], which signed a marriage pact in which [[Qasima Çakar]] married the Emperor in {{AN|1720}}. Additionally, the Emperor is, by virtue of his marriage, a member of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]], although he has not been observed openly exercising privileges associated with this title.

=== Military Matters ===

{{main|Raspur Pact}}

The thalassocratic history of the Imperial Federation may be traced to [[Adrestia]], which built the vast majority of its own military power through its navy. Meanwhile, [[Ralgon]] had built up its power with its massive array of cutting-edge artillery and anti-air defense systems, accounting for the [[Great Swamp War]] and the campaign against the island's incredibly dangerous dragon population. With the majority of the country's ground forces tied down in domestic pacification, the navy became the new Imperial Federation's mainstay in maintaining hegemony over its often-sparsely populated frontiers. Membership in the Raspur Pact provided a convenient solution to these pressing questions, allowing the Imperials to continue focusing its ground forces on domestic matters, while constantly assisting with operations with its increasingly large, experienced, and powerful navy.

The Imperial Federation also signed agreements signed with [[Eternia]] during its independence, making it a protectorate of sorts. The relationship gave the Imperial Federation a strong trading network to rare minerals, but also additional justifications for settling the isles south of Eura with a very rapidly-growing colony. Eternia was subsequently annexed as a constituent country of the Imperial Federation in {{AN|1733}}. [[Beihagh]] followed in {{AN|1740}} after the [[Rusjar Negotiations]] and [[North Corum]] was annexed after the [[Corum War]] ended in {{AN|1754}}.

=== Dynastic Policies ===

{{main|Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar}}

Historically, the Ralgonese ruling houses had little dynastic connections to foreign royalty. With rapidly dwindling numbers past {{AN|1680}} with its various crises, abdications, reforms, and stripping of titles, the now-Imperial House eventually found itself bereft of members to marry off. Eventually, only the Emperor himself was a major asset in this regard. Because of this two-fold problem, the Regency Council in {{AN|1715}} decided firmly that the Imperial Federation's ruling house should belong to a prestigious network. The government conducted inquiries, therefore, and began looking for partners outside of its usual sphere of diplomatic affairs.

Eventually, an offer was settled between the [[Shahanshah of Çakaristan]], [[Jaaguzan]]. Under the auspices of this agreement, [[Anarion]] married [[Qasima Çakar]], the daughter of [[Akbar Çakar]] (the former ruler of [[Çakaristan]] and [[Jodha Avchat]]. The marriage took place in {{AN|1720}}, when Anarion was 19 and Qasima was 18. The two then traveled to Shirekeep for university studies, placing the matter of offspring until Anarion's formal coronation and assumption of full-time duties as Emperor by {{AN|1726}}. By extension, Anarion also became a [[Knight of the Lakes]], forming a strong family-based connection with [[Hurmu]] as well. The two had an impressive twenty-five children, the last set arriving in {{AN|1738}}.

==Economy==

==Science & Technology==

==Geography==
=== Position on Micras===

On Micras, the majority of the Imperial Federation's holdings and population centers are concentrated in two places: Southeast [[Keltia]] (so-called "Greater Adrestia"), and Northern [[Cibola]] (especially [[Drag'os]], known to past cartographers as [[El Dorado]]). In addition to its traditional heartlands, the Imperial Federation holds extensive territory in those same regions and, through a network of regional and global alliances and treaties with neighbors, enjoys hegemony over increasingly well-defined maritime regions between these territorial concentrations. As such, the Imperial Federation has many maritime neighbors on Micras, the most extensive of such borders being with [[Calbion]], which coexists with the Imperials on both the [[Keltia]] and [[Cibola]] oceans in their respective areas of influence. The Imperial Federation also controls a concentration of colonies abroad, notably concentrated off the southern coast of Eura (namely called [[Imperial Eura]], including large islands near the protectorate of [[Eternia]] as well).

Greater Adrestia holds in its orbit territories on the southeast corners of [[Keltia]], with inland holdings as far as [[Haifa]] and as far down the coast as [[Nixtorm]]. The maritime territory between Adrestia, Nixtorm, and [[Blore Heath]] are possessed almost in their entirety by the Imperials. However, two exceptions exist: [[Windsor]], a colony of [[Lac Glacei]], and an exclave of [[Çakaristan|Çakaristan's]] called [[Çakari oceanic territory|Tarria]], both being native reservations, and extremely small in size compared to nearby Imperial populations, territorial holdings, and military installations. (As such, they are not considered a security risk, although the central government has made their peaceful incorporation through purchase or exchange a core part of its long-term agenda in recent years.)

The Imperial Federation's sway over portions of Northern [[Cibola]] are far better defined. [[Drag'os]], from its megalopolis in [[Glacier City]], controls both its home island as well as [[Tar-Palantir]] (itself formerly called [[Frigga Island]] under [[Stormark|Storish]] rule) and swathes of northern Cibola, consisting of [[New Ralgon]] (centered on the city of [[Nova Victoria]], [[Valora]] (specifically, its more populated northern half), and [[Imperial Cibola]] (by far the most sparsely populated of these territories). Far to the Southeast of these lies [[Bomei Island]], a strategic holding the Imperials use to protect their interests in the region and connect to the Antarctic Territory.

In terms of its extended imperial holdings, the Imperial Federation has several neighbors on land. On mainland [[Cibola]], it shares two land borders. The more notable one is with the [[Mondosphere]] to the south on the [[Cibola]] mainland, where the two share the former territory of [[Valora]] after its {{AN|1715}} partition. The other border is a narrow coastal strip on northern Cibola bordering [[Calbion]], which also shares extensive maritime borders with the Imperial Federation elsewhere on Cibola and Keltia. On mainland Keltia, the Imperial Federation shares a narrow land border on the mainland coast with [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]], and off the same coast with [[Windsor]], a colony of [[Lac Glacei]], where the Imperials occupy a pair of military bases on and near the island as its own sovereign territory. Across from the Imperial Federation's newest territories along the [[Strait of Haifa]] lies [[Anahuaco]], and on the further bank to the northeast lies [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]].

===Domestic Overview===

{{WIP}}

These territories contribute to a newly global empire that supplanted Ralgon after its violent, two-year [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that finally concluded in the final days of 1706 AN.

The Imperial Federation has, in addition to recent gains elsewhere, reclaimed the entirety of [[Ralgon|Ralgon's]] former territory, and made additional, significant gains abroad in naval bases outside of their traditional sphere of activity in the [[Great Western Sea]]. The Imperial Federation consists of several distinct geographic divisions of various importance: States, Dominions, and Territories. States tend to have their own Dominions, and Dominions their own Territories, with dependent districts belonging entirely within their parent unit. From most to least important of such independent divisions, the Empire consists of the Ralgonese states of [[Adrestia]], and [[Drag'os]], which have imperial status. Independent Dominions include Nixtorm and Tar-Palantir, located near their respective suzerain states, possess Princely status. [[Scarterra]] is unusual in that it also possesses princely status but is divided between its newer settlements on the Isles of Eriador and its reclaimed homelands on the north coast of Drag'os.

The other free-standing territories with Senate representation include [[Eriador]] (which includes the former Al Hamra and the former New Scarterra), [[Nova Victoria]], and [[Bomei Island]]. Territories with self-rule, but without representation in the Senate include the penal colony [[Devil's Island]] (now relocated to [[Eura]] and renamed to its Ralgonese translation), the majority [[Umraism|Umraist]] Gold Coast, and the sparsely populated, native-majority Northwest Territory.

Dependent territories include the Naval Base Eura and the Imperial Antarctic Territory, both of which have only one major settlement each, and the Sovereign Base Areas formed concurrently with [[Lac Glacei]] during their execution of the [[Mala'anje Repatriation Act]]. In addition, [[Imperial Haifa]] was recently added to the Imperial fold, but at great cost in materiel and local manpower. Together, these territories make up a vast, consolidated maritime empire that has reached the zenith of its power, influence, and geographical size.

=== Keltian Holdings ===

The Imperial Federation holds significant land on mainland Keltia since its expansion following the Succession War. This territory is generally divided into three parts: Nixtorm, and the two frontier territories in the Gold Coast, and the sparsely populated settlements in the Northwest Territory. Recently, the addition of [[Imperial Haifa]] has expanded the Imperial Federation's reach of the [[Strait of Haifa]], but at great cost due to heavy armed resistance from the [[Confederacy of the Dispossessed]].

==== Nixtorm ====

Originally located on mainland [[Drag'os]], the territory of Nixtorm consists of a group of large islands off the southeastern end of Keltia. Now a densely populated territory, Nixtorm is a region which depends heavily on trade for its economy. It imports resources from its mainland holdings of Inner Nixtorm (located just across the channels on Southeast Keltia) and distributes mineral resources, crops, and other items across the Empire and to international trading partners. Inner Nixtorm is the breadbasket of the entire Keltian coastal region, and rare earth deposits found on Nixtorm's rocky shores provide valuable exports, or fuel for the nuclear reactors under construction throughout the territory.

==== Gold Coast ====

Sparsely populated, the Gold Coast is home to nomads, traders, and prospectors. The region is known for its coastal fishing villages, and for the deserts inland that are very rich in gold and silver deposits. Due to the inhospitable climate, there are very few heavily populated settlements far from the coast. The region has large reserves of fossil fuel, which are traded for grain from Nixtorm's fertile mainland holdings to the south. The coasts are rich economic hubs, and many Ralgonese and other Imperials make their way to the Gold Coast from situations of near-destitution from overcrowded places like newly reconquered areas in [[Drag'os]] in an attempt to make it big. Few do, and so the Imperial Federation must now contend with a territory with extreme economic and social inequalities, in a vast, stretched out nation where Draconic Humanism is the dominant ideology in the Imperial Court.

Gold Coast's border with the [[Green]] deep in mainland Keltia is incredibly porous, leading to a strange mix of peaceful anarchy in the Imperial Federation deserts on the one hand, and desperados and brigands just beyond the zone of positive control exercised by the Federation's authorities. It is currently unknown whether the stretched Imperial Armed Forces are able to project their capabilities so far inland, but efforts have been made (albeit halfheartedly). This has made the region the Imperial Federation's near-equivalent of a "wild west," with efforts at establishing law and order largely being left to local forces.

==== Northwest Territory ====

Full of ethnic Menelmacari civilians, this is one of the few major regions in the Imperial Federation from which the majority of the colonizing settlers were not Ralgonese (or Drag'osian) in origin, the other in the West being New Menelmacar. The region consists of mostly small settlements, with native diasporas from other nations finding the region a welcoming change from the rest of the ultramodern, Ralgonese-majority Imperial Federation regions on the islands east of Keltia. For many years, the region is strategically insignificant to the Imperial government outside of its coastal areas. For a time, it and represented the pinnacle of the Imperial Court's version of their so-called "Manifest Destiny." Since the Northwest Territory represents the extent of it all, little effort was spent on forcibly pacifying the region's interior prior to the inclusion of [[Imperial Haifa]], with the local authorities being instead directed to pursue strong policies of coexistence with any native or minority groups within these lands. With some sense of irony, the inclusion of Blore Heath in subsequent years following the [[Bassarid]] collapse in the late 1710's AN only strengthened the security of the region.

Like the Gold Coast, the Imperial Federation exerts little control deep inland. However, unlike the Gold Coast, little in the way of violence exists in these territories. This is largely due to the lack of resources exploitable by single individuals, as well as strong native title to interior lands, making it unattractive for people in pursuit of half-baked get-rich-quick schemes. Violent crimes happen with far less frequency than other mainland Keltian holdings, leading the rural portions of the region (especially away from the coastlines) to develop a reputation for being a sort of utopia for those who seek peace without expectation of economic reward. As a result, the territory has rapidly become a destination for older Imperials to retire after decades of service to the state.

The main exception is the regions north of [[Blore Heath]] along the [[Strait of Haifa]]. Already a populous settlement, Blore Heath's relatively peaceful assimilation into Imperial control strengthened the settlement's economic output, and anchored the region between the Strait of Haifa and its narrow land border with [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] to the southwest. This change also cemented the Northwest Territory as the Imperial Federation's largest Ralgonese-minority territory outside of [[Valora|(North) Valora]].

==== Imperial Haifa ====
{{WIP}}

The Imperials occupied Haifa from {{AN|1718}}, but until the mid-1720's AN, the territory relied almost entirely on military support to survive, until a generalized peace was brokered allowing for the integration of the locals into the Imperial Federation's patchwork of territories organizing themselves in the formerly Bassarid regions near Haifa. Consisting of a patchwork of territories anchored around the east and south ends of [[Lake Morovia]], the territory is anchored by its garrisons based out of Abeis in the interior, and along islands located on the [[Strait of Haifa]] immediately adjacent to these land-based territories. The islands depend on the home government's military for their continued existence, with Imperial hold on these areas being tied only to constant, and costly, investments on holding them against enemies seemingly on all sides.

===Cibolan Holdings===

===Overseas Territories===

Overseas territories are technically rife within the Imperial Federation, by virtue of it being a thalassocracy. However, three territories most notably fall well outside of the so-called Core Regions on Cibola and Keltia: [[Bomei Island]], [[Devil's Island]], and the so-called [[Naval Base Eura]]. The latter is a large naval installation located off the southern cost of Eura off an island of respectable size. While Devil's Island is clearly a penal colony, Bomei Island's similar status is a legal gray area, due to the relative freedom of its inhabitants, be their residence voluntary or mandatory.

====Bomei Island====

{{main|Bomei Island}}

Formerly a penal colony meant to house the country's elites during times of political upheaval and instability, the island's importance has seen itself transform into a strategic asset for [[Raspur Pact]] forces, while doubling as a getaway destination of sorts for the country's upper classes. The massive naval bases on the island aside, the territory holds rapidly increasing infrastructure meant to cater to the Imperial Federation's rapidly expanding upper classes, thanks to the island's mild climate and excellent location near major countries like [[Natopia]], the [[Mondosphere]], and other prime destinations.

====Devil's Island & South Beihagh====

{{main|Devil's Island}}
{{main|South Beihagh}}

Until its assets' relocation to [[Eura]] in a land swap with [[Çakaristan]], Devil's Island was the primary center of the Imperial Federation's power on the continent of Corum and the sole lynchpin of Ralgonese power projection into [[Eura]], namely [[Imperial Eura]] and [[Eternia]] (which later joined the Imperial Federation). Primarily serving as both a penal colony and a large naval base, Devil's Island doubled as one of two areas that Raspur Pact forces had at their disposal in the region, the other being [[Natopia|Natopia's]] [[Naya Island]]. Although the island was also meant as a staging area to colonize portions of the exotic continent of [[Corum]], this never came to pass. Instead, the island was ceded to [[Çakaristan]]'s [[Jaihabar|Jaihabar Sultanate]] in {{AN|1720}} as part of a larger deal that included, among other territorial transfers, the [[Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar]].

Control of Devil's Island remained in Çakaristan's hands until the [[Jaihabar Vortex]] resulted in [[Çakaristan]] abruptly offering to cede the island back to the Imperial Federation in late {{AN|1739}} during the aftermath of the [[Jaihabar Vortex]], with the handover complete by New Year's Day of {{AN|1740}}. The nature of the island's value would be forever changed due to a continued lack of Ralgonese territorial ambitions beyond the island's confines. Instead, strategic interest in the island remained squarely on the island itself. The island offered a large population for its small size, as well as its favorable location, natural harbors, and defensibility. A respectable population of non-[[Çakaristan|Çakari]] citizens on former [[Jaihabar]] had also chosen to stay on the island rather than leave the continent altogether, dramatically changing the island's former demographics and turning the island into a valuable territory in and of itself in short order. While it lacked the same economic importance as its sister territory in [[South Beihagh]], Devil's Island still remained a strategic entrepot due to a much higher capacity for both permanent and passing naval assets that [[South Beihagh]] had little capacity to host over longer periods of time.

An alternate colony, named in Ralgonese as ''Akuma-jima,'' was established in {{AN|1720}} immediately south of the island of [[Beihagh]] (itself a Ralgonese territorial condominium held alongside [[Suren]]) in the wake of the {{AN|1720}} transfer of [[Devil's Island]]. Named after the original Devil's Island, the island became known more properly as [[South Beihagh]] over time. This fortified island was promptly established during this time to serve as an alternate trade node passing through the larger Euran market. More importantly, it served to secure the condominium with [[Beihagh]] to the north, and the island quickly found itself an effective link between the Imperial Federation's naval assets elsewhere with [[Imperial Eura]] and the resource-rich country of [[Eternia]]. The island's economy quickly grew from trade links established via Eura, enriched by stable Imperial control of the region and constant pass-through of both civilian and military assets. The island's importance to Imperial Federation trade and security in the region similarly contributes to the island's strong security, which continued seeing economic growth during the 1730's AN, only hampered by the [[Recession of 1737]]. Further, the lax immigration policy enjoyed by the non-penal settlements on the island have driven the local economy, strengthening Gondolin's reasons for staying put (which, by design, is a core tenet of the Humanist government in charge). The island would retain its economic importance past {{AN|1740}}, despite the lessened strategic emphasis on the island following the re-addition of [[Devil's Island]] to the Imperial Federation beginning that same year.

Past {{AN|1740}}, the islands would serve to grant the other strategic redundancy, as the Imperial Federation continued to emphasize economic growth in its Euran territory. Devil's Island would see its penal colony swiftly re-established, given the Imperial Federation's stated desire to avoid hosting a long-term prison for deported persons in South Beihagh, itself unfavorable for setting aside the necessary land for such institutions. Ultimately, it quickly proved that South Beihagh had regional economic potential as the result of trade with Eura, and Devil's Island profited from higher harbor capacity and proximity to Corum. Both would be integrated into a single territorial unit that included Ralgonese holdings outside of Greater Eternia and its mainland holdings in [[Keltia]] and [[Cibola]].

====Imperial Eura====

{{main|Imperial Eura}}

Imperial Eura consists of a patchwork of territories anchored on Naval Base Eura. With its military center based on what is otherwise known as the Isle of Eura, the islands' culture, economy, and most other aspects of life are dominated by the Imperial Grand Armada's presence on Eura, with settlements from merchant families and other colonists from the mainland ramping up after 1720 AN. The base supports [[Raspur Pact]] efforts in the region, courtesy of imperial forces operating in the region. Although a token garrison mans the other islands, the base is very well-fortified despite its relative lack of history, and short time under the occupation of the Imperial Federation.

The island holds an unnamed town outside of the base. Consisting of some 20,000 civilian personnel, the civilians are outnumbered by the land-based garrison on the military sides of the island (although not by much) and by the naval forces (which number up to 50,000 during major events). The rest of the islands on the island chain are dominated by civilian-led governance, with the colony expected to ascend from dependency status to Princely status as early as 1725 AN. The rapidly growing population of the islands reflects both the booming economy and strategic importance of this territory to Imperial interests in Eura and the south of Micras as a whole. The resource-rich islands have already contributed to the Federation's economy, with the islands expected to become more integrated into their mother country as the years roll by.

====Naval Base on Tiegang====

{{main|International Mandate#Imperial Federation: Mechazawa Naval Base}}

The Imperial Federation controls the Adrestian Quarter's naval base in the [[International Mandate]]. Known until recently as the "Adrestian Royal Navy Base Tiegang," it was renamed in {{AN|1709}} after Vice Admiral Saizo Mechazawa, who went on to represent the Ralgonese peoples after his retirement. The base is considered the property of the Imperial Federation, although it does not exercise sovereignty over the base. The people living on the island are ostensibly ruled by an elected governor who answers to Tiegangese authorities. However, the island is still influenced by now-Duke Saizo of Eastern Appolonia, who permanently lives there with certain members of his family.

Although the Imperial Federation has few legitimate interests on Appolonia, Tiegang itself nonetheless hosts several tens of thousands of Ralgonese citizens living there, many of whom relocated there after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that saw the (lopsided) fracture of the Ralgonese world along ideological and political lines. Like on Bomei Island, unusually high freedoms of personal expression are tolerated there, although lese majeste laws continue to hold effect even over these far-flung populations.

== Climate & Topography==

==Education==

Three types of post-secondary institutions exist in Ralgon: Private, public, and government-sponsored research institutes. A mixture of these schools rank near the top of the world's universities for factors including pedagogy, alumni outcomes, research output, and institutional financial performance. Most of Ralgon's best public universities also happen to remain self-sustaining in nature; that is, they do not need government funding and actually provide additional income to the government in some few cases. This remains the case even after the severity of the 1685 Crisis.

In recent years, focus on Ralgon's sole remaining overseas possessions prior to {{AN|1685}} by its then-current government drove a concentration schools in Greater Adrestia onto the top of the global league tables. Among these are the elite University of Adrestia (known globally by its abbreviation of UA), which holds a massive endowment of its own. Other high-ranking universities in the de facto independent territory include the Gondolin Institute of Science (GIS), the Naval Academy at Alexandria, and the University of Alphaville (run as a UA satellite campus until 1690, in cooperation with Bassarid faculty).

===Universities===
''(For a detailed list of major universities in the Ralgon, see the below articles.)''

{{main|List of universities in Ralgon}}

====Glacier City University====
{{main|Glacier City University}}

Glacier City University (known by its acronym of GCU) is an elite university located in the Semi-Autonomous Region (SAR) of the same name. Founded as a university in 1076, GCU is the oldest institute of higher education in continuous operation in the Imperial Federation, and the second-oldest university in the country. It is also among the oldest institutions of higher learning on the Cibola continent, having educated over 75% of the former Holy Ralgon Empire's heads of state, among countless other elites within the country.

It is considered an "ancient university" -- that is, an institution of higher learning formed as a university (regardless of its purpose or existence before said formation) before the Draconic faith became the state religion in 1178. It is one of only three such institutions in continuous operation since that date, with the latest of its other six peers being claimed (at least temporarily) by the devastating effects of the long-term 1680's General Crisis.

The University is world-renowned for its engineering and materials science programs, with graduates leading such projects as the construction of the [[Erazm Bridge Consortium]] and ground-breaking developments in ship technology for the recently re-organized [[Grand Armada of the Imperial Federation]], which consists of 250 modernized ships (and some 75 outdated ones) with the same defensive engineering that ensured Ralgon's survival during its darkest days. Its endowment is the second-largest in the Ralgonese state, at around 37 billion Guilders. Housing notable global policy institutes such as the Chidao Emperor Institute for Jing Studies, the university's headquarters remain in the Mountain City after over 600 years. GCU remains the only institution allowed to own property within the Imperial City's inner sanctum, and is also the only non-government organization allowed to operate within the city without an active permit.

Until the fall from prominence of the [[Stormhold]] region as the center of political life in the Empire, Glacier City U long maintained a rivalry with Temple University in Valeria. To this day, the two enjoy top rankings in Micras, especially in the fields of medicine, earth science, and biology. Glacier City University attained renewed prominence on the island of [[Drag'os]] as a part of the aftermath of the [[Ralgon Civil War|1685 Crisis]] and the [[Ralgon War of Succession|War of Succession]] that ended in 1706, due to the university's location in a region generally safe from political violence of any significance (with the sole exception of the 1705 city purge). It was one of the few ancient universities to survive intact; Temple University suffered a drop in the rankings, supplanted by the University of Gondolin, which has taken up some of the old rivalries.

=== Temple University===
{{main|Temple University}}

Temple University (known simply as TU) was originally founded in 425 AN in what is now the city of Valeria by Draconic missionaries, as a religious institute for higher learning. Itself attached to the Holy Temple of Drag'os in the same city (and originally in the same building), the institution was founded to train high-ranking religious personnel in both theology and in statecraft (a skill badly needed at the time by such people). The institution formed into a University in 1046, and adopted its current name in 1298, after the City of Valeria took over the university on behalf of the Ralgon king's government.

The modern Temple University preserves is its original 1046 name, and also serves as the flagship institution of the eponymous system (as a homage to the University's foundations with the Church). Thanks to a heavily increased endowment after the national government purchased the University, it has rapidly grown from an already-elite status to a world-class university in its own right. Although it suffered significantly during the general crises that defined the 1680's to 1705 AN, the modern university still enjoys the massive resources it slowly built over its 700-year history as a university. Temple University maintains its still-strong prominence that relies on a combination of a massive endowment -- the sixth-highest in Ralgon, at 27 billion Guilders, and its system of sister institutions to keep up with the never-ending pace of modernization in the country. This network of academics buoyed the university after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], which saw the city of Valeria stripped of imperial status because of its government's support of the pretenders (who themselves were exiled to [[Valora]]). From battle damage to the loss of students and faculty to the resulting exodus from the city, the university sustained a substantial hit to its endowment (no less than 9 billion Guilders) and a significant drop in the world university rankings that will likely take at least two or three decades to recover from.

Despite its recent woes, the University has no shortage of talent. The university is known for its sheer number of graduates within the Imperial Federation's education system, with nearly half the Dragosian mainland's top 10% of income earners being graduates of one of the schools in the TU system. Most of the City of Valeria's leaders are graduates of the flagship campus, which is known for its strict admissions standards, despite its massive size of over 85,000 students (about 50,000 of which are undergraduate). While the quality of the rivalry the University maintains with Glacier City U has taken damage in recent years, the university still excels in materials science and engineering, and still occupies top rankings worldwide fields of theoretical physics and mathematics.

===University of Gondolin===

Formed in 1672 AN, the University of Gondolin is, by far, the youngest of the elite universities in the Ralgon Empire. The university was founded in what is now Adrestia by the Emperor Shiro of Ralgon to educate the colonists. Following the discovery of precious resources in unprecedented abundance, the university found itself with a massive endowment, spurring extremely rapid growth during its initial few years. Unlike its companion institution, the University of Adrestia, the University of Gondolin operates no satellite campuses outside of its own metropolitan region, allowing a greater concentration of star faculty and other vital resources.

The university is known for its state-of-the-art naval science and space science departments. Its School of Draconic Studies is also widely praised as being on par with giants such as the ancient Glacier City University. The institution has already counted several famous and infamous graduates among its relatively distinguished alumni. Among them is the current Crown Prince of Adrestia, the future Masamune III, who graduated in 1700 AN with a undergraduate dual degree in global affairs and aerospace engineering at the age of 21 before moving abroad for further study. Another is [[Sargon Gilgamesh-Pilagga Azulpolassar|Sargon Azulpolassar]], a prominent noble from [[The Hexarchy]] who graduated in 1693. The university's rapid rise to prominence comes on the heels of Adrestia's prosperity; thus, the university made moves to insulate itself from possible periods of political upheaval during the late 1690's. This strategy paid off, as the city was rocked by the financial strain of bearing the costs of victory in the Ralgon Succession War in the first decade of the 1700's. Careful investment and restricting admissions to a smaller, more manageable student body lead to strengthened reputation abroad by the time the war ended and financial prosperity began to be felt in all quarters of the now-large metropolis.

Although being smaller than its companion institution, the University of Adrestia (and system), the university holds by far the largest endowment in the Imperial Federation, valued at over 50 billion Guilders as of 1707 AN, thanks to heavy and frequent donations by the Royal Family of Adrestia and shrewd financial management. This has allowed the university to cement its assets and begin another round of heavy expansion into the coming century. The rise of the city to prominence in recent years is mostly thanks to the growing status of the city of Gondolin, and its designation as one of the two Imperial Cities allowed further increases in the university's budget for frontier sciences. The university also owns substantial investments in the Alphaville Spaceport, as well as Anarion Spaceport in the Antarctic Territory (along with several research bases in the same).

===University of Adrestia System===
{{WIP}}
Like its counterpart the University of Gondolin, the University of Adrestia was founded in 1672 AN, shortly before the international recognition of the colony as part of the Ralgon Empire. It used to be the same institution as UG, but the two split amicably to allow each university to respectively focus on the needs of Gondolin and the wider Adrestia regions. Although this caused a split in endowment award, the discovery of vast resources on the islands promptly made such a state of affairs relatively moot. The university system has expanded to cover education on the entirety of

This huge amount of resources gradually allowed the University of Adrestia to rapidly grow into the largest education system in the Ralgon Empire, overtaking the Temple University system in {{AN|1697}} (some 12 years post-Crisis). The university enjoys an enrolment of about 98,500 between all of its campuses, the flagship branch at the UA Gondolin being by far the most competitive to enter for aspiring students. Although the flagship campus is at Gondolin, the institution educates leaders in the liberal arts as well as in humanities, being better regarded in these fields than its rival institution of UG.

===University of Nixtorm===

===Western Imperial University===

Western Imperial University is one of the Imperial Universities, opened during the first years of the Imperial Federation. Shortly known as Western, the large university was founded in {{AN|1708}} with branch campuses in major cities to serve elite students in the new frontiers of the Empire on the Keltian mainland. Designed initially to train local government officials as well as native aristocracy, the university opened to gifted commoners hoping for jobs in places that offer higher standards of living, such as the Core Regions of Adrestia or Glacier City. The university is unique to the Imperial Federation in the fact that it is the only Imperial University that does not have a designated flagship campus.

===Anarion University===

Anarion University is a military-sponsored school founded in [[Gondolin]] by the regency of the Imperial Federation in {{AN|1706}}, by decree. Unlike other university systems, Anarion University was created specifically as an international university, with branch campuses in [[Valeria]], [[Glacier City]], and other major settlements throughout the Empire. The latest branch was opened in [[Nova Victoria]] in time for New Year's celebrations on 1710 AN, welcoming its first cohort of students there for Ralgonese Studies, offered jointly with the Chidao Institute for Foreign Studies, itself based in Glacier City. It plans to welcome its first degree-seeking classes by {{AN|1712}}.

The offerings at the university consists of international-based study. Notably, business majors and global studies are offered. The university's flagship campus in [[Alphaville, SAR]] now ranks 50th-60th on the national tables despite to its very young age, thanks to large funding projects and patronage by the imperial family.

==Demographics==

{{see also|Demographics of the Imperial Federation}}

===Population===

==== Pre-Crisis ({{AN|1655}}-{{AN|1685}})====

Conducting a census has, historically, been a major challenge in the Imperial Federation's predecessor states, owing in large part to very high birth and death rates (among the male population) due to constant warfare and paradoxically strong economic growth due to said replacements. This was, mostly, due to the old [[Great Swamp War]] and related national conflicts that saw high casualties against the dangerous fauna inland, which were contained near the time of the Imperial Federation's ascent to power during a second series of civil wars in {{AN|1706}}.

The population during the closing stages late in the second phase of [[Great Swamp War]] had peaked to about 124,254,005 in {{AN year|1665}} under [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon|Nobunag'an IV the Wise]]. Following the ascension of which shot to 159,255,163 in {{AN year|1675}} during a brief phase of prosperity under Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro I the Valiant]]. Records for {{AN|1680}} posted a population of roughly 164 million, during which a strong Ralgon diaspora was dispersed to countries like the [[Hexarchy]] and [[International Mandate]], and during which [[Adrestia]] was first formed, leading to an explosion in population to unknown numbers by {{AN|1685}}, although much of this population had moved to colonies abroad, mostly to territories now under Imperial Federation control.

====Post-Crisis ({{AN|1686}}-{{AN|1717}})====

The {{AN|1685}} Crisis and the attendant [[Ralgon Civil War]] nearly destroyed the country, and reduced its controlled population back under 164 million people, roughly at 1680 levels, with a further 40 million Ralgonese scattered over [[Drag'os]] and other lands near or adjacent to Ralgonese territories at the time. The resulting pressures of an overpopulation crisis nearly ended the country, with these pressures in part triggering the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].

=====Imperial Territory =====

By the time it expanded to nearly its present-day territory in {{AN|1706}}, the Imperial Federation had reclaimed most of former Ralgon's population, and recorded a delayed "1705" census of 204,174,665 within the Imperial Federation's controlled territory and Ralgonese living in its environs in disputed or contested areas. The rapid consolidation, expansion, and movement of Ralgonese back to Imperial territory led to a population of 209,279,031 in the {{AN|1710}} census. This number grew to 213,673,890 by {{AN|1715}} thanks to a baby boom as a result of an influx of territory, resources, and new populations being absorbed into the rapidly growing empire as it fought to combat overextension by encouraging said baby boom to partially solve. A preliminary census estimate taken in {{AN|1717}} after the [[Conquest of Valora]] assessed the Imperial population (minus Valora) had increased another 1.32% to an estimated 216,494,000, a result of large population centers continuing to rise on the coastlines of [[Keltia]] and the northern areas of [[New Menelmacar]].

=====Valoran Territory=====

In the same time, [[Valora]] had recorded a population of 15,639,728 in its metropole areas in {{AN|1707}}, some 25% of which lived in and around the now-major city of Yixing, which became the cultural and political center for both the Ralgonese and Valoran peoples in the politically paralyzed country. The Valoran urban population contracted by 5.7% to 14,748,263 due to repeated, protracted crises in the region's interior. An estimated 25% of the country lived off the grid, or in other urban areas, or were rural, or had refugee status, these states of living being unclearly defined and often found in common due to the country's bitter military, economic, environmental, and political situations. After the [[Conquest of Valora]], some 74% of the population was found to be on the new Imperial side of the territory. The rest were undead that migrated to South Valoran side of the border forming after the war's conclusion.

A census conducted in the close of {{AN|1717}} found that Imperial Valora, New Ralgon, and Imperial Cibola (both east and west) consisted of a grand total of just over 16,075,000 people, not counting the remaining Vanic and anti-Ralgonese/Valoran rebels, nor the remaining undead that found themselves inexplicably under the service of Imperial troops. (Rumor has it that Emperor Anarion was fascinated by the comical way these undead moved and wanted a contingent of them for his own amusement, so Mondo let him have a few hundred as part of the partition agreement. In return, Mondo got [[Kaek]], which in turn did not know and did not care that the transition took place so quickly.)

====Modern Period ({{AN|1717}} -)====

On its formation c. {{AN|1705}}, the Imperial Federation experienced an explosion in population following its victory in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], and further during the decade-plus that followed the cold war between it and its much smaller splinter, [[Valora]]. In {{AN|1717}}, the Imperial Federation executed the [[Conquest of Valora]] and subsumed most of its population, further adding to its expanding population.

An estimate of the Imperial Federation proper yielded a population estimate of 216,494,000, and its newly absorbed territories of New Ralgon, Imperial Cibola, and Imperial (North) Valora held a census that counted approximately 16,075,000 people (not counting the undead and/or stateless persons). This yielded an estimated population of 232,569,000 at the close of {{AN|1717}}, or a strong increase of 13.9% from the {{AN|1705}} census. It was expected that the post-1710's population growth would begin to favor natural birth rates more than annexations, as the Imperial Federation shifts its focus towards peacetime nation building, and the Emperor Anarion comes of age to a period of unprecedented prosperity for the Ralgonese nations of Micras.

Imperial Federation

2026-07-07T01:26:51Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Military Matters */

{{Imperial Federation Article}}{{SANE article}}
{{Feature|September, 2022}}
{{Infobox Nation Comprehensive
|fullname = The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Valora, Haifa, and Eternia
|commonname = Ralgon
|flag = File:Imperial Federation 1.png
|coa = File:Imperial Federation CoA 1.png
|motto = ''For God and Empire''
|anthem = Anchors Aweigh
|map =File:IFR_1740.png
|mapversions = ???
|capital =Gondolin (executive, administrative) Glacier City (religious, legislative)
|largecity = Glacier City, SAR
|lang = Ralgonese (official) Standard (official; regional)
|demnoun = Imperial Ralgonese (alternate)
|demadj = Imperial; Ralgonese Adrestian; Drag'osian; Eternian; Haifan
|govtype = Executive Monarchy
|headofstatetitle = Emperor
|headofstate = [[Anarion|Anari'on I]] (formerly called Masamune of Adrestia)
|religion = [[Draconic]] (Ralgonese regions) (other native and folk religions)
|headofgovernmenttitle = Viceroy
|headofgovernment = Nikamura Hawkins, Grand Duke of Gondolin
|legislature = Imperial Senate
|estdate = Winter, {{AN|228}} (traditional) October 23rd, {{AN year|1665}} (as [[Ralgon]] on MCS map) May, {{AN|1706}} (as the Imperial Federation) 
|agerank =
|area =
|arearank =
|pop = 317,994,774 ({{AN|1750}} census)
|activepop =
|currency = Imperial Guilder (£)
|calendar = [[Norton Calendar]] (secular) Draconic Calendar (religious)
|timezone = CMT+8 to +10:30 (Keltia) CMT-10:30 (Cibola)
|electricity = 100 V at 50 Hz
|abbrev = IFR
|drives_on = left
|gauge = 1500 mm (freight) 1000 mm (passenger; urban) 1435mm ([[Cibolan Rail|Cibolan Express]])
|site = [https://micras.org/mwiki/Category:Imperial%20Federation Category Page] [https://micras.org/mwiki/User:Cosmic_Fury User Page]
|forum = [https://bastionunion.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=1646&sid=32557dfeb48c60af1428753bfb403f56 Old Forum]
|animal = leviathan
|food = crocodile meat
|drink = Menelmacari whiskey
|tree = Al-Hamra sequoia
}}

'''The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Adrestia, Haifa, and Eternia''', known better as '''The Imperial Federation''', is a set of Imperialist, unified, sovereign states that coalesced in {{AN|1706}} following the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], being reorganized into its present form in {{AN|1724}} following various military and political campaigns aimed at centralizing the empire and its peripheries in the aftermath of recent waves of expansion. The Imperial Federation consists of three constituent countries, in addition to a number of free cities (such as [[Nova Victoria]]) and dependencies (such as [[Imperial Eura]]). A fourth constituent country, [[Eternia]], was formed from that kingdom and nearby dependencies in {{AN|1733}}, leading to a name change of the country's name. The present name was formed when [[Adrestia]] and its subordinate territories were separated from [[Ralgon|Greater Ralgon]] in {{AN|1756}}, and [[Valora]] finally absorbed into [[Ralgon]] as a constituent part of that consituent country.

At present, the Imperial Federation's constituent countries consist of the following. Firstly, [[Ralgon]] is located on a large portion of northern [[Cibola]], and includes [[Drag'os]], [[Valora]], [[West Valora]], [[East Valora]], [[Tar-Palantir]], and [[New Ralgon]]). It hosts one of the two imperial capitals, [[Glacier City]], having been the center of Ralgonese culture since time immemorial. Secondly, [[Adrestia]] is located on the east end of Keltia and includes the areas of [[South Island]] and surrounding areas, [[Nixtorm]] (and its own territories), the Isles of Eriad'or (including the new settlements of [[Scarterra]], [[Northwest Territory]], and [[Al Hamra]]. Adrestia hosts the other of the two imperial capitals, that being [[Gondolin]], founded c.{{AN|1675}}. Thirdly, [[Haifa Bassaridia]] (known simply as [[Haifa]], covers majority-Bassarid lands along the straits of the same name. Fourthly, the country of [[Eternia]] consists of that country and surrounding island groups, having joined in {{AN|1733}}. A number of autonomous territories and dependencies exist, such as [[Bomei Island]], [[Beihagh]], [[North Corum]], and [[Dromosker Island]]. It also maintains important populations in the [[International Mandate]].

The original core of what is now the Imperial Federation was formed from the Kingdom of [[Adrestia]], founded in {{AN|1675}}, and the Kingdom of [[Drag'os]], which existed as a unified polity under the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] after c. {{AN|1655}}. Adrestia's first ruler (and the progenitor of the current Emperor) was Masamune of House Adrestia, crowned as [[Emperor Anari'on]] at the age of {{AgeAN|1701|1706}} in 1706, shortly before their complete victory in a succession struggle over the Imperial Crown, after the death of its holder, Ralgon Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro I]] the year prior. The Empire is governed under the tenets of [[Draconic Humanism]], a combined religion and political ideology, which forms the basis of rule throughout most of the empire.

The Empire holds an estimated population of 317,994,774 in the {{AN|1750}} census, up from the previous estimate of 299,542,930 reported to the [[Raspur Pact]] authorities in {{AN|1740}}, in addition to another few million living in recently incorporated [[North Corum]] and [[Dromosker Island]], minus those living in [[Geneva]]. Population growth during the 1750's AN was driven by booming prosperity in territory acquired in the prior two decades, and in [[Glacier City]] with new breakthroughs in construction and food production technologies allowing an ever-greater population capacity. The Imperial Federation is the fifth-most populated country on Micras, with some 50.5% of the country's population on the island of [[Drag'os]] alone, and another 30.1% living on [[Adrestia]]. The Empire's largest city, the metropolis of [[Glacier City]], serves as the cultural and religious center of the Imperial Federation, and its wealthiest economic hub, in rivalry with the Imperial captial of [[Gondolin]] for the title. Glacier City is also one of the world's largest and most populous cities, with approximately 49,220,000 living in its legally defined area on the far eastern end of the same island in {{AN|1750}}. The Imperial Court sits at Gondolin, with Glacier City acting as a second capital and the seat of the Imperial Senate due to its profound religious importance.

The Imperial Federation shares few land borders with others on its island territories, most of those borders being old exclaves belonging to others during the Imperial Federation's expansions near its core settlements following the rise of the then-principality of [[Adrestia]] in the decades following {{AN|1680}}. In its heartland in [[South Island]], it shares a land border with a tiny exclave of [[Çakaristan|Çakaristan's]] possession of [[Tarria]]. The Imperial Federation's most notable land border on [[Cibola]] is with [[Mondosphere]] to the south on the [[Cibola]] mainland, as a result of the subsequent partitions that followed the [[Conquest of Valora]] in {{AN|1715}}. After further expansion added [[Nordhafen]] and [[East Valora]], there is a new land border with [[Gogledd Cybwl]], a constituent republic of [[Sanama]]. Since the Imperial Federation's expansion onto the Keltian mainland after {{AN|1695}}, they also border [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] on the east coast of mainland Keltia, and hold sovereign base areas near [[Windsor]], held jointly with [[New Alexandria]]. The Imperial Federation also shares certain [[Mala]] territories in condominium with [[New Alexandria]] in the same region. The constituent country of [[Bassaridia|Haifa Bassaridia]], to the north on the mainland, borders the protected state of [[Matamoros]] to the east, [[The Green]] on the west, and [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] to the northwest. [[Eternia]] has a short land border on an uninhabitable section of tundra only with [[Etourney]], via an exclave in its frigid northeast coast.

The new Imperial Federation's government was formed from a union of the victorious factions of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], and more recently from the [[Conquest of Valora]] that saw the final reunification of the Ralgon states, albeit this time under a much larger empire. While Drag'osian factions lost the war, those with Ralgonese ancestry still control most of the government due to their huge population (compared with much of the rest of the empire), with minority control being only at regional levels. Ralgonese people form the majority population in the unified Adrestia and Drag'os territories (as well as most of present-day [[Valora]], with [[Glacier City]] holding equal status as [[Gondolin]] as one of the Imperial Federation's two imperial cities. Most the empire's territories are directly formed around these two polities. Nixtorm, now a large territory, remained loyal and sent troops to fight, and was awarded its own place in the new Imperial Senate. The same happened with Scarterra, the northern half of which was repatriated to Ralgon following a major land swap with [[Calbion]] that restored all of its former territories, along with the Badlands and the freeport region of [[Duro]]. The infant government applied to join the [[Raspur Pact]], due to the very strong influence of [[Draconic Humanism]] and [[National humanism]] within its highest ranks, while relations with neighboring [[Calbion]] have continued to significantly warm under the new government, after years of animosity following the terrorist attack on Glacier City at the hands of the [[Iron Company]] in {{AN|1673}}.

Despite the military power it commands, the Imperial Federation's reach does not extend in significant force outside of its home regions, with reliance on permanent bases to maintain its overseas empire and ensure concrete ties between its constituent countries. The government has variously managed periods of rapid rise and overextension, with its military finally expanded sufficiently to allow sustainable consolidation of its holdings, this expected by {{AN|1760}}. The Imperial Federation has variously partnered with its neighbors to hold far-flung territories. One example is the Ralgonese government's constant struggle to maintain holdings in [[Keltia]]'s deep interior, especially [[Imperial Haifa]], where [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] aided efforts to bring order to the region, aiding integration of millions into the imperial fold and the expansion of its already-large defense industry. The other is the partnership with [[Floria]] during the [[Corum War]] to secure additional territory to link the core of the empire with [[Eternia]] and [[Beihagh]] and other far-flung areas, and thus complete a far less vulnerable maritime connection were it to come into conflict with foreign powers.

In the government's early days, its solution to remedy its chronic overextension was to join the [[Raspur Pact]] in late {{AN|1706}} to counter its weakness in an army and air force that still remained relatively small for a nation of this size. In later decades, it adopted a pattern of regional political, economic, and military alliances to protect mutual interests and enable clear power projection. Although the Imperial Federation joined few other supranational organizations, it nonetheless made paradoxical moves to adopt a largely peaceful coexistence with its neighbors and upgrading its military might, to defeat its issues of controlling such a large amount of maritime territory and maintaining free, safe trade throughout its now-vast maritime empire. Recent years have been characterized by the accelerated population growth and consolidation of its holdings, largely eschewing further territorial expansion despite continual opportunities to press farther into [[The Green]] in Keltia.

==Etymology==
The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Adrestia, Eternia, and Haifa takes its name as a collective of older polities that have made up the modern empire since approximately 1665 AN, when it was first included as Ralgon on the MCS map. Although no longer its own consolidated country as of {{AN|1756}}, so-called "Greater Ralgon" consists of the two Ralgonese states of Adrestia and Drag'os, and are considered as the same greater polity under Imperial law due to their shared sovereign. These two now form two of the empire's four constituent countries, and are by far the two most populated as well. The name changed in {{AN|1723}}, albeit unofficially, to reflect the inclusion of most former [[Bassarid]] homelands into the Empire, and the increased dependence of [[Tar-Palantir]] on its surrounding provinces. Every few decades or so, the Imperial Federation has changed its name to reflect the co-equal status of the most powerful portions of its multipolar empire.

=== Ralgonese Peoples ===
The Ralgon name comes from a combination of "Ral," the name of the people which originated in what is now [[Stormhold]] on the island of [[Drag'os]], and "gon" which denotes a people, or a sense of belonging in the ancient Ralgonese language. The homeland of the Ralgonese peoples is a territory called [[Stormhold]], itself located on [[Drag'os]], a large island territory located just off northern [[Cibola]]. As for [[Drag'os]] itself, it takes its name after the fire god worshipped in the [[Draconic]] religion. According to local mythology, it was a reincarnation of Drag'os who founded the first Ralgon state in Stormhold, which itself takes its name from an early ruler who preferred to worship Glaur'on, the god of water, wisdom, and storms.

After the unification of the Ralgonese and ethnically related nations on Drag'os in 1655, [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]] commissioned expeditions to colonize a group of islands near Keltia to expand the empire's territory in case of further natural disasters at home, a near-daily occurrence on Drag'os. Adrestia itself was named after one of the early great saints of the Draconic Church, and like the Ralgonese on Drag'os, Adrestia came to likewise rule over the entirety of its own region. It is from the two Ralgonese peoples that the Imperial Federation draws its present strength, authority, and legitimacy over its other dominions across the [[Great Western Sea|Great Western Ocean]].

=== Other Dominions ===
Nixtorm's history is almost as old as Ralgon was, and the origins of its formerly tribal name are now lost to history. It is thought that Nixtorm was a primordial word for the people of the Stormlands, due to the wet climate on Drag'os's eastern seaboard. These peoples took the name with them when they relocated to southeast [[Keltia]] following the first [[Ralgon Civil War]] in 1685. They retained loyalty to their Ralgonese cousins to the present day.

Valora is a collection of provinces on the mainland of [[Cibola]] as well as the island of [[Tar-Palantir]]. Formerly its own country, its much more populated northern half was annexed following the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in the early 1700's.

Scarterra is, loosely, a collection of two separated provinces, thanks to an exodus of its peoples following the 1685 crisis, which saw much of the island overrun with disasters, geological and otherwise. The province was reformed on Drag'os following the island's reunification in the early 1700's. Dubbed "New Scarterra," in the Isles of Eriador (near [[South Island]]), this houses a number of the barons that chose to establish and maintain their domains overseas. Scarterra proper consists in great part of returnees from what is now known as [[Inis Balar]] following the mainland's repatriation. Since then, both areas have been populated heavily with Menelmacari and other Ralgonese ethnic groups in the following years, leading to a minority-"native" population there.

Tar-Palantir is an island named after the ancient [[Menelmacar|Menelmacari]] traditions, some of which Tar-Palantir's colonizers have begun to revive in recent years. The island's namesake was a ruler of the Ralgonese state of Stormhold, and served as one of the founders of what would form the core of modern Drag'osian government until the recent [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in 1705-1707 AN. Other such influences are found throughout the Imperial Federation's holdings on Keltia, where many cities are named after mythological people or objects from Menelmacari histories uncovered since the revival of interest in the early 1700's AN. The island's majority ethnicity consists of a mixed Valoran and Menelmacari heritage, with political leanings to the former despite the latter's heavy linguistic and cultural influences.

==History==

=== The Early Period (228 AN - 1178 AN) ===

Also known as the Dark Ages, this was period of factionalism and endless crises for Ralgon. History from this period is scarce, although certain pieces do survive. For instance, the Ralgonese tribes dispersed throughout modern-day [[Drag'os]], and by {{AN|1200}} were a single polity that was situated in a strategic location in the south-center of the island. The chief enemies of the period were primarily the hostile fauna, notably the dragons. While the insectoid lifeforms of the [[Great Swamp]] were a dire threat, they were, by and large, manageable by this time. The lightning dragons were, however, a far different story, for they were responsible for the near-extinction of the Ralgonese peoples on the island on several occasions, the worst by far being in {{AN|228}}, before which recorded history apparently does not survive outside of modern [[Glacier City]], the mountainous environment in which the locals found life-saving shelter. The current principal Ralgonese ruling tribes descend from those same refugees who eventually spread throughout the island in the next thousand years.

It was around the year {{AN|800}} that the nascent [[Draconic]] religion was first recorded being adopted by Ralgonese chieftains and petty rulers. Archaeological evidence concludes that Draconic originated in the Badlands to the northwest of the island, where (ironically) the dragons lived in the highest concentrations. Outside of religious proselytization, events were largely cyclical throughout the island until the year {{AN|1178}}, with the eastern and western portions maintaining no contact, with the Ralgonese nobility eventually finding their way into the courts of other territories in a bid to consolidate the region against the dragons and Great Swamp "bugs" ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_gigantism gigantic insectoid species of a wide variety]). However, a major dragon attack by an elder lightning dragon and its retinue destroyed most of the nobility, and the region in the east experienced a violent political reset, while the west was so devastated by the dragon attacks that its peoples fell entirely out of contact with the rest of the world until nearly {{AN|1680}}.

The slowly modernizing [[Glacier City]] survived the onslaught, as did certain nobility in the environs of Valeria in the most well-defended areas of Stormhold. It was shortly after this catastrophe that the first universities began to appear in the country, some being relics of old conflicts, now solidified and given "universal" privileges to act as education institutions. For institutions that survive to the point, such as the [[University of Glacier City]], these same organizations' origins are typically tied to Draconic Temples in their respective cities, only detaching centuries later as each entity grew too large for the other to reasonably house or manage. The attacks, while devastating on the frontier populations and the inland dwellers, forced a population concentration and accelerated the region's rapid onset of industrialization (and better defenses).

=== The Intermediate Period (1178 AN - 1655 AN) ===
The Intermediate Period was defined by the initiation of the Great Swamp Wars in earnest to take back the inland regions and relieve agricultural pressure on the rapidly growing population, as fishing could only sustain so many people, despite the abundant waters and large prey items that the fishing industry could readily target. By the time {{AN|1200}} rolled around, these wars had begun in earnest, with each of the various surviving eastern polities on Drag'os attempting to assert their own control away from the coastal regions and into the fertile, well-watered lands between the coast and the Great Swamp. Exploration during these times was limited to the eastern half of the island, due to the Great Divide to the west acting as too great a physical barrier, especially with hostile dragons inhabiting the region.

Overall, the Great Swamp Wars, were the series of long-term conflicts that formed both the definition and basis of the Ralgon nation until c. {{AN|1680}}. The so-called "War" was neither a single conflict, nor was it fought between nations. Instead, it was a conflict fought between the peoples inhabiting the island of [[Drag'os]] and the megafauna of various sorts that inhabited the Badlands, which were divided into eastern and western halves by the Great Divide (itself a series of mountain ranges that divided the island in two). The War may be divided into four phases marked by significant events: The Atomic Bombardment of 1450, the Dark Age, the Atomic Bombardment of 1672, and the Western Campaign of 1680.

The initial phases of the conflict lasted until c. {{AN|1400}}, with modernizing weapons enabling the surviving polities of Stormhold, Nixtorm, Scarterra, and others to compete directly with the most dangerous fauna inland for natural resources. However, their pathological hostility towards humans and the high reproduction replaced losses while inflicting grievous setbacks on the Ralgonese defenders. A stalemate was achieved until Stormhold manufactured an atomic device that it successfully deployed in the depths of the Great Swamp in the year {{AN|1450}}, which wiped out the dragon population on the eastern half of the island, almost to the last creature. However, the atomic blast had existentially dangerous consequences: it irradiated the already-large bugs, and permanently drove most lightning dragons into lifelong killing frenzies that nearly, again, wiped out all life on the island. The only thing saving them was, ironically, more nukes until their store had run dry. Making a resolution to never use fissile warheads again, the idea was seemingly set aside permanently to sustain the growing tide of giant bugs now crawling out of the Great Swamp in record numbers. While a stalemate was eventually reached once again, the Ralgonese were still driven even closer to the coast, and the population situation eventually began to deteriorate despite extremely high fertility rates among women.

The tides began to slowly turn under the reign of [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]], whose clan and subordinate tribes initially controlled only the coastal fringes of what is now [[Stormhold]]. After the Ralgon tribes colonized and settled the fertile and secure valleys and coastlines at the far east end of the island, the settlement known as [[Glacier City]] quickly grew to dwarf its mother country in population due to a general lack of hardship. By the time Nobunag'an came into power in {{AN|1594}}, The resulting boost in manpower and territory propelled the Ral clans to form the Ralgon nation, which slowly forced their way north and east to link up with other peoples in the region, most notably those from what used to be the regions of [[Nixtorm]], [[Aurora]], and [[Scarterra]]. With their forces and technology combined, the new Ralgon state went on to defeat the enemy, with Nobunag'an IV going down in history as the man who saved his people from extinction. The country would eventually modernize enough to deploy a non-fissile atomic weapon in {{AN|1672}}, near the end of Nobunag'an's reign, in time for [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] to come in to ostensibly finish the job.

=== Late Ralgon Period ({{AN|1655}} - {{AN|1706}}) ===

The Ralgon of the late period eventually grew into a quasi-feudal empire that remained closed to the world until c. {{AN|1655}}. The Ralgon Empire has heavily influenced and/or governed the entire island of Dragos (known to the wider world as "El Dorado") for its first two centuries, and despite attempts to colonize and control more hospitable lands abroad, internal crises ranging from overpopulation in [[Glacier City]] to difficulties controlling the hinterland proved to be its eventual downfall. After having initially consolidated diplomatic control of most of the island (and at great cost), the Ralgon Empire developed some of the world's most advanced science, engineering, and medicine, which it used to briefly take over the island in a "manifest destiny" style of expansion. This golden age proved ephemeral, however. From {{AN|1680}} to {{AN|1700}} the central Ralgon government lost almost its entire frontier and nearly two-thirds of its heartlands in Drag'os in quick succession to a series of cataclysmic events during the so-called Crisis of the 1680's (which affected many other major such as [[Frankish Empire]], [[Stormark]], and others). Some of these same physical, natural, and economic upheavals spurred the government into military/political disasters as the [[Ralgon Civil War]] and the [[Cibolan Reconquista]].

Due to this series of military and political disasters, the central government also slowly lost its grip on its colonies, which continued to grow rapidly in size and population, sometimes at their mother country's expense. Power struggles at home and endless wars were waged abroad on mainland [[Cibola]] in a desperate effort for the Empire to hold onto its remaining authority, but to little avail. The Ralgon state was reduced to a mere shadow of itself on its own homeland, having shrunk some 80 percent, with foreign powers such as the [[Bassarid Empire]] and [[Calbion]] occupying parts of [[Drag'os]] during the ensuing few decades, this occupation being a cause of public shaming for the already-weak government. These wars continued until the Holy Ralgon Empire's final recognized Emperor, [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], formally declared that he would bequeath his crown in an otherwise illegal act to the Prince of Adrestia upon his death. This managed to stave off the undead in northern Cibola and the various rebelling clans and tribes remaining in the newly created in [[The Green]] now surrounding Ralgon on all sides.

The central government barely continued to hold authority under this agreement until shortly after the unexpected illness and death of Emperor Shiro to a very rare and aggressive form of cancer in {{AN|1704}}. In a state of confusion and caught unprepared against this sudden development, the central government found itself leaderless and Adrestia with only a child on the throne. In the power struggle that immediately followed, the central government rallied around the Imperial Senate. In a closed-door ceremony, the majority of the Dragosian-based Senators deliberately excluded their more powerful colonies and nominated their own candidate in [[Prince Draegar Ral]]. This immediately triggered a civil conflict wherein pro-Adrestian and pro-Senate forces vied for control over imperial authority. While the pro-Adrestian faction remained mostly united throughout the war, the pro-Senate faction divided almost immediately due to the dubious circumstances behind both contenders' claim to the Imperial Throne, with Glacier City's defection to Adrestian interests and a following political purge in the city proving the trigger for the civil war to begin.

After the defection of [[Glacier City]], much of [[Dragon's Reach]], [[Nova Victoria]], and the massive naval infrastructure that all of these provided, the war quickly proved to be one-sided in favor of the now-powerful maritime empire the Ralgons had originally built abroad. The new government of the Empire took shape out of these factions, with Glacier City taking pre-eminent authority over Drag'os due to Stormhold's desire to remain pro-Senate. The island's heavily defensible terrain rapidly lead to a slow grind in the land war for Adrestian naval forces, which weren't used to fighting wars deep inland. The pro-Adrestian military forces grossly underperformed in mainland Cibola, where the remainders of the pro-Draeg'ar Senate eventually relocated, and in deep inland parts of [[Drag'os]] and the mountainous frontiers deep inside of the recently conquered [[Tar-Palantir]] island territories. However, the front was extremely one-sided for Adrestian forces inland, and the lines formed along the interiors of the empire's Cibolan territories as fighting dragged to a stalemate along the few remaining active fronts. The [[Ralgon War of Succession]] lasted nearly two years, until the Holy Ralgon Empire finally fell to pro-Adrestian forces, whose diplomats and troops went on to win political victories. The near-total military victory at home, following the complete restoration by diplomacy of former Ralgonese territories in the heartland, finally crushed what little determination organized Senate resistance had left to fight.

=== Early Years of the Federation ({{AN year|1706}}-{{AN year|1715}}) ===
With the end of the war came the prices that needed to be paid for victory. While the pro-Adrestian forces found themselves with near-total victory, the casualty count was high and they still lost the inland territories of mainland Cibola to the opposing camps. The remainder of the Senate needed to be dealt with, and the government of Drag'os rebuilt after the model of [[Draconic Humanism]], which was going to be a long and costly process. The Adrestian Navy had ranged this entire region of the world flushing out and destroying resistance among anti-Imperial factions, and this was a difficult task to accomplish in far-flung territories like Dragospire and Ryugawa. However, their efforts were far from pointless, as the now-Imperial Federation Navy had uncontested control of its seas, albeit at the cost of terrible overextension (for which it eventually compensated by abandoning certain remote outposts).

The Imperial Federation quickly found that it had greatly overextended due to unprecedented territorial gains. With a massive empire to run, the central government was forced to consolidate its vast holdings, but it would not abandon territories outside of its historic periphery pointlessly. Instead, deals were reached with [[Calbion]] at the end of 1706 during the closing phases of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to trade off their strategic island colonies off northwest Keltia, as well as the greater half of the baronies of Scarterra (which were compensated with large holdings elsewhere in the empire), for the last remaining foreign territory on the Ralgonese homelands. Following this huge political victory, though, the vast majority of the people of Scarterra emigrated to other portions of the empire, following their respective lords or barons. The exceptions were a great part of those civilians who stayed in the Dragospire territory, many of whom became Calbain subjects, having sympathized with the Senatorial forces. However, this overextension of Imperial military assets was to be felt for years to come, with the Imperial Navy unable to extend the Army's reach farther than the already-vast holdings controlled by the centers of power in Gondolin and Glacier City.

The legacy of Emperor Shiro was felt throughout the Empire, and the concept of open rebellion so soon after his death raised a specter of national guilt that needed to be quashed. Thanks to the efforts of the central government's propaganda machine (rumored to be helped by humanist organizations elsewhere), the war was spun as protecting the late Emperor's legacy and fulfilling his hard-fought dream with him as a guardian spirit of sorts, rather than spurning it with such a radical change of government. With these changes afoot, the Imperial Federation was forced to be relatively quiet in world affairs, with the notable exception of the [[Ludwiggian-Monovian War]], which saw Imperial forces send materiel to help Raspur Forces deliver a strong conclusion to the fighting.

==== Post-War Expansions (1715-{{AN year}}) ====

===== Conquest of Valora (1715-1718) =====
{{main|Conquest of Valora}}

The Imperial Federation had bided its time wisely, although this was completely unknown to the Emperor, now a teenager, never mind his government, which had done its best to combat Imperial overextension of military assets in the few years following the Imperial victory over the rump state now known as Valora {{AN year|1706}}, the latter ironically consisting only in small part of formal Valoran territory, with the rest being Ralgonese holdings under central government control in name only in most places.

The peace generated by the stalemate was only an illusion, however. The two states were, at least formally, still in a state of war with each other, although Draegarist loyalists to the south were questioning the reasoning for this to begin with. The [[Ralgon Reconquista]] and its prior [[Cibolan Reconquista]] were still official government policy, on both sides now. With the abandonment of northern Cibola by [[Sanama]] in 1717, the Imperial Federation was, temporarily, given leave to do whatever they wanted at the flank of "New Ralgon", the initial territory formed by the Draegarist government as a buffer between their new capital of Yixing and the considerable naval forces prowling at every major coast of the country.

The Imperial Federation, strengthened by its military expansion in the past ten years, knew exactly what to do and how to respond. They launched a flanking invasion from the freshly liberated "New Cibola" (nicknamed because of the new populations from old cities on [[Drag'os]]), and before a year was out, effective military movements and a few key battles were effectively all it took for the Imperial Federation's military juggernaut, with Raspur backing, to trigger the weakened Valora's near-total collapse outside of its heartland deep in Cibola's interior. While the Imperial Federation could only content itself with Valora's northern half and western coastlines, this was still exactly what they wanted, as they secured the unclaimed [[Green]] for themselves in the process and left Valora's remaining territory to be absorbed by Mondo in an act of self-preservation.

==== Post-Conquest Expansions (1718-1721) ====
{{Main|Operation Icebox}}
{{Main|Imperial Eura}}

The Imperial Federation's efforts to expand off the coast of Eura was, by comparison to Valora, far easier and significantly more uneventful. However, securing sovereignty over parts of the new territories eventually carried a significant financial price tag that stung the Imperial Court's efforts to fully develop these new territories for several years. Authority had long collapsed in the region, but aside from low-threat pirates, hostile forces were scarcely found, with most of the regions' populations welcoming the return of security and prosperity to the islands off the coast of Eura. Named the Forgotten Isles in the years leading up to it, the only presence of authority over the past five years in the area was a very large Imperial Navy base centered on the port city of [[Farquat]].

From this centralized base, the Imperial Federation quickly consolidated what it was now calling "Imperial Eura," which was just a collection of islands off the southern coast of the continent. The region quickly gained renewed strategic importance following first contact with a nation to the far south of Micras, known to the Imperials as "Frigia" (which turned out later to be simply the western portion of that country). While the islands were initially inhabited by only a few thousand people, they were located directly between the Imperial bases south of Eura and Tapfer farther to the west. Meanwhile, their position next to a new trading partner made acquiring these islands peacefully a top priority of the Imperial Court. Details aside, the natives eventually agreed to sell the islands outright, but charged the Imperial Federation a significant price, which included a hefty sum of hard currency, as well as large modernization investments on part of the Imperials, as both had major priorities of their own in building the region's peripheries to a modern standard.

{{Main|Operation Thunder Drop}}
{{Main|Imperial Haifa}}

In terms of economic and military might, the Imperial Federation had reached yet another plateau of power and prosperity following the annexation of Valora following the Conquest. Having freed the majority of its now battle-tested personnel, the Imperial Court sought to give their soldiers something to keep themselves sharpened on, as well as a way to integrate formerly Valoran soldiers into the Imperial armed forces. The opportunity quickly came for both the small Imperial Federation Army and the brown water elements of the Imperial Federation Navy to test their mettle on an entirely new front: [[Haifa]]. Unfortunately, they got more than they initially bargained for in these efforts.

The region had fallen apart in the wake of the [[Haifo-Palliscian Trad Union|Bassarid Empire's]] collapse of authority in the region by {{AN|1718}}. Given the meteoric rise in importance of the Strait of Haifa to maritime trade between the [[Imperial Federation]] and its far-northern neighbors in [[Normark]], the Imperial Federation quickly occupied strategic points in the region, hoping to expand their influence and instill order in the region after models successfully implemented in places like [[Tar-Palantir]], [[Valora]], and elsewhere in the Empire. However, these efforts were almost immediately forced to a slow grind by the [[Confederation of the Dispossessed]]. The situation was not helped by a strained treasury, as the Imperial Court was also focused on building the new Euran and Trans-Euran territories in [[North Frigia]] and [[Imperial Eura]], and rebuilding [[New Ralgon]] and [[North Valora]].

In the midst of these operations and significant financial investments in building (or rebuilding) its recent gains, the Imperial Federation's expansions slowed down, as it continued to focus its military operations on construction, securing the seas, and otherwise hammering away at the Haifan situation. Peace would not come to the latter for several years. The slowdown of Imperial expansion was interrupted by the full consolidation and recognition by the MCS of its consolidation of the Imperial Federation's Euran territories.

=== Modern Period (1722-) ===

==== Extended Regency Period (1722-1727) ====
The Imperial Federation entered 1722 AN with renewed vigor. It had sent the Emperor [[Anarion]] to university at [[Metzler University]] in 1719 with the intention of education the already-powerful leader in statecraft, economics, and other vital skills for his station. He spent his time there learning how the Shireithians reintegrated their now-vast holdings in the early 1700's, with the expectation to apply those lessons to the Imperial Federation, which went through a similar period of dramatic expansion only recently. After his marriage to [[Qasima Çakar]] in 1720, the relevant authorities jointly agreed that Qasima would join her new husband in [[Shirekeep]] to attend the same university so as to keep the couple together. The Emperor turned 21 in 1722 AN, and would otherwise have formally taken power at Gondolin. However, he extended the Regency by two years as he wished to complete his studies abroad. The Emperor is scheduled to graduate in 1723, where he will remain in the city until his wife graduates that next year. He is expected to spend time strengthening ties between the Imperial Federation and other members of the Raspur Pact during his time abroad, until he travels to another center of Raspur Pact power for graduate studies. He is expected to extend the Regency once more until 1726, but this remains a subject of speculation.

The Imperial Federation conducted pauses on its territorial expansion during this time to further consolidate its far-flung holdings throughout Micras. Although the Imperial Federation aimed for great power status and could theoretically achieve this through its thalassocratic doctrine, its army and air force remained comparatively small for a country of that size and scope across the oceans. The military situation over the prior several years brought this weakness into sharp relief, and the Imperial Federation spent more time consolidating territorial gains and encouraging settlement to stabilize (and possibly even expand) its farthest-flung frontiers in Keltia and elsewhere. Deep in the Keltian interior, military situation stabilized on the resurgence of a new Bassarid state (albeit greatly reduced) in [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]]. In this sense, the long-running policy of peaceful integration of formerly [[Bassarid]] peoples (whether or not recently annexed) slowly paid off. The takeover of that country stabilized the military situation to the [[Strait of Haifa]]'s west bank, allowing the Imperials to cement and legitimize their hold on the so-called "Central Zone" (south and east of Lake Monovia). This in turn allowed them to continue their extraterritorial expeditions on the Haifan East Bank, allowing them to retain and stabilize the region over the next few years.

Emperor [[Anarion]] ascended to formally take personal power in {{AN|1727}}, after he chose to briefly delay his return, having finished his studies at [[Metzler University]] in international affairs at [[Shirekeep]]. Instead of immediately returning home, however, he embarked on a grand tour in [[Shireroth]] in late {{AN|1726}} with his wife, in which he learned more of the greater empire's system of governance, which he intended to partially implement on his return. His coronation was held on New Year's Day, {{AN|1727}}, in a lavish ceremony.

==== Reign of Emperor [[Anarion]] ====

Pacification of Imperial-held [[Bassaridia]] was achieved by {{AN|1728}}, by which time the Imperial Federation was able to focus on integrating its other far-flung territories, especially those near Eternia. Otherwise, the initial years of the Emperor's reign were characterized by a period of stability and quiet in the internal government, as well as integrating formerly antagonist elements back into Imperial society, in an effort to close the chapters on the previous civil wars permanently. The following years would be spent quietly, with slower movements on a military aspect, instead with the Imperial government focused on consolidating control through building infrastructure and supply chains to both redevelop the region and give freedom of movement to its labor force, and strengthen military capabilities by drastically shortening the armed forces' supply chains throughout the region. This was accomplished through {{AN|1730}}, by which time the region slowly stabilized into a larger, consolidated bloc covering most of inland Keltia along the Haifa strait, from the northern Bassarid-majority areas to the increasingly diverse populations of the Northwest Territory (now called West Menelmacar), centered on [[Blore Heath]] and other settlements.

In the far-flung region of [[Eternia]], preparations were underway to integrate the protectorate's economy with its formerly northern frontiers, and with [[Imperial Eura]]. With the expansion of trade within the region following [[Oportia|Oportia's]] expansion, the Imperial Federation's island territories off the coast of Eura further increased in economic and strategic importance. With both territories slowly sinking into Imperial control, annexation would become a quiet subject of conversation within the halls of power. While there was little enthusiasm for direct action by {{AN|1730}}, given the Emperor Anarion's own focus squarely on strengthening Imperial infrastructure, particularly within the northwestern regions, there was merit in integrating these valuable domains into a so-called "Greater Eternia," under the imperial banner.

==== 1730's Economic Boom ====

In the former [[Valora]] region, efforts to reintegrate the region continued apace, with the mixing of the Valoran and Ralgonese populations forming a supermajority of (non-undead) inhabitants in the region. Centered around [[Nova Victoria]], it would form effectively another core Ralgon province by the opening of the 1730's AN. Cross-border migration with [[South Valora]] continued through these years, with subsections of North Valora's more conservative Valorans wary of the prospect of complete assimilation with their Ralgonese brethren. However, these figures did little to impact popular sentiment, due to the return of normalcy to the region under Imperial auspices. With prosperity no longer a pipe dream for most of the population, but increasingly accessible to those outside the ruling class, anti-Imperial sentiment remained minimal throughout this period, contributing to a period of quiet the region had not seen since the brief [[Barbary]] period some 50 years prior. The area would be effectively reintegrated with the rest of Ralgonese-populated regions by {{AN|1735}}.

Internal expansion would follow into the 1730's, with the increasing growth of periphery regions leading to a heavy population boom throughout the Empire. Increasing industrialization in the provinces and near-complete restoration of infrastructure in the [[Haifa]] regions contributed to not only a greatly increased output of manufactured goods, but the development of vast, valuable farmlands along the entire Strait of Haifa region. With mass interchanges of peoples between the various provinces and dominions, the demographic changes saw the Imperial Federation become more cosmopolitan throughout the early 1730's. In turn, this contributed to a renewal of Imperial Federation military strength, namely in ships and aircraft used to protect trade and territorial interests in far-flung places like Eura.

This increased political and economic strength was especially felt on the peripheries, and the effect was that the Imperial Federation's central government became far more capable of administering its less densely populated territories. With an increasing presence on, and influence over, [[Eternia]], the decision to entertain proposals for annexation were finally entertained by both parties for the first time. Eventually, a complex agreement was made to annex the region by the end of {{AN|1733}}, in which the Eternian islands could be consolidated with most of [[Imperial Eura]], then collectively given autonomy similar to that of other Provinces of the Empire. While Eternia would keep its local monarchy on its mainland, the newly constituted "Greater Eternia" would nonetheless name the Imperial Federation as its formal suzerain and send representatives to the Senate, and name Anarion as Emperor of Eternia. Thus, the islands would be able to fully benefit from [[Raspur Pact]] membership, as well as direct representation within the greater empire.

==Government==

===Defence===
{{main|Grand Armada of the Sunfire Sea}}

==Foreign Relations==
{{main|Ralgonese Foreign Relations}}

A member of the [[Raspur Pact]] since {{AN|1706}}, the Imperial Federation is a regional great power, with control over much of Northern Cibola and Southeast Keltia by {{AN|1720}}, with heavily populated colonies in other regions such as the far south of Eura and [[Haifa]]. The Imperial Federation actively pursues aspirations to attain great power status. While the Imperial Navy grants a near-global reach that contributes to a considerable overseas empire, the central government has found itself incapable of nearly the same level of power projection in matters involving primarily land operations outside of Cibola, eastern Keltia, and in proximity to its holdings on Eura. With a rapidly growing population, the Imperial Federation grew to over 250 million inhabitants as of {{AN|1730}}, thanks in part to a continuously booming economy under the current Emperor [[Anarion]], high fertility, and territorial expansion into heavily populated regions through the 1720's. The Imperial Federation enjoys a strong industrial sector, advanced military (especially their navy), and cutting edge feats of engineering into the present day.

However, the Imperial Federation's rise to global prominence has only occurred in the years following its now-current government's victory in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], having been almost entirely confined to coastal waters for most of their existence on the [[MCS]] map, especially after the 1680's crises. With the Imperial Federation only recovering from its overextension after the [[Conquest of Valora]] through the 1710's and 1720's, the nation has tended to operate on the global stage in concert with other [[Raspur Pact]] powers. Additionally, the scope of the Imperial Federation's foreign affairs is, largely, limited to interactions within the [[Raspur Pact]]. These are major issues that the Imperial government has attempted to prepare the new Emperor, [[Anarion]], to address on his planned ascension to formally rule the country by {{AN|1725}}. However, the new Emperor's favored policies remained those of a modest pace of territorial expansion, focusing instead on internal development and allowing the empire's power projection capabilities to catch up to long-term economic, human, and territorial gains over the past two decades.

Alongside its membership in the Pact, the Imperial Federation enjoys warm relations through other countries as well, including [[Çakaristan]], which signed a marriage pact in which [[Qasima Çakar]] married the Emperor in {{AN|1720}}. Additionally, the Emperor is, by virtue of his marriage, a member of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]], although he has not been observed openly exercising privileges associated with this title.

=== Military Matters ===

{{main|Raspur Pact}}

The thalassocratic history of the Imperial Federation may be traced to [[Adrestia]], which built the vast majority of its own military power through its navy. Meanwhile, [[Ralgon]] had built up its power with its massive array of cutting-edge artillery and anti-air defense systems, accounting for the [[Great Swamp War]] and the campaign against the island's incredibly dangerous dragon population. With the majority of the country's ground forces tied down in domestic pacification, the navy became the new Imperial Federation's mainstay in maintaining hegemony over its often-sparsely populated frontiers. Membership in the Raspur Pact provided a convenient solution to these pressing questions, allowing the Imperials to continue focusing its ground forces on domestic matters, while constantly assisting with operations with its increasingly large, experienced, and powerful navy.

The Imperial Federation also signed agreements signed with [[Eternia]] during its independence, making it a protectorate of sorts. The relationship gave the Imperial Federation a strong trading network to rare minerals, but also additional justifications for settling the isles south of Eura with a very rapidly-growing colony. Eternia was subsequently annexed as a constituent country of the Imperial Federation in {{AN|1733}}. [[Beihagh]] followed in {{AN|1740}} after the [[Rusjar Negotiations]] and [[North Corum]] was annexed after the [[Corum War]] ended in {{AN|1754}}.

=== Dynastic Policies ===

{{main|Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar}}

Historically, the Ralgonese ruling houses had little dynastic connections to foreign royalty. With rapidly dwindling numbers past {{AN|1680}} with its various crises, abdications, reforms, and stripping of titles, the now-Imperial House eventually found itself bereft of members to marry off. Eventually, only the Emperor himself was a major asset in this regard. Because of this two-fold problem, the Regency Council in {{AN|1715}} decided firmly that the Imperial Federation's ruling house should belong to a prestigious network. The government conducted inquiries, therefore, and began looking for partners outside of its usual sphere of diplomatic affairs.

Eventually, an offer was settled between the [[Shahanshah of Çakaristan]], [[Jaaguzan]]. Under the auspices of this agreement, [[Anarion]] married [[Qasima Çakar]], the daughter of [[Akbar Çakar]] (the former ruler of [[Çakaristan]] and [[Jodha Avchat]]. The marriage took place in {{AN|1720}}, when Anarion was 19 and Qasima was 18. The two then traveled to Shirekeep for university studies, placing the matter of offspring until Anarion's formal coronation and assumption of full-time duties as Emperor by {{AN|1726}}. By extension, Anarion also became a [[Knight of the Lakes]], forming a strong family-based connection with [[Hurmu]] as well. The two have five children as of {{AN|1733}}.

==Economy==

==Science & Technology==

==Geography==
=== Position on Micras===

On Micras, the majority of the Imperial Federation's holdings and population centers are concentrated in two places: Southeast [[Keltia]] (so-called "Greater Adrestia"), and Northern [[Cibola]] (especially [[Drag'os]], known to past cartographers as [[El Dorado]]). In addition to its traditional heartlands, the Imperial Federation holds extensive territory in those same regions and, through a network of regional and global alliances and treaties with neighbors, enjoys hegemony over increasingly well-defined maritime regions between these territorial concentrations. As such, the Imperial Federation has many maritime neighbors on Micras, the most extensive of such borders being with [[Calbion]], which coexists with the Imperials on both the [[Keltia]] and [[Cibola]] oceans in their respective areas of influence. The Imperial Federation also controls a concentration of colonies abroad, notably concentrated off the southern coast of Eura (namely called [[Imperial Eura]], including large islands near the protectorate of [[Eternia]] as well).

Greater Adrestia holds in its orbit territories on the southeast corners of [[Keltia]], with inland holdings as far as [[Haifa]] and as far down the coast as [[Nixtorm]]. The maritime territory between Adrestia, Nixtorm, and [[Blore Heath]] are possessed almost in their entirety by the Imperials. However, two exceptions exist: [[Windsor]], a colony of [[Lac Glacei]], and an exclave of [[Çakaristan|Çakaristan's]] called [[Çakari oceanic territory|Tarria]], both being native reservations, and extremely small in size compared to nearby Imperial populations, territorial holdings, and military installations. (As such, they are not considered a security risk, although the central government has made their peaceful incorporation through purchase or exchange a core part of its long-term agenda in recent years.)

The Imperial Federation's sway over portions of Northern [[Cibola]] are far better defined. [[Drag'os]], from its megalopolis in [[Glacier City]], controls both its home island as well as [[Tar-Palantir]] (itself formerly called [[Frigga Island]] under [[Stormark|Storish]] rule) and swathes of northern Cibola, consisting of [[New Ralgon]] (centered on the city of [[Nova Victoria]], [[Valora]] (specifically, its more populated northern half), and [[Imperial Cibola]] (by far the most sparsely populated of these territories). Far to the Southeast of these lies [[Bomei Island]], a strategic holding the Imperials use to protect their interests in the region and connect to the Antarctic Territory.

In terms of its extended imperial holdings, the Imperial Federation has several neighbors on land. On mainland [[Cibola]], it shares two land borders. The more notable one is with the [[Mondosphere]] to the south on the [[Cibola]] mainland, where the two share the former territory of [[Valora]] after its {{AN|1715}} partition. The other border is a narrow coastal strip on northern Cibola bordering [[Calbion]], which also shares extensive maritime borders with the Imperial Federation elsewhere on Cibola and Keltia. On mainland Keltia, the Imperial Federation shares a narrow land border on the mainland coast with [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]], and off the same coast with [[Windsor]], a colony of [[Lac Glacei]], where the Imperials occupy a pair of military bases on and near the island as its own sovereign territory. Across from the Imperial Federation's newest territories along the [[Strait of Haifa]] lies [[Anahuaco]], and on the further bank to the northeast lies [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]].

===Domestic Overview===

{{WIP}}

These territories contribute to a newly global empire that supplanted Ralgon after its violent, two-year [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that finally concluded in the final days of 1706 AN.

The Imperial Federation has, in addition to recent gains elsewhere, reclaimed the entirety of [[Ralgon|Ralgon's]] former territory, and made additional, significant gains abroad in naval bases outside of their traditional sphere of activity in the [[Great Western Sea]]. The Imperial Federation consists of several distinct geographic divisions of various importance: States, Dominions, and Territories. States tend to have their own Dominions, and Dominions their own Territories, with dependent districts belonging entirely within their parent unit. From most to least important of such independent divisions, the Empire consists of the Ralgonese states of [[Adrestia]], and [[Drag'os]], which have imperial status. Independent Dominions include Nixtorm and Tar-Palantir, located near their respective suzerain states, possess Princely status. [[Scarterra]] is unusual in that it also possesses princely status but is divided between its newer settlements on the Isles of Eriador and its reclaimed homelands on the north coast of Drag'os.

The other free-standing territories with Senate representation include [[Eriador]] (which includes the former Al Hamra and the former New Scarterra), [[Nova Victoria]], and [[Bomei Island]]. Territories with self-rule, but without representation in the Senate include the penal colony [[Devil's Island]] (now relocated to [[Eura]] and renamed to its Ralgonese translation), the majority [[Umraism|Umraist]] Gold Coast, and the sparsely populated, native-majority Northwest Territory.

Dependent territories include the Naval Base Eura and the Imperial Antarctic Territory, both of which have only one major settlement each, and the Sovereign Base Areas formed concurrently with [[Lac Glacei]] during their execution of the [[Mala'anje Repatriation Act]]. In addition, [[Imperial Haifa]] was recently added to the Imperial fold, but at great cost in materiel and local manpower. Together, these territories make up a vast, consolidated maritime empire that has reached the zenith of its power, influence, and geographical size.

=== Keltian Holdings ===

The Imperial Federation holds significant land on mainland Keltia since its expansion following the Succession War. This territory is generally divided into three parts: Nixtorm, and the two frontier territories in the Gold Coast, and the sparsely populated settlements in the Northwest Territory. Recently, the addition of [[Imperial Haifa]] has expanded the Imperial Federation's reach of the [[Strait of Haifa]], but at great cost due to heavy armed resistance from the [[Confederacy of the Dispossessed]].

==== Nixtorm ====

Originally located on mainland [[Drag'os]], the territory of Nixtorm consists of a group of large islands off the southeastern end of Keltia. Now a densely populated territory, Nixtorm is a region which depends heavily on trade for its economy. It imports resources from its mainland holdings of Inner Nixtorm (located just across the channels on Southeast Keltia) and distributes mineral resources, crops, and other items across the Empire and to international trading partners. Inner Nixtorm is the breadbasket of the entire Keltian coastal region, and rare earth deposits found on Nixtorm's rocky shores provide valuable exports, or fuel for the nuclear reactors under construction throughout the territory.

==== Gold Coast ====

Sparsely populated, the Gold Coast is home to nomads, traders, and prospectors. The region is known for its coastal fishing villages, and for the deserts inland that are very rich in gold and silver deposits. Due to the inhospitable climate, there are very few heavily populated settlements far from the coast. The region has large reserves of fossil fuel, which are traded for grain from Nixtorm's fertile mainland holdings to the south. The coasts are rich economic hubs, and many Ralgonese and other Imperials make their way to the Gold Coast from situations of near-destitution from overcrowded places like newly reconquered areas in [[Drag'os]] in an attempt to make it big. Few do, and so the Imperial Federation must now contend with a territory with extreme economic and social inequalities, in a vast, stretched out nation where Draconic Humanism is the dominant ideology in the Imperial Court.

Gold Coast's border with the [[Green]] deep in mainland Keltia is incredibly porous, leading to a strange mix of peaceful anarchy in the Imperial Federation deserts on the one hand, and desperados and brigands just beyond the zone of positive control exercised by the Federation's authorities. It is currently unknown whether the stretched Imperial Armed Forces are able to project their capabilities so far inland, but efforts have been made (albeit halfheartedly). This has made the region the Imperial Federation's near-equivalent of a "wild west," with efforts at establishing law and order largely being left to local forces.

==== Northwest Territory ====

Full of ethnic Menelmacari civilians, this is one of the few major regions in the Imperial Federation from which the majority of the colonizing settlers were not Ralgonese (or Drag'osian) in origin, the other in the West being New Menelmacar. The region consists of mostly small settlements, with native diasporas from other nations finding the region a welcoming change from the rest of the ultramodern, Ralgonese-majority Imperial Federation regions on the islands east of Keltia. For many years, the region is strategically insignificant to the Imperial government outside of its coastal areas. For a time, it and represented the pinnacle of the Imperial Court's version of their so-called "Manifest Destiny." Since the Northwest Territory represents the extent of it all, little effort was spent on forcibly pacifying the region's interior prior to the inclusion of [[Imperial Haifa]], with the local authorities being instead directed to pursue strong policies of coexistence with any native or minority groups within these lands. With some sense of irony, the inclusion of Blore Heath in subsequent years following the [[Bassarid]] collapse in the late 1710's AN only strengthened the security of the region.

Like the Gold Coast, the Imperial Federation exerts little control deep inland. However, unlike the Gold Coast, little in the way of violence exists in these territories. This is largely due to the lack of resources exploitable by single individuals, as well as strong native title to interior lands, making it unattractive for people in pursuit of half-baked get-rich-quick schemes. Violent crimes happen with far less frequency than other mainland Keltian holdings, leading the rural portions of the region (especially away from the coastlines) to develop a reputation for being a sort of utopia for those who seek peace without expectation of economic reward. As a result, the territory has rapidly become a destination for older Imperials to retire after decades of service to the state.

The main exception is the regions north of [[Blore Heath]] along the [[Strait of Haifa]]. Already a populous settlement, Blore Heath's relatively peaceful assimilation into Imperial control strengthened the settlement's economic output, and anchored the region between the Strait of Haifa and its narrow land border with [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] to the southwest. This change also cemented the Northwest Territory as the Imperial Federation's largest Ralgonese-minority territory outside of [[Valora|(North) Valora]].

==== Imperial Haifa ====
{{WIP}}

The Imperials occupied Haifa from {{AN|1718}}, but until the mid-1720's AN, the territory relied almost entirely on military support to survive, until a generalized peace was brokered allowing for the integration of the locals into the Imperial Federation's patchwork of territories organizing themselves in the formerly Bassarid regions near Haifa. Consisting of a patchwork of territories anchored around the east and south ends of [[Lake Morovia]], the territory is anchored by its garrisons based out of Abeis in the interior, and along islands located on the [[Strait of Haifa]] immediately adjacent to these land-based territories. The islands depend on the home government's military for their continued existence, with Imperial hold on these areas being tied only to constant, and costly, investments on holding them against enemies seemingly on all sides.

===Cibolan Holdings===

===Overseas Territories===

Overseas territories are technically rife within the Imperial Federation, by virtue of it being a thalassocracy. However, three territories most notably fall well outside of the so-called Core Regions on Cibola and Keltia: [[Bomei Island]], [[Devil's Island]], and the so-called [[Naval Base Eura]]. The latter is a large naval installation located off the southern cost of Eura off an island of respectable size. While Devil's Island is clearly a penal colony, Bomei Island's similar status is a legal gray area, due to the relative freedom of its inhabitants, be their residence voluntary or mandatory.

====Bomei Island====

{{main|Bomei Island}}

Formerly a penal colony meant to house the country's elites during times of political upheaval and instability, the island's importance has seen itself transform into a strategic asset for [[Raspur Pact]] forces, while doubling as a getaway destination of sorts for the country's upper classes. The massive naval bases on the island aside, the territory holds rapidly increasing infrastructure meant to cater to the Imperial Federation's rapidly expanding upper classes, thanks to the island's mild climate and excellent location near major countries like [[Natopia]], the [[Mondosphere]], and other prime destinations.

====Devil's Island & South Beihagh====

{{main|Devil's Island}}
{{main|South Beihagh}}

Until its assets' relocation to [[Eura]] in a land swap with [[Çakaristan]], Devil's Island was the primary center of the Imperial Federation's power on the continent of Corum and the sole lynchpin of Ralgonese power projection into [[Eura]], namely [[Imperial Eura]] and [[Eternia]] (which later joined the Imperial Federation). Primarily serving as both a penal colony and a large naval base, Devil's Island doubled as one of two areas that Raspur Pact forces had at their disposal in the region, the other being [[Natopia|Natopia's]] [[Naya Island]]. Although the island was also meant as a staging area to colonize portions of the exotic continent of [[Corum]], this never came to pass. Instead, the island was ceded to [[Çakaristan]]'s [[Jaihabar|Jaihabar Sultanate]] in {{AN|1720}} as part of a larger deal that included, among other territorial transfers, the [[Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar]].

Control of Devil's Island remained in Çakaristan's hands until the [[Jaihabar Vortex]] resulted in [[Çakaristan]] abruptly offering to cede the island back to the Imperial Federation in late {{AN|1739}} during the aftermath of the [[Jaihabar Vortex]], with the handover complete by New Year's Day of {{AN|1740}}. The nature of the island's value would be forever changed due to a continued lack of Ralgonese territorial ambitions beyond the island's confines. Instead, strategic interest in the island remained squarely on the island itself. The island offered a large population for its small size, as well as its favorable location, natural harbors, and defensibility. A respectable population of non-[[Çakaristan|Çakari]] citizens on former [[Jaihabar]] had also chosen to stay on the island rather than leave the continent altogether, dramatically changing the island's former demographics and turning the island into a valuable territory in and of itself in short order. While it lacked the same economic importance as its sister territory in [[South Beihagh]], Devil's Island still remained a strategic entrepot due to a much higher capacity for both permanent and passing naval assets that [[South Beihagh]] had little capacity to host over longer periods of time.

An alternate colony, named in Ralgonese as ''Akuma-jima,'' was established in {{AN|1720}} immediately south of the island of [[Beihagh]] (itself a Ralgonese territorial condominium held alongside [[Suren]]) in the wake of the {{AN|1720}} transfer of [[Devil's Island]]. Named after the original Devil's Island, the island became known more properly as [[South Beihagh]] over time. This fortified island was promptly established during this time to serve as an alternate trade node passing through the larger Euran market. More importantly, it served to secure the condominium with [[Beihagh]] to the north, and the island quickly found itself an effective link between the Imperial Federation's naval assets elsewhere with [[Imperial Eura]] and the resource-rich country of [[Eternia]]. The island's economy quickly grew from trade links established via Eura, enriched by stable Imperial control of the region and constant pass-through of both civilian and military assets. The island's importance to Imperial Federation trade and security in the region similarly contributes to the island's strong security, which continued seeing economic growth during the 1730's AN, only hampered by the [[Recession of 1737]]. Further, the lax immigration policy enjoyed by the non-penal settlements on the island have driven the local economy, strengthening Gondolin's reasons for staying put (which, by design, is a core tenet of the Humanist government in charge). The island would retain its economic importance past {{AN|1740}}, despite the lessened strategic emphasis on the island following the re-addition of [[Devil's Island]] to the Imperial Federation beginning that same year.

Past {{AN|1740}}, the islands would serve to grant the other strategic redundancy, as the Imperial Federation continued to emphasize economic growth in its Euran territory. Devil's Island would see its penal colony swiftly re-established, given the Imperial Federation's stated desire to avoid hosting a long-term prison for deported persons in South Beihagh, itself unfavorable for setting aside the necessary land for such institutions. Ultimately, it quickly proved that South Beihagh had regional economic potential as the result of trade with Eura, and Devil's Island profited from higher harbor capacity and proximity to Corum. Both would be integrated into a single territorial unit that included Ralgonese holdings outside of Greater Eternia and its mainland holdings in [[Keltia]] and [[Cibola]].

====Imperial Eura====

{{main|Imperial Eura}}

Imperial Eura consists of a patchwork of territories anchored on Naval Base Eura. With its military center based on what is otherwise known as the Isle of Eura, the islands' culture, economy, and most other aspects of life are dominated by the Imperial Grand Armada's presence on Eura, with settlements from merchant families and other colonists from the mainland ramping up after 1720 AN. The base supports [[Raspur Pact]] efforts in the region, courtesy of imperial forces operating in the region. Although a token garrison mans the other islands, the base is very well-fortified despite its relative lack of history, and short time under the occupation of the Imperial Federation.

The island holds an unnamed town outside of the base. Consisting of some 20,000 civilian personnel, the civilians are outnumbered by the land-based garrison on the military sides of the island (although not by much) and by the naval forces (which number up to 50,000 during major events). The rest of the islands on the island chain are dominated by civilian-led governance, with the colony expected to ascend from dependency status to Princely status as early as 1725 AN. The rapidly growing population of the islands reflects both the booming economy and strategic importance of this territory to Imperial interests in Eura and the south of Micras as a whole. The resource-rich islands have already contributed to the Federation's economy, with the islands expected to become more integrated into their mother country as the years roll by.

====Naval Base on Tiegang====

{{main|International Mandate#Imperial Federation: Mechazawa Naval Base}}

The Imperial Federation controls the Adrestian Quarter's naval base in the [[International Mandate]]. Known until recently as the "Adrestian Royal Navy Base Tiegang," it was renamed in {{AN|1709}} after Vice Admiral Saizo Mechazawa, who went on to represent the Ralgonese peoples after his retirement. The base is considered the property of the Imperial Federation, although it does not exercise sovereignty over the base. The people living on the island are ostensibly ruled by an elected governor who answers to Tiegangese authorities. However, the island is still influenced by now-Duke Saizo of Eastern Appolonia, who permanently lives there with certain members of his family.

Although the Imperial Federation has few legitimate interests on Appolonia, Tiegang itself nonetheless hosts several tens of thousands of Ralgonese citizens living there, many of whom relocated there after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that saw the (lopsided) fracture of the Ralgonese world along ideological and political lines. Like on Bomei Island, unusually high freedoms of personal expression are tolerated there, although lese majeste laws continue to hold effect even over these far-flung populations.

== Climate & Topography==

==Education==

Three types of post-secondary institutions exist in Ralgon: Private, public, and government-sponsored research institutes. A mixture of these schools rank near the top of the world's universities for factors including pedagogy, alumni outcomes, research output, and institutional financial performance. Most of Ralgon's best public universities also happen to remain self-sustaining in nature; that is, they do not need government funding and actually provide additional income to the government in some few cases. This remains the case even after the severity of the 1685 Crisis.

In recent years, focus on Ralgon's sole remaining overseas possessions prior to {{AN|1685}} by its then-current government drove a concentration schools in Greater Adrestia onto the top of the global league tables. Among these are the elite University of Adrestia (known globally by its abbreviation of UA), which holds a massive endowment of its own. Other high-ranking universities in the de facto independent territory include the Gondolin Institute of Science (GIS), the Naval Academy at Alexandria, and the University of Alphaville (run as a UA satellite campus until 1690, in cooperation with Bassarid faculty).

===Universities===
''(For a detailed list of major universities in the Ralgon, see the below articles.)''

{{main|List of universities in Ralgon}}

====Glacier City University====
{{main|Glacier City University}}

Glacier City University (known by its acronym of GCU) is an elite university located in the Semi-Autonomous Region (SAR) of the same name. Founded as a university in 1076, GCU is the oldest institute of higher education in continuous operation in the Imperial Federation, and the second-oldest university in the country. It is also among the oldest institutions of higher learning on the Cibola continent, having educated over 75% of the former Holy Ralgon Empire's heads of state, among countless other elites within the country.

It is considered an "ancient university" -- that is, an institution of higher learning formed as a university (regardless of its purpose or existence before said formation) before the Draconic faith became the state religion in 1178. It is one of only three such institutions in continuous operation since that date, with the latest of its other six peers being claimed (at least temporarily) by the devastating effects of the long-term 1680's General Crisis.

The University is world-renowned for its engineering and materials science programs, with graduates leading such projects as the construction of the [[Erazm Bridge Consortium]] and ground-breaking developments in ship technology for the recently re-organized [[Grand Armada of the Imperial Federation]], which consists of 250 modernized ships (and some 75 outdated ones) with the same defensive engineering that ensured Ralgon's survival during its darkest days. Its endowment is the second-largest in the Ralgonese state, at around 37 billion Guilders. Housing notable global policy institutes such as the Chidao Emperor Institute for Jing Studies, the university's headquarters remain in the Mountain City after over 600 years. GCU remains the only institution allowed to own property within the Imperial City's inner sanctum, and is also the only non-government organization allowed to operate within the city without an active permit.

Until the fall from prominence of the [[Stormhold]] region as the center of political life in the Empire, Glacier City U long maintained a rivalry with Temple University in Valeria. To this day, the two enjoy top rankings in Micras, especially in the fields of medicine, earth science, and biology. Glacier City University attained renewed prominence on the island of [[Drag'os]] as a part of the aftermath of the [[Ralgon Civil War|1685 Crisis]] and the [[Ralgon War of Succession|War of Succession]] that ended in 1706, due to the university's location in a region generally safe from political violence of any significance (with the sole exception of the 1705 city purge). It was one of the few ancient universities to survive intact; Temple University suffered a drop in the rankings, supplanted by the University of Gondolin, which has taken up some of the old rivalries.

=== Temple University===
{{main|Temple University}}

Temple University (known simply as TU) was originally founded in 425 AN in what is now the city of Valeria by Draconic missionaries, as a religious institute for higher learning. Itself attached to the Holy Temple of Drag'os in the same city (and originally in the same building), the institution was founded to train high-ranking religious personnel in both theology and in statecraft (a skill badly needed at the time by such people). The institution formed into a University in 1046, and adopted its current name in 1298, after the City of Valeria took over the university on behalf of the Ralgon king's government.

The modern Temple University preserves is its original 1046 name, and also serves as the flagship institution of the eponymous system (as a homage to the University's foundations with the Church). Thanks to a heavily increased endowment after the national government purchased the University, it has rapidly grown from an already-elite status to a world-class university in its own right. Although it suffered significantly during the general crises that defined the 1680's to 1705 AN, the modern university still enjoys the massive resources it slowly built over its 700-year history as a university. Temple University maintains its still-strong prominence that relies on a combination of a massive endowment -- the sixth-highest in Ralgon, at 27 billion Guilders, and its system of sister institutions to keep up with the never-ending pace of modernization in the country. This network of academics buoyed the university after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], which saw the city of Valeria stripped of imperial status because of its government's support of the pretenders (who themselves were exiled to [[Valora]]). From battle damage to the loss of students and faculty to the resulting exodus from the city, the university sustained a substantial hit to its endowment (no less than 9 billion Guilders) and a significant drop in the world university rankings that will likely take at least two or three decades to recover from.

Despite its recent woes, the University has no shortage of talent. The university is known for its sheer number of graduates within the Imperial Federation's education system, with nearly half the Dragosian mainland's top 10% of income earners being graduates of one of the schools in the TU system. Most of the City of Valeria's leaders are graduates of the flagship campus, which is known for its strict admissions standards, despite its massive size of over 85,000 students (about 50,000 of which are undergraduate). While the quality of the rivalry the University maintains with Glacier City U has taken damage in recent years, the university still excels in materials science and engineering, and still occupies top rankings worldwide fields of theoretical physics and mathematics.

===University of Gondolin===

Formed in 1672 AN, the University of Gondolin is, by far, the youngest of the elite universities in the Ralgon Empire. The university was founded in what is now Adrestia by the Emperor Shiro of Ralgon to educate the colonists. Following the discovery of precious resources in unprecedented abundance, the university found itself with a massive endowment, spurring extremely rapid growth during its initial few years. Unlike its companion institution, the University of Adrestia, the University of Gondolin operates no satellite campuses outside of its own metropolitan region, allowing a greater concentration of star faculty and other vital resources.

The university is known for its state-of-the-art naval science and space science departments. Its School of Draconic Studies is also widely praised as being on par with giants such as the ancient Glacier City University. The institution has already counted several famous and infamous graduates among its relatively distinguished alumni. Among them is the current Crown Prince of Adrestia, the future Masamune III, who graduated in 1700 AN with a undergraduate dual degree in global affairs and aerospace engineering at the age of 21 before moving abroad for further study. Another is [[Sargon Gilgamesh-Pilagga Azulpolassar|Sargon Azulpolassar]], a prominent noble from [[The Hexarchy]] who graduated in 1693. The university's rapid rise to prominence comes on the heels of Adrestia's prosperity; thus, the university made moves to insulate itself from possible periods of political upheaval during the late 1690's. This strategy paid off, as the city was rocked by the financial strain of bearing the costs of victory in the Ralgon Succession War in the first decade of the 1700's. Careful investment and restricting admissions to a smaller, more manageable student body lead to strengthened reputation abroad by the time the war ended and financial prosperity began to be felt in all quarters of the now-large metropolis.

Although being smaller than its companion institution, the University of Adrestia (and system), the university holds by far the largest endowment in the Imperial Federation, valued at over 50 billion Guilders as of 1707 AN, thanks to heavy and frequent donations by the Royal Family of Adrestia and shrewd financial management. This has allowed the university to cement its assets and begin another round of heavy expansion into the coming century. The rise of the city to prominence in recent years is mostly thanks to the growing status of the city of Gondolin, and its designation as one of the two Imperial Cities allowed further increases in the university's budget for frontier sciences. The university also owns substantial investments in the Alphaville Spaceport, as well as Anarion Spaceport in the Antarctic Territory (along with several research bases in the same).

===University of Adrestia System===
{{WIP}}
Like its counterpart the University of Gondolin, the University of Adrestia was founded in 1672 AN, shortly before the international recognition of the colony as part of the Ralgon Empire. It used to be the same institution as UG, but the two split amicably to allow each university to respectively focus on the needs of Gondolin and the wider Adrestia regions. Although this caused a split in endowment award, the discovery of vast resources on the islands promptly made such a state of affairs relatively moot. The university system has expanded to cover education on the entirety of

This huge amount of resources gradually allowed the University of Adrestia to rapidly grow into the largest education system in the Ralgon Empire, overtaking the Temple University system in {{AN|1697}} (some 12 years post-Crisis). The university enjoys an enrolment of about 98,500 between all of its campuses, the flagship branch at the UA Gondolin being by far the most competitive to enter for aspiring students. Although the flagship campus is at Gondolin, the institution educates leaders in the liberal arts as well as in humanities, being better regarded in these fields than its rival institution of UG.

===University of Nixtorm===

===Western Imperial University===

Western Imperial University is one of the Imperial Universities, opened during the first years of the Imperial Federation. Shortly known as Western, the large university was founded in {{AN|1708}} with branch campuses in major cities to serve elite students in the new frontiers of the Empire on the Keltian mainland. Designed initially to train local government officials as well as native aristocracy, the university opened to gifted commoners hoping for jobs in places that offer higher standards of living, such as the Core Regions of Adrestia or Glacier City. The university is unique to the Imperial Federation in the fact that it is the only Imperial University that does not have a designated flagship campus.

===Anarion University===

Anarion University is a military-sponsored school founded in [[Gondolin]] by the regency of the Imperial Federation in {{AN|1706}}, by decree. Unlike other university systems, Anarion University was created specifically as an international university, with branch campuses in [[Valeria]], [[Glacier City]], and other major settlements throughout the Empire. The latest branch was opened in [[Nova Victoria]] in time for New Year's celebrations on 1710 AN, welcoming its first cohort of students there for Ralgonese Studies, offered jointly with the Chidao Institute for Foreign Studies, itself based in Glacier City. It plans to welcome its first degree-seeking classes by {{AN|1712}}.

The offerings at the university consists of international-based study. Notably, business majors and global studies are offered. The university's flagship campus in [[Alphaville, SAR]] now ranks 50th-60th on the national tables despite to its very young age, thanks to large funding projects and patronage by the imperial family.

==Demographics==

{{see also|Demographics of the Imperial Federation}}

===Population===

==== Pre-Crisis ({{AN|1655}}-{{AN|1685}})====

Conducting a census has, historically, been a major challenge in the Imperial Federation's predecessor states, owing in large part to very high birth and death rates (among the male population) due to constant warfare and paradoxically strong economic growth due to said replacements. This was, mostly, due to the old [[Great Swamp War]] and related national conflicts that saw high casualties against the dangerous fauna inland, which were contained near the time of the Imperial Federation's ascent to power during a second series of civil wars in {{AN|1706}}.

The population during the closing stages late in the second phase of [[Great Swamp War]] had peaked to about 124,254,005 in {{AN year|1665}} under [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon|Nobunag'an IV the Wise]]. Following the ascension of which shot to 159,255,163 in {{AN year|1675}} during a brief phase of prosperity under Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro I the Valiant]]. Records for {{AN|1680}} posted a population of roughly 164 million, during which a strong Ralgon diaspora was dispersed to countries like the [[Hexarchy]] and [[International Mandate]], and during which [[Adrestia]] was first formed, leading to an explosion in population to unknown numbers by {{AN|1685}}, although much of this population had moved to colonies abroad, mostly to territories now under Imperial Federation control.

====Post-Crisis ({{AN|1686}}-{{AN|1717}})====

The {{AN|1685}} Crisis and the attendant [[Ralgon Civil War]] nearly destroyed the country, and reduced its controlled population back under 164 million people, roughly at 1680 levels, with a further 40 million Ralgonese scattered over [[Drag'os]] and other lands near or adjacent to Ralgonese territories at the time. The resulting pressures of an overpopulation crisis nearly ended the country, with these pressures in part triggering the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].

=====Imperial Territory =====

By the time it expanded to nearly its present-day territory in {{AN|1706}}, the Imperial Federation had reclaimed most of former Ralgon's population, and recorded a delayed "1705" census of 204,174,665 within the Imperial Federation's controlled territory and Ralgonese living in its environs in disputed or contested areas. The rapid consolidation, expansion, and movement of Ralgonese back to Imperial territory led to a population of 209,279,031 in the {{AN|1710}} census. This number grew to 213,673,890 by {{AN|1715}} thanks to a baby boom as a result of an influx of territory, resources, and new populations being absorbed into the rapidly growing empire as it fought to combat overextension by encouraging said baby boom to partially solve. A preliminary census estimate taken in {{AN|1717}} after the [[Conquest of Valora]] assessed the Imperial population (minus Valora) had increased another 1.32% to an estimated 216,494,000, a result of large population centers continuing to rise on the coastlines of [[Keltia]] and the northern areas of [[New Menelmacar]].

=====Valoran Territory=====

In the same time, [[Valora]] had recorded a population of 15,639,728 in its metropole areas in {{AN|1707}}, some 25% of which lived in and around the now-major city of Yixing, which became the cultural and political center for both the Ralgonese and Valoran peoples in the politically paralyzed country. The Valoran urban population contracted by 5.7% to 14,748,263 due to repeated, protracted crises in the region's interior. An estimated 25% of the country lived off the grid, or in other urban areas, or were rural, or had refugee status, these states of living being unclearly defined and often found in common due to the country's bitter military, economic, environmental, and political situations. After the [[Conquest of Valora]], some 74% of the population was found to be on the new Imperial side of the territory. The rest were undead that migrated to South Valoran side of the border forming after the war's conclusion.

A census conducted in the close of {{AN|1717}} found that Imperial Valora, New Ralgon, and Imperial Cibola (both east and west) consisted of a grand total of just over 16,075,000 people, not counting the remaining Vanic and anti-Ralgonese/Valoran rebels, nor the remaining undead that found themselves inexplicably under the service of Imperial troops. (Rumor has it that Emperor Anarion was fascinated by the comical way these undead moved and wanted a contingent of them for his own amusement, so Mondo let him have a few hundred as part of the partition agreement. In return, Mondo got [[Kaek]], which in turn did not know and did not care that the transition took place so quickly.)

====Modern Period ({{AN|1717}} -)====

On its formation c. {{AN|1705}}, the Imperial Federation experienced an explosion in population following its victory in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], and further during the decade-plus that followed the cold war between it and its much smaller splinter, [[Valora]]. In {{AN|1717}}, the Imperial Federation executed the [[Conquest of Valora]] and subsumed most of its population, further adding to its expanding population.

An estimate of the Imperial Federation proper yielded a population estimate of 216,494,000, and its newly absorbed territories of New Ralgon, Imperial Cibola, and Imperial (North) Valora held a census that counted approximately 16,075,000 people (not counting the undead and/or stateless persons). This yielded an estimated population of 232,569,000 at the close of {{AN|1717}}, or a strong increase of 13.9% from the {{AN|1705}} census. It was expected that the post-1710's population growth would begin to favor natural birth rates more than annexations, as the Imperial Federation shifts its focus towards peacetime nation building, and the Emperor Anarion comes of age to a period of unprecedented prosperity for the Ralgonese nations of Micras.

Eriador

2026-07-06T13:16:27Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{Adrestia Article}}
:''"Al Hamra" redirects here. For the capital city of the former [[Arbor]], see [[Al-Hamra]].''
{{Infobox Nation Comprehensive
|fullname = The Dominion of Eriador
|commonname = Eriador
|flag = File:-- Ralgon --.png
|coa = File:Ralgon CoA.png
|motto = ''For God and Country''
|anthem =
|map = File:Eriador 1757.png
|mapversions = ???
|capital = Arkadi'os
|largecity = Arkadi'os
|lang = Draconian (official) Standard (most common) [[Arboric]]
|demnoun = Eriadoran
|demadj = Eriadoran
|govtype = Council-Style
|headofstatetitle = Princess
|headofstate = Yumika Hoshigawa
|religion = [[Draconic]] [[Umraism]]
|headofgovernmenttitle = President
|headofgovernment =
|legislature = National Council
|estdate = Spring, {{AN|1695}} (as Al Hamra) Summer, {{AN|1707}} (as Eriador)
|agerank =
|area = NA
|arearank = NA
|pop = 11,095,846 ({{AN|1757}} (1,311,149 on [[Dromosker Island (Imperial Federation)|Dromosker Island]]) (2,054,786 on [[Fei-Jun Island]])
|activepop = NA
|currency = Guilder (£)
|abbrev = ERD
|site =
|forum =
|animal = cobra
|food = Keltian cod
|drink = black wine
|tree = palm tree
}}

The '''Isles of Eriador''' is a set of territories in the [[Imperial Federation]]. Formerly named after the [[Al-Hamra|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 [[Al-Hamra]], 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 {{AN|1695}}. The islands' history took an abrupt course shortly after the [[Imperial Federation]] formed and repatriated the northern half of [[Scarterra|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. (Incidentally, it was later re-founded on mainland [[Drag'os]], leading to two Scarterras to this day.) 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 {{AN|1707}}.

Among many small islands and islets, the Isles of Eriador consist of three main islands: The largest and central [[Al-Hamra]] island territory, the Barony of [[Fei-Jun]] to the east, and [[Dromosker Island to the west, formerly an uninhabited volcano known simply as West Eriador.

This large deserted island to the west had, until {{AN|1757}} been an uninhabited island dominated by a recently extinct volcano. However, it was completely and catastrophically transformed by the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]] in {{AN|1757}}. This event saw [[Dromosker Island]] warped through space by its ruling prince in an act of desperation, using forbidden technology otherwise lost to time. Dromosker Island displaced itself onto the island's northern half. The volcano subsequently erupted, devastating the rest of the island and worsening the ensuing disaster, although eventually stabilizing itself, creating new fertile land and river systems that made the combined island far more habitable than either of its predecessors.

== Government ==

=== Al Hamra ===

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 [[Imperial Federation]]

The Princess of Al Hamra is appointed by the National Council upon the death or abdication of the previous Princess. Only women are eligible for election to the title per local custom, although the reasoning for this is both unclear and lost to time. Although the position is not hereditary, most appointees have been been relatives of its first elected monarch: Princess Yumika Hoshigawa, elected upon the territory's formation to represent it in late {{AN|1694}}. 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]] (and the [[Imperial Federation]] by consequence), 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 Adrestian units on the island. The current Princess is Sanae Hoshigawa, elected in {{AN|1752}}.

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.

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.)

=== Dromosker Island ===

{{main|Dromosker Island}}
{{main|Askerr}}

Dromosker Island is an autonomous territory governed by a Prince, currently Eru IV of the House Tepesh. After the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]], he was stripped of much of his emergency powers and more subject to the expanded Ruling Council, the legislative arm of that island's government. The Prince is a hereditary office, passing through the House Tepesh. Each Prince has his own name, although all of them take the name "Eru" upon ascension to the throne.

The Ruling Council consists of a semi-representative body of Dromosker settler nobles and Askerr chieftains. They hold legislative authority, with judicial authority vested in the hands of a court jointly appointed by the Prince and the Ruling Council. Since the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster|Disaster of {{AN|1757}}]], both the Ruling Council and the island's high court have representatives from both [[Al Hamra]] and the [[Imperial Federation]] government, which appoints representatives and barristers from [[Gondolin]].

=== Fei-Jun Island ===

{{main|Feijun}}

Fei-Jun Island, also known as Feijun, is locally governed, but answers to the Princess of Eriador, who has veto power over legislation. The island is notoriously peaceful, and is known as "the one place where absolutely nothing happens." And for the most part, this is true. Long ago, the territory was subject to such a bumbling, inept despot that it stumbled into rule by Al Hamra in days gone by. The islanders, famously, did not care, as their despot was ironically both financially cheap due to his wistful antics and a very tame person... leading to the island's name, which comes from the words for "useless ruler." In a poetic move, the locals eventually renamed the island's principal city as Xiadu, which roughly translates to "great city run by the blind." The strange prosperity that resulted led to affectionate but mixed feelings about their ineffectual former ruler.

These days, the island is a representative democracy, with an upper house representing based on population allotments, and the lower house elected along party-list elections. Elections take place every five years. But since the island is extremely docile in its temperament, very few pressing issues result in hotly contested elections. Thus, the same few parties rule the country and grand-coalition governments are the norm.

== 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 {{AN|1695}}, 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|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 {{AN|1707}}, 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 {{AN|1707}}, 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 {{AN|1720}} in favor of the next Prince of Princess of Eriador.

Usually quiet, the Isles of Eriador were rocked by the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]] of {{AN|1757}}, which saw [[Dromosker Island]] displaced into the deserted western major island of that territory.

== Religion ==

Eriador

2026-07-06T13:08:11Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{Adrestia Article}}
:''"Al Hamra" redirects here. For the capital city of the former [[Arbor]], see [[Al-Hamra]].''
{{Infobox Nation Comprehensive
|fullname = The Dominion of Eriador
|commonname = Eriador
|flag = File:-- Ralgon --.png
|coa = File:Ralgon CoA.png
|motto = ''For God and Country''
|anthem =
|map = File:Eriador 1757.png
|mapversions = ???
|capital = Arkadi'os
|largecity = Arkadi'os
|lang = Draconian (official) Standard (most common) [[Arboric]]
|demnoun = Eriadoran
|demadj = Eriadoran
|govtype = Council-Style
|headofstatetitle = Princess
|headofstate = Yumika Hoshigawa
|religion = [[Draconic]] [[Umraism]]
|headofgovernmenttitle = President
|headofgovernment =
|legislature = National Council
|estdate = Spring, {{AN|1695}} (as Al Hamra) Summer, {{AN|1707}} (as Eriador)
|agerank =
|area = NA
|arearank = NA
|pop = 5,527,654 ({{AN|1695}}) 7,326,121 ({{AN|1707}}
|activepop = NA
|currency = Guilder (£)
|abbrev = ERD
|site =
|forum =
|animal = cobra
|food = Keltian cod
|drink = black wine
|tree = palm tree
}}

The '''Isles of Eriador''' is a set of territories in the [[Imperial Federation]]. Formerly named after the [[Al-Hamra|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 [[Al-Hamra]], 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 {{AN|1695}}. The islands' history took an abrupt course shortly after the [[Imperial Federation]] formed and repatriated the northern half of [[Scarterra|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. (Incidentally, it was later re-founded on mainland [[Drag'os]], leading to two Scarterras to this day.) 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 {{AN|1707}}.

Among many small islands and islets, the Isles of Eriador consist of three main islands: The largest and central [[Al-Hamra]] island territory, the Barony of [[Fei-Jun]] to the east, and [[Dromosker Island to the west, formerly an uninhabited volcano known simply as West Eriador.

This large deserted island to the west had, until {{AN|1757}} been an uninhabited island dominated by a recently extinct volcano. However, it was completely and catastrophically transformed by the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]] in {{AN|1757}}. This event saw [[Dromosker Island]] warped through space by its ruling prince in an act of desperation, using forbidden technology otherwise lost to time. Dromosker Island displaced itself onto the island's northern half. The volcano subsequently erupted, devastating the rest of the island and worsening the ensuing disaster, although eventually stabilizing itself, creating new fertile land and river systems that made the combined island far more habitable than either of its predecessors.

== Government ==

=== Al Hamra ===

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 [[Imperial Federation]]

The Princess of Al Hamra is appointed by the National Council upon the death or abdication of the previous Princess. Only women are eligible for election to the title per local custom, although the reasoning for this is both unclear and lost to time. Although the position is not hereditary, most appointees have been been relatives of its first elected monarch: Princess Yumika Hoshigawa, elected upon the territory's formation to represent it in late {{AN|1694}}. 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]] (and the [[Imperial Federation]] by consequence), 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 Adrestian units on the island. The current Princess is Sanae Hoshigawa, elected in {{AN|1752}}.

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.

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.)

=== Dromosker Island ===

{{main|Dromosker Island}}
{{main|Askerr}}

Dromosker Island is an autonomous territory governed by a Prince, currently Eru IV of the House Tepesh. After the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]], he was stripped of much of his emergency powers and more subject to the expanded Ruling Council, the legislative arm of that island's government. The Prince is a hereditary office, passing through the House Tepesh. Each Prince has his own name, although all of them take the name "Eru" upon ascension to the throne.

The Ruling Council consists of a semi-representative body of Dromosker settler nobles and Askerr chieftains. They hold legislative authority, with judicial authority vested in the hands of a court jointly appointed by the Prince and the Ruling Council. Since the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster|Disaster of {{AN|1757}}]], both the Ruling Council and the island's high court have representatives from both [[Al Hamra]] and the [[Imperial Federation]] government, which appoints representatives and barristers from [[Gondolin]].

=== Fei-Jun Island ===

{{main|Feijun}}

Fei-Jun Island, also known as Feijun, is locally governed, but answers to the Princess of Eriador, who has veto power over legislation. The island is notoriously peaceful, and is known as "the one place where absolutely nothing happens." And for the most part, this is true. Long ago, the territory was subject to such a bumbling, inept despot that it stumbled into rule by Al Hamra in days gone by. The islanders, famously, did not care, as their despot was ironically both financially cheap due to his wistful antics and a very tame person... leading to the island's name, which comes from the words for "useless ruler." In a poetic move, the locals eventually renamed the island's principal city as Xiadu, which roughly translates to "great city run by the blind." The strange prosperity that resulted led to affectionate but mixed feelings about their ineffectual former ruler.

These days, the island is a representative democracy, with an upper house representing based on population allotments, and the lower house elected along party-list elections. Elections take place every five years. But since the island is extremely docile in its temperament, very few pressing issues result in hotly contested elections. Thus, the same few parties rule the country and grand-coalition governments are the norm.

== 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 {{AN|1695}}, 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|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 {{AN|1707}}, 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 {{AN|1707}}, 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 {{AN|1720}} in favor of the next Prince of Princess of Eriador.

Usually quiet, the Isles of Eriador were rocked by the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]] of {{AN|1757}}, which saw [[Dromosker Island]] displaced into the deserted western major island of that territory.

== Religion ==

Isles of Eriador

2026-07-06T13:07:03Z

Cosmic Fury: Redirected page to Eriador

#REDIRECT [[Eriador]]

Draconic

2026-07-06T13:05:53Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Ralgon Article}}
{{Imperial Federation Article}}
:''Not to be confused with [[Draconians]].''
{| class="toccolours" style="float:right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; font-size: 85%; width: 26em;background-color:#FFFFFF;border:1px solid #000000;"

|align=center colspan=2 | <center>'''Holy Draconic Church'''
|-
|align=center colspan=2 | [[File:WIP|200px]]
|-
| align=center colspan=5 |
|-
|'''Theology:'''|| Draconic (Pantheon with eleven gods)
|-
|'''Polity'''||
|-
|'''Founding Date'''|| 228 [[shire:AN|AN]]
|-
|'''Made Official'''||
|-
|'''Countries''' || [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] ''(state religion)''
|-
|'''Branches'''|| 121 Temples 15,000+ Shrines
|-
|'''Members'''|| About 172,500,000
|-
| align=center colspan=2 |
[[File:-- Ralgon --.png|70px]]

Statistics:
172,500,000 adherents (foreign practicing population unknown)
 80,650 deacons
 912 priests
 121 elders
|-
|}

'''Draconic''' is a Micrasian religion originating on the island of [[Drag'os]], itself located north of mainland [[Cibola]]. Overall, Draconic tenets espouse generally simplistic beliefs hinging upon living a virtuous life in pursuit of growing closer to the Gods, and upon death achieving reincarnation in a spiritual state closer to being divine than the previous life. Often exercising [[w:syncretism]] with other religions on Micras, the Church does not take a hardline stance on most matters of dogma. That, alongside its attachment to a strong unified political leadership, largely prevented severe schisms during its long history. The religion has most of its adherents living in the [[Imperial Federation]], with small communities of adherents in other nations on [[Micras]].

In addition to its deities, the religion preaches the existence of divinities (small or great) influencing daily life in extremely rare cases, as well as a small handful of Saints who, during their own lives, were very close to the gods. Living Saints are very rare, with the Church historically reluctant to declare any living Saints to avoid the appearance of politics. Among the most notable adherents was the second Emperor of the Ralgons, [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro]] ({{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1704}}), who was considered to be a Saint and named head of the Holy Draconic Church during his lifetime.

In the years immediately following Emperor Shiro's passing, the Holy Draconic Temple near Glacier City postponed elections for its leadership until the succession crisis was over, with the Elders realizing that continual politicization of the faith would lead directly to both a schism in the Church, as well as a catastrophic loss in its worldwide congregation, especially in those countries where adherence to Draconic was a rarity. Under [[Emperor Anarion]], actual leadership of the religion had returned to a council of elders that exercise ecumenical authority within organized worship.

There is only one organized branch of appreciable size in Micras, that being the [[Holy Draconic Church]].

== History ==

The religion was founded on the oldest historic lands in which the subsequent [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] situated itself between {{AN|1665}} and {{AN|1706}} before its transformation into the [[Imperial Federation]]. The religion enjoys majority status within ethnically [[Ralgon]]-ruled countries, being practiced by well over 90% of Drag'os's population before {{AN|1715}} in the aftermath of the island's complete liberation from [[The Green]]. The Draconic religion is thought to have been founded in 228 [[shire:AN|AN]], around the same time as the Ralgon Empire's predecessor state (the Kingdom of Stormhold) also first originated with a quasi-legendary warrior-chieftain. The religion is polytheistic, containing a pantheon of eleven deities representing some general virtue as well as some aspect of creation.

According to contemporary mythology (and very limited archaeological data) the religion originated elsewhere on the island, but the original sacred sites were lost after the Cataclysm and all records of locations were lost in the Dark Ages that followed. The holy city also narrowly survived the [[Crisis of 1685]] untouched by the cataclysm and social upheaval of that time. Formerly the only officially sanction religion of the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]], the Draconic Temples were given special protections and state funding not enjoyed by other religious groups in Ralgonese territory. Its influence in state politics peaked under the reign of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], which gave the then-Emperor of Ralgon a quasi-divine status of sorts during his lifetime. Its status as the state religion ended in {{AN|1706}} with the formation of the [[Imperial Federation]]. Nonetheless, Draconic remains one of the few recognized "national religions" of the [[Imperial Federation]] per a {{AN|1755}} decree by [[Emperor Anarion]].

== Basic Tenets & Beliefs ==

The following reflect both the official teachings of the [[Holy Draconic Church]] based on [[Drag'os]], as well as the prevailing belief system for the vast majority of current adherents throughout the world of [[Micras]] as of the late 1700's AN.

=== Virtue & Reincarnation ===

The eleven gods revered by adherents of the Draconic religion represent the dualistic nature of the religion. According to Draconic teachings, there are five virtues from which all others spring, and the observance of which brings one's soul closer to the gods: Honor, Grace, Truth, Wisdom, and Strength. The gods themselves, in addition to being thoroughly virtuous in at least their given trait, also embody part of the fabric of the world, those core elements being Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Light. The gods are always worshipped as pairs, with the exception of Thr'or, the god of creation and life, who died to give life and being to the universe, and protect it against the lesser gods who once destroyed the world in a time before time.

Ralgons believe in reincarnation of the soul, as well as in a heaven of sorts. The goal of a Draconic adherent's life is to live a life of virtue and bring themselves closer to the gods, and after death to find rest until the End of All Things and then become one of them in heaven (the realm of the gods being forever separated from the physical universe), or be reborn in a position where they are better equipped to move closer. Those who live a life devoid of virtue are reincarnated into a worse life as punishment. If their lives continue this way, then their souls eventually fade from existence until their metaphysical life force is no more, and they truly cease to exist.

=== Coming Close to the Gods ===

Under current Temple doctrine, the Emperor is the single person who is closest to the Gods, and the Kings (now the Emperors) are one of the few groups of people on Earth who reliably have a connection to the remaining life force of Thr'or, whose being is scattered throughout creation. On occasion, a past King (or Emperor) is even attributed to be the reincarnation of one of the other ten Gods. The King is meant to be a particularly pious individual and uphold all the five virtues and keep the Ralgon lands in harmonious balance between the five elements. If a King lives a particularly worthy life, they gain an apotheosis of sorts. They are then revered as having ascended to be one with, yet separate from Thr'or and/or the god whose virtues they represent. These are called "Avatars" of the god they most represent, and are revered as living saints set apart (and frequently above) the priesthood in a sub-cult of their own. There are currently only one dozen Saints that have been deemed the Avatar of more than one God. Only one, Saint Adrestia, held three. No person, living or dead, has been named "Avatar of Thr'or" because this constitutes one of the few named heresies within the Holy Draconic Church (as the universe itself is contained by the body and soul of Thr'or). Awards for which god a person is an Avatar of does not respect gender, similarly to their beliefs of the cycle of reincarnation for the divine. Therefore, a man may be the Avatar of a female god, and a woman may be the Avatar of a male god, even if such practices are particularly rare.

There are few people apart from the past Kings of Ralgon declared by both the King and the Priesthood (who are viewed as different authorities informed by the gods of their sacred will) to be truly virtuous people deserving of reverence. One extremely rare example of a living person is the first Emperor of Ralgon, Shiro. Early in his reign, the priesthood conferred upon him the title of "Avatar of Bael'os" in commemoration of his successful efforts to destroy the darkness the Great Swamp represents and to subsequently open Ralgon's light up to the world, which awarded him a saintly "light" attribute. His personal and effective leadership over the very expedition into the swamp that reclaimed the Lost City of Jento as well as recovered thousands of somehow-preserved religious texts lost to history, and his ongoing efforts to uncover the rest of the island's religious history have earned him the "truth" tribute. Dispute exists as to whether he should have been awarded "strength" and "fire" instead for similar efforts, but this was narrowly voted down among the clergy for the time being. The question was never revisited due to the [[Ralgon Civil War]] and the two decades of chaos and destruction that followed.

The naming of new Saints grew especially rare after the formation of the [[Imperial Federation]] in {{AN|1706}} due to the near-complete loss of political power. However, new liberties enjoyed by the central Church past {{AN|1755}} incentivized the Elders to name new Saints. That said, almost all such Saints were no longer of any warrior, noble, or even political class in general, but instead almost entirely clergymen themselves, having rarely left Temple grounds.

==== Achieving Apotheosis ====

To date, no known foreigners have achieved any form of apotheosis, although the Draconic faith understands that one does not have to believe in the gods to live a virtuous life and reincarnate as a being who is inherently closer to the gods. It is because of this open and accepting nature that the Draconic religion spread rapidly throughout the island throughout its history. During the Temple's so-called "golden age" c.{{AN|1674}}, the Draconic faith was observed at least passively by about 90% of the population, most of the rest (about 8%) observing traditional tribal faiths or, in much rarer occasions, other obscure beliefs or foreign religions. Key to maintaining this belief is the strict rules that no active, living member of the clergy, the Templar Knights, or the Council of Elders may ever be declared a Saint. Such status is conferred upon death, or far more rarely after their retirement at an age where they can't enjoy their saintly status for very long at all.

Ralgon etiquette is incredibly strict with dealing with Saints, living or dead. Firstly, a person who holds such a truly holy status is theoretically addressed personally as "Saint" regardless of title, even if they are called "Emperor." To the Ralgons, being a reincarnation of a divine being accords one a god-like status by reason of inapproachable, unshakable, virtuous and holy presence among other mortals in this world. Deceased persons are freely addressed by their title of Saint instead of their temporal title (be it King, Emperor, or even Serf) if used reverently. For the devout (and even semi-devout) Ralgon or any other adherent of the Draconic faith, any person exhibiting such spirit of a divine child of Thr'or in their own lifetime is deemed to be far above whatever temporal authority they might have otherwise held in life. Spiritually, Saints are considered on a completely different level than usual by these people. No reigning emperor has been named a saint since the death of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1704}}.

==== Etiquette for Saints ====

Living Saints are never directly addressed by name in their presence. Nor are they addressed in second person by letter or over a communications device. Not ever, regardless of any social standing, or even whether they're from Ralgon or not. Whether the living Saint is a serf or the Emperor, the protocol remains the same. Any Saint is addressed in third-person if in their presence, or , and always with the voice directed away from their general direction. Saints may address one another directly, regardless of title or position. (Incidentally, a living Saint is among the very few people who possess the privilege of addressing the Emperor directly and, in some cases, without the need for invitation.) If they speak on religious, spiritual, or ecumenical matters, their words 'will' be listened to, regardless of their station.

During the [[Holy Ralgon Empire|Ralgon Period]], directly disobeying a Saint on spiritual matters was considered tantamount to sacrilege, and disobedience by subordinates of Saints on temporal matters was held almost akin to sinning directly against the gods. Neither were tolerated among society, and so Saints' words are customarily obeyed without question, and even treated as spoken scripture in some cases. Defiance in the form of contravening the Emperor was doubly condemned, as he himself was also named a Saint. Violators were usually treated with a level of brutality that greatly exceeded the actual crime. Regardless of Saints' own efforts in the past to stop such practices, defying such a holy person was only met with the harshest punishments allowed under the law. These practices largely stopped during the long reign of [[Emperor Anarion]] shortly after the regency ended in {{AN|1726}}, although lese majeste and other crimes against the Crown are sometimes still enforced in extremely narrowed contexts. However, the few remaining living Saints are still given social and legal privileges few others enjoy, even among the nobility.

==== Ecumenical Conflict between Saints ====

Conflicts between two or more Saints are addressed by religious protocol, because such conflict usually pertains to spiritual matters, and also has to do with what a living Saint says about another previous (dead) Saint's words. One Saint's words may trump another's down the line if they hold dual or greater apotheosis of any combination (more than one god). In this particular matter, most of Saint Adrestia's prolific works on spiritual matters are effectively considered to be infallible doctrine in the Holy Draconic Church (as she held three different canonizations and was a greatly respected warrior during her time). Another case of overrule by a living Saint over another Saint (living or dead) includes holding a higher station of spiritual (church) or temporal (imperial) authority, depending on the subject referred to. The current head of the Church (which is, 'ex oficio', the Emperor himself) trumps matters on both fronts, and a living Emperor's words usually trump a dead one's. Only King Dalgar'an II trumps living Emperors in spiritual affairs, thanks to his dual apotheosis. In the absence of spiritual matters, Saints serving in any subordinate positions of authority are nonetheless respected or even revered by their temporal or spiritual superiors. However, it is almost unheard of for a Saint to challenge another Saint in a superior position on either temporal or spiritual matters.

Conflicts between Saints (living or dead) is a commonly accepted concept in Draconic thought, since even the gods are known to debate (and even fight) one another from time to time, in order to test the balance of harmony between each other and the world around them. No living persons enjoy dual apotheosis. The closest to come to that point was [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], who was named a "Saint" (the Avatar of Bael'os, the first in many years). Therefore, he was seen as both a final spiritual ''and'' temporal authority in the land, something the Ralgon people had not experienced in nearly the last two centuries. His successor, emperor [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]], was himself named a Saint, but refused to exercise ecumenical authority even as he named the Temple as one of the Imperial Federation's recognized religious organizations in {{AN|1755}}. And indeed, the political power of the Saints was similarly curbed, and their ongoing debates had already become far more academic than political in nature by this period.

=== Qualities of the Gods ===

A common criticism of the Ralgon pantheon is that there are no Gods present that represent morally just traits such as mercy, compassion, kindness, and of course justice. This question has plagued religious doctrine and dogma in the Draconic church for centuries, and the high priests have frequently had to deal with heretics who have claimed to be some reincarnation of an unnamed, long-dead god of one of those virtues. Additionally, science has, even in centuries past, seen the discovery of a great many elements outside of the traditional five found in religious texts. As an answer to this, the clergy have published religious writings pertaining to the fact that each of the discovered elements originally came from one of the five "original elements" that divided into parts as the universe (and the new elements themselves) evolved according to the Creator's will.

Virtue is seen similarly as the elements. As the universe aged and Thr'or's creations themselves evolved, so too did their virtues. At one point there were indeed many lesser gods in the Universe. Among the mortal races there also appeared exceptionally virtuous demigods who, by their very lives, extolled the nature of at least one or more virtues, not always belonging to the original five. These were considered saintly individuals, for even the "evolved" virtues were seen as elements of a spiritually sound soul, just as the evolved elements added more wealth to the Universe's nature as a breathtaking divine creation. However, those gods whose virtues were only passive were destroyed long ago in the Time Before Time, or that era that occurred long before recorded history, when the gods were the only sentient beings in the Universe before Thr'or also poured part of his soul into the cosmos to create life, as he did with his body so long ago to create the first matter.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! God/Goddess !! M/F !! Element !! Virtue
|-
! Thr'or
| N/A || All || All
|-
! Bael'os
| M || Light || Honor
|-
! Rhud'on
| M || Wind || Grace
|-
! Glaur'on
| M || Water || Truth
|-
! Dur'on
| M || Earth || Strength
|-
! Drag'os
| M || Fire || Wisdom
|-
! Gae'as
| F || Earth || Grace
|-
! Fre'as
| F || Fire || Honor
|-
! Mar'na
| F || Water || Wisdom
|-
! Rae'as
| F || Light || Truth
|-
! Lea'na
| F || Wind || Strength
|}

=== Treatment of Foreigners ===

Treatment of foreigners is much the same for natives as for foreigners, for those who practise the Draconic faith. Anyone not an enemy in need of shelter is given good shelter and sustenance of not less than two days' time in the summer, and not less than one week in winter. They are also given protection by the master of the household during this time unless they abuse this protection or serve to the detriment of their host in any way. (There are exceptions for vagrants known to abuse this privilege, and they are frequently sent to work for the State.) The State takes in all unable to find their own shelter after this time, and then employs them in either the civil service or the Army. Combat veterans in need of shelter are never pressed back into armed service, but are instead shipped to an overseas colony of their choice, where they are free to work to rebuild their life and their family (where applicable).

Some foreigners are known to be venerated by the Faith for having virtues of their own. Due to their cultural similarities, most of said foreigners the Draconic Temple encourages their overseas believers to emulate happen to be Jing people, who themselves might not even be practitioners of the same faith. Since Draconic religion does not draw a hard bond between virtue and faith, those foreigners honored by clerics usually find this unexpected and, in some cases, quite odd. This oddity is only compounded by this honor coming from a faith that has such a relative profusion of missionaries running around trying to convert people or, at the very least, influence them to lead virtuous and honorable paths in life for themselves.

It is for these reasons that there are more adherents to the Draconic creed than to the religion itself. The legal status of the former is entirely ambiguous since practitioners of the Draconic ''creed'' are more than free to follow almost any primary religious belief they previously espoused. The legality of the religion itself outside of Ralgon territory is, however, another question entirely and not known even to the Ralgon government itself.

== Mythology ==

Ralgon mythology follows three basic "eons." The first eon in Draconic mythology is known simply as The Beginning, during which Thr'or still maintained his old form as a normal god. This lasted until the Time Before Time, when the Universe was created and all but Thr'or assumed mortal, perpetually reincarnating forms. Although it occurred before recorded history, the Time Before Time is thought to have ended with the discovery of fire at least 200,000 years ago or so. The Current Era is considered by most scholars (along with the royal household) to have begun with two very auspicious events: Firstly, with the verified death and subsequent spontaneous combustion of the Nameless Prophet in 1 CE, about 1,440 solar years ago, and with the birth date of the first ruler of the current Ralgon state about six months after. (Both people were considered to be a rare instance of the god Drag'os choosing to immediately reincarnate after his death into another similar form.)

=== The Beginning ===

Unlike with many other religions, the Draconic creation myth begins well before the Universe formed. Instead, their mythology begins with a period known in mythology only as The Beginning: in other words, the spontaneous and independent formation of the Creator God, Thr'or. Thr'or was the first of the Gods to slowly form from the empty, infinite void and gain consciousness after spending incomprehensible amounts of time forming an ethereal existence, a soul, and eventually a body. Thr'or is the one recognized in mythology as the first god to not only gain self-awareness, but also learn how to assume a physical form. Thr'or is thought to have fashioned the first forms for other souls who, like him, had spent the endlessly long era known now as The Beginning as disembodied spirits.

Over time, the gods grew restless in their new forms, and, having gathered together from the infinite Void, attempted to determine what they were, exactly. Over the course of time, the Gods came to define an existence akin to themselves as a "soul": a spiritual being independent of the body, yet permanently attached within it. The question of what defined existence was answered for a time. Eventually, their bodies had evolved past the originals they either were granted or formed for themselves, and during this time the concept of morals was developed among the gods, who had by this point lived in groups for eons and discovered their physical forms to be mortal, however long-lived they were. Having no concept of a higher power, they sought to determine who among their number could answer the question of purpose for their lives, for the Gods found that, in addition to creating new things with their minds, they could propagate a new generation of themselves by using enhanced versions of their own physical forms.

Eventually, the Gods came to the conclusion that they should create a space and lesser beings to live within it, and observe those beings to see whether their own existence could find purpose. The question over how to create this "universe" and who should rule over this vast creation immediately caused conflict, and the Gods went to war for it. Some scattered and returned to their ethereal forms, then went into the void whence they came. Others found a way to destroy each other outright. Thr'or, eventually being dragged into the conflict, turned on the rest of the Gods and drove the most violent from their midst. By the end of this conflict over Creation, only eleven gods remained gathered: of those eleven, only Thr'or and Gae'as retained their physical forms, and Drag'os had managed to manifest himself as an eternal, albeit primeval fiery spirit.

A pact was made among the Gods: the only other two among those retaining their own physical forms (Drag'os and Gae'as) were to contribute a part of their evolved physical attributes that Thr'or himself did not posses, those being warmth and true substance of form. This fire and substance, combined with Thr'or's immense soul and power of constitution, gave rise to a solid Universe capable of holding ever-changing life. Thr'or would give up his very form and body to breathe life and into the Universe and give the cosmos and its inhabitants lives and forms of their own, in addition to the souls created by the various Gods. Additionally, Thr'or's near-eternal soul, unique among the Gods, would provide an impenetrable barrier between the Universe and any remaining hostile, warring Gods. This way, the Gods' creations could also take physical form among the stars and even directly interact with their deities while they still possessed their original bodies. In this way, the Gods could all learn the meaning of life for themselves, side by side with the beings they created and allowed to evolve along with themselves within the Universe over the eons.

=== The Time Before Time ===

The moment of Creation was considered the beginning of the Time Before Time, this being the second era in Draconic mythology. Although the War of the Gods continued well past the moment of Creation, this was not considered a separate Era, but rather a consequence of the transition into the Time Before Time. After the Great Pact was struck and the ten Gods wandered into the Universe, most of their forms (with the exceptions of Thr'or, Gae'as, and Drag'os) began to slowly decay because of a dynamic and chaotic Universe now bound by the laws of Time. Eventually, eight of the original ten Gods died. Bereft of their bodies, found they could not continue their existence as normal without reincarnating into a form similar to their creations. As for Gae'as and Drag'os, they too eventually found they too needed to reincarnate to keep themselves whole, despite the eternal nature of their souls. Thus, the Gods are the only beings in the Universe perpetually bound to the cycle of reincarnation until the End of Time, rather than having their souls eventually rest until the End of All Things, when their souls pass out of the Universe to join Thr'or in the vast heavens. In return for the Gods' forced reincarnations, though, they are always reborn with great power and talent matching their virtue and element, although all but Gae'as and Drag'os usually lose the memories held by their previous bodies upon being reborn into the Universe.

=== The Current Eon ===

The Time Before Time is said to have ended when the gods Drag'os and Fre'as, sensing the gods' collective creations were ready, entrusted the eternal power of Fire to the mortals of the Universe and voluntarily reincarnated themselves, this time with a mind to join the mortals of the Universe. Since the Ralgons do not know when Fire was discovered (this being well before recorded history), they instead tie the first year of their calendar with the founder of their religion. The Nameless Prophet, a potential reincarnation of Drag'os, wielded the power of Fire along with the Gods' story for everyone in the land to hear. This person is verified to have died of old age and spontaneously combusted into ash on the day of the spring solstice. This occurred exactly six months before the verified birth date of the first Ralite clan ruler who managed to unite his own clan with other warring families in the central mountains into one tribe with the same name. These two events occurred in what was to become known as the first year of the Current Era, or Current Eon as other scholars posit.

Clerics generally agree that Ralgon mythology ends here, as no other major Prophets have emerged, nor have any of the lesser Gods been known to truly manifest themselves in their reincarnations on auspicious occasions. On extremely rare occasions, a fire spirit has emerged to impart wisdom to the people, but this is usually for brief periods before it disappears. This is attributed to the god Drag'os manifesting his unique ability to appear without physical form. Gae'as is widely thought to prefer dwelling within very large, long-lived plants and living within the same form for hundreds of years, being content to watch the years roll by. Certain species of very large trees, therefore, are considered to be sacred to the Ralgons, for they do not know which plant Gae'as chooses to inhabit and use to bless the land on rare occasions -- just as dragons are considered sacred because, on equally rare occasions, these fire-breathing creatures have been known to speak and impart great wisdom on whoever hears.

== Holy Draconic Church ==

{{main|Holy Draconic Church}}

== Branching Belief Systems ==

Regional variants of Draconic exercise varying degrees of [[w:syncretism]] with either folk beliefs or even other religions. Despite prevailing syncretism outside of southern [[Drag'os]], organized worship is still highly organized and centered around the '''Holy Draconic Church'''. Draconic temples and clergy are everywhere, with dozens of full-sized Temples and thousands of consecrated shrines located throughout the island of Dragos. The headquarters of the religion is based out of the ''Temple City of Thr'or'', in southern [[Aurora]], near the border with the [[Glacier City]] city-region. So-called "Temple Draconic" refers specifically to the organized church; there is only one recognized "denomination" of the religion as of {{AN|1757}}, given the far smaller size, history, and/or or lack of organization other such sects possess.

[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Ralgon]]
[[Category:Draconic religion]]

Holy Draconic Church

2026-07-06T13:04:07Z

Cosmic Fury: Created page with "{{Ralgon Article}} {{Imperial Federation Article}} ''For the religion, see Draconic.'' The '''Holy Draconic Church''' is the organized branch of the Draconic Religion, based in the Imperial Federation, on the island of Drag'os. It enjoys by far the largest size, level of organization, and state support of any other branch of the religion, especially within the Imperial Federation. The organized religion, followed by nearly three-quarters of..."

{{Ralgon Article}}
{{Imperial Federation Article}}

''For the religion, see [[Draconic]].''

The '''Holy Draconic Church''' is the organized branch of the [[Draconic|Draconic Religion]], based in the [[Imperial Federation]], on the island of [[Drag'os]]. It enjoys by far the largest size, level of organization, and state support of any other branch of the religion, especially within the [[Imperial Federation]]. The organized religion, followed by nearly three-quarters of all adherents, is referred to as "Temple Draconic" due to its organizations around these eponymous buildings, where the religion is centered around. The headquarters is located in the Holy Temple of Thr'or, not far from the city-region of [[Glacier City]].

While followers and varying small sects of the Draconic religion often exercise a degree of [[w:syncretism]] with other religious beliefs on Micras, Temple Draconic refuses to take hard positions regarding the "one-ness" of its own belief system versus others prevailing on [[Micras]]. Instead, it teaches its own and avoids causing extensive unrest with "branching" movements. With religious violence banned since at least {{AN|1450}}, the Church was obliged to instead tie its own unity to the nations in the wake of prolonged events such as the [[Great Swamp War]], the [[Crisis of 1685]], and even the [[Ralgon War of Succession]]. The Church's core membership largely survived, and the only organized denomination of any appreciable size remains the central Church, which provides religious services for nearly seventy percent of all adherents (most of whom are on the island of [[Drag'os]]).

The subject of naming new Saints as empowered representatives of the faith was scarcely revisited after {{AN|1685}}, however, with the [[Ralgon Civil War|loss of most of the island]] once again to either [[The Green]] or foreign powers. This period ended in {{AN|1706}} after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] concluded, and the lack of Church support to the winning side contributed partly to the following loss of political power for that institution. The Holy Draconic Church's power waned in those two decades before the formation of the [[Imperial Federation]]. Any remaining political power any named Saints possessed was lost after the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] transformed into the [[Imperial Federation]], which itself secularized in {{AN|1706}}. It wasn't until well into the long reign of [[Emperor Anarion]] in {{AN|1755}} that the Church's official state recognition was restored... but only then as a list of ''recognized religious institutions'' that would enjoy state support.

== Organization ==

=== The College of Elders ===

The College of Elders is a body consisting of 121 senior church officials who are, in turn, elected from among local church heads in their respective regions, called either Templars or Templar-priests (dependent on region). As of {{AN|1700}}, out of those 121 elders, 74 are still residents of [[Drag'os]], 35 are residents of Adrestia, and the other 11 are from local congregations abroad. The numbers of native elders have been in constant decline versus overseas elders, a trend that shows signs of acceleration in the face of the [[Ralgon]] central government's precipitous decline since the late 1680's.

Where the foreign Elders come from is often disputed between Church officials and their host countries, due to the uncertainty of data concerning minority religious groups abroad. Because of the rapidly shifting and growing nature of a newly international faith, the upper echelons have similarly shifted rapidly over the past few decades. Two Elders are confirmed to represent their strong congregation in the [[International Mandate]], mostly consisting of Ralgon and Adrestian colonists. Another three are in [[The Hexarchy]], all of which reside in [[Kobol]] and [[Elam]]. One Elder resides in what was once [[Duro]], which is now controlled by [[Calbion]]. Another two Elders were present in what was then [[Jingdao]]. However, since its harrowing transformation into [[Kildare]], the Draconic congregation suffered intensely. One Elder was, for a time, rumored to reside in [[Batavia]]'s territory. The locations, and numbers, of the other three Elders and their respective congregations are constantly in flux due to the evolving nature of the Church as a growing international faith.

=== The Priesthood (Templars) ===

The Priesthood is, according to Church doctrine, merely those leaders responsible for local congregations. In regions with fewer adherents, it is common to see Templar priests serving wider areas than singular cities. In those cases, they tend to act as bishops alongside their usual duties of preaching, outreach, and care over their local congregations. The Templar priests also often act as intermediaries between the faithful and their respective rulers, be they in Draconic-majority or Draconic-minority countries.

In cases where Templars are in Draconic-minority countries, missionary services are also provided, and interfaith dialogue is actively encouraged. Not only does this reconcile any fundamental political differences between Draconics and adherents to other faiths, but it also allows the larger Draconic Church to actively test and build on its existing doctrine. It is through this mutual exchange that has seen the rise of new politically active religious sects. Most notable of these recent movements is Draconic Humanism as a growing sect within Draconic, in which religious tenets are combined with the political leanings of [[National humanism]]. Draconic Humanism as both a political and religious ideology has found its way to the political inner circles of Ralgon's imperial elite, to the point where Prince Masamune IV of Adrestia, still a child, is under the direct, consistent influence of more than one adherent.

=== The Knights Templar ===

The Knights Templar is a paramilitary organization formed by the mayor of [[Glacier City]] to protect the Draconic Temple, which found itself dangerously close to a fresh frontier following the [[Ralgon Civil War]] in {{AN|1685}}. The Order of the Knights Templar has exactly one mission: protect the Holy Draconic Temple, the current physical center of the religion, from incursions from [[The Green]]. Knights are known for joining expeditions to reconquer land and aggressively push Ralgon's frontiers away from the city, thereby keeping the Temple safe.

The Order was subsequently granted a decree by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] that granted them the right to keep and bear arms at all times, in all locations. However, Knights are also punished far more harshly for violations of the law. To serve as preventive measures and calm the city's population against a potential terrorist group, the Knights are further made to hold to strict religious vows that range from abstinence of alcohol to regular church attendance to assure their mental and social stability. Finally, the Knights forfeit their rights to keep and bear arms whenever they range farther than 10 kilometers away from the Temple, unless they join an expedition beyond the border solely for the purpose of protecting innocents and saving lives.

Because of the many restrictions imposed on the Templar Knights, not only do few ultimately join the Order, but they also take a decidedly neutral stance in all political affairs. Within the Holy Draconic Temple, they are respected and revered, and hold representation within the Council of Elders. As such, they can still indirectly shape local public perceptions towards the Order, and senior Knights are known to frequently downplay the very rare members of the Order who join harboring militant intentions against adherents to different denominations of Draconic than their own.

[[Category:Religion]]

Draconic

2026-07-06T12:59:43Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Ralgon Article}}
{{Imperial Federation Article}}
:''Not to be confused with [[Draconians]].''
{| class="toccolours" style="float:right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; font-size: 85%; width: 26em;background-color:#FFFFFF;border:1px solid #000000;"

|align=center colspan=2 | <center>'''Holy Draconic Church'''
|-
|align=center colspan=2 | [[File:WIP|200px]]
|-
| align=center colspan=5 |
|-
|'''Theology:'''|| Draconic (Pantheon with eleven gods)
|-
|'''Polity'''||
|-
|'''Founding Date'''|| 228 [[shire:AN|AN]]
|-
|'''Made Official'''||
|-
|'''Countries''' || [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] ''(state religion)''
|-
|'''Branches'''|| 121 Temples 15,000+ Shrines
|-
|'''Members'''|| About 172,500,000
|-
| align=center colspan=2 |
[[File:-- Ralgon --.png|70px]]

Statistics:
172,500,000 adherents (foreign practicing population unknown)
 80,650 deacons
 912 priests
 121 elders
|-
|}

'''Draconic''' is a Micrasian religion originating on the island of [[Drag'os]], itself located north of mainland [[Cibola]]. Overall, Draconic tenets espouse generally simplistic beliefs hinging upon living a virtuous life in pursuit of growing closer to the Gods, and upon death achieving reincarnation in a spiritual state closer to being divine than the previous life. Often exercising [[w:syncretism]] with other religions on Micras, the Church does not take a hardline stance on most matters of dogma. That, alongside its attachment to a strong unified political leadership, largely prevented severe schisms during its long history. The religion has most of its adherents living in the [[Imperial Federation]], with small communities of adherents in other nations on [[Micras]].

In addition to its deities, the religion preaches the existence of divinities (small or great) influencing daily life in extremely rare cases, as well as a small handful of Saints who, during their own lives, were very close to the gods. Living Saints are very rare, with the Church historically reluctant to declare any living Saints to avoid the appearance of politics. Among the most notable adherents was the second Emperor of the Ralgons, [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro]] ({{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1704}}), who was considered to be a Saint and named head of the Holy Draconic Church during his lifetime.

In the years immediately following Emperor Shiro's passing, the Holy Draconic Temple near Glacier City postponed elections for its leadership until the succession crisis was over, with the Elders realizing that continual politicization of the faith would lead directly to both a schism in the Church, as well as a catastrophic loss in its worldwide congregation, especially in those countries where adherence to Draconic was a rarity. Under [[Emperor Anarion]], actual leadership of the religion had returned to a council of elders that exercise ecumenical authority within organized worship.

There is only one organized branch of appreciable size in Micras, that being the [[Holy Draconic Church]].

== History ==

The religion was founded on the oldest historic lands in which the subsequent [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] situated itself between {{AN|1665}} and {{AN|1706}} before its transformation into the [[Imperial Federation]]. The religion enjoys majority status within ethnically [[Ralgon]]-ruled countries, being practiced by well over 90% of Drag'os's population before {{AN|1715}} in the aftermath of the island's complete liberation from [[The Green]]. The Draconic religion is thought to have been founded in 228 [[shire:AN|AN]], around the same time as the Ralgon Empire's predecessor state (the Kingdom of Stormhold) also first originated with a quasi-legendary warrior-chieftain. The religion is polytheistic, containing a pantheon of eleven deities representing some general virtue as well as some aspect of creation.

According to contemporary mythology (and very limited archaeological data) the religion originated elsewhere on the island, but the original sacred sites were lost after the Cataclysm and all records of locations were lost in the Dark Ages that followed. The holy city also narrowly survived the [[Crisis of 1685]] untouched by the cataclysm and social upheaval of that time. Formerly the only officially sanction religion of the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]], the Draconic Temples were given special protections and state funding not enjoyed by other religious groups in Ralgonese territory. Its influence in state politics peaked under the reign of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], which gave the then-Emperor of Ralgon a quasi-divine status of sorts during his lifetime. Its status as the state religion ended in {{AN|1706}} with the formation of the [[Imperial Federation]]. Nonetheless, Draconic remains one of the few recognized "national religions" of the [[Imperial Federation]] per a {{AN|1755}} decree by [[Emperor Anarion]].

== Basic Tenets & Beliefs ==

=== Church Organization ===

The following reflect the official teachings of the Holy Draconic Church based on [[Drag'os]]. While followers and varying small sects of the Draconic religion often exercise a degree of [[w:syncretism]] with other religious beliefs on Micras, Temple Draconic refuses to take hard positions regarding the "one-ness" of its own belief system versus others prevailing on [[Micras]]. Instead, it teaches its own and avoids causing extensive unrest with "branching" movements. With religious violence banned since at least {{AN|1450}}, the Church was obliged to instead tie its own unity to the nations in the wake of prolonged events such as the [[Great Swamp War]], the [[Crisis of 1685]], and even the [[Ralgon War of Succession]]. The Church's core membership largely survived, and the only organized denomination of any appreciable size remains the central Church, which provides religious services for nearly seventy percent of all adherents (most of whom are on the island of [[Drag'os]]).

The subject of naming new Saints as empowered representatives of the faith (see below) was scarcely revisited after {{AN|1685}}, however, with the [[Ralgon Civil War|loss of most of the island]] once again to either [[The Green]] or foreign powers. This period ended in {{AN|1706}} after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] concluded, and the lack of Church support to the winning side contributed partly to the following loss of political power for that institution. The Holy Draconic Church's power waned in those two decades before the formation of the [[Imperial Federation]]. Any remaining political power any named Saints possessed was lost after the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] transformed into the [[Imperial Federation]], which itself secularized in {{AN|1706}}. It wasn't until well into the long reign of [[Emperor Anarion]] in {{AN|1755}} that the Church's official state recognition was restored... but only then as a list of ''recognized religious institutions'' that would enjoy state support.

=== Virtue & Reincarnation ===

The eleven gods revered by adherents of the Draconic religion represent the dualistic nature of the religion. According to Draconic teachings, there are five virtues from which all others spring, and the observance of which brings one's soul closer to the gods: Honor, Grace, Truth, Wisdom, and Strength. The gods themselves, in addition to being thoroughly virtuous in at least their given trait, also embody part of the fabric of the world, those core elements being Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Light. The gods are always worshipped as pairs, with the exception of Thr'or, the god of creation and life, who died to give life and being to the universe, and protect it against the lesser gods who once destroyed the world in a time before time.

Ralgons believe in reincarnation of the soul, as well as in a heaven of sorts. The goal of a Draconic adherent's life is to live a life of virtue and bring themselves closer to the gods, and after death to find rest until the End of All Things and then become one of them in heaven (the realm of the gods being forever separated from the physical universe), or be reborn in a position where they are better equipped to move closer. Those who live a life devoid of virtue are reincarnated into a worse life as punishment. If their lives continue this way, then their souls eventually fade from existence until their metaphysical life force is no more, and they truly cease to exist.

=== Coming Close to the Gods ===

Under current Temple doctrine, the Emperor is the single person who is closest to the Gods, and the Kings (now the Emperors) are one of the few groups of people on Earth who reliably have a connection to the remaining life force of Thr'or, whose being is scattered throughout creation. On occasion, a past King (or Emperor) is even attributed to be the reincarnation of one of the other ten Gods. The King is meant to be a particularly pious individual and uphold all the five virtues and keep the Ralgon lands in harmonious balance between the five elements. If a King lives a particularly worthy life, they gain an apotheosis of sorts. They are then revered as having ascended to be one with, yet separate from Thr'or and/or the god whose virtues they represent. These are called "Avatars" of the god they most represent, and are revered as living saints set apart (and frequently above) the priesthood in a sub-cult of their own. There are currently only one dozen Saints that have been deemed the Avatar of more than one God. Only one, Saint Adrestia, held three. No person, living or dead, has been named "Avatar of Thr'or" because this constitutes one of the few named heresies within the Holy Draconic Church (as the universe itself is contained by the body and soul of Thr'or). Awards for which god a person is an Avatar of does not respect gender, similarly to their beliefs of the cycle of reincarnation for the divine. Therefore, a man may be the Avatar of a female god, and a woman may be the Avatar of a male god, even if such practices are particularly rare.

There are few people apart from the past Kings of Ralgon declared by both the King and the Priesthood (who are viewed as different authorities informed by the gods of their sacred will) to be truly virtuous people deserving of reverence. One extremely rare example of a living person is the first Emperor of Ralgon, Shiro. Early in his reign, the priesthood conferred upon him the title of "Avatar of Bael'os" in commemoration of his successful efforts to destroy the darkness the Great Swamp represents and to subsequently open Ralgon's light up to the world, which awarded him a saintly "light" attribute. His personal and effective leadership over the very expedition into the swamp that reclaimed the Lost City of Jento as well as recovered thousands of somehow-preserved religious texts lost to history, and his ongoing efforts to uncover the rest of the island's religious history have earned him the "truth" tribute. Dispute exists as to whether he should have been awarded "strength" and "fire" instead for similar efforts, but this was narrowly voted down among the clergy for the time being. The question was never revisited due to the [[Ralgon Civil War]] and the two decades of chaos and destruction that followed.

The naming of new Saints grew especially rare after the formation of the [[Imperial Federation]] in {{AN|1706}} due to the near-complete loss of political power. However, new liberties enjoyed by the central Church past {{AN|1755}} incentivized the Elders to name new Saints. That said, almost all such Saints were no longer of any warrior, noble, or even political class in general, but instead almost entirely clergymen themselves, having rarely left Temple grounds.

==== Achieving Apotheosis ====

To date, no known foreigners have achieved any form of apotheosis, although the Draconic faith understands that one does not have to believe in the gods to live a virtuous life and reincarnate as a being who is inherently closer to the gods. It is because of this open and accepting nature that the Draconic religion spread rapidly throughout the island throughout its history. During the Temple's so-called "golden age" c.{{AN|1674}}, the Draconic faith was observed at least passively by about 90% of the population, most of the rest (about 8%) observing traditional tribal faiths or, in much rarer occasions, other obscure beliefs or foreign religions. Key to maintaining this belief is the strict rules that no active, living member of the clergy, the Templar Knights, or the Council of Elders may ever be declared a Saint. Such status is conferred upon death, or far more rarely after their retirement at an age where they can't enjoy their saintly status for very long at all.

Ralgon etiquette is incredibly strict with dealing with Saints, living or dead. Firstly, a person who holds such a truly holy status is theoretically addressed personally as "Saint" regardless of title, even if they are called "Emperor." To the Ralgons, being a reincarnation of a divine being accords one a god-like status by reason of inapproachable, unshakable, virtuous and holy presence among other mortals in this world. Deceased persons are freely addressed by their title of Saint instead of their temporal title (be it King, Emperor, or even Serf) if used reverently. For the devout (and even semi-devout) Ralgon or any other adherent of the Draconic faith, any person exhibiting such spirit of a divine child of Thr'or in their own lifetime is deemed to be far above whatever temporal authority they might have otherwise held in life. Spiritually, Saints are considered on a completely different level than usual by these people. No reigning emperor has been named a saint since the death of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1704}}.

==== Etiquette for Saints ====

Living Saints are never directly addressed by name in their presence. Nor are they addressed in second person by letter or over a communications device. Not ever, regardless of any social standing, or even whether they're from Ralgon or not. Whether the living Saint is a serf or the Emperor, the protocol remains the same. Any Saint is addressed in third-person if in their presence, or , and always with the voice directed away from their general direction. Saints may address one another directly, regardless of title or position. (Incidentally, a living Saint is among the very few people who possess the privilege of addressing the Emperor directly and, in some cases, without the need for invitation.) If they speak on religious, spiritual, or ecumenical matters, their words 'will' be listened to, regardless of their station.

During the [[Holy Ralgon Empire|Ralgon Period]], directly disobeying a Saint on spiritual matters was considered tantamount to sacrilege, and disobedience by subordinates of Saints on temporal matters was held almost akin to sinning directly against the gods. Neither were tolerated among society, and so Saints' words are customarily obeyed without question, and even treated as spoken scripture in some cases. Defiance in the form of contravening the Emperor was doubly condemned, as he himself was also named a Saint. Violators were usually treated with a level of brutality that greatly exceeded the actual crime. Regardless of Saints' own efforts in the past to stop such practices, defying such a holy person was only met with the harshest punishments allowed under the law. These practices largely stopped during the long reign of [[Emperor Anarion]] shortly after the regency ended in {{AN|1726}}, although lese majeste and other crimes against the Crown are sometimes still enforced in extremely narrowed contexts. However, the few remaining living Saints are still given social and legal privileges few others enjoy, even among the nobility.

==== Ecumenical Conflict between Saints ====

Conflicts between two or more Saints are addressed by religious protocol, because such conflict usually pertains to spiritual matters, and also has to do with what a living Saint says about another previous (dead) Saint's words. One Saint's words may trump another's down the line if they hold dual or greater apotheosis of any combination (more than one god). In this particular matter, most of Saint Adrestia's prolific works on spiritual matters are effectively considered to be infallible doctrine in the Holy Draconic Church (as she held three different canonizations and was a greatly respected warrior during her time). Another case of overrule by a living Saint over another Saint (living or dead) includes holding a higher station of spiritual (church) or temporal (imperial) authority, depending on the subject referred to. The current head of the Church (which is, 'ex oficio', the Emperor himself) trumps matters on both fronts, and a living Emperor's words usually trump a dead one's. Only King Dalgar'an II trumps living Emperors in spiritual affairs, thanks to his dual apotheosis. In the absence of spiritual matters, Saints serving in any subordinate positions of authority are nonetheless respected or even revered by their temporal or spiritual superiors. However, it is almost unheard of for a Saint to challenge another Saint in a superior position on either temporal or spiritual matters.

Conflicts between Saints (living or dead) is a commonly accepted concept in Draconic thought, since even the gods are known to debate (and even fight) one another from time to time, in order to test the balance of harmony between each other and the world around them. No living persons enjoy dual apotheosis. The closest to come to that point was [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], who was named a "Saint" (the Avatar of Bael'os, the first in many years). Therefore, he was seen as both a final spiritual ''and'' temporal authority in the land, something the Ralgon people had not experienced in nearly the last two centuries. His successor, emperor [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]], was himself named a Saint, but refused to exercise ecumenical authority even as he named the Temple as one of the Imperial Federation's recognized religious organizations in {{AN|1755}}. And indeed, the political power of the Saints was similarly curbed, and their ongoing debates had already become far more academic than political in nature by this period.

=== Qualities of the Gods ===

A common criticism of the Ralgon pantheon is that there are no Gods present that represent morally just traits such as mercy, compassion, kindness, and of course justice. This question has plagued religious doctrine and dogma in the Draconic church for centuries, and the high priests have frequently had to deal with heretics who have claimed to be some reincarnation of an unnamed, long-dead god of one of those virtues. Additionally, science has, even in centuries past, seen the discovery of a great many elements outside of the traditional five found in religious texts. As an answer to this, the clergy have published religious writings pertaining to the fact that each of the discovered elements originally came from one of the five "original elements" that divided into parts as the universe (and the new elements themselves) evolved according to the Creator's will.

Virtue is seen similarly as the elements. As the universe aged and Thr'or's creations themselves evolved, so too did their virtues. At one point there were indeed many lesser gods in the Universe. Among the mortal races there also appeared exceptionally virtuous demigods who, by their very lives, extolled the nature of at least one or more virtues, not always belonging to the original five. These were considered saintly individuals, for even the "evolved" virtues were seen as elements of a spiritually sound soul, just as the evolved elements added more wealth to the Universe's nature as a breathtaking divine creation. However, those gods whose virtues were only passive were destroyed long ago in the Time Before Time, or that era that occurred long before recorded history, when the gods were the only sentient beings in the Universe before Thr'or also poured part of his soul into the cosmos to create life, as he did with his body so long ago to create the first matter.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! God/Goddess !! M/F !! Element !! Virtue
|-
! Thr'or
| N/A || All || All
|-
! Bael'os
| M || Light || Honor
|-
! Rhud'on
| M || Wind || Grace
|-
! Glaur'on
| M || Water || Truth
|-
! Dur'on
| M || Earth || Strength
|-
! Drag'os
| M || Fire || Wisdom
|-
! Gae'as
| F || Earth || Grace
|-
! Fre'as
| F || Fire || Honor
|-
! Mar'na
| F || Water || Wisdom
|-
! Rae'as
| F || Light || Truth
|-
! Lea'na
| F || Wind || Strength
|}

=== Treatment of Foreigners ===

Treatment of foreigners is much the same for natives as for foreigners, for those who practise the Draconic faith. Anyone not an enemy in need of shelter is given good shelter and sustenance of not less than two days' time in the summer, and not less than one week in winter. They are also given protection by the master of the household during this time unless they abuse this protection or serve to the detriment of their host in any way. (There are exceptions for vagrants known to abuse this privilege, and they are frequently sent to work for the State.) The State takes in all unable to find their own shelter after this time, and then employs them in either the civil service or the Army. Combat veterans in need of shelter are never pressed back into armed service, but are instead shipped to an overseas colony of their choice, where they are free to work to rebuild their life and their family (where applicable).

Some foreigners are known to be venerated by the Faith for having virtues of their own. Due to their cultural similarities, most of said foreigners the Draconic Temple encourages their overseas believers to emulate happen to be Jing people, who themselves might not even be practitioners of the same faith. Since Draconic religion does not draw a hard bond between virtue and faith, those foreigners honored by clerics usually find this unexpected and, in some cases, quite odd. This oddity is only compounded by this honor coming from a faith that has such a relative profusion of missionaries running around trying to convert people or, at the very least, influence them to lead virtuous and honorable paths in life for themselves.

It is for these reasons that there are more adherents to the Draconic creed than to the religion itself. The legal status of the former is entirely ambiguous since practitioners of the Draconic ''creed'' are more than free to follow almost any primary religious belief they previously espoused. The legality of the religion itself outside of Ralgon territory is, however, another question entirely and not known even to the Ralgon government itself.

== Mythology ==

Ralgon mythology follows three basic "eons." The first eon in Draconic mythology is known simply as The Beginning, during which Thr'or still maintained his old form as a normal god. This lasted until the Time Before Time, when the Universe was created and all but Thr'or assumed mortal, perpetually reincarnating forms. Although it occurred before recorded history, the Time Before Time is thought to have ended with the discovery of fire at least 200,000 years ago or so. The Current Era is considered by most scholars (along with the royal household) to have begun with two very auspicious events: Firstly, with the verified death and subsequent spontaneous combustion of the Nameless Prophet in 1 CE, about 1,440 solar years ago, and with the birth date of the first ruler of the current Ralgon state about six months after. (Both people were considered to be a rare instance of the god Drag'os choosing to immediately reincarnate after his death into another similar form.)

=== The Beginning ===

Unlike with many other religions, the Draconic creation myth begins well before the Universe formed. Instead, their mythology begins with a period known in mythology only as The Beginning: in other words, the spontaneous and independent formation of the Creator God, Thr'or. Thr'or was the first of the Gods to slowly form from the empty, infinite void and gain consciousness after spending incomprehensible amounts of time forming an ethereal existence, a soul, and eventually a body. Thr'or is the one recognized in mythology as the first god to not only gain self-awareness, but also learn how to assume a physical form. Thr'or is thought to have fashioned the first forms for other souls who, like him, had spent the endlessly long era known now as The Beginning as disembodied spirits.

Over time, the gods grew restless in their new forms, and, having gathered together from the infinite Void, attempted to determine what they were, exactly. Over the course of time, the Gods came to define an existence akin to themselves as a "soul": a spiritual being independent of the body, yet permanently attached within it. The question of what defined existence was answered for a time. Eventually, their bodies had evolved past the originals they either were granted or formed for themselves, and during this time the concept of morals was developed among the gods, who had by this point lived in groups for eons and discovered their physical forms to be mortal, however long-lived they were. Having no concept of a higher power, they sought to determine who among their number could answer the question of purpose for their lives, for the Gods found that, in addition to creating new things with their minds, they could propagate a new generation of themselves by using enhanced versions of their own physical forms.

Eventually, the Gods came to the conclusion that they should create a space and lesser beings to live within it, and observe those beings to see whether their own existence could find purpose. The question over how to create this "universe" and who should rule over this vast creation immediately caused conflict, and the Gods went to war for it. Some scattered and returned to their ethereal forms, then went into the void whence they came. Others found a way to destroy each other outright. Thr'or, eventually being dragged into the conflict, turned on the rest of the Gods and drove the most violent from their midst. By the end of this conflict over Creation, only eleven gods remained gathered: of those eleven, only Thr'or and Gae'as retained their physical forms, and Drag'os had managed to manifest himself as an eternal, albeit primeval fiery spirit.

A pact was made among the Gods: the only other two among those retaining their own physical forms (Drag'os and Gae'as) were to contribute a part of their evolved physical attributes that Thr'or himself did not posses, those being warmth and true substance of form. This fire and substance, combined with Thr'or's immense soul and power of constitution, gave rise to a solid Universe capable of holding ever-changing life. Thr'or would give up his very form and body to breathe life and into the Universe and give the cosmos and its inhabitants lives and forms of their own, in addition to the souls created by the various Gods. Additionally, Thr'or's near-eternal soul, unique among the Gods, would provide an impenetrable barrier between the Universe and any remaining hostile, warring Gods. This way, the Gods' creations could also take physical form among the stars and even directly interact with their deities while they still possessed their original bodies. In this way, the Gods could all learn the meaning of life for themselves, side by side with the beings they created and allowed to evolve along with themselves within the Universe over the eons.

=== The Time Before Time ===

The moment of Creation was considered the beginning of the Time Before Time, this being the second era in Draconic mythology. Although the War of the Gods continued well past the moment of Creation, this was not considered a separate Era, but rather a consequence of the transition into the Time Before Time. After the Great Pact was struck and the ten Gods wandered into the Universe, most of their forms (with the exceptions of Thr'or, Gae'as, and Drag'os) began to slowly decay because of a dynamic and chaotic Universe now bound by the laws of Time. Eventually, eight of the original ten Gods died. Bereft of their bodies, found they could not continue their existence as normal without reincarnating into a form similar to their creations. As for Gae'as and Drag'os, they too eventually found they too needed to reincarnate to keep themselves whole, despite the eternal nature of their souls. Thus, the Gods are the only beings in the Universe perpetually bound to the cycle of reincarnation until the End of Time, rather than having their souls eventually rest until the End of All Things, when their souls pass out of the Universe to join Thr'or in the vast heavens. In return for the Gods' forced reincarnations, though, they are always reborn with great power and talent matching their virtue and element, although all but Gae'as and Drag'os usually lose the memories held by their previous bodies upon being reborn into the Universe.

=== The Current Eon ===

The Time Before Time is said to have ended when the gods Drag'os and Fre'as, sensing the gods' collective creations were ready, entrusted the eternal power of Fire to the mortals of the Universe and voluntarily reincarnated themselves, this time with a mind to join the mortals of the Universe. Since the Ralgons do not know when Fire was discovered (this being well before recorded history), they instead tie the first year of their calendar with the founder of their religion. The Nameless Prophet, a potential reincarnation of Drag'os, wielded the power of Fire along with the Gods' story for everyone in the land to hear. This person is verified to have died of old age and spontaneously combusted into ash on the day of the spring solstice. This occurred exactly six months before the verified birth date of the first Ralite clan ruler who managed to unite his own clan with other warring families in the central mountains into one tribe with the same name. These two events occurred in what was to become known as the first year of the Current Era, or Current Eon as other scholars posit.

Clerics generally agree that Ralgon mythology ends here, as no other major Prophets have emerged, nor have any of the lesser Gods been known to truly manifest themselves in their reincarnations on auspicious occasions. On extremely rare occasions, a fire spirit has emerged to impart wisdom to the people, but this is usually for brief periods before it disappears. This is attributed to the god Drag'os manifesting his unique ability to appear without physical form. Gae'as is widely thought to prefer dwelling within very large, long-lived plants and living within the same form for hundreds of years, being content to watch the years roll by. Certain species of very large trees, therefore, are considered to be sacred to the Ralgons, for they do not know which plant Gae'as chooses to inhabit and use to bless the land on rare occasions -- just as dragons are considered sacred because, on equally rare occasions, these fire-breathing creatures have been known to speak and impart great wisdom on whoever hears.

== Holy Draconic Church ==

{{main|Holy Draconic Church}}

== Branching Belief Systems ==

Regional variants of Draconic exercise varying degrees of [[w:syncretism]] with either folk beliefs or even other religions. Despite prevailing syncretism outside of southern [[Drag'os]], organized worship is still highly organized and centered around the '''Holy Draconic Church'''. Draconic temples and clergy are everywhere, with dozens of full-sized Temples and thousands of consecrated shrines located throughout the island of Dragos. The headquarters of the religion is based out of the ''Temple City of Thr'or'', in southern [[Aurora]], near the border with the [[Glacier City]] city-region. So-called "Temple Draconic" refers specifically to the organized church; there is only one recognized "denomination" of the religion as of {{AN|1757}}, given the far smaller size, history, and/or or lack of organization other such sects possess.

[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Ralgon]]
[[Category:Draconic religion]]

Draconic

2026-07-06T12:54:07Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Ralgon Article}}
{{Imperial Federation Article}}
:''Not to be confused with [[Draconians]].''
{| class="toccolours" style="float:right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; font-size: 85%; width: 26em;background-color:#FFFFFF;border:1px solid #000000;"

|align=center colspan=2 | <center>'''Holy Draconic Church'''
|-
|align=center colspan=2 | [[File:WIP|200px]]
|-
| align=center colspan=5 |
|-
|'''Theology:'''|| Draconic (Pantheon with eleven gods)
|-
|'''Polity'''||
|-
|'''Founding Date'''|| 228 [[shire:AN|AN]]
|-
|'''Made Official'''||
|-
|'''Countries''' || [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] ''(state religion)''
|-
|'''Branches'''|| 121 Temples 15,000+ Shrines
|-
|'''Members'''|| About 172,500,000
|-
| align=center colspan=2 |
[[File:-- Ralgon --.png|70px]]

Statistics:
172,500,000 adherents (foreign practicing population unknown)
 80,650 deacons
 912 priests
 121 elders
|-
|}

'''Draconic''' is a Micrasian religion originating on the island of [[Drag'os]], itself located north of mainland [[Cibola]]. Overall, Draconic tenets espouse generally simplistic beliefs hinging upon living a virtuous life in pursuit of growing closer to the Gods, and upon death achieving reincarnation in a spiritual state closer to being divine than the previous life. In addition to its deities, the religion preaches the existence of such beings influencing daily life in extremely rare cases, as well as a small handful of Saints who, during their own lives, were very close to the gods. Living Saints are very rare, with the Church historically reluctant to declare any living Saints to avoid the appearance of politics.

Among the most notable adherents is the second Emperor of the Ralgons, [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro]] ({{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1704}}), who was considered to be a Saint and named head of the Holy Draconic Church during his lifetime. In the years immediately following Emperor Shiro's passing, the Holy Draconic Temple near Glacier City postponed elections until the succession crisis was over, with the Elders realizing that continual politicization of the faith would lead directly to both a schism in the Church, as well as a catastrophic loss in its worldwide congregation, especially in those countries where adherence to Draconic was a rarity. Under [[Emperor Anarion]], actual leadership of the religion had returned to a council of elders that exercise ecumenical authority within organized worship.

There is only one organized branch of appreciable size in Micras, that being the [[Holy Draconic Church]].

== History ==

The religion was founded on the oldest historic lands in which the subsequent [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] situated itself between {{AN|1665}} and {{AN|1706}} before its transformation into the [[Imperial Federation]]. The religion enjoys majority status within ethnically [[Ralgon]]-ruled countries, being practiced by well over 90% of Drag'os's population before {{AN|1715}} in the aftermath of the island's complete liberation from [[The Green]]. The Draconic religion is thought to have been founded in 228 [[shire:AN|AN]], around the same time as the Ralgon Empire's predecessor state (the Kingdom of Stormhold) also first originated with a quasi-legendary warrior-chieftain. The religion is polytheistic, containing a pantheon of eleven deities representing some general virtue as well as some aspect of creation.

According to contemporary mythology (and very limited archaeological data) the religion originated elsewhere on the island, but the original sacred sites were lost after the Cataclysm and all records of locations were lost in the Dark Ages that followed. The holy city also narrowly survived the [[Crisis of 1685]] untouched by the cataclysm and social upheaval of that time. Formerly the only officially sanction religion of the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]], the Draconic Temples were given special protections and state funding not enjoyed by other religious groups in Ralgonese territory. Its influence in state politics peaked under the reign of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], which gave the then-Emperor of Ralgon a quasi-divine status of sorts during his lifetime. Its status as the state religion ended in {{AN|1706}} with the formation of the [[Imperial Federation]]. Nonetheless, Draconic remains one of the few recognized "national religions" of the [[Imperial Federation]] per a {{AN|1755}} decree by [[Emperor Anarion]].

== Basic Tenets & Beliefs ==

=== Church Organization ===

The following reflect the official teachings of the Holy Draconic Church based on [[Drag'os]]. While followers and varying small sects of the Draconic religion often exercise a degree of [[w:syncretism]] with other religious beliefs on Micras, Temple Draconic refuses to take hard positions regarding the "one-ness" of its own belief system versus others prevailing on [[Micras]]. Instead, it teaches its own and avoids causing extensive unrest with "branching" movements. With religious violence banned since at least {{AN|1450}}, the Church was obliged to instead tie its own unity to the nations in the wake of prolonged events such as the [[Great Swamp War]], the [[Crisis of 1685]], and even the [[Ralgon War of Succession]]. The Church's core membership largely survived, and the only organized denomination of any appreciable size remains the central Church, which provides religious services for nearly seventy percent of all adherents (most of whom are on the island of [[Drag'os]]).

The subject of naming new Saints as empowered representatives of the faith (see below) was scarcely revisited after {{AN|1685}}, however, with the [[Ralgon Civil War|loss of most of the island]] once again to either [[The Green]] or foreign powers. This period ended in {{AN|1706}} after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] concluded, and the lack of Church support to the winning side contributed partly to the following loss of political power for that institution. The Holy Draconic Church's power waned in those two decades before the formation of the [[Imperial Federation]]. Any remaining political power any named Saints possessed was lost after the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] transformed into the [[Imperial Federation]], which itself secularized in {{AN|1706}}. It wasn't until well into the long reign of [[Emperor Anarion]] in {{AN|1755}} that the Church's official state recognition was restored... but only then as a list of ''recognized religious institutions'' that would enjoy state support.

=== Virtue & Reincarnation ===

The eleven gods revered by adherents of the Draconic religion represent the dualistic nature of the religion. According to Draconic teachings, there are five virtues from which all others spring, and the observance of which brings one's soul closer to the gods: Honor, Grace, Truth, Wisdom, and Strength. The gods themselves, in addition to being thoroughly virtuous in at least their given trait, also embody part of the fabric of the world, those core elements being Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Light. The gods are always worshipped as pairs, with the exception of Thr'or, the god of creation and life, who died to give life and being to the universe, and protect it against the lesser gods who once destroyed the world in a time before time.

Ralgons believe in reincarnation of the soul, as well as in a heaven of sorts. The goal of a Draconic adherent's life is to live a life of virtue and bring themselves closer to the gods, and after death to find rest until the End of All Things and then become one of them in heaven (the realm of the gods being forever separated from the physical universe), or be reborn in a position where they are better equipped to move closer. Those who live a life devoid of virtue are reincarnated into a worse life as punishment. If their lives continue this way, then their souls eventually fade from existence until their metaphysical life force is no more, and they truly cease to exist.

=== Coming Close to the Gods ===

Under current Temple doctrine, the Emperor is the single person who is closest to the Gods, and the Kings (now the Emperors) are one of the few groups of people on Earth who reliably have a connection to the remaining life force of Thr'or, whose being is scattered throughout creation. On occasion, a past King (or Emperor) is even attributed to be the reincarnation of one of the other ten Gods. The King is meant to be a particularly pious individual and uphold all the five virtues and keep the Ralgon lands in harmonious balance between the five elements. If a King lives a particularly worthy life, they gain an apotheosis of sorts. They are then revered as having ascended to be one with, yet separate from Thr'or and/or the god whose virtues they represent. These are called "Avatars" of the god they most represent, and are revered as living saints set apart (and frequently above) the priesthood in a sub-cult of their own. There are currently only one dozen Saints that have been deemed the Avatar of more than one God. Only one, Saint Adrestia, held three. No person, living or dead, has been named "Avatar of Thr'or" because this constitutes one of the few named heresies within the Holy Draconic Church (as the universe itself is contained by the body and soul of Thr'or). Awards for which god a person is an Avatar of does not respect gender, similarly to their beliefs of the cycle of reincarnation for the divine. Therefore, a man may be the Avatar of a female god, and a woman may be the Avatar of a male god, even if such practices are particularly rare.

There are few people apart from the past Kings of Ralgon declared by both the King and the Priesthood (who are viewed as different authorities informed by the gods of their sacred will) to be truly virtuous people deserving of reverence. One extremely rare example of a living person is the first Emperor of Ralgon, Shiro. Early in his reign, the priesthood conferred upon him the title of "Avatar of Bael'os" in commemoration of his successful efforts to destroy the darkness the Great Swamp represents and to subsequently open Ralgon's light up to the world, which awarded him a saintly "light" attribute. His personal and effective leadership over the very expedition into the swamp that reclaimed the Lost City of Jento as well as recovered thousands of somehow-preserved religious texts lost to history, and his ongoing efforts to uncover the rest of the island's religious history have earned him the "truth" tribute. Dispute exists as to whether he should have been awarded "strength" and "fire" instead for similar efforts, but this was narrowly voted down among the clergy for the time being. The question was never revisited due to the [[Ralgon Civil War]] and the two decades of chaos and destruction that followed.

The naming of new Saints grew especially rare after the formation of the [[Imperial Federation]] in {{AN|1706}} due to the near-complete loss of political power. However, new liberties enjoyed by the central Church past {{AN|1755}} incentivized the Elders to name new Saints. That said, almost all such Saints were no longer of any warrior, noble, or even political class in general, but instead almost entirely clergymen themselves, having rarely left Temple grounds.

==== Achieving Apotheosis ====

To date, no known foreigners have achieved any form of apotheosis, although the Draconic faith understands that one does not have to believe in the gods to live a virtuous life and reincarnate as a being who is inherently closer to the gods. It is because of this open and accepting nature that the Draconic religion spread rapidly throughout the island throughout its history. During the Temple's so-called "golden age" c.{{AN|1674}}, the Draconic faith was observed at least passively by about 90% of the population, most of the rest (about 8%) observing traditional tribal faiths or, in much rarer occasions, other obscure beliefs or foreign religions. Key to maintaining this belief is the strict rules that no active, living member of the clergy, the Templar Knights, or the Council of Elders may ever be declared a Saint. Such status is conferred upon death, or far more rarely after their retirement at an age where they can't enjoy their saintly status for very long at all.

Ralgon etiquette is incredibly strict with dealing with Saints, living or dead. Firstly, a person who holds such a truly holy status is theoretically addressed personally as "Saint" regardless of title, even if they are called "Emperor." To the Ralgons, being a reincarnation of a divine being accords one a god-like status by reason of inapproachable, unshakable, virtuous and holy presence among other mortals in this world. Deceased persons are freely addressed by their title of Saint instead of their temporal title (be it King, Emperor, or even Serf) if used reverently. For the devout (and even semi-devout) Ralgon or any other adherent of the Draconic faith, any person exhibiting such spirit of a divine child of Thr'or in their own lifetime is deemed to be far above whatever temporal authority they might have otherwise held in life. Spiritually, Saints are considered on a completely different level than usual by these people. No reigning emperor has been named a saint since the death of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1704}}.

==== Etiquette for Saints ====

Living Saints are never directly addressed by name in their presence. Nor are they addressed in second person by letter or over a communications device. Not ever, regardless of any social standing, or even whether they're from Ralgon or not. Whether the living Saint is a serf or the Emperor, the protocol remains the same. Any Saint is addressed in third-person if in their presence, or , and always with the voice directed away from their general direction. Saints may address one another directly, regardless of title or position. (Incidentally, a living Saint is among the very few people who possess the privilege of addressing the Emperor directly and, in some cases, without the need for invitation.) If they speak on religious, spiritual, or ecumenical matters, their words 'will' be listened to, regardless of their station.

During the [[Holy Ralgon Empire|Ralgon Period]], directly disobeying a Saint on spiritual matters was considered tantamount to sacrilege, and disobedience by subordinates of Saints on temporal matters was held almost akin to sinning directly against the gods. Neither were tolerated among society, and so Saints' words are customarily obeyed without question, and even treated as spoken scripture in some cases. Defiance in the form of contravening the Emperor was doubly condemned, as he himself was also named a Saint. Violators were usually treated with a level of brutality that greatly exceeded the actual crime. Regardless of Saints' own efforts in the past to stop such practices, defying such a holy person was only met with the harshest punishments allowed under the law. These practices largely stopped during the long reign of [[Emperor Anarion]] shortly after the regency ended in {{AN|1726}}, although lese majeste and other crimes against the Crown are sometimes still enforced in extremely narrowed contexts. However, the few remaining living Saints are still given social and legal privileges few others enjoy, even among the nobility.

==== Ecumenical Conflict between Saints ====

Conflicts between two or more Saints are addressed by religious protocol, because such conflict usually pertains to spiritual matters, and also has to do with what a living Saint says about another previous (dead) Saint's words. One Saint's words may trump another's down the line if they hold dual or greater apotheosis of any combination (more than one god). In this particular matter, most of Saint Adrestia's prolific works on spiritual matters are effectively considered to be infallible doctrine in the Holy Draconic Church (as she held three different canonizations and was a greatly respected warrior during her time). Another case of overrule by a living Saint over another Saint (living or dead) includes holding a higher station of spiritual (church) or temporal (imperial) authority, depending on the subject referred to. The current head of the Church (which is, 'ex oficio', the Emperor himself) trumps matters on both fronts, and a living Emperor's words usually trump a dead one's. Only King Dalgar'an II trumps living Emperors in spiritual affairs, thanks to his dual apotheosis. In the absence of spiritual matters, Saints serving in any subordinate positions of authority are nonetheless respected or even revered by their temporal or spiritual superiors. However, it is almost unheard of for a Saint to challenge another Saint in a superior position on either temporal or spiritual matters.

Conflicts between Saints (living or dead) is a commonly accepted concept in Draconic thought, since even the gods are known to debate (and even fight) one another from time to time, in order to test the balance of harmony between each other and the world around them. No living persons enjoy dual apotheosis. The closest to come to that point was [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], who was named a "Saint" (the Avatar of Bael'os, the first in many years). Therefore, he was seen as both a final spiritual ''and'' temporal authority in the land, something the Ralgon people had not experienced in nearly the last two centuries. His successor, emperor [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]], was himself named a Saint, but refused to exercise ecumenical authority even as he named the Temple as one of the Imperial Federation's recognized religious organizations in {{AN|1755}}. And indeed, the political power of the Saints was similarly curbed, and their ongoing debates had already become far more academic than political in nature by this period.

=== Qualities of the Gods ===

A common criticism of the Ralgon pantheon is that there are no Gods present that represent morally just traits such as mercy, compassion, kindness, and of course justice. This question has plagued religious doctrine and dogma in the Draconic church for centuries, and the high priests have frequently had to deal with heretics who have claimed to be some reincarnation of an unnamed, long-dead god of one of those virtues. Additionally, science has, even in centuries past, seen the discovery of a great many elements outside of the traditional five found in religious texts. As an answer to this, the clergy have published religious writings pertaining to the fact that each of the discovered elements originally came from one of the five "original elements" that divided into parts as the universe (and the new elements themselves) evolved according to the Creator's will.

Virtue is seen similarly as the elements. As the universe aged and Thr'or's creations themselves evolved, so too did their virtues. At one point there were indeed many lesser gods in the Universe. Among the mortal races there also appeared exceptionally virtuous demigods who, by their very lives, extolled the nature of at least one or more virtues, not always belonging to the original five. These were considered saintly individuals, for even the "evolved" virtues were seen as elements of a spiritually sound soul, just as the evolved elements added more wealth to the Universe's nature as a breathtaking divine creation. However, those gods whose virtues were only passive were destroyed long ago in the Time Before Time, or that era that occurred long before recorded history, when the gods were the only sentient beings in the Universe before Thr'or also poured part of his soul into the cosmos to create life, as he did with his body so long ago to create the first matter.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! God/Goddess !! M/F !! Element !! Virtue
|-
! Thr'or
| N/A || All || All
|-
! Bael'os
| M || Light || Honor
|-
! Rhud'on
| M || Wind || Grace
|-
! Glaur'on
| M || Water || Truth
|-
! Dur'on
| M || Earth || Strength
|-
! Drag'os
| M || Fire || Wisdom
|-
! Gae'as
| F || Earth || Grace
|-
! Fre'as
| F || Fire || Honor
|-
! Mar'na
| F || Water || Wisdom
|-
! Rae'as
| F || Light || Truth
|-
! Lea'na
| F || Wind || Strength
|}

=== Treatment of Foreigners ===

Treatment of foreigners is much the same for natives as for foreigners, for those who practise the Draconic faith. Anyone not an enemy in need of shelter is given good shelter and sustenance of not less than two days' time in the summer, and not less than one week in winter. They are also given protection by the master of the household during this time unless they abuse this protection or serve to the detriment of their host in any way. (There are exceptions for vagrants known to abuse this privilege, and they are frequently sent to work for the State.) The State takes in all unable to find their own shelter after this time, and then employs them in either the civil service or the Army. Combat veterans in need of shelter are never pressed back into armed service, but are instead shipped to an overseas colony of their choice, where they are free to work to rebuild their life and their family (where applicable).

Some foreigners are known to be venerated by the Faith for having virtues of their own. Due to their cultural similarities, most of said foreigners the Draconic Temple encourages their overseas believers to emulate happen to be Jing people, who themselves might not even be practitioners of the same faith. Since Draconic religion does not draw a hard bond between virtue and faith, those foreigners honored by clerics usually find this unexpected and, in some cases, quite odd. This oddity is only compounded by this honor coming from a faith that has such a relative profusion of missionaries running around trying to convert people or, at the very least, influence them to lead virtuous and honorable paths in life for themselves.

It is for these reasons that there are more adherents to the Draconic creed than to the religion itself. The legal status of the former is entirely ambiguous since practitioners of the Draconic ''creed'' are more than free to follow almost any primary religious belief they previously espoused. The legality of the religion itself outside of Ralgon territory is, however, another question entirely and not known even to the Ralgon government itself.

== Mythology ==

Ralgon mythology follows three basic "eons." The first eon in Draconic mythology is known simply as The Beginning, during which Thr'or still maintained his old form as a normal god. This lasted until the Time Before Time, when the Universe was created and all but Thr'or assumed mortal, perpetually reincarnating forms. Although it occurred before recorded history, the Time Before Time is thought to have ended with the discovery of fire at least 200,000 years ago or so. The Current Era is considered by most scholars (along with the royal household) to have begun with two very auspicious events: Firstly, with the verified death and subsequent spontaneous combustion of the Nameless Prophet in 1 CE, about 1,440 solar years ago, and with the birth date of the first ruler of the current Ralgon state about six months after. (Both people were considered to be a rare instance of the god Drag'os choosing to immediately reincarnate after his death into another similar form.)

=== The Beginning ===

Unlike with many other religions, the Draconic creation myth begins well before the Universe formed. Instead, their mythology begins with a period known in mythology only as The Beginning: in other words, the spontaneous and independent formation of the Creator God, Thr'or. Thr'or was the first of the Gods to slowly form from the empty, infinite void and gain consciousness after spending incomprehensible amounts of time forming an ethereal existence, a soul, and eventually a body. Thr'or is the one recognized in mythology as the first god to not only gain self-awareness, but also learn how to assume a physical form. Thr'or is thought to have fashioned the first forms for other souls who, like him, had spent the endlessly long era known now as The Beginning as disembodied spirits.

Over time, the gods grew restless in their new forms, and, having gathered together from the infinite Void, attempted to determine what they were, exactly. Over the course of time, the Gods came to define an existence akin to themselves as a "soul": a spiritual being independent of the body, yet permanently attached within it. The question of what defined existence was answered for a time. Eventually, their bodies had evolved past the originals they either were granted or formed for themselves, and during this time the concept of morals was developed among the gods, who had by this point lived in groups for eons and discovered their physical forms to be mortal, however long-lived they were. Having no concept of a higher power, they sought to determine who among their number could answer the question of purpose for their lives, for the Gods found that, in addition to creating new things with their minds, they could propagate a new generation of themselves by using enhanced versions of their own physical forms.

Eventually, the Gods came to the conclusion that they should create a space and lesser beings to live within it, and observe those beings to see whether their own existence could find purpose. The question over how to create this "universe" and who should rule over this vast creation immediately caused conflict, and the Gods went to war for it. Some scattered and returned to their ethereal forms, then went into the void whence they came. Others found a way to destroy each other outright. Thr'or, eventually being dragged into the conflict, turned on the rest of the Gods and drove the most violent from their midst. By the end of this conflict over Creation, only eleven gods remained gathered: of those eleven, only Thr'or and Gae'as retained their physical forms, and Drag'os had managed to manifest himself as an eternal, albeit primeval fiery spirit.

A pact was made among the Gods: the only other two among those retaining their own physical forms (Drag'os and Gae'as) were to contribute a part of their evolved physical attributes that Thr'or himself did not posses, those being warmth and true substance of form. This fire and substance, combined with Thr'or's immense soul and power of constitution, gave rise to a solid Universe capable of holding ever-changing life. Thr'or would give up his very form and body to breathe life and into the Universe and give the cosmos and its inhabitants lives and forms of their own, in addition to the souls created by the various Gods. Additionally, Thr'or's near-eternal soul, unique among the Gods, would provide an impenetrable barrier between the Universe and any remaining hostile, warring Gods. This way, the Gods' creations could also take physical form among the stars and even directly interact with their deities while they still possessed their original bodies. In this way, the Gods could all learn the meaning of life for themselves, side by side with the beings they created and allowed to evolve along with themselves within the Universe over the eons.

=== The Time Before Time ===

The moment of Creation was considered the beginning of the Time Before Time, this being the second era in Draconic mythology. Although the War of the Gods continued well past the moment of Creation, this was not considered a separate Era, but rather a consequence of the transition into the Time Before Time. After the Great Pact was struck and the ten Gods wandered into the Universe, most of their forms (with the exceptions of Thr'or, Gae'as, and Drag'os) began to slowly decay because of a dynamic and chaotic Universe now bound by the laws of Time. Eventually, eight of the original ten Gods died. Bereft of their bodies, found they could not continue their existence as normal without reincarnating into a form similar to their creations. As for Gae'as and Drag'os, they too eventually found they too needed to reincarnate to keep themselves whole, despite the eternal nature of their souls. Thus, the Gods are the only beings in the Universe perpetually bound to the cycle of reincarnation until the End of Time, rather than having their souls eventually rest until the End of All Things, when their souls pass out of the Universe to join Thr'or in the vast heavens. In return for the Gods' forced reincarnations, though, they are always reborn with great power and talent matching their virtue and element, although all but Gae'as and Drag'os usually lose the memories held by their previous bodies upon being reborn into the Universe.

=== The Current Eon ===

The Time Before Time is said to have ended when the gods Drag'os and Fre'as, sensing the gods' collective creations were ready, entrusted the eternal power of Fire to the mortals of the Universe and voluntarily reincarnated themselves, this time with a mind to join the mortals of the Universe. Since the Ralgons do not know when Fire was discovered (this being well before recorded history), they instead tie the first year of their calendar with the founder of their religion. The Nameless Prophet, a potential reincarnation of Drag'os, wielded the power of Fire along with the Gods' story for everyone in the land to hear. This person is verified to have died of old age and spontaneously combusted into ash on the day of the spring solstice. This occurred exactly six months before the verified birth date of the first Ralite clan ruler who managed to unite his own clan with other warring families in the central mountains into one tribe with the same name. These two events occurred in what was to become known as the first year of the Current Era, or Current Eon as other scholars posit.

Clerics generally agree that Ralgon mythology ends here, as no other major Prophets have emerged, nor have any of the lesser Gods been known to truly manifest themselves in their reincarnations on auspicious occasions. On extremely rare occasions, a fire spirit has emerged to impart wisdom to the people, but this is usually for brief periods before it disappears. This is attributed to the god Drag'os manifesting his unique ability to appear without physical form. Gae'as is widely thought to prefer dwelling within very large, long-lived plants and living within the same form for hundreds of years, being content to watch the years roll by. Certain species of very large trees, therefore, are considered to be sacred to the Ralgons, for they do not know which plant Gae'as chooses to inhabit and use to bless the land on rare occasions -- just as dragons are considered sacred because, on equally rare occasions, these fire-breathing creatures have been known to speak and impart great wisdom on whoever hears.

== Holy Draconic Church ==

{{main|Holy Draconic Church}}

== Branching Belief Systems ==

Regional variants of Draconic exercise varying degrees of [[w:syncretism]] with either folk beliefs or even other religions. Despite prevailing syncretism outside of southern [[Drag'os]], organized worship is still highly organized and centered around the '''Holy Draconic Church'''. Draconic temples and clergy are everywhere, with dozens of full-sized Temples and thousands of consecrated shrines located throughout the island of Dragos. The headquarters of the religion is based out of the ''Temple City of Thr'or'', in southern [[Aurora]], near the border with the [[Glacier City]] city-region. So-called "Temple Draconic" refers specifically to the organized church; there is only one recognized "denomination" of the religion as of {{AN|1757}}, given the far smaller size, history, and/or or lack of organization other such sects possess.

[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Ralgon]]
[[Category:Draconic religion]]

Imperial Federation

2026-07-06T11:43:44Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}{{SANE article}}
{{Feature|September, 2022}}
{{Infobox Nation Comprehensive
|fullname = The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Valora, Haifa, and Eternia
|commonname = Ralgon
|flag = File:Imperial Federation 1.png
|coa = File:Imperial Federation CoA 1.png
|motto = ''For God and Empire''
|anthem = Anchors Aweigh
|map =File:IFR_1740.png
|mapversions = ???
|capital =Gondolin (executive, administrative) Glacier City (religious, legislative)
|largecity = Glacier City, SAR
|lang = Ralgonese (official) Standard (official; regional)
|demnoun = Imperial Ralgonese (alternate)
|demadj = Imperial; Ralgonese Adrestian; Drag'osian; Eternian; Haifan
|govtype = Executive Monarchy
|headofstatetitle = Emperor
|headofstate = [[Anarion|Anari'on I]] (formerly called Masamune of Adrestia)
|religion = [[Draconic]] (Ralgonese regions) (other native and folk religions)
|headofgovernmenttitle = Viceroy
|headofgovernment = Nikamura Hawkins, Grand Duke of Gondolin
|legislature = Imperial Senate
|estdate = Winter, {{AN|228}} (traditional) October 23rd, {{AN year|1665}} (as [[Ralgon]] on MCS map) May, {{AN|1706}} (as the Imperial Federation) 
|agerank =
|area =
|arearank =
|pop = 317,994,774 ({{AN|1750}} census)
|activepop =
|currency = Imperial Guilder (£)
|calendar = [[Norton Calendar]] (secular) Draconic Calendar (religious)
|timezone = CMT+8 to +10:30 (Keltia) CMT-10:30 (Cibola)
|electricity = 100 V at 50 Hz
|abbrev = IFR
|drives_on = left
|gauge = 1500 mm (freight) 1000 mm (passenger; urban) 1435mm ([[Cibolan Rail|Cibolan Express]])
|site = [https://micras.org/mwiki/Category:Imperial%20Federation Category Page] [https://micras.org/mwiki/User:Cosmic_Fury User Page]
|forum = [https://bastionunion.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=1646&sid=32557dfeb48c60af1428753bfb403f56 Old Forum]
|animal = leviathan
|food = crocodile meat
|drink = Menelmacari whiskey
|tree = Al-Hamra sequoia
}}

'''The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Adrestia, Haifa, and Eternia''', known better as '''The Imperial Federation''', is a set of Imperialist, unified, sovereign states that coalesced in {{AN|1706}} following the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], being reorganized into its present form in {{AN|1724}} following various military and political campaigns aimed at centralizing the empire and its peripheries in the aftermath of recent waves of expansion. The Imperial Federation consists of three constituent countries, in addition to a number of free cities (such as [[Nova Victoria]]) and dependencies (such as [[Imperial Eura]]). A fourth constituent country, [[Eternia]], was formed from that kingdom and nearby dependencies in {{AN|1733}}, leading to a name change of the country's name. The present name was formed when [[Adrestia]] and its subordinate territories were separated from [[Ralgon|Greater Ralgon]] in {{AN|1756}}, and [[Valora]] finally absorbed into [[Ralgon]] as a constituent part of that consituent country.

At present, the Imperial Federation's constituent countries consist of the following. Firstly, [[Ralgon]] is located on a large portion of northern [[Cibola]], and includes [[Drag'os]], [[Valora]], [[West Valora]], [[East Valora]], [[Tar-Palantir]], and [[New Ralgon]]). It hosts one of the two imperial capitals, [[Glacier City]], having been the center of Ralgonese culture since time immemorial. Secondly, [[Adrestia]] is located on the east end of Keltia and includes the areas of [[South Island]] and surrounding areas, [[Nixtorm]] (and its own territories), the Isles of Eriad'or (including the new settlements of [[Scarterra]], [[Northwest Territory]], and [[Al Hamra]]. Adrestia hosts the other of the two imperial capitals, that being [[Gondolin]], founded c.{{AN|1675}}. Thirdly, [[Haifa Bassaridia]] (known simply as [[Haifa]], covers majority-Bassarid lands along the straits of the same name. Fourthly, the country of [[Eternia]] consists of that country and surrounding island groups, having joined in {{AN|1733}}. A number of autonomous territories and dependencies exist, such as [[Bomei Island]], [[Beihagh]], [[North Corum]], and [[Dromosker Island]]. It also maintains important populations in the [[International Mandate]].

The original core of what is now the Imperial Federation was formed from the Kingdom of [[Adrestia]], founded in {{AN|1675}}, and the Kingdom of [[Drag'os]], which existed as a unified polity under the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] after c. {{AN|1655}}. Adrestia's first ruler (and the progenitor of the current Emperor) was Masamune of House Adrestia, crowned as [[Emperor Anari'on]] at the age of {{AgeAN|1701|1706}} in 1706, shortly before their complete victory in a succession struggle over the Imperial Crown, after the death of its holder, Ralgon Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro I]] the year prior. The Empire is governed under the tenets of [[Draconic Humanism]], a combined religion and political ideology, which forms the basis of rule throughout most of the empire.

The Empire holds an estimated population of 317,994,774 in the {{AN|1750}} census, up from the previous estimate of 299,542,930 reported to the [[Raspur Pact]] authorities in {{AN|1740}}, in addition to another few million living in recently incorporated [[North Corum]] and [[Dromosker Island]], minus those living in [[Geneva]]. Population growth during the 1750's AN was driven by booming prosperity in territory acquired in the prior two decades, and in [[Glacier City]] with new breakthroughs in construction and food production technologies allowing an ever-greater population capacity. The Imperial Federation is the fifth-most populated country on Micras, with some 50.5% of the country's population on the island of [[Drag'os]] alone, and another 30.1% living on [[Adrestia]]. The Empire's largest city, the metropolis of [[Glacier City]], serves as the cultural and religious center of the Imperial Federation, and its wealthiest economic hub, in rivalry with the Imperial captial of [[Gondolin]] for the title. Glacier City is also one of the world's largest and most populous cities, with approximately 49,220,000 living in its legally defined area on the far eastern end of the same island in {{AN|1750}}. The Imperial Court sits at Gondolin, with Glacier City acting as a second capital and the seat of the Imperial Senate due to its profound religious importance.

The Imperial Federation shares few land borders with others on its island territories, most of those borders being old exclaves belonging to others during the Imperial Federation's expansions near its core settlements following the rise of the then-principality of [[Adrestia]] in the decades following {{AN|1680}}. In its heartland in [[South Island]], it shares a land border with a tiny exclave of [[Çakaristan|Çakaristan's]] possession of [[Tarria]]. The Imperial Federation's most notable land border on [[Cibola]] is with [[Mondosphere]] to the south on the [[Cibola]] mainland, as a result of the subsequent partitions that followed the [[Conquest of Valora]] in {{AN|1715}}. After further expansion added [[Nordhafen]] and [[East Valora]], there is a new land border with [[Gogledd Cybwl]], a constituent republic of [[Sanama]]. Since the Imperial Federation's expansion onto the Keltian mainland after {{AN|1695}}, they also border [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] on the east coast of mainland Keltia, and hold sovereign base areas near [[Windsor]], held jointly with [[New Alexandria]]. The Imperial Federation also shares certain [[Mala]] territories in condominium with [[New Alexandria]] in the same region. The constituent country of [[Bassaridia|Haifa Bassaridia]], to the north on the mainland, borders the protected state of [[Matamoros]] to the east, [[The Green]] on the west, and [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] to the northwest. [[Eternia]] has a short land border on an uninhabitable section of tundra only with [[Etourney]], via an exclave in its frigid northeast coast.

The new Imperial Federation's government was formed from a union of the victorious factions of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], and more recently from the [[Conquest of Valora]] that saw the final reunification of the Ralgon states, albeit this time under a much larger empire. While Drag'osian factions lost the war, those with Ralgonese ancestry still control most of the government due to their huge population (compared with much of the rest of the empire), with minority control being only at regional levels. Ralgonese people form the majority population in the unified Adrestia and Drag'os territories (as well as most of present-day [[Valora]], with [[Glacier City]] holding equal status as [[Gondolin]] as one of the Imperial Federation's two imperial cities. Most the empire's territories are directly formed around these two polities. Nixtorm, now a large territory, remained loyal and sent troops to fight, and was awarded its own place in the new Imperial Senate. The same happened with Scarterra, the northern half of which was repatriated to Ralgon following a major land swap with [[Calbion]] that restored all of its former territories, along with the Badlands and the freeport region of [[Duro]]. The infant government applied to join the [[Raspur Pact]], due to the very strong influence of [[Draconic Humanism]] and [[National humanism]] within its highest ranks, while relations with neighboring [[Calbion]] have continued to significantly warm under the new government, after years of animosity following the terrorist attack on Glacier City at the hands of the [[Iron Company]] in {{AN|1673}}.

Despite the military power it commands, the Imperial Federation's reach does not extend in significant force outside of its home regions, with reliance on permanent bases to maintain its overseas empire and ensure concrete ties between its constituent countries. The government has variously managed periods of rapid rise and overextension, with its military finally expanded sufficiently to allow sustainable consolidation of its holdings, this expected by {{AN|1760}}. The Imperial Federation has variously partnered with its neighbors to hold far-flung territories. One example is the Ralgonese government's constant struggle to maintain holdings in [[Keltia]]'s deep interior, especially [[Imperial Haifa]], where [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]] aided efforts to bring order to the region, aiding integration of millions into the imperial fold and the expansion of its already-large defense industry. The other is the partnership with [[Floria]] during the [[Corum War]] to secure additional territory to link the core of the empire with [[Eternia]] and [[Beihagh]] and other far-flung areas, and thus complete a far less vulnerable maritime connection were it to come into conflict with foreign powers.

In the government's early days, its solution to remedy its chronic overextension was to join the [[Raspur Pact]] in late {{AN|1706}} to counter its weakness in an army and air force that still remained relatively small for a nation of this size. In later decades, it adopted a pattern of regional political, economic, and military alliances to protect mutual interests and enable clear power projection. Although the Imperial Federation joined few other supranational organizations, it nonetheless made paradoxical moves to adopt a largely peaceful coexistence with its neighbors and upgrading its military might, to defeat its issues of controlling such a large amount of maritime territory and maintaining free, safe trade throughout its now-vast maritime empire. Recent years have been characterized by the accelerated population growth and consolidation of its holdings, largely eschewing further territorial expansion despite continual opportunities to press farther into [[The Green]] in Keltia.

==Etymology==
The Imperial Federation of Ralgon, Adrestia, Eternia, and Haifa takes its name as a collective of older polities that have made up the modern empire since approximately 1665 AN, when it was first included as Ralgon on the MCS map. Although no longer its own consolidated country as of {{AN|1756}}, so-called "Greater Ralgon" consists of the two Ralgonese states of Adrestia and Drag'os, and are considered as the same greater polity under Imperial law due to their shared sovereign. These two now form two of the empire's four constituent countries, and are by far the two most populated as well. The name changed in {{AN|1723}}, albeit unofficially, to reflect the inclusion of most former [[Bassarid]] homelands into the Empire, and the increased dependence of [[Tar-Palantir]] on its surrounding provinces. Every few decades or so, the Imperial Federation has changed its name to reflect the co-equal status of the most powerful portions of its multipolar empire.

=== Ralgonese Peoples ===
The Ralgon name comes from a combination of "Ral," the name of the people which originated in what is now [[Stormhold]] on the island of [[Drag'os]], and "gon" which denotes a people, or a sense of belonging in the ancient Ralgonese language. The homeland of the Ralgonese peoples is a territory called [[Stormhold]], itself located on [[Drag'os]], a large island territory located just off northern [[Cibola]]. As for [[Drag'os]] itself, it takes its name after the fire god worshipped in the [[Draconic]] religion. According to local mythology, it was a reincarnation of Drag'os who founded the first Ralgon state in Stormhold, which itself takes its name from an early ruler who preferred to worship Glaur'on, the god of water, wisdom, and storms.

After the unification of the Ralgonese and ethnically related nations on Drag'os in 1655, [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]] commissioned expeditions to colonize a group of islands near Keltia to expand the empire's territory in case of further natural disasters at home, a near-daily occurrence on Drag'os. Adrestia itself was named after one of the early great saints of the Draconic Church, and like the Ralgonese on Drag'os, Adrestia came to likewise rule over the entirety of its own region. It is from the two Ralgonese peoples that the Imperial Federation draws its present strength, authority, and legitimacy over its other dominions across the [[Great Western Sea|Great Western Ocean]].

=== Other Dominions ===
Nixtorm's history is almost as old as Ralgon was, and the origins of its formerly tribal name are now lost to history. It is thought that Nixtorm was a primordial word for the people of the Stormlands, due to the wet climate on Drag'os's eastern seaboard. These peoples took the name with them when they relocated to southeast [[Keltia]] following the first [[Ralgon Civil War]] in 1685. They retained loyalty to their Ralgonese cousins to the present day.

Valora is a collection of provinces on the mainland of [[Cibola]] as well as the island of [[Tar-Palantir]]. Formerly its own country, its much more populated northern half was annexed following the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in the early 1700's.

Scarterra is, loosely, a collection of two separated provinces, thanks to an exodus of its peoples following the 1685 crisis, which saw much of the island overrun with disasters, geological and otherwise. The province was reformed on Drag'os following the island's reunification in the early 1700's. Dubbed "New Scarterra," in the Isles of Eriador (near [[South Island]]), this houses a number of the barons that chose to establish and maintain their domains overseas. Scarterra proper consists in great part of returnees from what is now known as [[Inis Balar]] following the mainland's repatriation. Since then, both areas have been populated heavily with Menelmacari and other Ralgonese ethnic groups in the following years, leading to a minority-"native" population there.

Tar-Palantir is an island named after the ancient [[Menelmacar|Menelmacari]] traditions, some of which Tar-Palantir's colonizers have begun to revive in recent years. The island's namesake was a ruler of the Ralgonese state of Stormhold, and served as one of the founders of what would form the core of modern Drag'osian government until the recent [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in 1705-1707 AN. Other such influences are found throughout the Imperial Federation's holdings on Keltia, where many cities are named after mythological people or objects from Menelmacari histories uncovered since the revival of interest in the early 1700's AN. The island's majority ethnicity consists of a mixed Valoran and Menelmacari heritage, with political leanings to the former despite the latter's heavy linguistic and cultural influences.

==History==

=== The Early Period (228 AN - 1178 AN) ===

Also known as the Dark Ages, this was period of factionalism and endless crises for Ralgon. History from this period is scarce, although certain pieces do survive. For instance, the Ralgonese tribes dispersed throughout modern-day [[Drag'os]], and by {{AN|1200}} were a single polity that was situated in a strategic location in the south-center of the island. The chief enemies of the period were primarily the hostile fauna, notably the dragons. While the insectoid lifeforms of the [[Great Swamp]] were a dire threat, they were, by and large, manageable by this time. The lightning dragons were, however, a far different story, for they were responsible for the near-extinction of the Ralgonese peoples on the island on several occasions, the worst by far being in {{AN|228}}, before which recorded history apparently does not survive outside of modern [[Glacier City]], the mountainous environment in which the locals found life-saving shelter. The current principal Ralgonese ruling tribes descend from those same refugees who eventually spread throughout the island in the next thousand years.

It was around the year {{AN|800}} that the nascent [[Draconic]] religion was first recorded being adopted by Ralgonese chieftains and petty rulers. Archaeological evidence concludes that Draconic originated in the Badlands to the northwest of the island, where (ironically) the dragons lived in the highest concentrations. Outside of religious proselytization, events were largely cyclical throughout the island until the year {{AN|1178}}, with the eastern and western portions maintaining no contact, with the Ralgonese nobility eventually finding their way into the courts of other territories in a bid to consolidate the region against the dragons and Great Swamp "bugs" ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_gigantism gigantic insectoid species of a wide variety]). However, a major dragon attack by an elder lightning dragon and its retinue destroyed most of the nobility, and the region in the east experienced a violent political reset, while the west was so devastated by the dragon attacks that its peoples fell entirely out of contact with the rest of the world until nearly {{AN|1680}}.

The slowly modernizing [[Glacier City]] survived the onslaught, as did certain nobility in the environs of Valeria in the most well-defended areas of Stormhold. It was shortly after this catastrophe that the first universities began to appear in the country, some being relics of old conflicts, now solidified and given "universal" privileges to act as education institutions. For institutions that survive to the point, such as the [[University of Glacier City]], these same organizations' origins are typically tied to Draconic Temples in their respective cities, only detaching centuries later as each entity grew too large for the other to reasonably house or manage. The attacks, while devastating on the frontier populations and the inland dwellers, forced a population concentration and accelerated the region's rapid onset of industrialization (and better defenses).

=== The Intermediate Period (1178 AN - 1655 AN) ===
The Intermediate Period was defined by the initiation of the Great Swamp Wars in earnest to take back the inland regions and relieve agricultural pressure on the rapidly growing population, as fishing could only sustain so many people, despite the abundant waters and large prey items that the fishing industry could readily target. By the time {{AN|1200}} rolled around, these wars had begun in earnest, with each of the various surviving eastern polities on Drag'os attempting to assert their own control away from the coastal regions and into the fertile, well-watered lands between the coast and the Great Swamp. Exploration during these times was limited to the eastern half of the island, due to the Great Divide to the west acting as too great a physical barrier, especially with hostile dragons inhabiting the region.

Overall, the Great Swamp Wars, were the series of long-term conflicts that formed both the definition and basis of the Ralgon nation until c. {{AN|1680}}. The so-called "War" was neither a single conflict, nor was it fought between nations. Instead, it was a conflict fought between the peoples inhabiting the island of [[Drag'os]] and the megafauna of various sorts that inhabited the Badlands, which were divided into eastern and western halves by the Great Divide (itself a series of mountain ranges that divided the island in two). The War may be divided into four phases marked by significant events: The Atomic Bombardment of 1450, the Dark Age, the Atomic Bombardment of 1672, and the Western Campaign of 1680.

The initial phases of the conflict lasted until c. {{AN|1400}}, with modernizing weapons enabling the surviving polities of Stormhold, Nixtorm, Scarterra, and others to compete directly with the most dangerous fauna inland for natural resources. However, their pathological hostility towards humans and the high reproduction replaced losses while inflicting grievous setbacks on the Ralgonese defenders. A stalemate was achieved until Stormhold manufactured an atomic device that it successfully deployed in the depths of the Great Swamp in the year {{AN|1450}}, which wiped out the dragon population on the eastern half of the island, almost to the last creature. However, the atomic blast had existentially dangerous consequences: it irradiated the already-large bugs, and permanently drove most lightning dragons into lifelong killing frenzies that nearly, again, wiped out all life on the island. The only thing saving them was, ironically, more nukes until their store had run dry. Making a resolution to never use fissile warheads again, the idea was seemingly set aside permanently to sustain the growing tide of giant bugs now crawling out of the Great Swamp in record numbers. While a stalemate was eventually reached once again, the Ralgonese were still driven even closer to the coast, and the population situation eventually began to deteriorate despite extremely high fertility rates among women.

The tides began to slowly turn under the reign of [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]], whose clan and subordinate tribes initially controlled only the coastal fringes of what is now [[Stormhold]]. After the Ralgon tribes colonized and settled the fertile and secure valleys and coastlines at the far east end of the island, the settlement known as [[Glacier City]] quickly grew to dwarf its mother country in population due to a general lack of hardship. By the time Nobunag'an came into power in {{AN|1594}}, The resulting boost in manpower and territory propelled the Ral clans to form the Ralgon nation, which slowly forced their way north and east to link up with other peoples in the region, most notably those from what used to be the regions of [[Nixtorm]], [[Aurora]], and [[Scarterra]]. With their forces and technology combined, the new Ralgon state went on to defeat the enemy, with Nobunag'an IV going down in history as the man who saved his people from extinction. The country would eventually modernize enough to deploy a non-fissile atomic weapon in {{AN|1672}}, near the end of Nobunag'an's reign, in time for [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] to come in to ostensibly finish the job.

=== Late Ralgon Period ({{AN|1655}} - {{AN|1706}}) ===

The Ralgon of the late period eventually grew into a quasi-feudal empire that remained closed to the world until c. {{AN|1655}}. The Ralgon Empire has heavily influenced and/or governed the entire island of Dragos (known to the wider world as "El Dorado") for its first two centuries, and despite attempts to colonize and control more hospitable lands abroad, internal crises ranging from overpopulation in [[Glacier City]] to difficulties controlling the hinterland proved to be its eventual downfall. After having initially consolidated diplomatic control of most of the island (and at great cost), the Ralgon Empire developed some of the world's most advanced science, engineering, and medicine, which it used to briefly take over the island in a "manifest destiny" style of expansion. This golden age proved ephemeral, however. From {{AN|1680}} to {{AN|1700}} the central Ralgon government lost almost its entire frontier and nearly two-thirds of its heartlands in Drag'os in quick succession to a series of cataclysmic events during the so-called Crisis of the 1680's (which affected many other major such as [[Frankish Empire]], [[Stormark]], and others). Some of these same physical, natural, and economic upheavals spurred the government into military/political disasters as the [[Ralgon Civil War]] and the [[Cibolan Reconquista]].

Due to this series of military and political disasters, the central government also slowly lost its grip on its colonies, which continued to grow rapidly in size and population, sometimes at their mother country's expense. Power struggles at home and endless wars were waged abroad on mainland [[Cibola]] in a desperate effort for the Empire to hold onto its remaining authority, but to little avail. The Ralgon state was reduced to a mere shadow of itself on its own homeland, having shrunk some 80 percent, with foreign powers such as the [[Bassarid Empire]] and [[Calbion]] occupying parts of [[Drag'os]] during the ensuing few decades, this occupation being a cause of public shaming for the already-weak government. These wars continued until the Holy Ralgon Empire's final recognized Emperor, [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], formally declared that he would bequeath his crown in an otherwise illegal act to the Prince of Adrestia upon his death. This managed to stave off the undead in northern Cibola and the various rebelling clans and tribes remaining in the newly created in [[The Green]] now surrounding Ralgon on all sides.

The central government barely continued to hold authority under this agreement until shortly after the unexpected illness and death of Emperor Shiro to a very rare and aggressive form of cancer in {{AN|1704}}. In a state of confusion and caught unprepared against this sudden development, the central government found itself leaderless and Adrestia with only a child on the throne. In the power struggle that immediately followed, the central government rallied around the Imperial Senate. In a closed-door ceremony, the majority of the Dragosian-based Senators deliberately excluded their more powerful colonies and nominated their own candidate in [[Prince Draegar Ral]]. This immediately triggered a civil conflict wherein pro-Adrestian and pro-Senate forces vied for control over imperial authority. While the pro-Adrestian faction remained mostly united throughout the war, the pro-Senate faction divided almost immediately due to the dubious circumstances behind both contenders' claim to the Imperial Throne, with Glacier City's defection to Adrestian interests and a following political purge in the city proving the trigger for the civil war to begin.

After the defection of [[Glacier City]], much of [[Dragon's Reach]], [[Nova Victoria]], and the massive naval infrastructure that all of these provided, the war quickly proved to be one-sided in favor of the now-powerful maritime empire the Ralgons had originally built abroad. The new government of the Empire took shape out of these factions, with Glacier City taking pre-eminent authority over Drag'os due to Stormhold's desire to remain pro-Senate. The island's heavily defensible terrain rapidly lead to a slow grind in the land war for Adrestian naval forces, which weren't used to fighting wars deep inland. The pro-Adrestian military forces grossly underperformed in mainland Cibola, where the remainders of the pro-Draeg'ar Senate eventually relocated, and in deep inland parts of [[Drag'os]] and the mountainous frontiers deep inside of the recently conquered [[Tar-Palantir]] island territories. However, the front was extremely one-sided for Adrestian forces inland, and the lines formed along the interiors of the empire's Cibolan territories as fighting dragged to a stalemate along the few remaining active fronts. The [[Ralgon War of Succession]] lasted nearly two years, until the Holy Ralgon Empire finally fell to pro-Adrestian forces, whose diplomats and troops went on to win political victories. The near-total military victory at home, following the complete restoration by diplomacy of former Ralgonese territories in the heartland, finally crushed what little determination organized Senate resistance had left to fight.

=== Early Years of the Federation ({{AN year|1706}}-{{AN year|1715}}) ===
With the end of the war came the prices that needed to be paid for victory. While the pro-Adrestian forces found themselves with near-total victory, the casualty count was high and they still lost the inland territories of mainland Cibola to the opposing camps. The remainder of the Senate needed to be dealt with, and the government of Drag'os rebuilt after the model of [[Draconic Humanism]], which was going to be a long and costly process. The Adrestian Navy had ranged this entire region of the world flushing out and destroying resistance among anti-Imperial factions, and this was a difficult task to accomplish in far-flung territories like Dragospire and Ryugawa. However, their efforts were far from pointless, as the now-Imperial Federation Navy had uncontested control of its seas, albeit at the cost of terrible overextension (for which it eventually compensated by abandoning certain remote outposts).

The Imperial Federation quickly found that it had greatly overextended due to unprecedented territorial gains. With a massive empire to run, the central government was forced to consolidate its vast holdings, but it would not abandon territories outside of its historic periphery pointlessly. Instead, deals were reached with [[Calbion]] at the end of 1706 during the closing phases of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to trade off their strategic island colonies off northwest Keltia, as well as the greater half of the baronies of Scarterra (which were compensated with large holdings elsewhere in the empire), for the last remaining foreign territory on the Ralgonese homelands. Following this huge political victory, though, the vast majority of the people of Scarterra emigrated to other portions of the empire, following their respective lords or barons. The exceptions were a great part of those civilians who stayed in the Dragospire territory, many of whom became Calbain subjects, having sympathized with the Senatorial forces. However, this overextension of Imperial military assets was to be felt for years to come, with the Imperial Navy unable to extend the Army's reach farther than the already-vast holdings controlled by the centers of power in Gondolin and Glacier City.

The legacy of Emperor Shiro was felt throughout the Empire, and the concept of open rebellion so soon after his death raised a specter of national guilt that needed to be quashed. Thanks to the efforts of the central government's propaganda machine (rumored to be helped by humanist organizations elsewhere), the war was spun as protecting the late Emperor's legacy and fulfilling his hard-fought dream with him as a guardian spirit of sorts, rather than spurning it with such a radical change of government. With these changes afoot, the Imperial Federation was forced to be relatively quiet in world affairs, with the notable exception of the [[Ludwiggian-Monovian War]], which saw Imperial forces send materiel to help Raspur Forces deliver a strong conclusion to the fighting.

==== Post-War Expansions (1715-{{AN year}}) ====

===== Conquest of Valora (1715-1718) =====
{{main|Conquest of Valora}}

The Imperial Federation had bided its time wisely, although this was completely unknown to the Emperor, now a teenager, never mind his government, which had done its best to combat Imperial overextension of military assets in the few years following the Imperial victory over the rump state now known as Valora {{AN year|1706}}, the latter ironically consisting only in small part of formal Valoran territory, with the rest being Ralgonese holdings under central government control in name only in most places.

The peace generated by the stalemate was only an illusion, however. The two states were, at least formally, still in a state of war with each other, although Draegarist loyalists to the south were questioning the reasoning for this to begin with. The [[Ralgon Reconquista]] and its prior [[Cibolan Reconquista]] were still official government policy, on both sides now. With the abandonment of northern Cibola by [[Sanama]] in 1717, the Imperial Federation was, temporarily, given leave to do whatever they wanted at the flank of "New Ralgon", the initial territory formed by the Draegarist government as a buffer between their new capital of Yixing and the considerable naval forces prowling at every major coast of the country.

The Imperial Federation, strengthened by its military expansion in the past ten years, knew exactly what to do and how to respond. They launched a flanking invasion from the freshly liberated "New Cibola" (nicknamed because of the new populations from old cities on [[Drag'os]]), and before a year was out, effective military movements and a few key battles were effectively all it took for the Imperial Federation's military juggernaut, with Raspur backing, to trigger the weakened Valora's near-total collapse outside of its heartland deep in Cibola's interior. While the Imperial Federation could only content itself with Valora's northern half and western coastlines, this was still exactly what they wanted, as they secured the unclaimed [[Green]] for themselves in the process and left Valora's remaining territory to be absorbed by Mondo in an act of self-preservation.

==== Post-Conquest Expansions (1718-1721) ====
{{Main|Operation Icebox}}
{{Main|Imperial Eura}}

The Imperial Federation's efforts to expand off the coast of Eura was, by comparison to Valora, far easier and significantly more uneventful. However, securing sovereignty over parts of the new territories eventually carried a significant financial price tag that stung the Imperial Court's efforts to fully develop these new territories for several years. Authority had long collapsed in the region, but aside from low-threat pirates, hostile forces were scarcely found, with most of the regions' populations welcoming the return of security and prosperity to the islands off the coast of Eura. Named the Forgotten Isles in the years leading up to it, the only presence of authority over the past five years in the area was a very large Imperial Navy base centered on the port city of [[Farquat]].

From this centralized base, the Imperial Federation quickly consolidated what it was now calling "Imperial Eura," which was just a collection of islands off the southern coast of the continent. The region quickly gained renewed strategic importance following first contact with a nation to the far south of Micras, known to the Imperials as "Frigia" (which turned out later to be simply the western portion of that country). While the islands were initially inhabited by only a few thousand people, they were located directly between the Imperial bases south of Eura and Tapfer farther to the west. Meanwhile, their position next to a new trading partner made acquiring these islands peacefully a top priority of the Imperial Court. Details aside, the natives eventually agreed to sell the islands outright, but charged the Imperial Federation a significant price, which included a hefty sum of hard currency, as well as large modernization investments on part of the Imperials, as both had major priorities of their own in building the region's peripheries to a modern standard.

{{Main|Operation Thunder Drop}}
{{Main|Imperial Haifa}}

In terms of economic and military might, the Imperial Federation had reached yet another plateau of power and prosperity following the annexation of Valora following the Conquest. Having freed the majority of its now battle-tested personnel, the Imperial Court sought to give their soldiers something to keep themselves sharpened on, as well as a way to integrate formerly Valoran soldiers into the Imperial armed forces. The opportunity quickly came for both the small Imperial Federation Army and the brown water elements of the Imperial Federation Navy to test their mettle on an entirely new front: [[Haifa]]. Unfortunately, they got more than they initially bargained for in these efforts.

The region had fallen apart in the wake of the [[Haifo-Palliscian Trad Union|Bassarid Empire's]] collapse of authority in the region by {{AN|1718}}. Given the meteoric rise in importance of the Strait of Haifa to maritime trade between the [[Imperial Federation]] and its far-northern neighbors in [[Normark]], the Imperial Federation quickly occupied strategic points in the region, hoping to expand their influence and instill order in the region after models successfully implemented in places like [[Tar-Palantir]], [[Valora]], and elsewhere in the Empire. However, these efforts were almost immediately forced to a slow grind by the [[Confederation of the Dispossessed]]. The situation was not helped by a strained treasury, as the Imperial Court was also focused on building the new Euran and Trans-Euran territories in [[North Frigia]] and [[Imperial Eura]], and rebuilding [[New Ralgon]] and [[North Valora]].

In the midst of these operations and significant financial investments in building (or rebuilding) its recent gains, the Imperial Federation's expansions slowed down, as it continued to focus its military operations on construction, securing the seas, and otherwise hammering away at the Haifan situation. Peace would not come to the latter for several years. The slowdown of Imperial expansion was interrupted by the full consolidation and recognition by the MCS of its consolidation of the Imperial Federation's Euran territories.

=== Modern Period (1722-) ===

==== Extended Regency Period (1722-1727) ====
The Imperial Federation entered 1722 AN with renewed vigor. It had sent the Emperor [[Anarion]] to university at [[Metzler University]] in 1719 with the intention of education the already-powerful leader in statecraft, economics, and other vital skills for his station. He spent his time there learning how the Shireithians reintegrated their now-vast holdings in the early 1700's, with the expectation to apply those lessons to the Imperial Federation, which went through a similar period of dramatic expansion only recently. After his marriage to [[Qasima Çakar]] in 1720, the relevant authorities jointly agreed that Qasima would join her new husband in [[Shirekeep]] to attend the same university so as to keep the couple together. The Emperor turned 21 in 1722 AN, and would otherwise have formally taken power at Gondolin. However, he extended the Regency by two years as he wished to complete his studies abroad. The Emperor is scheduled to graduate in 1723, where he will remain in the city until his wife graduates that next year. He is expected to spend time strengthening ties between the Imperial Federation and other members of the Raspur Pact during his time abroad, until he travels to another center of Raspur Pact power for graduate studies. He is expected to extend the Regency once more until 1726, but this remains a subject of speculation.

The Imperial Federation conducted pauses on its territorial expansion during this time to further consolidate its far-flung holdings throughout Micras. Although the Imperial Federation aimed for great power status and could theoretically achieve this through its thalassocratic doctrine, its army and air force remained comparatively small for a country of that size and scope across the oceans. The military situation over the prior several years brought this weakness into sharp relief, and the Imperial Federation spent more time consolidating territorial gains and encouraging settlement to stabilize (and possibly even expand) its farthest-flung frontiers in Keltia and elsewhere. Deep in the Keltian interior, military situation stabilized on the resurgence of a new Bassarid state (albeit greatly reduced) in [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]]. In this sense, the long-running policy of peaceful integration of formerly [[Bassarid]] peoples (whether or not recently annexed) slowly paid off. The takeover of that country stabilized the military situation to the [[Strait of Haifa]]'s west bank, allowing the Imperials to cement and legitimize their hold on the so-called "Central Zone" (south and east of Lake Monovia). This in turn allowed them to continue their extraterritorial expeditions on the Haifan East Bank, allowing them to retain and stabilize the region over the next few years.

Emperor [[Anarion]] ascended to formally take personal power in {{AN|1727}}, after he chose to briefly delay his return, having finished his studies at [[Metzler University]] in international affairs at [[Shirekeep]]. Instead of immediately returning home, however, he embarked on a grand tour in [[Shireroth]] in late {{AN|1726}} with his wife, in which he learned more of the greater empire's system of governance, which he intended to partially implement on his return. His coronation was held on New Year's Day, {{AN|1727}}, in a lavish ceremony.

==== Reign of Emperor [[Anarion]] ====

Pacification of Imperial-held [[Bassaridia]] was achieved by {{AN|1728}}, by which time the Imperial Federation was able to focus on integrating its other far-flung territories, especially those near Eternia. Otherwise, the initial years of the Emperor's reign were characterized by a period of stability and quiet in the internal government, as well as integrating formerly antagonist elements back into Imperial society, in an effort to close the chapters on the previous civil wars permanently. The following years would be spent quietly, with slower movements on a military aspect, instead with the Imperial government focused on consolidating control through building infrastructure and supply chains to both redevelop the region and give freedom of movement to its labor force, and strengthen military capabilities by drastically shortening the armed forces' supply chains throughout the region. This was accomplished through {{AN|1730}}, by which time the region slowly stabilized into a larger, consolidated bloc covering most of inland Keltia along the Haifa strait, from the northern Bassarid-majority areas to the increasingly diverse populations of the Northwest Territory (now called West Menelmacar), centered on [[Blore Heath]] and other settlements.

In the far-flung region of [[Eternia]], preparations were underway to integrate the protectorate's economy with its formerly northern frontiers, and with [[Imperial Eura]]. With the expansion of trade within the region following [[Oportia|Oportia's]] expansion, the Imperial Federation's island territories off the coast of Eura further increased in economic and strategic importance. With both territories slowly sinking into Imperial control, annexation would become a quiet subject of conversation within the halls of power. While there was little enthusiasm for direct action by {{AN|1730}}, given the Emperor Anarion's own focus squarely on strengthening Imperial infrastructure, particularly within the northwestern regions, there was merit in integrating these valuable domains into a so-called "Greater Eternia," under the imperial banner.

==== 1730's Economic Boom ====

In the former [[Valora]] region, efforts to reintegrate the region continued apace, with the mixing of the Valoran and Ralgonese populations forming a supermajority of (non-undead) inhabitants in the region. Centered around [[Nova Victoria]], it would form effectively another core Ralgon province by the opening of the 1730's AN. Cross-border migration with [[South Valora]] continued through these years, with subsections of North Valora's more conservative Valorans wary of the prospect of complete assimilation with their Ralgonese brethren. However, these figures did little to impact popular sentiment, due to the return of normalcy to the region under Imperial auspices. With prosperity no longer a pipe dream for most of the population, but increasingly accessible to those outside the ruling class, anti-Imperial sentiment remained minimal throughout this period, contributing to a period of quiet the region had not seen since the brief [[Barbary]] period some 50 years prior. The area would be effectively reintegrated with the rest of Ralgonese-populated regions by {{AN|1735}}.

Internal expansion would follow into the 1730's, with the increasing growth of periphery regions leading to a heavy population boom throughout the Empire. Increasing industrialization in the provinces and near-complete restoration of infrastructure in the [[Haifa]] regions contributed to not only a greatly increased output of manufactured goods, but the development of vast, valuable farmlands along the entire Strait of Haifa region. With mass interchanges of peoples between the various provinces and dominions, the demographic changes saw the Imperial Federation become more cosmopolitan throughout the early 1730's. In turn, this contributed to a renewal of Imperial Federation military strength, namely in ships and aircraft used to protect trade and territorial interests in far-flung places like Eura.

This increased political and economic strength was especially felt on the peripheries, and the effect was that the Imperial Federation's central government became far more capable of administering its less densely populated territories. With an increasing presence on, and influence over, [[Eternia]], the decision to entertain proposals for annexation were finally entertained by both parties for the first time. Eventually, a complex agreement was made to annex the region by the end of {{AN|1733}}, in which the Eternian islands could be consolidated with most of [[Imperial Eura]], then collectively given autonomy similar to that of other Provinces of the Empire. While Eternia would keep its local monarchy on its mainland, the newly constituted "Greater Eternia" would nonetheless name the Imperial Federation as its formal suzerain and send representatives to the Senate, and name Anarion as Emperor of Eternia. Thus, the islands would be able to fully benefit from [[Raspur Pact]] membership, as well as direct representation within the greater empire.

==Government==

===Defence===
{{main|Grand Armada of the Sunfire Sea}}

==Foreign Relations==
{{main|Ralgonese Foreign Relations}}

A member of the [[Raspur Pact]] since {{AN|1706}}, the Imperial Federation is a regional great power, with control over much of Northern Cibola and Southeast Keltia by {{AN|1720}}, with heavily populated colonies in other regions such as the far south of Eura and [[Haifa]]. The Imperial Federation actively pursues aspirations to attain great power status. While the Imperial Navy grants a near-global reach that contributes to a considerable overseas empire, the central government has found itself incapable of nearly the same level of power projection in matters involving primarily land operations outside of Cibola, eastern Keltia, and in proximity to its holdings on Eura. With a rapidly growing population, the Imperial Federation grew to over 250 million inhabitants as of {{AN|1730}}, thanks in part to a continuously booming economy under the current Emperor [[Anarion]], high fertility, and territorial expansion into heavily populated regions through the 1720's. The Imperial Federation enjoys a strong industrial sector, advanced military (especially their navy), and cutting edge feats of engineering into the present day.

However, the Imperial Federation's rise to global prominence has only occurred in the years following its now-current government's victory in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], having been almost entirely confined to coastal waters for most of their existence on the [[MCS]] map, especially after the 1680's crises. With the Imperial Federation only recovering from its overextension after the [[Conquest of Valora]] through the 1710's and 1720's, the nation has tended to operate on the global stage in concert with other [[Raspur Pact]] powers. Additionally, the scope of the Imperial Federation's foreign affairs is, largely, limited to interactions within the [[Raspur Pact]]. These are major issues that the Imperial government has attempted to prepare the new Emperor, [[Anarion]], to address on his planned ascension to formally rule the country by {{AN|1725}}. However, the new Emperor's favored policies remained those of a modest pace of territorial expansion, focusing instead on internal development and allowing the empire's power projection capabilities to catch up to long-term economic, human, and territorial gains over the past two decades.

Alongside its membership in the Pact, the Imperial Federation enjoys warm relations through other countries as well, including [[Çakaristan]], which signed a marriage pact in which [[Qasima Çakar]] married the Emperor in {{AN|1720}}. Additionally, the Emperor is, by virtue of his marriage, a member of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]], although he has not been observed openly exercising privileges associated with this title.

=== Military Matters ===

{{main|Raspur Pact}}

The thalassocratic history of the Imperial Federation may be traced to [[Adrestia]], which built the vast majority of its own military power through its navy. Meanwhile, [[Ralgon]] had built up its power with its massive array of cutting-edge artillery and anti-air defense systems, accounting for the [[Great Swamp War]] and the campaign against the island's incredibly dangerous dragon population. With the majority of the country's ground forces tied down in domestic pacification, the navy became the new Imperial Federation's mainstay in maintaining hegemony over its often-sparsely populated frontiers. Membership in the Raspur Pact provided a convenient solution to these pressing questions, allowing the Imperials to continue focusing its ground forces on domestic matters, while constantly assisting with operations with its increasingly large, experienced, and powerful navy.

The Imperial Federation also has agreements signed with [[Eternia]], with the latter being a ''de facto'' protectorate of the Imperial Federation through shared maritime defense networks in the region. The relationship gave the Imperial Federation a strong trading network to rare minerals, but also additional justifications for settling the isles south of Eura with a very rapidly-growing colony. Eternia was subsequently annexed as a Kingdom of the Imperial Federation in {{AN|1733}}.

=== Dynastic Policies ===

{{main|Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar}}

Historically, the Ralgonese ruling houses had little dynastic connections to foreign royalty. With rapidly dwindling numbers past {{AN|1680}} with its various crises, abdications, reforms, and stripping of titles, the now-Imperial House eventually found itself bereft of members to marry off. Eventually, only the Emperor himself was a major asset in this regard. Because of this two-fold problem, the Regency Council in {{AN|1715}} decided firmly that the Imperial Federation's ruling house should belong to a prestigious network. The government conducted inquiries, therefore, and began looking for partners outside of its usual sphere of diplomatic affairs.

Eventually, an offer was settled between the [[Shahanshah of Çakaristan]], [[Jaaguzan]]. Under the auspices of this agreement, [[Anarion]] married [[Qasima Çakar]], the daughter of [[Akbar Çakar]] (the former ruler of [[Çakaristan]] and [[Jodha Avchat]]. The marriage took place in {{AN|1720}}, when Anarion was 19 and Qasima was 18. The two then traveled to Shirekeep for university studies, placing the matter of offspring until Anarion's formal coronation and assumption of full-time duties as Emperor by {{AN|1726}}. By extension, Anarion also became a [[Knight of the Lakes]], forming a strong family-based connection with [[Hurmu]] as well. The two have five children as of {{AN|1733}}.

==Economy==

==Science & Technology==

==Geography==
=== Position on Micras===

On Micras, the majority of the Imperial Federation's holdings and population centers are concentrated in two places: Southeast [[Keltia]] (so-called "Greater Adrestia"), and Northern [[Cibola]] (especially [[Drag'os]], known to past cartographers as [[El Dorado]]). In addition to its traditional heartlands, the Imperial Federation holds extensive territory in those same regions and, through a network of regional and global alliances and treaties with neighbors, enjoys hegemony over increasingly well-defined maritime regions between these territorial concentrations. As such, the Imperial Federation has many maritime neighbors on Micras, the most extensive of such borders being with [[Calbion]], which coexists with the Imperials on both the [[Keltia]] and [[Cibola]] oceans in their respective areas of influence. The Imperial Federation also controls a concentration of colonies abroad, notably concentrated off the southern coast of Eura (namely called [[Imperial Eura]], including large islands near the protectorate of [[Eternia]] as well).

Greater Adrestia holds in its orbit territories on the southeast corners of [[Keltia]], with inland holdings as far as [[Haifa]] and as far down the coast as [[Nixtorm]]. The maritime territory between Adrestia, Nixtorm, and [[Blore Heath]] are possessed almost in their entirety by the Imperials. However, two exceptions exist: [[Windsor]], a colony of [[Lac Glacei]], and an exclave of [[Çakaristan|Çakaristan's]] called [[Çakari oceanic territory|Tarria]], both being native reservations, and extremely small in size compared to nearby Imperial populations, territorial holdings, and military installations. (As such, they are not considered a security risk, although the central government has made their peaceful incorporation through purchase or exchange a core part of its long-term agenda in recent years.)

The Imperial Federation's sway over portions of Northern [[Cibola]] are far better defined. [[Drag'os]], from its megalopolis in [[Glacier City]], controls both its home island as well as [[Tar-Palantir]] (itself formerly called [[Frigga Island]] under [[Stormark|Storish]] rule) and swathes of northern Cibola, consisting of [[New Ralgon]] (centered on the city of [[Nova Victoria]], [[Valora]] (specifically, its more populated northern half), and [[Imperial Cibola]] (by far the most sparsely populated of these territories). Far to the Southeast of these lies [[Bomei Island]], a strategic holding the Imperials use to protect their interests in the region and connect to the Antarctic Territory.

In terms of its extended imperial holdings, the Imperial Federation has several neighbors on land. On mainland [[Cibola]], it shares two land borders. The more notable one is with the [[Mondosphere]] to the south on the [[Cibola]] mainland, where the two share the former territory of [[Valora]] after its {{AN|1715}} partition. The other border is a narrow coastal strip on northern Cibola bordering [[Calbion]], which also shares extensive maritime borders with the Imperial Federation elsewhere on Cibola and Keltia. On mainland Keltia, the Imperial Federation shares a narrow land border on the mainland coast with [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]], and off the same coast with [[Windsor]], a colony of [[Lac Glacei]], where the Imperials occupy a pair of military bases on and near the island as its own sovereign territory. Across from the Imperial Federation's newest territories along the [[Strait of Haifa]] lies [[Anahuaco]], and on the further bank to the northeast lies [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]].

===Domestic Overview===

{{WIP}}

These territories contribute to a newly global empire that supplanted Ralgon after its violent, two-year [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that finally concluded in the final days of 1706 AN.

The Imperial Federation has, in addition to recent gains elsewhere, reclaimed the entirety of [[Ralgon|Ralgon's]] former territory, and made additional, significant gains abroad in naval bases outside of their traditional sphere of activity in the [[Great Western Sea]]. The Imperial Federation consists of several distinct geographic divisions of various importance: States, Dominions, and Territories. States tend to have their own Dominions, and Dominions their own Territories, with dependent districts belonging entirely within their parent unit. From most to least important of such independent divisions, the Empire consists of the Ralgonese states of [[Adrestia]], and [[Drag'os]], which have imperial status. Independent Dominions include Nixtorm and Tar-Palantir, located near their respective suzerain states, possess Princely status. [[Scarterra]] is unusual in that it also possesses princely status but is divided between its newer settlements on the Isles of Eriador and its reclaimed homelands on the north coast of Drag'os.

The other free-standing territories with Senate representation include [[Eriador]] (which includes the former Al Hamra and the former New Scarterra), [[Nova Victoria]], and [[Bomei Island]]. Territories with self-rule, but without representation in the Senate include the penal colony [[Devil's Island]] (now relocated to [[Eura]] and renamed to its Ralgonese translation), the majority [[Umraism|Umraist]] Gold Coast, and the sparsely populated, native-majority Northwest Territory.

Dependent territories include the Naval Base Eura and the Imperial Antarctic Territory, both of which have only one major settlement each, and the Sovereign Base Areas formed concurrently with [[Lac Glacei]] during their execution of the [[Mala'anje Repatriation Act]]. In addition, [[Imperial Haifa]] was recently added to the Imperial fold, but at great cost in materiel and local manpower. Together, these territories make up a vast, consolidated maritime empire that has reached the zenith of its power, influence, and geographical size.

=== Keltian Holdings ===

The Imperial Federation holds significant land on mainland Keltia since its expansion following the Succession War. This territory is generally divided into three parts: Nixtorm, and the two frontier territories in the Gold Coast, and the sparsely populated settlements in the Northwest Territory. Recently, the addition of [[Imperial Haifa]] has expanded the Imperial Federation's reach of the [[Strait of Haifa]], but at great cost due to heavy armed resistance from the [[Confederacy of the Dispossessed]].

==== Nixtorm ====

Originally located on mainland [[Drag'os]], the territory of Nixtorm consists of a group of large islands off the southeastern end of Keltia. Now a densely populated territory, Nixtorm is a region which depends heavily on trade for its economy. It imports resources from its mainland holdings of Inner Nixtorm (located just across the channels on Southeast Keltia) and distributes mineral resources, crops, and other items across the Empire and to international trading partners. Inner Nixtorm is the breadbasket of the entire Keltian coastal region, and rare earth deposits found on Nixtorm's rocky shores provide valuable exports, or fuel for the nuclear reactors under construction throughout the territory.

==== Gold Coast ====

Sparsely populated, the Gold Coast is home to nomads, traders, and prospectors. The region is known for its coastal fishing villages, and for the deserts inland that are very rich in gold and silver deposits. Due to the inhospitable climate, there are very few heavily populated settlements far from the coast. The region has large reserves of fossil fuel, which are traded for grain from Nixtorm's fertile mainland holdings to the south. The coasts are rich economic hubs, and many Ralgonese and other Imperials make their way to the Gold Coast from situations of near-destitution from overcrowded places like newly reconquered areas in [[Drag'os]] in an attempt to make it big. Few do, and so the Imperial Federation must now contend with a territory with extreme economic and social inequalities, in a vast, stretched out nation where Draconic Humanism is the dominant ideology in the Imperial Court.

Gold Coast's border with the [[Green]] deep in mainland Keltia is incredibly porous, leading to a strange mix of peaceful anarchy in the Imperial Federation deserts on the one hand, and desperados and brigands just beyond the zone of positive control exercised by the Federation's authorities. It is currently unknown whether the stretched Imperial Armed Forces are able to project their capabilities so far inland, but efforts have been made (albeit halfheartedly). This has made the region the Imperial Federation's near-equivalent of a "wild west," with efforts at establishing law and order largely being left to local forces.

==== Northwest Territory ====

Full of ethnic Menelmacari civilians, this is one of the few major regions in the Imperial Federation from which the majority of the colonizing settlers were not Ralgonese (or Drag'osian) in origin, the other in the West being New Menelmacar. The region consists of mostly small settlements, with native diasporas from other nations finding the region a welcoming change from the rest of the ultramodern, Ralgonese-majority Imperial Federation regions on the islands east of Keltia. For many years, the region is strategically insignificant to the Imperial government outside of its coastal areas. For a time, it and represented the pinnacle of the Imperial Court's version of their so-called "Manifest Destiny." Since the Northwest Territory represents the extent of it all, little effort was spent on forcibly pacifying the region's interior prior to the inclusion of [[Imperial Haifa]], with the local authorities being instead directed to pursue strong policies of coexistence with any native or minority groups within these lands. With some sense of irony, the inclusion of Blore Heath in subsequent years following the [[Bassarid]] collapse in the late 1710's AN only strengthened the security of the region.

Like the Gold Coast, the Imperial Federation exerts little control deep inland. However, unlike the Gold Coast, little in the way of violence exists in these territories. This is largely due to the lack of resources exploitable by single individuals, as well as strong native title to interior lands, making it unattractive for people in pursuit of half-baked get-rich-quick schemes. Violent crimes happen with far less frequency than other mainland Keltian holdings, leading the rural portions of the region (especially away from the coastlines) to develop a reputation for being a sort of utopia for those who seek peace without expectation of economic reward. As a result, the territory has rapidly become a destination for older Imperials to retire after decades of service to the state.

The main exception is the regions north of [[Blore Heath]] along the [[Strait of Haifa]]. Already a populous settlement, Blore Heath's relatively peaceful assimilation into Imperial control strengthened the settlement's economic output, and anchored the region between the Strait of Haifa and its narrow land border with [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] to the southwest. This change also cemented the Northwest Territory as the Imperial Federation's largest Ralgonese-minority territory outside of [[Valora|(North) Valora]].

==== Imperial Haifa ====
{{WIP}}

The Imperials occupied Haifa from {{AN|1718}}, but until the mid-1720's AN, the territory relied almost entirely on military support to survive, until a generalized peace was brokered allowing for the integration of the locals into the Imperial Federation's patchwork of territories organizing themselves in the formerly Bassarid regions near Haifa. Consisting of a patchwork of territories anchored around the east and south ends of [[Lake Morovia]], the territory is anchored by its garrisons based out of Abeis in the interior, and along islands located on the [[Strait of Haifa]] immediately adjacent to these land-based territories. The islands depend on the home government's military for their continued existence, with Imperial hold on these areas being tied only to constant, and costly, investments on holding them against enemies seemingly on all sides.

===Cibolan Holdings===

===Overseas Territories===

Overseas territories are technically rife within the Imperial Federation, by virtue of it being a thalassocracy. However, three territories most notably fall well outside of the so-called Core Regions on Cibola and Keltia: [[Bomei Island]], [[Devil's Island]], and the so-called [[Naval Base Eura]]. The latter is a large naval installation located off the southern cost of Eura off an island of respectable size. While Devil's Island is clearly a penal colony, Bomei Island's similar status is a legal gray area, due to the relative freedom of its inhabitants, be their residence voluntary or mandatory.

====Bomei Island====

{{main|Bomei Island}}

Formerly a penal colony meant to house the country's elites during times of political upheaval and instability, the island's importance has seen itself transform into a strategic asset for [[Raspur Pact]] forces, while doubling as a getaway destination of sorts for the country's upper classes. The massive naval bases on the island aside, the territory holds rapidly increasing infrastructure meant to cater to the Imperial Federation's rapidly expanding upper classes, thanks to the island's mild climate and excellent location near major countries like [[Natopia]], the [[Mondosphere]], and other prime destinations.

====Devil's Island & South Beihagh====

{{main|Devil's Island}}
{{main|South Beihagh}}

Until its assets' relocation to [[Eura]] in a land swap with [[Çakaristan]], Devil's Island was the primary center of the Imperial Federation's power on the continent of Corum and the sole lynchpin of Ralgonese power projection into [[Eura]], namely [[Imperial Eura]] and [[Eternia]] (which later joined the Imperial Federation). Primarily serving as both a penal colony and a large naval base, Devil's Island doubled as one of two areas that Raspur Pact forces had at their disposal in the region, the other being [[Natopia|Natopia's]] [[Naya Island]]. Although the island was also meant as a staging area to colonize portions of the exotic continent of [[Corum]], this never came to pass. Instead, the island was ceded to [[Çakaristan]]'s [[Jaihabar|Jaihabar Sultanate]] in {{AN|1720}} as part of a larger deal that included, among other territorial transfers, the [[Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar]].

Control of Devil's Island remained in Çakaristan's hands until the [[Jaihabar Vortex]] resulted in [[Çakaristan]] abruptly offering to cede the island back to the Imperial Federation in late {{AN|1739}} during the aftermath of the [[Jaihabar Vortex]], with the handover complete by New Year's Day of {{AN|1740}}. The nature of the island's value would be forever changed due to a continued lack of Ralgonese territorial ambitions beyond the island's confines. Instead, strategic interest in the island remained squarely on the island itself. The island offered a large population for its small size, as well as its favorable location, natural harbors, and defensibility. A respectable population of non-[[Çakaristan|Çakari]] citizens on former [[Jaihabar]] had also chosen to stay on the island rather than leave the continent altogether, dramatically changing the island's former demographics and turning the island into a valuable territory in and of itself in short order. While it lacked the same economic importance as its sister territory in [[South Beihagh]], Devil's Island still remained a strategic entrepot due to a much higher capacity for both permanent and passing naval assets that [[South Beihagh]] had little capacity to host over longer periods of time.

An alternate colony, named in Ralgonese as ''Akuma-jima,'' was established in {{AN|1720}} immediately south of the island of [[Beihagh]] (itself a Ralgonese territorial condominium held alongside [[Suren]]) in the wake of the {{AN|1720}} transfer of [[Devil's Island]]. Named after the original Devil's Island, the island became known more properly as [[South Beihagh]] over time. This fortified island was promptly established during this time to serve as an alternate trade node passing through the larger Euran market. More importantly, it served to secure the condominium with [[Beihagh]] to the north, and the island quickly found itself an effective link between the Imperial Federation's naval assets elsewhere with [[Imperial Eura]] and the resource-rich country of [[Eternia]]. The island's economy quickly grew from trade links established via Eura, enriched by stable Imperial control of the region and constant pass-through of both civilian and military assets. The island's importance to Imperial Federation trade and security in the region similarly contributes to the island's strong security, which continued seeing economic growth during the 1730's AN, only hampered by the [[Recession of 1737]]. Further, the lax immigration policy enjoyed by the non-penal settlements on the island have driven the local economy, strengthening Gondolin's reasons for staying put (which, by design, is a core tenet of the Humanist government in charge). The island would retain its economic importance past {{AN|1740}}, despite the lessened strategic emphasis on the island following the re-addition of [[Devil's Island]] to the Imperial Federation beginning that same year.

Past {{AN|1740}}, the islands would serve to grant the other strategic redundancy, as the Imperial Federation continued to emphasize economic growth in its Euran territory. Devil's Island would see its penal colony swiftly re-established, given the Imperial Federation's stated desire to avoid hosting a long-term prison for deported persons in South Beihagh, itself unfavorable for setting aside the necessary land for such institutions. Ultimately, it quickly proved that South Beihagh had regional economic potential as the result of trade with Eura, and Devil's Island profited from higher harbor capacity and proximity to Corum. Both would be integrated into a single territorial unit that included Ralgonese holdings outside of Greater Eternia and its mainland holdings in [[Keltia]] and [[Cibola]].

====Imperial Eura====

{{main|Imperial Eura}}

Imperial Eura consists of a patchwork of territories anchored on Naval Base Eura. With its military center based on what is otherwise known as the Isle of Eura, the islands' culture, economy, and most other aspects of life are dominated by the Imperial Grand Armada's presence on Eura, with settlements from merchant families and other colonists from the mainland ramping up after 1720 AN. The base supports [[Raspur Pact]] efforts in the region, courtesy of imperial forces operating in the region. Although a token garrison mans the other islands, the base is very well-fortified despite its relative lack of history, and short time under the occupation of the Imperial Federation.

The island holds an unnamed town outside of the base. Consisting of some 20,000 civilian personnel, the civilians are outnumbered by the land-based garrison on the military sides of the island (although not by much) and by the naval forces (which number up to 50,000 during major events). The rest of the islands on the island chain are dominated by civilian-led governance, with the colony expected to ascend from dependency status to Princely status as early as 1725 AN. The rapidly growing population of the islands reflects both the booming economy and strategic importance of this territory to Imperial interests in Eura and the south of Micras as a whole. The resource-rich islands have already contributed to the Federation's economy, with the islands expected to become more integrated into their mother country as the years roll by.

====Naval Base on Tiegang====

{{main|International Mandate#Imperial Federation: Mechazawa Naval Base}}

The Imperial Federation controls the Adrestian Quarter's naval base in the [[International Mandate]]. Known until recently as the "Adrestian Royal Navy Base Tiegang," it was renamed in {{AN|1709}} after Vice Admiral Saizo Mechazawa, who went on to represent the Ralgonese peoples after his retirement. The base is considered the property of the Imperial Federation, although it does not exercise sovereignty over the base. The people living on the island are ostensibly ruled by an elected governor who answers to Tiegangese authorities. However, the island is still influenced by now-Duke Saizo of Eastern Appolonia, who permanently lives there with certain members of his family.

Although the Imperial Federation has few legitimate interests on Appolonia, Tiegang itself nonetheless hosts several tens of thousands of Ralgonese citizens living there, many of whom relocated there after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that saw the (lopsided) fracture of the Ralgonese world along ideological and political lines. Like on Bomei Island, unusually high freedoms of personal expression are tolerated there, although lese majeste laws continue to hold effect even over these far-flung populations.

== Climate & Topography==

==Education==

Three types of post-secondary institutions exist in Ralgon: Private, public, and government-sponsored research institutes. A mixture of these schools rank near the top of the world's universities for factors including pedagogy, alumni outcomes, research output, and institutional financial performance. Most of Ralgon's best public universities also happen to remain self-sustaining in nature; that is, they do not need government funding and actually provide additional income to the government in some few cases. This remains the case even after the severity of the 1685 Crisis.

In recent years, focus on Ralgon's sole remaining overseas possessions prior to {{AN|1685}} by its then-current government drove a concentration schools in Greater Adrestia onto the top of the global league tables. Among these are the elite University of Adrestia (known globally by its abbreviation of UA), which holds a massive endowment of its own. Other high-ranking universities in the de facto independent territory include the Gondolin Institute of Science (GIS), the Naval Academy at Alexandria, and the University of Alphaville (run as a UA satellite campus until 1690, in cooperation with Bassarid faculty).

===Universities===
''(For a detailed list of major universities in the Ralgon, see the below articles.)''

{{main|List of universities in Ralgon}}

====Glacier City University====
{{main|Glacier City University}}

Glacier City University (known by its acronym of GCU) is an elite university located in the Semi-Autonomous Region (SAR) of the same name. Founded as a university in 1076, GCU is the oldest institute of higher education in continuous operation in the Imperial Federation, and the second-oldest university in the country. It is also among the oldest institutions of higher learning on the Cibola continent, having educated over 75% of the former Holy Ralgon Empire's heads of state, among countless other elites within the country.

It is considered an "ancient university" -- that is, an institution of higher learning formed as a university (regardless of its purpose or existence before said formation) before the Draconic faith became the state religion in 1178. It is one of only three such institutions in continuous operation since that date, with the latest of its other six peers being claimed (at least temporarily) by the devastating effects of the long-term 1680's General Crisis.

The University is world-renowned for its engineering and materials science programs, with graduates leading such projects as the construction of the [[Erazm Bridge Consortium]] and ground-breaking developments in ship technology for the recently re-organized [[Grand Armada of the Imperial Federation]], which consists of 250 modernized ships (and some 75 outdated ones) with the same defensive engineering that ensured Ralgon's survival during its darkest days. Its endowment is the second-largest in the Ralgonese state, at around 37 billion Guilders. Housing notable global policy institutes such as the Chidao Emperor Institute for Jing Studies, the university's headquarters remain in the Mountain City after over 600 years. GCU remains the only institution allowed to own property within the Imperial City's inner sanctum, and is also the only non-government organization allowed to operate within the city without an active permit.

Until the fall from prominence of the [[Stormhold]] region as the center of political life in the Empire, Glacier City U long maintained a rivalry with Temple University in Valeria. To this day, the two enjoy top rankings in Micras, especially in the fields of medicine, earth science, and biology. Glacier City University attained renewed prominence on the island of [[Drag'os]] as a part of the aftermath of the [[Ralgon Civil War|1685 Crisis]] and the [[Ralgon War of Succession|War of Succession]] that ended in 1706, due to the university's location in a region generally safe from political violence of any significance (with the sole exception of the 1705 city purge). It was one of the few ancient universities to survive intact; Temple University suffered a drop in the rankings, supplanted by the University of Gondolin, which has taken up some of the old rivalries.

=== Temple University===
{{main|Temple University}}

Temple University (known simply as TU) was originally founded in 425 AN in what is now the city of Valeria by Draconic missionaries, as a religious institute for higher learning. Itself attached to the Holy Temple of Drag'os in the same city (and originally in the same building), the institution was founded to train high-ranking religious personnel in both theology and in statecraft (a skill badly needed at the time by such people). The institution formed into a University in 1046, and adopted its current name in 1298, after the City of Valeria took over the university on behalf of the Ralgon king's government.

The modern Temple University preserves is its original 1046 name, and also serves as the flagship institution of the eponymous system (as a homage to the University's foundations with the Church). Thanks to a heavily increased endowment after the national government purchased the University, it has rapidly grown from an already-elite status to a world-class university in its own right. Although it suffered significantly during the general crises that defined the 1680's to 1705 AN, the modern university still enjoys the massive resources it slowly built over its 700-year history as a university. Temple University maintains its still-strong prominence that relies on a combination of a massive endowment -- the sixth-highest in Ralgon, at 27 billion Guilders, and its system of sister institutions to keep up with the never-ending pace of modernization in the country. This network of academics buoyed the university after the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], which saw the city of Valeria stripped of imperial status because of its government's support of the pretenders (who themselves were exiled to [[Valora]]). From battle damage to the loss of students and faculty to the resulting exodus from the city, the university sustained a substantial hit to its endowment (no less than 9 billion Guilders) and a significant drop in the world university rankings that will likely take at least two or three decades to recover from.

Despite its recent woes, the University has no shortage of talent. The university is known for its sheer number of graduates within the Imperial Federation's education system, with nearly half the Dragosian mainland's top 10% of income earners being graduates of one of the schools in the TU system. Most of the City of Valeria's leaders are graduates of the flagship campus, which is known for its strict admissions standards, despite its massive size of over 85,000 students (about 50,000 of which are undergraduate). While the quality of the rivalry the University maintains with Glacier City U has taken damage in recent years, the university still excels in materials science and engineering, and still occupies top rankings worldwide fields of theoretical physics and mathematics.

===University of Gondolin===

Formed in 1672 AN, the University of Gondolin is, by far, the youngest of the elite universities in the Ralgon Empire. The university was founded in what is now Adrestia by the Emperor Shiro of Ralgon to educate the colonists. Following the discovery of precious resources in unprecedented abundance, the university found itself with a massive endowment, spurring extremely rapid growth during its initial few years. Unlike its companion institution, the University of Adrestia, the University of Gondolin operates no satellite campuses outside of its own metropolitan region, allowing a greater concentration of star faculty and other vital resources.

The university is known for its state-of-the-art naval science and space science departments. Its School of Draconic Studies is also widely praised as being on par with giants such as the ancient Glacier City University. The institution has already counted several famous and infamous graduates among its relatively distinguished alumni. Among them is the current Crown Prince of Adrestia, the future Masamune III, who graduated in 1700 AN with a undergraduate dual degree in global affairs and aerospace engineering at the age of 21 before moving abroad for further study. Another is [[Sargon Gilgamesh-Pilagga Azulpolassar|Sargon Azulpolassar]], a prominent noble from [[The Hexarchy]] who graduated in 1693. The university's rapid rise to prominence comes on the heels of Adrestia's prosperity; thus, the university made moves to insulate itself from possible periods of political upheaval during the late 1690's. This strategy paid off, as the city was rocked by the financial strain of bearing the costs of victory in the Ralgon Succession War in the first decade of the 1700's. Careful investment and restricting admissions to a smaller, more manageable student body lead to strengthened reputation abroad by the time the war ended and financial prosperity began to be felt in all quarters of the now-large metropolis.

Although being smaller than its companion institution, the University of Adrestia (and system), the university holds by far the largest endowment in the Imperial Federation, valued at over 50 billion Guilders as of 1707 AN, thanks to heavy and frequent donations by the Royal Family of Adrestia and shrewd financial management. This has allowed the university to cement its assets and begin another round of heavy expansion into the coming century. The rise of the city to prominence in recent years is mostly thanks to the growing status of the city of Gondolin, and its designation as one of the two Imperial Cities allowed further increases in the university's budget for frontier sciences. The university also owns substantial investments in the Alphaville Spaceport, as well as Anarion Spaceport in the Antarctic Territory (along with several research bases in the same).

===University of Adrestia System===
{{WIP}}
Like its counterpart the University of Gondolin, the University of Adrestia was founded in 1672 AN, shortly before the international recognition of the colony as part of the Ralgon Empire. It used to be the same institution as UG, but the two split amicably to allow each university to respectively focus on the needs of Gondolin and the wider Adrestia regions. Although this caused a split in endowment award, the discovery of vast resources on the islands promptly made such a state of affairs relatively moot. The university system has expanded to cover education on the entirety of

This huge amount of resources gradually allowed the University of Adrestia to rapidly grow into the largest education system in the Ralgon Empire, overtaking the Temple University system in {{AN|1697}} (some 12 years post-Crisis). The university enjoys an enrolment of about 98,500 between all of its campuses, the flagship branch at the UA Gondolin being by far the most competitive to enter for aspiring students. Although the flagship campus is at Gondolin, the institution educates leaders in the liberal arts as well as in humanities, being better regarded in these fields than its rival institution of UG.

===University of Nixtorm===

===Western Imperial University===

Western Imperial University is one of the Imperial Universities, opened during the first years of the Imperial Federation. Shortly known as Western, the large university was founded in {{AN|1708}} with branch campuses in major cities to serve elite students in the new frontiers of the Empire on the Keltian mainland. Designed initially to train local government officials as well as native aristocracy, the university opened to gifted commoners hoping for jobs in places that offer higher standards of living, such as the Core Regions of Adrestia or Glacier City. The university is unique to the Imperial Federation in the fact that it is the only Imperial University that does not have a designated flagship campus.

===Anarion University===

Anarion University is a military-sponsored school founded in [[Gondolin]] by the regency of the Imperial Federation in {{AN|1706}}, by decree. Unlike other university systems, Anarion University was created specifically as an international university, with branch campuses in [[Valeria]], [[Glacier City]], and other major settlements throughout the Empire. The latest branch was opened in [[Nova Victoria]] in time for New Year's celebrations on 1710 AN, welcoming its first cohort of students there for Ralgonese Studies, offered jointly with the Chidao Institute for Foreign Studies, itself based in Glacier City. It plans to welcome its first degree-seeking classes by {{AN|1712}}.

The offerings at the university consists of international-based study. Notably, business majors and global studies are offered. The university's flagship campus in [[Alphaville, SAR]] now ranks 50th-60th on the national tables despite to its very young age, thanks to large funding projects and patronage by the imperial family.

==Demographics==

{{see also|Demographics of the Imperial Federation}}

===Population===

==== Pre-Crisis ({{AN|1655}}-{{AN|1685}})====

Conducting a census has, historically, been a major challenge in the Imperial Federation's predecessor states, owing in large part to very high birth and death rates (among the male population) due to constant warfare and paradoxically strong economic growth due to said replacements. This was, mostly, due to the old [[Great Swamp War]] and related national conflicts that saw high casualties against the dangerous fauna inland, which were contained near the time of the Imperial Federation's ascent to power during a second series of civil wars in {{AN|1706}}.

The population during the closing stages late in the second phase of [[Great Swamp War]] had peaked to about 124,254,005 in {{AN year|1665}} under [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon|Nobunag'an IV the Wise]]. Following the ascension of which shot to 159,255,163 in {{AN year|1675}} during a brief phase of prosperity under Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro I the Valiant]]. Records for {{AN|1680}} posted a population of roughly 164 million, during which a strong Ralgon diaspora was dispersed to countries like the [[Hexarchy]] and [[International Mandate]], and during which [[Adrestia]] was first formed, leading to an explosion in population to unknown numbers by {{AN|1685}}, although much of this population had moved to colonies abroad, mostly to territories now under Imperial Federation control.

====Post-Crisis ({{AN|1686}}-{{AN|1717}})====

The {{AN|1685}} Crisis and the attendant [[Ralgon Civil War]] nearly destroyed the country, and reduced its controlled population back under 164 million people, roughly at 1680 levels, with a further 40 million Ralgonese scattered over [[Drag'os]] and other lands near or adjacent to Ralgonese territories at the time. The resulting pressures of an overpopulation crisis nearly ended the country, with these pressures in part triggering the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].

=====Imperial Territory =====

By the time it expanded to nearly its present-day territory in {{AN|1706}}, the Imperial Federation had reclaimed most of former Ralgon's population, and recorded a delayed "1705" census of 204,174,665 within the Imperial Federation's controlled territory and Ralgonese living in its environs in disputed or contested areas. The rapid consolidation, expansion, and movement of Ralgonese back to Imperial territory led to a population of 209,279,031 in the {{AN|1710}} census. This number grew to 213,673,890 by {{AN|1715}} thanks to a baby boom as a result of an influx of territory, resources, and new populations being absorbed into the rapidly growing empire as it fought to combat overextension by encouraging said baby boom to partially solve. A preliminary census estimate taken in {{AN|1717}} after the [[Conquest of Valora]] assessed the Imperial population (minus Valora) had increased another 1.32% to an estimated 216,494,000, a result of large population centers continuing to rise on the coastlines of [[Keltia]] and the northern areas of [[New Menelmacar]].

=====Valoran Territory=====

In the same time, [[Valora]] had recorded a population of 15,639,728 in its metropole areas in {{AN|1707}}, some 25% of which lived in and around the now-major city of Yixing, which became the cultural and political center for both the Ralgonese and Valoran peoples in the politically paralyzed country. The Valoran urban population contracted by 5.7% to 14,748,263 due to repeated, protracted crises in the region's interior. An estimated 25% of the country lived off the grid, or in other urban areas, or were rural, or had refugee status, these states of living being unclearly defined and often found in common due to the country's bitter military, economic, environmental, and political situations. After the [[Conquest of Valora]], some 74% of the population was found to be on the new Imperial side of the territory. The rest were undead that migrated to South Valoran side of the border forming after the war's conclusion.

A census conducted in the close of {{AN|1717}} found that Imperial Valora, New Ralgon, and Imperial Cibola (both east and west) consisted of a grand total of just over 16,075,000 people, not counting the remaining Vanic and anti-Ralgonese/Valoran rebels, nor the remaining undead that found themselves inexplicably under the service of Imperial troops. (Rumor has it that Emperor Anarion was fascinated by the comical way these undead moved and wanted a contingent of them for his own amusement, so Mondo let him have a few hundred as part of the partition agreement. In return, Mondo got [[Kaek]], which in turn did not know and did not care that the transition took place so quickly.)

====Modern Period ({{AN|1717}} -)====

On its formation c. {{AN|1705}}, the Imperial Federation experienced an explosion in population following its victory in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], and further during the decade-plus that followed the cold war between it and its much smaller splinter, [[Valora]]. In {{AN|1717}}, the Imperial Federation executed the [[Conquest of Valora]] and subsumed most of its population, further adding to its expanding population.

An estimate of the Imperial Federation proper yielded a population estimate of 216,494,000, and its newly absorbed territories of New Ralgon, Imperial Cibola, and Imperial (North) Valora held a census that counted approximately 16,075,000 people (not counting the undead and/or stateless persons). This yielded an estimated population of 232,569,000 at the close of {{AN|1717}}, or a strong increase of 13.9% from the {{AN|1705}} census. It was expected that the post-1710's population growth would begin to favor natural birth rates more than annexations, as the Imperial Federation shifts its focus towards peacetime nation building, and the Emperor Anarion comes of age to a period of unprecedented prosperity for the Ralgonese nations of Micras.

Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon

2026-06-29T13:17:28Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Immortality */

{{Ralgon Article}}
{{Valora Article}}
{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{Hurmu Senator
|fullname = Nobunag'an Ral
|image = Nobunag'an 1704.jpg
|image-2 = Ralgon CoA.png
|Tenurebegins = 1.VIII.{{AN|1751}} ({{AgeAN|1751}})
|Tenureends =
|positions =
|senate = [[Fifteenth Senate|XV]]
|elected = [[1751 Senate of the Lakes election|1751]]
|faction = [[Draconic Humanist List]]
|OHLline = [[Almanac_of_the_Holy_Lakes#Line_of_Fish_(1582)|Line of Fish]] ''(by right of marriage)''
|comment =
|gender = Male
|Race =
|species =
|hairstyle =
|eyecolour =
|skincolour =
|other =
|father = King Dalgar'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (crowned {{AN|1591}}, killed in battle {{AN|1594}})
|mother = Princess Mikio Ral >(died 1612 AN)
|spouse = [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] (m. 1746) ''7 previous marriages'' (''see below''))
|children = ''Numerous'' (''see below''))
|birthdate = 1564 AN (age {{AgeAN|1564}})
|birthplace = [[Valeria]], West Stormhold, [[Ralgon]] Azul'an, Arumen (present-day)
|residence =
|deathdate =
|deathplace =
|}}

'''Emperor Nobunag'an Ral IV''', born {{AN|1564}} as Prince Takeshi Ral XV, is both the longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch in the history of the [[Ralgon|Holy Ralgon Empire]]. He is also the Emperor Emeritus of the same nation, having been bestowed the title by his successors after they shifted to using conventional as well as native Ralgonese titles. He currently enjoys high status in the government of the new [[Imperial Federation]], holding the special title of Chief Ambassador, giving him a unique freedom to travel and directly interact with foreign governments abroad. His special style of "His Serene Excellency" is unique in the Imperial Federation. He was similarly honored in [[Valora]] during its own existence, despite his political situation having permanently pulled him into the Imperial Federation's orbit.

In {{AN|1746}}, he surprised the world through his marriage to the [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]], automatically becoming a [[Knight of the Holy Lakes]] by virtue of his 9th marriage, having outlived all his prior partners. Nobunag'an had been unmarried since {{AN|1699}}, when his prior spouse, Yukino Chuujiwara (his 8th wife), was murdered. He went unmarried for nearly five decades when it was finally discovered that the culprit was one of his own direct descendants, that being the so-called "Mad Prince" Masamune III, who attempted a coup less than two years later and ultimately paid for it with his life.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, the man is a remarkable {{AgeAN|1564|noAN=y}} years old, making him one of the oldest living Ralgonese in the country's history, only surpassed by five other known individuals in the [[Imperial Federation]] as of {{AN|1718}}, themselves being classified as "immortals" for their own unnaturally long lifespans. His record-breaking reign of 78 years saw the transformation of the Ralgon state from a mere group of disjointed tribes on the eastern and southern coastlines of Drag'os into the unified state prepared to conquer the island under his successors, [[Emperor Shiro I of Ralgon|Emperor Shiro I]] and [[Emperor Anarion]] under the banners of the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] and the [[Imperial Federation]], respectively. His status as the "Great Ancestor" of all current Ralgonese rulers since his abdication in {{AN|1673}} made him about the only person capable of navigating the likely-permanent schism between the two Ralgonese states during his later years after his general withdrawal from the minutiae of domestic politics since 1706 AN. Instead, the Emperor Emeritus began to spend more time abroad, acting as an advocate for the ruling governments of both the Imperial Federation and, less commonly, [[Valora]]. He played an active role in reconciling the two asymmetric factions in {{AN|1717}}, after the [[Conquest of Valora]] two years prior.

Since the late 1710's AN, as Nobunag'an passed 150 years of age, he has become the subject of scientific inquiry, as his personal physicians, some of whom now prominent scientists in the Imperial Federation, have begun to assert that his age has been progressively slowing since at least the 1650's AN. However, this stirring among the medical community has not affected the Emperor Emeritus's personal life, as he has remained active in the international community consistently since taking up a winter residence in [[New Alexandria]] as the Imperial Federation's primary spokesperson outside its own borders. Since then, he assumed a position as a [[Senator of the Holy Lakes]] in [[Hurmu]], acting as a powerful voice in the international community on behalf of his homeland, the [[Imperial Federation]].

== Biography ==

=== Early Life (1564 - 1594) ===

In 1564 AN, he was born during the fifth year of the reign of Azul'an III, the then-current ruler of the country. Prince Takeshi Ral was Azul'an's great nephew, and he was the grandson of Azul'an's brother, Draeg'ar XV. When Takeshi was 8, he had his first experience in statecraft: Because of the harsh realities of the country's existence, kings simply didn't last long. In fact, twenty years (a full generation for the Ralgonese peasantry of the day) was considered exceptional, and special celebrations were held. Azul'an III never got the chance to see that rare celebration for himself. In 1562, in his 14th year as king, he died in battle while personally leading the defense of a border city against a dragon attack -- as rulers were obliged to do.

Takeshi's second lesson as a child in statecraft was this: Replacing slain kings wasn't easy. In the brutal, unstable, and existentially challenging 1500's for the Ralgon state, crowning the next king was a messy, brutal affair meant to ensure the new king was stronger than everyone else in the ruling clan. Additionally, a King taking the throne in the wake of a decimated royal house would reign without opposition until his almost certain death within less than a generation -- enough time for the Ral Clan to reconsolidate and repeat the process of thinning its ever-changing ranks. Kings needed to be replaced quickly, and the new king needed to be the strongest and smartest in the land if he was to survive for long.

Thus, Takeshi learned his third lesson: weakness in the Ral Clan was never tolerated, and weak pretenders to the throne would quickly meet their fate in the arena or on the battlefield shortly after coronation. And those without the stomach to participate in an election and potentially fight for their own honor were cast out of the decision-making process afterwards -- at least until the next election. In this way, the Clan never allowed itself to balloon out of control, and retained power through a line of strong elected kings, each related to their predecessor within three generations. The only weakness? Kings were reliably short-lived due to constant battlefield-related obligations, and dead kings were morbidly expensive for the ruling Clan in terms of manpower to replace. By Azul'an's death in 1562, the Ral Clan listed no more than fifty eligible contenders for the Throne. Despite the Ralgonese peoples' notoriously high fertility rate at the time, enduring the replacement process twice each generation with upwards of a dozen deaths was unwelcome in both the short-term and the long-term for the struggling country and its ruling dynasty that had already spent oceans of precious blood simply keeping their often-divided realm intact in the face of overwhelming external (megafauna) and internal (demographic) pressure.

In late 1562, Nobunag'an III, Azul'an's successor, then came to power later that year after Takeshi witnessed the brutality of the Selection Tournament, after the existing Crown Princes failed to agree on who the next ruler would be. The Ral Clan's numbers reduced by eight, the new king was expected to live long enough for the cycle to complete itself and the Clan's members (especially the king) were expected to produce enough children to feed to both the arena and to the army's endless meat grinder on the nation's ever-shifting inland border.

It was towards the end of Nobunag'an III's reign in 1584 that Takeshi turned 20, and was granted the style of Crown Prince after going through the rites -- thus completing a generational cycle -- and already seeing three kings in his lifetime. In 1584, 12 years into his reign, Nobunag'an joined his predecessors in death. During a battle with rival natives from inland near the north-western border, both parties were attacked by a lightning dragon. Nobunag'an III died leading a retreat inland, and his men escaped to tell the tale because the dragon turned on the inland natives instead.

After an unusually quiet Election process, Draeg'ar XV, Takeshi's great-uncle and Nobunag'an III's brother, took the throne. However, he died within a year of being crowned (1585) when he led an expeditionary scouting force consisting of brown-water Navy forces too far into the Great Swamp. While taking a small fleet across one of the Swamp's many deep (and interconnected) lakes, his boat was attacked by a mosasaur. His expedition only returned with a tenth of its original size.

Next on the throne was Draeg'ar XVI, after a similarly quiet election process. After five years as king, he died in early 1590 during a plague that swept the country. During this time, the Ralgon state began to take its modern form, with Nixtorm finally recognizing their senior partners in the south as rulers outright. Drag'nor, however, remained obstinate on the matter due to ideological differences. It was also during this time that lightning dragons began appearing less often off the coasts, allowing for the possibility of sea-based travel outside the immediate environs of the Drag'osian coastline.

Dalgar'an IV, Takeshi's father, won the next election and resulting Selection Tournament and took the country's helm in 1591. As Takeshi's father, he elevated him to the rank of Crown Prince, after seven years of surviving the harsh reality of being a Prince without portfolio, constantly on the battlefield. In 1591, Dalgar'an IV's realm only consisted of the modern province of Stormhold, which was little more than the capital city of the same name (now called [[Valeria (Ralgon)|Valeria]] as of 1686), and a port city of little economic consequence near the eastern tip of Drag'os, called Glacier City. (Although Nixtorm and Drag'nor were nominally a confederation with the Ralgon state, each was, in practice, independent of each other and did their own thing for the past two centuries.)

=== Coronation and Early Reign (1595 - 1620) ===

In late 1594, Dalgar'an IV died during a battle defending the border against a particularly large incursion from giant insects from the Great Swamp. After winning the Royal Selection Tournament in which ten other contestants died in the arena, Takeshi Ral was quickly crowned on New Year's Day, 1595 as Nobunag'an IV, after the first ruler with that name -- the same ruler who first made peace with both Drag'nor and the tribes of Nixtorm to battle against their homelands' respective dangers. The freshly minted king, now 31 years of age, set forth to consolidate the small country's tribes and expand from the coastline. Although most rulers of the country were expected to expire after less than a decade (he'd already been through five predecessors in his lifetime already), Nobunag'an resolved to survive by carefully selecting those battles he'd personally set off for, and allow rivals to handle the most dangerous missions instead, as a way of covertly ridding himself of political opposition.

By the tenth year of Nobunag'an's reign, the ruling branch of the Ral Clan had recovered its numbers from the tumultous period following Azul'an III's death. As the new king was already past his first decade of rule, the court began making preparations amid skepticism of the shrewd ruler's longevity. Instead, that never materialized. In 1615, Nobunag'an celebrated his twentieth year on the throne -- the first such anniversary since the early 1500's, and only the second since the Great Atomic Bombardment of 1450.

Such a date was important to the Ralgons, as an entire generation had passed since the Emperor took the throne. Now solidly entering his 50's, Nobunag'an was already a few short years older than many of his immediate predecessors at the time of their own deaths. To commemorate the event, a special Sed festival* celebrating the king's jubilee was held throughout the country -- and in neighboring Nixtorm, which was considering a personal union in the wake of its own ruling clan's decline. For modern historians, this marked a major turning point in national morale, as well as their stance towards the kings as an expendable asset (regardless of the pain caused by their loss). It also marked the point in which a hard border began to form between the environs of the growing Glacier City (the Ralgons' core territory at the time) and the Great Swamp.

After 20 years on the throne, the slowly strengthening Ralgon state also began to see unprecedented prosperity due to having a stabilized leadership on the throne for the first time since 1450 AN. In 1620, Nobunag'an IV celebrated his second Sed festival, as it was held every five years after the king's first 20-year jubilee. A king celebrating more than one Sed festival had not occurred since a similar festival during Draeg'ar XII's reign in 1402 AN.

Modern historians consider this the official beginning date of the modern Ralgon state, as after 1620 Nobunag'an IV had gathered enough military, political, and even religious power within the state to begin realizing his ambitions to unite the countries on the Island of Drag'os in more than a nominal fashion.

=== Unification of Ralgon (1620 - 1650) ===

=== Opening the Country (1650-1670) ===

=== Late Reign (1670-1673) ===
The reign of Nobunag'an during this period was extremely quiet, and the government was characterized by stagnation due to his extremely long reign of well over 70 years. Because democracy was limited within the embattled country, there were few offices that changed hands often enough to encourage the spread of new ideas. With the Great Swamp War still raging on, the Emperor chose to prepare for an abdication, with no idea that his lifespan was nowhere near at an end.

Eventually, he chose an obscure prince fighting on the western areas of Drag'os against some of the fiercest of the great swamp creatures, including the greatly feared lightning dragons. His name was [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro]], one of the Emperor's favorites when the then-young man was still in his youth. They had parted under amicable terms, with the prince enlisting in the army to fight against the more fierce elements of the Great Swamp and the Badlands, where he eventually became particularly well-known for his unusually daring exploits against the larger, much more powerful lightning dragons that continually posed an existential threat to the then-western heartland in southern Drag'os.

=== Post-Abdication (1673-1704) ===

The post-abdication life of Nobunag'an IV initially saw a period of quiet, despite events befalling the Ralgon Empire in his absence. During his 31-year retirement, he insistent on remaining present in the background of imperial politics, and he was often seen giving advice to the twin rulers of the country's territories (that is, Masamune I of Adrestia and the now-Emperor Shiro of Ralgon). Overall, the venerable leader took a much less front-facing role in politics during his long retirement, preferring to allow younger generations to make decisions in his stead. That said, however, he was a secretly unifying force during the long periods of crisis the Ralgon state went through, and he is credited by historians studying this period as having saved Emperor Shiro's rule during his darkest hours.

Instead of acting as a ruler, he instead filled the capacity of an extremely influential, domestic diplomat and mediator between Ralgon's internal rulers, helping preserve the country's unity behind the scenes in the wake of the [[Ralgon Civil War]] in 1685. Later the next year, his relatively unexpected [[Visit of Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon to Daocheng|visit to Daocheng]] resulted in deepened relations between Ralgon and [[Jingdao]] -- an alliance that would continue to bear fruit during the hard times Ralgon went through during 1686 through 1689. The close bonds forged between the two countries lasted until their respective transformations at the turn of the 18th Century AN.

During his free time, the emperor emeritus took up residence in [[Gondolin]], the capital city of Adrestia. Taking advantage of the city's considerable wealth and rapid development, he aided in the region's transformation from a mere playground of the wealthy into a large, metropolitan center of power that enjoyed freedom from many of the demographic and political challenges perpetually faced by mainland Ralgon's cities (notably Glacier City). During the lifetime of the young Masamune II, the Emperor took to attempting to educating him after his father's sudden, unexplained abdication and disappearance from the country. (In his words privately to Nobunag'an, he was "going on an adventure" and had grown tired of rule, and felt confident in his 20-year-old son's ability to govern.) The Emperor also mentored Masamune II's child, (posthumously named Masamune III), who still lived a rough life and ended up being executed for treason before seeing his child, Masamune IV (now [[Emperor Anarion]]).

For the Emperor's 125th birthday (a truly astounding age to reach for Ralgonese people), he plans to make state visits throughout Micras and foster strong relations between Ralgon and other countries. However, such a grand tour never came about due to political troubles at home. Instead, he toured select destinations and resumed work in his capacity as a nonpartisan political voice in the struggling empire. In 1690, he moved his primary residence to the capital of [[Adrestia]] to spend more time with his favorite distaff descendant, his great-grandson Prince Masamune II -- who had often spent much time around the Emperor Emeritus as a child and the years immediately preceding his coronation as Prince after the former's abdication. He cultivated a strong relationship with the descendants of the Prince, most notably Masamune IV, who reigns as [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]].

Nobunag'an IV played only a background role in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that erupted in the political chaos that followed the death of his grandson [[Shiro I of Ralgon]]. Instead of immersing himself in the politics of the time and taking sides between his now-distant descendants (despite his close personal rapport with several of them), he chose to leave the country and take on a sort of self-imposed exile, ostensibly for medical treatment for age-related issues. By this point, it was clear that Nobunag'an was going to live for quite a while longer, despite the fact that he was already one of the oldest recorded Ralgonese to ever have lived, having been born in far harder times for his people in terms of the extreme variety in causes for mortality.

=== Post-Ralgon (1706-) ===

After a brief period of travel within the newly minted [[Imperial Federation]] following its victory in the recent war, Nobunag'an embarked on another long-term, international trip to lend his very long years of wisdom to the new government's interests abroad. His first and primary destination was the nearby [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]], a new ally following the accession of the Imperial Federation into the [[Raspur Pact]]. Using his honorary post as "Chief Ambassador", the Emperor Emeritus has effective ability to travel all over Micras and, in addition to seeking treatment to stave off the aging process, enhance the standing of his great-great-great-grandson's government. During Valora's ten-year independence, he was also the only official from the [[Raspur Pact]] allowed to visit [[Valora]] completely free of visas or similar documents, thanks to his near-worshipped status within the Ralgonese spheres of influence around Micras. In circles in [[Tiegang]] and other Ralgonese diasporas, he is venerated as something akin to a minor god by the Adrestian community living there.

Since the formation of the Imperial Federation, the Emperor Emeritus continued to enjoy extremely high status throughout the Ralgonese world, with the youthful Emperor [[Anarion]] (Nobunag'an 6th-generation descendant) seeming far more attentive to the venerable man's words than his late father, who would likely have plunged the Empire into chaos due to reckless behavior.

== Political Beliefs ==
The Emperor Emeritus is one of the founders and leading members of the [[Draconic Humanism]] movement, itself an offshoot of sorts of the [[Humanist Movement]] based in Benacia. Having the status as one of the oldest Ralgonese ever recorded, Nobunag'an is a political force to be reckoned with in the Imperial Federation. Before {{AN|1715}}, almost no major policy submitted for the Emperor [[Anarion|Anarion's]] signature failed to pass in front of his desk for at least tacit approval before being enacted throughout the Empire. His influence within the halls of power still continues even as he continues to grow older and more respected as a non-ruling figure within the bounds of the now-sprawling empire. However, he is not the nation's Archon, as he preferred other roles, instead ostensibly passing the title onto the ruling [[Emperor Anarion]]. During the Regency Period under Duke Nikamura Hawkins of Gondolin, however, he nonetheless exercised many of those powers due to his outsized influence on both the Emperor and the court at large, as well as with his status as the highest-ranking representative to any and all other members of the [[Raspur Pact]].

After 1715, he stepped into a more active role in proposing policies of his own, none of which failed to garner the current Emperor Anarion's signature due to the latter's hero worship of the former. As Nobunag'an realized that his aging had essentially stopped (and, perhaps, even reversed to a small degree), he slowly stepped into active politics, acting as the man to see when an international actor wanted the Imperial Federation's support on some foreign project, intervention, or other major commitment. It was clear by {{AN|1740}} that he was one of the few Ralgonese "immortals" in existence, but he was hesitant to share this privilege with everyone due to the likely ramifications of a potentially immortal population springing up out of nowhere.

The Emperor Emeritus, by practice, usually exercises moderate policies, tempering national interests with pragmatic diplomacy abroad. While Nobunag'an could be considered an idealist, he is one whose own national goals have already been met to the letter, and thus has turned sights inwards towards the improvement of the state through policy rather than territorial expansion and raw military might.

== Notable Descendants ==

Known in certain circles as the "Great Ancestor," the Emperor Emeritus is by far the longest-lived monarch in Ralgonese history. His direct descendants have continuously ruled the Ralgonese states since his abdication in {{AN|1673}}, and (as of {{AN|1734}}) he has lived to see descendants out to the 9th generation -- a feat shared only by less than 5 other people in Ralgonese history and no other monarch or member of the nobility. The Emperor Emeritus is estimated to have close to 200 descendants, not including those who count descent by marriage or adoption. The below names in bold represents notable descendants of his, most being rulers of their respective countries or territories.

Due to his extreme age, the law was changed in {{AN|1719}} that again re-incorporated him and specific successors back into the Imperial line of succession, as he was now more than 5 generations removed from the throne, yet had both formerly held it and still openly maintained the vigor of someone scarcely past middle age, despite his venerable appearance. As of {{AN|1746}}, he married 47 years after the passing of his 8th spouse, Yukino Chuujiwara (died {{AN|1699}}), having outlived all of them.

=== Main line ===
<hr />

This is the main line of descendants from Nobunag'an's royal, then imperial, family. Given that Nobunag'an has survived 8 spouses and recently married a 9th as of {{AN|1746}}, multiple lineages exist that descend directly from him. One cadet branch suffered a clean break into regional branches following the events of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], in which the leadership of the Imperial Family was called into question in the early 1700's AN following [[Shiro's death|Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1704}}. A resulting war was fought to determine both the selection and determination over who would be the next Ralgon Emperor. According to ancient Ralgonese traditions, any current Emperor of Ralgon (or, prior to {{AN|1673}} the King) would need to be directly descended within three generations of the any current or deceased Ralgon Emperor, regardless of the length of their respective reigns. However, Nobunag'an's extreme longevity made following the tradition impossible for several generations until Emperor [[Anarion]] not only took the throne but sired an incredible twenty-five children of his own by the late 1730's AN.

Eventually, rules were set into place c.{{AN|1668}} that also included the direct descendants (by blood only) of ''current or living'' Emperors (in the event of an Emperor's abdication due to age). Due to the near-extinction of immediately qualifying candidates at one point or another due to war or infighting, the list necessarily included, for a time, any claimant be descended directly from the current Emperor more than three generations away due to Nobunag'an's incredible longevity and outliving most of his children by the time of his abdication in {{AN|1673}}. The laws remain in place should less than eleven claimants exist that are descended less than 3 generations away -- but this was immediately outmoded when Emperor [[Anarion]] not only took the throne but sired an incredible twenty-five children of his own by the late 1730's AN.

By the time Nobunag'an celebrated his platinum jubilee in {{AN|1665}}, he had long noticed that he was showing signs of aging extremely slowly, and chose to pass reforms before he inevitably vacated the throne, to prevent the onset of stagnation within the [[Ralgon]] state (which, unfortunately, had already set in place). He eventually abdicated in {{AN|1673}} to prevent his grandchildren from aging too much before they contested the throne. After this action, the Imperial line continued as before due to the fact that, despite his succession by a grandson, he was still a living Emperor and thus able to maintain the Imperial Line in the event the current Emperor did not survive long enough to produce capable heirs to the throne.

The Imperial Line before the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] is listed below. Note that, for purposes of claiming princely titles within the vintage Ralgonese tradition, the old laws still apply. However, for imperial succession under the [[Imperial Federation|Imperial Federation's]] laws, those within the ruling Imperial Line automatically take precedence unless the line becomes extinct. Currently, there are six branches of Nobunag'an's own multiple lines of progeny, four of which are well-documented: The Adrestia line (currently the ruling house), the Ralgon line (ending with [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], the Valora Line, and the Wythe Line.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- married 8 times, had issue with 5. (All spouses died from age and other natural causes, without having divorced). Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the last being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}).
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died unmarried and without issue of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** Several descendants of little note.
*** Prince Benimaru Ral VII little is known of this person's history, as he kept his few notable accomplishments to himself and rarely spoke with others. The younger brother of [[Draeg'ar Ral X]].
**** Prince [[Benimaru Ral VIII]], Prince of [[Valora]] Took over as titular Prince of Valora in {{AN|1715}} after the Imperial Federation's victory after the [[Conquest of Valora]]. Otherwise, known as a ruler of modest tastes and disliking pomp and circumstance, preferring to lead a quiet life.
** Dalgar'on Ral (♂ {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1635}} -- m. ??? (♂ {{AN|1602}}-{{AN|1660}} Killed in battle in the [[Great Swamp]] during an expedition. Had one child late in life to a younger spouse. Spouse never remarried.
*** [[Draeg'ar Ral IX & I|Draeg'ar Ral IX]], Crown Prince of Ralgon; Emperor of [[Holy Ralgon State of Valora|Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1715}}/{{AN|1720}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Anarion]]. Reigned over the unstable rump nation of [[Holy Ralgon State of Valora|Valora]], further reduced to [[South Valora]] after the [[Conquest of Valora]] by his archnemeses. He abdicated the rulership of South Valora to his son in {{AN|1720}}.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral X]], Prince of South Valora; (♂ {{AN|1707}}-; r. {{AN|1720}}), betrothed to [[Mondosphere]] royalty A child of his father's old age, Draeg'ar X was crowned as Prince of South Valora at the tender age of 13 to be trained in effective leadership by his old father in a bid to continue the family's bid for legitimacy in their remaining territory.
**Benimaru Ral IV, Prince of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}; Benimaru's mother was Princess Rani Nixtorm of [[Nixtorm]] (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}), King Nobunag'an's first wife. He never took the throne, and died of natural causes.)
***Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1640}}-{{AN|1685}}?; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1685}}) Founder of the [[House of Adrestia]]. Abdicated in favor of a young son to assist [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in his wars. Went missing in action during the [[Ralgon Civil War]] of unknown causes in {{AN|1685}}; presumed dead. Had issue. He is rumored to have other sons and grandsons living on exile, particularly on [[Bomei Island]].
****'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1661}}-; r. {{AN|1685}}-{{AN|1701}})''' Prince Masamune II died of wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 during a coup attempt by his son Masamune III, at the hands of a close confidant. Had issue.
*****Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1701}}) Masamune III was executed for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was poisoned not long after their only son was born.)
******'''Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' The young prince was later crowned [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] (r. {{AN|1706}}-). Married [[Qasima Cakar]] in {{AN|1720}}.
*******''Twenty-five children as of {{AN|1746}}; see: [[Anarion]] for further details.''
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Ralgon|Ralgonese]] Line ===
<hr />
The Imperial Line before the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] is listed below.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''', m. Mikasa Valeris (♀ {{AN|15??}}-{{AN|1649}})

 Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the last being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}).
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died unmarried and without issue of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** Several descendants of little note.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Adrestia]] Line ===
<hr />
The greater Ralgon line's leadership ostensibly passed to the young, {{AgeAN|1701|1705}} year-old Masamune IV of Adrestia after death of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]]. However, this claim was disputed during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], which ultimately sundered the line into different, regional branches each with their own head. The Imperial Federation's current ruling branch was formally founded upon Masamune's ascension to the throne of the new [[Imperial Federation]] in {{AN|1706}} as [[Emperor Anarion]].

As the Prince is the only surviving descendant of his late grandfather, [[Masamune II]], he is the only member of the Imperial Family in this branch. As such, his family tree directly reflects the [[Adrestia]] Line:

{{Tree list}}
*'''Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1680}})'''
**'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Prince Masamune dies of wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 by his son Masamune III.
***Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}) Masamune III was executed for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was poisoned not long after their only son was born.)
****'''Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-), m. [[Qasima Cakar]] {{AN|1720}}''' The young prince was later crowned as [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in {{AN|1706}}, formally taking power in {{AN|1726}} after extensive education overseas. 
*****Twenty-five children as of {{AN|1746}}; see: [[Anarion]] for further details.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Valora]] Line ===
<hr />
The new Imperial line in Valora eventually branched into the new [[House of Valora]] following the integration of the various descendants of the two houses living in the region by Emperor [[Draeg'ar Ral]]. Having secured much of Ralgonese-controlled mainland Cibola (outside of [[Nova Victoria]]), the new rulers in Valora and New Ralgon consolidated the region under a single banner. The so-called Valora Line is descended through Nobunag'an's marriage with Princess Rani Nixtorm (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}, m. 1594), herself the daughter of a Ralgonese daimyo in [[Nixtorm]]'s old territory on [[Drag'os]].

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- m. Princess Rani Nixtorm (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}, m. {{AN|1594}}), Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation. His first marriage was to the daughter of a daimyo of [[Nixtorm]] named Rani Nixtorm. Had several marriages, with the last ending in {{AN|1689}}.
**
*** Dalgar'on Ral (♂ {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1635}} -- m. ??? (♂ {{AN|1602}}-{{AN|1660}} Killed in battle in the [[Great Swamp]] during an expedition. Had one child late in life to a younger spouse. Spouse never remarried.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral|Draeg'ar Ral IX]], Crown Prince of Ralgon; Emperor of [[Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1715}};{{AN|1720}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Served as one of the Crown Princes of the Ralgonese state. Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Emperor Anarion]]. He reigned over Ralgonese territory on mainland Cibola, named [[Valora]], in concert with local rulers, starting his own Imperial line of succession there under the [[House of Valora]]. The territory was [[Conquest of Valora|conquered]], and became king over a rump state. He only married very late in life, and had a son in his old age during this time, passing the throne in {{AN|1720}} and chairing the regency council. He retired from public life at the age of 99 following the new king's assumption of power in {{AN|1734}}..
***** [[Draeg'ar Ral X]], King of [[South Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1707}}-; r. {{AN|1720}}-) Draeg'ar II & X became king only at the age of 13 at the helm of a rump state. Known for his much milder disposition compared to his immediate forbears, he took power in {{AN|1732}} after a long regency headed by his mother.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== Line of [[Wythe|Stella]] ===
<hr />

In {{AN|1746}}, Nobunag'an surprised the world through his marriage to the much, ''much'' younger [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]]. Their marriage -- the 9th Nobunag'an has had in his life -- has not yet produced new children. The so-called Wythe Line is the result of this union. Their marriage inducted Nobunag'an into the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]. It was recognized in {{AN|1757}} as the ''Line of Stella'' within the [[Ralgonese Chapter of the Order of the Holy Lakes|Ralgonese Chapter of the Order]], given his numerous other progeny and descendants throughout his very long life and prior marriages.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Emeritus Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- m. Princess [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] (♀ {{AN|1716}}-})
** Prince Alexander Takeshi Ral (1747– )
** Princess Gloria Megumi Ral (1748– )
** Prince Caspian Izanagi Ral (1750– )
{{Tree list/end}}

=== Others ===

Nobunag'an has many descendants in a number that is abnormal even for a Ralgonese leader of his caliber. Having married 9 times as of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, he has descendants in five of the nine marriages he has had in his very long life. These consist in turn of multiple cadet branches, and consist of upwards of 200 - 300 known individuals.

== Immortality ==

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, the man is a remarkable {{AgeAN|1564|noAN=y}} years old, making him one of the oldest living Ralgonese in the country's history, only surpassed by five other known individuals in the [[Imperial Federation]] as of {{AN|1718}}, themselves being classified as "immortals" for their own unnaturally long lifespans. Immortals in [[Ralgon]] were always very poorly documented during its own long history, with most preferring to live obscure lives due to the likelihood of abuse at the hands of local nobility or the state by officials in search of this incredibly rare gift.

Immortality is thought to be possessed by roughly one in 1 million to 1 in 10 million Ralgonese. Chances are known to rise based on ancestry. Genetic studies performed on Nobunag'an and other immortals (most of who remained anonymous and undocumented during the study) presented signs that descent from another immortal confers roughly a 1 in 1,000 chance of inheriting the same condition. It is thought that the Elvish/Elfinshi ancestry has something to do with this rare spawning of immortality within individuals.

Immortals do not typically know of the existence or chances of their own immortality until their aging begins to reverse between the ages of 70 and 80 years. Genetic testing for signs and/or odds of immortality is also an emerging science, and as such is inaccurate as of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=n}}. Furthermore, as most high-ranking Ralgonese historically were killed in battle or died of natural war-related causes before that point, merely getting the chance to find out was until recently a rare occurrence. As such, most rumored/suspected immortals were women. Additionally, the true lifespan of Ralgonese nobility in general remained an unknown for centuries, precisely because of the hard nature of life in constant battle. It is thought that such persons live around 100 to 120 years, compared with the Ralgonese commoners' lifespan of roughly 85 years post-[[Conquest of Valora|Conquest]].

The limited documented evidence available to Ralgonese authorities yield likely additional benefits to descendants of immortals. Children or close-generation descendants of immortals commonly enjoy long natural lifespans, even for Ralgonese. Most likely the most notable recent example was his grandson [[Draeg'ar Ral IX]] ({{AN|1639}} - {{AN|1746}}), who is documented to live a hard life of war and conflict and still lived healthy to the age of 112 years. It is expected that children of Ralgonese immortals can expect to live healthy lives of up to 150 years. It is also suspected (although not confirmed) through genetic testing and historical records that individuals descended within 5 to 10 generations of an immortal have significantly increased (albeit still tiny) chances of eventually attaining immortality themselves.

The aging and de-aging process for immortals is extremely scarcely documented, as immortals consistently have taken on completely new identities to hide their condition from the public. It is not even known if eternal youth is the norm, or whether immortals' reversing of the aging process may only bring them to a certain point where death by natural age-related causes is still possible. However, only one documented case in recent history of the immortality process is known (that being Nobunag'an), with the other known immortals being persons of obscure origin who had merely thought they got lucky in their old age until they realized only long after what had happened.

In Nobunag'an, genetic tests show that his aging began slowing near {{AN|1640}}, not long before his 76th birthday, and had already stopped completely near {{AN|1665}}, giving him appearance of being in his late 70's when he was already 109 years old. When he quietly celebrated his 140th birthday in {{AN|1704}}, his aging had slowly reversed to the point where he appeared in his late 60's, and enough vigor had returned to support his descendants in the Adrestian branch of the extended Ral dynasty in the wake of [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Emperor Shiro Ral's]] final illness. By this point, Nobunag'an's age-reversal process was well-documented, and by his 180th birthday in {{AN|1744}}, he had finally taken on the appearance of a middle-aged man in his 40's, and felt even stronger than he was in his prime over a century prior. This slow progression allowed him to also restore his former physique, enough to allow him to find decent prospects for marriage -- which he finally accomplished in {{AN|1746}}, 47 years after his prior spouse had passed away, through his marriage to the [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]].

Genetic scientists are now waiting to see if this reversal of the aging process also restored the likely immortal's virility. They were proven right; as of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}}, this union has produced three further children to add to Nobunag'an's many progeny. By the late 1750's, Nobunag'an had the appearance of any man in his early forties. Although a trained eye could see the many years in his experience-hardened expression, physically speaking he continued to be a man in the prime of his life. It was clear, however, that he would never look ''truly'' youthful, but for a man of {{AgeAN|1564|noAN=y}} years, he had no cause to complain. (And indeed, he was recorded on-air saying he was afraid of becoming an "ancient twink, like those glittery vampires in chick flicks.")

== See Also ==

[[wikipedia:Heb Sed|Heb Sed]] (Real-world ceremony held in Ancient Egypt)

{{Imperial Federation Nav}}

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Living members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category: Ralgonese members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]

Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon

2026-06-29T13:14:20Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Immortality */

{{Ralgon Article}}
{{Valora Article}}
{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{Hurmu Senator
|fullname = Nobunag'an Ral
|image = Nobunag'an 1704.jpg
|image-2 = Ralgon CoA.png
|Tenurebegins = 1.VIII.{{AN|1751}} ({{AgeAN|1751}})
|Tenureends =
|positions =
|senate = [[Fifteenth Senate|XV]]
|elected = [[1751 Senate of the Lakes election|1751]]
|faction = [[Draconic Humanist List]]
|OHLline = [[Almanac_of_the_Holy_Lakes#Line_of_Fish_(1582)|Line of Fish]] ''(by right of marriage)''
|comment =
|gender = Male
|Race =
|species =
|hairstyle =
|eyecolour =
|skincolour =
|other =
|father = King Dalgar'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (crowned {{AN|1591}}, killed in battle {{AN|1594}})
|mother = Princess Mikio Ral >(died 1612 AN)
|spouse = [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] (m. 1746) ''7 previous marriages'' (''see below''))
|children = ''Numerous'' (''see below''))
|birthdate = 1564 AN (age {{AgeAN|1564}})
|birthplace = [[Valeria]], West Stormhold, [[Ralgon]] Azul'an, Arumen (present-day)
|residence =
|deathdate =
|deathplace =
|}}

'''Emperor Nobunag'an Ral IV''', born {{AN|1564}} as Prince Takeshi Ral XV, is both the longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch in the history of the [[Ralgon|Holy Ralgon Empire]]. He is also the Emperor Emeritus of the same nation, having been bestowed the title by his successors after they shifted to using conventional as well as native Ralgonese titles. He currently enjoys high status in the government of the new [[Imperial Federation]], holding the special title of Chief Ambassador, giving him a unique freedom to travel and directly interact with foreign governments abroad. His special style of "His Serene Excellency" is unique in the Imperial Federation. He was similarly honored in [[Valora]] during its own existence, despite his political situation having permanently pulled him into the Imperial Federation's orbit.

In {{AN|1746}}, he surprised the world through his marriage to the [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]], automatically becoming a [[Knight of the Holy Lakes]] by virtue of his 9th marriage, having outlived all his prior partners. Nobunag'an had been unmarried since {{AN|1699}}, when his prior spouse, Yukino Chuujiwara (his 8th wife), was murdered. He went unmarried for nearly five decades when it was finally discovered that the culprit was one of his own direct descendants, that being the so-called "Mad Prince" Masamune III, who attempted a coup less than two years later and ultimately paid for it with his life.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, the man is a remarkable {{AgeAN|1564|noAN=y}} years old, making him one of the oldest living Ralgonese in the country's history, only surpassed by five other known individuals in the [[Imperial Federation]] as of {{AN|1718}}, themselves being classified as "immortals" for their own unnaturally long lifespans. His record-breaking reign of 78 years saw the transformation of the Ralgon state from a mere group of disjointed tribes on the eastern and southern coastlines of Drag'os into the unified state prepared to conquer the island under his successors, [[Emperor Shiro I of Ralgon|Emperor Shiro I]] and [[Emperor Anarion]] under the banners of the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] and the [[Imperial Federation]], respectively. His status as the "Great Ancestor" of all current Ralgonese rulers since his abdication in {{AN|1673}} made him about the only person capable of navigating the likely-permanent schism between the two Ralgonese states during his later years after his general withdrawal from the minutiae of domestic politics since 1706 AN. Instead, the Emperor Emeritus began to spend more time abroad, acting as an advocate for the ruling governments of both the Imperial Federation and, less commonly, [[Valora]]. He played an active role in reconciling the two asymmetric factions in {{AN|1717}}, after the [[Conquest of Valora]] two years prior.

Since the late 1710's AN, as Nobunag'an passed 150 years of age, he has become the subject of scientific inquiry, as his personal physicians, some of whom now prominent scientists in the Imperial Federation, have begun to assert that his age has been progressively slowing since at least the 1650's AN. However, this stirring among the medical community has not affected the Emperor Emeritus's personal life, as he has remained active in the international community consistently since taking up a winter residence in [[New Alexandria]] as the Imperial Federation's primary spokesperson outside its own borders. Since then, he assumed a position as a [[Senator of the Holy Lakes]] in [[Hurmu]], acting as a powerful voice in the international community on behalf of his homeland, the [[Imperial Federation]].

== Biography ==

=== Early Life (1564 - 1594) ===

In 1564 AN, he was born during the fifth year of the reign of Azul'an III, the then-current ruler of the country. Prince Takeshi Ral was Azul'an's great nephew, and he was the grandson of Azul'an's brother, Draeg'ar XV. When Takeshi was 8, he had his first experience in statecraft: Because of the harsh realities of the country's existence, kings simply didn't last long. In fact, twenty years (a full generation for the Ralgonese peasantry of the day) was considered exceptional, and special celebrations were held. Azul'an III never got the chance to see that rare celebration for himself. In 1562, in his 14th year as king, he died in battle while personally leading the defense of a border city against a dragon attack -- as rulers were obliged to do.

Takeshi's second lesson as a child in statecraft was this: Replacing slain kings wasn't easy. In the brutal, unstable, and existentially challenging 1500's for the Ralgon state, crowning the next king was a messy, brutal affair meant to ensure the new king was stronger than everyone else in the ruling clan. Additionally, a King taking the throne in the wake of a decimated royal house would reign without opposition until his almost certain death within less than a generation -- enough time for the Ral Clan to reconsolidate and repeat the process of thinning its ever-changing ranks. Kings needed to be replaced quickly, and the new king needed to be the strongest and smartest in the land if he was to survive for long.

Thus, Takeshi learned his third lesson: weakness in the Ral Clan was never tolerated, and weak pretenders to the throne would quickly meet their fate in the arena or on the battlefield shortly after coronation. And those without the stomach to participate in an election and potentially fight for their own honor were cast out of the decision-making process afterwards -- at least until the next election. In this way, the Clan never allowed itself to balloon out of control, and retained power through a line of strong elected kings, each related to their predecessor within three generations. The only weakness? Kings were reliably short-lived due to constant battlefield-related obligations, and dead kings were morbidly expensive for the ruling Clan in terms of manpower to replace. By Azul'an's death in 1562, the Ral Clan listed no more than fifty eligible contenders for the Throne. Despite the Ralgonese peoples' notoriously high fertility rate at the time, enduring the replacement process twice each generation with upwards of a dozen deaths was unwelcome in both the short-term and the long-term for the struggling country and its ruling dynasty that had already spent oceans of precious blood simply keeping their often-divided realm intact in the face of overwhelming external (megafauna) and internal (demographic) pressure.

In late 1562, Nobunag'an III, Azul'an's successor, then came to power later that year after Takeshi witnessed the brutality of the Selection Tournament, after the existing Crown Princes failed to agree on who the next ruler would be. The Ral Clan's numbers reduced by eight, the new king was expected to live long enough for the cycle to complete itself and the Clan's members (especially the king) were expected to produce enough children to feed to both the arena and to the army's endless meat grinder on the nation's ever-shifting inland border.

It was towards the end of Nobunag'an III's reign in 1584 that Takeshi turned 20, and was granted the style of Crown Prince after going through the rites -- thus completing a generational cycle -- and already seeing three kings in his lifetime. In 1584, 12 years into his reign, Nobunag'an joined his predecessors in death. During a battle with rival natives from inland near the north-western border, both parties were attacked by a lightning dragon. Nobunag'an III died leading a retreat inland, and his men escaped to tell the tale because the dragon turned on the inland natives instead.

After an unusually quiet Election process, Draeg'ar XV, Takeshi's great-uncle and Nobunag'an III's brother, took the throne. However, he died within a year of being crowned (1585) when he led an expeditionary scouting force consisting of brown-water Navy forces too far into the Great Swamp. While taking a small fleet across one of the Swamp's many deep (and interconnected) lakes, his boat was attacked by a mosasaur. His expedition only returned with a tenth of its original size.

Next on the throne was Draeg'ar XVI, after a similarly quiet election process. After five years as king, he died in early 1590 during a plague that swept the country. During this time, the Ralgon state began to take its modern form, with Nixtorm finally recognizing their senior partners in the south as rulers outright. Drag'nor, however, remained obstinate on the matter due to ideological differences. It was also during this time that lightning dragons began appearing less often off the coasts, allowing for the possibility of sea-based travel outside the immediate environs of the Drag'osian coastline.

Dalgar'an IV, Takeshi's father, won the next election and resulting Selection Tournament and took the country's helm in 1591. As Takeshi's father, he elevated him to the rank of Crown Prince, after seven years of surviving the harsh reality of being a Prince without portfolio, constantly on the battlefield. In 1591, Dalgar'an IV's realm only consisted of the modern province of Stormhold, which was little more than the capital city of the same name (now called [[Valeria (Ralgon)|Valeria]] as of 1686), and a port city of little economic consequence near the eastern tip of Drag'os, called Glacier City. (Although Nixtorm and Drag'nor were nominally a confederation with the Ralgon state, each was, in practice, independent of each other and did their own thing for the past two centuries.)

=== Coronation and Early Reign (1595 - 1620) ===

In late 1594, Dalgar'an IV died during a battle defending the border against a particularly large incursion from giant insects from the Great Swamp. After winning the Royal Selection Tournament in which ten other contestants died in the arena, Takeshi Ral was quickly crowned on New Year's Day, 1595 as Nobunag'an IV, after the first ruler with that name -- the same ruler who first made peace with both Drag'nor and the tribes of Nixtorm to battle against their homelands' respective dangers. The freshly minted king, now 31 years of age, set forth to consolidate the small country's tribes and expand from the coastline. Although most rulers of the country were expected to expire after less than a decade (he'd already been through five predecessors in his lifetime already), Nobunag'an resolved to survive by carefully selecting those battles he'd personally set off for, and allow rivals to handle the most dangerous missions instead, as a way of covertly ridding himself of political opposition.

By the tenth year of Nobunag'an's reign, the ruling branch of the Ral Clan had recovered its numbers from the tumultous period following Azul'an III's death. As the new king was already past his first decade of rule, the court began making preparations amid skepticism of the shrewd ruler's longevity. Instead, that never materialized. In 1615, Nobunag'an celebrated his twentieth year on the throne -- the first such anniversary since the early 1500's, and only the second since the Great Atomic Bombardment of 1450.

Such a date was important to the Ralgons, as an entire generation had passed since the Emperor took the throne. Now solidly entering his 50's, Nobunag'an was already a few short years older than many of his immediate predecessors at the time of their own deaths. To commemorate the event, a special Sed festival* celebrating the king's jubilee was held throughout the country -- and in neighboring Nixtorm, which was considering a personal union in the wake of its own ruling clan's decline. For modern historians, this marked a major turning point in national morale, as well as their stance towards the kings as an expendable asset (regardless of the pain caused by their loss). It also marked the point in which a hard border began to form between the environs of the growing Glacier City (the Ralgons' core territory at the time) and the Great Swamp.

After 20 years on the throne, the slowly strengthening Ralgon state also began to see unprecedented prosperity due to having a stabilized leadership on the throne for the first time since 1450 AN. In 1620, Nobunag'an IV celebrated his second Sed festival, as it was held every five years after the king's first 20-year jubilee. A king celebrating more than one Sed festival had not occurred since a similar festival during Draeg'ar XII's reign in 1402 AN.

Modern historians consider this the official beginning date of the modern Ralgon state, as after 1620 Nobunag'an IV had gathered enough military, political, and even religious power within the state to begin realizing his ambitions to unite the countries on the Island of Drag'os in more than a nominal fashion.

=== Unification of Ralgon (1620 - 1650) ===

=== Opening the Country (1650-1670) ===

=== Late Reign (1670-1673) ===
The reign of Nobunag'an during this period was extremely quiet, and the government was characterized by stagnation due to his extremely long reign of well over 70 years. Because democracy was limited within the embattled country, there were few offices that changed hands often enough to encourage the spread of new ideas. With the Great Swamp War still raging on, the Emperor chose to prepare for an abdication, with no idea that his lifespan was nowhere near at an end.

Eventually, he chose an obscure prince fighting on the western areas of Drag'os against some of the fiercest of the great swamp creatures, including the greatly feared lightning dragons. His name was [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro]], one of the Emperor's favorites when the then-young man was still in his youth. They had parted under amicable terms, with the prince enlisting in the army to fight against the more fierce elements of the Great Swamp and the Badlands, where he eventually became particularly well-known for his unusually daring exploits against the larger, much more powerful lightning dragons that continually posed an existential threat to the then-western heartland in southern Drag'os.

=== Post-Abdication (1673-1704) ===

The post-abdication life of Nobunag'an IV initially saw a period of quiet, despite events befalling the Ralgon Empire in his absence. During his 31-year retirement, he insistent on remaining present in the background of imperial politics, and he was often seen giving advice to the twin rulers of the country's territories (that is, Masamune I of Adrestia and the now-Emperor Shiro of Ralgon). Overall, the venerable leader took a much less front-facing role in politics during his long retirement, preferring to allow younger generations to make decisions in his stead. That said, however, he was a secretly unifying force during the long periods of crisis the Ralgon state went through, and he is credited by historians studying this period as having saved Emperor Shiro's rule during his darkest hours.

Instead of acting as a ruler, he instead filled the capacity of an extremely influential, domestic diplomat and mediator between Ralgon's internal rulers, helping preserve the country's unity behind the scenes in the wake of the [[Ralgon Civil War]] in 1685. Later the next year, his relatively unexpected [[Visit of Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon to Daocheng|visit to Daocheng]] resulted in deepened relations between Ralgon and [[Jingdao]] -- an alliance that would continue to bear fruit during the hard times Ralgon went through during 1686 through 1689. The close bonds forged between the two countries lasted until their respective transformations at the turn of the 18th Century AN.

During his free time, the emperor emeritus took up residence in [[Gondolin]], the capital city of Adrestia. Taking advantage of the city's considerable wealth and rapid development, he aided in the region's transformation from a mere playground of the wealthy into a large, metropolitan center of power that enjoyed freedom from many of the demographic and political challenges perpetually faced by mainland Ralgon's cities (notably Glacier City). During the lifetime of the young Masamune II, the Emperor took to attempting to educating him after his father's sudden, unexplained abdication and disappearance from the country. (In his words privately to Nobunag'an, he was "going on an adventure" and had grown tired of rule, and felt confident in his 20-year-old son's ability to govern.) The Emperor also mentored Masamune II's child, (posthumously named Masamune III), who still lived a rough life and ended up being executed for treason before seeing his child, Masamune IV (now [[Emperor Anarion]]).

For the Emperor's 125th birthday (a truly astounding age to reach for Ralgonese people), he plans to make state visits throughout Micras and foster strong relations between Ralgon and other countries. However, such a grand tour never came about due to political troubles at home. Instead, he toured select destinations and resumed work in his capacity as a nonpartisan political voice in the struggling empire. In 1690, he moved his primary residence to the capital of [[Adrestia]] to spend more time with his favorite distaff descendant, his great-grandson Prince Masamune II -- who had often spent much time around the Emperor Emeritus as a child and the years immediately preceding his coronation as Prince after the former's abdication. He cultivated a strong relationship with the descendants of the Prince, most notably Masamune IV, who reigns as [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]].

Nobunag'an IV played only a background role in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that erupted in the political chaos that followed the death of his grandson [[Shiro I of Ralgon]]. Instead of immersing himself in the politics of the time and taking sides between his now-distant descendants (despite his close personal rapport with several of them), he chose to leave the country and take on a sort of self-imposed exile, ostensibly for medical treatment for age-related issues. By this point, it was clear that Nobunag'an was going to live for quite a while longer, despite the fact that he was already one of the oldest recorded Ralgonese to ever have lived, having been born in far harder times for his people in terms of the extreme variety in causes for mortality.

=== Post-Ralgon (1706-) ===

After a brief period of travel within the newly minted [[Imperial Federation]] following its victory in the recent war, Nobunag'an embarked on another long-term, international trip to lend his very long years of wisdom to the new government's interests abroad. His first and primary destination was the nearby [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]], a new ally following the accession of the Imperial Federation into the [[Raspur Pact]]. Using his honorary post as "Chief Ambassador", the Emperor Emeritus has effective ability to travel all over Micras and, in addition to seeking treatment to stave off the aging process, enhance the standing of his great-great-great-grandson's government. During Valora's ten-year independence, he was also the only official from the [[Raspur Pact]] allowed to visit [[Valora]] completely free of visas or similar documents, thanks to his near-worshipped status within the Ralgonese spheres of influence around Micras. In circles in [[Tiegang]] and other Ralgonese diasporas, he is venerated as something akin to a minor god by the Adrestian community living there.

Since the formation of the Imperial Federation, the Emperor Emeritus continued to enjoy extremely high status throughout the Ralgonese world, with the youthful Emperor [[Anarion]] (Nobunag'an 6th-generation descendant) seeming far more attentive to the venerable man's words than his late father, who would likely have plunged the Empire into chaos due to reckless behavior.

== Political Beliefs ==
The Emperor Emeritus is one of the founders and leading members of the [[Draconic Humanism]] movement, itself an offshoot of sorts of the [[Humanist Movement]] based in Benacia. Having the status as one of the oldest Ralgonese ever recorded, Nobunag'an is a political force to be reckoned with in the Imperial Federation. Before {{AN|1715}}, almost no major policy submitted for the Emperor [[Anarion|Anarion's]] signature failed to pass in front of his desk for at least tacit approval before being enacted throughout the Empire. His influence within the halls of power still continues even as he continues to grow older and more respected as a non-ruling figure within the bounds of the now-sprawling empire. However, he is not the nation's Archon, as he preferred other roles, instead ostensibly passing the title onto the ruling [[Emperor Anarion]]. During the Regency Period under Duke Nikamura Hawkins of Gondolin, however, he nonetheless exercised many of those powers due to his outsized influence on both the Emperor and the court at large, as well as with his status as the highest-ranking representative to any and all other members of the [[Raspur Pact]].

After 1715, he stepped into a more active role in proposing policies of his own, none of which failed to garner the current Emperor Anarion's signature due to the latter's hero worship of the former. As Nobunag'an realized that his aging had essentially stopped (and, perhaps, even reversed to a small degree), he slowly stepped into active politics, acting as the man to see when an international actor wanted the Imperial Federation's support on some foreign project, intervention, or other major commitment. It was clear by {{AN|1740}} that he was one of the few Ralgonese "immortals" in existence, but he was hesitant to share this privilege with everyone due to the likely ramifications of a potentially immortal population springing up out of nowhere.

The Emperor Emeritus, by practice, usually exercises moderate policies, tempering national interests with pragmatic diplomacy abroad. While Nobunag'an could be considered an idealist, he is one whose own national goals have already been met to the letter, and thus has turned sights inwards towards the improvement of the state through policy rather than territorial expansion and raw military might.

== Notable Descendants ==

Known in certain circles as the "Great Ancestor," the Emperor Emeritus is by far the longest-lived monarch in Ralgonese history. His direct descendants have continuously ruled the Ralgonese states since his abdication in {{AN|1673}}, and (as of {{AN|1734}}) he has lived to see descendants out to the 9th generation -- a feat shared only by less than 5 other people in Ralgonese history and no other monarch or member of the nobility. The Emperor Emeritus is estimated to have close to 200 descendants, not including those who count descent by marriage or adoption. The below names in bold represents notable descendants of his, most being rulers of their respective countries or territories.

Due to his extreme age, the law was changed in {{AN|1719}} that again re-incorporated him and specific successors back into the Imperial line of succession, as he was now more than 5 generations removed from the throne, yet had both formerly held it and still openly maintained the vigor of someone scarcely past middle age, despite his venerable appearance. As of {{AN|1746}}, he married 47 years after the passing of his 8th spouse, Yukino Chuujiwara (died {{AN|1699}}), having outlived all of them.

=== Main line ===
<hr />

This is the main line of descendants from Nobunag'an's royal, then imperial, family. Given that Nobunag'an has survived 8 spouses and recently married a 9th as of {{AN|1746}}, multiple lineages exist that descend directly from him. One cadet branch suffered a clean break into regional branches following the events of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], in which the leadership of the Imperial Family was called into question in the early 1700's AN following [[Shiro's death|Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1704}}. A resulting war was fought to determine both the selection and determination over who would be the next Ralgon Emperor. According to ancient Ralgonese traditions, any current Emperor of Ralgon (or, prior to {{AN|1673}} the King) would need to be directly descended within three generations of the any current or deceased Ralgon Emperor, regardless of the length of their respective reigns. However, Nobunag'an's extreme longevity made following the tradition impossible for several generations until Emperor [[Anarion]] not only took the throne but sired an incredible twenty-five children of his own by the late 1730's AN.

Eventually, rules were set into place c.{{AN|1668}} that also included the direct descendants (by blood only) of ''current or living'' Emperors (in the event of an Emperor's abdication due to age). Due to the near-extinction of immediately qualifying candidates at one point or another due to war or infighting, the list necessarily included, for a time, any claimant be descended directly from the current Emperor more than three generations away due to Nobunag'an's incredible longevity and outliving most of his children by the time of his abdication in {{AN|1673}}. The laws remain in place should less than eleven claimants exist that are descended less than 3 generations away -- but this was immediately outmoded when Emperor [[Anarion]] not only took the throne but sired an incredible twenty-five children of his own by the late 1730's AN.

By the time Nobunag'an celebrated his platinum jubilee in {{AN|1665}}, he had long noticed that he was showing signs of aging extremely slowly, and chose to pass reforms before he inevitably vacated the throne, to prevent the onset of stagnation within the [[Ralgon]] state (which, unfortunately, had already set in place). He eventually abdicated in {{AN|1673}} to prevent his grandchildren from aging too much before they contested the throne. After this action, the Imperial line continued as before due to the fact that, despite his succession by a grandson, he was still a living Emperor and thus able to maintain the Imperial Line in the event the current Emperor did not survive long enough to produce capable heirs to the throne.

The Imperial Line before the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] is listed below. Note that, for purposes of claiming princely titles within the vintage Ralgonese tradition, the old laws still apply. However, for imperial succession under the [[Imperial Federation|Imperial Federation's]] laws, those within the ruling Imperial Line automatically take precedence unless the line becomes extinct. Currently, there are six branches of Nobunag'an's own multiple lines of progeny, four of which are well-documented: The Adrestia line (currently the ruling house), the Ralgon line (ending with [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], the Valora Line, and the Wythe Line.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- married 8 times, had issue with 5. (All spouses died from age and other natural causes, without having divorced). Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the last being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}).
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died unmarried and without issue of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** Several descendants of little note.
*** Prince Benimaru Ral VII little is known of this person's history, as he kept his few notable accomplishments to himself and rarely spoke with others. The younger brother of [[Draeg'ar Ral X]].
**** Prince [[Benimaru Ral VIII]], Prince of [[Valora]] Took over as titular Prince of Valora in {{AN|1715}} after the Imperial Federation's victory after the [[Conquest of Valora]]. Otherwise, known as a ruler of modest tastes and disliking pomp and circumstance, preferring to lead a quiet life.
** Dalgar'on Ral (♂ {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1635}} -- m. ??? (♂ {{AN|1602}}-{{AN|1660}} Killed in battle in the [[Great Swamp]] during an expedition. Had one child late in life to a younger spouse. Spouse never remarried.
*** [[Draeg'ar Ral IX & I|Draeg'ar Ral IX]], Crown Prince of Ralgon; Emperor of [[Holy Ralgon State of Valora|Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1715}}/{{AN|1720}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Anarion]]. Reigned over the unstable rump nation of [[Holy Ralgon State of Valora|Valora]], further reduced to [[South Valora]] after the [[Conquest of Valora]] by his archnemeses. He abdicated the rulership of South Valora to his son in {{AN|1720}}.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral X]], Prince of South Valora; (♂ {{AN|1707}}-; r. {{AN|1720}}), betrothed to [[Mondosphere]] royalty A child of his father's old age, Draeg'ar X was crowned as Prince of South Valora at the tender age of 13 to be trained in effective leadership by his old father in a bid to continue the family's bid for legitimacy in their remaining territory.
**Benimaru Ral IV, Prince of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}; Benimaru's mother was Princess Rani Nixtorm of [[Nixtorm]] (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}), King Nobunag'an's first wife. He never took the throne, and died of natural causes.)
***Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1640}}-{{AN|1685}}?; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1685}}) Founder of the [[House of Adrestia]]. Abdicated in favor of a young son to assist [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in his wars. Went missing in action during the [[Ralgon Civil War]] of unknown causes in {{AN|1685}}; presumed dead. Had issue. He is rumored to have other sons and grandsons living on exile, particularly on [[Bomei Island]].
****'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1661}}-; r. {{AN|1685}}-{{AN|1701}})''' Prince Masamune II died of wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 during a coup attempt by his son Masamune III, at the hands of a close confidant. Had issue.
*****Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1701}}) Masamune III was executed for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was poisoned not long after their only son was born.)
******'''Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' The young prince was later crowned [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] (r. {{AN|1706}}-). Married [[Qasima Cakar]] in {{AN|1720}}.
*******''Twenty-five children as of {{AN|1746}}; see: [[Anarion]] for further details.''
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Ralgon|Ralgonese]] Line ===
<hr />
The Imperial Line before the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] is listed below.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''', m. Mikasa Valeris (♀ {{AN|15??}}-{{AN|1649}})

 Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the last being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}).
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died unmarried and without issue of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** Several descendants of little note.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Adrestia]] Line ===
<hr />
The greater Ralgon line's leadership ostensibly passed to the young, {{AgeAN|1701|1705}} year-old Masamune IV of Adrestia after death of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]]. However, this claim was disputed during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], which ultimately sundered the line into different, regional branches each with their own head. The Imperial Federation's current ruling branch was formally founded upon Masamune's ascension to the throne of the new [[Imperial Federation]] in {{AN|1706}} as [[Emperor Anarion]].

As the Prince is the only surviving descendant of his late grandfather, [[Masamune II]], he is the only member of the Imperial Family in this branch. As such, his family tree directly reflects the [[Adrestia]] Line:

{{Tree list}}
*'''Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1680}})'''
**'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Prince Masamune dies of wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 by his son Masamune III.
***Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}) Masamune III was executed for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was poisoned not long after their only son was born.)
****'''Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-), m. [[Qasima Cakar]] {{AN|1720}}''' The young prince was later crowned as [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in {{AN|1706}}, formally taking power in {{AN|1726}} after extensive education overseas. 
*****Twenty-five children as of {{AN|1746}}; see: [[Anarion]] for further details.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Valora]] Line ===
<hr />
The new Imperial line in Valora eventually branched into the new [[House of Valora]] following the integration of the various descendants of the two houses living in the region by Emperor [[Draeg'ar Ral]]. Having secured much of Ralgonese-controlled mainland Cibola (outside of [[Nova Victoria]]), the new rulers in Valora and New Ralgon consolidated the region under a single banner. The so-called Valora Line is descended through Nobunag'an's marriage with Princess Rani Nixtorm (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}, m. 1594), herself the daughter of a Ralgonese daimyo in [[Nixtorm]]'s old territory on [[Drag'os]].

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- m. Princess Rani Nixtorm (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}, m. {{AN|1594}}), Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation. His first marriage was to the daughter of a daimyo of [[Nixtorm]] named Rani Nixtorm. Had several marriages, with the last ending in {{AN|1689}}.
**
*** Dalgar'on Ral (♂ {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1635}} -- m. ??? (♂ {{AN|1602}}-{{AN|1660}} Killed in battle in the [[Great Swamp]] during an expedition. Had one child late in life to a younger spouse. Spouse never remarried.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral|Draeg'ar Ral IX]], Crown Prince of Ralgon; Emperor of [[Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1715}};{{AN|1720}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Served as one of the Crown Princes of the Ralgonese state. Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Emperor Anarion]]. He reigned over Ralgonese territory on mainland Cibola, named [[Valora]], in concert with local rulers, starting his own Imperial line of succession there under the [[House of Valora]]. The territory was [[Conquest of Valora|conquered]], and became king over a rump state. He only married very late in life, and had a son in his old age during this time, passing the throne in {{AN|1720}} and chairing the regency council. He retired from public life at the age of 99 following the new king's assumption of power in {{AN|1734}}..
***** [[Draeg'ar Ral X]], King of [[South Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1707}}-; r. {{AN|1720}}-) Draeg'ar II & X became king only at the age of 13 at the helm of a rump state. Known for his much milder disposition compared to his immediate forbears, he took power in {{AN|1732}} after a long regency headed by his mother.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== Line of [[Wythe|Stella]] ===
<hr />

In {{AN|1746}}, Nobunag'an surprised the world through his marriage to the much, ''much'' younger [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]]. Their marriage -- the 9th Nobunag'an has had in his life -- has not yet produced new children. The so-called Wythe Line is the result of this union. Their marriage inducted Nobunag'an into the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]. It was recognized in {{AN|1757}} as the ''Line of Stella'' within the [[Ralgonese Chapter of the Order of the Holy Lakes|Ralgonese Chapter of the Order]], given his numerous other progeny and descendants throughout his very long life and prior marriages.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Emeritus Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- m. Princess [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] (♀ {{AN|1716}}-})
** Prince Alexander Takeshi Ral (1747– )
** Princess Gloria Megumi Ral (1748– )
** Prince Caspian Izanagi Ral (1750– )
{{Tree list/end}}

=== Others ===

Nobunag'an has many descendants in a number that is abnormal even for a Ralgonese leader of his caliber. Having married 9 times as of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, he has descendants in five of the nine marriages he has had in his very long life. These consist in turn of multiple cadet branches, and consist of upwards of 200 - 300 known individuals.

== Immortality ==

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, the man is a remarkable {{AgeAN|1564|noAN=y}} years old, making him one of the oldest living Ralgonese in the country's history, only surpassed by five other known individuals in the [[Imperial Federation]] as of {{AN|1718}}, themselves being classified as "immortals" for their own unnaturally long lifespans. Immortals in [[Ralgon]] were always very poorly documented during its own long history, with most preferring to live obscure lives due to the likelihood of abuse at the hands of local nobility or the state by officials in search of this incredibly rare gift.

Immortality is thought to be possessed by roughly one in 1 million to 1 in 10 million Ralgonese. Chances are known to rise based on ancestry. Genetic studies performed on Nobunag'an and other immortals (most of who remained anonymous and undocumented during the study) presented signs that descent from another immortal confers roughly a 1 in 1,000 chance of inheriting the same condition. It is thought that the Elvish/Elfinshi ancestry has something to do with this rare spawning of immortality within individuals.

Immortals do not typically know of the existence or chances of their own immortality until their aging begins to reverse between the ages of 70 and 80 years. Genetic testing for signs and/or odds of immortality is also an emerging science, and as such is inaccurate as of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=n}}. Furthermore, as most Ralgonese historically were killed in battle or died of natural war-related causes before that point, merely getting the chance to find out was until recently a rare occurrence. As such, most rumored/suspected immortals were women.

The limited documented evidence available to Ralgonese authorities yield likely additional benefits to descendants of immortals. Children or close-generation descendants of immortals commonly enjoy long natural lifespans, even for Ralgonese. Most likely the most notable recent example was his grandson [[Draeg'ar Ral IX]] ({{AN|1639}} - {{AN|1746}}, who is documented to live a hard life of war and conflict and still lived healthy to the age of 112 years. It is expected that children of Ralgonese immortals can expect to live healthy lives of up to 150 years. It is also suspected (although not confirmed) through genetic testing and historical records that individuals descended within 5 to 10 generations of an immortal have significantly increased (albeit still tiny) chances of eventually attaining immortality themselves.

The aging and de-aging process for immortals is extremely scarcely documented, as immortals consistently have taken on completely new identities to hide their condition from the public. It is not even known if eternal youth is the norm, or whether immortals' reversing of the aging process may only bring them to a certain point where death by natural age-related causes is still possible. However, only one documented case in recent history of the immortality process is known (that being Nobunag'an), with the other known immortals being persons of obscure origin who had merely thought they got lucky in their old age until they realized only long after what had happened.

In Nobunag'an, genetic tests show that his aging began slowing near {{AN|1640}}, not long before his 76th birthday, and had already stopped completely near {{AN|1665}}, giving him appearance of being in his late 70's when he was already 109 years old. When he quietly celebrated his 140th birthday in {{AN|1704}}, his aging had slowly reversed to the point where he appeared in his late 60's, and enough vigor had returned to support his descendants in the Adrestian branch of the extended Ral dynasty in the wake of [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Emperor Shiro Ral's]] final illness. By this point, Nobunag'an's age-reversal process was well-documented, and by his 180th birthday in {{AN|1744}}, he had finally taken on the appearance of a middle-aged man in his 40's, and felt even stronger than he was in his prime over a century prior. This slow progression allowed him to also restore his former physique, enough to allow him to find decent prospects for marriage -- which he finally accomplished in {{AN|1746}}, 47 years after his prior spouse had passed away, through his marriage to the [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]].

Genetic scientists are now waiting to see if this reversal of the aging process also restored the likely immortal's virility. They were proven right; as of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}}, this union has produced three further children to add to Nobunag'an's many progeny. By the late 1750's, Nobunag'an had the appearance of any man in his early forties. Although a trained eye could see the many years in his experience-hardened expression, physically speaking he continued to be a man in the prime of his life. It was clear, however, that he would never look ''truly'' youthful, but for a man of {{AgeAN|1564|noAN=y}} years, he had no cause to complain. (And indeed, he was recorded on-air saying he was afraid of becoming an "ancient twink, like those glittery vampires in chick flicks.")

== See Also ==

[[wikipedia:Heb Sed|Heb Sed]] (Real-world ceremony held in Ancient Egypt)

{{Imperial Federation Nav}}

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Living members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category: Ralgonese members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]

Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon

2026-06-29T13:13:52Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Immortality */

{{Ralgon Article}}
{{Valora Article}}
{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{Hurmu Senator
|fullname = Nobunag'an Ral
|image = Nobunag'an 1704.jpg
|image-2 = Ralgon CoA.png
|Tenurebegins = 1.VIII.{{AN|1751}} ({{AgeAN|1751}})
|Tenureends =
|positions =
|senate = [[Fifteenth Senate|XV]]
|elected = [[1751 Senate of the Lakes election|1751]]
|faction = [[Draconic Humanist List]]
|OHLline = [[Almanac_of_the_Holy_Lakes#Line_of_Fish_(1582)|Line of Fish]] ''(by right of marriage)''
|comment =
|gender = Male
|Race =
|species =
|hairstyle =
|eyecolour =
|skincolour =
|other =
|father = King Dalgar'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (crowned {{AN|1591}}, killed in battle {{AN|1594}})
|mother = Princess Mikio Ral >(died 1612 AN)
|spouse = [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] (m. 1746) ''7 previous marriages'' (''see below''))
|children = ''Numerous'' (''see below''))
|birthdate = 1564 AN (age {{AgeAN|1564}})
|birthplace = [[Valeria]], West Stormhold, [[Ralgon]] Azul'an, Arumen (present-day)
|residence =
|deathdate =
|deathplace =
|}}

'''Emperor Nobunag'an Ral IV''', born {{AN|1564}} as Prince Takeshi Ral XV, is both the longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch in the history of the [[Ralgon|Holy Ralgon Empire]]. He is also the Emperor Emeritus of the same nation, having been bestowed the title by his successors after they shifted to using conventional as well as native Ralgonese titles. He currently enjoys high status in the government of the new [[Imperial Federation]], holding the special title of Chief Ambassador, giving him a unique freedom to travel and directly interact with foreign governments abroad. His special style of "His Serene Excellency" is unique in the Imperial Federation. He was similarly honored in [[Valora]] during its own existence, despite his political situation having permanently pulled him into the Imperial Federation's orbit.

In {{AN|1746}}, he surprised the world through his marriage to the [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]], automatically becoming a [[Knight of the Holy Lakes]] by virtue of his 9th marriage, having outlived all his prior partners. Nobunag'an had been unmarried since {{AN|1699}}, when his prior spouse, Yukino Chuujiwara (his 8th wife), was murdered. He went unmarried for nearly five decades when it was finally discovered that the culprit was one of his own direct descendants, that being the so-called "Mad Prince" Masamune III, who attempted a coup less than two years later and ultimately paid for it with his life.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, the man is a remarkable {{AgeAN|1564|noAN=y}} years old, making him one of the oldest living Ralgonese in the country's history, only surpassed by five other known individuals in the [[Imperial Federation]] as of {{AN|1718}}, themselves being classified as "immortals" for their own unnaturally long lifespans. His record-breaking reign of 78 years saw the transformation of the Ralgon state from a mere group of disjointed tribes on the eastern and southern coastlines of Drag'os into the unified state prepared to conquer the island under his successors, [[Emperor Shiro I of Ralgon|Emperor Shiro I]] and [[Emperor Anarion]] under the banners of the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] and the [[Imperial Federation]], respectively. His status as the "Great Ancestor" of all current Ralgonese rulers since his abdication in {{AN|1673}} made him about the only person capable of navigating the likely-permanent schism between the two Ralgonese states during his later years after his general withdrawal from the minutiae of domestic politics since 1706 AN. Instead, the Emperor Emeritus began to spend more time abroad, acting as an advocate for the ruling governments of both the Imperial Federation and, less commonly, [[Valora]]. He played an active role in reconciling the two asymmetric factions in {{AN|1717}}, after the [[Conquest of Valora]] two years prior.

Since the late 1710's AN, as Nobunag'an passed 150 years of age, he has become the subject of scientific inquiry, as his personal physicians, some of whom now prominent scientists in the Imperial Federation, have begun to assert that his age has been progressively slowing since at least the 1650's AN. However, this stirring among the medical community has not affected the Emperor Emeritus's personal life, as he has remained active in the international community consistently since taking up a winter residence in [[New Alexandria]] as the Imperial Federation's primary spokesperson outside its own borders. Since then, he assumed a position as a [[Senator of the Holy Lakes]] in [[Hurmu]], acting as a powerful voice in the international community on behalf of his homeland, the [[Imperial Federation]].

== Biography ==

=== Early Life (1564 - 1594) ===

In 1564 AN, he was born during the fifth year of the reign of Azul'an III, the then-current ruler of the country. Prince Takeshi Ral was Azul'an's great nephew, and he was the grandson of Azul'an's brother, Draeg'ar XV. When Takeshi was 8, he had his first experience in statecraft: Because of the harsh realities of the country's existence, kings simply didn't last long. In fact, twenty years (a full generation for the Ralgonese peasantry of the day) was considered exceptional, and special celebrations were held. Azul'an III never got the chance to see that rare celebration for himself. In 1562, in his 14th year as king, he died in battle while personally leading the defense of a border city against a dragon attack -- as rulers were obliged to do.

Takeshi's second lesson as a child in statecraft was this: Replacing slain kings wasn't easy. In the brutal, unstable, and existentially challenging 1500's for the Ralgon state, crowning the next king was a messy, brutal affair meant to ensure the new king was stronger than everyone else in the ruling clan. Additionally, a King taking the throne in the wake of a decimated royal house would reign without opposition until his almost certain death within less than a generation -- enough time for the Ral Clan to reconsolidate and repeat the process of thinning its ever-changing ranks. Kings needed to be replaced quickly, and the new king needed to be the strongest and smartest in the land if he was to survive for long.

Thus, Takeshi learned his third lesson: weakness in the Ral Clan was never tolerated, and weak pretenders to the throne would quickly meet their fate in the arena or on the battlefield shortly after coronation. And those without the stomach to participate in an election and potentially fight for their own honor were cast out of the decision-making process afterwards -- at least until the next election. In this way, the Clan never allowed itself to balloon out of control, and retained power through a line of strong elected kings, each related to their predecessor within three generations. The only weakness? Kings were reliably short-lived due to constant battlefield-related obligations, and dead kings were morbidly expensive for the ruling Clan in terms of manpower to replace. By Azul'an's death in 1562, the Ral Clan listed no more than fifty eligible contenders for the Throne. Despite the Ralgonese peoples' notoriously high fertility rate at the time, enduring the replacement process twice each generation with upwards of a dozen deaths was unwelcome in both the short-term and the long-term for the struggling country and its ruling dynasty that had already spent oceans of precious blood simply keeping their often-divided realm intact in the face of overwhelming external (megafauna) and internal (demographic) pressure.

In late 1562, Nobunag'an III, Azul'an's successor, then came to power later that year after Takeshi witnessed the brutality of the Selection Tournament, after the existing Crown Princes failed to agree on who the next ruler would be. The Ral Clan's numbers reduced by eight, the new king was expected to live long enough for the cycle to complete itself and the Clan's members (especially the king) were expected to produce enough children to feed to both the arena and to the army's endless meat grinder on the nation's ever-shifting inland border.

It was towards the end of Nobunag'an III's reign in 1584 that Takeshi turned 20, and was granted the style of Crown Prince after going through the rites -- thus completing a generational cycle -- and already seeing three kings in his lifetime. In 1584, 12 years into his reign, Nobunag'an joined his predecessors in death. During a battle with rival natives from inland near the north-western border, both parties were attacked by a lightning dragon. Nobunag'an III died leading a retreat inland, and his men escaped to tell the tale because the dragon turned on the inland natives instead.

After an unusually quiet Election process, Draeg'ar XV, Takeshi's great-uncle and Nobunag'an III's brother, took the throne. However, he died within a year of being crowned (1585) when he led an expeditionary scouting force consisting of brown-water Navy forces too far into the Great Swamp. While taking a small fleet across one of the Swamp's many deep (and interconnected) lakes, his boat was attacked by a mosasaur. His expedition only returned with a tenth of its original size.

Next on the throne was Draeg'ar XVI, after a similarly quiet election process. After five years as king, he died in early 1590 during a plague that swept the country. During this time, the Ralgon state began to take its modern form, with Nixtorm finally recognizing their senior partners in the south as rulers outright. Drag'nor, however, remained obstinate on the matter due to ideological differences. It was also during this time that lightning dragons began appearing less often off the coasts, allowing for the possibility of sea-based travel outside the immediate environs of the Drag'osian coastline.

Dalgar'an IV, Takeshi's father, won the next election and resulting Selection Tournament and took the country's helm in 1591. As Takeshi's father, he elevated him to the rank of Crown Prince, after seven years of surviving the harsh reality of being a Prince without portfolio, constantly on the battlefield. In 1591, Dalgar'an IV's realm only consisted of the modern province of Stormhold, which was little more than the capital city of the same name (now called [[Valeria (Ralgon)|Valeria]] as of 1686), and a port city of little economic consequence near the eastern tip of Drag'os, called Glacier City. (Although Nixtorm and Drag'nor were nominally a confederation with the Ralgon state, each was, in practice, independent of each other and did their own thing for the past two centuries.)

=== Coronation and Early Reign (1595 - 1620) ===

In late 1594, Dalgar'an IV died during a battle defending the border against a particularly large incursion from giant insects from the Great Swamp. After winning the Royal Selection Tournament in which ten other contestants died in the arena, Takeshi Ral was quickly crowned on New Year's Day, 1595 as Nobunag'an IV, after the first ruler with that name -- the same ruler who first made peace with both Drag'nor and the tribes of Nixtorm to battle against their homelands' respective dangers. The freshly minted king, now 31 years of age, set forth to consolidate the small country's tribes and expand from the coastline. Although most rulers of the country were expected to expire after less than a decade (he'd already been through five predecessors in his lifetime already), Nobunag'an resolved to survive by carefully selecting those battles he'd personally set off for, and allow rivals to handle the most dangerous missions instead, as a way of covertly ridding himself of political opposition.

By the tenth year of Nobunag'an's reign, the ruling branch of the Ral Clan had recovered its numbers from the tumultous period following Azul'an III's death. As the new king was already past his first decade of rule, the court began making preparations amid skepticism of the shrewd ruler's longevity. Instead, that never materialized. In 1615, Nobunag'an celebrated his twentieth year on the throne -- the first such anniversary since the early 1500's, and only the second since the Great Atomic Bombardment of 1450.

Such a date was important to the Ralgons, as an entire generation had passed since the Emperor took the throne. Now solidly entering his 50's, Nobunag'an was already a few short years older than many of his immediate predecessors at the time of their own deaths. To commemorate the event, a special Sed festival* celebrating the king's jubilee was held throughout the country -- and in neighboring Nixtorm, which was considering a personal union in the wake of its own ruling clan's decline. For modern historians, this marked a major turning point in national morale, as well as their stance towards the kings as an expendable asset (regardless of the pain caused by their loss). It also marked the point in which a hard border began to form between the environs of the growing Glacier City (the Ralgons' core territory at the time) and the Great Swamp.

After 20 years on the throne, the slowly strengthening Ralgon state also began to see unprecedented prosperity due to having a stabilized leadership on the throne for the first time since 1450 AN. In 1620, Nobunag'an IV celebrated his second Sed festival, as it was held every five years after the king's first 20-year jubilee. A king celebrating more than one Sed festival had not occurred since a similar festival during Draeg'ar XII's reign in 1402 AN.

Modern historians consider this the official beginning date of the modern Ralgon state, as after 1620 Nobunag'an IV had gathered enough military, political, and even religious power within the state to begin realizing his ambitions to unite the countries on the Island of Drag'os in more than a nominal fashion.

=== Unification of Ralgon (1620 - 1650) ===

=== Opening the Country (1650-1670) ===

=== Late Reign (1670-1673) ===
The reign of Nobunag'an during this period was extremely quiet, and the government was characterized by stagnation due to his extremely long reign of well over 70 years. Because democracy was limited within the embattled country, there were few offices that changed hands often enough to encourage the spread of new ideas. With the Great Swamp War still raging on, the Emperor chose to prepare for an abdication, with no idea that his lifespan was nowhere near at an end.

Eventually, he chose an obscure prince fighting on the western areas of Drag'os against some of the fiercest of the great swamp creatures, including the greatly feared lightning dragons. His name was [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro]], one of the Emperor's favorites when the then-young man was still in his youth. They had parted under amicable terms, with the prince enlisting in the army to fight against the more fierce elements of the Great Swamp and the Badlands, where he eventually became particularly well-known for his unusually daring exploits against the larger, much more powerful lightning dragons that continually posed an existential threat to the then-western heartland in southern Drag'os.

=== Post-Abdication (1673-1704) ===

The post-abdication life of Nobunag'an IV initially saw a period of quiet, despite events befalling the Ralgon Empire in his absence. During his 31-year retirement, he insistent on remaining present in the background of imperial politics, and he was often seen giving advice to the twin rulers of the country's territories (that is, Masamune I of Adrestia and the now-Emperor Shiro of Ralgon). Overall, the venerable leader took a much less front-facing role in politics during his long retirement, preferring to allow younger generations to make decisions in his stead. That said, however, he was a secretly unifying force during the long periods of crisis the Ralgon state went through, and he is credited by historians studying this period as having saved Emperor Shiro's rule during his darkest hours.

Instead of acting as a ruler, he instead filled the capacity of an extremely influential, domestic diplomat and mediator between Ralgon's internal rulers, helping preserve the country's unity behind the scenes in the wake of the [[Ralgon Civil War]] in 1685. Later the next year, his relatively unexpected [[Visit of Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon to Daocheng|visit to Daocheng]] resulted in deepened relations between Ralgon and [[Jingdao]] -- an alliance that would continue to bear fruit during the hard times Ralgon went through during 1686 through 1689. The close bonds forged between the two countries lasted until their respective transformations at the turn of the 18th Century AN.

During his free time, the emperor emeritus took up residence in [[Gondolin]], the capital city of Adrestia. Taking advantage of the city's considerable wealth and rapid development, he aided in the region's transformation from a mere playground of the wealthy into a large, metropolitan center of power that enjoyed freedom from many of the demographic and political challenges perpetually faced by mainland Ralgon's cities (notably Glacier City). During the lifetime of the young Masamune II, the Emperor took to attempting to educating him after his father's sudden, unexplained abdication and disappearance from the country. (In his words privately to Nobunag'an, he was "going on an adventure" and had grown tired of rule, and felt confident in his 20-year-old son's ability to govern.) The Emperor also mentored Masamune II's child, (posthumously named Masamune III), who still lived a rough life and ended up being executed for treason before seeing his child, Masamune IV (now [[Emperor Anarion]]).

For the Emperor's 125th birthday (a truly astounding age to reach for Ralgonese people), he plans to make state visits throughout Micras and foster strong relations between Ralgon and other countries. However, such a grand tour never came about due to political troubles at home. Instead, he toured select destinations and resumed work in his capacity as a nonpartisan political voice in the struggling empire. In 1690, he moved his primary residence to the capital of [[Adrestia]] to spend more time with his favorite distaff descendant, his great-grandson Prince Masamune II -- who had often spent much time around the Emperor Emeritus as a child and the years immediately preceding his coronation as Prince after the former's abdication. He cultivated a strong relationship with the descendants of the Prince, most notably Masamune IV, who reigns as [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]].

Nobunag'an IV played only a background role in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that erupted in the political chaos that followed the death of his grandson [[Shiro I of Ralgon]]. Instead of immersing himself in the politics of the time and taking sides between his now-distant descendants (despite his close personal rapport with several of them), he chose to leave the country and take on a sort of self-imposed exile, ostensibly for medical treatment for age-related issues. By this point, it was clear that Nobunag'an was going to live for quite a while longer, despite the fact that he was already one of the oldest recorded Ralgonese to ever have lived, having been born in far harder times for his people in terms of the extreme variety in causes for mortality.

=== Post-Ralgon (1706-) ===

After a brief period of travel within the newly minted [[Imperial Federation]] following its victory in the recent war, Nobunag'an embarked on another long-term, international trip to lend his very long years of wisdom to the new government's interests abroad. His first and primary destination was the nearby [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]], a new ally following the accession of the Imperial Federation into the [[Raspur Pact]]. Using his honorary post as "Chief Ambassador", the Emperor Emeritus has effective ability to travel all over Micras and, in addition to seeking treatment to stave off the aging process, enhance the standing of his great-great-great-grandson's government. During Valora's ten-year independence, he was also the only official from the [[Raspur Pact]] allowed to visit [[Valora]] completely free of visas or similar documents, thanks to his near-worshipped status within the Ralgonese spheres of influence around Micras. In circles in [[Tiegang]] and other Ralgonese diasporas, he is venerated as something akin to a minor god by the Adrestian community living there.

Since the formation of the Imperial Federation, the Emperor Emeritus continued to enjoy extremely high status throughout the Ralgonese world, with the youthful Emperor [[Anarion]] (Nobunag'an 6th-generation descendant) seeming far more attentive to the venerable man's words than his late father, who would likely have plunged the Empire into chaos due to reckless behavior.

== Political Beliefs ==
The Emperor Emeritus is one of the founders and leading members of the [[Draconic Humanism]] movement, itself an offshoot of sorts of the [[Humanist Movement]] based in Benacia. Having the status as one of the oldest Ralgonese ever recorded, Nobunag'an is a political force to be reckoned with in the Imperial Federation. Before {{AN|1715}}, almost no major policy submitted for the Emperor [[Anarion|Anarion's]] signature failed to pass in front of his desk for at least tacit approval before being enacted throughout the Empire. His influence within the halls of power still continues even as he continues to grow older and more respected as a non-ruling figure within the bounds of the now-sprawling empire. However, he is not the nation's Archon, as he preferred other roles, instead ostensibly passing the title onto the ruling [[Emperor Anarion]]. During the Regency Period under Duke Nikamura Hawkins of Gondolin, however, he nonetheless exercised many of those powers due to his outsized influence on both the Emperor and the court at large, as well as with his status as the highest-ranking representative to any and all other members of the [[Raspur Pact]].

After 1715, he stepped into a more active role in proposing policies of his own, none of which failed to garner the current Emperor Anarion's signature due to the latter's hero worship of the former. As Nobunag'an realized that his aging had essentially stopped (and, perhaps, even reversed to a small degree), he slowly stepped into active politics, acting as the man to see when an international actor wanted the Imperial Federation's support on some foreign project, intervention, or other major commitment. It was clear by {{AN|1740}} that he was one of the few Ralgonese "immortals" in existence, but he was hesitant to share this privilege with everyone due to the likely ramifications of a potentially immortal population springing up out of nowhere.

The Emperor Emeritus, by practice, usually exercises moderate policies, tempering national interests with pragmatic diplomacy abroad. While Nobunag'an could be considered an idealist, he is one whose own national goals have already been met to the letter, and thus has turned sights inwards towards the improvement of the state through policy rather than territorial expansion and raw military might.

== Notable Descendants ==

Known in certain circles as the "Great Ancestor," the Emperor Emeritus is by far the longest-lived monarch in Ralgonese history. His direct descendants have continuously ruled the Ralgonese states since his abdication in {{AN|1673}}, and (as of {{AN|1734}}) he has lived to see descendants out to the 9th generation -- a feat shared only by less than 5 other people in Ralgonese history and no other monarch or member of the nobility. The Emperor Emeritus is estimated to have close to 200 descendants, not including those who count descent by marriage or adoption. The below names in bold represents notable descendants of his, most being rulers of their respective countries or territories.

Due to his extreme age, the law was changed in {{AN|1719}} that again re-incorporated him and specific successors back into the Imperial line of succession, as he was now more than 5 generations removed from the throne, yet had both formerly held it and still openly maintained the vigor of someone scarcely past middle age, despite his venerable appearance. As of {{AN|1746}}, he married 47 years after the passing of his 8th spouse, Yukino Chuujiwara (died {{AN|1699}}), having outlived all of them.

=== Main line ===
<hr />

This is the main line of descendants from Nobunag'an's royal, then imperial, family. Given that Nobunag'an has survived 8 spouses and recently married a 9th as of {{AN|1746}}, multiple lineages exist that descend directly from him. One cadet branch suffered a clean break into regional branches following the events of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], in which the leadership of the Imperial Family was called into question in the early 1700's AN following [[Shiro's death|Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1704}}. A resulting war was fought to determine both the selection and determination over who would be the next Ralgon Emperor. According to ancient Ralgonese traditions, any current Emperor of Ralgon (or, prior to {{AN|1673}} the King) would need to be directly descended within three generations of the any current or deceased Ralgon Emperor, regardless of the length of their respective reigns. However, Nobunag'an's extreme longevity made following the tradition impossible for several generations until Emperor [[Anarion]] not only took the throne but sired an incredible twenty-five children of his own by the late 1730's AN.

Eventually, rules were set into place c.{{AN|1668}} that also included the direct descendants (by blood only) of ''current or living'' Emperors (in the event of an Emperor's abdication due to age). Due to the near-extinction of immediately qualifying candidates at one point or another due to war or infighting, the list necessarily included, for a time, any claimant be descended directly from the current Emperor more than three generations away due to Nobunag'an's incredible longevity and outliving most of his children by the time of his abdication in {{AN|1673}}. The laws remain in place should less than eleven claimants exist that are descended less than 3 generations away -- but this was immediately outmoded when Emperor [[Anarion]] not only took the throne but sired an incredible twenty-five children of his own by the late 1730's AN.

By the time Nobunag'an celebrated his platinum jubilee in {{AN|1665}}, he had long noticed that he was showing signs of aging extremely slowly, and chose to pass reforms before he inevitably vacated the throne, to prevent the onset of stagnation within the [[Ralgon]] state (which, unfortunately, had already set in place). He eventually abdicated in {{AN|1673}} to prevent his grandchildren from aging too much before they contested the throne. After this action, the Imperial line continued as before due to the fact that, despite his succession by a grandson, he was still a living Emperor and thus able to maintain the Imperial Line in the event the current Emperor did not survive long enough to produce capable heirs to the throne.

The Imperial Line before the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] is listed below. Note that, for purposes of claiming princely titles within the vintage Ralgonese tradition, the old laws still apply. However, for imperial succession under the [[Imperial Federation|Imperial Federation's]] laws, those within the ruling Imperial Line automatically take precedence unless the line becomes extinct. Currently, there are six branches of Nobunag'an's own multiple lines of progeny, four of which are well-documented: The Adrestia line (currently the ruling house), the Ralgon line (ending with [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], the Valora Line, and the Wythe Line.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- married 8 times, had issue with 5. (All spouses died from age and other natural causes, without having divorced). Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the last being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}).
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died unmarried and without issue of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** Several descendants of little note.
*** Prince Benimaru Ral VII little is known of this person's history, as he kept his few notable accomplishments to himself and rarely spoke with others. The younger brother of [[Draeg'ar Ral X]].
**** Prince [[Benimaru Ral VIII]], Prince of [[Valora]] Took over as titular Prince of Valora in {{AN|1715}} after the Imperial Federation's victory after the [[Conquest of Valora]]. Otherwise, known as a ruler of modest tastes and disliking pomp and circumstance, preferring to lead a quiet life.
** Dalgar'on Ral (♂ {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1635}} -- m. ??? (♂ {{AN|1602}}-{{AN|1660}} Killed in battle in the [[Great Swamp]] during an expedition. Had one child late in life to a younger spouse. Spouse never remarried.
*** [[Draeg'ar Ral IX & I|Draeg'ar Ral IX]], Crown Prince of Ralgon; Emperor of [[Holy Ralgon State of Valora|Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1715}}/{{AN|1720}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Anarion]]. Reigned over the unstable rump nation of [[Holy Ralgon State of Valora|Valora]], further reduced to [[South Valora]] after the [[Conquest of Valora]] by his archnemeses. He abdicated the rulership of South Valora to his son in {{AN|1720}}.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral X]], Prince of South Valora; (♂ {{AN|1707}}-; r. {{AN|1720}}), betrothed to [[Mondosphere]] royalty A child of his father's old age, Draeg'ar X was crowned as Prince of South Valora at the tender age of 13 to be trained in effective leadership by his old father in a bid to continue the family's bid for legitimacy in their remaining territory.
**Benimaru Ral IV, Prince of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}; Benimaru's mother was Princess Rani Nixtorm of [[Nixtorm]] (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}), King Nobunag'an's first wife. He never took the throne, and died of natural causes.)
***Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1640}}-{{AN|1685}}?; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1685}}) Founder of the [[House of Adrestia]]. Abdicated in favor of a young son to assist [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in his wars. Went missing in action during the [[Ralgon Civil War]] of unknown causes in {{AN|1685}}; presumed dead. Had issue. He is rumored to have other sons and grandsons living on exile, particularly on [[Bomei Island]].
****'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1661}}-; r. {{AN|1685}}-{{AN|1701}})''' Prince Masamune II died of wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 during a coup attempt by his son Masamune III, at the hands of a close confidant. Had issue.
*****Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1701}}) Masamune III was executed for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was poisoned not long after their only son was born.)
******'''Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' The young prince was later crowned [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] (r. {{AN|1706}}-). Married [[Qasima Cakar]] in {{AN|1720}}.
*******''Twenty-five children as of {{AN|1746}}; see: [[Anarion]] for further details.''
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Ralgon|Ralgonese]] Line ===
<hr />
The Imperial Line before the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] is listed below.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''', m. Mikasa Valeris (♀ {{AN|15??}}-{{AN|1649}})

 Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the last being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}).
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died unmarried and without issue of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** Several descendants of little note.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Adrestia]] Line ===
<hr />
The greater Ralgon line's leadership ostensibly passed to the young, {{AgeAN|1701|1705}} year-old Masamune IV of Adrestia after death of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]]. However, this claim was disputed during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], which ultimately sundered the line into different, regional branches each with their own head. The Imperial Federation's current ruling branch was formally founded upon Masamune's ascension to the throne of the new [[Imperial Federation]] in {{AN|1706}} as [[Emperor Anarion]].

As the Prince is the only surviving descendant of his late grandfather, [[Masamune II]], he is the only member of the Imperial Family in this branch. As such, his family tree directly reflects the [[Adrestia]] Line:

{{Tree list}}
*'''Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1680}})'''
**'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Prince Masamune dies of wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 by his son Masamune III.
***Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}) Masamune III was executed for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was poisoned not long after their only son was born.)
****'''Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-), m. [[Qasima Cakar]] {{AN|1720}}''' The young prince was later crowned as [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in {{AN|1706}}, formally taking power in {{AN|1726}} after extensive education overseas. 
*****Twenty-five children as of {{AN|1746}}; see: [[Anarion]] for further details.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Valora]] Line ===
<hr />
The new Imperial line in Valora eventually branched into the new [[House of Valora]] following the integration of the various descendants of the two houses living in the region by Emperor [[Draeg'ar Ral]]. Having secured much of Ralgonese-controlled mainland Cibola (outside of [[Nova Victoria]]), the new rulers in Valora and New Ralgon consolidated the region under a single banner. The so-called Valora Line is descended through Nobunag'an's marriage with Princess Rani Nixtorm (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}, m. 1594), herself the daughter of a Ralgonese daimyo in [[Nixtorm]]'s old territory on [[Drag'os]].

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- m. Princess Rani Nixtorm (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}, m. {{AN|1594}}), Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation. His first marriage was to the daughter of a daimyo of [[Nixtorm]] named Rani Nixtorm. Had several marriages, with the last ending in {{AN|1689}}.
**
*** Dalgar'on Ral (♂ {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1635}} -- m. ??? (♂ {{AN|1602}}-{{AN|1660}} Killed in battle in the [[Great Swamp]] during an expedition. Had one child late in life to a younger spouse. Spouse never remarried.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral|Draeg'ar Ral IX]], Crown Prince of Ralgon; Emperor of [[Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1715}};{{AN|1720}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Served as one of the Crown Princes of the Ralgonese state. Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Emperor Anarion]]. He reigned over Ralgonese territory on mainland Cibola, named [[Valora]], in concert with local rulers, starting his own Imperial line of succession there under the [[House of Valora]]. The territory was [[Conquest of Valora|conquered]], and became king over a rump state. He only married very late in life, and had a son in his old age during this time, passing the throne in {{AN|1720}} and chairing the regency council. He retired from public life at the age of 99 following the new king's assumption of power in {{AN|1734}}..
***** [[Draeg'ar Ral X]], King of [[South Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1707}}-; r. {{AN|1720}}-) Draeg'ar II & X became king only at the age of 13 at the helm of a rump state. Known for his much milder disposition compared to his immediate forbears, he took power in {{AN|1732}} after a long regency headed by his mother.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== Line of [[Wythe|Stella]] ===
<hr />

In {{AN|1746}}, Nobunag'an surprised the world through his marriage to the much, ''much'' younger [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]]. Their marriage -- the 9th Nobunag'an has had in his life -- has not yet produced new children. The so-called Wythe Line is the result of this union. Their marriage inducted Nobunag'an into the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]. It was recognized in {{AN|1757}} as the ''Line of Stella'' within the [[Ralgonese Chapter of the Order of the Holy Lakes|Ralgonese Chapter of the Order]], given his numerous other progeny and descendants throughout his very long life and prior marriages.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Emeritus Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- m. Princess [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] (♀ {{AN|1716}}-})
** Prince Alexander Takeshi Ral (1747– )
** Princess Gloria Megumi Ral (1748– )
** Prince Caspian Izanagi Ral (1750– )
{{Tree list/end}}

=== Others ===

Nobunag'an has many descendants in a number that is abnormal even for a Ralgonese leader of his caliber. Having married 9 times as of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, he has descendants in five of the nine marriages he has had in his very long life. These consist in turn of multiple cadet branches, and consist of upwards of 200 - 300 known individuals.

== Immortality ==

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, the man is a remarkable {{AgeAN|1564|noAN=y}} years old, making him one of the oldest living Ralgonese in the country's history, only surpassed by five other known individuals in the [[Imperial Federation]] as of {{AN|1718}}, themselves being classified as "immortals" for their own unnaturally long lifespans. Immortals in [[Ralgon]] were always very poorly documented during its own long history, with most preferring to live obscure lives due to the likelihood of abuse at the hands of local nobility or the state by officials in search of this incredibly rare gift.

Immortality is thought to be possessed by roughly one in 1 million to 1 in 10 million Ralgonese. Chances are known to rise based on ancestry. Genetic studies performed on Nobunag'an and other immortals (most of who remained anonymous and undocumented during the study) presented signs that descent from another immortal confers roughly a 1 in 1,000 chance of inheriting the same condition. It is thought that the Elvish/Elfinshi ancestry has something to do with this rare spawning of immortality within individuals.

Immortals do not typically know of the existence or chances of their own immortality until their aging begins to reverse between the ages of 70 and 80 years. Genetic testing for signs and/or odds of immortality is also an emerging science, and as such is inaccurate as of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=n}}. Furthermore, as most Ralgonese historically were killed in battle or died of natural war-related causes before that point, merely getting the chance to find out was until recently a rare occurrence. As such, most rumored/suspected immortals were women.

The limited documented evidence available to Ralgonese authorities yield likely additional benefits to descendants of immortals. Children or close-generation descendants of immortals commonly enjoy long natural lifespans, even for Ralgonese. Most likely the most notable recent example was his grandson [[Draeg'ar Ral IX]] ({{AN|1639}} - {{AN|1746}}, who is documented to live a hard life of war and conflict and still lived healthy to the age of 112 years. It is expected that children of Ralgonese immortals can expect to live healthy lives of up to 150 years. It is also suspected (although not confirmed) through genetic testing and historical records that individuals descended within 5 to 10 generations of an immortal have significantly increased (albeit still tiny) chances of eventually attaining immortality themselves.

The aging and de-aging process for immortals is extremely scarcely documented, as immortals consistently have taken on completely new identities to hide their condition from the public. It is not even known if eternal youth is the norm, or whether immortals' reversing of the aging process may only bring them to a certain point where death by natural age-related causes is still possible. However, only one documented case in recent history of the immortality process is known (that being Nobunag'an), with the other known immortals being persons of obscure origin who had merely thought they got lucky in their old age until they realized only long after what had happened.

In Nobunag'an, genetic tests show that his aging began slowing near {{AN|1640}}, not long before his 76th birthday, and had already stopped completely near {{AN|1665}}, giving him appearance of being in his late 70's when he was already 109 years old. When he quietly celebrated his 140th birthday in {{AN|1704}}, his aging had slowly reversed to the point where he appeared in his late 60's, and enough vigor had returned to support his descendants in the Adrestian branch of the extended Ral dynasty in the wake of [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Emperor Shiro Ral's]] final illness. By this point, Nobunag'an's age-reversal process was well-documented, and by his 180th birthday in {{AN|1744}}, he had finally taken on the appearance of a middle-aged man in his 40's, and felt even stronger than he was in his prime over a century prior. This slow progression allowed him to also restore his former physique, enough to allow him to find decent prospects for marriage -- which he finally accomplished in {{AN|1746}}, 47 years after his prior spouse had passed away, through his marriage to the [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]].

Genetic scientists are now waiting to see if this reversal of the aging process also restored the likely immortal's virility. They were proven right; as of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}}, this union has produced three further children to add to Nobunag'an's many progeny. By the late 1750's, Nobunag'an had the appearance of any man in his early forties. Although a trained eye could see the many years in his experience-hardened expression, physically speaking he continued to be a man in the prime of his life. It was clear, however, that he would never look ''truly'' youthful, but for a man of {{AgeAN|1564|noAN=y}} years, he had no cause to complain (and indeed, he was recorded on-air saying he was afraid of becoming an "ancient twink, like those glittery vampires in chick flicks.")

== See Also ==

[[wikipedia:Heb Sed|Heb Sed]] (Real-world ceremony held in Ancient Egypt)

{{Imperial Federation Nav}}

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Living members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category: Ralgonese members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]

Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon

2026-06-29T13:07:05Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Wythe Line */

{{Ralgon Article}}
{{Valora Article}}
{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{Hurmu Senator
|fullname = Nobunag'an Ral
|image = Nobunag'an 1704.jpg
|image-2 = Ralgon CoA.png
|Tenurebegins = 1.VIII.{{AN|1751}} ({{AgeAN|1751}})
|Tenureends =
|positions =
|senate = [[Fifteenth Senate|XV]]
|elected = [[1751 Senate of the Lakes election|1751]]
|faction = [[Draconic Humanist List]]
|OHLline = [[Almanac_of_the_Holy_Lakes#Line_of_Fish_(1582)|Line of Fish]] ''(by right of marriage)''
|comment =
|gender = Male
|Race =
|species =
|hairstyle =
|eyecolour =
|skincolour =
|other =
|father = King Dalgar'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (crowned {{AN|1591}}, killed in battle {{AN|1594}})
|mother = Princess Mikio Ral >(died 1612 AN)
|spouse = [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] (m. 1746) ''7 previous marriages'' (''see below''))
|children = ''Numerous'' (''see below''))
|birthdate = 1564 AN (age {{AgeAN|1564}})
|birthplace = [[Valeria]], West Stormhold, [[Ralgon]] Azul'an, Arumen (present-day)
|residence =
|deathdate =
|deathplace =
|}}

'''Emperor Nobunag'an Ral IV''', born {{AN|1564}} as Prince Takeshi Ral XV, is both the longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch in the history of the [[Ralgon|Holy Ralgon Empire]]. He is also the Emperor Emeritus of the same nation, having been bestowed the title by his successors after they shifted to using conventional as well as native Ralgonese titles. He currently enjoys high status in the government of the new [[Imperial Federation]], holding the special title of Chief Ambassador, giving him a unique freedom to travel and directly interact with foreign governments abroad. His special style of "His Serene Excellency" is unique in the Imperial Federation. He was similarly honored in [[Valora]] during its own existence, despite his political situation having permanently pulled him into the Imperial Federation's orbit.

In {{AN|1746}}, he surprised the world through his marriage to the [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]], automatically becoming a [[Knight of the Holy Lakes]] by virtue of his 9th marriage, having outlived all his prior partners. Nobunag'an had been unmarried since {{AN|1699}}, when his prior spouse, Yukino Chuujiwara (his 8th wife), was murdered. He went unmarried for nearly five decades when it was finally discovered that the culprit was one of his own direct descendants, that being the so-called "Mad Prince" Masamune III, who attempted a coup less than two years later and ultimately paid for it with his life.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, the man is a remarkable {{AgeAN|1564|noAN=y}} years old, making him one of the oldest living Ralgonese in the country's history, only surpassed by five other known individuals in the [[Imperial Federation]] as of {{AN|1718}}, themselves being classified as "immortals" for their own unnaturally long lifespans. His record-breaking reign of 78 years saw the transformation of the Ralgon state from a mere group of disjointed tribes on the eastern and southern coastlines of Drag'os into the unified state prepared to conquer the island under his successors, [[Emperor Shiro I of Ralgon|Emperor Shiro I]] and [[Emperor Anarion]] under the banners of the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] and the [[Imperial Federation]], respectively. His status as the "Great Ancestor" of all current Ralgonese rulers since his abdication in {{AN|1673}} made him about the only person capable of navigating the likely-permanent schism between the two Ralgonese states during his later years after his general withdrawal from the minutiae of domestic politics since 1706 AN. Instead, the Emperor Emeritus began to spend more time abroad, acting as an advocate for the ruling governments of both the Imperial Federation and, less commonly, [[Valora]]. He played an active role in reconciling the two asymmetric factions in {{AN|1717}}, after the [[Conquest of Valora]] two years prior.

Since the late 1710's AN, as Nobunag'an passed 150 years of age, he has become the subject of scientific inquiry, as his personal physicians, some of whom now prominent scientists in the Imperial Federation, have begun to assert that his age has been progressively slowing since at least the 1650's AN. However, this stirring among the medical community has not affected the Emperor Emeritus's personal life, as he has remained active in the international community consistently since taking up a winter residence in [[New Alexandria]] as the Imperial Federation's primary spokesperson outside its own borders. Since then, he assumed a position as a [[Senator of the Holy Lakes]] in [[Hurmu]], acting as a powerful voice in the international community on behalf of his homeland, the [[Imperial Federation]].

== Biography ==

=== Early Life (1564 - 1594) ===

In 1564 AN, he was born during the fifth year of the reign of Azul'an III, the then-current ruler of the country. Prince Takeshi Ral was Azul'an's great nephew, and he was the grandson of Azul'an's brother, Draeg'ar XV. When Takeshi was 8, he had his first experience in statecraft: Because of the harsh realities of the country's existence, kings simply didn't last long. In fact, twenty years (a full generation for the Ralgonese peasantry of the day) was considered exceptional, and special celebrations were held. Azul'an III never got the chance to see that rare celebration for himself. In 1562, in his 14th year as king, he died in battle while personally leading the defense of a border city against a dragon attack -- as rulers were obliged to do.

Takeshi's second lesson as a child in statecraft was this: Replacing slain kings wasn't easy. In the brutal, unstable, and existentially challenging 1500's for the Ralgon state, crowning the next king was a messy, brutal affair meant to ensure the new king was stronger than everyone else in the ruling clan. Additionally, a King taking the throne in the wake of a decimated royal house would reign without opposition until his almost certain death within less than a generation -- enough time for the Ral Clan to reconsolidate and repeat the process of thinning its ever-changing ranks. Kings needed to be replaced quickly, and the new king needed to be the strongest and smartest in the land if he was to survive for long.

Thus, Takeshi learned his third lesson: weakness in the Ral Clan was never tolerated, and weak pretenders to the throne would quickly meet their fate in the arena or on the battlefield shortly after coronation. And those without the stomach to participate in an election and potentially fight for their own honor were cast out of the decision-making process afterwards -- at least until the next election. In this way, the Clan never allowed itself to balloon out of control, and retained power through a line of strong elected kings, each related to their predecessor within three generations. The only weakness? Kings were reliably short-lived due to constant battlefield-related obligations, and dead kings were morbidly expensive for the ruling Clan in terms of manpower to replace. By Azul'an's death in 1562, the Ral Clan listed no more than fifty eligible contenders for the Throne. Despite the Ralgonese peoples' notoriously high fertility rate at the time, enduring the replacement process twice each generation with upwards of a dozen deaths was unwelcome in both the short-term and the long-term for the struggling country and its ruling dynasty that had already spent oceans of precious blood simply keeping their often-divided realm intact in the face of overwhelming external (megafauna) and internal (demographic) pressure.

In late 1562, Nobunag'an III, Azul'an's successor, then came to power later that year after Takeshi witnessed the brutality of the Selection Tournament, after the existing Crown Princes failed to agree on who the next ruler would be. The Ral Clan's numbers reduced by eight, the new king was expected to live long enough for the cycle to complete itself and the Clan's members (especially the king) were expected to produce enough children to feed to both the arena and to the army's endless meat grinder on the nation's ever-shifting inland border.

It was towards the end of Nobunag'an III's reign in 1584 that Takeshi turned 20, and was granted the style of Crown Prince after going through the rites -- thus completing a generational cycle -- and already seeing three kings in his lifetime. In 1584, 12 years into his reign, Nobunag'an joined his predecessors in death. During a battle with rival natives from inland near the north-western border, both parties were attacked by a lightning dragon. Nobunag'an III died leading a retreat inland, and his men escaped to tell the tale because the dragon turned on the inland natives instead.

After an unusually quiet Election process, Draeg'ar XV, Takeshi's great-uncle and Nobunag'an III's brother, took the throne. However, he died within a year of being crowned (1585) when he led an expeditionary scouting force consisting of brown-water Navy forces too far into the Great Swamp. While taking a small fleet across one of the Swamp's many deep (and interconnected) lakes, his boat was attacked by a mosasaur. His expedition only returned with a tenth of its original size.

Next on the throne was Draeg'ar XVI, after a similarly quiet election process. After five years as king, he died in early 1590 during a plague that swept the country. During this time, the Ralgon state began to take its modern form, with Nixtorm finally recognizing their senior partners in the south as rulers outright. Drag'nor, however, remained obstinate on the matter due to ideological differences. It was also during this time that lightning dragons began appearing less often off the coasts, allowing for the possibility of sea-based travel outside the immediate environs of the Drag'osian coastline.

Dalgar'an IV, Takeshi's father, won the next election and resulting Selection Tournament and took the country's helm in 1591. As Takeshi's father, he elevated him to the rank of Crown Prince, after seven years of surviving the harsh reality of being a Prince without portfolio, constantly on the battlefield. In 1591, Dalgar'an IV's realm only consisted of the modern province of Stormhold, which was little more than the capital city of the same name (now called [[Valeria (Ralgon)|Valeria]] as of 1686), and a port city of little economic consequence near the eastern tip of Drag'os, called Glacier City. (Although Nixtorm and Drag'nor were nominally a confederation with the Ralgon state, each was, in practice, independent of each other and did their own thing for the past two centuries.)

=== Coronation and Early Reign (1595 - 1620) ===

In late 1594, Dalgar'an IV died during a battle defending the border against a particularly large incursion from giant insects from the Great Swamp. After winning the Royal Selection Tournament in which ten other contestants died in the arena, Takeshi Ral was quickly crowned on New Year's Day, 1595 as Nobunag'an IV, after the first ruler with that name -- the same ruler who first made peace with both Drag'nor and the tribes of Nixtorm to battle against their homelands' respective dangers. The freshly minted king, now 31 years of age, set forth to consolidate the small country's tribes and expand from the coastline. Although most rulers of the country were expected to expire after less than a decade (he'd already been through five predecessors in his lifetime already), Nobunag'an resolved to survive by carefully selecting those battles he'd personally set off for, and allow rivals to handle the most dangerous missions instead, as a way of covertly ridding himself of political opposition.

By the tenth year of Nobunag'an's reign, the ruling branch of the Ral Clan had recovered its numbers from the tumultous period following Azul'an III's death. As the new king was already past his first decade of rule, the court began making preparations amid skepticism of the shrewd ruler's longevity. Instead, that never materialized. In 1615, Nobunag'an celebrated his twentieth year on the throne -- the first such anniversary since the early 1500's, and only the second since the Great Atomic Bombardment of 1450.

Such a date was important to the Ralgons, as an entire generation had passed since the Emperor took the throne. Now solidly entering his 50's, Nobunag'an was already a few short years older than many of his immediate predecessors at the time of their own deaths. To commemorate the event, a special Sed festival* celebrating the king's jubilee was held throughout the country -- and in neighboring Nixtorm, which was considering a personal union in the wake of its own ruling clan's decline. For modern historians, this marked a major turning point in national morale, as well as their stance towards the kings as an expendable asset (regardless of the pain caused by their loss). It also marked the point in which a hard border began to form between the environs of the growing Glacier City (the Ralgons' core territory at the time) and the Great Swamp.

After 20 years on the throne, the slowly strengthening Ralgon state also began to see unprecedented prosperity due to having a stabilized leadership on the throne for the first time since 1450 AN. In 1620, Nobunag'an IV celebrated his second Sed festival, as it was held every five years after the king's first 20-year jubilee. A king celebrating more than one Sed festival had not occurred since a similar festival during Draeg'ar XII's reign in 1402 AN.

Modern historians consider this the official beginning date of the modern Ralgon state, as after 1620 Nobunag'an IV had gathered enough military, political, and even religious power within the state to begin realizing his ambitions to unite the countries on the Island of Drag'os in more than a nominal fashion.

=== Unification of Ralgon (1620 - 1650) ===

=== Opening the Country (1650-1670) ===

=== Late Reign (1670-1673) ===
The reign of Nobunag'an during this period was extremely quiet, and the government was characterized by stagnation due to his extremely long reign of well over 70 years. Because democracy was limited within the embattled country, there were few offices that changed hands often enough to encourage the spread of new ideas. With the Great Swamp War still raging on, the Emperor chose to prepare for an abdication, with no idea that his lifespan was nowhere near at an end.

Eventually, he chose an obscure prince fighting on the western areas of Drag'os against some of the fiercest of the great swamp creatures, including the greatly feared lightning dragons. His name was [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro]], one of the Emperor's favorites when the then-young man was still in his youth. They had parted under amicable terms, with the prince enlisting in the army to fight against the more fierce elements of the Great Swamp and the Badlands, where he eventually became particularly well-known for his unusually daring exploits against the larger, much more powerful lightning dragons that continually posed an existential threat to the then-western heartland in southern Drag'os.

=== Post-Abdication (1673-1704) ===

The post-abdication life of Nobunag'an IV initially saw a period of quiet, despite events befalling the Ralgon Empire in his absence. During his 31-year retirement, he insistent on remaining present in the background of imperial politics, and he was often seen giving advice to the twin rulers of the country's territories (that is, Masamune I of Adrestia and the now-Emperor Shiro of Ralgon). Overall, the venerable leader took a much less front-facing role in politics during his long retirement, preferring to allow younger generations to make decisions in his stead. That said, however, he was a secretly unifying force during the long periods of crisis the Ralgon state went through, and he is credited by historians studying this period as having saved Emperor Shiro's rule during his darkest hours.

Instead of acting as a ruler, he instead filled the capacity of an extremely influential, domestic diplomat and mediator between Ralgon's internal rulers, helping preserve the country's unity behind the scenes in the wake of the [[Ralgon Civil War]] in 1685. Later the next year, his relatively unexpected [[Visit of Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon to Daocheng|visit to Daocheng]] resulted in deepened relations between Ralgon and [[Jingdao]] -- an alliance that would continue to bear fruit during the hard times Ralgon went through during 1686 through 1689. The close bonds forged between the two countries lasted until their respective transformations at the turn of the 18th Century AN.

During his free time, the emperor emeritus took up residence in [[Gondolin]], the capital city of Adrestia. Taking advantage of the city's considerable wealth and rapid development, he aided in the region's transformation from a mere playground of the wealthy into a large, metropolitan center of power that enjoyed freedom from many of the demographic and political challenges perpetually faced by mainland Ralgon's cities (notably Glacier City). During the lifetime of the young Masamune II, the Emperor took to attempting to educating him after his father's sudden, unexplained abdication and disappearance from the country. (In his words privately to Nobunag'an, he was "going on an adventure" and had grown tired of rule, and felt confident in his 20-year-old son's ability to govern.) The Emperor also mentored Masamune II's child, (posthumously named Masamune III), who still lived a rough life and ended up being executed for treason before seeing his child, Masamune IV (now [[Emperor Anarion]]).

For the Emperor's 125th birthday (a truly astounding age to reach for Ralgonese people), he plans to make state visits throughout Micras and foster strong relations between Ralgon and other countries. However, such a grand tour never came about due to political troubles at home. Instead, he toured select destinations and resumed work in his capacity as a nonpartisan political voice in the struggling empire. In 1690, he moved his primary residence to the capital of [[Adrestia]] to spend more time with his favorite distaff descendant, his great-grandson Prince Masamune II -- who had often spent much time around the Emperor Emeritus as a child and the years immediately preceding his coronation as Prince after the former's abdication. He cultivated a strong relationship with the descendants of the Prince, most notably Masamune IV, who reigns as [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]].

Nobunag'an IV played only a background role in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that erupted in the political chaos that followed the death of his grandson [[Shiro I of Ralgon]]. Instead of immersing himself in the politics of the time and taking sides between his now-distant descendants (despite his close personal rapport with several of them), he chose to leave the country and take on a sort of self-imposed exile, ostensibly for medical treatment for age-related issues. By this point, it was clear that Nobunag'an was going to live for quite a while longer, despite the fact that he was already one of the oldest recorded Ralgonese to ever have lived, having been born in far harder times for his people in terms of the extreme variety in causes for mortality.

=== Post-Ralgon (1706-) ===

After a brief period of travel within the newly minted [[Imperial Federation]] following its victory in the recent war, Nobunag'an embarked on another long-term, international trip to lend his very long years of wisdom to the new government's interests abroad. His first and primary destination was the nearby [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]], a new ally following the accession of the Imperial Federation into the [[Raspur Pact]]. Using his honorary post as "Chief Ambassador", the Emperor Emeritus has effective ability to travel all over Micras and, in addition to seeking treatment to stave off the aging process, enhance the standing of his great-great-great-grandson's government. During Valora's ten-year independence, he was also the only official from the [[Raspur Pact]] allowed to visit [[Valora]] completely free of visas or similar documents, thanks to his near-worshipped status within the Ralgonese spheres of influence around Micras. In circles in [[Tiegang]] and other Ralgonese diasporas, he is venerated as something akin to a minor god by the Adrestian community living there.

Since the formation of the Imperial Federation, the Emperor Emeritus continued to enjoy extremely high status throughout the Ralgonese world, with the youthful Emperor [[Anarion]] (Nobunag'an 6th-generation descendant) seeming far more attentive to the venerable man's words than his late father, who would likely have plunged the Empire into chaos due to reckless behavior.

== Political Beliefs ==
The Emperor Emeritus is one of the founders and leading members of the [[Draconic Humanism]] movement, itself an offshoot of sorts of the [[Humanist Movement]] based in Benacia. Having the status as one of the oldest Ralgonese ever recorded, Nobunag'an is a political force to be reckoned with in the Imperial Federation. Before {{AN|1715}}, almost no major policy submitted for the Emperor [[Anarion|Anarion's]] signature failed to pass in front of his desk for at least tacit approval before being enacted throughout the Empire. His influence within the halls of power still continues even as he continues to grow older and more respected as a non-ruling figure within the bounds of the now-sprawling empire. However, he is not the nation's Archon, as he preferred other roles, instead ostensibly passing the title onto the ruling [[Emperor Anarion]]. During the Regency Period under Duke Nikamura Hawkins of Gondolin, however, he nonetheless exercised many of those powers due to his outsized influence on both the Emperor and the court at large, as well as with his status as the highest-ranking representative to any and all other members of the [[Raspur Pact]].

After 1715, he stepped into a more active role in proposing policies of his own, none of which failed to garner the current Emperor Anarion's signature due to the latter's hero worship of the former. As Nobunag'an realized that his aging had essentially stopped (and, perhaps, even reversed to a small degree), he slowly stepped into active politics, acting as the man to see when an international actor wanted the Imperial Federation's support on some foreign project, intervention, or other major commitment. It was clear by {{AN|1740}} that he was one of the few Ralgonese "immortals" in existence, but he was hesitant to share this privilege with everyone due to the likely ramifications of a potentially immortal population springing up out of nowhere.

The Emperor Emeritus, by practice, usually exercises moderate policies, tempering national interests with pragmatic diplomacy abroad. While Nobunag'an could be considered an idealist, he is one whose own national goals have already been met to the letter, and thus has turned sights inwards towards the improvement of the state through policy rather than territorial expansion and raw military might.

== Notable Descendants ==

Known in certain circles as the "Great Ancestor," the Emperor Emeritus is by far the longest-lived monarch in Ralgonese history. His direct descendants have continuously ruled the Ralgonese states since his abdication in {{AN|1673}}, and (as of {{AN|1734}}) he has lived to see descendants out to the 9th generation -- a feat shared only by less than 5 other people in Ralgonese history and no other monarch or member of the nobility. The Emperor Emeritus is estimated to have close to 200 descendants, not including those who count descent by marriage or adoption. The below names in bold represents notable descendants of his, most being rulers of their respective countries or territories.

Due to his extreme age, the law was changed in {{AN|1719}} that again re-incorporated him and specific successors back into the Imperial line of succession, as he was now more than 5 generations removed from the throne, yet had both formerly held it and still openly maintained the vigor of someone scarcely past middle age, despite his venerable appearance. As of {{AN|1746}}, he married 47 years after the passing of his 8th spouse, Yukino Chuujiwara (died {{AN|1699}}), having outlived all of them.

=== Main line ===
<hr />

This is the main line of descendants from Nobunag'an's royal, then imperial, family. Given that Nobunag'an has survived 8 spouses and recently married a 9th as of {{AN|1746}}, multiple lineages exist that descend directly from him. One cadet branch suffered a clean break into regional branches following the events of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], in which the leadership of the Imperial Family was called into question in the early 1700's AN following [[Shiro's death|Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1704}}. A resulting war was fought to determine both the selection and determination over who would be the next Ralgon Emperor. According to ancient Ralgonese traditions, any current Emperor of Ralgon (or, prior to {{AN|1673}} the King) would need to be directly descended within three generations of the any current or deceased Ralgon Emperor, regardless of the length of their respective reigns. However, Nobunag'an's extreme longevity made following the tradition impossible for several generations until Emperor [[Anarion]] not only took the throne but sired an incredible twenty-five children of his own by the late 1730's AN.

Eventually, rules were set into place c.{{AN|1668}} that also included the direct descendants (by blood only) of ''current or living'' Emperors (in the event of an Emperor's abdication due to age). Due to the near-extinction of immediately qualifying candidates at one point or another due to war or infighting, the list necessarily included, for a time, any claimant be descended directly from the current Emperor more than three generations away due to Nobunag'an's incredible longevity and outliving most of his children by the time of his abdication in {{AN|1673}}. The laws remain in place should less than eleven claimants exist that are descended less than 3 generations away -- but this was immediately outmoded when Emperor [[Anarion]] not only took the throne but sired an incredible twenty-five children of his own by the late 1730's AN.

By the time Nobunag'an celebrated his platinum jubilee in {{AN|1665}}, he had long noticed that he was showing signs of aging extremely slowly, and chose to pass reforms before he inevitably vacated the throne, to prevent the onset of stagnation within the [[Ralgon]] state (which, unfortunately, had already set in place). He eventually abdicated in {{AN|1673}} to prevent his grandchildren from aging too much before they contested the throne. After this action, the Imperial line continued as before due to the fact that, despite his succession by a grandson, he was still a living Emperor and thus able to maintain the Imperial Line in the event the current Emperor did not survive long enough to produce capable heirs to the throne.

The Imperial Line before the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] is listed below. Note that, for purposes of claiming princely titles within the vintage Ralgonese tradition, the old laws still apply. However, for imperial succession under the [[Imperial Federation|Imperial Federation's]] laws, those within the ruling Imperial Line automatically take precedence unless the line becomes extinct. Currently, there are six branches of Nobunag'an's own multiple lines of progeny, four of which are well-documented: The Adrestia line (currently the ruling house), the Ralgon line (ending with [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], the Valora Line, and the Wythe Line.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- married 8 times, had issue with 5. (All spouses died from age and other natural causes, without having divorced). Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the last being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}).
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died unmarried and without issue of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** Several descendants of little note.
*** Prince Benimaru Ral VII little is known of this person's history, as he kept his few notable accomplishments to himself and rarely spoke with others. The younger brother of [[Draeg'ar Ral X]].
**** Prince [[Benimaru Ral VIII]], Prince of [[Valora]] Took over as titular Prince of Valora in {{AN|1715}} after the Imperial Federation's victory after the [[Conquest of Valora]]. Otherwise, known as a ruler of modest tastes and disliking pomp and circumstance, preferring to lead a quiet life.
** Dalgar'on Ral (♂ {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1635}} -- m. ??? (♂ {{AN|1602}}-{{AN|1660}} Killed in battle in the [[Great Swamp]] during an expedition. Had one child late in life to a younger spouse. Spouse never remarried.
*** [[Draeg'ar Ral IX & I|Draeg'ar Ral IX]], Crown Prince of Ralgon; Emperor of [[Holy Ralgon State of Valora|Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1715}}/{{AN|1720}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Anarion]]. Reigned over the unstable rump nation of [[Holy Ralgon State of Valora|Valora]], further reduced to [[South Valora]] after the [[Conquest of Valora]] by his archnemeses. He abdicated the rulership of South Valora to his son in {{AN|1720}}.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral X]], Prince of South Valora; (♂ {{AN|1707}}-; r. {{AN|1720}}), betrothed to [[Mondosphere]] royalty A child of his father's old age, Draeg'ar X was crowned as Prince of South Valora at the tender age of 13 to be trained in effective leadership by his old father in a bid to continue the family's bid for legitimacy in their remaining territory.
**Benimaru Ral IV, Prince of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}; Benimaru's mother was Princess Rani Nixtorm of [[Nixtorm]] (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}), King Nobunag'an's first wife. He never took the throne, and died of natural causes.)
***Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1640}}-{{AN|1685}}?; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1685}}) Founder of the [[House of Adrestia]]. Abdicated in favor of a young son to assist [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in his wars. Went missing in action during the [[Ralgon Civil War]] of unknown causes in {{AN|1685}}; presumed dead. Had issue. He is rumored to have other sons and grandsons living on exile, particularly on [[Bomei Island]].
****'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1661}}-; r. {{AN|1685}}-{{AN|1701}})''' Prince Masamune II died of wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 during a coup attempt by his son Masamune III, at the hands of a close confidant. Had issue.
*****Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1701}}) Masamune III was executed for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was poisoned not long after their only son was born.)
******'''Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' The young prince was later crowned [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] (r. {{AN|1706}}-). Married [[Qasima Cakar]] in {{AN|1720}}.
*******''Twenty-five children as of {{AN|1746}}; see: [[Anarion]] for further details.''
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Ralgon|Ralgonese]] Line ===
<hr />
The Imperial Line before the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] is listed below.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''', m. Mikasa Valeris (♀ {{AN|15??}}-{{AN|1649}})

 Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the last being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}).
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died unmarried and without issue of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** Several descendants of little note.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Adrestia]] Line ===
<hr />
The greater Ralgon line's leadership ostensibly passed to the young, {{AgeAN|1701|1705}} year-old Masamune IV of Adrestia after death of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]]. However, this claim was disputed during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], which ultimately sundered the line into different, regional branches each with their own head. The Imperial Federation's current ruling branch was formally founded upon Masamune's ascension to the throne of the new [[Imperial Federation]] in {{AN|1706}} as [[Emperor Anarion]].

As the Prince is the only surviving descendant of his late grandfather, [[Masamune II]], he is the only member of the Imperial Family in this branch. As such, his family tree directly reflects the [[Adrestia]] Line:

{{Tree list}}
*'''Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1680}})'''
**'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Prince Masamune dies of wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 by his son Masamune III.
***Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}) Masamune III was executed for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was poisoned not long after their only son was born.)
****'''Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-), m. [[Qasima Cakar]] {{AN|1720}}''' The young prince was later crowned as [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in {{AN|1706}}, formally taking power in {{AN|1726}} after extensive education overseas. 
*****Twenty-five children as of {{AN|1746}}; see: [[Anarion]] for further details.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Valora]] Line ===
<hr />
The new Imperial line in Valora eventually branched into the new [[House of Valora]] following the integration of the various descendants of the two houses living in the region by Emperor [[Draeg'ar Ral]]. Having secured much of Ralgonese-controlled mainland Cibola (outside of [[Nova Victoria]]), the new rulers in Valora and New Ralgon consolidated the region under a single banner. The so-called Valora Line is descended through Nobunag'an's marriage with Princess Rani Nixtorm (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}, m. 1594), herself the daughter of a Ralgonese daimyo in [[Nixtorm]]'s old territory on [[Drag'os]].

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- m. Princess Rani Nixtorm (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}, m. {{AN|1594}}), Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation. His first marriage was to the daughter of a daimyo of [[Nixtorm]] named Rani Nixtorm. Had several marriages, with the last ending in {{AN|1689}}.
**
*** Dalgar'on Ral (♂ {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1635}} -- m. ??? (♂ {{AN|1602}}-{{AN|1660}} Killed in battle in the [[Great Swamp]] during an expedition. Had one child late in life to a younger spouse. Spouse never remarried.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral|Draeg'ar Ral IX]], Crown Prince of Ralgon; Emperor of [[Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1715}};{{AN|1720}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Served as one of the Crown Princes of the Ralgonese state. Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Emperor Anarion]]. He reigned over Ralgonese territory on mainland Cibola, named [[Valora]], in concert with local rulers, starting his own Imperial line of succession there under the [[House of Valora]]. The territory was [[Conquest of Valora|conquered]], and became king over a rump state. He only married very late in life, and had a son in his old age during this time, passing the throne in {{AN|1720}} and chairing the regency council. He retired from public life at the age of 99 following the new king's assumption of power in {{AN|1734}}..
***** [[Draeg'ar Ral X]], King of [[South Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1707}}-; r. {{AN|1720}}-) Draeg'ar II & X became king only at the age of 13 at the helm of a rump state. Known for his much milder disposition compared to his immediate forbears, he took power in {{AN|1732}} after a long regency headed by his mother.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== Line of [[Wythe|Stella]] ===
<hr />

In {{AN|1746}}, Nobunag'an surprised the world through his marriage to the much, ''much'' younger [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]]. Their marriage -- the 9th Nobunag'an has had in his life -- has not yet produced new children. The so-called Wythe Line is the result of this union. Their marriage inducted Nobunag'an into the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]. It was recognized in {{AN|1757}} as the ''Line of Stella'' within the [[Ralgonese Chapter of the Order of the Holy Lakes|Ralgonese Chapter of the Order]], given his numerous other progeny and descendants throughout his very long life and prior marriages.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Emeritus Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- m. Princess [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] (♀ {{AN|1716}}-})
** Prince Alexander Takeshi Ral (1747– )
** Princess Gloria Megumi Ral (1748– )
** Prince Caspian Izanagi Ral (1750– )
{{Tree list/end}}

=== Others ===

Nobunag'an has many descendants in a number that is abnormal even for a Ralgonese leader of his caliber. Having married 9 times as of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, he has descendants in five of the nine marriages he has had in his very long life. These consist in turn of multiple cadet branches, and consist of upwards of 200 - 300 known individuals.

== Immortality ==

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, the man is a remarkable {{AgeAN|1564|noAN=y}} years old, making him one of the oldest living Ralgonese in the country's history, only surpassed by five other known individuals in the [[Imperial Federation]] as of {{AN|1718}}, themselves being classified as "immortals" for their own unnaturally long lifespans. Immortals in [[Ralgon]] were always very poorly documented during its own long history, with most preferring to live obscure lives due to the likelihood of abuse at the hands of local nobility or the state by officials in search of this incredibly rare gift.

Immortality is thought to be possessed by roughly one in 1 million to 1 in 10 million Ralgonese. Chances are known to rise based on ancestry. Genetic studies performed on Nobunag'an and other immortals (most of who remained anonymous and undocumented during the study) presented signs that descent from another immortal confers roughly a 1 in 1,000 chance of inheriting the same condition. It is thought that the Elvish/Elfinshi ancestry has something to do with this rare spawning of immortality within individuals.

Immortals do not typically know of the existence or chances of their own immortality until their aging begins to reverse between the ages of 70 and 80 years. Genetic testing for signs and/or odds of immortality is also an emerging science, and as such is inaccurate as of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=n}}. Furthermore, as most Ralgonese historically were killed in battle or died of natural war-related causes before that point, merely getting the chance to find out was until recently a rare occurrence. As such, most rumored/suspected immortals were women.

The limited documented evidence available to Ralgonese authorities yield likely additional benefits to descendants of immortals. Children or close-generation descendants of immortals commonly enjoy long natural lifespans, even for Ralgonese. Most likely the most notable recent example was his grandson [[Draeg'ar Ral IX]] ({{AN|1639}} - {{AN|1746}}, who is documented to live a hard life of war and conflict and still lived healthy to the age of 112 years. It is expected that children of Ralgonese immortals can expect to live healthy lives of up to 150 years. It is also suspected (although not confirmed) through genetic testing and historical records that individuals descended within 5 to 10 generations of an immortal have significantly increased (albeit still tiny) chances of eventually attaining immortality themselves.

The aging and de-aging process for immortals is extremely scarcely documented, as immortals consistently have taken on completely new identities to hide their condition from the public. It is not even known if eternal youth is the norm, or whether immortals' reversing of the aging process may only bring them to a certain point where death by natural age-related causes is still possible. However, only one documented case in recent history of the immortality process is known (that being Nobunag'an), with the other known immortals being persons of obscure origin who had merely thought they got lucky in their old age until they realized only long after what had happened.

In Nobunag'an, genetic tests show that his aging began slowing near {{AN|1640}}, not long before his 76th birthday, and had already stopped completely near {{AN|1665}}, giving him appearance of being in his late 70's when he was already 109 years old. When he quietly celebrated his 140th birthday in {{AN|1704}}, his aging had slowly reversed to the point where he appeared in his late 60's, and enough vigor had returned to support his descendants in the Adrestian branch of the extended Ral dynasty in the wake of [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Emperor Shiro Ral's]] final illness. By this point, Nobunag'an's age-reversal process was well-documented, and by his 180th birthday in {{AN|1744}}, he had finally taken on the appearance of a middle-aged man in his 40's, and felt even stronger than he was in his prime over a century prior. This slow progression allowed him to also restore his former physique, enough to allow him to find decent prospects for marriage -- which he finally accomplished in {{AN|1746}} after 47 years after surviving his prior spouse, through his marriage to the [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]].

Genetic scientists are now waiting to see if this reversal of the aging process also restored the likely immortal's virility. As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}}, this union has not produced further descendants to add to Nobunag'an's many progeny.

== See Also ==

[[wikipedia:Heb Sed|Heb Sed]] (Real-world ceremony held in Ancient Egypt)

{{Imperial Federation Nav}}

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Living members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category: Ralgonese members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]

Ralgonese Chapter of the Order of the Holy Lakes

2026-06-29T13:03:06Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Line of Anarion */

{{Hurmu article}}{{Imperial Federation Article}}

The '''Ralgonese chapter of the Order of the Holy Lakes''' is the attempt by the central government of the [[Imperial Federation]] to organize current and future citizens of this country who hold membership in the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]. The Emperor of the Imperial Federation is automatically the head of the Ralgonese Chapter of the Order. Membership (and, where necessary, active participation) of Ralgonese members of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] is mandatory for those who also hold [[Imperial Federation]] citizenship of any kind. Not every member of the Imperial Federation's imperial family holds membership, the most notable of these non-members being (until {{AN|1746}}) [[Nobunag'an IV]].

Ralgonese members of the Order who are ''not'' citizens of the Imperial Federation (descendants, spouses, or relatives of Ralgonese members) are automatically extended the optional invitation to join; membership confers additional benefits and closeness to the Emperor not accorded to much of the greater and lesser nobility of the Imperial Federation, so affiliation is generally a very strong incentive to join for those extended such invitations. The first of such offers was extented to [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Princess Stella]] when she married [[Nobunag'an IV]] in {{AN|1746}}, upon which both joined the Ralgonese chapter in positions of honor.

Aside from the Sovereign (always the reigning Emperor) there are four grades of membership: Member, Senior Member, Officer, and Commander. The Emperor and his (or her) consort takes precedence at whatever grade they are in. Outside of these, an individual's rank within the Order is sorted firstly through their rank within the Imperial Federation, then their title in the Order, then their age. As membership grows larger, this structure is expected to slowly change over time to accommodate the great many descendants expected through [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]] and other Ralgonese rulers.

Loosely speaking, there are two lines of nobles within the Ralgonese Chapter. The first in precedence is the Line of [[Anarion]], through his marriage to [[Qasima Cakar]] in {{AN|1720}}). Second in precedence is the Line of Stella, through [[Nobunag'an IV|Emperor Emeritus Nobunag'an IV's]] marriage to [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Princess Stella]]. Both lines are descended from the supposedly-immortal Nobunag'an through six spouses over the long years of his life. The Line of Anarion descends through Nobunag'an's first wife, Princess Rani of Nixtorm (d. {{AN|1610}}). The Line of Stella is descended through Nobunag'an's ninth wife, [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Princess Stella]]. (It should be noted that Nobunag'an IV is monogamous, simply having outlived his wives by sheer virtue of his unusually long life. Five of his prior marriages before Stella also had issue; four of these branch families are ''not'' members of the Order.)

== Line of Anarion ==

=== History ===

The [[Anarion#Family and Descendants|Line of Anarion]] was inducted into the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] in {{AN|1720}} upon Anarion's marriage to [[Qasima Cakar]], during the Regency Period of his long reign in the [[Imperial Federation]]. The line includes [[Qasima Cakar]] and all of her children in the Order by right of birth, and [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]] through marriage to now-Empress Qasima as of {{AN|1758}}. The line is named for Anarion, Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]] from {{AN|1705}} (exiting regency in {{AN|1726}}).

The two spouses had an impressive twenty-five children, all members of the Order in their own right through this line. Through descent from Anarion, all such members are similarly part of the Ralgonese Chapter as part of the ''Line of Anarion''. The most recent child, Katsumoto Elend'ar, was born to this couple in {{AN|1738}}. It is thought that he is the last, due to the physical strain of twenty-five children coming from a single mother. As of {{AN|1756}}, all of Anarion and Qasima's children became (theoretically) eligible for marriage.

The Ralgonese Chapter of the Order of the Holy Lakes was officially recognized as an organized national chapter in {{AN|1743}}, with the Line of Anarion being the sole line of descent in this chapter until [[Nobunag'an IV]] married [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Princess Stella]] in {{AN|1746}}. Within a few generations, it is expected that there will be at least fifty to a hundred members of the Line of Anarion, if not more. Due to the explosion of eligible successors to the Imperial Throne, most will likely fall into obscurity or locate themselves abroad.

=== Ancestry in the Order ===

[[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]] and his spouse, now-[[Qasima Cakar|Empress Qasima]] were included in the Order through the [[Almanac of the Holy Lakes#Line of Woodrow (1543)|Line of Woodrow]] through marriage. Emperor Anarion's spouse, [[Qasima Cakar|Empress Qasima's]], claims membership via birth by her descent through [[Akbar Çakar]], known at his death as the [[Tobu Emperor]] of the [[Great Apollonian Empire]]. In turn, [[Akbar Cakar]] was descended through [Ümit Çakar]], whose spouse's ancestry comes from the Farrah family, beginning in the record with a marriage to the daughter of [[Scott Woodrow]], the founder of the Woodrow Line.

== Line of [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Stella]] ==

=== History ===

The Line of Stella was recognized as its own separate line in the {{PAGENAME}} in late {{AN|1757}}. This line was initially formed in {{AN|1746}}, when [[Nobunag'an IV]] married [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Princess Stella]]. However, the line was not recognized as its own branch due to [[Nobunag'an]] himself being the direct ancestor of [[Anarion]] and thus all of his children. However, Nobunag'an's children through this line became members of the Order in their own right due to descent from [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]], and the ancestry from himself to [[Anarion]] spanned six generations through his first wife (d. {{AN|1610}}, who was not a member of the Order.

Given that Nobunag'an IV's own membership only comes by right of marriage, only his children through Princess [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Stella]] are eligible for Order membership, excluding the issue from all other five spouses. Thus, it was deemed both necessary and proper to include Nobunag'an's children by his latest marriage into the Order. Given his impressive number of other descendants and multiple other marriages with issue, the new line within the Ralgonese Chapter was named the ''Line of Stella'', after his spouse, instead of himself (as was the case with Anarion's line of membership).

The line was consequently inducted as its own independent sub-chapter in {{AN|1757}}. It includes Nobunag'an IV, Princess Stella, and their descendants. As of {{AN|1751}}, they had three children, none of which are eligible for marriage, and due to technicalities, none are currently eligible for succession to the throne of the [[Imperial Federation]].

=== Ancestry in the Order ===

[[Nobunag'an IV]] is the Emperor Emeritus of the [[Imperial Federation]], as well as a current [[Senator of the Holy Lakes]]. Nobunag'an's own descent is poorly recorded, but is is known that he is the son of Dalgar'an IV of [[Ralgon]], and grandson of King Draeg'ar XV of [[Ralgon]] -- both short-lived kings due to the chaotic and brutal reality of [[Drag'os]] in the 1500's AN. Nobunag'an's own reign began in {{AN|1594}} and ended with his abdication in {{AN|1673}} due to concerns over his own age. His reign lasted 78 years, by far the longest in his country's history. (Only later did it turn out that he'd have far longer to live.)

Strictly speaking, Nobunag'an's own membership in the Order of the Holy Lakes comes from his {{AN|1746}} marriage to [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Princess Stella]] through the [[Almanac of the Holy Lakes#Line of Woodrow (1582)|Line of Fish]]. Stella is the daughter of [[Catherine Wythe]], a descendant of [[Kaiser Fish XII]] and in the [[Van der Sluijs]] imperial line of [[Shireroth]], and [[Chrysostom Wythe]], a descendant of [[Kaiser Wythe]] and in the Shireithian [[Line of Wythe]]. Stella's membership in the Order derives solely on the maternal line via [[Catherine Wythe]] (née Fish). Catherine Wythe descends from the [[Line of Fish]], the inaugural member being the eponymous [[Kaiser Fish XII]] (d. {{AN|1620}}).

== Member Roll as of {{AN|1751}}==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name !! Order Membership !! Chapter Membership !! Date of Birth !! Age !! Title within the [[Imperial Federation]] !! Member Number !! Other Notes
|-
| [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]
| Knight
| Sovereign
| {{AN|1701}}
| {{AgeAN|1701}}
| Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]
| 1
| ''de facto'' representative to the Order in [[Hurmu]]. Member by marriage to [[Qasima Cakar]].
|-
| [[Qasima Cakar|Empress Consort Qasima]]
| Lady
| Commander
| {{AN|1701}}
| {{AgeAN|1701}}
| Empress Consort of the [[Imperial Federation]]
| 2
| Married to [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. Independent voter ((controlled by [[User:Gustaaf Vermeylen]]))
|-
| [[Masamune V|Prince Masamune Takeshi Celeborn]]
| Knight
| Senior Member
| {{AN|1728}}
| {{AgeAN|1728}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 3
| Heir presumptive; eldest child of [[Emperor Anarion|Anarion]] and [[Qasima Cakar]]
|-
| [[Mariko von Adrestia|Princess Mariko Luthien]]
| Lady
| Senior Member
| {{AN|1728}}
| {{AgeAN|1728}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 4
| Representative of the Ralgonese Chapter
|-
| [[Dalgar'on von Adrestia|Dalgar'on Hikaru Elent'ar]]
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1730}}
| {{AgeAN|1730}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 5
|
|-
| Princess Lianna Toshiko
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1731}}
| {{AgeAN|1731}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 6
|
|-
| Prince Ieyasu Chidao Turg'on
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1731}}
| {{AgeAN|1731}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 7
|
|-
| Princess Takara Yavanna
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1733}}
| {{AgeAN|1733}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 8
|
|-
| Princess Mako Nienna
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1733}}
| {{AgeAN|1733}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 9
|
|-
| Princess Kaguya Melian
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1733}}
| {{AgeAN|1733}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 10
|
|-
| Prince Takaharu Fing'on
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1733}}
| {{AgeAN|1733}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 11
|
|-
| Prince Satoshi Ayreon Mand'os
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1733}}
| {{AgeAN|1733}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 12
|
|-
| Princess Noriko Rani
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1733}}
| {{AgeAN|1733}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 13
|
|-
| Prince Tadakatsu Maeg'or
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 14
|
|-
| Princess Masako Nien'na
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 15
|
|-
| Prince Shinzo Fean'or
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 16
|
|-
| Princess Yasuko Tsubaki
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 17
|
|-
| Princess Yoko Miri'na
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 18
|
|-
| Prince Kenshiro Sind'ar
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 19
|
|-
| Prince Balaeri'on Musashi
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 20
|
|-
| Prince Azul'on Toshiie
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1735}}
| {{AgeAN|1735}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 21
|
|-
| Prince Valac'ar Shiro
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1735}}
| {{AgeAN|1735}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 22
|
|-
| Princess Matsu Ancalin'ai
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1737}}
| {{AgeAN|1737}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 23
|
|-
| Prince Hiruzen Ancalag'on
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1737}}
| {{AgeAN|1737}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 24
|
|-
| Princess Shuna Mir'ai
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1738}}
| {{AgeAN|1738}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 25
|
|-
| Prince Toshi Ilien
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1738}}
| {{AgeAN|1738}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 26
|
|-
| Prince Katsumoto Elend'ar
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1738}}
| {{AgeAN|1738}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 27
|
|-
| Emperor Emeritus [[Nobunag'an IV]]
| Knight
| Commander
| {{AN|1564}}
| {{AgeAN|1564}}
| Emperor Emeritus Prince of the Second Rank
| 28
| Member of the Order through marriage to [[Stella Sturgeon Wrythe]] Also a Prince of the Second Rank by unique virtue of preceding [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion's]] own predecessor [[Shiro I of Ralgon]].
|-
| Princess [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Stella Sturgeon Wythe-Ral]]
| Lady
| Captain
| {{AN|1716}}
| {{AgeAN|1716}}
| Princess of the Second Rank
| 29
| Member of the Ralgonese Chapter through marriage to [[Nobunag'an IV]]. Independent voter ((controlled by [[User:Ric]]))
|-
| Prince Alexander Takeshi Ral
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1747}}
| {{AgeAN|1747}}
| Prince of the Third Rank
| 30
| Child of [[Nobunag'an IV]] and [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Stella Sturgeon Wythe-Ral]].
|-
| Princess Gloria Megumi Ral
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1748}}
| {{AgeAN|1748}}
| Princess of the Third Rank
| 31
| Child of [[Nobunag'an IV]] and [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Stella Sturgeon Wythe-Ral]].
|-
| Prince Caspian Izanagi Ral
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1750}}
| {{AgeAN|1750}}
| Prince of the Third Rank
| 32
| Child of [[Nobunag'an IV]] and [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Stella Sturgeon Wythe-Ral]]. Independent voter ((controlled by [[User:Ric]]))
|-
|}

[[Category:Anarion]]
[[Category: Imperial Federation nobility]]

Ralgonese Chapter of the Order of the Holy Lakes

2026-06-29T13:02:47Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Hurmu article}}{{Imperial Federation Article}}

The '''Ralgonese chapter of the Order of the Holy Lakes''' is the attempt by the central government of the [[Imperial Federation]] to organize current and future citizens of this country who hold membership in the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]. The Emperor of the Imperial Federation is automatically the head of the Ralgonese Chapter of the Order. Membership (and, where necessary, active participation) of Ralgonese members of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] is mandatory for those who also hold [[Imperial Federation]] citizenship of any kind. Not every member of the Imperial Federation's imperial family holds membership, the most notable of these non-members being (until {{AN|1746}}) [[Nobunag'an IV]].

Ralgonese members of the Order who are ''not'' citizens of the Imperial Federation (descendants, spouses, or relatives of Ralgonese members) are automatically extended the optional invitation to join; membership confers additional benefits and closeness to the Emperor not accorded to much of the greater and lesser nobility of the Imperial Federation, so affiliation is generally a very strong incentive to join for those extended such invitations. The first of such offers was extented to [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Princess Stella]] when she married [[Nobunag'an IV]] in {{AN|1746}}, upon which both joined the Ralgonese chapter in positions of honor.

Aside from the Sovereign (always the reigning Emperor) there are four grades of membership: Member, Senior Member, Officer, and Commander. The Emperor and his (or her) consort takes precedence at whatever grade they are in. Outside of these, an individual's rank within the Order is sorted firstly through their rank within the Imperial Federation, then their title in the Order, then their age. As membership grows larger, this structure is expected to slowly change over time to accommodate the great many descendants expected through [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]] and other Ralgonese rulers.

Loosely speaking, there are two lines of nobles within the Ralgonese Chapter. The first in precedence is the Line of [[Anarion]], through his marriage to [[Qasima Cakar]] in {{AN|1720}}). Second in precedence is the Line of Stella, through [[Nobunag'an IV|Emperor Emeritus Nobunag'an IV's]] marriage to [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Princess Stella]]. Both lines are descended from the supposedly-immortal Nobunag'an through six spouses over the long years of his life. The Line of Anarion descends through Nobunag'an's first wife, Princess Rani of Nixtorm (d. {{AN|1610}}). The Line of Stella is descended through Nobunag'an's ninth wife, [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Princess Stella]]. (It should be noted that Nobunag'an IV is monogamous, simply having outlived his wives by sheer virtue of his unusually long life. Five of his prior marriages before Stella also had issue; four of these branch families are ''not'' members of the Order.)

== Line of Anarion ==

=== History ===

The [[Anarion#Family and Descendants|Line of Anarion]] was inducted into the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] in {{AN|1720}} upon Anarion's marriage to [[Qasima Cakar]], during the Regency Period of his long reign in the [[Imperial Federation]]. The line includes [[Qasima Cakar]] and all of her children in the Order by right of birth, and [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]] through marriage to now-Empress Qasima as of {{AN|1758}}. The line is named for Anarion, Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]] from {{AN|1705}} (exiting regency in {{AN|1726}}).

The two spouses had an impressive twenty-five children, all members of the Order in their own right through this line. Through descent from Anarion, all such members are similarly part of the Ralgonese Chapter as part of the ''Line of Anarion''. The most recent child, Katsumoto Elend'ar, was born to this couple in {{AN|1738}}. It is thought that he is the last, due to the physical strain of twenty-five children coming from a single mother. As of {{AN|1756}}, all of Anarion and Qasima's children became (theoretically) eligible for marriage.

The Ralgonese Chapter of the Order of the Holy Lakes was officially recognized as an organized national chapter in {{AN|1743}}, with the Line of Anarion being the sole line of descent in this chapter until [[Nobunag'an IV]] married [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Princess Stella]] in {{AN|1746}}. Within a few generations, it is expected that there will be at least fifty to a hundred members of the Line of Anarion, if not more. Due to the explosion of eligible successors to the Imperial Throne, most will likely fall into obscurity or locate themselves abroad.

=== Ancestry in the Order ===

[[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]] and his spouse, now-[[Qasima Cakar|Empress Qasima]] were included in the Order through the [[Almanac of the Holy Lakes#Line of Woodrow (1543)|Line of Woodrow]] through marriage. Emperor Anarion's spouse, [[Qasima Cakar|Empress Qasima's]], claims membership via birth by her descent through [[Akbar Çakar]], known at his death as the [[Tobu Emperor]] of the [[Great Apollonian Empire]]. In turn, [[Akbar Cakar]] was descended through [Ümit Çakar]], whose spouse's ancestry comes from the Farrah family, beginning in the record with a marriage to the daughter of [[Scott Woodrow]], the founder of the Woodrow Line.

== Line of [[[[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Stella]] ==

=== History ===

The Line of Stella was recognized as its own separate line in the {{PAGENAME}} in late {{AN|1757}}. This line was initially formed in {{AN|1746}}, when [[Nobunag'an IV]] married [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Princess Stella]]. However, the line was not recognized as its own branch due to [[Nobunag'an]] himself being the direct ancestor of [[Anarion]] and thus all of his children. However, Nobunag'an's children through this line became members of the Order in their own right due to descent from [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]], and the ancestry from himself to [[Anarion]] spanned six generations through his first wife (d. {{AN|1610}}, who was not a member of the Order.

Given that Nobunag'an IV's own membership only comes by right of marriage, only his children through Princess [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Stella]] are eligible for Order membership, excluding the issue from all other five spouses. Thus, it was deemed both necessary and proper to include Nobunag'an's children by his latest marriage into the Order. Given his impressive number of other descendants and multiple other marriages with issue, the new line within the Ralgonese Chapter was named the ''Line of Stella'', after his spouse, instead of himself (as was the case with Anarion's line of membership).

The line was consequently inducted as its own independent sub-chapter in {{AN|1757}}. It includes Nobunag'an IV, Princess Stella, and their descendants. As of {{AN|1751}}, they had three children, none of which are eligible for marriage, and due to technicalities, none are currently eligible for succession to the throne of the [[Imperial Federation]].

=== Ancestry in the Order ===

[[Nobunag'an IV]] is the Emperor Emeritus of the [[Imperial Federation]], as well as a current [[Senator of the Holy Lakes]]. Nobunag'an's own descent is poorly recorded, but is is known that he is the son of Dalgar'an IV of [[Ralgon]], and grandson of King Draeg'ar XV of [[Ralgon]] -- both short-lived kings due to the chaotic and brutal reality of [[Drag'os]] in the 1500's AN. Nobunag'an's own reign began in {{AN|1594}} and ended with his abdication in {{AN|1673}} due to concerns over his own age. His reign lasted 78 years, by far the longest in his country's history. (Only later did it turn out that he'd have far longer to live.)

Strictly speaking, Nobunag'an's own membership in the Order of the Holy Lakes comes from his {{AN|1746}} marriage to [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Princess Stella]] through the [[Almanac of the Holy Lakes#Line of Woodrow (1582)|Line of Fish]]. Stella is the daughter of [[Catherine Wythe]], a descendant of [[Kaiser Fish XII]] and in the [[Van der Sluijs]] imperial line of [[Shireroth]], and [[Chrysostom Wythe]], a descendant of [[Kaiser Wythe]] and in the Shireithian [[Line of Wythe]]. Stella's membership in the Order derives solely on the maternal line via [[Catherine Wythe]] (née Fish). Catherine Wythe descends from the [[Line of Fish]], the inaugural member being the eponymous [[Kaiser Fish XII]] (d. {{AN|1620}}).

== Member Roll as of {{AN|1751}}==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name !! Order Membership !! Chapter Membership !! Date of Birth !! Age !! Title within the [[Imperial Federation]] !! Member Number !! Other Notes
|-
| [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]
| Knight
| Sovereign
| {{AN|1701}}
| {{AgeAN|1701}}
| Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]
| 1
| ''de facto'' representative to the Order in [[Hurmu]]. Member by marriage to [[Qasima Cakar]].
|-
| [[Qasima Cakar|Empress Consort Qasima]]
| Lady
| Commander
| {{AN|1701}}
| {{AgeAN|1701}}
| Empress Consort of the [[Imperial Federation]]
| 2
| Married to [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. Independent voter ((controlled by [[User:Gustaaf Vermeylen]]))
|-
| [[Masamune V|Prince Masamune Takeshi Celeborn]]
| Knight
| Senior Member
| {{AN|1728}}
| {{AgeAN|1728}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 3
| Heir presumptive; eldest child of [[Emperor Anarion|Anarion]] and [[Qasima Cakar]]
|-
| [[Mariko von Adrestia|Princess Mariko Luthien]]
| Lady
| Senior Member
| {{AN|1728}}
| {{AgeAN|1728}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 4
| Representative of the Ralgonese Chapter
|-
| [[Dalgar'on von Adrestia|Dalgar'on Hikaru Elent'ar]]
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1730}}
| {{AgeAN|1730}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 5
|
|-
| Princess Lianna Toshiko
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1731}}
| {{AgeAN|1731}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 6
|
|-
| Prince Ieyasu Chidao Turg'on
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1731}}
| {{AgeAN|1731}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 7
|
|-
| Princess Takara Yavanna
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1733}}
| {{AgeAN|1733}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 8
|
|-
| Princess Mako Nienna
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1733}}
| {{AgeAN|1733}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 9
|
|-
| Princess Kaguya Melian
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1733}}
| {{AgeAN|1733}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 10
|
|-
| Prince Takaharu Fing'on
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1733}}
| {{AgeAN|1733}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 11
|
|-
| Prince Satoshi Ayreon Mand'os
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1733}}
| {{AgeAN|1733}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 12
|
|-
| Princess Noriko Rani
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1733}}
| {{AgeAN|1733}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 13
|
|-
| Prince Tadakatsu Maeg'or
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 14
|
|-
| Princess Masako Nien'na
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 15
|
|-
| Prince Shinzo Fean'or
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 16
|
|-
| Princess Yasuko Tsubaki
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 17
|
|-
| Princess Yoko Miri'na
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 18
|
|-
| Prince Kenshiro Sind'ar
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 19
|
|-
| Prince Balaeri'on Musashi
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1734}}
| {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 20
|
|-
| Prince Azul'on Toshiie
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1735}}
| {{AgeAN|1735}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 21
|
|-
| Prince Valac'ar Shiro
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1735}}
| {{AgeAN|1735}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 22
|
|-
| Princess Matsu Ancalin'ai
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1737}}
| {{AgeAN|1737}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 23
|
|-
| Prince Hiruzen Ancalag'on
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1737}}
| {{AgeAN|1737}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 24
|
|-
| Princess Shuna Mir'ai
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1738}}
| {{AgeAN|1738}}
| Princess of the First Rank
| 25
|
|-
| Prince Toshi Ilien
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1738}}
| {{AgeAN|1738}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 26
|
|-
| Prince Katsumoto Elend'ar
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1738}}
| {{AgeAN|1738}}
| Prince of the First Rank
| 27
|
|-
| Emperor Emeritus [[Nobunag'an IV]]
| Knight
| Commander
| {{AN|1564}}
| {{AgeAN|1564}}
| Emperor Emeritus Prince of the Second Rank
| 28
| Member of the Order through marriage to [[Stella Sturgeon Wrythe]] Also a Prince of the Second Rank by unique virtue of preceding [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion's]] own predecessor [[Shiro I of Ralgon]].
|-
| Princess [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Stella Sturgeon Wythe-Ral]]
| Lady
| Captain
| {{AN|1716}}
| {{AgeAN|1716}}
| Princess of the Second Rank
| 29
| Member of the Ralgonese Chapter through marriage to [[Nobunag'an IV]]. Independent voter ((controlled by [[User:Ric]]))
|-
| Prince Alexander Takeshi Ral
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1747}}
| {{AgeAN|1747}}
| Prince of the Third Rank
| 30
| Child of [[Nobunag'an IV]] and [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Stella Sturgeon Wythe-Ral]].
|-
| Princess Gloria Megumi Ral
| Lady
| Member
| {{AN|1748}}
| {{AgeAN|1748}}
| Princess of the Third Rank
| 31
| Child of [[Nobunag'an IV]] and [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Stella Sturgeon Wythe-Ral]].
|-
| Prince Caspian Izanagi Ral
| Knight
| Member
| {{AN|1750}}
| {{AgeAN|1750}}
| Prince of the Third Rank
| 32
| Child of [[Nobunag'an IV]] and [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe|Stella Sturgeon Wythe-Ral]]. Independent voter ((controlled by [[User:Ric]]))
|-
|}

[[Category:Anarion]]
[[Category: Imperial Federation nobility]]

Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon

2026-06-29T12:54:59Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Ralgon Article}}
{{Valora Article}}
{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{Hurmu Senator
|fullname = Nobunag'an Ral
|image = Nobunag'an 1704.jpg
|image-2 = Ralgon CoA.png
|Tenurebegins = 1.VIII.{{AN|1751}} ({{AgeAN|1751}})
|Tenureends =
|positions =
|senate = [[Fifteenth Senate|XV]]
|elected = [[1751 Senate of the Lakes election|1751]]
|faction = [[Draconic Humanist List]]
|OHLline = [[Almanac_of_the_Holy_Lakes#Line_of_Fish_(1582)|Line of Fish]] ''(by right of marriage)''
|comment =
|gender = Male
|Race =
|species =
|hairstyle =
|eyecolour =
|skincolour =
|other =
|father = King Dalgar'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (crowned {{AN|1591}}, killed in battle {{AN|1594}})
|mother = Princess Mikio Ral >(died 1612 AN)
|spouse = [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] (m. 1746) ''7 previous marriages'' (''see below''))
|children = ''Numerous'' (''see below''))
|birthdate = 1564 AN (age {{AgeAN|1564}})
|birthplace = [[Valeria]], West Stormhold, [[Ralgon]] Azul'an, Arumen (present-day)
|residence =
|deathdate =
|deathplace =
|}}

'''Emperor Nobunag'an Ral IV''', born {{AN|1564}} as Prince Takeshi Ral XV, is both the longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch in the history of the [[Ralgon|Holy Ralgon Empire]]. He is also the Emperor Emeritus of the same nation, having been bestowed the title by his successors after they shifted to using conventional as well as native Ralgonese titles. He currently enjoys high status in the government of the new [[Imperial Federation]], holding the special title of Chief Ambassador, giving him a unique freedom to travel and directly interact with foreign governments abroad. His special style of "His Serene Excellency" is unique in the Imperial Federation. He was similarly honored in [[Valora]] during its own existence, despite his political situation having permanently pulled him into the Imperial Federation's orbit.

In {{AN|1746}}, he surprised the world through his marriage to the [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]], automatically becoming a [[Knight of the Holy Lakes]] by virtue of his 9th marriage, having outlived all his prior partners. Nobunag'an had been unmarried since {{AN|1699}}, when his prior spouse, Yukino Chuujiwara (his 8th wife), was murdered. He went unmarried for nearly five decades when it was finally discovered that the culprit was one of his own direct descendants, that being the so-called "Mad Prince" Masamune III, who attempted a coup less than two years later and ultimately paid for it with his life.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, the man is a remarkable {{AgeAN|1564|noAN=y}} years old, making him one of the oldest living Ralgonese in the country's history, only surpassed by five other known individuals in the [[Imperial Federation]] as of {{AN|1718}}, themselves being classified as "immortals" for their own unnaturally long lifespans. His record-breaking reign of 78 years saw the transformation of the Ralgon state from a mere group of disjointed tribes on the eastern and southern coastlines of Drag'os into the unified state prepared to conquer the island under his successors, [[Emperor Shiro I of Ralgon|Emperor Shiro I]] and [[Emperor Anarion]] under the banners of the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] and the [[Imperial Federation]], respectively. His status as the "Great Ancestor" of all current Ralgonese rulers since his abdication in {{AN|1673}} made him about the only person capable of navigating the likely-permanent schism between the two Ralgonese states during his later years after his general withdrawal from the minutiae of domestic politics since 1706 AN. Instead, the Emperor Emeritus began to spend more time abroad, acting as an advocate for the ruling governments of both the Imperial Federation and, less commonly, [[Valora]]. He played an active role in reconciling the two asymmetric factions in {{AN|1717}}, after the [[Conquest of Valora]] two years prior.

Since the late 1710's AN, as Nobunag'an passed 150 years of age, he has become the subject of scientific inquiry, as his personal physicians, some of whom now prominent scientists in the Imperial Federation, have begun to assert that his age has been progressively slowing since at least the 1650's AN. However, this stirring among the medical community has not affected the Emperor Emeritus's personal life, as he has remained active in the international community consistently since taking up a winter residence in [[New Alexandria]] as the Imperial Federation's primary spokesperson outside its own borders. Since then, he assumed a position as a [[Senator of the Holy Lakes]] in [[Hurmu]], acting as a powerful voice in the international community on behalf of his homeland, the [[Imperial Federation]].

== Biography ==

=== Early Life (1564 - 1594) ===

In 1564 AN, he was born during the fifth year of the reign of Azul'an III, the then-current ruler of the country. Prince Takeshi Ral was Azul'an's great nephew, and he was the grandson of Azul'an's brother, Draeg'ar XV. When Takeshi was 8, he had his first experience in statecraft: Because of the harsh realities of the country's existence, kings simply didn't last long. In fact, twenty years (a full generation for the Ralgonese peasantry of the day) was considered exceptional, and special celebrations were held. Azul'an III never got the chance to see that rare celebration for himself. In 1562, in his 14th year as king, he died in battle while personally leading the defense of a border city against a dragon attack -- as rulers were obliged to do.

Takeshi's second lesson as a child in statecraft was this: Replacing slain kings wasn't easy. In the brutal, unstable, and existentially challenging 1500's for the Ralgon state, crowning the next king was a messy, brutal affair meant to ensure the new king was stronger than everyone else in the ruling clan. Additionally, a King taking the throne in the wake of a decimated royal house would reign without opposition until his almost certain death within less than a generation -- enough time for the Ral Clan to reconsolidate and repeat the process of thinning its ever-changing ranks. Kings needed to be replaced quickly, and the new king needed to be the strongest and smartest in the land if he was to survive for long.

Thus, Takeshi learned his third lesson: weakness in the Ral Clan was never tolerated, and weak pretenders to the throne would quickly meet their fate in the arena or on the battlefield shortly after coronation. And those without the stomach to participate in an election and potentially fight for their own honor were cast out of the decision-making process afterwards -- at least until the next election. In this way, the Clan never allowed itself to balloon out of control, and retained power through a line of strong elected kings, each related to their predecessor within three generations. The only weakness? Kings were reliably short-lived due to constant battlefield-related obligations, and dead kings were morbidly expensive for the ruling Clan in terms of manpower to replace. By Azul'an's death in 1562, the Ral Clan listed no more than fifty eligible contenders for the Throne. Despite the Ralgonese peoples' notoriously high fertility rate at the time, enduring the replacement process twice each generation with upwards of a dozen deaths was unwelcome in both the short-term and the long-term for the struggling country and its ruling dynasty that had already spent oceans of precious blood simply keeping their often-divided realm intact in the face of overwhelming external (megafauna) and internal (demographic) pressure.

In late 1562, Nobunag'an III, Azul'an's successor, then came to power later that year after Takeshi witnessed the brutality of the Selection Tournament, after the existing Crown Princes failed to agree on who the next ruler would be. The Ral Clan's numbers reduced by eight, the new king was expected to live long enough for the cycle to complete itself and the Clan's members (especially the king) were expected to produce enough children to feed to both the arena and to the army's endless meat grinder on the nation's ever-shifting inland border.

It was towards the end of Nobunag'an III's reign in 1584 that Takeshi turned 20, and was granted the style of Crown Prince after going through the rites -- thus completing a generational cycle -- and already seeing three kings in his lifetime. In 1584, 12 years into his reign, Nobunag'an joined his predecessors in death. During a battle with rival natives from inland near the north-western border, both parties were attacked by a lightning dragon. Nobunag'an III died leading a retreat inland, and his men escaped to tell the tale because the dragon turned on the inland natives instead.

After an unusually quiet Election process, Draeg'ar XV, Takeshi's great-uncle and Nobunag'an III's brother, took the throne. However, he died within a year of being crowned (1585) when he led an expeditionary scouting force consisting of brown-water Navy forces too far into the Great Swamp. While taking a small fleet across one of the Swamp's many deep (and interconnected) lakes, his boat was attacked by a mosasaur. His expedition only returned with a tenth of its original size.

Next on the throne was Draeg'ar XVI, after a similarly quiet election process. After five years as king, he died in early 1590 during a plague that swept the country. During this time, the Ralgon state began to take its modern form, with Nixtorm finally recognizing their senior partners in the south as rulers outright. Drag'nor, however, remained obstinate on the matter due to ideological differences. It was also during this time that lightning dragons began appearing less often off the coasts, allowing for the possibility of sea-based travel outside the immediate environs of the Drag'osian coastline.

Dalgar'an IV, Takeshi's father, won the next election and resulting Selection Tournament and took the country's helm in 1591. As Takeshi's father, he elevated him to the rank of Crown Prince, after seven years of surviving the harsh reality of being a Prince without portfolio, constantly on the battlefield. In 1591, Dalgar'an IV's realm only consisted of the modern province of Stormhold, which was little more than the capital city of the same name (now called [[Valeria (Ralgon)|Valeria]] as of 1686), and a port city of little economic consequence near the eastern tip of Drag'os, called Glacier City. (Although Nixtorm and Drag'nor were nominally a confederation with the Ralgon state, each was, in practice, independent of each other and did their own thing for the past two centuries.)

=== Coronation and Early Reign (1595 - 1620) ===

In late 1594, Dalgar'an IV died during a battle defending the border against a particularly large incursion from giant insects from the Great Swamp. After winning the Royal Selection Tournament in which ten other contestants died in the arena, Takeshi Ral was quickly crowned on New Year's Day, 1595 as Nobunag'an IV, after the first ruler with that name -- the same ruler who first made peace with both Drag'nor and the tribes of Nixtorm to battle against their homelands' respective dangers. The freshly minted king, now 31 years of age, set forth to consolidate the small country's tribes and expand from the coastline. Although most rulers of the country were expected to expire after less than a decade (he'd already been through five predecessors in his lifetime already), Nobunag'an resolved to survive by carefully selecting those battles he'd personally set off for, and allow rivals to handle the most dangerous missions instead, as a way of covertly ridding himself of political opposition.

By the tenth year of Nobunag'an's reign, the ruling branch of the Ral Clan had recovered its numbers from the tumultous period following Azul'an III's death. As the new king was already past his first decade of rule, the court began making preparations amid skepticism of the shrewd ruler's longevity. Instead, that never materialized. In 1615, Nobunag'an celebrated his twentieth year on the throne -- the first such anniversary since the early 1500's, and only the second since the Great Atomic Bombardment of 1450.

Such a date was important to the Ralgons, as an entire generation had passed since the Emperor took the throne. Now solidly entering his 50's, Nobunag'an was already a few short years older than many of his immediate predecessors at the time of their own deaths. To commemorate the event, a special Sed festival* celebrating the king's jubilee was held throughout the country -- and in neighboring Nixtorm, which was considering a personal union in the wake of its own ruling clan's decline. For modern historians, this marked a major turning point in national morale, as well as their stance towards the kings as an expendable asset (regardless of the pain caused by their loss). It also marked the point in which a hard border began to form between the environs of the growing Glacier City (the Ralgons' core territory at the time) and the Great Swamp.

After 20 years on the throne, the slowly strengthening Ralgon state also began to see unprecedented prosperity due to having a stabilized leadership on the throne for the first time since 1450 AN. In 1620, Nobunag'an IV celebrated his second Sed festival, as it was held every five years after the king's first 20-year jubilee. A king celebrating more than one Sed festival had not occurred since a similar festival during Draeg'ar XII's reign in 1402 AN.

Modern historians consider this the official beginning date of the modern Ralgon state, as after 1620 Nobunag'an IV had gathered enough military, political, and even religious power within the state to begin realizing his ambitions to unite the countries on the Island of Drag'os in more than a nominal fashion.

=== Unification of Ralgon (1620 - 1650) ===

=== Opening the Country (1650-1670) ===

=== Late Reign (1670-1673) ===
The reign of Nobunag'an during this period was extremely quiet, and the government was characterized by stagnation due to his extremely long reign of well over 70 years. Because democracy was limited within the embattled country, there were few offices that changed hands often enough to encourage the spread of new ideas. With the Great Swamp War still raging on, the Emperor chose to prepare for an abdication, with no idea that his lifespan was nowhere near at an end.

Eventually, he chose an obscure prince fighting on the western areas of Drag'os against some of the fiercest of the great swamp creatures, including the greatly feared lightning dragons. His name was [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro]], one of the Emperor's favorites when the then-young man was still in his youth. They had parted under amicable terms, with the prince enlisting in the army to fight against the more fierce elements of the Great Swamp and the Badlands, where he eventually became particularly well-known for his unusually daring exploits against the larger, much more powerful lightning dragons that continually posed an existential threat to the then-western heartland in southern Drag'os.

=== Post-Abdication (1673-1704) ===

The post-abdication life of Nobunag'an IV initially saw a period of quiet, despite events befalling the Ralgon Empire in his absence. During his 31-year retirement, he insistent on remaining present in the background of imperial politics, and he was often seen giving advice to the twin rulers of the country's territories (that is, Masamune I of Adrestia and the now-Emperor Shiro of Ralgon). Overall, the venerable leader took a much less front-facing role in politics during his long retirement, preferring to allow younger generations to make decisions in his stead. That said, however, he was a secretly unifying force during the long periods of crisis the Ralgon state went through, and he is credited by historians studying this period as having saved Emperor Shiro's rule during his darkest hours.

Instead of acting as a ruler, he instead filled the capacity of an extremely influential, domestic diplomat and mediator between Ralgon's internal rulers, helping preserve the country's unity behind the scenes in the wake of the [[Ralgon Civil War]] in 1685. Later the next year, his relatively unexpected [[Visit of Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon to Daocheng|visit to Daocheng]] resulted in deepened relations between Ralgon and [[Jingdao]] -- an alliance that would continue to bear fruit during the hard times Ralgon went through during 1686 through 1689. The close bonds forged between the two countries lasted until their respective transformations at the turn of the 18th Century AN.

During his free time, the emperor emeritus took up residence in [[Gondolin]], the capital city of Adrestia. Taking advantage of the city's considerable wealth and rapid development, he aided in the region's transformation from a mere playground of the wealthy into a large, metropolitan center of power that enjoyed freedom from many of the demographic and political challenges perpetually faced by mainland Ralgon's cities (notably Glacier City). During the lifetime of the young Masamune II, the Emperor took to attempting to educating him after his father's sudden, unexplained abdication and disappearance from the country. (In his words privately to Nobunag'an, he was "going on an adventure" and had grown tired of rule, and felt confident in his 20-year-old son's ability to govern.) The Emperor also mentored Masamune II's child, (posthumously named Masamune III), who still lived a rough life and ended up being executed for treason before seeing his child, Masamune IV (now [[Emperor Anarion]]).

For the Emperor's 125th birthday (a truly astounding age to reach for Ralgonese people), he plans to make state visits throughout Micras and foster strong relations between Ralgon and other countries. However, such a grand tour never came about due to political troubles at home. Instead, he toured select destinations and resumed work in his capacity as a nonpartisan political voice in the struggling empire. In 1690, he moved his primary residence to the capital of [[Adrestia]] to spend more time with his favorite distaff descendant, his great-grandson Prince Masamune II -- who had often spent much time around the Emperor Emeritus as a child and the years immediately preceding his coronation as Prince after the former's abdication. He cultivated a strong relationship with the descendants of the Prince, most notably Masamune IV, who reigns as [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]].

Nobunag'an IV played only a background role in the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] that erupted in the political chaos that followed the death of his grandson [[Shiro I of Ralgon]]. Instead of immersing himself in the politics of the time and taking sides between his now-distant descendants (despite his close personal rapport with several of them), he chose to leave the country and take on a sort of self-imposed exile, ostensibly for medical treatment for age-related issues. By this point, it was clear that Nobunag'an was going to live for quite a while longer, despite the fact that he was already one of the oldest recorded Ralgonese to ever have lived, having been born in far harder times for his people in terms of the extreme variety in causes for mortality.

=== Post-Ralgon (1706-) ===

After a brief period of travel within the newly minted [[Imperial Federation]] following its victory in the recent war, Nobunag'an embarked on another long-term, international trip to lend his very long years of wisdom to the new government's interests abroad. His first and primary destination was the nearby [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]], a new ally following the accession of the Imperial Federation into the [[Raspur Pact]]. Using his honorary post as "Chief Ambassador", the Emperor Emeritus has effective ability to travel all over Micras and, in addition to seeking treatment to stave off the aging process, enhance the standing of his great-great-great-grandson's government. During Valora's ten-year independence, he was also the only official from the [[Raspur Pact]] allowed to visit [[Valora]] completely free of visas or similar documents, thanks to his near-worshipped status within the Ralgonese spheres of influence around Micras. In circles in [[Tiegang]] and other Ralgonese diasporas, he is venerated as something akin to a minor god by the Adrestian community living there.

Since the formation of the Imperial Federation, the Emperor Emeritus continued to enjoy extremely high status throughout the Ralgonese world, with the youthful Emperor [[Anarion]] (Nobunag'an 6th-generation descendant) seeming far more attentive to the venerable man's words than his late father, who would likely have plunged the Empire into chaos due to reckless behavior.

== Political Beliefs ==
The Emperor Emeritus is one of the founders and leading members of the [[Draconic Humanism]] movement, itself an offshoot of sorts of the [[Humanist Movement]] based in Benacia. Having the status as one of the oldest Ralgonese ever recorded, Nobunag'an is a political force to be reckoned with in the Imperial Federation. Before {{AN|1715}}, almost no major policy submitted for the Emperor [[Anarion|Anarion's]] signature failed to pass in front of his desk for at least tacit approval before being enacted throughout the Empire. His influence within the halls of power still continues even as he continues to grow older and more respected as a non-ruling figure within the bounds of the now-sprawling empire. However, he is not the nation's Archon, as he preferred other roles, instead ostensibly passing the title onto the ruling [[Emperor Anarion]]. During the Regency Period under Duke Nikamura Hawkins of Gondolin, however, he nonetheless exercised many of those powers due to his outsized influence on both the Emperor and the court at large, as well as with his status as the highest-ranking representative to any and all other members of the [[Raspur Pact]].

After 1715, he stepped into a more active role in proposing policies of his own, none of which failed to garner the current Emperor Anarion's signature due to the latter's hero worship of the former. As Nobunag'an realized that his aging had essentially stopped (and, perhaps, even reversed to a small degree), he slowly stepped into active politics, acting as the man to see when an international actor wanted the Imperial Federation's support on some foreign project, intervention, or other major commitment. It was clear by {{AN|1740}} that he was one of the few Ralgonese "immortals" in existence, but he was hesitant to share this privilege with everyone due to the likely ramifications of a potentially immortal population springing up out of nowhere.

The Emperor Emeritus, by practice, usually exercises moderate policies, tempering national interests with pragmatic diplomacy abroad. While Nobunag'an could be considered an idealist, he is one whose own national goals have already been met to the letter, and thus has turned sights inwards towards the improvement of the state through policy rather than territorial expansion and raw military might.

== Notable Descendants ==

Known in certain circles as the "Great Ancestor," the Emperor Emeritus is by far the longest-lived monarch in Ralgonese history. His direct descendants have continuously ruled the Ralgonese states since his abdication in {{AN|1673}}, and (as of {{AN|1734}}) he has lived to see descendants out to the 9th generation -- a feat shared only by less than 5 other people in Ralgonese history and no other monarch or member of the nobility. The Emperor Emeritus is estimated to have close to 200 descendants, not including those who count descent by marriage or adoption. The below names in bold represents notable descendants of his, most being rulers of their respective countries or territories.

Due to his extreme age, the law was changed in {{AN|1719}} that again re-incorporated him and specific successors back into the Imperial line of succession, as he was now more than 5 generations removed from the throne, yet had both formerly held it and still openly maintained the vigor of someone scarcely past middle age, despite his venerable appearance. As of {{AN|1746}}, he married 47 years after the passing of his 8th spouse, Yukino Chuujiwara (died {{AN|1699}}), having outlived all of them.

=== Main line ===
<hr />

This is the main line of descendants from Nobunag'an's royal, then imperial, family. Given that Nobunag'an has survived 8 spouses and recently married a 9th as of {{AN|1746}}, multiple lineages exist that descend directly from him. One cadet branch suffered a clean break into regional branches following the events of the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], in which the leadership of the Imperial Family was called into question in the early 1700's AN following [[Shiro's death|Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1704}}. A resulting war was fought to determine both the selection and determination over who would be the next Ralgon Emperor. According to ancient Ralgonese traditions, any current Emperor of Ralgon (or, prior to {{AN|1673}} the King) would need to be directly descended within three generations of the any current or deceased Ralgon Emperor, regardless of the length of their respective reigns. However, Nobunag'an's extreme longevity made following the tradition impossible for several generations until Emperor [[Anarion]] not only took the throne but sired an incredible twenty-five children of his own by the late 1730's AN.

Eventually, rules were set into place c.{{AN|1668}} that also included the direct descendants (by blood only) of ''current or living'' Emperors (in the event of an Emperor's abdication due to age). Due to the near-extinction of immediately qualifying candidates at one point or another due to war or infighting, the list necessarily included, for a time, any claimant be descended directly from the current Emperor more than three generations away due to Nobunag'an's incredible longevity and outliving most of his children by the time of his abdication in {{AN|1673}}. The laws remain in place should less than eleven claimants exist that are descended less than 3 generations away -- but this was immediately outmoded when Emperor [[Anarion]] not only took the throne but sired an incredible twenty-five children of his own by the late 1730's AN.

By the time Nobunag'an celebrated his platinum jubilee in {{AN|1665}}, he had long noticed that he was showing signs of aging extremely slowly, and chose to pass reforms before he inevitably vacated the throne, to prevent the onset of stagnation within the [[Ralgon]] state (which, unfortunately, had already set in place). He eventually abdicated in {{AN|1673}} to prevent his grandchildren from aging too much before they contested the throne. After this action, the Imperial line continued as before due to the fact that, despite his succession by a grandson, he was still a living Emperor and thus able to maintain the Imperial Line in the event the current Emperor did not survive long enough to produce capable heirs to the throne.

The Imperial Line before the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] is listed below. Note that, for purposes of claiming princely titles within the vintage Ralgonese tradition, the old laws still apply. However, for imperial succession under the [[Imperial Federation|Imperial Federation's]] laws, those within the ruling Imperial Line automatically take precedence unless the line becomes extinct. Currently, there are six branches of Nobunag'an's own multiple lines of progeny, four of which are well-documented: The Adrestia line (currently the ruling house), the Ralgon line (ending with [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], the Valora Line, and the Wythe Line.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- married 8 times, had issue with 5. (All spouses died from age and other natural causes, without having divorced). Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the last being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}).
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died unmarried and without issue of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** Several descendants of little note.
*** Prince Benimaru Ral VII little is known of this person's history, as he kept his few notable accomplishments to himself and rarely spoke with others. The younger brother of [[Draeg'ar Ral X]].
**** Prince [[Benimaru Ral VIII]], Prince of [[Valora]] Took over as titular Prince of Valora in {{AN|1715}} after the Imperial Federation's victory after the [[Conquest of Valora]]. Otherwise, known as a ruler of modest tastes and disliking pomp and circumstance, preferring to lead a quiet life.
** Dalgar'on Ral (♂ {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1635}} -- m. ??? (♂ {{AN|1602}}-{{AN|1660}} Killed in battle in the [[Great Swamp]] during an expedition. Had one child late in life to a younger spouse. Spouse never remarried.
*** [[Draeg'ar Ral IX & I|Draeg'ar Ral IX]], Crown Prince of Ralgon; Emperor of [[Holy Ralgon State of Valora|Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1715}}/{{AN|1720}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Anarion]]. Reigned over the unstable rump nation of [[Holy Ralgon State of Valora|Valora]], further reduced to [[South Valora]] after the [[Conquest of Valora]] by his archnemeses. He abdicated the rulership of South Valora to his son in {{AN|1720}}.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral X]], Prince of South Valora; (♂ {{AN|1707}}-; r. {{AN|1720}}), betrothed to [[Mondosphere]] royalty A child of his father's old age, Draeg'ar X was crowned as Prince of South Valora at the tender age of 13 to be trained in effective leadership by his old father in a bid to continue the family's bid for legitimacy in their remaining territory.
**Benimaru Ral IV, Prince of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}; Benimaru's mother was Princess Rani Nixtorm of [[Nixtorm]] (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}), King Nobunag'an's first wife. He never took the throne, and died of natural causes.)
***Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1640}}-{{AN|1685}}?; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1685}}) Founder of the [[House of Adrestia]]. Abdicated in favor of a young son to assist [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in his wars. Went missing in action during the [[Ralgon Civil War]] of unknown causes in {{AN|1685}}; presumed dead. Had issue. He is rumored to have other sons and grandsons living on exile, particularly on [[Bomei Island]].
****'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1661}}-; r. {{AN|1685}}-{{AN|1701}})''' Prince Masamune II died of wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 during a coup attempt by his son Masamune III, at the hands of a close confidant. Had issue.
*****Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1701}}) Masamune III was executed for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was poisoned not long after their only son was born.)
******'''Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' The young prince was later crowned [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] (r. {{AN|1706}}-). Married [[Qasima Cakar]] in {{AN|1720}}.
*******''Twenty-five children as of {{AN|1746}}; see: [[Anarion]] for further details.''
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Ralgon|Ralgonese]] Line ===
<hr />
The Imperial Line before the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] is listed below.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''', m. Mikasa Valeris (♀ {{AN|15??}}-{{AN|1649}})

 Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the last being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}).
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died unmarried and without issue of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** Several descendants of little note.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Adrestia]] Line ===
<hr />
The greater Ralgon line's leadership ostensibly passed to the young, {{AgeAN|1701|1705}} year-old Masamune IV of Adrestia after death of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]]. However, this claim was disputed during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]], which ultimately sundered the line into different, regional branches each with their own head. The Imperial Federation's current ruling branch was formally founded upon Masamune's ascension to the throne of the new [[Imperial Federation]] in {{AN|1706}} as [[Emperor Anarion]].

As the Prince is the only surviving descendant of his late grandfather, [[Masamune II]], he is the only member of the Imperial Family in this branch. As such, his family tree directly reflects the [[Adrestia]] Line:

{{Tree list}}
*'''Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1680}})'''
**'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Prince Masamune dies of wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 by his son Masamune III.
***Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}) Masamune III was executed for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was poisoned not long after their only son was born.)
****'''Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-), m. [[Qasima Cakar]] {{AN|1720}}''' The young prince was later crowned as [[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] in {{AN|1706}}, formally taking power in {{AN|1726}} after extensive education overseas. 
*****Twenty-five children as of {{AN|1746}}; see: [[Anarion]] for further details.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Valora]] Line ===
<hr />
The new Imperial line in Valora eventually branched into the new [[House of Valora]] following the integration of the various descendants of the two houses living in the region by Emperor [[Draeg'ar Ral]]. Having secured much of Ralgonese-controlled mainland Cibola (outside of [[Nova Victoria]]), the new rulers in Valora and New Ralgon consolidated the region under a single banner. The so-called Valora Line is descended through Nobunag'an's marriage with Princess Rani Nixtorm (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}, m. 1594), herself the daughter of a Ralgonese daimyo in [[Nixtorm]]'s old territory on [[Drag'os]].

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- m. Princess Rani Nixtorm (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1610}}, m. {{AN|1594}}), Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation. His first marriage was to the daughter of a daimyo of [[Nixtorm]] named Rani Nixtorm. Had several marriages, with the last ending in {{AN|1689}}.
**
*** Dalgar'on Ral (♂ {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1635}} -- m. ??? (♂ {{AN|1602}}-{{AN|1660}} Killed in battle in the [[Great Swamp]] during an expedition. Had one child late in life to a younger spouse. Spouse never remarried.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral|Draeg'ar Ral IX]], Crown Prince of Ralgon; Emperor of [[Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1715}};{{AN|1720}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Served as one of the Crown Princes of the Ralgonese state. Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Emperor Anarion]]. He reigned over Ralgonese territory on mainland Cibola, named [[Valora]], in concert with local rulers, starting his own Imperial line of succession there under the [[House of Valora]]. The territory was [[Conquest of Valora|conquered]], and became king over a rump state. He only married very late in life, and had a son in his old age during this time, passing the throne in {{AN|1720}} and chairing the regency council. He retired from public life at the age of 99 following the new king's assumption of power in {{AN|1734}}..
***** [[Draeg'ar Ral X]], King of [[South Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1707}}-; r. {{AN|1720}}-) Draeg'ar II & X became king only at the age of 13 at the helm of a rump state. Known for his much milder disposition compared to his immediate forbears, he took power in {{AN|1732}} after a long regency headed by his mother.
{{Tree list/end}}

=== [[Wythe]] Line ===
<hr />

In {{AN|1746}}, Nobunag'an surprised the world through his marriage to the much, ''much'' younger [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]]. Their marriage -- the 9th Nobunag'an has had in his life -- has not yet produced new children. The so-called Wythe Line is the result of this union.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor Emeritus Nobunag'an IV of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- m. Princess [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] (♀ {{AN|1716}}-})
** Prince Alexander Takeshi Ral (1747– )
** Princess Gloria Megumi Ral (1748– )
** Prince Caspian Izanagi Ral (1750– )
{{Tree list/end}}

=== Others ===

Nobunag'an has many descendants in a number that is abnormal even for a Ralgonese leader of his caliber. Having married 9 times as of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, he has descendants in five of the nine marriages he has had in his very long life. These consist in turn of multiple cadet branches, and consist of upwards of 200 - 300 known individuals.

== Immortality ==

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, the man is a remarkable {{AgeAN|1564|noAN=y}} years old, making him one of the oldest living Ralgonese in the country's history, only surpassed by five other known individuals in the [[Imperial Federation]] as of {{AN|1718}}, themselves being classified as "immortals" for their own unnaturally long lifespans. Immortals in [[Ralgon]] were always very poorly documented during its own long history, with most preferring to live obscure lives due to the likelihood of abuse at the hands of local nobility or the state by officials in search of this incredibly rare gift.

Immortality is thought to be possessed by roughly one in 1 million to 1 in 10 million Ralgonese. Chances are known to rise based on ancestry. Genetic studies performed on Nobunag'an and other immortals (most of who remained anonymous and undocumented during the study) presented signs that descent from another immortal confers roughly a 1 in 1,000 chance of inheriting the same condition. It is thought that the Elvish/Elfinshi ancestry has something to do with this rare spawning of immortality within individuals.

Immortals do not typically know of the existence or chances of their own immortality until their aging begins to reverse between the ages of 70 and 80 years. Genetic testing for signs and/or odds of immortality is also an emerging science, and as such is inaccurate as of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=n}}. Furthermore, as most Ralgonese historically were killed in battle or died of natural war-related causes before that point, merely getting the chance to find out was until recently a rare occurrence. As such, most rumored/suspected immortals were women.

The limited documented evidence available to Ralgonese authorities yield likely additional benefits to descendants of immortals. Children or close-generation descendants of immortals commonly enjoy long natural lifespans, even for Ralgonese. Most likely the most notable recent example was his grandson [[Draeg'ar Ral IX]] ({{AN|1639}} - {{AN|1746}}, who is documented to live a hard life of war and conflict and still lived healthy to the age of 112 years. It is expected that children of Ralgonese immortals can expect to live healthy lives of up to 150 years. It is also suspected (although not confirmed) through genetic testing and historical records that individuals descended within 5 to 10 generations of an immortal have significantly increased (albeit still tiny) chances of eventually attaining immortality themselves.

The aging and de-aging process for immortals is extremely scarcely documented, as immortals consistently have taken on completely new identities to hide their condition from the public. It is not even known if eternal youth is the norm, or whether immortals' reversing of the aging process may only bring them to a certain point where death by natural age-related causes is still possible. However, only one documented case in recent history of the immortality process is known (that being Nobunag'an), with the other known immortals being persons of obscure origin who had merely thought they got lucky in their old age until they realized only long after what had happened.

In Nobunag'an, genetic tests show that his aging began slowing near {{AN|1640}}, not long before his 76th birthday, and had already stopped completely near {{AN|1665}}, giving him appearance of being in his late 70's when he was already 109 years old. When he quietly celebrated his 140th birthday in {{AN|1704}}, his aging had slowly reversed to the point where he appeared in his late 60's, and enough vigor had returned to support his descendants in the Adrestian branch of the extended Ral dynasty in the wake of [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Emperor Shiro Ral's]] final illness. By this point, Nobunag'an's age-reversal process was well-documented, and by his 180th birthday in {{AN|1744}}, he had finally taken on the appearance of a middle-aged man in his 40's, and felt even stronger than he was in his prime over a century prior. This slow progression allowed him to also restore his former physique, enough to allow him to find decent prospects for marriage -- which he finally accomplished in {{AN|1746}} after 47 years after surviving his prior spouse, through his marriage to the [[Shireroth|Shirerithian]] [[prince of Shireroth|princess]] and [[Lady of the Holy Lakes]] [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]].

Genetic scientists are now waiting to see if this reversal of the aging process also restored the likely immortal's virility. As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}}, this union has not produced further descendants to add to Nobunag'an's many progeny.

== See Also ==

[[wikipedia:Heb Sed|Heb Sed]] (Real-world ceremony held in Ancient Egypt)

{{Imperial Federation Nav}}

[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Living members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category: Ralgonese members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]

Anarion

2026-06-29T11:24:55Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}{{Hurmu article}}{{Woodrow Article}}
{{Hurmu Senator
|fullname = Anarion Masamune Sasuke Benimaru von Adrestia
|image = Anarion the Great.png
|image-2 = Imperial Federation CoA 1.png
|Tenurebegins = 1.I.{{AN|1746}}
|Tenureends = 24.VII.{{AN|1751}} ({{AgeAN|1746|1751}})
|positions = Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]
|senate = [[Fourteenth Senate|XIV]]
|elected = [[1745 Senate of the Lakes election|1745]]
|faction = [[Draconic Humanist List|Draconic Humanist]]
|OHLline =
|comment =
|gender =
|Race = Ralgonese
|species =
|hairstyle =
|eyecolour =
|skincolour =
|other =
|father = Prince Masamune III
|mother =
|spouse = [[Qasima Çakar]]
|children = 25 (see below)
|birthdate = 1701 ({{AgeAN|1701}})
|birthplace =
|deathdate =
|deathplace =
|}}

'''Anarion''' is the current Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]. Known as "The Great" since {{AN|1734}} within the Imperial Federation, the Emperor has presided over a near-uninterrupted period of explosive population growth, empire-wide infrastructure development, and booming economy, even during such hard times as the [[Recession of 1737]].

Known as a (mostly) just and fair ruler, Emperor Anarion has been known to act with a fair hand toward the Empire's many territories, Ralgonese or otherwise. This was most recently demonstrated by his decision in {{AN|1757}} to honor a referendum in which the [[Treaty concerning the Transfer of Kita-Mylecia|Geneva Autonomous Region]] chose to depart the Imperial Federation and join with [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]]. On the other hand, his eccentricities are [[Incidents at the Imperial Court|known to the public]], right alongside most of his considerable group of progeny.

Within the [[Imperial Federation]], Anarion exercises strong executive and judicial control within the Empire, while preferring to leave legislative affairs with the Imperial Senate and the newly formed Parliament. Day-to-day executive affairs have increasingly been delegated to a highly-trained Cabinet-type group of ministers within the Imperial Court. Under his tenure, the Ralgonese as part of the Imperial Federation reached its greatest extent in history in both territory and population. Anarion's reign of {{AgeAN|1705|noAN=y}} is already unmatched by nearly every Ralgonese ruler before him except for [[Nobunag'an IV]] of the erstwhile [[Holy Ralgon Empire]]. Near the end of {{AN|1758}}, Anarion became the ruler with the second-longest reliably documented reign in Ralgonese history with 53 years. Only counting his personal rule, he already surpassed his predecessor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro of Ralgon's]] rule of {{AgeAN|1673|1705}} in {{AN|1757}}.

Within [[Hurmu]], Anarion was elected to the [[Senate of the Lakes]] for the [[Draconic Humanist List]] in the [[1745 Senate of the Lakes election]]. He served as an active Senator for 6 years, then stood for re-election in the [[1751 Senate of the Lakes election|1751 election]] at the second position of the list, but was not re-elected. He was succeeded in that seat by [[Nobunag'an|Emperor Emeritus Nobunag'an]].

== Biography ==

=== Early Life & Regency ===

Born in {{AN|1701}} as '''Anarion Masamune Sasuke Benimaru von Adrestia''' and initially crowned as Prince Masamune IV, he is a direct descendant of [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]] via the House of Ral and its cadet branch, the House of Adrestia, founded in 1675 by Prince Masamune I. Having taken the throne in {{AN|1705}} just before his fourth birthday, his entire reign until his 21st birthday was under the regency of the Hawkins Family, the Dukes of Gondolin, acting on the advice and consent of the Imperial Senate.

While the Emperor was able to exercise soft power over time during the Regency due to his status, this was blunted by his eccentric personality combined with his chaos-inducing antics at court. While this posed constant headache to the Court, the reality was that the vast majority of the child Emperor's stunts were meant only as a minor nuisance. In efforts to curb a few of his more unorthodox hobbies, the Regency Council redoubled efforts to acquire a suitable bride, ideally before he could finish university studies abroad and subsequently take the throne in his own right. Thus it was that, On 12.II.1720, he [[Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar|married]] [[Qasima Çakar]]. As such, he automatically became a [[Knight of the Holy Lakes]]. The Emperor continued to study abroad until {{AN|1726}}, earning a master's degree in international relations at [[Metzler University]] in [[Shireroth]]. Shortly upon graduation, he returned home to assume power as the Emperor on the last month of that year, granting the country its first full-fledged monarch since the death of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] a quarter-century earlier.

=== Early Reign ({{AN|1726}}-{{AN|1740}}) ===

{{WIP}}

=== Height of Power ({{AN|1740}}-{{AN|1760}}) ===

{{WIP}}

== Personality ==

The eccentric personality of the Emperor was already a known quantity during the Regency, and it was hoped that a combination of age and the duties of matrimony would considerably abate these tendencies. While he was indeed kept busy with his imperial duties and truly extraordinary number of children (which at once caused awe and panic in the Court), this not only failed to blunt the Emperor's love of unusual antics and creative spirit, but the reverse instead happened. Despite having most of his children watched very closely by a constantly increasing assortment of nurses and governesses, the Emperor's children took on their father's eccentric streak and, eventually, triggered a feedback loop that resulted in well-known [[incidents at the Imperial Court]].

While the Emperor was no slouch in his duties, and instead contributed to unprecedented prosperity in the Empire, it still came at the cost of many courtiers' sanity. Many were made to deal with the increasingly creative nuisances that the imperial family were constantly engineering, ranging from (convincingly realistic) fake vermin running about chaotically at court to the Emperor's occasional tendencies to deliberately host mad scientists with bizarre experiments at Court sessions. Although the Emperor did possess a sadistic streak in punishing the harshest criminals to appear before his person, it was deemed something of a divine gift that this proclivity did not extend to tormenting the commonfolk outside of the Palace. (In fact, it was widely remarked that his many children were perfectly behaved nearly everywhere but the palace grounds.)

== Family ==

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, Emperor Anarion is {{AgeAN|1701|noAN=y}} years old. He has a truly extraordinary number of children, with twenty-five known progeny by his wife, [[Qasima Çakar]] by {{AN|1738}}. All of these children are ostensibly eligible to contest the throne under Imperial Federation law upon the vacancy of the throne, but elections are due to be held during that time -- the first such contest set to happen in centuries. The eldest is a boy, being a fraternal twin with a sister, born in {{AN|1728}}. A third child, a boy, was born on {{AN|1730}}, and a fourth child, a girl, was born in {{AN|1731}}, followed by another boy at the end of that same year. In {{AN|1734}}, the Emperor and his wife welcomed a rare set of sextuplets into the family. The birth of the eleventh child in any family was a sacred moment to any Ralgonese due to religious principles, and so the occasion was declared a national holiday. The next year saw a set of septuplets born to the family, much to the concern (if not dismay) of the Imperial Court, given the already-eccentric personalities of the existing children. By {{AN|1738}}, he and his wife marked the birth of their 25th child, part of a set of triplets. Due to the physical toll that delivering so many progeny had on the Empress, they decided to have no more children directly through their union. It was further agreed that, should Anarion be permitted to sire any further progeny, they would only be legitimized solely through both the Empress's written consent, and only then on Imperial decree on the consent of the Imperial Senate. As of {{AN|1757}}, however, such a question was never seriously brought up, and the Emperor has had no other known paramours, never mind illegitimate children.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}}, Anarion is still looking forward to a veritable army of grandchildren. And few within the Imperial Court's inner circle are looking forward to it.

== Titles ==

Anarion was given the epithet "The Great" by the [[Imperial Senate]] in {{AN|1740}}, the only Ralgonese ruler given such a designation since {{AN|1450}} during a rare victorious phase of the [[Great Swamp War]]. He was also given the epithet "Beloved of Th'ror" in {{AN|1755}}, on the 50th jubilee of his reign. At the end of the Regency in {{AN|1726}}, he was given the ceremonial title *''Defender of the Senate and Peoples of the Imperial Federation''" and "''Defender of the [[Draconic|Draconic Faith]]''." As Emperor of the Imperial Federation, he is also the "''Guardian of the [[Glacier City|Glacier Mountain]]''", Head of the House of Adrestia, and Great Chieftain of the House of Ral.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, Anarion currently holds the following functional titles. If he gained or otherwise received those titles after the definitive end of the [[Conquest of Valora|Imperial Federation's civil conflict]] in {{AN|1715}}, the date will be listed.

'''As Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]:'''
 Primary titles:

*King of the [[Adrestia|Realm of Adrestia]]
**Sovereign Prince of [[Gondolin]]
**Lord Paramount of the [[Nixtorm|Dominions of Nixtorm]]
**Lord Protector of [[Blore Heath]] ({{AN|1728}})
**King of [[Eriador]]
**Prince of [[Realm of Alphaville|Alphaville]]
*Emperor of all [[Ralgon|Ralgons]]
**Supreme Overlord of [[Drag'os]]
**King of [[Stormhold]]
**King of the [[Scarterra|Two Scarterras]]
**High King of [[Valora]]
**King of [[Tar-Palantir]]
**Prince of [[Nova Victoria]] ({{AN|1756}})
*Sovereign Prince of [[Haifa]] ({{AN|1728}})
**Protector of the City of [[Abeis]] ({{AN|1737}})
**Guardian of the [[Straits of Haifa|Southern Straits]] ({{AN|1737}})
*High King of [[Eternia|the Eternian States]] ({{AN|1733}})

Secondary titles: 
*Sovereign Prince of [[Beihagh]] ({{AN|1740}})
*Guardian of the [[Mala|Mala First Nations]] ({{AN|1732}} & {{AN|1754}})
*Overlord of [[Dromosker Island]] & Great Chief of the [[Askerr]] ({{AN|1757}})
*Overlord of [[Anzu-Nergal]] ({{AN|1758}})
*Lord of the Dominions Beyond the Seas

'''As part of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]:'''
*Knight of the Order of the Holy Lakes ({{AN|1720}})
*Former [[Senator of the Lakes]] ({{AN|1745}}-{{AN|1751}}
*Overlord of [[Anzu-Nergal]] ({{AN|1758}})

== Ancestry ==

While this is an incomplete list, this is the one official genealogists use in determining rights to succession, specific forms of nobility, and connection to the Imperial Household, both in Adrestia and within the greater empire.
Reigning monarchs in bold.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon|Nobunag'an IV]] of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- married 8 times, had issue with 5. (All spouses died from age and other natural causes, without having divorced). Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the penultimate being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}), and the last one, [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] ({{AN|1716}}, m. {{AN|1746}})
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** WIP
*** Several descendants of little note.
** WIP
*** [[Draeg'ar Ral IX|Draeg'ar Ral I & IX]], Crown Prince Draeg'ar XXIV & IX of Ralgon; later became Emperor Draeg'ar I of [[Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1718}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Emperor Anarion]]. He reigned over the rump state of [[Valora]] in concert with local rulers, until the country was conquered and partitioned between the [[Imeperial Federation]] and the [[Mondosphere]]. He spent the rest of his life in obscurity.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral X|Draeg'ar II & X]], Prince of South Valora (♂ {{AN|1710}}-; r. {{AN|1718}}-) Prince Draeg'ar II took the throne from his 84-year-old father as his only son from this marriage late in life to a much younger woman. He is seen as a puppet of [[Mondo]], who rules [[South Valora]] following its partition after the Imperial Federation's [[Conquest of Valora]].
**Benimaru Ral IV, Prince of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}; Benimaru's mother was Princess Rani of [[Nixtorm]] (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1649}}), King Nobunag'an's first wife. Although a successful career soldier, he lived in relative obscurity. He never took the throne, and died of natural causes.)
*** (three other children)
***Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1624}}-; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1680}}) 
****'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1664}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Crowned King in 1680, he oversaw a massive expansion of his realm. Prince Masamune died of complications from wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 by his son Masamune III, outliving [[Shiro]] by only a few days.
***** (two other children)
*****Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1701}}) Masamune III was executed at the age of 21 for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was imprisoned for life on [[Devil's Island]] as soon as their only son was born.)
******'''[[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' Known initially as Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]], he was later crowned Emperor during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]]. Married [[Qasima Çakar]] of [[Çakaristan]] (♀ {{AN|1701}} - ) in {{AN|1720}}, acquiring knighthood in the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]. He has an impressive number of natural-born children with his wife: 18 in total, as of {{AN|1734}}.

== Family and Descendants ==

Emperor Anarion had an impressive 25 children in {{AN|1734}} by his wife [[Qasima Çakar]], who he married in {{AN|1720}}. They stopped delivering more progeny after {{AN|1738}} due to the physical toll of delivering so many children. His legitimate progeny and current house is listed below.

{{Tree list}}
*'''[[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' Married [[Qasima Çakar]] of [[Çakaristan]] (♀ {{AN|1701}} - ) in {{AN|1720}}. Known initially as Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]], he was later crowned Emperor during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]]. Acquired knighthood in the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] by marriage. Had 25 legitimate children from this marriage by the end of {{AN|1738}}.
** [[Masamune V|Prince Masamune Takeshi Celeborn]] (♂ {{AN|1728}} -) Known officially as Prince Masamune V of [[Adrestia]], he was born minutes before his twin sister, taking his name from diverse cultures in the empire, and after his still-living ancestor, [[Nobunag'an]]. To the dismay of the court, he and his twin sister share their father's fondness for oddities, although his interests are more macabre. He's taken to love fire more than the court would otherwise like. Far more than the court would otherwise like. Attended the [[Peace Academy]] with his sister Mariko from {{AN|1746}} to {{AN|1750}}.
** Princess Mariko Luthien (♀ {{AN|1728}} -) Born minutes after her twin brother, taking her name from diverse cultures in the empire. To the dismay of the court, both she and her older brother share their father's fondness for oddities. While little else is known, what is clear from insider sources is that she has taken a rather excessive interest in the carnivorous plants. Attended the [[Peace Academy]] with her brother Masamune from {{AN|1746}} to {{AN|1750}}.
** Prince Dalgar'on Hikaru Elent'ar (♂ {{AN|1730}} He is one of the few to share a name with past reigning monarchs, yet not be assigned the traditional numeral with his princely name. Has not yet made any public appearance.
** Princess Lianna Toshiko (♀ {{AN|1731}} - ) One of the few to ever take a non-Ralgonese name in the Imperial Household. Sent with her brother, Chidao, to [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] in {{AN|1740}} during her childhood to receive a world-class education in that country, under the guardianship of [[Nobunag'an IV]].
** Prince Ieyasu Chidao Turg'on (♂ {{AN|1731}} - ) Born in [[Glacier City]], named partly after the [[Chidao Emperor]]. Sent with his sister, Lianna, to [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] in {{AN|1740}} during his childhood to receive a world-class education in that country, under the guardianship of [[Nobunag'an IV]].
** Princess Takara Yavan'na (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) First of a set of sextuplets.
** Princess Mako Nien'na (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Second of a set of sextuplets.
** Princess Kaguya Meli'as (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Third of a set of sextuplets.
** Prince Takaharu Fing'on (♂ {{AN|1733}} - ) Fourth of a set of sextuplets.
** Prince Satoshi Ayreon Mand'os --- (♂ {{AN|1733}} - ) Fifth of a set of sextuplets. One of the few to be given a non-Ralgonese name. Named partly after [[Kaiser Ayreon IV]].
** Princess Noriko Ra'ni (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Sixth of a set of sextuplets. Was given an older Ralgonese name, after a legendary woman warrior.
** Prince Tadakatsu Maeg'or (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) First of a set of septuplets. Named after ancient Ralgonese and Menelmacari heroes.
** Princess Masako Nien'na (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Second of a set of septuplets. Named after a previous queen of [[Ralgon]]
** Prince Shinzo Fean'or (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Third of a set of septuplets. Named after a mythical king of [[Menelmacar]].
** Princess Yasuko Tsubaki (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Fourth of a set of septuplets. Named after a quasi-legendary female warrior who supposedly lived in the Ralgonese Dark Ages.
** Princess Yoko Miri'na (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Fifth of a set of septuplets.
** Prince Kenshiro Sind'ar (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Sixth of a set of septuplets. Named after a semi-legendary sailor.
** Prince Balaeri'on Musashi (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Seventh of a set of septuplets. Named after a previous king of [[Ralgon]].
** Prince Azul'on Toshiie (♂ {{AN|1735}} - ) The elder of two twins (M/M). Named after a previous king of [[Ralgon]].
** Prince Valac'ar Shiro (♂ {{AN|1735}} - ) The younger of two twins (M/M). Named after Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], but is always answers to Valac'ar.
** Princess Matsu Ancalin'ai (♀ {{AN|1737}} - ) The elder of two twins (F/M).
** Prince Hiruzen Ancalag'on (♂ {{AN|1737}} - ) The younger of two twins (F/M). Named after a semi-mythical warrior from ancient Zamma.
** Princess Shuna Mir'ai (♀ {{AN|1738}} - ) First of a set of triplets. Her name is rumored to come from an altered form of an ancient word meaning "reflecting light."
** Princess Toshi Ilien (♀ {{AN|1738}} - ) Second of a set of triplets. Her name comes from one of several ancient Ralgonese words meaning "moon."
** Prince Katsumoto Elend'ar (♂ {{AN|1738}} - ) Third of a set of triplets. Named after an ancient hero.

[[Category:people]]
[[Category:Living members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category: Ralgonese members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category:Metzler University Alumni]]

{{Imperial Federation Nav}}

Dromosker Island (Imperial Federation)

2026-06-29T10:23:37Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{subdivision |
image_flag = |
subdivision = The Principality of Dromosker Island [[Image:Eriador_1757.png]] |
status = Territory of the [[Imperial Federation]] |
capital = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
largecity = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
population = ~750,000 ({{AN|1750}})|
title = Prince |
government = Semi-Tribal Monarchy (executive/judicial) Ruling Council (executive) National Senate (legislative) |
leader = Prince Vlad Tepesh (regnal name: Eru IV) 2nd Prince of Dromosker Island 5th Gal-Lugal of the [[Askerr]] |
language = [[Askerr]], [[Istvanistani language|Common Tongue]]; Alexandrian (minority); Ralgonese (minority) |
religion = Folk religions (majority); [[Umraism]] (minority); [[Draconic]] (minority)|
}}
The '''Principality of Dromosker''' is an island country newly situated in the [[Eriador|Isles of Eriador]]. Formerly situated in the eastern fringe of the [[Skerry Isles]], the island and nearly its entire population were relocated to a fertile but uninhabited island deep in [[Imperial Federation]] territory in {{AN|1757}} in the aftermath of the island's anarchy, devastation, and subsequent relocation to a far-off area that was completed before the end of the following year. The area left behind, devoid of its original features, was annexed by [[Constancia]] in the aftermath while reverting to an older name.

Despite the relocation, the new island is still known to be the traditional home of tribes historically practicing anthropophagy, who are collectively known as the [[Askerr]] of Dromosker Island. On the old island, this practice was greatly diminished and carefully managed following the natives' defeat at the hands of their new overlords in the [[Askerr War]] of {{AN|1690}}. Life on the island transformed under the House Tepesh, which declared the island a Principality in {{AN|1730}}. Nominal Hexarchy rule lasted for nearly 68 years before the island fell into anarchy and relocated in {{AN|1758}} to its present location, following a series of apocalyptic disasters that essentially destroyed the island.

In times past, the old island played host to [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island went to Jingdao as a gift by the same man in {{AN|1629}}. It remained in Jing hands until {{AN|1686}}, and was then briefly held by [[Barbary]] until it collapsed in {{AN|1688}}. After that, it was occupied by colonists from [[The Hexarchy]], who fought the brutal, two-year long [[Askerr War]] in {{AN|1690}} with the natives over control over the island before establishing the city of [[Imarru-Lugal]] (itself also the capital of the new island). The island's government was dependent on military support for its continued rule over the next 68 years, although it this ended the same way it began: blood, fire, and mass movement to an unfamiliar place.

Post-relocation, the new island's government, having kept the same name, now fell under the authority of the [[Eriador|Isles of Eriador]]. Although loss of life in the immediate months before the relocation was cataclysmic, both the Askerr and settler community managed to survive mostly intact, and saw greater mingling in subsequent years. Many traditionally-minded Askerr still practice their old ways on the new Dromosker Island's wild, inaccessible interior, well away from prying eyes. Occasionally, some of the better-integrated Askerr warrior bands are sent to far-off places in search of mana and glory, under the auspices of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]], who turns a blind eye to these practices so long as stringent protocol are enforced by their captains.

(Also see [[Imarru-Lugal]] for the island's capital and primate city.)

==History==

===Early History===

===Occupation by [[Jingdao]] ({{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1690}}===

==== Maritime Republic Era {{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1688}} ====
{{main|Maritime Free Republic}}

The '''Maritime Free Republic''', also known as '''Hexiehaizei''' (Jingdaoese for: ''harmonious pirate''), or '''Dromosker Island''' is a formerly independent island nation that has been part of the [[Jingdao|Jingdaoese Empire]] from 1629 until the 1680's AN. There was also very little imperial oversight during the Jingdao occupation era. It was previously the home of [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island's subjugation by [[The Hexarchy]] in 1690 AN as a result of the [[Askerr War]]. Captain Poldark was also the person who gifted the nation to Jingdao in 1629, after having received support from the Jingdaoese Empire for some time.

In 1635 Emperor Heinrich of Jingdao, the [[Kattei Emperor]] ordered the Maritime Free Republic to build an educational institute for the troubled youth on the island. In turn Captain-General Walter Poldark promised to build the ''Emperor Heinrich Naval School for the Disadvantaged Youth''. Reports on what happened to the children, and their suspected encounters with the Askerr have always been suppressed by Jingdaoese censors and to this day nothing is known for certain about what happened to them.

=== [[Barbary]] Occupation {{AN|1688}}-{{AN|1689}} ===

In 1688 the Maritime Free Republic was transferred into the hand of the [[Barbarian Republic]] as part of a land trade between Jingdao and Barbary, where it became known as the island of the [[Gezellige Piraten]] (''cosy pirates'''). By the first month of 1690 the last of the Barbary traders had disappeared into the cooking pots of the Askerr and the natives were most recently observed to have assembled on the northern shore of the island, making beckoning gestures to the crew of a barque from the [[Hexarchy]], inviting them to come ashore - which they, somewhat incautiously, some settlers of [[Imarru-Lugal|duly did]]. This incident in turn led to the [[Askerr War]], in which the Hexarchy conquered the island by way of soldiers of fortune led by one Eru Tepesh, contrary to much of his home government's wishes.

Despite the considerable cultural changes on the island since the 1690's AN during the Hexarchy's often-violent takeover, Jing influences remain among subsets of natives to this day. For instance, the worship of the Heavenly Light in the form of a cargo cult has been largely ignored by the island's new rulers, and many of these cultural aspects have been subverted by the island's rulers to cement their control over the island's large population. Due to the relative independence of the island under both the Jing and Hexarchy, the island's local culture retained its own character for well over a century of nominal foreign rule.

=== Occupation by [[The Hexarchy]] ({{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1756}}) ===
{{main|Askerr War}}

==== Pacification & Settlement {{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1730}} ====

The modern history of the island is characterized by the occupation of [[The Hexarchy]], and the course of the island's modern politics is mostly based on the new government based out of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the city which also bears the name of the territory. Most trade between the new [[Imperial Federation]] and Hexarchian merchants passes through the island, which is used as a stopover during the long voyage from the eastern territories of Keltia to the Hexarchy proper.

Since the end of the Askerr War, events on the island are usually confined to a strictly local nature, with the status quo remaining mostly unchanged since 1691. For the first three decades of Hexarchian rule, the natives kept almost entirely to themselves. However, the occasional dragon attack was staged during the early years of the occupation against those who had clearly forgotten what their rulers' wrath feels like in the midst of localized rebellions or, more commonly, organized attacks on shipping deep in the island's interior. The scale of rebellions decreased over time, thanks to intelligently designed arrangements to turn the mana system into a source of extensive profit and long-lasting legal control by the central government.

Due to the more quiet experience people now have within the environs of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the well-provisioned and strongly defended island was then used for at least the following two decades as a proxy location for negotiations between the Hexarchy and faraway nations that aren't enamored with the mainland's unique fauna and the traditions associated with them. Due to its far-off location from the mainland and the central government's long-lasting lack of enthusiasm for a colonial empire, the island was gradually left to its own devices. Eventually, local rule became extremely independent with internal affairs.

The island increasingly asserted its independence to the degree where [[The Hexarchy]], nominally the island's suzerain, was nothing more than a rubber stamp in local affairs by the time the House of Tepesh signed the [Treaty of Portpur]] with [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1726}}. The following assertions of "autonomous rule" (independence in all but name) persisted from that point. This coincided with the decline of [[The Hexarchy]] from the late 1720's onwards. The island's near-total political independence near this point resulted in Eru Tepesh III declaring himself ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' on his ascension to the island's leadership in {{AN|1730}}.

==== Principality ({{AN|1731}}-{{AN|1756}}) ====

However, the problem of keeping the entire island pacified persisted, and worsened with the near-cutoff of Hexarchy military and financial support during its political turbulence. The island's leadership already had established partnerships with [[Çakaristan]] in keeping the surrounding waters clear of piracy. The [[Imperial Federation]] joined from {{AN|1728}} during one of its own periods of ascendancy, during which Prince Eru III (as the new Prince styled himself) allowed an Imperial Federation navy base to be built to host a large trading entrepot, bringing further defensiveness and prosperity to the capital at [[Imarru-Lugal]].

During this time, the Prince continued the family tradition of styling himself separately to the natives as "Gal-Lugal" (lit. the chief of chiefs) over the island's interior. However, the 17 years of his rule saw a slow decline in hard authority over the island's interior, while control over the coastlines accelerated thanks to domestic and foreign infrastructure. Tourism and maritime industry flourished on the island, and Dromosker became a destination for further waves of settlers seeking opportunity on the rapidly developing coastlines. Troubles with the natives of the interior persisted, however, and by {{AN|1745}} there were, once again, bands of [[Askerr]] reverting to their more bellicose nature and indiscriminately attacking people to steal their mana. A series of punitive expeditions with local forces with Ralgonese naval support temporarily pacified the island, but it was clear that House Tepesh would need further military support to exercise control over the island. These continued until Eru III's death in {{AN|1747}}, and his 38-year-old successor Prince Eru IV took over, inheriting the problems arising late in his father's reign. The first nine years of Eru IV's reign were the most challenging since his ancestor conquered the island nearly sixty years before.

With its limited force of local dragons, the strategy of dealing with rebellions from the air and keeping loyalist casualties close to zero became untenable. A series of costly campaigns were fought in the interior to punish the rebellious natives and supply loyalist Askerr with more ''mana''. This was hardly a permanent solution, though, and the steady (and noticeable) lapse in direct support and oversight from the mainland made sustainable mana both at home and abroad more difficult to obtain, as the island gradually grew politically isolated and access to military contracts gradually dried up. When the final vestiges of authority from [[The Hexarchy]] lapsed in {{AN|1756}}, it hadn't followed some announcement from the central government. Silence was the only order of the day, and forces loyal to the central government either left the island with their dragons for the mainland, or pledged loyalty to House Tepesh.

==== Fall of Dromosker Island ({{AN|1756}}-{{AN|1758}}) ====

Following confirmation that [[The Hexarchy]] had lapsed into crisis after {{AN|1756}}, assistance was requested from local [[Imperial Federation]] forces. Prince Eru IV was worried that [[Çakaristan]] would rapidly subsume his country and home-grown culture, being in proximity to other Çakari holdings in the other [[Skerry Isles]], specifically the [[Beneluccas]]. The ruling elite of the island valued Çakari partnerships, and considered the surrounding people as more-or-less friendly to their own. As economic partners, they brought prosperity to the island and the customs union under the [[Treaty of Portpur]] was highly beneficial to both sides. However, as political partners, House Tepesh feared a Çakari takeover due to both their proximity and huge disparity in size next to the island. Hindsight proved Eru IV right, although his preparations were woefully inadequate to the resulting crises that followed.

As such, an agreement was struck in late {{AN|1756}} that instead named [[Anarion]] the new overlord of Dromosker, with a title to reflect his new (nominal) dominion over the island. In exchange for ceding certain port facilities and external political rights, the island could continue as a dependency of the Imperial Federation. A Viceroy was also sent to represent the Emperor, but they never reached the island in time for further events to play out. The more excitable Askerr warriors were, furthermore, given the opportunity to join Ralgonese detachments in active zones abroad. While their mana wouldn't necessarily be supplied by humans during every fight (such as in the [[Great Swamp]] or the [[Badlands]]), the warriors would continually win honor and glory... and continue to fill the treasuries of House Tepesh beyond anything they'd ever managed while ruling the island by themselves.

Confusion followed, however. The transfer was interrupted due to lack of [[MCS]] recognition, so the [[Dromosker Island/Pact of Schaarlecht|Pact of Schaarlecht]] was struck between the [[Imperial Federation]], [[Çakaristan]], and the Dromosker Island government to salvage the situation. As soon as Ralgonese forces had left, however, the Cakari immediately repudiated the treaty. This threw the central government into a panic while, for the first time, supporting forces were absent from the island during an impending crisis. Relations between the Imperial Federation and Cakari were, for a time, completely ruptured over the incident as the Ralgonese Emperor was apocalyptic over this betrayal. The consequences for Dromosker were far more severe than a mere lover's spat between two distant rulers. Sensing the coming anarchy, much of the Raskol population erupted, killing any moving thing they saw in their path. While the population of [[Imarru-Lugal]] (Settler and Askerr alike) was generally safe, the countryside experienced a bloodbath like the island had never seen.

The scenes of death and complete anarchy in the countryside forced Prince Eru Tepesh into a campaign of annihilation against much of the interior to save [[Imarru-Lugal]] from its own destruction. While he lost nearly half his remaining dragons, the resistance was, for a time, suppressed. Large chunks of the entire island were reduced to cinders, with nothing larger than a cat able to survive in the blasted countryside. Having expended his military power to thwart both external and internal threats, the island was left scorched, and no longer able to fend for itself against the remaining populations of the island. Having lost control of the situation, he called to the Imperial Federation once more for assistance.

=== Post-Disaster ({{AN|1758}}-)===

What followed was a subject of intense debate. Prevailing accounts claim the [[Imperial Federation]] sending [[Grand Armada of the Sunfire Sea|every available ship in the region]] to rescue the situation. Other, more outlandish accounts suggest [[Spatial Displacement Disaster|a complete upending of the island]] done by the Prince solely to spite his betrayers. Whatever happened, what is known is that the island was the subject of resulting apocalyptic disasters that demanded the island's complete evacuation and the relocation of its entire population, livestock, and few remaining dragons. The chosen location sat on a large island in the [[Isles of Eriador]], which was hitherto uninhabited despite its soil's fertility and excellent location for settlement.

The resulting move took roughly a year and a half. Its capital city was quickly rebuilt, an its people were located on a large, dormant volcanic island in the [[Isles of Eriador]]. The population of [[Imarru-Lugal]] emerged relatively unscathed, as did most of the Askerr loyal to the Prince. The population outside the capital, however, experienced extreme loss of life, and few that had risen amid the killing spree survived to see themselves evacuated off their old burning rocks. The new island, possessing a similar topography with its many lakes, ravines, and rivers, was a match made in heaven for settler and native alike, and they rebuilt swiftly on the new island. The more traditionally minded Askerr retreated into the deep, inaccessible areas of the island's caldera region to resume their ancient customs -- which they could more fully indulge in whenever sent abroad by their new [[Anarion|Emperor]]. The deep interior was given to them as a reservation, with visits by tourists strictly forbidden (and solely at their own risk of being dumped into a cooking pot). The island's fertility and varied terrain allowed the Askerr people to gradually recover their prosperity, despite the loss of life and sudden relocation so far from home.

In the immediate aftermath of the Disaster (as these events came to be locally known), the [[Imperial Federation]] quickly came to assert a greater degree of control over their strategic territory in the middle of the Sunfire Sea. Long uninhabited, the island's new location in the [[Isles of Eriador]] proved a double-edged sword. While the island's government lost much of its autonomy to the government at [[Gondolin]] and the neighboring Eriadoran capital at [[Arkadi'os]], that very proximity brought prosperity to the island after it recovered from its disaster. However, the Prince lost much of his power to the Ruling Council, and was also subject to a so-called "emergency council" consisting of representatives from neighboring [[Al Hamra]] as well as the Imperial Government, along with [[Askerr]] chieftains who were customarily unrepresented in such affairs. On the other hand, the Imperial Federation now needed to deal with the recurrent problem of cannibals freshly located in their midst. Thankfully, however, they tended to keep to themselves. The only exceptions were some tribesmen picking off some random tourist that ignored the plethora of warning signs telling them to KEEP OUT because they were in DANGEROUS TERRITORY.

== Economy ==

=== Foreign Trade ===

==== Military Services ====

Thanks to the very high amount of political and military autonomy enjoyed by the island, House Tepesh has been able to raise mercenaries of its own among its military ranks to gain experience abroad. While the policy under Eru Tepesh I was to merely contain the natives, his eldest son and successor in Eru Tepesh II saw fit to harness the considerable fighting spirit of the island's large native population for more constructive purposes. Since Eru II's ascension as ruler of Dromosker (r. {{AN|1702}} - {{AN|1730}}), he instituted a military policy that employed a corps of Hexarchian officers and Dromosker natives from trusted tribes (including Askerr) as a forward-deployed force, constantly employing its forces to retain a cadre of highly experienced officers while reinforcing their dominance over the island and its native peoples (which still outnumber the so-called Outlanders by several times). This policy continued under the (self-declared) ascension of Eru III as ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' in {{AN|1730}}.

In the early years of House Tepesh rule, the most-honored natives are usually rewarded with mana gained from the wholesale destruction of regional pirates, and placement on such expeditions is still considered the source of great honor by individual warriors and the tribes which send them. This partly engineered cultural facet, combined with the extent of the island's autonomy since {{AN|1720}}, allowed Eru Tepesh II to send a fully armed regiment of Dromosker merceneries to work for the [[Benacian Union]] in a bid to bring in additional income to the island, on condition the regiment see consistent (if light) action and access to proper rewards for both its Hexarchian officer corps and their Dromosker subordinates. (Rumor also held that the central government accepted this arrangement when the offer was sweetened by the addition of certain exotic animals to the menagerie of death at [[Ereshkigal Forest]].)

This policy continued under the Principality, and the Tepesh family was allowed to be the guarantor of Askerr mercenaries serving under [[Imperial Federation]] operations during such events as the [[Corum War]] and in policing the far places of the world. After the 1750's, mixed units consisting of Askerr warriors and Dromosker settlers (as they now called themselves) were a common sight, especially among more disciplined companies assigned more sensitive missions.

=== Interior Trade ===

Trade does happen between House Tepesh and the local rulers, who have come to respect the lord of House Tepesh, (always reigning under the name "Eru"), as the true master of Dromosker island with a quasi-religious status as undisputed lord of the island and all who live on it. From {{AN|1725}}, the Tepesh family cemented its dominance over the island, allowing for naval and economic development along much of the island's shoreline. Since the declaration of the Principality in {{AN|1730}}, the growing peace in the island's interior has allowed industry to develop outside of the capital, and the resulting infrastructure and mass-produced items have encouraged a more sedentary lifestyle among the less warlike of the native tribes. With the firmer establishment of local rule and tighter control of the island, an industrial economy has come to complement the agrarian economy the natives employ (outside of cannibalistic purposes). The deep interior of the island saw disruptions with the wane of [[The Hexarchy]] during the ensuring decades, but was restored to normal operations after the relocation under [[Imperial Federation]] assistance.

==== Mana Rights ====

On special occasions, the most loyal of the local cannibal chiefs are given mana by their magnanimous masters in the form of some hapless prisoner convicted of an especially severe crime, as the central government of the Hexarchy cannot directly pass the death penalty on prisoners. During the long period of [[The Hexarchy|Hexarchy]] rule from {{AN|1690}} to {{AN|1755}}, this prohibition extended to a great degree to the Dromosker Island government. House Tepesh was therefore obliged to follow this law while still exercising its own brutish brand of justice on the island's deep interior. The loophole with the Askerr is much the same as the one used with the Hexarchy mainland's practice of passing capital punishment by sending prisoners into exile directly to [[Ereshkigal Forest]], on the mainland.

As such, an aspect of the island's economy now involves the purchasing of mana by more wealthy tribes. Since the Askerr War, natives are no longer allowed to "steal mana" with impunity (aka murdering people without the permission of House Tepesh) lest the offender be subject to being cannibalized, or worse, thrown to the dragons. However, there is a workaround for the many native tribes that still participate in cannibalistic rituals. The natives bid for rights to mana replenishments by offering part of their industrial produce and precious items over a set period of time. When it comes time for condemned criminals to be sent to the tribes, tribute is delivered to the Lord of Dromosker and the natives gain access to the condemned. In those cases where victims are lacking, the natives are instead granted more lenient rights during recruiting efforts for pirate-hunting expeditions sanctioned by the Tepesh government, with some being granted guaranteed places in the outgoing regiments for their finest, most experienced warriors.

This arrangement has resulted in law and order being upheld throughout the island, mostly through self-enforcement. Native policy eventually changed to favoring the bidding system to keep the peace, and tribes engaged in stealing mana were harshly punished by their peers, before they went on to be punished again by the central government as part of punitive expeditions, in which the stolen mana was recovered and distributed several-fold to well-behaved factions that aided in law enforcement. It was thanks in great part to this arrangement that by {{AN|1718}} that the islands were declared completely pacified by the Tepesh government in a report to the central government.

When the mana thefts came to a gradual end, the natives instead focused on aggressively cooperating with the government in its desire to venture into conflict zones, especially for pirate hunting expeditions. In these, the government would (ironically) be the one who was paid by the island's denizens for the honor of joining these expeditions, to the degree that bidding wars eventually took place over these as well, due to limited capacity for recruiting and controlling over-eager warriors. By {{AN|1723}}, these expeditions were extremely profitable, forming a lynchpin of the island's now-booming interior economy. This continued in a more centrally managed fashion after the island's relocation in {{AN|1758}}, being partly managed by the Imperial Federation instead of just locally.

[[Category:Islands]]
[[Category: Imperial Federation]]

Dromosker Island (Imperial Federation)

2026-06-29T10:23:13Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{subdivision |
image_flag = |
subdivision = The Principality of Dromosker Island [[Image:Eriador_1757.png]] |
status = Territory of the [[Imperial Federation]] |
capital = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
largecity = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
population = ~750,000 ({{AN|1750}})|
title = Prince |
government = Semi-Tribal Monarchy (executive/judicial) Ruling Council (executive) National Senate (legislative) |
leader = Prince Vlad Tepesh (regnal name: Eru IV) 2nd Prince of Dromosker Island 5th Gal-Lugal of the [[Askerr]] |
language = [[Askerr]], [[Istvanistani language|Common Tongue]]; Çakari (minority), Alexandrian (minority); Ralgonese (minority) |
religion = Folk religions (majority); [[Umraism]] (minority); [[Draconic]] (minority)|
}}
The '''Principality of Dromosker''' is an island country newly situated in the [[Eriador|Isles of Eriador]]. Formerly situated in the eastern fringe of the [[Skerry Isles]], the island and nearly its entire population were relocated to a fertile but uninhabited island deep in [[Imperial Federation]] territory in {{AN|1757}} in the aftermath of the island's anarchy, devastation, and subsequent relocation to a far-off area that was completed before the end of the following year. The area left behind, devoid of its original features, was annexed by [[Constancia]] in the aftermath while reverting to an older name.

Despite the relocation, the new island is still known to be the traditional home of tribes historically practicing anthropophagy, who are collectively known as the [[Askerr]] of Dromosker Island. On the old island, this practice was greatly diminished and carefully managed following the natives' defeat at the hands of their new overlords in the [[Askerr War]] of {{AN|1690}}. Life on the island transformed under the House Tepesh, which declared the island a Principality in {{AN|1730}}. Nominal Hexarchy rule lasted for nearly 68 years before the island fell into anarchy and relocated in {{AN|1758}} to its present location, following a series of apocalyptic disasters that essentially destroyed the island.

In times past, the old island played host to [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island went to Jingdao as a gift by the same man in {{AN|1629}}. It remained in Jing hands until {{AN|1686}}, and was then briefly held by [[Barbary]] until it collapsed in {{AN|1688}}. After that, it was occupied by colonists from [[The Hexarchy]], who fought the brutal, two-year long [[Askerr War]] in {{AN|1690}} with the natives over control over the island before establishing the city of [[Imarru-Lugal]] (itself also the capital of the new island). The island's government was dependent on military support for its continued rule over the next 68 years, although it this ended the same way it began: blood, fire, and mass movement to an unfamiliar place.

Post-relocation, the new island's government, having kept the same name, now fell under the authority of the [[Eriador|Isles of Eriador]]. Although loss of life in the immediate months before the relocation was cataclysmic, both the Askerr and settler community managed to survive mostly intact, and saw greater mingling in subsequent years. Many traditionally-minded Askerr still practice their old ways on the new Dromosker Island's wild, inaccessible interior, well away from prying eyes. Occasionally, some of the better-integrated Askerr warrior bands are sent to far-off places in search of mana and glory, under the auspices of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]], who turns a blind eye to these practices so long as stringent protocol are enforced by their captains.

(Also see [[Imarru-Lugal]] for the island's capital and primate city.)

==History==

===Early History===

===Occupation by [[Jingdao]] ({{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1690}}===

==== Maritime Republic Era {{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1688}} ====
{{main|Maritime Free Republic}}

The '''Maritime Free Republic''', also known as '''Hexiehaizei''' (Jingdaoese for: ''harmonious pirate''), or '''Dromosker Island''' is a formerly independent island nation that has been part of the [[Jingdao|Jingdaoese Empire]] from 1629 until the 1680's AN. There was also very little imperial oversight during the Jingdao occupation era. It was previously the home of [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island's subjugation by [[The Hexarchy]] in 1690 AN as a result of the [[Askerr War]]. Captain Poldark was also the person who gifted the nation to Jingdao in 1629, after having received support from the Jingdaoese Empire for some time.

In 1635 Emperor Heinrich of Jingdao, the [[Kattei Emperor]] ordered the Maritime Free Republic to build an educational institute for the troubled youth on the island. In turn Captain-General Walter Poldark promised to build the ''Emperor Heinrich Naval School for the Disadvantaged Youth''. Reports on what happened to the children, and their suspected encounters with the Askerr have always been suppressed by Jingdaoese censors and to this day nothing is known for certain about what happened to them.

=== [[Barbary]] Occupation {{AN|1688}}-{{AN|1689}} ===

In 1688 the Maritime Free Republic was transferred into the hand of the [[Barbarian Republic]] as part of a land trade between Jingdao and Barbary, where it became known as the island of the [[Gezellige Piraten]] (''cosy pirates'''). By the first month of 1690 the last of the Barbary traders had disappeared into the cooking pots of the Askerr and the natives were most recently observed to have assembled on the northern shore of the island, making beckoning gestures to the crew of a barque from the [[Hexarchy]], inviting them to come ashore - which they, somewhat incautiously, some settlers of [[Imarru-Lugal|duly did]]. This incident in turn led to the [[Askerr War]], in which the Hexarchy conquered the island by way of soldiers of fortune led by one Eru Tepesh, contrary to much of his home government's wishes.

Despite the considerable cultural changes on the island since the 1690's AN during the Hexarchy's often-violent takeover, Jing influences remain among subsets of natives to this day. For instance, the worship of the Heavenly Light in the form of a cargo cult has been largely ignored by the island's new rulers, and many of these cultural aspects have been subverted by the island's rulers to cement their control over the island's large population. Due to the relative independence of the island under both the Jing and Hexarchy, the island's local culture retained its own character for well over a century of nominal foreign rule.

=== Occupation by [[The Hexarchy]] ({{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1756}}) ===
{{main|Askerr War}}

==== Pacification & Settlement {{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1730}} ====

The modern history of the island is characterized by the occupation of [[The Hexarchy]], and the course of the island's modern politics is mostly based on the new government based out of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the city which also bears the name of the territory. Most trade between the new [[Imperial Federation]] and Hexarchian merchants passes through the island, which is used as a stopover during the long voyage from the eastern territories of Keltia to the Hexarchy proper.

Since the end of the Askerr War, events on the island are usually confined to a strictly local nature, with the status quo remaining mostly unchanged since 1691. For the first three decades of Hexarchian rule, the natives kept almost entirely to themselves. However, the occasional dragon attack was staged during the early years of the occupation against those who had clearly forgotten what their rulers' wrath feels like in the midst of localized rebellions or, more commonly, organized attacks on shipping deep in the island's interior. The scale of rebellions decreased over time, thanks to intelligently designed arrangements to turn the mana system into a source of extensive profit and long-lasting legal control by the central government.

Due to the more quiet experience people now have within the environs of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the well-provisioned and strongly defended island was then used for at least the following two decades as a proxy location for negotiations between the Hexarchy and faraway nations that aren't enamored with the mainland's unique fauna and the traditions associated with them. Due to its far-off location from the mainland and the central government's long-lasting lack of enthusiasm for a colonial empire, the island was gradually left to its own devices. Eventually, local rule became extremely independent with internal affairs.

The island increasingly asserted its independence to the degree where [[The Hexarchy]], nominally the island's suzerain, was nothing more than a rubber stamp in local affairs by the time the House of Tepesh signed the [Treaty of Portpur]] with [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1726}}. The following assertions of "autonomous rule" (independence in all but name) persisted from that point. This coincided with the decline of [[The Hexarchy]] from the late 1720's onwards. The island's near-total political independence near this point resulted in Eru Tepesh III declaring himself ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' on his ascension to the island's leadership in {{AN|1730}}.

==== Principality ({{AN|1731}}-{{AN|1756}}) ====

However, the problem of keeping the entire island pacified persisted, and worsened with the near-cutoff of Hexarchy military and financial support during its political turbulence. The island's leadership already had established partnerships with [[Çakaristan]] in keeping the surrounding waters clear of piracy. The [[Imperial Federation]] joined from {{AN|1728}} during one of its own periods of ascendancy, during which Prince Eru III (as the new Prince styled himself) allowed an Imperial Federation navy base to be built to host a large trading entrepot, bringing further defensiveness and prosperity to the capital at [[Imarru-Lugal]].

During this time, the Prince continued the family tradition of styling himself separately to the natives as "Gal-Lugal" (lit. the chief of chiefs) over the island's interior. However, the 17 years of his rule saw a slow decline in hard authority over the island's interior, while control over the coastlines accelerated thanks to domestic and foreign infrastructure. Tourism and maritime industry flourished on the island, and Dromosker became a destination for further waves of settlers seeking opportunity on the rapidly developing coastlines. Troubles with the natives of the interior persisted, however, and by {{AN|1745}} there were, once again, bands of [[Askerr]] reverting to their more bellicose nature and indiscriminately attacking people to steal their mana. A series of punitive expeditions with local forces with Ralgonese naval support temporarily pacified the island, but it was clear that House Tepesh would need further military support to exercise control over the island. These continued until Eru III's death in {{AN|1747}}, and his 38-year-old successor Prince Eru IV took over, inheriting the problems arising late in his father's reign. The first nine years of Eru IV's reign were the most challenging since his ancestor conquered the island nearly sixty years before.

With its limited force of local dragons, the strategy of dealing with rebellions from the air and keeping loyalist casualties close to zero became untenable. A series of costly campaigns were fought in the interior to punish the rebellious natives and supply loyalist Askerr with more ''mana''. This was hardly a permanent solution, though, and the steady (and noticeable) lapse in direct support and oversight from the mainland made sustainable mana both at home and abroad more difficult to obtain, as the island gradually grew politically isolated and access to military contracts gradually dried up. When the final vestiges of authority from [[The Hexarchy]] lapsed in {{AN|1756}}, it hadn't followed some announcement from the central government. Silence was the only order of the day, and forces loyal to the central government either left the island with their dragons for the mainland, or pledged loyalty to House Tepesh.

==== Fall of Dromosker Island ({{AN|1756}}-{{AN|1758}}) ====

Following confirmation that [[The Hexarchy]] had lapsed into crisis after {{AN|1756}}, assistance was requested from local [[Imperial Federation]] forces. Prince Eru IV was worried that [[Çakaristan]] would rapidly subsume his country and home-grown culture, being in proximity to other Çakari holdings in the other [[Skerry Isles]], specifically the [[Beneluccas]]. The ruling elite of the island valued Çakari partnerships, and considered the surrounding people as more-or-less friendly to their own. As economic partners, they brought prosperity to the island and the customs union under the [[Treaty of Portpur]] was highly beneficial to both sides. However, as political partners, House Tepesh feared a Çakari takeover due to both their proximity and huge disparity in size next to the island. Hindsight proved Eru IV right, although his preparations were woefully inadequate to the resulting crises that followed.

As such, an agreement was struck in late {{AN|1756}} that instead named [[Anarion]] the new overlord of Dromosker, with a title to reflect his new (nominal) dominion over the island. In exchange for ceding certain port facilities and external political rights, the island could continue as a dependency of the Imperial Federation. A Viceroy was also sent to represent the Emperor, but they never reached the island in time for further events to play out. The more excitable Askerr warriors were, furthermore, given the opportunity to join Ralgonese detachments in active zones abroad. While their mana wouldn't necessarily be supplied by humans during every fight (such as in the [[Great Swamp]] or the [[Badlands]]), the warriors would continually win honor and glory... and continue to fill the treasuries of House Tepesh beyond anything they'd ever managed while ruling the island by themselves.

Confusion followed, however. The transfer was interrupted due to lack of [[MCS]] recognition, so the [[Dromosker Island/Pact of Schaarlecht|Pact of Schaarlecht]] was struck between the [[Imperial Federation]], [[Çakaristan]], and the Dromosker Island government to salvage the situation. As soon as Ralgonese forces had left, however, the Cakari immediately repudiated the treaty. This threw the central government into a panic while, for the first time, supporting forces were absent from the island during an impending crisis. Relations between the Imperial Federation and Cakari were, for a time, completely ruptured over the incident as the Ralgonese Emperor was apocalyptic over this betrayal. The consequences for Dromosker were far more severe than a mere lover's spat between two distant rulers. Sensing the coming anarchy, much of the Raskol population erupted, killing any moving thing they saw in their path. While the population of [[Imarru-Lugal]] (Settler and Askerr alike) was generally safe, the countryside experienced a bloodbath like the island had never seen.

The scenes of death and complete anarchy in the countryside forced Prince Eru Tepesh into a campaign of annihilation against much of the interior to save [[Imarru-Lugal]] from its own destruction. While he lost nearly half his remaining dragons, the resistance was, for a time, suppressed. Large chunks of the entire island were reduced to cinders, with nothing larger than a cat able to survive in the blasted countryside. Having expended his military power to thwart both external and internal threats, the island was left scorched, and no longer able to fend for itself against the remaining populations of the island. Having lost control of the situation, he called to the Imperial Federation once more for assistance.

=== Post-Disaster ({{AN|1758}}-)===

What followed was a subject of intense debate. Prevailing accounts claim the [[Imperial Federation]] sending [[Grand Armada of the Sunfire Sea|every available ship in the region]] to rescue the situation. Other, more outlandish accounts suggest [[Spatial Displacement Disaster|a complete upending of the island]] done by the Prince solely to spite his betrayers. Whatever happened, what is known is that the island was the subject of resulting apocalyptic disasters that demanded the island's complete evacuation and the relocation of its entire population, livestock, and few remaining dragons. The chosen location sat on a large island in the [[Isles of Eriador]], which was hitherto uninhabited despite its soil's fertility and excellent location for settlement.

The resulting move took roughly a year and a half. Its capital city was quickly rebuilt, an its people were located on a large, dormant volcanic island in the [[Isles of Eriador]]. The population of [[Imarru-Lugal]] emerged relatively unscathed, as did most of the Askerr loyal to the Prince. The population outside the capital, however, experienced extreme loss of life, and few that had risen amid the killing spree survived to see themselves evacuated off their old burning rocks. The new island, possessing a similar topography with its many lakes, ravines, and rivers, was a match made in heaven for settler and native alike, and they rebuilt swiftly on the new island. The more traditionally minded Askerr retreated into the deep, inaccessible areas of the island's caldera region to resume their ancient customs -- which they could more fully indulge in whenever sent abroad by their new [[Anarion|Emperor]]. The deep interior was given to them as a reservation, with visits by tourists strictly forbidden (and solely at their own risk of being dumped into a cooking pot). The island's fertility and varied terrain allowed the Askerr people to gradually recover their prosperity, despite the loss of life and sudden relocation so far from home.

In the immediate aftermath of the Disaster (as these events came to be locally known), the [[Imperial Federation]] quickly came to assert a greater degree of control over their strategic territory in the middle of the Sunfire Sea. Long uninhabited, the island's new location in the [[Isles of Eriador]] proved a double-edged sword. While the island's government lost much of its autonomy to the government at [[Gondolin]] and the neighboring Eriadoran capital at [[Arkadi'os]], that very proximity brought prosperity to the island after it recovered from its disaster. However, the Prince lost much of his power to the Ruling Council, and was also subject to a so-called "emergency council" consisting of representatives from neighboring [[Al Hamra]] as well as the Imperial Government, along with [[Askerr]] chieftains who were customarily unrepresented in such affairs. On the other hand, the Imperial Federation now needed to deal with the recurrent problem of cannibals freshly located in their midst. Thankfully, however, they tended to keep to themselves. The only exceptions were some tribesmen picking off some random tourist that ignored the plethora of warning signs telling them to KEEP OUT because they were in DANGEROUS TERRITORY.

== Economy ==

=== Foreign Trade ===

==== Military Services ====

Thanks to the very high amount of political and military autonomy enjoyed by the island, House Tepesh has been able to raise mercenaries of its own among its military ranks to gain experience abroad. While the policy under Eru Tepesh I was to merely contain the natives, his eldest son and successor in Eru Tepesh II saw fit to harness the considerable fighting spirit of the island's large native population for more constructive purposes. Since Eru II's ascension as ruler of Dromosker (r. {{AN|1702}} - {{AN|1730}}), he instituted a military policy that employed a corps of Hexarchian officers and Dromosker natives from trusted tribes (including Askerr) as a forward-deployed force, constantly employing its forces to retain a cadre of highly experienced officers while reinforcing their dominance over the island and its native peoples (which still outnumber the so-called Outlanders by several times). This policy continued under the (self-declared) ascension of Eru III as ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' in {{AN|1730}}.

In the early years of House Tepesh rule, the most-honored natives are usually rewarded with mana gained from the wholesale destruction of regional pirates, and placement on such expeditions is still considered the source of great honor by individual warriors and the tribes which send them. This partly engineered cultural facet, combined with the extent of the island's autonomy since {{AN|1720}}, allowed Eru Tepesh II to send a fully armed regiment of Dromosker merceneries to work for the [[Benacian Union]] in a bid to bring in additional income to the island, on condition the regiment see consistent (if light) action and access to proper rewards for both its Hexarchian officer corps and their Dromosker subordinates. (Rumor also held that the central government accepted this arrangement when the offer was sweetened by the addition of certain exotic animals to the menagerie of death at [[Ereshkigal Forest]].)

This policy continued under the Principality, and the Tepesh family was allowed to be the guarantor of Askerr mercenaries serving under [[Imperial Federation]] operations during such events as the [[Corum War]] and in policing the far places of the world. After the 1750's, mixed units consisting of Askerr warriors and Dromosker settlers (as they now called themselves) were a common sight, especially among more disciplined companies assigned more sensitive missions.

=== Interior Trade ===

Trade does happen between House Tepesh and the local rulers, who have come to respect the lord of House Tepesh, (always reigning under the name "Eru"), as the true master of Dromosker island with a quasi-religious status as undisputed lord of the island and all who live on it. From {{AN|1725}}, the Tepesh family cemented its dominance over the island, allowing for naval and economic development along much of the island's shoreline. Since the declaration of the Principality in {{AN|1730}}, the growing peace in the island's interior has allowed industry to develop outside of the capital, and the resulting infrastructure and mass-produced items have encouraged a more sedentary lifestyle among the less warlike of the native tribes. With the firmer establishment of local rule and tighter control of the island, an industrial economy has come to complement the agrarian economy the natives employ (outside of cannibalistic purposes). The deep interior of the island saw disruptions with the wane of [[The Hexarchy]] during the ensuring decades, but was restored to normal operations after the relocation under [[Imperial Federation]] assistance.

==== Mana Rights ====

On special occasions, the most loyal of the local cannibal chiefs are given mana by their magnanimous masters in the form of some hapless prisoner convicted of an especially severe crime, as the central government of the Hexarchy cannot directly pass the death penalty on prisoners. During the long period of [[The Hexarchy|Hexarchy]] rule from {{AN|1690}} to {{AN|1755}}, this prohibition extended to a great degree to the Dromosker Island government. House Tepesh was therefore obliged to follow this law while still exercising its own brutish brand of justice on the island's deep interior. The loophole with the Askerr is much the same as the one used with the Hexarchy mainland's practice of passing capital punishment by sending prisoners into exile directly to [[Ereshkigal Forest]], on the mainland.

As such, an aspect of the island's economy now involves the purchasing of mana by more wealthy tribes. Since the Askerr War, natives are no longer allowed to "steal mana" with impunity (aka murdering people without the permission of House Tepesh) lest the offender be subject to being cannibalized, or worse, thrown to the dragons. However, there is a workaround for the many native tribes that still participate in cannibalistic rituals. The natives bid for rights to mana replenishments by offering part of their industrial produce and precious items over a set period of time. When it comes time for condemned criminals to be sent to the tribes, tribute is delivered to the Lord of Dromosker and the natives gain access to the condemned. In those cases where victims are lacking, the natives are instead granted more lenient rights during recruiting efforts for pirate-hunting expeditions sanctioned by the Tepesh government, with some being granted guaranteed places in the outgoing regiments for their finest, most experienced warriors.

This arrangement has resulted in law and order being upheld throughout the island, mostly through self-enforcement. Native policy eventually changed to favoring the bidding system to keep the peace, and tribes engaged in stealing mana were harshly punished by their peers, before they went on to be punished again by the central government as part of punitive expeditions, in which the stolen mana was recovered and distributed several-fold to well-behaved factions that aided in law enforcement. It was thanks in great part to this arrangement that by {{AN|1718}} that the islands were declared completely pacified by the Tepesh government in a report to the central government.

When the mana thefts came to a gradual end, the natives instead focused on aggressively cooperating with the government in its desire to venture into conflict zones, especially for pirate hunting expeditions. In these, the government would (ironically) be the one who was paid by the island's denizens for the honor of joining these expeditions, to the degree that bidding wars eventually took place over these as well, due to limited capacity for recruiting and controlling over-eager warriors. By {{AN|1723}}, these expeditions were extremely profitable, forming a lynchpin of the island's now-booming interior economy. This continued in a more centrally managed fashion after the island's relocation in {{AN|1758}}, being partly managed by the Imperial Federation instead of just locally.

[[Category:Islands]]
[[Category: Imperial Federation]]

Dromosker Island (Imperial Federation)

2026-06-29T10:22:25Z

Cosmic Fury: Correcting & Updating the page.

{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{subdivision |
image_flag = |
subdivision = The Principality of Dromosker Island [[Image:Eriador_1757.png]] |
status = Territory of the [[Imperial Federation]] |
capital = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
largecity = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
population = ~750,000 ({{AN|1750}})|
title = Prince |
government = Semi-Tribal Monarchy (executive/judicial) Ruling Council (executive) National Senate (legislative) |
leader = Prince Vlad Tepesh (regnal name: Eru IV) 2nd Prince of Dromosker Island 5th Gal-Lugal of the [[Askerr]] |
language = [[Askerr]], [[Istvanistani language|Common Tongue]]; Çakari (minority), Alexandrian (minority); Ralgonese (minority) |
religion = Folk religions (majority); [[Umraism]] (minority); [[Draconic]] (minority)|
}}
The '''Principality of Dromosker''' is an island country newly situated in the [[Eriador|Isles of Eriador]]. Formerly situated in the eastern fringe of the [[Skerry Isles]], the island and nearly its entire population were relocated to a fertile but uninhabited island deep in [[Imperial Federation]] territory in {{AN|1757}} in the aftermath of the island's anarchy, devastation, and subsequent relocation to a far-off area that was completed before the end of the following year. The area left behind, devoid of its original features, was annexed by [[Constancia]] in the aftermath while reverting to an older name.

Despite the relocation, the new island is still known to be the traditional home of tribes historically practicing anthropophagy, who are collectively known as the [[Askerr]] of Dromosker Island. On the old island, this practice was greatly diminished and carefully managed following the natives' defeat at the hands of their new overlords in the [[Askerr War]] of {{AN|1690}}. Life on the island transformed under the House Tepesh, which declared the island a Principality in {{AN|1730}}. Nominal Hexarchy rule lasted for nearly 68 years before the island fell into anarchy and relocated in {{AN|1758}} to its present location, following a series of apocalyptic disasters that essentially destroyed the island.

In times past, the old island played host to [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island went to Jingdao as a gift by the same man in {{AN|1629}}. It remained in Jing hands until {{AN|1686}}, and was then briefly held by [[Barbary]] until it collapsed in {{AN|1688}}. After that, it was occupied by colonists from [[The Hexarchy]], who fought the brutal, two-year long [[Askerr War]] in {{AN|1690}} with the natives over control over the island before establishing the city of [[Imarru-Lugal]] (itself also the capital of the new island). The island's government was dependent on military support for its continued rule over the next 68 years, although it this ended the same way it began: blood, fire, and mass movement to an unfamiliar place.

Post-relocation, the new island's government, having kept the same name, now fell under the authority of the [[Isles of Eriador]]. Although loss of life in the immediate months before the relocation was cataclysmic, both the Askerr and settler community managed to survive mostly intact, and saw greater mingling in subsequent years. Many traditionally-minded Askerr still practice their old ways on the new Dromosker Island's wild, inaccessible interior, well away from prying eyes. Occasionally, some of the better-integrated Askerr warrior bands are sent to far-off places in search of mana and glory, under the auspices of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]], who turns a blind eye to these practices so long as stringent protocol are enforced by their captains.

(Also see [[Imarru-Lugal]] for the island's capital and primate city.)

==History==

===Early History===

===Occupation by [[Jingdao]] ({{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1690}}===

==== Maritime Republic Era {{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1688}} ====
{{main|Maritime Free Republic}}

The '''Maritime Free Republic''', also known as '''Hexiehaizei''' (Jingdaoese for: ''harmonious pirate''), or '''Dromosker Island''' is a formerly independent island nation that has been part of the [[Jingdao|Jingdaoese Empire]] from 1629 until the 1680's AN. There was also very little imperial oversight during the Jingdao occupation era. It was previously the home of [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island's subjugation by [[The Hexarchy]] in 1690 AN as a result of the [[Askerr War]]. Captain Poldark was also the person who gifted the nation to Jingdao in 1629, after having received support from the Jingdaoese Empire for some time.

In 1635 Emperor Heinrich of Jingdao, the [[Kattei Emperor]] ordered the Maritime Free Republic to build an educational institute for the troubled youth on the island. In turn Captain-General Walter Poldark promised to build the ''Emperor Heinrich Naval School for the Disadvantaged Youth''. Reports on what happened to the children, and their suspected encounters with the Askerr have always been suppressed by Jingdaoese censors and to this day nothing is known for certain about what happened to them.

=== [[Barbary]] Occupation {{AN|1688}}-{{AN|1689}} ===

In 1688 the Maritime Free Republic was transferred into the hand of the [[Barbarian Republic]] as part of a land trade between Jingdao and Barbary, where it became known as the island of the [[Gezellige Piraten]] (''cosy pirates'''). By the first month of 1690 the last of the Barbary traders had disappeared into the cooking pots of the Askerr and the natives were most recently observed to have assembled on the northern shore of the island, making beckoning gestures to the crew of a barque from the [[Hexarchy]], inviting them to come ashore - which they, somewhat incautiously, some settlers of [[Imarru-Lugal|duly did]]. This incident in turn led to the [[Askerr War]], in which the Hexarchy conquered the island by way of soldiers of fortune led by one Eru Tepesh, contrary to much of his home government's wishes.

Despite the considerable cultural changes on the island since the 1690's AN during the Hexarchy's often-violent takeover, Jing influences remain among subsets of natives to this day. For instance, the worship of the Heavenly Light in the form of a cargo cult has been largely ignored by the island's new rulers, and many of these cultural aspects have been subverted by the island's rulers to cement their control over the island's large population. Due to the relative independence of the island under both the Jing and Hexarchy, the island's local culture retained its own character for well over a century of nominal foreign rule.

=== Occupation by [[The Hexarchy]] ({{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1756}}) ===
{{main|Askerr War}}

==== Pacification & Settlement {{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1730}} ====

The modern history of the island is characterized by the occupation of [[The Hexarchy]], and the course of the island's modern politics is mostly based on the new government based out of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the city which also bears the name of the territory. Most trade between the new [[Imperial Federation]] and Hexarchian merchants passes through the island, which is used as a stopover during the long voyage from the eastern territories of Keltia to the Hexarchy proper.

Since the end of the Askerr War, events on the island are usually confined to a strictly local nature, with the status quo remaining mostly unchanged since 1691. For the first three decades of Hexarchian rule, the natives kept almost entirely to themselves. However, the occasional dragon attack was staged during the early years of the occupation against those who had clearly forgotten what their rulers' wrath feels like in the midst of localized rebellions or, more commonly, organized attacks on shipping deep in the island's interior. The scale of rebellions decreased over time, thanks to intelligently designed arrangements to turn the mana system into a source of extensive profit and long-lasting legal control by the central government.

Due to the more quiet experience people now have within the environs of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the well-provisioned and strongly defended island was then used for at least the following two decades as a proxy location for negotiations between the Hexarchy and faraway nations that aren't enamored with the mainland's unique fauna and the traditions associated with them. Due to its far-off location from the mainland and the central government's long-lasting lack of enthusiasm for a colonial empire, the island was gradually left to its own devices. Eventually, local rule became extremely independent with internal affairs.

The island increasingly asserted its independence to the degree where [[The Hexarchy]], nominally the island's suzerain, was nothing more than a rubber stamp in local affairs by the time the House of Tepesh signed the [Treaty of Portpur]] with [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1726}}. The following assertions of "autonomous rule" (independence in all but name) persisted from that point. This coincided with the decline of [[The Hexarchy]] from the late 1720's onwards. The island's near-total political independence near this point resulted in Eru Tepesh III declaring himself ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' on his ascension to the island's leadership in {{AN|1730}}.

==== Principality ({{AN|1731}}-{{AN|1756}}) ====

However, the problem of keeping the entire island pacified persisted, and worsened with the near-cutoff of Hexarchy military and financial support during its political turbulence. The island's leadership already had established partnerships with [[Çakaristan]] in keeping the surrounding waters clear of piracy. The [[Imperial Federation]] joined from {{AN|1728}} during one of its own periods of ascendancy, during which Prince Eru III (as the new Prince styled himself) allowed an Imperial Federation navy base to be built to host a large trading entrepot, bringing further defensiveness and prosperity to the capital at [[Imarru-Lugal]].

During this time, the Prince continued the family tradition of styling himself separately to the natives as "Gal-Lugal" (lit. the chief of chiefs) over the island's interior. However, the 17 years of his rule saw a slow decline in hard authority over the island's interior, while control over the coastlines accelerated thanks to domestic and foreign infrastructure. Tourism and maritime industry flourished on the island, and Dromosker became a destination for further waves of settlers seeking opportunity on the rapidly developing coastlines. Troubles with the natives of the interior persisted, however, and by {{AN|1745}} there were, once again, bands of [[Askerr]] reverting to their more bellicose nature and indiscriminately attacking people to steal their mana. A series of punitive expeditions with local forces with Ralgonese naval support temporarily pacified the island, but it was clear that House Tepesh would need further military support to exercise control over the island. These continued until Eru III's death in {{AN|1747}}, and his 38-year-old successor Prince Eru IV took over, inheriting the problems arising late in his father's reign. The first nine years of Eru IV's reign were the most challenging since his ancestor conquered the island nearly sixty years before.

With its limited force of local dragons, the strategy of dealing with rebellions from the air and keeping loyalist casualties close to zero became untenable. A series of costly campaigns were fought in the interior to punish the rebellious natives and supply loyalist Askerr with more ''mana''. This was hardly a permanent solution, though, and the steady (and noticeable) lapse in direct support and oversight from the mainland made sustainable mana both at home and abroad more difficult to obtain, as the island gradually grew politically isolated and access to military contracts gradually dried up. When the final vestiges of authority from [[The Hexarchy]] lapsed in {{AN|1756}}, it hadn't followed some announcement from the central government. Silence was the only order of the day, and forces loyal to the central government either left the island with their dragons for the mainland, or pledged loyalty to House Tepesh.

==== Fall of Dromosker Island ({{AN|1756}}-{{AN|1758}}) ====

Following confirmation that [[The Hexarchy]] had lapsed into crisis after {{AN|1756}}, assistance was requested from local [[Imperial Federation]] forces. Prince Eru IV was worried that [[Çakaristan]] would rapidly subsume his country and home-grown culture, being in proximity to other Çakari holdings in the other [[Skerry Isles]], specifically the [[Beneluccas]]. The ruling elite of the island valued Çakari partnerships, and considered the surrounding people as more-or-less friendly to their own. As economic partners, they brought prosperity to the island and the customs union under the [[Treaty of Portpur]] was highly beneficial to both sides. However, as political partners, House Tepesh feared a Çakari takeover due to both their proximity and huge disparity in size next to the island. Hindsight proved Eru IV right, although his preparations were woefully inadequate to the resulting crises that followed.

As such, an agreement was struck in late {{AN|1756}} that instead named [[Anarion]] the new overlord of Dromosker, with a title to reflect his new (nominal) dominion over the island. In exchange for ceding certain port facilities and external political rights, the island could continue as a dependency of the Imperial Federation. A Viceroy was also sent to represent the Emperor, but they never reached the island in time for further events to play out. The more excitable Askerr warriors were, furthermore, given the opportunity to join Ralgonese detachments in active zones abroad. While their mana wouldn't necessarily be supplied by humans during every fight (such as in the [[Great Swamp]] or the [[Badlands]]), the warriors would continually win honor and glory... and continue to fill the treasuries of House Tepesh beyond anything they'd ever managed while ruling the island by themselves.

Confusion followed, however. The transfer was interrupted due to lack of [[MCS]] recognition, so the [[Dromosker Island/Pact of Schaarlecht|Pact of Schaarlecht]] was struck between the [[Imperial Federation]], [[Çakaristan]], and the Dromosker Island government to salvage the situation. As soon as Ralgonese forces had left, however, the Cakari immediately repudiated the treaty. This threw the central government into a panic while, for the first time, supporting forces were absent from the island during an impending crisis. Relations between the Imperial Federation and Cakari were, for a time, completely ruptured over the incident as the Ralgonese Emperor was apocalyptic over this betrayal. The consequences for Dromosker were far more severe than a mere lover's spat between two distant rulers. Sensing the coming anarchy, much of the Raskol population erupted, killing any moving thing they saw in their path. While the population of [[Imarru-Lugal]] (Settler and Askerr alike) was generally safe, the countryside experienced a bloodbath like the island had never seen.

The scenes of death and complete anarchy in the countryside forced Prince Eru Tepesh into a campaign of annihilation against much of the interior to save [[Imarru-Lugal]] from its own destruction. While he lost nearly half his remaining dragons, the resistance was, for a time, suppressed. Large chunks of the entire island were reduced to cinders, with nothing larger than a cat able to survive in the blasted countryside. Having expended his military power to thwart both external and internal threats, the island was left scorched, and no longer able to fend for itself against the remaining populations of the island. Having lost control of the situation, he called to the Imperial Federation once more for assistance.

=== Post-Disaster ({{AN|1758}}-)===

What followed was a subject of intense debate. Prevailing accounts claim the [[Imperial Federation]] sending [[Grand Armada of the Sunfire Sea|every available ship in the region]] to rescue the situation. Other, more outlandish accounts suggest [[Spatial Displacement Disaster|a complete upending of the island]] done by the Prince solely to spite his betrayers. Whatever happened, what is known is that the island was the subject of resulting apocalyptic disasters that demanded the island's complete evacuation and the relocation of its entire population, livestock, and few remaining dragons. The chosen location sat on a large island in the [[Isles of Eriador]], which was hitherto uninhabited despite its soil's fertility and excellent location for settlement.

The resulting move took roughly a year and a half. Its capital city was quickly rebuilt, an its people were located on a large, dormant volcanic island in the [[Isles of Eriador]]. The population of [[Imarru-Lugal]] emerged relatively unscathed, as did most of the Askerr loyal to the Prince. The population outside the capital, however, experienced extreme loss of life, and few that had risen amid the killing spree survived to see themselves evacuated off their old burning rocks. The new island, possessing a similar topography with its many lakes, ravines, and rivers, was a match made in heaven for settler and native alike, and they rebuilt swiftly on the new island. The more traditionally minded Askerr retreated into the deep, inaccessible areas of the island's caldera region to resume their ancient customs -- which they could more fully indulge in whenever sent abroad by their new [[Anarion|Emperor]]. The deep interior was given to them as a reservation, with visits by tourists strictly forbidden (and solely at their own risk of being dumped into a cooking pot). The island's fertility and varied terrain allowed the Askerr people to gradually recover their prosperity, despite the loss of life and sudden relocation so far from home.

In the immediate aftermath of the Disaster (as these events came to be locally known), the [[Imperial Federation]] quickly came to assert a greater degree of control over their strategic territory in the middle of the Sunfire Sea. Long uninhabited, the island's new location in the [[Isles of Eriador]] proved a double-edged sword. While the island's government lost much of its autonomy to the government at [[Gondolin]] and the neighboring Eriadoran capital at [[Arkadi'os]], that very proximity brought prosperity to the island after it recovered from its disaster. However, the Prince lost much of his power to the Ruling Council, and was also subject to a so-called "emergency council" consisting of representatives from neighboring [[Al Hamra]] as well as the Imperial Government, along with [[Askerr]] chieftains who were customarily unrepresented in such affairs. On the other hand, the Imperial Federation now needed to deal with the recurrent problem of cannibals freshly located in their midst. Thankfully, however, they tended to keep to themselves. The only exceptions were some tribesmen picking off some random tourist that ignored the plethora of warning signs telling them to KEEP OUT because they were in DANGEROUS TERRITORY.

== Economy ==

=== Foreign Trade ===

==== Military Services ====

Thanks to the very high amount of political and military autonomy enjoyed by the island, House Tepesh has been able to raise mercenaries of its own among its military ranks to gain experience abroad. While the policy under Eru Tepesh I was to merely contain the natives, his eldest son and successor in Eru Tepesh II saw fit to harness the considerable fighting spirit of the island's large native population for more constructive purposes. Since Eru II's ascension as ruler of Dromosker (r. {{AN|1702}} - {{AN|1730}}), he instituted a military policy that employed a corps of Hexarchian officers and Dromosker natives from trusted tribes (including Askerr) as a forward-deployed force, constantly employing its forces to retain a cadre of highly experienced officers while reinforcing their dominance over the island and its native peoples (which still outnumber the so-called Outlanders by several times). This policy continued under the (self-declared) ascension of Eru III as ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' in {{AN|1730}}.

In the early years of House Tepesh rule, the most-honored natives are usually rewarded with mana gained from the wholesale destruction of regional pirates, and placement on such expeditions is still considered the source of great honor by individual warriors and the tribes which send them. This partly engineered cultural facet, combined with the extent of the island's autonomy since {{AN|1720}}, allowed Eru Tepesh II to send a fully armed regiment of Dromosker merceneries to work for the [[Benacian Union]] in a bid to bring in additional income to the island, on condition the regiment see consistent (if light) action and access to proper rewards for both its Hexarchian officer corps and their Dromosker subordinates. (Rumor also held that the central government accepted this arrangement when the offer was sweetened by the addition of certain exotic animals to the menagerie of death at [[Ereshkigal Forest]].)

This policy continued under the Principality, and the Tepesh family was allowed to be the guarantor of Askerr mercenaries serving under [[Imperial Federation]] operations during such events as the [[Corum War]] and in policing the far places of the world. After the 1750's, mixed units consisting of Askerr warriors and Dromosker settlers (as they now called themselves) were a common sight, especially among more disciplined companies assigned more sensitive missions.

=== Interior Trade ===

Trade does happen between House Tepesh and the local rulers, who have come to respect the lord of House Tepesh, (always reigning under the name "Eru"), as the true master of Dromosker island with a quasi-religious status as undisputed lord of the island and all who live on it. From {{AN|1725}}, the Tepesh family cemented its dominance over the island, allowing for naval and economic development along much of the island's shoreline. Since the declaration of the Principality in {{AN|1730}}, the growing peace in the island's interior has allowed industry to develop outside of the capital, and the resulting infrastructure and mass-produced items have encouraged a more sedentary lifestyle among the less warlike of the native tribes. With the firmer establishment of local rule and tighter control of the island, an industrial economy has come to complement the agrarian economy the natives employ (outside of cannibalistic purposes). The deep interior of the island saw disruptions with the wane of [[The Hexarchy]] during the ensuring decades, but was restored to normal operations after the relocation under [[Imperial Federation]] assistance.

==== Mana Rights ====

On special occasions, the most loyal of the local cannibal chiefs are given mana by their magnanimous masters in the form of some hapless prisoner convicted of an especially severe crime, as the central government of the Hexarchy cannot directly pass the death penalty on prisoners. During the long period of [[The Hexarchy|Hexarchy]] rule from {{AN|1690}} to {{AN|1755}}, this prohibition extended to a great degree to the Dromosker Island government. House Tepesh was therefore obliged to follow this law while still exercising its own brutish brand of justice on the island's deep interior. The loophole with the Askerr is much the same as the one used with the Hexarchy mainland's practice of passing capital punishment by sending prisoners into exile directly to [[Ereshkigal Forest]], on the mainland.

As such, an aspect of the island's economy now involves the purchasing of mana by more wealthy tribes. Since the Askerr War, natives are no longer allowed to "steal mana" with impunity (aka murdering people without the permission of House Tepesh) lest the offender be subject to being cannibalized, or worse, thrown to the dragons. However, there is a workaround for the many native tribes that still participate in cannibalistic rituals. The natives bid for rights to mana replenishments by offering part of their industrial produce and precious items over a set period of time. When it comes time for condemned criminals to be sent to the tribes, tribute is delivered to the Lord of Dromosker and the natives gain access to the condemned. In those cases where victims are lacking, the natives are instead granted more lenient rights during recruiting efforts for pirate-hunting expeditions sanctioned by the Tepesh government, with some being granted guaranteed places in the outgoing regiments for their finest, most experienced warriors.

This arrangement has resulted in law and order being upheld throughout the island, mostly through self-enforcement. Native policy eventually changed to favoring the bidding system to keep the peace, and tribes engaged in stealing mana were harshly punished by their peers, before they went on to be punished again by the central government as part of punitive expeditions, in which the stolen mana was recovered and distributed several-fold to well-behaved factions that aided in law enforcement. It was thanks in great part to this arrangement that by {{AN|1718}} that the islands were declared completely pacified by the Tepesh government in a report to the central government.

When the mana thefts came to a gradual end, the natives instead focused on aggressively cooperating with the government in its desire to venture into conflict zones, especially for pirate hunting expeditions. In these, the government would (ironically) be the one who was paid by the island's denizens for the honor of joining these expeditions, to the degree that bidding wars eventually took place over these as well, due to limited capacity for recruiting and controlling over-eager warriors. By {{AN|1723}}, these expeditions were extremely profitable, forming a lynchpin of the island's now-booming interior economy. This continued in a more centrally managed fashion after the island's relocation in {{AN|1758}}, being partly managed by the Imperial Federation instead of just locally.

[[Category:Islands]]
[[Category: Imperial Federation]]

Imarru-Lugal

2026-06-29T10:18:49Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Modernization (1692-1750) */

{{Imperial Federation Article}}
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'''Imarru-Lugal''' is the name of a city founded by [[The Hexarchy]] on [[Dromosker Island]] in the early days of 1690 AN. The settlement, given a name that literally translates to "Light of the King," was founded for exactly two reasons: to extend trade to neighbors places out of The Hexarchy's sovereign reach, to extend diplomacy abroad, and establish a fortified place to keep Dromosker Island under control. These days, the name now refers directly to the city, with [[Dromosker Island]] now referring to the wider territory. The territory was conquered in the 1690's AN in the [[Askerr War]] by soldiers of fortune under the Hexarchy's flag, and the commander of the expedition cemented his rule over the island as Eru Tepesh I. The city was resettled in [[Imperial Federation]] territory after its evacuation and complete destruction in {{AN|1758}}. The House of Tepesh still rule the territory, having entrenched themselves over 70 years at the top of the island's social order. Although greatly reduced in power and influence following the relocation, the city still commands paramount importance on the new [[Dromosker Island]].

Both the city and the territory it presides over is entirely self-governed, answering to the government of [[Eriador]]. Its former overlord depended on cooperation with the authorities to maintain dominance, but now sits solidly in [[Imperial Federation]] control due to extreme power disparities, as well as its new proximity to its new overlords. The island, nonetheless, is still equipped with a very strong security force to control the interior, and contributes personnel in Ralgonese missions to destroy any lingering regional pirates that used to use Eriador's formerly uninhabited areas as bases. The force's primary task, however, is controlling a still-large native population infamous for its cannibalistic practices. (This same reputation for vicious cannibals has, ironically, kept any remaining pirates away while directing commerce towards the island's capital port city, where such a reputation does not exist.)

The city's freeport status is a tool that the islanders, Eriador government, and Imperial administration hope to use to restore the island's prosperity, as well as establish a source of income due to the new island's resort-like climate -- especially in the countryside outside of the highly visited port city. These factors, in tandem with the island's excellent location and many natural harbor, are hoped to bring the island (and its mother country) significant investment opportunities at home and abroad, and to serve a purpose other than hosting hidden pirate bases. Eventually, the freeport model is hoped to serve as a model of the Imperial Federation's self-governance policy for its more remote territories like [[Beihagh]].

On the old island, the main factor initially holding back trade since the [[Askerr War]] in 1690-91 AN was the city's relatively small area, although control over the island was initially secured through separate arrangements with the natives over "mana rights." By the 1720's, increasing home rule powers led to the signing of the [[Treaty of Portpur]], which established a customs union with the surrounding [[Çakaristan|Çakari]] territories in the [[Skerry Isles]]. This arrangement was gone after the {{AN|1758}} relocation, having shifted to [[Imperial Federation]] authorities. The new city's larger area brought sources of revenue outside of mercenary work, and final say of "mana rights" were taken from the Prince of Dromosker Island and handed to the Emperor, who continued to delegate such matters back to the local government.

See [[Dromosker Island]] for more information.

==History==

===Pre-Colonization===

===Early Settlement===

As of 1690, the island had only about 50,000 inhabitants in total, sent in small waves in privately chartered vessels from the mainland. This consists in part of new settlers (about a quarter of the population), traders (about ten percent) and skilled construction workers sent to accommodate them (another 15 percent). A significant portion of the population (nearly 40%) also includes travelers heavily laden with debt, who exchanged a trip there and fifteen years of (paid) labor in exchange for having their debts, crimes, or other minor transgressions against others (and the state) forgiven. The remaining portion of the population is a security force meant to keep the islanders safe from either malcontent laborers or from pirates.

Interactions[https://hub.mn/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10429#p101549(1)] between these settlers and the [[Dromosker|original inhabitants of the island]], initially amicable, quickly broke down following an unfortunate banquet held on the lake-island settlement of Calēkhōpraksis which ended in an emissary's spilt entrails roasting on a grill before his eyes whilst native braves wetted their spearpoints in the gaping abdominal wound. The culinary redistribution of mana that ensued helped to embolden the lugals of the seven inter-connected 'swamp valleys' radiating from the lake in preparation for the interesting times ahead.

This resulted in an all-out war waged against the islanders in an effort to subjugate them and successfully colonize the island, since failure would have egregious political consequences back home. To this day, the resulting war is permanently etched onto the Askerr minds of the island, and is sometimes held as a day of grief, when the lugals took in evil mana from a source that proved to be their destruction.

==== The Askerr War ====

{{main|Askerr War}}

The so-called "Great" Askerr War was the conflict fought in the wake of The Hexarchy's settlement of the island of the same name. The conflict was fought between the settlers of the island, who were from various places of The Hexarchy (and elsewhere), and the natives of the island, who had proven unable to be subjugated by past settlers of the island. The natives, prone to cannibalism and constant warfare with others, successfully resisted all prior incursions deep into the island and instead practiced cannibalism on the very people claiming to be their colonial rulers.

Following the murder of an emissary at the hands of the cannibals, the Chief of the settlement, Eru Tepesh, vowed to subjugate the natives and bring peace to the island. Following his decision to bring the island's secretly imported dragons to bear, the war was greatly shortened -- at extreme cost to those natives that opposed his rule over the island the longest. Although the bulk of the fighting occurred only in the first few months of the war, the conflict still lasted until late 1691, due to the fact that natives from neighboring islands continued to wage a guerrilla campaign until they themselves were subjugated at the hands of other local powers.

=== Modernization (1692-1750) ===

Following the conclusion of the war, the regional government was reorganized into several key areas, with the capital still situated at the territory's namesake to the eastern end of the island. Several naval and army bases were established by the settlers at scattered points, and the natives' cannibalistic practices were harshly curtailed in an effort to modernize the local laws, force a swifter long-term subjugation process, and control the local chiefs by restricting the amount of mana they had access to. With the island's long era of constant violence at an end, the natives themselves began to adapt to their new rulers' customs, which surprisingly mirrored many of their own.

With a new supreme overlord on the island (himself answering to a bigger man far away), the natives found themselves wielding their weapons for a renewed purpose. The island's infrastructure was rebuilt and enhanced such that the islanders had never seen this level of prosperity. Food and resources flowed like water, and the population immediately began to grow as the natives' children experienced a much lower mortality and more settlers moved in from the mainland. By the end of 1693, a rail network existed that connected the island's major settlements and allowed for peaceful trade to exist between the Hexarchians, the Dromosker, and their neighbors across the Skerry Sea.

The full pacification of the island was considered complete in 1699, with the inauguration of [[Sargon Gilgamesh-Pilagga Azulpolassar]], second son of [[Praetor Gilgamesh II]], as the ceremonial Prince of Imarru-Lugal. The governor Eru Tepesh was made Duke of Dromosker Island, in recognition of his efforts to settle and pacify the island. While the Duke was expected to step down as governor in 1700 AN following popular elections on the island for the same post, he instead cemented power by securing native loyalties. He succeeded in passing control of the island to his son, Eru Tepesh II, in 1702. Eru II consolidated native loyalty and control of the island to the degree where he was immovable as a political leader. In 1730, a member of House Tepesh had installed himself as Prince of Dromosker Island, still paying lip service to the then-[[Praetor]], [[Sargon Azulpolassar]]. This status continued until the old island's destruction and city's relocation to the [[Isles of Eriador]] in {{AN|1758}}.

=== Post-Relocation (1758) ===

[[category:Cities]]
[[category:Cities in the Imperial Federation]]

Imarru-Lugal

2026-06-29T10:18:39Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}
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'''Imarru-Lugal''' is the name of a city founded by [[The Hexarchy]] on [[Dromosker Island]] in the early days of 1690 AN. The settlement, given a name that literally translates to "Light of the King," was founded for exactly two reasons: to extend trade to neighbors places out of The Hexarchy's sovereign reach, to extend diplomacy abroad, and establish a fortified place to keep Dromosker Island under control. These days, the name now refers directly to the city, with [[Dromosker Island]] now referring to the wider territory. The territory was conquered in the 1690's AN in the [[Askerr War]] by soldiers of fortune under the Hexarchy's flag, and the commander of the expedition cemented his rule over the island as Eru Tepesh I. The city was resettled in [[Imperial Federation]] territory after its evacuation and complete destruction in {{AN|1758}}. The House of Tepesh still rule the territory, having entrenched themselves over 70 years at the top of the island's social order. Although greatly reduced in power and influence following the relocation, the city still commands paramount importance on the new [[Dromosker Island]].

Both the city and the territory it presides over is entirely self-governed, answering to the government of [[Eriador]]. Its former overlord depended on cooperation with the authorities to maintain dominance, but now sits solidly in [[Imperial Federation]] control due to extreme power disparities, as well as its new proximity to its new overlords. The island, nonetheless, is still equipped with a very strong security force to control the interior, and contributes personnel in Ralgonese missions to destroy any lingering regional pirates that used to use Eriador's formerly uninhabited areas as bases. The force's primary task, however, is controlling a still-large native population infamous for its cannibalistic practices. (This same reputation for vicious cannibals has, ironically, kept any remaining pirates away while directing commerce towards the island's capital port city, where such a reputation does not exist.)

The city's freeport status is a tool that the islanders, Eriador government, and Imperial administration hope to use to restore the island's prosperity, as well as establish a source of income due to the new island's resort-like climate -- especially in the countryside outside of the highly visited port city. These factors, in tandem with the island's excellent location and many natural harbor, are hoped to bring the island (and its mother country) significant investment opportunities at home and abroad, and to serve a purpose other than hosting hidden pirate bases. Eventually, the freeport model is hoped to serve as a model of the Imperial Federation's self-governance policy for its more remote territories like [[Beihagh]].

On the old island, the main factor initially holding back trade since the [[Askerr War]] in 1690-91 AN was the city's relatively small area, although control over the island was initially secured through separate arrangements with the natives over "mana rights." By the 1720's, increasing home rule powers led to the signing of the [[Treaty of Portpur]], which established a customs union with the surrounding [[Çakaristan|Çakari]] territories in the [[Skerry Isles]]. This arrangement was gone after the {{AN|1758}} relocation, having shifted to [[Imperial Federation]] authorities. The new city's larger area brought sources of revenue outside of mercenary work, and final say of "mana rights" were taken from the Prince of Dromosker Island and handed to the Emperor, who continued to delegate such matters back to the local government.

See [[Dromosker Island]] for more information.

==History==

===Pre-Colonization===

===Early Settlement===

As of 1690, the island had only about 50,000 inhabitants in total, sent in small waves in privately chartered vessels from the mainland. This consists in part of new settlers (about a quarter of the population), traders (about ten percent) and skilled construction workers sent to accommodate them (another 15 percent). A significant portion of the population (nearly 40%) also includes travelers heavily laden with debt, who exchanged a trip there and fifteen years of (paid) labor in exchange for having their debts, crimes, or other minor transgressions against others (and the state) forgiven. The remaining portion of the population is a security force meant to keep the islanders safe from either malcontent laborers or from pirates.

Interactions[https://hub.mn/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10429#p101549(1)] between these settlers and the [[Dromosker|original inhabitants of the island]], initially amicable, quickly broke down following an unfortunate banquet held on the lake-island settlement of Calēkhōpraksis which ended in an emissary's spilt entrails roasting on a grill before his eyes whilst native braves wetted their spearpoints in the gaping abdominal wound. The culinary redistribution of mana that ensued helped to embolden the lugals of the seven inter-connected 'swamp valleys' radiating from the lake in preparation for the interesting times ahead.

This resulted in an all-out war waged against the islanders in an effort to subjugate them and successfully colonize the island, since failure would have egregious political consequences back home. To this day, the resulting war is permanently etched onto the Askerr minds of the island, and is sometimes held as a day of grief, when the lugals took in evil mana from a source that proved to be their destruction.

==== The Askerr War ====

{{main|Askerr War}}

The so-called "Great" Askerr War was the conflict fought in the wake of The Hexarchy's settlement of the island of the same name. The conflict was fought between the settlers of the island, who were from various places of The Hexarchy (and elsewhere), and the natives of the island, who had proven unable to be subjugated by past settlers of the island. The natives, prone to cannibalism and constant warfare with others, successfully resisted all prior incursions deep into the island and instead practiced cannibalism on the very people claiming to be their colonial rulers.

Following the murder of an emissary at the hands of the cannibals, the Chief of the settlement, Eru Tepesh, vowed to subjugate the natives and bring peace to the island. Following his decision to bring the island's secretly imported dragons to bear, the war was greatly shortened -- at extreme cost to those natives that opposed his rule over the island the longest. Although the bulk of the fighting occurred only in the first few months of the war, the conflict still lasted until late 1691, due to the fact that natives from neighboring islands continued to wage a guerrilla campaign until they themselves were subjugated at the hands of other local powers.

=== Modernization (1692-1750) ===

Following the conclusion of the war, the regional government was reorganized into several key areas, with the capital still situated at the territory's namesake to the eastern end of the island. Several naval and army bases were established by the settlers at scattered points, and the natives' cannibalistic practices were harshly curtailed in an effort to modernize the local laws, force a swifter long-term subjugation process, and control the local chiefs by restricting the amount of mana they had access to. With the island's long era of constant violence at an end, the natives themselves began to adapt to their new rulers' customs, which surprisingly mirrored many of their own.

With a new supreme overlord on the island (himself answering to a bigger man far away), the natives found themselves wielding their weapons for a renewed purpose. The island's infrastructure was rebuilt and enhanced such that the islanders had never seen this level of prosperity. Food and resources flowed like water, and the population immediately began to grow as the natives' children experienced a much lower mortality and more settlers moved in from the mainland. By the end of 1693, a rail network existed that connected the island's major settlements and allowed for peaceful trade to exist between the Hexarchians, the Dromosker, and their neighbors across the Skerry Sea.

The full pacification of the island was considered complete in 1699, with the inauguration of [[Sargon Gilgamesh-Pilagga Azulpolassar]], second son of [[Praetor Gilgamesh II]], as the ceremonial Prince of Imarru-Lugal. The governor Eru Tepesh was made Duke of Dromosker Island, in recognition of his efforts to settle and pacify the island. While the Duke was expected to step down as governor in 1700 AN following popular elections on the island for the same post, he instead cemented power by securing native loyalties. He succeeded in passing control of the island to his son, Eru Tepesh II, in 1702. Eru II consolidated native loyalty and control of the island to the degree where he was immovable as a political leader. In 1730, a member of House Tepesh had installed himself as Prince of Dromosker Island, still paying lip service to the then-[[Praetor]], [[Sargon Azulpolassar]]. This status continued until the island's destruction and city's relocation to the [[Isles of Eriador]] in {{AN|1758}}.

=== Post-Relocation (1758) ===

[[category:Cities]]
[[category:Cities in the Imperial Federation]]

Dromosker Island (Constancia)

2026-06-29T03:45:42Z

Cosmic Fury: Reverted Continuator's unceremonious erasure of my recent work.

{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{subdivision |
image_flag = |
subdivision = The Principality of Dromosker Island [[Image:Eriador_1757.png]] |
status = Territory of the [[Imperial Federation]] |
capital = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
largecity = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
population = ~750,000 ({{AN|1750}})|
title = Prince |
government = Semi-Tribal Monarchy (executive/judicial) Ruling Council (executive) National Senate (legislative) |
leader = Prince Vlad Tepesh (regnal name: Eru IV) 2nd Prince of Dromosker Island 5th Gal-Lugal of the [[Askerr]] |
language = [[Askerr]], [[Istvanistani language|Common Tongue]]; Çakari (minority), Alexandrian (minority); Ralgonese (minority) |
religion = Folk religions (majority); [[Umraism]] (minority); [[Draconic]] (minority)|
}}
The '''Principality of Dromosker''' is an island country newly situated in the [[Eriador|Isles of Eriador]]. Formerly situated in the eastern fringe of the [[Skerry Isles]], the island and nearly its entire population were relocated to a fertile but uninhabited island deep in [[Imperial Federation]] territory in {{AN|1757}} in the aftermath of the island's anarchy, devastation, and subsequent relocation to a far-off area that was completed before the end of the following year. The area left behind, devoid of its original features, was annexed by [[Constancia]] in the aftermath while reverting to an older name.

Despite the relocation, the new island is still known to be the traditional home of tribes historically practicing anthropophagy, who are collectively known as the [[Askerr]] of Dromosker Island. On the old island, this practice was greatly diminished and carefully managed following the natives' defeat at the hands of their new overlords in the [[Askerr War]] of {{AN|1690}}. Life on the island transformed under the House Tepesh, which declared the island a Principality in {{AN|1730}}. Nominal Hexarchy rule lasted for nearly 68 years before the island fell into anarchy and relocated in {{AN|1758}} to its present location, following a series of apocalyptic disasters that essentially destroyed the island.

In times past, the old island played host to [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island went to Jingdao as a gift by the same man in {{AN|1629}}. It remained in Jing hands until {{AN|1686}}, and was then briefly held by [[Barbary]] until it collapsed in {{AN|1688}}. After that, it was occupied by colonists from [[The Hexarchy]], who fought the brutal, two-year long [[Askerr War]] in {{AN|1690}} with the natives over control over the island before establishing the city of [[Imarru-Lugal]] (itself also the capital of the new island). The island's government was dependent on military support for its continued rule over the next 68 years, although it this ended the same way it began: blood, fire, and mass movement to an unfamiliar place.

Post-relocation, the new island's government, having kept the same name, now fell under the authority of the [[Isles of Eriador]]. Although loss of life in the immediate months before the relocation was cataclysmic, both the Askerr and settler community managed to survive mostly intact, and saw greater mingling in subsequent years. Many traditionally-minded Askerr still practice their old ways on the new Dromosker Island's wild, inaccessible interior, well away from prying eyes. Occasionally, some of the better-integrated Askerr warrior bands are sent to far-off places in search of mana and glory, under the auspices of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]], who turns a blind eye to these practices so long as stringent protocol are enforced by their captains.

(Also see [[Imarru-Lugal]] for the island's capital and primate city.)

==History==

===Early History===

===Occupation by [[Jingdao]] ({{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1690}}===

==== Maritime Republic Era {{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1688}} ====
{{main|Maritime Free Republic}}

The '''Maritime Free Republic''', also known as '''Hexiehaizei''' (Jingdaoese for: ''harmonious pirate''), or '''Dromosker Island''' is a formerly independent island nation that has been part of the [[Jingdao|Jingdaoese Empire]] from 1629 until the 1680's AN. There was also very little imperial oversight during the Jingdao occupation era. It was previously the home of [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island's subjugation by [[The Hexarchy]] in 1690 AN as a result of the [[Askerr War]]. Captain Poldark was also the person who gifted the nation to Jingdao in 1629, after having received support from the Jingdaoese Empire for some time.

In 1635 Emperor Heinrich of Jingdao, the [[Kattei Emperor]] ordered the Maritime Free Republic to build an educational institute for the troubled youth on the island. In turn Captain-General Walter Poldark promised to build the ''Emperor Heinrich Naval School for the Disadvantaged Youth''. Reports on what happened to the children, and their suspected encounters with the Askerr have always been suppressed by Jingdaoese censors and to this day nothing is known for certain about what happened to them.

=== [[Barbary]] Occupation {{AN|1688}}-{{AN|1689}} ===

In 1688 the Maritime Free Republic was transferred into the hand of the [[Barbarian Republic]] as part of a land trade between Jingdao and Barbary, where it became known as the island of the [[Gezellige Piraten]] (''cosy pirates'''). By the first month of 1690 the last of the Barbary traders had disappeared into the cooking pots of the Askerr and the natives were most recently observed to have assembled on the northern shore of the island, making beckoning gestures to the crew of a barque from the [[Hexarchy]], inviting them to come ashore - which they, somewhat incautiously, some settlers of [[Imarru-Lugal|duly did]]. This incident in turn led to the [[Askerr War]], in which the Hexarchy conquered the island by way of soldiers of fortune led by one Eru Tepesh, contrary to much of his home government's wishes.

Despite the considerable cultural changes on the island since the 1690's AN during the Hexarchy's often-violent takeover, Jing influences remain among subsets of natives to this day. For instance, the worship of the Heavenly Light in the form of a cargo cult has been largely ignored by the island's new rulers, and many of these cultural aspects have been subverted by the island's rulers to cement their control over the island's large population. Due to the relative independence of the island under both the Jing and Hexarchy, the island's local culture retained its own character for well over a century of nominal foreign rule.

=== Occupation by [[The Hexarchy]] ({{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1756}}) ===
{{main|Askerr War}}

==== Pacification & Settlement {{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1730}} ====

The modern history of the island is characterized by the occupation of [[The Hexarchy]], and the course of the island's modern politics is mostly based on the new government based out of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the city which also bears the name of the territory. Most trade between the new [[Imperial Federation]] and Hexarchian merchants passes through the island, which is used as a stopover during the long voyage from the eastern territories of Keltia to the Hexarchy proper.

Since the end of the Askerr War, events on the island are usually confined to a strictly local nature, with the status quo remaining mostly unchanged since 1691. For the first three decades of Hexarchian rule, the natives kept almost entirely to themselves. However, the occasional dragon attack was staged during the early years of the occupation against those who had clearly forgotten what their rulers' wrath feels like in the midst of localized rebellions or, more commonly, organized attacks on shipping deep in the island's interior. The scale of rebellions decreased over time, thanks to intelligently designed arrangements to turn the mana system into a source of extensive profit and long-lasting legal control by the central government.

Due to the more quiet experience people now have within the environs of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the well-provisioned and strongly defended island was then used for at least the following two decades as a proxy location for negotiations between the Hexarchy and faraway nations that aren't enamored with the mainland's unique fauna and the traditions associated with them. Due to its far-off location from the mainland and the central government's long-lasting lack of enthusiasm for a colonial empire, the island was gradually left to its own devices. Eventually, local rule became extremely independent with internal affairs.

The island increasingly asserted its independence to the degree where [[The Hexarchy]], nominally the island's suzerain, was nothing more than a rubber stamp in local affairs by the time the House of Tepesh signed the [Treaty of Portpur]] with [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1726}}. The following assertions of "autonomous rule" (independence in all but name) persisted from that point. This coincided with the decline of [[The Hexarchy]] from the late 1720's onwards. The island's near-total political independence near this point resulted in Eru Tepesh III declaring himself ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' on his ascension to the island's leadership in {{AN|1730}}.

==== Principality ({{AN|1731}}-{{AN|1756}}) ====

However, the problem of keeping the entire island pacified persisted, and worsened with the near-cutoff of Hexarchy military and financial support during its political turbulence. The island's leadership already had established partnerships with [[Çakaristan]] in keeping the surrounding waters clear of piracy. The [[Imperial Federation]] joined from {{AN|1728}} during one of its own periods of ascendancy, during which Prince Eru III (as the new Prince styled himself) allowed an Imperial Federation navy base to be built to host a large trading entrepot, bringing further defensiveness and prosperity to the capital at [[Imarru-Lugal]].

During this time, the Prince continued the family tradition of styling himself separately to the natives as "Gal-Lugal" (lit. the chief of chiefs) over the island's interior. However, the 17 years of his rule saw a slow decline in hard authority over the island's interior, while control over the coastlines accelerated thanks to domestic and foreign infrastructure. Tourism and maritime industry flourished on the island, and Dromosker became a destination for further waves of settlers seeking opportunity on the rapidly developing coastlines. Troubles with the natives of the interior persisted, however, and by {{AN|1745}} there were, once again, bands of [[Askerr]] reverting to their more bellicose nature and indiscriminately attacking people to steal their mana. A series of punitive expeditions with local forces with Ralgonese naval support temporarily pacified the island, but it was clear that House Tepesh would need further military support to exercise control over the island. These continued until Eru III's death in {{AN|1747}}, and his 38-year-old successor Prince Eru IV took over, inheriting the problems arising late in his father's reign. The first nine years of Eru IV's reign were the most challenging since his ancestor conquered the island nearly sixty years before.

With its limited force of local dragons, the strategy of dealing with rebellions from the air and keeping loyalist casualties close to zero became untenable. A series of costly campaigns were fought in the interior to punish the rebellious natives and supply loyalist Askerr with more ''mana''. This was hardly a permanent solution, though, and the steady (and noticeable) lapse in direct support and oversight from the mainland made sustainable mana both at home and abroad more difficult to obtain, as the island gradually grew politically isolated and access to military contracts gradually dried up. When the final vestiges of authority from [[The Hexarchy]] lapsed in {{AN|1756}}, it hadn't followed some announcement from the central government. Silence was the only order of the day, and forces loyal to the central government either left the island with their dragons for the mainland, or pledged loyalty to House Tepesh.

==== Fall of Dromosker Island ({{AN|1756}}-{{AN|1758}}) ====

Following confirmation that [[The Hexarchy]] had lapsed into crisis after {{AN|1756}}, assistance was requested from local [[Imperial Federation]] forces. Prince Eru IV was worried that [[Çakaristan]] would rapidly subsume his country and home-grown culture, being in proximity to other Çakari holdings in the other [[Skerry Isles]], specifically the [[Beneluccas]]. The ruling elite of the island valued Çakari partnerships, and considered the surrounding people as more-or-less friendly to their own. As economic partners, they brought prosperity to the island and the customs union under the [[Treaty of Portpur]] was highly beneficial to both sides. However, as political partners, House Tepesh feared a Çakari takeover due to both their proximity and huge disparity in size next to the island. Hindsight proved Eru IV right, although his preparations were woefully inadequate to the resulting crises that followed.

As such, an agreement was struck in late {{AN|1756}} that instead named [[Anarion]] the new overlord of Dromosker, with a title to reflect his new (nominal) dominion over the island. In exchange for ceding certain port facilities and external political rights, the island could continue as a dependency of the Imperial Federation. A Viceroy was also sent to represent the Emperor, but they never reached the island in time for further events to play out. The more excitable Askerr warriors were, furthermore, given the opportunity to join Ralgonese detachments in active zones abroad. While their mana wouldn't necessarily be supplied by humans during every fight (such as in the [[Great Swamp]] or the [[Badlands]]), the warriors would continually win honor and glory... and continue to fill the treasuries of House Tepesh beyond anything they'd ever managed while ruling the island by themselves.

Confusion followed, however. The transfer was interrupted due to lack of [[MCS]] recognition, so the [[Dromosker Island/Pact of Schaarlecht|Pact of Schaarlecht]] was struck between the [[Imperial Federation]], [[Çakaristan]], and the Dromosker Island government to salvage the situation. As soon as Ralgonese forces had left, however, the Cakari immediately repudiated the treaty. This threw the central government into a panic while, for the first time, supporting forces were absent from the island during an impending crisis. Relations between the Imperial Federation and Cakari were, for a time, completely ruptured over the incident as the Ralgonese Emperor was apocalyptic over this betrayal. The consequences for Dromosker were far more severe than a mere lover's spat between two distant rulers. Sensing the coming anarchy, much of the Raskol population erupted, killing any moving thing they saw in their path. While the population of [[Imarru-Lugal]] (Settler and Askerr alike) was generally safe, the countryside experienced a bloodbath like the island had never seen.

The scenes of death and complete anarchy in the countryside forced Prince Eru Tepesh into a campaign of annihilation against much of the interior to save [[Imarru-Lugal]] from its own destruction. While he lost nearly half his remaining dragons, the resistance was, for a time, suppressed. Large chunks of the entire island were reduced to cinders, with nothing larger than a cat able to survive in the blasted countryside. Having expended his military power to thwart both external and internal threats, the island was left scorched, and no longer able to fend for itself against the remaining populations of the island. Having lost control of the situation, he called to the Imperial Federation once more for assistance.

=== Post-Disaster ({{AN|1758}}-)===

What followed was a subject of intense debate. Prevailing accounts claim the [[Imperial Federation]] sending [[Grand Armada of the Sunfire Sea|every available ship in the region]] to rescue the situation. Other, more outlandish accounts suggest [[Spatial Displacement Disaster|a complete upending of the island]] done by the Prince solely to spite his betrayers. Whatever happened, what is known is that the island was the subject of resulting apocalyptic disasters that demanded the island's complete evacuation and the relocation of its entire population, livestock, and few remaining dragons. The chosen location sat on a large island in the [[Isles of Eriador]], which was hitherto uninhabited despite its soil's fertility and excellent location for settlement.

The resulting move took roughly a year and a half. Its capital city was quickly rebuilt, an its people were located on a large, dormant volcanic island in the [[Isles of Eriador]]. The population of [[Imarru-Lugal]] emerged relatively unscathed, as did most of the Askerr loyal to the Prince. The population outside the capital, however, experienced extreme loss of life, and few that had risen amid the killing spree survived to see themselves evacuated off their old burning rocks. The new island, possessing a similar topography with its many lakes, ravines, and rivers, was a match made in heaven for settler and native alike, and they rebuilt swiftly on the new island. The more traditionally minded Askerr retreated into the deep, inaccessible areas of the island's caldera region to resume their ancient customs -- which they could more fully indulge in whenever sent abroad by their new [[Anarion|Emperor]]. The deep interior was given to them as a reservation, with visits by tourists strictly forbidden (and solely at their own risk of being dumped into a cooking pot). The island's fertility and varied terrain allowed the Askerr people to gradually recover their prosperity, despite the loss of life and sudden relocation so far from home.

In the immediate aftermath of the Disaster (as these events came to be locally known), the [[Imperial Federation]] quickly came to assert a greater degree of control over their strategic territory in the middle of the Sunfire Sea. Long uninhabited, the island's new location in the [[Isles of Eriador]] proved a double-edged sword. While the island's government lost much of its autonomy to the government at [[Gondolin]] and the neighboring Eriadoran capital at [[Arkadi'os]], that very proximity brought prosperity to the island after it recovered from its disaster. However, the Prince lost much of his power to the Ruling Council, and was also subject to a so-called "emergency council" consisting of representatives from neighboring [[Al Hamra]] as well as the Imperial Government, along with [[Askerr]] chieftains who were customarily unrepresented in such affairs. On the other hand, the Imperial Federation now needed to deal with the recurrent problem of cannibals freshly located in their midst. Thankfully, however, they tended to keep to themselves. The only exceptions were some tribesmen picking off some random tourist that ignored the plethora of warning signs telling them to KEEP OUT because they were in DANGEROUS TERRITORY.

== Economy ==

=== Foreign Trade ===

==== Military Services ====

Thanks to the very high amount of political and military autonomy enjoyed by the island, House Tepesh has been able to raise mercenaries of its own among its military ranks to gain experience abroad. While the policy under Eru Tepesh I was to merely contain the natives, his eldest son and successor in Eru Tepesh II saw fit to harness the considerable fighting spirit of the island's large native population for more constructive purposes. Since Eru II's ascension as ruler of Dromosker (r. {{AN|1702}} - {{AN|1730}}), he instituted a military policy that employed a corps of Hexarchian officers and Dromosker natives from trusted tribes (including Askerr) as a forward-deployed force, constantly employing its forces to retain a cadre of highly experienced officers while reinforcing their dominance over the island and its native peoples (which still outnumber the so-called Outlanders by several times). This policy continued under the (self-declared) ascension of Eru III as ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' in {{AN|1730}}.

In the early years of House Tepesh rule, the most-honored natives are usually rewarded with mana gained from the wholesale destruction of regional pirates, and placement on such expeditions is still considered the source of great honor by individual warriors and the tribes which send them. This partly engineered cultural facet, combined with the extent of the island's autonomy since {{AN|1720}}, allowed Eru Tepesh II to send a fully armed regiment of Dromosker merceneries to work for the [[Benacian Union]] in a bid to bring in additional income to the island, on condition the regiment see consistent (if light) action and access to proper rewards for both its Hexarchian officer corps and their Dromosker subordinates. (Rumor also held that the central government accepted this arrangement when the offer was sweetened by the addition of certain exotic animals to the menagerie of death at [[Ereshkigal Forest]].)

This policy continued under the Principality, and the Tepesh family was allowed to be the guarantor of Askerr mercenaries serving under [[Imperial Federation]] operations during such events as the [[Corum War]] and in policing the far places of the world. After the 1750's, mixed units consisting of Askerr warriors and Dromosker settlers (as they now called themselves) were a common sight, especially among more disciplined companies assigned more sensitive missions.

=== Interior Trade ===

Trade does happen between House Tepesh and the local rulers, who have come to respect the lord of House Tepesh, (always reigning under the name "Eru"), as the true master of Dromosker island with a quasi-religious status as undisputed lord of the island and all who live on it. From {{AN|1725}}, the Tepesh family cemented its dominance over the island, allowing for naval and economic development along much of the island's shoreline. Since the declaration of the Principality in {{AN|1730}}, the growing peace in the island's interior has allowed industry to develop outside of the capital, and the resulting infrastructure and mass-produced items have encouraged a more sedentary lifestyle among the less warlike of the native tribes. With the firmer establishment of local rule and tighter control of the island, an industrial economy has come to complement the agrarian economy the natives employ (outside of cannibalistic purposes). The deep interior of the island saw disruptions with the wane of [[The Hexarchy]] during the ensuring decades, but was restored to normal operations after the relocation under [[Imperial Federation]] assistance.

==== Mana Rights ====

On special occasions, the most loyal of the local cannibal chiefs are given mana by their magnanimous masters in the form of some hapless prisoner convicted of an especially severe crime, as the central government of the Hexarchy cannot directly pass the death penalty on prisoners. During the long period of [[The Hexarchy|Hexarchy]] rule from {{AN|1690}} to {{AN|1755}}, this prohibition extended to a great degree to the Dromosker Island government. House Tepesh was therefore obliged to follow this law while still exercising its own brutish brand of justice on the island's deep interior. The loophole with the Askerr is much the same as the one used with the Hexarchy mainland's practice of passing capital punishment by sending prisoners into exile directly to [[Ereshkigal Forest]], on the mainland.

As such, an aspect of the island's economy now involves the purchasing of mana by more wealthy tribes. Since the Askerr War, natives are no longer allowed to "steal mana" with impunity (aka murdering people without the permission of House Tepesh) lest the offender be subject to being cannibalized, or worse, thrown to the dragons. However, there is a workaround for the many native tribes that still participate in cannibalistic rituals. The natives bid for rights to mana replenishments by offering part of their industrial produce and precious items over a set period of time. When it comes time for condemned criminals to be sent to the tribes, tribute is delivered to the Lord of Dromosker and the natives gain access to the condemned. In those cases where victims are lacking, the natives are instead granted more lenient rights during recruiting efforts for pirate-hunting expeditions sanctioned by the Tepesh government, with some being granted guaranteed places in the outgoing regiments for their finest, most experienced warriors.

This arrangement has resulted in law and order being upheld throughout the island, mostly through self-enforcement. Native policy eventually changed to favoring the bidding system to keep the peace, and tribes engaged in stealing mana were harshly punished by their peers, before they went on to be punished again by the central government as part of punitive expeditions, in which the stolen mana was recovered and distributed several-fold to well-behaved factions that aided in law enforcement. It was thanks in great part to this arrangement that by {{AN|1718}} that the islands were declared completely pacified by the Tepesh government in a report to the central government.

When the mana thefts came to a gradual end, the natives instead focused on aggressively cooperating with the government in its desire to venture into conflict zones, especially for pirate hunting expeditions. In these, the government would (ironically) be the one who was paid by the island's denizens for the honor of joining these expeditions, to the degree that bidding wars eventually took place over these as well, due to limited capacity for recruiting and controlling over-eager warriors. By {{AN|1723}}, these expeditions were extremely profitable, forming a lynchpin of the island's now-booming interior economy. This continued in a more centrally managed fashion after the island's relocation in {{AN|1758}}, being partly managed by the Imperial Federation instead of just locally.

[[Category:Islands]]
[[Category: Imperial Federation]]

Dromosker Island (Constancia)

2026-06-21T15:57:43Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{subdivision |
image_flag = |
subdivision = The Principality of Dromosker Island [[Image:Eriador_1757.png]] |
status = Territory of the [[Imperial Federation]] |
capital = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
largecity = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
population = ~750,000 ({{AN|1750}})|
title = Prince |
government = Semi-Tribal Monarchy (executive/judicial) Ruling Council (executive) National Senate (legislative) |
leader = Prince Vlad Tepesh (regnal name: Eru IV) 2nd Prince of Dromosker Island 5th Gal-Lugal of the [[Askerr]] |
language = [[Askerr]], [[Istvanistani language|Common Tongue]]; Çakari (minority), Alexandrian (minority); Ralgonese (minority) |
religion = Folk religions (majority); [[Umraism]] (minority); [[Draconic]] (minority)|
}}
The '''Principality of Dromosker''' is an island country newly situated in the [[Eriador|Isles of Eriador]]. Formerly situated in the eastern fringe of the [[Skerry Isles]], the island was wrecked on the deserted volcanic western island of the chain in {{AN|1757}} in the aftermath of the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]]. The area left behind, devoid of its original features, was annexed by [[Cakaristan]] as [[Xunpadshahan Island]], while the new Dromosker Island became part

The island is known to be the traditional home of tribes historically practicing anthropophagy, who are collectively known as the [[Askerr]] of Dromosker Island. This practice, however, was greatly diminished following the natives' defeat at the hands of their new overlords in the [[Askerr War]] of {{AN|1690}}. Such traditions were carefully managed since then by the island's leadership, which turned this into a way of controlling the otherwise ungovernable pool of hardy warriors from the interior. Life on the island transformed under the House Tepesh, which declared the island a Principality in {{AN|1730}}. Nominal Hexarchy rule lasted for nearly 68 years before the island's local rulers transferred their overlordship briefly to [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1758}}, with plans for transfer of power to the [[Imperial Federation}} in {{AN|1768}}.

In times past, the island played host to [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island went to Jingdao as a gift by the same man in {{AN|1629}}. It remained in Jing hands until {{AN|1686}}, and was then briefly held by [[Barbary]] until it collapsed in {{AN|1688}}. After that, it was occupied by colonists from [[The Hexarchy]], who fought the brutal, two-year long [[Askerr War]] in {{AN|1690}} with the natives over control over the island before establishing a now-heavily populated city at [[Imarru-Lugal]]. The island's government was dependent on military support for its continued rule over the next 68 years, although it was able to gradually assert more local political authority as this period drew to a close.

In the 1720's AN, the island began to exercise its home rule more freely under the continued leadership of the Tepesh family (being the island's conquerers in the 1690's war). The family was recognized in its dual status as the island's recognized government over the colonies centered around [[Imarru-Lugal]] and as the recognized tribal overlord within the island proper. Being semi-independent of a home country reluctant at playing the role of an overseas colonial power, [[The Hexarchy]] granted the colonial government a limited ability for the collective Dromosker government negotiate its own specific treaties with so-called "friendly" states. One of the most notable examples of the Dromosker government exercising these new privileges was their signing of the [[Treaty of Portpur]], which established a customs union between the island and neighboring territories in the [[Skerry Isles]] ruled by [[Çakaristan]].

After a complete lapse of support from [[The Hexarchy]], overlordship of the island was temporarily passed to the [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1758}} as part of a 10-year deal, which preserved most of the island's independence and autonomy. The Principality retains partial control over foreign affairs, with external arrangements subject to the Shahanshah's approval. Political authority rests almost completely on local rulers, with the appointed Viceroy of the island only exercising veto when in direct conflict with its suzerain's interests on the island. The island was slated for transfer to the [[Imperial Federation]] in {{AN|1768}} when the [[Dromosker Island/Pact of Schaarlecht|Pact of Schaarlecht]] expires.

(Also see [[Imarru-Lugal]] for the island's capital and primate city.)

==History==

===Early History===

===Occupation by [[Jingdao]] ({{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1690}}===

==== Maritime Republic Era {{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1688}} ====
{{main|Maritime Free Republic}}

The '''Maritime Free Republic''', also known as '''Hexiehaizei''' (Jingdaoese for: ''harmonious pirate''), or '''Dromosker Island''' is a formerly independent island nation that has been part of the [[Jingdao|Jingdaoese Empire]] from 1629 until the 1680's AN. There was also very little imperial oversight during the Jingdao occupation era. It was previously the home of [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island's subjugation by [[The Hexarchy]] in 1690 AN as a result of the [[Askerr War]]. Captain Poldark was also the person who gifted the nation to Jingdao in 1629, after having received support from the Jingdaoese Empire for some time.

In 1635 Emperor Heinrich of Jingdao, the [[Kattei Emperor]] ordered the Maritime Free Republic to build an educational institute for the troubled youth on the island. In turn Captain-General Walter Poldark promised to build the ''Emperor Heinrich Naval School for the Disadvantaged Youth''. Reports on what happened to the children, and their suspected encounters with the Askerr have always been suppressed by Jingdaoese censors and to this day nothing is known for certain about what happened to them.

=== [[Barbary]] Occupation {{AN|1688}}-{{AN|1689}} ===

In 1688 the Maritime Free Republic was transferred into the hand of the [[Barbarian Republic]] as part of a land trade between Jingdao and Barbary, where it became known as the island of the [[Gezellige Piraten]] (''cosy pirates'''). By the first month of 1690 the last of the Barbary traders had disappeared into the cooking pots of the Askerr and the natives were most recently observed to have assembled on the northern shore of the island, making beckoning gestures to the crew of a barque from the [[Hexarchy]], inviting them to come ashore - which they, somewhat incautiously, some settlers of [[Imarru-Lugal|duly did]]. This incident in turn led to the [[Askerr War]], in which the Hexarchy conquered the island by way of soldiers of fortune led by one Eru Tepesh, contrary to much of his home government's wishes.

Despite the considerable cultural changes on the island since the 1690's AN during the Hexarchy's often-violent takeover, Jing influences remain among subsets of natives to this day. For instance, the worship of the Heavenly Light in the form of a cargo cult has been largely ignored by the island's new rulers, and many of these cultural aspects have been subverted by the island's rulers to cement their control over the island's large population. Due to the relative independence of the island under both the Jing and Hexarchy, the island's local culture retained its own character for well over a century of nominal foreign rule.

=== Occupation by [[The Hexarchy]] ({{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1756}}) ===
{{main|Askerr War}}

==== Pacification & Settlement {{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1730}} ====

The modern history of the island is characterized by the occupation of [[The Hexarchy]], and the course of the island's modern politics is mostly based on the new government based out of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the city which also bears the name of the territory. Most trade between the new [[Imperial Federation]] and Hexarchian merchants passes through the island, which is used as a stopover during the long voyage from the eastern territories of Keltia to the Hexarchy proper.

Since the end of the Askerr War, events on the island are usually confined to a strictly local nature, with the status quo remaining mostly unchanged since 1691. For the first three decades of Hexarchian rule, the natives kept almost entirely to themselves. However, the occasional dragon attack was staged during the early years of the occupation against those who had clearly forgotten what their rulers' wrath feels like in the midst of localized rebellions or, more commonly, organized attacks on shipping deep in the island's interior. The scale of rebellions decreased over time, thanks to intelligently designed arrangements to turn the mana system into a source of extensive profit and long-lasting legal control by the central government.

Due to the more quiet experience people now have within the environs of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the well-provisioned and strongly defended island was then used for at least the following two decades as a proxy location for negotiations between the Hexarchy and faraway nations that aren't enamored with the mainland's unique fauna and the traditions associated with them. Due to its far-off location from the mainland and the central government's long-lasting lack of enthusiasm for a colonial empire, the island was gradually left to its own devices. Eventually, local rule became extremely independent with internal affairs.

The island increasingly asserted its independence to the degree where [[The Hexarchy]], nominally the island's suzerain, was nothing more than a rubber stamp in local affairs by the time the House of Tepesh signed the [Treaty of Portpur]] with [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1726}}. The following assertions of "autonomous rule" (independence in all but name) persisted from that point. This coincided with the decline of [[The Hexarchy]] from the late 1720's onwards. The island's near-total political independence near this point resulted in Eru Tepesh III declaring himself ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' on his ascension to the island's leadership in {{AN|1730}}.

==== Principality ({{AN|1731}}-{{AN|1758}}) ====

However, the problem of keeping the entire island pacified persisted, and worsened with the near-cutoff of Hexarchy military and financial support during its political turbulence. The island's leadership already had established partnerships with [[Çakaristan]] in keeping the surrounding waters clear of piracy. The [[Imperial Federation]] joined from {{AN|1728}} during one of its own periods of ascendancy, during which Prince Eru III (as the new Prince styled himself) allowed an Imperial Federation navy base to be built to host a large trading entrepot, bringing further defensiveness and prosperity to the capital at [[Imarru-Lugal]].

During this time, the Prince continued the family tradition of styling himself separately to the natives as "Gal-Lugal" (lit. the chief of chiefs) over the island's interior. However, the 17 years of his rule saw a slow decline in hard authority over the island's interior, while control over the coastlines accelerated thanks to domestic and foreign infrastructure. Tourism and maritime industry flourished on the island, and Dromosker became a destination for further waves of settlers seeking opportunity on the rapidly developing coastlines. Troubles with the natives of the interior persisted, however, and by {{AN|1745}} there were, once again, bands of [[Askerr]] reverting to their more bellicose nature and indiscriminately attacking people to steal their mana. A series of punitive expeditions with local forces with Ralgonese naval support temporarily pacified the island, but it was clear that House Tepesh would need further military support to exercise control over the island. These continued until Eru III's death in {{AN|1747}}, and his 38-year-old successor Prince Eru IV took over, inheriting the problems arising late in his father's reign. The first nine years of Eru IV's reign were the most challenging since his ancestor conquered the island nearly sixty years before.

With its limited force of local dragons, the strategy of dealing with rebellions from the air and keeping loyalist casualties close to zero became untenable. A series of costly campaigns were fought in the interior to punish the rebellious natives and supply loyalist Askerr with more ''mana''. This was hardly a permanent solution, though, and the steady (and noticeable) lapse in direct support and oversight from the mainland made sustainable mana both at home and abroad more difficult to obtain, as the island gradually grew politically isolated and access to military contracts gradually dried up. When the final vestiges of authority from [[The Hexarchy]] lapsed in {{AN|1756}}, it hadn't followed some announcement from the central government. Silence was the only order of the day, and forces loyal to the central government either left the island with their dragons for the mainland, or pledged loyalty to House Tepesh.

Assistance was requested from local [[Imperial Federation]] forces, as Prince Eru IV was worried that [[Çakaristan]] would rapidly subsume his country and home-grown culture, being in proximity to other Çakari holdings in the other [[Skerry Isles]], specifically the [[Beneluccas]]. The ruling elite of the island valued Çakari partnerships, and considered the surrounding people as more-or-less friendly to their own. As economic partners, they brought prosperity to the island and the customs union under the [[Treaty of Portpur]] was highly beneficial to both sides. However, as political partners, House Tepesh feared a Çakari takeover due to both their proximity and huge disparity in size next to the island.

As such, an agreement was struck in late {{AN|1756}} that instead named [[Anarion]] the new overlord of Dromosker, with a title to reflect his new (nominal) dominion over the island. In exchange for ceding certain port facilities and external political rights, the island could continue as a dependency of the Imperial Federation, and thus receive the full and unmitigated force of its Skerry Islands area group of forces. With fire support from the newly formed Dromosker Command of the Keltian Fleet (2nd Command), a division of Imperial Marines embarked alongside a conscripted army raised at [[Imarru-Lugal]] and surrounding areas. The resulting expedition placed fortifications in every part of the island, dominating problematic areas. This series of fortifications was to become useful in the disasters to follow.

The more excitable Askerr warriors were, furthermore, given the opportunity to join Ralgonese detachments in active zones abroad. While their mana wouldn't necessarily be supplied by humans during every fight (such as in the [[Great Swamp]] or the [[Badlands]]), the warriors would continually win honor and glory... and continue to fill the treasuries of House Tepesh beyond anything they'd ever managed while ruling the island by themselves.

==== The Spatial Displacement Disaster ====

{{main|Spatial Displacement Disaster}}

From early {{AN|1757}}, in the 11th year of Prince Eru IV's reign, a Viceroy of Dromosker Island was appointed. The Viceroy's sole purpose was to represent the Emperor of the Imperial Federation in his new capacity as ''Overlord of Dromosker Island''. This Viceroy, appointed by Dromosker Command on nonconsecutive 3-year terms on approval of the imperial court, was given veto power over the Prince's motions in specific matters of state. Existing agreements such as the [[Treaty of Portpur]] were allowed to continue, and direct Imperial governance was limited to its naval base, a permanent seat on the island's ruling council, and moderate restrictions on the Prince's ability to conduct his affairs as he saw fit (so long as they did not directly conflict with his overlord's interests).

The transfer was interrupted due to lack of [[MCS]] recognition, however. As Imperial Federation authority was not recognized on the island, the [[Dromosker Island/Pact of Schaarlecht|Pact of Schaarlecht]] was struck between the [[Imperial Federation]], [[Çakaristan]], and the Dromosker Island government. In {{AN|1758}}, the island's suzerainty was instead transferred to [[Çakaristan]] for a period of 10 years, to expire on {{AN|1768}}. During this time, Imperial Federation troops were withdrawn from the island, while allowing for certain political and economic guarantees given to both the Imperial Federation and Dromosker Island as compensation. The Cakari suddenly repudiated the treaty, however, throwing the central government into a panic while the Imperial Federation's forces were off the island. In desperation, Prince Eru IV activated a strange device as an intended weapon, instead triggering the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]] of {{AN|1757}}.

The island's surface just above the bedrock, its capital city, and its people were relocated and superimposed on a large, deserted volcanic island in the [[Isles of Eriador]]. The resulting disaster reshaped the island completely, but despite the loss of life in the countryside, the central settlement of [[Imarru-Lugal]] emerged relatively unscathed, as did much of the former Dromosker area's former topography. The cataclysmic destruction of the island's central volcano proved to be an ecological boon for the island post-eruption, as boosted agriculture restored the Askerr people's prosperity despite their sudden relocation so far from home.

=== Post-Disaster ({{AN|1758}}-)===

In the immediate aftermath of the Disaster (as the displacement event came to be singularly called on the island), the [[Imperial Federation]] quickly came to reassert control over their freshly destroyed (and yet rebuilt?) territory in the middle of the Sunfire Sea. The island's new location in the [[Isles of Eriador]] proved a double-edged sword. While the island's government lost much of its autonomy to the government at [[Gondolin]] and the neighboring Eriadoran capital at [[Arkadi'os]], that very proximity brought prosperity to the island after it recovered from its disaster. However, the Prince lost much of his power to the Ruling Council, and was also subject to a so-called "emergency council" consisting of representatives from neighboring [[Al Hamra]] as well as the Imperial Government, along with [[Askerr]] chieftains who were customarily unrepresented in such affairs.

== Economy ==

=== Foreign Trade ===

==== Military Services ====

Thanks to the very high amount of political and military autonomy enjoyed by the island, House Tepesh has been able to raise mercenaries of its own among its military ranks to gain experience abroad. While the policy under Eru Tepesh I was to merely contain the natives, his eldest son and successor in Eru Tepesh II saw fit to harness the considerable fighting spirit of the island's large native population for more constructive purposes. Since Eru II's ascension as ruler of Dromosker (r. {{AN|1702}} - {{AN|1730}}), he instituted a military policy that employed a corps of Hexarchian officers and Dromosker natives from trusted tribes (including Askerr) as a forward-deployed force, constantly employing its forces to retain a cadre of highly experienced officers while reinforcing their dominance over the island and its native peoples (which still outnumber the so-called Outlanders by several times). This policy continued under the (self-declared) ascension of Eru III as ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' in {{AN|1730}}.

In the early years of House Tepesh rule, the most-honored natives are usually rewarded with mana gained from the wholesale destruction of regional pirates, and placement on such expeditions is still considered the source of great honor by individual warriors and the tribes which send them. This partly engineered cultural facet, combined with the extent of the island's autonomy since {{AN|1720}}, allowed Eru Tepesh II to send a fully armed regiment of Dromosker merceneries to work for the [[Benacian Union]] in a bid to bring in additional income to the island, on condition the regiment see consistent (if light) action and access to proper rewards for both its Hexarchian officer corps and their Dromosker subordinates. (Rumor also held that the central government accepted this arrangement when the offer was sweetened by the addition of certain exotic animals to the menagerie of death at [[Ereshkigal Forest]].)

This policy continued under the Principality, and the Tepesh family was allowed to be the guarantor of Askerr mercenaries serving under [[Imperial Federation]] operations during such events as the [[Corum War]] and in policing the far places of the world. After the 1750's, mixed units consisting of Askerr warriors and Dromosker settlers (as they now called themselves) were a common sight, especially among more disciplined companies assigned more sensitive missions.

=== Interior Trade ===

Trade does happen between House Tepesh and the local rulers, who have come to respect the lord of House Tepesh, (always reigning under the name "Eru"), as the true master of Dromosker island with a quasi-religious status as undisputed lord of the island and all who live on it. From {{AN|1725}}, the Tepesh family cemented its dominance over the island, allowing for naval and economic development along much of the island's shoreline. Since the declaration of the Principality in {{AN|1730}}, the growing peace in the island's interior has allowed industry to develop outside of the capital, and the resulting infrastructure and mass-produced items have encouraged a more sedentary lifestyle among the less warlike of the native tribes. With the firmer establishment of local rule and tighter control of the island, an industrial economy has come to complement the agrarian economy the natives employ (outside of cannibalistic purposes). The deep interior of the island saw disruptions with the wane of [[The Hexarchy]] during the ensuring decades, but was restored to normal operations under [[Imperial Federation]] assistance.

==== Mana Rights ====

On special occasions, the most loyal of the local cannibal chiefs are given mana by their magnanimous masters in the form of some hapless prisoner convicted of an especially severe crime, as the central government of the Hexarchy cannot directly pass the death penalty on prisoners. During the long period of [[The Hexarchy|Hexarchy]] rule from {{AN|1690}} to {{AN|1755}}, this prohibition extended to a great degree to the Dromosker Island government. House Tepesh was therefore obliged to follow this law while still exercising its own brutish brand of justice on the island's deep interior. The loophole with the Askerr is much the same as the one used with the Hexarchy mainland's practice of passing capital punishment by sending prisoners into exile directly to [[Ereshkigal Forest]], on the mainland.

As such, an aspect of the island's economy now involves the purchasing of mana by more wealthy tribes. Since the Askerr War, natives are no longer allowed to "steal mana" with impunity (aka murdering people without the permission of House Tepesh) lest the offender be subject to being cannibalized, or worse, thrown to the dragons. However, there is a workaround for the many native tribes that still participate in cannibalistic rituals. The natives bid for rights to mana replenishments by offering part of their industrial produce and precious items over a set period of time. When it comes time for condemned criminals to be sent to the tribes, tribute is delivered to the Lord of Dromosker and the natives gain access to the condemned. In those cases where victims are lacking, the natives are instead granted more lenient rights during recruiting efforts for pirate-hunting expeditions sanctioned by the Tepesh government, with some being granted guaranteed places in the outgoing regiments for their finest, most experienced warriors.

This arrangement has resulted in law and order being upheld throughout the island, mostly through self-enforcement. Native policy eventually changed to favoring the bidding system to keep the peace, and tribes engaged in stealing mana were harshly punished by their peers, before they went on to be punished again by the central government as part of punitive expeditions, in which the stolen mana was recovered and distributed several-fold to well-behaved factions that aided in law enforcement. It was thanks in great part to this arrangement that by {{AN|1718}} that the islands were declared completely pacified by the Tepesh government in a report to the central government.

When the mana thefts came to a gradual end, the natives instead focused on aggressively cooperating with the government in its desire to venture into conflict zones, especially for pirate hunting expeditions. In these, the government would (ironically) be the one who was paid by the island's denizens for the honor of joining these expeditions, to the degree that bidding wars eventually took place over these as well, due to limited capacity for recruiting and controlling over-eager warriors. By {{AN|1723}}, these expeditions were extremely profitable, forming a lynchpin of the island's now-booming interior economy.

[[category:Hexarchy]]

Dromosker Island (Constancia)

2026-06-21T15:57:17Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{subdivision |
image_flag = |
subdivision = The Principality of Dromosker Island [[Image:Eriador_1757.png]] |
status = Temporary Dependency of [[Çakaristan]] |
capital = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
largecity = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
population = ~750,000 ({{AN|1750}})|
title = Prince |
government = Semi-Tribal Monarchy (executive/judicial) Ruling Council (executive) National Senate (legislative) |
leader = Prince Vlad Tepesh (regnal name: Eru IV) 2nd Prince of Dromosker Island 5th Gal-Lugal of the [[Askerr]] |
language = [[Askerr]], [[Istvanistani language|Common Tongue]]; Çakari (minority), Alexandrian (minority); Ralgonese (minority) |
religion = Folk religions (majority); [[Umraism]] (minority); [[Draconic]] (minority)|
}}
The '''Principality of Dromosker''' is an island country newly situated in the [[Eriador|Isles of Eriador]]. Formerly situated in the eastern fringe of the [[Skerry Isles]], the island was wrecked on the deserted volcanic western island of the chain in {{AN|1757}} in the aftermath of the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]]. The area left behind, devoid of its original features, was annexed by [[Cakaristan]] as [[Xunpadshahan Island]], while the new Dromosker Island became part

The island is known to be the traditional home of tribes historically practicing anthropophagy, who are collectively known as the [[Askerr]] of Dromosker Island. This practice, however, was greatly diminished following the natives' defeat at the hands of their new overlords in the [[Askerr War]] of {{AN|1690}}. Such traditions were carefully managed since then by the island's leadership, which turned this into a way of controlling the otherwise ungovernable pool of hardy warriors from the interior. Life on the island transformed under the House Tepesh, which declared the island a Principality in {{AN|1730}}. Nominal Hexarchy rule lasted for nearly 68 years before the island's local rulers transferred their overlordship briefly to [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1758}}, with plans for transfer of power to the [[Imperial Federation}} in {{AN|1768}}.

In times past, the island played host to [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island went to Jingdao as a gift by the same man in {{AN|1629}}. It remained in Jing hands until {{AN|1686}}, and was then briefly held by [[Barbary]] until it collapsed in {{AN|1688}}. After that, it was occupied by colonists from [[The Hexarchy]], who fought the brutal, two-year long [[Askerr War]] in {{AN|1690}} with the natives over control over the island before establishing a now-heavily populated city at [[Imarru-Lugal]]. The island's government was dependent on military support for its continued rule over the next 68 years, although it was able to gradually assert more local political authority as this period drew to a close.

In the 1720's AN, the island began to exercise its home rule more freely under the continued leadership of the Tepesh family (being the island's conquerers in the 1690's war). The family was recognized in its dual status as the island's recognized government over the colonies centered around [[Imarru-Lugal]] and as the recognized tribal overlord within the island proper. Being semi-independent of a home country reluctant at playing the role of an overseas colonial power, [[The Hexarchy]] granted the colonial government a limited ability for the collective Dromosker government negotiate its own specific treaties with so-called "friendly" states. One of the most notable examples of the Dromosker government exercising these new privileges was their signing of the [[Treaty of Portpur]], which established a customs union between the island and neighboring territories in the [[Skerry Isles]] ruled by [[Çakaristan]].

After a complete lapse of support from [[The Hexarchy]], overlordship of the island was temporarily passed to the [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1758}} as part of a 10-year deal, which preserved most of the island's independence and autonomy. The Principality retains partial control over foreign affairs, with external arrangements subject to the Shahanshah's approval. Political authority rests almost completely on local rulers, with the appointed Viceroy of the island only exercising veto when in direct conflict with its suzerain's interests on the island. The island was slated for transfer to the [[Imperial Federation]] in {{AN|1768}} when the [[Dromosker Island/Pact of Schaarlecht|Pact of Schaarlecht]] expires.

(Also see [[Imarru-Lugal]] for the island's capital and primate city.)

==History==

===Early History===

===Occupation by [[Jingdao]] ({{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1690}}===

==== Maritime Republic Era {{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1688}} ====
{{main|Maritime Free Republic}}

The '''Maritime Free Republic''', also known as '''Hexiehaizei''' (Jingdaoese for: ''harmonious pirate''), or '''Dromosker Island''' is a formerly independent island nation that has been part of the [[Jingdao|Jingdaoese Empire]] from 1629 until the 1680's AN. There was also very little imperial oversight during the Jingdao occupation era. It was previously the home of [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island's subjugation by [[The Hexarchy]] in 1690 AN as a result of the [[Askerr War]]. Captain Poldark was also the person who gifted the nation to Jingdao in 1629, after having received support from the Jingdaoese Empire for some time.

In 1635 Emperor Heinrich of Jingdao, the [[Kattei Emperor]] ordered the Maritime Free Republic to build an educational institute for the troubled youth on the island. In turn Captain-General Walter Poldark promised to build the ''Emperor Heinrich Naval School for the Disadvantaged Youth''. Reports on what happened to the children, and their suspected encounters with the Askerr have always been suppressed by Jingdaoese censors and to this day nothing is known for certain about what happened to them.

=== [[Barbary]] Occupation {{AN|1688}}-{{AN|1689}} ===

In 1688 the Maritime Free Republic was transferred into the hand of the [[Barbarian Republic]] as part of a land trade between Jingdao and Barbary, where it became known as the island of the [[Gezellige Piraten]] (''cosy pirates'''). By the first month of 1690 the last of the Barbary traders had disappeared into the cooking pots of the Askerr and the natives were most recently observed to have assembled on the northern shore of the island, making beckoning gestures to the crew of a barque from the [[Hexarchy]], inviting them to come ashore - which they, somewhat incautiously, some settlers of [[Imarru-Lugal|duly did]]. This incident in turn led to the [[Askerr War]], in which the Hexarchy conquered the island by way of soldiers of fortune led by one Eru Tepesh, contrary to much of his home government's wishes.

Despite the considerable cultural changes on the island since the 1690's AN during the Hexarchy's often-violent takeover, Jing influences remain among subsets of natives to this day. For instance, the worship of the Heavenly Light in the form of a cargo cult has been largely ignored by the island's new rulers, and many of these cultural aspects have been subverted by the island's rulers to cement their control over the island's large population. Due to the relative independence of the island under both the Jing and Hexarchy, the island's local culture retained its own character for well over a century of nominal foreign rule.

=== Occupation by [[The Hexarchy]] ({{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1756}}) ===
{{main|Askerr War}}

==== Pacification & Settlement {{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1730}} ====

The modern history of the island is characterized by the occupation of [[The Hexarchy]], and the course of the island's modern politics is mostly based on the new government based out of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the city which also bears the name of the territory. Most trade between the new [[Imperial Federation]] and Hexarchian merchants passes through the island, which is used as a stopover during the long voyage from the eastern territories of Keltia to the Hexarchy proper.

Since the end of the Askerr War, events on the island are usually confined to a strictly local nature, with the status quo remaining mostly unchanged since 1691. For the first three decades of Hexarchian rule, the natives kept almost entirely to themselves. However, the occasional dragon attack was staged during the early years of the occupation against those who had clearly forgotten what their rulers' wrath feels like in the midst of localized rebellions or, more commonly, organized attacks on shipping deep in the island's interior. The scale of rebellions decreased over time, thanks to intelligently designed arrangements to turn the mana system into a source of extensive profit and long-lasting legal control by the central government.

Due to the more quiet experience people now have within the environs of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the well-provisioned and strongly defended island was then used for at least the following two decades as a proxy location for negotiations between the Hexarchy and faraway nations that aren't enamored with the mainland's unique fauna and the traditions associated with them. Due to its far-off location from the mainland and the central government's long-lasting lack of enthusiasm for a colonial empire, the island was gradually left to its own devices. Eventually, local rule became extremely independent with internal affairs.

The island increasingly asserted its independence to the degree where [[The Hexarchy]], nominally the island's suzerain, was nothing more than a rubber stamp in local affairs by the time the House of Tepesh signed the [Treaty of Portpur]] with [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1726}}. The following assertions of "autonomous rule" (independence in all but name) persisted from that point. This coincided with the decline of [[The Hexarchy]] from the late 1720's onwards. The island's near-total political independence near this point resulted in Eru Tepesh III declaring himself ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' on his ascension to the island's leadership in {{AN|1730}}.

==== Principality ({{AN|1731}}-{{AN|1758}}) ====

However, the problem of keeping the entire island pacified persisted, and worsened with the near-cutoff of Hexarchy military and financial support during its political turbulence. The island's leadership already had established partnerships with [[Çakaristan]] in keeping the surrounding waters clear of piracy. The [[Imperial Federation]] joined from {{AN|1728}} during one of its own periods of ascendancy, during which Prince Eru III (as the new Prince styled himself) allowed an Imperial Federation navy base to be built to host a large trading entrepot, bringing further defensiveness and prosperity to the capital at [[Imarru-Lugal]].

During this time, the Prince continued the family tradition of styling himself separately to the natives as "Gal-Lugal" (lit. the chief of chiefs) over the island's interior. However, the 17 years of his rule saw a slow decline in hard authority over the island's interior, while control over the coastlines accelerated thanks to domestic and foreign infrastructure. Tourism and maritime industry flourished on the island, and Dromosker became a destination for further waves of settlers seeking opportunity on the rapidly developing coastlines. Troubles with the natives of the interior persisted, however, and by {{AN|1745}} there were, once again, bands of [[Askerr]] reverting to their more bellicose nature and indiscriminately attacking people to steal their mana. A series of punitive expeditions with local forces with Ralgonese naval support temporarily pacified the island, but it was clear that House Tepesh would need further military support to exercise control over the island. These continued until Eru III's death in {{AN|1747}}, and his 38-year-old successor Prince Eru IV took over, inheriting the problems arising late in his father's reign. The first nine years of Eru IV's reign were the most challenging since his ancestor conquered the island nearly sixty years before.

With its limited force of local dragons, the strategy of dealing with rebellions from the air and keeping loyalist casualties close to zero became untenable. A series of costly campaigns were fought in the interior to punish the rebellious natives and supply loyalist Askerr with more ''mana''. This was hardly a permanent solution, though, and the steady (and noticeable) lapse in direct support and oversight from the mainland made sustainable mana both at home and abroad more difficult to obtain, as the island gradually grew politically isolated and access to military contracts gradually dried up. When the final vestiges of authority from [[The Hexarchy]] lapsed in {{AN|1756}}, it hadn't followed some announcement from the central government. Silence was the only order of the day, and forces loyal to the central government either left the island with their dragons for the mainland, or pledged loyalty to House Tepesh.

Assistance was requested from local [[Imperial Federation]] forces, as Prince Eru IV was worried that [[Çakaristan]] would rapidly subsume his country and home-grown culture, being in proximity to other Çakari holdings in the other [[Skerry Isles]], specifically the [[Beneluccas]]. The ruling elite of the island valued Çakari partnerships, and considered the surrounding people as more-or-less friendly to their own. As economic partners, they brought prosperity to the island and the customs union under the [[Treaty of Portpur]] was highly beneficial to both sides. However, as political partners, House Tepesh feared a Çakari takeover due to both their proximity and huge disparity in size next to the island.

As such, an agreement was struck in late {{AN|1756}} that instead named [[Anarion]] the new overlord of Dromosker, with a title to reflect his new (nominal) dominion over the island. In exchange for ceding certain port facilities and external political rights, the island could continue as a dependency of the Imperial Federation, and thus receive the full and unmitigated force of its Skerry Islands area group of forces. With fire support from the newly formed Dromosker Command of the Keltian Fleet (2nd Command), a division of Imperial Marines embarked alongside a conscripted army raised at [[Imarru-Lugal]] and surrounding areas. The resulting expedition placed fortifications in every part of the island, dominating problematic areas. This series of fortifications was to become useful in the disasters to follow.

The more excitable Askerr warriors were, furthermore, given the opportunity to join Ralgonese detachments in active zones abroad. While their mana wouldn't necessarily be supplied by humans during every fight (such as in the [[Great Swamp]] or the [[Badlands]]), the warriors would continually win honor and glory... and continue to fill the treasuries of House Tepesh beyond anything they'd ever managed while ruling the island by themselves.

==== The Spatial Displacement Disaster ====

{{main|Spatial Displacement Disaster}}

From early {{AN|1757}}, in the 11th year of Prince Eru IV's reign, a Viceroy of Dromosker Island was appointed. The Viceroy's sole purpose was to represent the Emperor of the Imperial Federation in his new capacity as ''Overlord of Dromosker Island''. This Viceroy, appointed by Dromosker Command on nonconsecutive 3-year terms on approval of the imperial court, was given veto power over the Prince's motions in specific matters of state. Existing agreements such as the [[Treaty of Portpur]] were allowed to continue, and direct Imperial governance was limited to its naval base, a permanent seat on the island's ruling council, and moderate restrictions on the Prince's ability to conduct his affairs as he saw fit (so long as they did not directly conflict with his overlord's interests).

The transfer was interrupted due to lack of [[MCS]] recognition, however. As Imperial Federation authority was not recognized on the island, the [[Dromosker Island/Pact of Schaarlecht|Pact of Schaarlecht]] was struck between the [[Imperial Federation]], [[Çakaristan]], and the Dromosker Island government. In {{AN|1758}}, the island's suzerainty was instead transferred to [[Çakaristan]] for a period of 10 years, to expire on {{AN|1768}}. During this time, Imperial Federation troops were withdrawn from the island, while allowing for certain political and economic guarantees given to both the Imperial Federation and Dromosker Island as compensation. The Cakari suddenly repudiated the treaty, however, throwing the central government into a panic while the Imperial Federation's forces were off the island. In desperation, Prince Eru IV activated a strange device as an intended weapon, instead triggering the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]] of {{AN|1757}}.

The island's surface just above the bedrock, its capital city, and its people were relocated and superimposed on a large, deserted volcanic island in the [[Isles of Eriador]]. The resulting disaster reshaped the island completely, but despite the loss of life in the countryside, the central settlement of [[Imarru-Lugal]] emerged relatively unscathed, as did much of the former Dromosker area's former topography. The cataclysmic destruction of the island's central volcano proved to be an ecological boon for the island post-eruption, as boosted agriculture restored the Askerr people's prosperity despite their sudden relocation so far from home.

=== Post-Disaster ({{AN|1758}}-)===

In the immediate aftermath of the Disaster (as the displacement event came to be singularly called on the island), the [[Imperial Federation]] quickly came to reassert control over their freshly destroyed (and yet rebuilt?) territory in the middle of the Sunfire Sea. The island's new location in the [[Isles of Eriador]] proved a double-edged sword. While the island's government lost much of its autonomy to the government at [[Gondolin]] and the neighboring Eriadoran capital at [[Arkadi'os]], that very proximity brought prosperity to the island after it recovered from its disaster. However, the Prince lost much of his power to the Ruling Council, and was also subject to a so-called "emergency council" consisting of representatives from neighboring [[Al Hamra]] as well as the Imperial Government, along with [[Askerr]] chieftains who were customarily unrepresented in such affairs.

== Economy ==

=== Foreign Trade ===

==== Military Services ====

Thanks to the very high amount of political and military autonomy enjoyed by the island, House Tepesh has been able to raise mercenaries of its own among its military ranks to gain experience abroad. While the policy under Eru Tepesh I was to merely contain the natives, his eldest son and successor in Eru Tepesh II saw fit to harness the considerable fighting spirit of the island's large native population for more constructive purposes. Since Eru II's ascension as ruler of Dromosker (r. {{AN|1702}} - {{AN|1730}}), he instituted a military policy that employed a corps of Hexarchian officers and Dromosker natives from trusted tribes (including Askerr) as a forward-deployed force, constantly employing its forces to retain a cadre of highly experienced officers while reinforcing their dominance over the island and its native peoples (which still outnumber the so-called Outlanders by several times). This policy continued under the (self-declared) ascension of Eru III as ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' in {{AN|1730}}.

In the early years of House Tepesh rule, the most-honored natives are usually rewarded with mana gained from the wholesale destruction of regional pirates, and placement on such expeditions is still considered the source of great honor by individual warriors and the tribes which send them. This partly engineered cultural facet, combined with the extent of the island's autonomy since {{AN|1720}}, allowed Eru Tepesh II to send a fully armed regiment of Dromosker merceneries to work for the [[Benacian Union]] in a bid to bring in additional income to the island, on condition the regiment see consistent (if light) action and access to proper rewards for both its Hexarchian officer corps and their Dromosker subordinates. (Rumor also held that the central government accepted this arrangement when the offer was sweetened by the addition of certain exotic animals to the menagerie of death at [[Ereshkigal Forest]].)

This policy continued under the Principality, and the Tepesh family was allowed to be the guarantor of Askerr mercenaries serving under [[Imperial Federation]] operations during such events as the [[Corum War]] and in policing the far places of the world. After the 1750's, mixed units consisting of Askerr warriors and Dromosker settlers (as they now called themselves) were a common sight, especially among more disciplined companies assigned more sensitive missions.

=== Interior Trade ===

Trade does happen between House Tepesh and the local rulers, who have come to respect the lord of House Tepesh, (always reigning under the name "Eru"), as the true master of Dromosker island with a quasi-religious status as undisputed lord of the island and all who live on it. From {{AN|1725}}, the Tepesh family cemented its dominance over the island, allowing for naval and economic development along much of the island's shoreline. Since the declaration of the Principality in {{AN|1730}}, the growing peace in the island's interior has allowed industry to develop outside of the capital, and the resulting infrastructure and mass-produced items have encouraged a more sedentary lifestyle among the less warlike of the native tribes. With the firmer establishment of local rule and tighter control of the island, an industrial economy has come to complement the agrarian economy the natives employ (outside of cannibalistic purposes). The deep interior of the island saw disruptions with the wane of [[The Hexarchy]] during the ensuring decades, but was restored to normal operations under [[Imperial Federation]] assistance.

==== Mana Rights ====

On special occasions, the most loyal of the local cannibal chiefs are given mana by their magnanimous masters in the form of some hapless prisoner convicted of an especially severe crime, as the central government of the Hexarchy cannot directly pass the death penalty on prisoners. During the long period of [[The Hexarchy|Hexarchy]] rule from {{AN|1690}} to {{AN|1755}}, this prohibition extended to a great degree to the Dromosker Island government. House Tepesh was therefore obliged to follow this law while still exercising its own brutish brand of justice on the island's deep interior. The loophole with the Askerr is much the same as the one used with the Hexarchy mainland's practice of passing capital punishment by sending prisoners into exile directly to [[Ereshkigal Forest]], on the mainland.

As such, an aspect of the island's economy now involves the purchasing of mana by more wealthy tribes. Since the Askerr War, natives are no longer allowed to "steal mana" with impunity (aka murdering people without the permission of House Tepesh) lest the offender be subject to being cannibalized, or worse, thrown to the dragons. However, there is a workaround for the many native tribes that still participate in cannibalistic rituals. The natives bid for rights to mana replenishments by offering part of their industrial produce and precious items over a set period of time. When it comes time for condemned criminals to be sent to the tribes, tribute is delivered to the Lord of Dromosker and the natives gain access to the condemned. In those cases where victims are lacking, the natives are instead granted more lenient rights during recruiting efforts for pirate-hunting expeditions sanctioned by the Tepesh government, with some being granted guaranteed places in the outgoing regiments for their finest, most experienced warriors.

This arrangement has resulted in law and order being upheld throughout the island, mostly through self-enforcement. Native policy eventually changed to favoring the bidding system to keep the peace, and tribes engaged in stealing mana were harshly punished by their peers, before they went on to be punished again by the central government as part of punitive expeditions, in which the stolen mana was recovered and distributed several-fold to well-behaved factions that aided in law enforcement. It was thanks in great part to this arrangement that by {{AN|1718}} that the islands were declared completely pacified by the Tepesh government in a report to the central government.

When the mana thefts came to a gradual end, the natives instead focused on aggressively cooperating with the government in its desire to venture into conflict zones, especially for pirate hunting expeditions. In these, the government would (ironically) be the one who was paid by the island's denizens for the honor of joining these expeditions, to the degree that bidding wars eventually took place over these as well, due to limited capacity for recruiting and controlling over-eager warriors. By {{AN|1723}}, these expeditions were extremely profitable, forming a lynchpin of the island's now-booming interior economy.

[[category:Hexarchy]]

Eriador

2026-06-21T15:54:32Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{Adrestia Article}}
:''"Al Hamra" redirects here. For the capital city of the former [[Arbor]], see [[Al-Hamra]].''
{{Infobox Nation Comprehensive
|fullname = The Dominion of Eriador
|commonname = Eriador
|flag = File:-- Ralgon --.png
|coa = File:Ralgon CoA.png
|motto = ''For God and Country''
|anthem =
|map = File:Adrestia 1695 -- Al-Hamra.jpg
|mapversions = ???
|capital = Arkadi'os
|largecity = Arkadi'os
|lang = Draconian (official) Standard (most common) [[Arboric]]
|demnoun = Eriadoran
|demadj = Eriadoran
|govtype = Council-Style
|headofstatetitle = Princess
|headofstate = Yumika Hoshigawa
|religion = [[Draconic]] [[Umraism]]
|headofgovernmenttitle = President
|headofgovernment =
|legislature = National Council
|estdate = Spring, {{AN|1695}} (as Al Hamra) Summer, {{AN|1707}} (as Eriador)
|agerank =
|area = NA
|arearank = NA
|pop = 5,527,654 ({{AN|1695}}) 7,326,121 ({{AN|1707}}
|activepop = NA
|currency = Guilder (£)
|abbrev = ERD
|site =
|forum =
|animal = cobra
|food = Keltian cod
|drink = black wine
|tree = palm tree
}}

The '''Isles of Eriador''' is a set of territories in the [[Imperial Federation]]. Formerly named after the [[Al-Hamra|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 [[Al-Hamra]], 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 {{AN|1695}}. The islands' history took an abrupt course shortly after the [[Imperial Federation]] formed and repatriated the northern half of [[Scarterra|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. (Incidentally, it was later re-founded on mainland [[Drag'os]], leading to two Scarterras to this day.) 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 {{AN|1707}}.

Among many small islands and islets, the Isles of Eriador consist of three main islands: The largest and central [[Al-Hamra]] island territory, the Barony of [[Fei-Jun]] to the east, and [[Dromosker Island to the west, formerly an uninhabited volcano known simply as West Eriador.

This large deserted island to the west had, until {{AN|1757}} been an uninhabited island dominated by a recently extinct volcano. However, it was completely and catastrophically transformed by the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]] in {{AN|1757}}. This event saw [[Dromosker Island]] warped through space by its ruling prince in an act of desperation, using forbidden technology otherwise lost to time. Dromosker Island displaced itself onto the island's northern half. The volcano subsequently erupted, devastating the rest of the island and worsening the ensuing disaster, although eventually stabilizing itself, creating new fertile land and river systems that made the combined island far more habitable than either of its predecessors.

== Government ==

=== Al Hamra ===

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 [[Imperial Federation]]

The Princess of Al Hamra is appointed by the National Council upon the death or abdication of the previous Princess. Only women are eligible for election to the title per local custom, although the reasoning for this is both unclear and lost to time. Although the position is not hereditary, most appointees have been been relatives of its first elected monarch: Princess Yumika Hoshigawa, elected upon the territory's formation to represent it in late {{AN|1694}}. 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]] (and the [[Imperial Federation]] by consequence), 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 Adrestian units on the island. The current Princess is Sanae Hoshigawa, elected in {{AN|1752}}.

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.

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.)

=== Dromosker Island ===

{{main|Dromosker Island}}
{{main|Askerr}}

Dromosker Island is an autonomous territory governed by a Prince, currently Eru IV of the House Tepesh. After the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]], he was stripped of much of his emergency powers and more subject to the expanded Ruling Council, the legislative arm of that island's government. The Prince is a hereditary office, passing through the House Tepesh. Each Prince has his own name, although all of them take the name "Eru" upon ascension to the throne.

The Ruling Council consists of a semi-representative body of Dromosker settler nobles and Askerr chieftains. They hold legislative authority, with judicial authority vested in the hands of a court jointly appointed by the Prince and the Ruling Council. Since the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster|Disaster of {{AN|1757}}]], both the Ruling Council and the island's high court have representatives from both [[Al Hamra]] and the [[Imperial Federation]] government, which appoints representatives and barristers from [[Gondolin]].

=== Fei-Jun Island ===

{{main|Feijun}}

Fei-Jun Island, also known as Feijun, is locally governed, but answers to the Princess of Eriador, who has veto power over legislation. The island is notoriously peaceful, and is known as "the one place where absolutely nothing happens." And for the most part, this is true. Long ago, the territory was subject to such a bumbling, inept despot that it stumbled into rule by Al Hamra in days gone by. The islanders, famously, did not care, as their despot was ironically both financially cheap due to his wistful antics and a very tame person... leading to the island's name, which comes from the words for "useless ruler." In a poetic move, the locals eventually renamed the island's principal city as Xiadu, which roughly translates to "great city run by the blind." The strange prosperity that resulted led to affectionate but mixed feelings about their ineffectual former ruler.

These days, the island is a representative democracy, with an upper house representing based on population allotments, and the lower house elected along party-list elections. Elections take place every five years. But since the island is extremely docile in its temperament, very few pressing issues result in hotly contested elections. Thus, the same few parties rule the country and grand-coalition governments are the norm.

== 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 {{AN|1695}}, 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|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 {{AN|1707}}, 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 {{AN|1707}}, 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 {{AN|1720}} in favor of the next Prince of Princess of Eriador.

Usually quiet, the Isles of Eriador were rocked by the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]] of {{AN|1757}}, which saw [[Dromosker Island]] displaced into the deserted western major island of that territory.

== Religion ==

Dromosker Island (Constancia)

2026-06-21T15:41:58Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{subdivision |
image_flag = |
subdivision = The Principality of Dromosker Island [[Image:Dromosker_Island_1758.png]] |
status = Temporary Dependency of [[Çakaristan]] |
capital = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
largecity = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
population = ~750,000 ({{AN|1750}})|
title = Prince |
government = Semi-Tribal Monarchy (executive/judicial) Ruling Council (executive) National Senate (legislative) |
leader = Prince Vlad Tepesh (regnal name: Eru IV) 2nd Prince of Dromosker Island 5th Gal-Lugal of the [[Askerr]] |
language = [[Askerr]], [[Istvanistani language|Common Tongue]]; Çakari (minority), Alexandrian (minority); Ralgonese (minority) |
religion = Folk religions (majority); [[Umraism]] (minority); [[Draconic]] (minority)|
}}
The '''Principality of Dromosker''' is an island country newly situated in the [[Eriador|Isles of Eriador]]. Formerly situated in the eastern fringe of the [[Skerry Isles]], the island was wrecked on the deserted volcanic western island of the chain in {{AN|1757}} in the aftermath of the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]]. The area left behind, devoid of its original features, was annexed by [[Cakaristan]] as [[Xunpadshahan Island]], while the new Dromosker Island became part

The island is known to be the traditional home of tribes historically practicing anthropophagy, who are collectively known as the [[Askerr]] of Dromosker Island. This practice, however, was greatly diminished following the natives' defeat at the hands of their new overlords in the [[Askerr War]] of {{AN|1690}}. Such traditions were carefully managed since then by the island's leadership, which turned this into a way of controlling the otherwise ungovernable pool of hardy warriors from the interior. Life on the island transformed under the House Tepesh, which declared the island a Principality in {{AN|1730}}. Nominal Hexarchy rule lasted for nearly 68 years before the island's local rulers transferred their overlordship briefly to [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1758}}, with plans for transfer of power to the [[Imperial Federation}} in {{AN|1768}}.

In times past, the island played host to [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island went to Jingdao as a gift by the same man in {{AN|1629}}. It remained in Jing hands until {{AN|1686}}, and was then briefly held by [[Barbary]] until it collapsed in {{AN|1688}}. After that, it was occupied by colonists from [[The Hexarchy]], who fought the brutal, two-year long [[Askerr War]] in {{AN|1690}} with the natives over control over the island before establishing a now-heavily populated city at [[Imarru-Lugal]]. The island's government was dependent on military support for its continued rule over the next 68 years, although it was able to gradually assert more local political authority as this period drew to a close.

In the 1720's AN, the island began to exercise its home rule more freely under the continued leadership of the Tepesh family (being the island's conquerers in the 1690's war). The family was recognized in its dual status as the island's recognized government over the colonies centered around [[Imarru-Lugal]] and as the recognized tribal overlord within the island proper. Being semi-independent of a home country reluctant at playing the role of an overseas colonial power, [[The Hexarchy]] granted the colonial government a limited ability for the collective Dromosker government negotiate its own specific treaties with so-called "friendly" states. One of the most notable examples of the Dromosker government exercising these new privileges was their signing of the [[Treaty of Portpur]], which established a customs union between the island and neighboring territories in the [[Skerry Isles]] ruled by [[Çakaristan]].

After a complete lapse of support from [[The Hexarchy]], overlordship of the island was temporarily passed to the [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1758}} as part of a 10-year deal, which preserved most of the island's independence and autonomy. The Principality retains partial control over foreign affairs, with external arrangements subject to the Shahanshah's approval. Political authority rests almost completely on local rulers, with the appointed Viceroy of the island only exercising veto when in direct conflict with its suzerain's interests on the island. The island was slated for transfer to the [[Imperial Federation]] in {{AN|1768}} when the [[Dromosker Island/Pact of Schaarlecht|Pact of Schaarlecht]] expires.

(Also see [[Imarru-Lugal]] for the island's capital and primate city.)

==History==

===Early History===

===Occupation by [[Jingdao]] ({{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1690}}===

==== Maritime Republic Era {{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1688}} ====
{{main|Maritime Free Republic}}

The '''Maritime Free Republic''', also known as '''Hexiehaizei''' (Jingdaoese for: ''harmonious pirate''), or '''Dromosker Island''' is a formerly independent island nation that has been part of the [[Jingdao|Jingdaoese Empire]] from 1629 until the 1680's AN. There was also very little imperial oversight during the Jingdao occupation era. It was previously the home of [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island's subjugation by [[The Hexarchy]] in 1690 AN as a result of the [[Askerr War]]. Captain Poldark was also the person who gifted the nation to Jingdao in 1629, after having received support from the Jingdaoese Empire for some time.

In 1635 Emperor Heinrich of Jingdao, the [[Kattei Emperor]] ordered the Maritime Free Republic to build an educational institute for the troubled youth on the island. In turn Captain-General Walter Poldark promised to build the ''Emperor Heinrich Naval School for the Disadvantaged Youth''. Reports on what happened to the children, and their suspected encounters with the Askerr have always been suppressed by Jingdaoese censors and to this day nothing is known for certain about what happened to them.

=== [[Barbary]] Occupation {{AN|1688}}-{{AN|1689}} ===

In 1688 the Maritime Free Republic was transferred into the hand of the [[Barbarian Republic]] as part of a land trade between Jingdao and Barbary, where it became known as the island of the [[Gezellige Piraten]] (''cosy pirates'''). By the first month of 1690 the last of the Barbary traders had disappeared into the cooking pots of the Askerr and the natives were most recently observed to have assembled on the northern shore of the island, making beckoning gestures to the crew of a barque from the [[Hexarchy]], inviting them to come ashore - which they, somewhat incautiously, some settlers of [[Imarru-Lugal|duly did]]. This incident in turn led to the [[Askerr War]], in which the Hexarchy conquered the island by way of soldiers of fortune led by one Eru Tepesh, contrary to much of his home government's wishes.

Despite the considerable cultural changes on the island since the 1690's AN during the Hexarchy's often-violent takeover, Jing influences remain among subsets of natives to this day. For instance, the worship of the Heavenly Light in the form of a cargo cult has been largely ignored by the island's new rulers, and many of these cultural aspects have been subverted by the island's rulers to cement their control over the island's large population. Due to the relative independence of the island under both the Jing and Hexarchy, the island's local culture retained its own character for well over a century of nominal foreign rule.

=== Occupation by [[The Hexarchy]] ({{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1756}}) ===
{{main|Askerr War}}

==== Pacification & Settlement {{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1730}} ====

The modern history of the island is characterized by the occupation of [[The Hexarchy]], and the course of the island's modern politics is mostly based on the new government based out of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the city which also bears the name of the territory. Most trade between the new [[Imperial Federation]] and Hexarchian merchants passes through the island, which is used as a stopover during the long voyage from the eastern territories of Keltia to the Hexarchy proper.

Since the end of the Askerr War, events on the island are usually confined to a strictly local nature, with the status quo remaining mostly unchanged since 1691. For the first three decades of Hexarchian rule, the natives kept almost entirely to themselves. However, the occasional dragon attack was staged during the early years of the occupation against those who had clearly forgotten what their rulers' wrath feels like in the midst of localized rebellions or, more commonly, organized attacks on shipping deep in the island's interior. The scale of rebellions decreased over time, thanks to intelligently designed arrangements to turn the mana system into a source of extensive profit and long-lasting legal control by the central government.

Due to the more quiet experience people now have within the environs of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the well-provisioned and strongly defended island was then used for at least the following two decades as a proxy location for negotiations between the Hexarchy and faraway nations that aren't enamored with the mainland's unique fauna and the traditions associated with them. Due to its far-off location from the mainland and the central government's long-lasting lack of enthusiasm for a colonial empire, the island was gradually left to its own devices. Eventually, local rule became extremely independent with internal affairs.

The island increasingly asserted its independence to the degree where [[The Hexarchy]], nominally the island's suzerain, was nothing more than a rubber stamp in local affairs by the time the House of Tepesh signed the [Treaty of Portpur]] with [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1726}}. The following assertions of "autonomous rule" (independence in all but name) persisted from that point. This coincided with the decline of [[The Hexarchy]] from the late 1720's onwards. The island's near-total political independence near this point resulted in Eru Tepesh III declaring himself ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' on his ascension to the island's leadership in {{AN|1730}}.

==== Principality ({{AN|1731}}-{{AN|1758}}) ====

However, the problem of keeping the entire island pacified persisted, and worsened with the near-cutoff of Hexarchy military and financial support during its political turbulence. The island's leadership already had established partnerships with [[Çakaristan]] in keeping the surrounding waters clear of piracy. The [[Imperial Federation]] joined from {{AN|1728}} during one of its own periods of ascendancy, during which Prince Eru III (as the new Prince styled himself) allowed an Imperial Federation navy base to be built to host a large trading entrepot, bringing further defensiveness and prosperity to the capital at [[Imarru-Lugal]].

During this time, the Prince continued the family tradition of styling himself separately to the natives as "Gal-Lugal" (lit. the chief of chiefs) over the island's interior. However, the 17 years of his rule saw a slow decline in hard authority over the island's interior, while control over the coastlines accelerated thanks to domestic and foreign infrastructure. Tourism and maritime industry flourished on the island, and Dromosker became a destination for further waves of settlers seeking opportunity on the rapidly developing coastlines. Troubles with the natives of the interior persisted, however, and by {{AN|1745}} there were, once again, bands of [[Askerr]] reverting to their more bellicose nature and indiscriminately attacking people to steal their mana. A series of punitive expeditions with local forces with Ralgonese naval support temporarily pacified the island, but it was clear that House Tepesh would need further military support to exercise control over the island. These continued until Eru III's death in {{AN|1747}}, and his 38-year-old successor Prince Eru IV took over, inheriting the problems arising late in his father's reign. The first nine years of Eru IV's reign were the most challenging since his ancestor conquered the island nearly sixty years before.

With its limited force of local dragons, the strategy of dealing with rebellions from the air and keeping loyalist casualties close to zero became untenable. A series of costly campaigns were fought in the interior to punish the rebellious natives and supply loyalist Askerr with more ''mana''. This was hardly a permanent solution, though, and the steady (and noticeable) lapse in direct support and oversight from the mainland made sustainable mana both at home and abroad more difficult to obtain, as the island gradually grew politically isolated and access to military contracts gradually dried up. When the final vestiges of authority from [[The Hexarchy]] lapsed in {{AN|1756}}, it hadn't followed some announcement from the central government. Silence was the only order of the day, and forces loyal to the central government either left the island with their dragons for the mainland, or pledged loyalty to House Tepesh.

Assistance was requested from local [[Imperial Federation]] forces, as Prince Eru IV was worried that [[Çakaristan]] would rapidly subsume his country and home-grown culture, being in proximity to other Çakari holdings in the other [[Skerry Isles]], specifically the [[Beneluccas]]. The ruling elite of the island valued Çakari partnerships, and considered the surrounding people as more-or-less friendly to their own. As economic partners, they brought prosperity to the island and the customs union under the [[Treaty of Portpur]] was highly beneficial to both sides. However, as political partners, House Tepesh feared a Çakari takeover due to both their proximity and huge disparity in size next to the island.

As such, an agreement was struck in late {{AN|1756}} that instead named [[Anarion]] the new overlord of Dromosker, with a title to reflect his new (nominal) dominion over the island. In exchange for ceding certain port facilities and external political rights, the island could continue as a dependency of the Imperial Federation, and thus receive the full and unmitigated force of its Skerry Islands area group of forces. With fire support from the newly formed Dromosker Command of the Keltian Fleet (2nd Command), a division of Imperial Marines embarked alongside a conscripted army raised at [[Imarru-Lugal]] and surrounding areas. The resulting expedition placed fortifications in every part of the island, dominating problematic areas. This series of fortifications was to become useful in the disasters to follow.

The more excitable Askerr warriors were, furthermore, given the opportunity to join Ralgonese detachments in active zones abroad. While their mana wouldn't necessarily be supplied by humans during every fight (such as in the [[Great Swamp]] or the [[Badlands]]), the warriors would continually win honor and glory... and continue to fill the treasuries of House Tepesh beyond anything they'd ever managed while ruling the island by themselves.

==== The Spatial Displacement Disaster ====

{{main|Spatial Displacement Disaster}}

From early {{AN|1757}}, in the 11th year of Prince Eru IV's reign, a Viceroy of Dromosker Island was appointed. The Viceroy's sole purpose was to represent the Emperor of the Imperial Federation in his new capacity as ''Overlord of Dromosker Island''. This Viceroy, appointed by Dromosker Command on nonconsecutive 3-year terms on approval of the imperial court, was given veto power over the Prince's motions in specific matters of state. Existing agreements such as the [[Treaty of Portpur]] were allowed to continue, and direct Imperial governance was limited to its naval base, a permanent seat on the island's ruling council, and moderate restrictions on the Prince's ability to conduct his affairs as he saw fit (so long as they did not directly conflict with his overlord's interests).

The transfer was interrupted due to lack of [[MCS]] recognition, however. As Imperial Federation authority was not recognized on the island, the [[Dromosker Island/Pact of Schaarlecht|Pact of Schaarlecht]] was struck between the [[Imperial Federation]], [[Çakaristan]], and the Dromosker Island government. In {{AN|1758}}, the island's suzerainty was instead transferred to [[Çakaristan]] for a period of 10 years, to expire on {{AN|1768}}. During this time, Imperial Federation troops were withdrawn from the island, while allowing for certain political and economic guarantees given to both the Imperial Federation and Dromosker Island as compensation. The Cakari suddenly repudiated the treaty, however, throwing the central government into a panic while the Imperial Federation's forces were off the island. In desperation, Prince Eru IV activated a strange device as an intended weapon, instead triggering the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]] of {{AN|1757}}.

The island's surface just above the bedrock, its capital city, and its people were relocated and superimposed on a large, deserted volcanic island in the [[Isles of Eriador]]. The resulting disaster reshaped the island completely, but despite the loss of life in the countryside, the central settlement of [[Imarru-Lugal]] emerged relatively unscathed, as did much of the former Dromosker area's former topography. The cataclysmic destruction of the island's central volcano proved to be an ecological boon for the island post-eruption, as boosted agriculture restored the Askerr people's prosperity despite their sudden relocation so far from home.

=== Post-Disaster ({{AN|1758}}-)===

In the immediate aftermath of the Disaster (as the displacement event came to be singularly called on the island), the [[Imperial Federation]] quickly came to reassert control over their freshly destroyed (and yet rebuilt?) territory in the middle of the Sunfire Sea. The island's new location in the [[Isles of Eriador]] proved a double-edged sword. While the island's government lost much of its autonomy to the government at [[Gondolin]] and the neighboring Eriadoran capital at [[Arkadi'os]], that very proximity brought prosperity to the island after it recovered from its disaster. However, the Prince lost much of his power to the Ruling Council, and was also subject to a so-called "emergency council" consisting of representatives from neighboring [[Al Hamra]] as well as the Imperial Government, along with [[Askerr]] chieftains who were customarily unrepresented in such affairs.

== Economy ==

=== Foreign Trade ===

==== Military Services ====

Thanks to the very high amount of political and military autonomy enjoyed by the island, House Tepesh has been able to raise mercenaries of its own among its military ranks to gain experience abroad. While the policy under Eru Tepesh I was to merely contain the natives, his eldest son and successor in Eru Tepesh II saw fit to harness the considerable fighting spirit of the island's large native population for more constructive purposes. Since Eru II's ascension as ruler of Dromosker (r. {{AN|1702}} - {{AN|1730}}), he instituted a military policy that employed a corps of Hexarchian officers and Dromosker natives from trusted tribes (including Askerr) as a forward-deployed force, constantly employing its forces to retain a cadre of highly experienced officers while reinforcing their dominance over the island and its native peoples (which still outnumber the so-called Outlanders by several times). This policy continued under the (self-declared) ascension of Eru III as ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' in {{AN|1730}}.

In the early years of House Tepesh rule, the most-honored natives are usually rewarded with mana gained from the wholesale destruction of regional pirates, and placement on such expeditions is still considered the source of great honor by individual warriors and the tribes which send them. This partly engineered cultural facet, combined with the extent of the island's autonomy since {{AN|1720}}, allowed Eru Tepesh II to send a fully armed regiment of Dromosker merceneries to work for the [[Benacian Union]] in a bid to bring in additional income to the island, on condition the regiment see consistent (if light) action and access to proper rewards for both its Hexarchian officer corps and their Dromosker subordinates. (Rumor also held that the central government accepted this arrangement when the offer was sweetened by the addition of certain exotic animals to the menagerie of death at [[Ereshkigal Forest]].)

This policy continued under the Principality, and the Tepesh family was allowed to be the guarantor of Askerr mercenaries serving under [[Imperial Federation]] operations during such events as the [[Corum War]] and in policing the far places of the world. After the 1750's, mixed units consisting of Askerr warriors and Dromosker settlers (as they now called themselves) were a common sight, especially among more disciplined companies assigned more sensitive missions.

=== Interior Trade ===

Trade does happen between House Tepesh and the local rulers, who have come to respect the lord of House Tepesh, (always reigning under the name "Eru"), as the true master of Dromosker island with a quasi-religious status as undisputed lord of the island and all who live on it. From {{AN|1725}}, the Tepesh family cemented its dominance over the island, allowing for naval and economic development along much of the island's shoreline. Since the declaration of the Principality in {{AN|1730}}, the growing peace in the island's interior has allowed industry to develop outside of the capital, and the resulting infrastructure and mass-produced items have encouraged a more sedentary lifestyle among the less warlike of the native tribes. With the firmer establishment of local rule and tighter control of the island, an industrial economy has come to complement the agrarian economy the natives employ (outside of cannibalistic purposes). The deep interior of the island saw disruptions with the wane of [[The Hexarchy]] during the ensuring decades, but was restored to normal operations under [[Imperial Federation]] assistance.

==== Mana Rights ====

On special occasions, the most loyal of the local cannibal chiefs are given mana by their magnanimous masters in the form of some hapless prisoner convicted of an especially severe crime, as the central government of the Hexarchy cannot directly pass the death penalty on prisoners. During the long period of [[The Hexarchy|Hexarchy]] rule from {{AN|1690}} to {{AN|1755}}, this prohibition extended to a great degree to the Dromosker Island government. House Tepesh was therefore obliged to follow this law while still exercising its own brutish brand of justice on the island's deep interior. The loophole with the Askerr is much the same as the one used with the Hexarchy mainland's practice of passing capital punishment by sending prisoners into exile directly to [[Ereshkigal Forest]], on the mainland.

As such, an aspect of the island's economy now involves the purchasing of mana by more wealthy tribes. Since the Askerr War, natives are no longer allowed to "steal mana" with impunity (aka murdering people without the permission of House Tepesh) lest the offender be subject to being cannibalized, or worse, thrown to the dragons. However, there is a workaround for the many native tribes that still participate in cannibalistic rituals. The natives bid for rights to mana replenishments by offering part of their industrial produce and precious items over a set period of time. When it comes time for condemned criminals to be sent to the tribes, tribute is delivered to the Lord of Dromosker and the natives gain access to the condemned. In those cases where victims are lacking, the natives are instead granted more lenient rights during recruiting efforts for pirate-hunting expeditions sanctioned by the Tepesh government, with some being granted guaranteed places in the outgoing regiments for their finest, most experienced warriors.

This arrangement has resulted in law and order being upheld throughout the island, mostly through self-enforcement. Native policy eventually changed to favoring the bidding system to keep the peace, and tribes engaged in stealing mana were harshly punished by their peers, before they went on to be punished again by the central government as part of punitive expeditions, in which the stolen mana was recovered and distributed several-fold to well-behaved factions that aided in law enforcement. It was thanks in great part to this arrangement that by {{AN|1718}} that the islands were declared completely pacified by the Tepesh government in a report to the central government.

When the mana thefts came to a gradual end, the natives instead focused on aggressively cooperating with the government in its desire to venture into conflict zones, especially for pirate hunting expeditions. In these, the government would (ironically) be the one who was paid by the island's denizens for the honor of joining these expeditions, to the degree that bidding wars eventually took place over these as well, due to limited capacity for recruiting and controlling over-eager warriors. By {{AN|1723}}, these expeditions were extremely profitable, forming a lynchpin of the island's now-booming interior economy.

[[category:Hexarchy]]

Dromosker Island (Constancia)

2026-06-21T15:37:53Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{subdivision |
image_flag = |
subdivision = The Principality of Dromosker Island [[Image:Dromosker_Island_1758.png]] |
status = Temporary Dependency of [[Çakaristan]] |
capital = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
largecity = [[Imarru-Lugal]] |
population = ~750,000 ({{AN|1750}})|
title = Prince |
government = Semi-Tribal Monarchy (executive/judicial) Ruling Council (executive) National Senate (legislative) |
leader = Prince Vlad Tepesh (regnal name: Eru IV) 2nd Prince of Dromosker Island 5th Gal-Lugal of the [[Askerr]] |
language = [[Askerr]], [[Istvanistani language|Common Tongue]]; Çakari (minority), Alexandrian (minority); Ralgonese (minority) |
religion = Folk religions (majority); [[Umraism]] (minority); [[Draconic]] (minority)|
}}
The '''Principality of Dromosker''' is an island country newly situated in the [[Eriador|Isles of Eriador]]. Formerly situated in the eastern fringe of the [[Skerry Isles]], the island was wrecked on the deserted volcanic western island of the chain in {{AN|1757}} in the aftermath of the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]]. The area left behind, devoid of its original features, was annexed by [[Cakaristan]] as [[Xunpadshahan Island]], while the new Dromosker Island became part

The island is known to be the traditional home of tribes historically practicing anthropophagy, who are collectively known as the [[Askerr]] of Dromosker Island. This practice, however, was greatly diminished following the natives' defeat at the hands of their new overlords in the [[Askerr War]] of {{AN|1690}}. Such traditions were carefully managed since then by the island's leadership, which turned this into a way of controlling the otherwise ungovernable pool of hardy warriors from the interior. Life on the island transformed under the House Tepesh, which declared the island a Principality in {{AN|1730}}. Nominal Hexarchy rule lasted for nearly 68 years before the island's local rulers transferred their overlordship briefly to [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1758}}, with plans for transfer of power to the [[Imperial Federation}} in {{AN|1768}}.

In times past, the island played host to [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island went to Jingdao as a gift by the same man in {{AN|1629}}. It remained in Jing hands until {{AN|1686}}, and was then briefly held by [[Barbary]] until it collapsed in {{AN|1688}}. After that, it was occupied by colonists from [[The Hexarchy]], who fought the brutal, two-year long [[Askerr War]] in {{AN|1690}} with the natives over control over the island before establishing a now-heavily populated city at [[Imarru-Lugal]]. The island's government was dependent on military support for its continued rule over the next 68 years, although it was able to gradually assert more local political authority as this period drew to a close.

In the 1720's AN, the island began to exercise its home rule more freely under the continued leadership of the Tepesh family (being the island's conquerers in the 1690's war). The family was recognized in its dual status as the island's recognized government over the colonies centered around [[Imarru-Lugal]] and as the recognized tribal overlord within the island proper. Being semi-independent of a home country reluctant at playing the role of an overseas colonial power, [[The Hexarchy]] granted the colonial government a limited ability for the collective Dromosker government negotiate its own specific treaties with so-called "friendly" states. One of the most notable examples of the Dromosker government exercising these new privileges was their signing of the [[Treaty of Portpur]], which established a customs union between the island and neighboring territories in the [[Skerry Isles]] ruled by [[Çakaristan]].

After a complete lapse of support from [[The Hexarchy]], overlordship of the island was temporarily passed to the [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1758}} as part of a 10-year deal, which preserved most of the island's independence and autonomy. The Principality retains partial control over foreign affairs, with external arrangements subject to the Shahanshah's approval. Political authority rests almost completely on local rulers, with the appointed Viceroy of the island only exercising veto when in direct conflict with its suzerain's interests on the island. The island was slated for transfer to the [[Imperial Federation]] in {{AN|1768}} when the [[Dromosker Island/Pact of Schaarlecht|Pact of Schaarlecht]] expires.

(Also see [[Imarru-Lugal]] for the island's capital and primate city.)

==History==

===Early History===

===Occupation by [[Jingdao]] ({{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1690}}===

==== Maritime Republic Era {{AN|1629}}-{{AN|1688}} ====
{{main|Maritime Free Republic}}

The '''Maritime Free Republic''', also known as '''Hexiehaizei''' (Jingdaoese for: ''harmonious pirate''), or '''Dromosker Island''' is a formerly independent island nation that has been part of the [[Jingdao|Jingdaoese Empire]] from 1629 until the 1680's AN. There was also very little imperial oversight during the Jingdao occupation era. It was previously the home of [[Walter Poldark]], renowned pirate and alleged captain of the Ergonian navy until the island's subjugation by [[The Hexarchy]] in 1690 AN as a result of the [[Askerr War]]. Captain Poldark was also the person who gifted the nation to Jingdao in 1629, after having received support from the Jingdaoese Empire for some time.

In 1635 Emperor Heinrich of Jingdao, the [[Kattei Emperor]] ordered the Maritime Free Republic to build an educational institute for the troubled youth on the island. In turn Captain-General Walter Poldark promised to build the ''Emperor Heinrich Naval School for the Disadvantaged Youth''. Reports on what happened to the children, and their suspected encounters with the Askerr have always been suppressed by Jingdaoese censors and to this day nothing is known for certain about what happened to them.

=== [[Barbary]] Occupation {{AN|1688}}-{{AN|1689}} ===

In 1688 the Maritime Free Republic was transferred into the hand of the [[Barbarian Republic]] as part of a land trade between Jingdao and Barbary, where it became known as the island of the [[Gezellige Piraten]] (''cosy pirates'''). By the first month of 1690 the last of the Barbary traders had disappeared into the cooking pots of the Askerr and the natives were most recently observed to have assembled on the northern shore of the island, making beckoning gestures to the crew of a barque from the [[Hexarchy]], inviting them to come ashore - which they, somewhat incautiously, some settlers of [[Imarru-Lugal|duly did]]. This incident in turn led to the [[Askerr War]], in which the Hexarchy conquered the island by way of soldiers of fortune led by one Eru Tepesh, contrary to much of his home government's wishes.

Despite the considerable cultural changes on the island since the 1690's AN during the Hexarchy's often-violent takeover, Jing influences remain among subsets of natives to this day. For instance, the worship of the Heavenly Light in the form of a cargo cult has been largely ignored by the island's new rulers, and many of these cultural aspects have been subverted by the island's rulers to cement their control over the island's large population. Due to the relative independence of the island under both the Jing and Hexarchy, the island's local culture retained its own character for well over a century of nominal foreign rule.

=== Occupation by [[The Hexarchy]] ({{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1756}}) ===
{{main|Askerr War}}

==== Pacification & Settlement {{AN|1690}}-{{AN|1730}} ====

The modern history of the island is characterized by the occupation of [[The Hexarchy]], and the course of the island's modern politics is mostly based on the new government based out of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the city which also bears the name of the territory. Most trade between the new [[Imperial Federation]] and Hexarchian merchants passes through the island, which is used as a stopover during the long voyage from the eastern territories of Keltia to the Hexarchy proper.

Since the end of the Askerr War, events on the island are usually confined to a strictly local nature, with the status quo remaining mostly unchanged since 1691. For the first three decades of Hexarchian rule, the natives kept almost entirely to themselves. However, the occasional dragon attack was staged during the early years of the occupation against those who had clearly forgotten what their rulers' wrath feels like in the midst of localized rebellions or, more commonly, organized attacks on shipping deep in the island's interior. The scale of rebellions decreased over time, thanks to intelligently designed arrangements to turn the mana system into a source of extensive profit and long-lasting legal control by the central government.

Due to the more quiet experience people now have within the environs of [[Imarru-Lugal]], the well-provisioned and strongly defended island was then used for at least the following two decades as a proxy location for negotiations between the Hexarchy and faraway nations that aren't enamored with the mainland's unique fauna and the traditions associated with them. Due to its far-off location from the mainland and the central government's long-lasting lack of enthusiasm for a colonial empire, the island was gradually left to its own devices. Eventually, local rule became extremely independent with internal affairs.

The island increasingly asserted its independence to the degree where [[The Hexarchy]], nominally the island's suzerain, was nothing more than a rubber stamp in local affairs by the time the House of Tepesh signed the [Treaty of Portpur]] with [[Çakaristan]] in {{AN|1726}}. The following assertions of "autonomous rule" (independence in all but name) persisted from that point. This coincided with the decline of [[The Hexarchy]] from the late 1720's onwards. The island's near-total political independence near this point resulted in Eru Tepesh III declaring himself ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' on his ascension to the island's leadership in {{AN|1730}}.

==== Principality ({{AN|1731}}-{{AN|1758}}) ====

However, the problem of keeping the entire island pacified persisted, and worsened with the near-cutoff of Hexarchy military and financial support during its political turbulence. The island's leadership already had established partnerships with [[Çakaristan]] in keeping the surrounding waters clear of piracy. The [[Imperial Federation]] joined from {{AN|1728}} during one of its own periods of ascendancy, during which Prince Eru III (as the new Prince styled himself) allowed an Imperial Federation navy base to be built to host a large trading entrepot, bringing further defensiveness and prosperity to the capital at [[Imarru-Lugal]].

During this time, the Prince continued the family tradition of styling himself separately to the natives as "Gal-Lugal" (lit. the chief of chiefs) over the island's interior. However, the 17 years of his rule saw a slow decline in hard authority over the island's interior, while control over the coastlines accelerated thanks to domestic and foreign infrastructure. Tourism and maritime industry flourished on the island, and Dromosker became a destination for further waves of settlers seeking opportunity on the rapidly developing coastlines. Troubles with the natives of the interior persisted, however, and by {{AN|1745}} there were, once again, bands of [[Askerr]] reverting to their more bellicose nature and indiscriminately attacking people to steal their mana. A series of punitive expeditions with local forces with Ralgonese naval support temporarily pacified the island, but it was clear that House Tepesh would need further military support to exercise control over the island. These continued until Eru III's death in {{AN|1747}}, and his 38-year-old successor Prince Eru IV took over, inheriting the problems arising late in his father's reign. The first nine years of Eru IV's reign were the most challenging since his ancestor conquered the island nearly sixty years before.

With its limited force of local dragons, the strategy of dealing with rebellions from the air and keeping loyalist casualties close to zero became untenable. A series of costly campaigns were fought in the interior to punish the rebellious natives and supply loyalist Askerr with more ''mana''. This was hardly a permanent solution, though, and the steady (and noticeable) lapse in direct support and oversight from the mainland made sustainable mana both at home and abroad more difficult to obtain, as the island gradually grew politically isolated and access to military contracts gradually dried up. When the final vestiges of authority from [[The Hexarchy]] lapsed in {{AN|1756}}, it hadn't followed some announcement from the central government. Silence was the only order of the day, and forces loyal to the central government either left the island with their dragons for the mainland, or pledged loyalty to House Tepesh.

Assistance was requested from local [[Imperial Federation]] forces, as Prince Eru IV was worried that [[Çakaristan]] would rapidly subsume his country and home-grown culture, being in proximity to other Çakari holdings in the other [[Skerry Isles]], specifically the [[Beneluccas]]. The ruling elite of the island valued Çakari partnerships, and considered the surrounding people as more-or-less friendly to their own. As economic partners, they brought prosperity to the island and the customs union under the [[Treaty of Portpur]] was highly beneficial to both sides. However, as political partners, House Tepesh feared a Çakari takeover due to both their proximity and huge disparity in size next to the island.

As such, an agreement was struck in late {{AN|1756}} that instead named [[Anarion]] the new overlord of Dromosker, with a title to reflect his new (nominal) dominion over the island. In exchange for ceding certain port facilities and external political rights, the island could continue as a dependency of the Imperial Federation, and thus receive the full and unmitigated force of its Skerry Islands area group of forces. With fire support from the newly formed Dromosker Command of the Keltian Fleet (2nd Command), a division of Imperial Marines embarked alongside a conscripted army raised at [[Imarru-Lugal]] and surrounding areas. The resulting expedition placed fortifications in every part of the island, dominating problematic areas. This series of fortifications was to become useful in the disasters to follow.

The more excitable Askerr warriors were, furthermore, given the opportunity to join Ralgonese detachments in active zones abroad. While their mana wouldn't necessarily be supplied by humans during every fight (such as in the [[Great Swamp]] or the [[Badlands]]), the warriors would continually win honor and glory... and continue to fill the treasuries of House Tepesh beyond anything they'd ever managed while ruling the island by themselves.

==== The Spatial Displacement Disaster ====

{{main|Spatial Displacement Disaster}}

From early {{AN|1757}}, in the 11th year of Prince Eru IV's reign, a Viceroy of Dromosker Island was appointed. The Viceroy's sole purpose was to represent the Emperor of the Imperial Federation in his new capacity as ''Overlord of Dromosker Island''. This Viceroy, appointed by Dromosker Command on nonconsecutive 3-year terms on approval of the imperial court, was given veto power over the Prince's motions in specific matters of state. Existing agreements such as the [[Treaty of Portpur]] were allowed to continue, and direct Imperial governance was limited to its naval base, a permanent seat on the island's ruling council, and moderate restrictions on the Prince's ability to conduct his affairs as he saw fit (so long as they did not directly conflict with his overlord's interests).

The transfer was interrupted due to lack of [[MCS]] recognition, however. As Imperial Federation authority was not recognized on the island, the [[Dromosker Island/Pact of Schaarlecht|Pact of Schaarlecht]] was struck between the [[Imperial Federation]], [[Çakaristan]], and the Dromosker Island government. In {{AN|1758}}, the island's suzerainty was instead transferred to [[Çakaristan]] for a period of 10 years, to expire on {{AN|1768}}. During this time, Imperial Federation troops were withdrawn from the island, while allowing for certain political and economic guarantees given to both the Imperial Federation and Dromosker Island as compensation. The Cakari suddenly repudiated the treaty, however, throwing the central government into a panic while the Imperial Federation's forces were off the island. In desperation, Prince Eru IV activated a strange device as an intended weapon, instead triggering the [[Spatial Displacement Disaster]] of {{AN|1757}}.

The island's surface just above the bedrock, its capital city, and its people were relocated and superimposed on a large, deserted volcanic island in the [[Isles of Eriador]]. The resulting disaster reshaped the island completely, but despite the loss of life in the countryside, the central settlement of [[Imarru-Lugal]] emerged relatively unscathed, as did much of the former Dromosker area's former topography. The cataclysmic destruction of the island's central volcano proved to be an ecological boon for the island post-eruption, as boosted agriculture restored the Askerr people's prosperity despite their sudden relocation so far from home.

== Economy ==

=== Foreign Trade ===

==== Military Services ====

Thanks to the very high amount of political and military autonomy enjoyed by the island, House Tepesh has been able to raise mercenaries of its own among its military ranks to gain experience abroad. While the policy under Eru Tepesh I was to merely contain the natives, his eldest son and successor in Eru Tepesh II saw fit to harness the considerable fighting spirit of the island's large native population for more constructive purposes. Since Eru II's ascension as ruler of Dromosker (r. {{AN|1702}} - {{AN|1730}}), he instituted a military policy that employed a corps of Hexarchian officers and Dromosker natives from trusted tribes (including Askerr) as a forward-deployed force, constantly employing its forces to retain a cadre of highly experienced officers while reinforcing their dominance over the island and its native peoples (which still outnumber the so-called Outlanders by several times). This policy continued under the (self-declared) ascension of Eru III as ''Prince of Dromosker Island'' in {{AN|1730}}.

In the early years of House Tepesh rule, the most-honored natives are usually rewarded with mana gained from the wholesale destruction of regional pirates, and placement on such expeditions is still considered the source of great honor by individual warriors and the tribes which send them. This partly engineered cultural facet, combined with the extent of the island's autonomy since {{AN|1720}}, allowed Eru Tepesh II to send a fully armed regiment of Dromosker merceneries to work for the [[Benacian Union]] in a bid to bring in additional income to the island, on condition the regiment see consistent (if light) action and access to proper rewards for both its Hexarchian officer corps and their Dromosker subordinates. (Rumor also held that the central government accepted this arrangement when the offer was sweetened by the addition of certain exotic animals to the menagerie of death at [[Ereshkigal Forest]].)

This policy continued under the Principality, and the Tepesh family was allowed to be the guarantor of Askerr mercenaries serving under [[Imperial Federation]] operations during such events as the [[Corum War]] and in policing the far places of the world. After the 1750's, mixed units consisting of Askerr warriors and Dromosker settlers (as they now called themselves) were a common sight, especially among more disciplined companies assigned more sensitive missions.

=== Interior Trade ===

Trade does happen between House Tepesh and the local rulers, who have come to respect the lord of House Tepesh, (always reigning under the name "Eru"), as the true master of Dromosker island with a quasi-religious status as undisputed lord of the island and all who live on it. From {{AN|1725}}, the Tepesh family cemented its dominance over the island, allowing for naval and economic development along much of the island's shoreline. Since the declaration of the Principality in {{AN|1730}}, the growing peace in the island's interior has allowed industry to develop outside of the capital, and the resulting infrastructure and mass-produced items have encouraged a more sedentary lifestyle among the less warlike of the native tribes. With the firmer establishment of local rule and tighter control of the island, an industrial economy has come to complement the agrarian economy the natives employ (outside of cannibalistic purposes). The deep interior of the island saw disruptions with the wane of [[The Hexarchy]] during the ensuring decades, but was restored to normal operations under [[Imperial Federation]] assistance.

==== Mana Rights ====

On special occasions, the most loyal of the local cannibal chiefs are given mana by their magnanimous masters in the form of some hapless prisoner convicted of an especially severe crime, as the central government of the Hexarchy cannot directly pass the death penalty on prisoners. During the long period of [[The Hexarchy|Hexarchy]] rule from {{AN|1690}} to {{AN|1755}}, this prohibition extended to a great degree to the Dromosker Island government. House Tepesh was therefore obliged to follow this law while still exercising its own brutish brand of justice on the island's deep interior. The loophole with the Askerr is much the same as the one used with the Hexarchy mainland's practice of passing capital punishment by sending prisoners into exile directly to [[Ereshkigal Forest]], on the mainland.

As such, an aspect of the island's economy now involves the purchasing of mana by more wealthy tribes. Since the Askerr War, natives are no longer allowed to "steal mana" with impunity (aka murdering people without the permission of House Tepesh) lest the offender be subject to being cannibalized, or worse, thrown to the dragons. However, there is a workaround for the many native tribes that still participate in cannibalistic rituals. The natives bid for rights to mana replenishments by offering part of their industrial produce and precious items over a set period of time. When it comes time for condemned criminals to be sent to the tribes, tribute is delivered to the Lord of Dromosker and the natives gain access to the condemned. In those cases where victims are lacking, the natives are instead granted more lenient rights during recruiting efforts for pirate-hunting expeditions sanctioned by the Tepesh government, with some being granted guaranteed places in the outgoing regiments for their finest, most experienced warriors.

This arrangement has resulted in law and order being upheld throughout the island, mostly through self-enforcement. Native policy eventually changed to favoring the bidding system to keep the peace, and tribes engaged in stealing mana were harshly punished by their peers, before they went on to be punished again by the central government as part of punitive expeditions, in which the stolen mana was recovered and distributed several-fold to well-behaved factions that aided in law enforcement. It was thanks in great part to this arrangement that by {{AN|1718}} that the islands were declared completely pacified by the Tepesh government in a report to the central government.

When the mana thefts came to a gradual end, the natives instead focused on aggressively cooperating with the government in its desire to venture into conflict zones, especially for pirate hunting expeditions. In these, the government would (ironically) be the one who was paid by the island's denizens for the honor of joining these expeditions, to the degree that bidding wars eventually took place over these as well, due to limited capacity for recruiting and controlling over-eager warriors. By {{AN|1723}}, these expeditions were extremely profitable, forming a lynchpin of the island's now-booming interior economy.

[[category:Hexarchy]]

Spatial Displacement Disaster

2026-06-21T15:26:10Z

Cosmic Fury: Created page with "{{Imperial Federation Article}} The {{PAGENAME}} was an event in {{AN|1757}} that saw Dromosker Island warped through space by its ruling prince in an act of desperation, using a forbidden, ancient, one-time use, base transportation technology otherwise lost to time. Nearly the entire scope of Dromosker Island displaced itself onto the northern half of West Eriador Island. The good news was that it displaced nearly perfectly on the destination island's northern reac..."

{{Imperial Federation Article}}

The {{PAGENAME}} was an event in {{AN|1757}} that saw [[Dromosker Island]] warped through space by its ruling prince in an act of desperation, using a forbidden, ancient, one-time use, base transportation technology otherwise lost to time. Nearly the entire scope of Dromosker Island displaced itself onto the northern half of West Eriador Island. The good news was that it displaced nearly perfectly on the destination island's northern reaches, with the capital settlement coinciding with prior coastal and tidal topography. The bad news was that the destination island's volcano subsequently erupted, devastating the rest of the island and worsening the ensuing disaster. West Eriador was destroyed down to its very name, with Dromosker Island sitting on the wreckage.

The disaster saw Dromosker Island not only relocated across a large stretch of Micras, but subsequently saw the people subsumed rapidly into the large [[Imperial Federation]], whose fresh proximity dwarfed the island's own in every respect and saw its recovery and subjugation under [[Anarion]] in the following months and years. The island's people would recover, and gradually assimilate into their vast new ruling country.

== Background ==

From early {{AN|1757}}, it was the 11th year of the reign of Prince Vlad Eru Tepesh, reigning as Eru IV. a Viceroy of [[Dromosker Island]] was appointed in that year as part of a defensive pact meant to stabilize the island's defenses in [[The Hexarchy|The Hexarchy's]] lapse of authority and desertion of its obligations to keep the island safe from pirates and others of that ilk. The Viceroy's sole purpose was to represent the Emperor of the Imperial Federation in his new capacity as ''Overlord of Dromosker Island''.

This Viceroy, appointed by Dromosker Command on nonconsecutive 3-year terms on approval of the imperial court, was given veto power over the Prince's motions in specific matters of state. Existing agreements such as the [[Treaty of Portpur]] were allowed to continue, and direct Imperial governance was limited to its naval base, a permanent seat on the island's ruling council, and moderate restrictions on the Prince's ability to conduct his affairs as he saw fit (so long as they did not directly conflict with his overlord's interests). The planned transfer was interrupted due to lack of [[MCS]] recognition, however. As Imperial Federation authority was not recognized on the island, the [[Dromosker Island/Pact of Schaarlecht|Pact of Schaarlecht]] was struck between the [[Imperial Federation]], [[Çakaristan]], and the Dromosker Island government, designed to ensure the island's autonomy until it could be handed over. The Viceroy position was, therefore, temporarily transferred to Cakaristan, a move done without the islanders' consultation and upsetting both Dromosker and Askerr elites.

Due to the abrupt and confusing nature of the handover of authority, disorder on the island's interior significantly increased during the ensuing months. However, the capital districts and coastal military facilities never came under real threat, giving the Prince time to find ''alternative'' solutions to his most pressing problems. Both Dromosker Islanders and [[Askerr]] became restless and rebellious, and he needed something far more significant than conventional weapons or even dragons. He got his wish, and his found an ancient device under the catacombs of [[Imarru-Lugal]] that the ruling elight thought to be a weapon. (In reality, it was an ancient, experimental device from [[Tarsica|extraterrestrial origin]] used for transporting entire locations such as space bases to distant places. Such forbidden technology, unlike the much more stable [[Hurmu Gate]], had not seen since the days of [[Jasonia]] and were all lost to [[Temporal Haemorrhaging|the long stretches of time]]. Not understanding the technology well, and unable to move it due to its immense size, nor knowing its true purpose, he nonetheless decided to use it only in his most dire moment.

== Disaster ==

The moment of truth would come for Prince Eru IV dreadfully soon. In mid-{AN|1757}}, the Pact was suddenly repudiated by Cakaristan following confusion amongst the [[MCS Council]], and it sought to rapidly invade and colonize the island. Openly betrayed, the islanders and Imperial Federation, who had left the island under the Pact's conditions, were caught off guard. Eru IV rushed to the device's location, which conveniently happened to be underneath the catacombs of [[Imarru-Lugal]], which the town had been built over due to their defensive merits. Eru reached the bunker built around the device, and activated the device.

Upon activating, the strange device drew up a topographical map of the world, and only gave similarly sized destination islands that were uninhabited as targets. Thinking that this was a personal travel device, Eru selected a place in friendly territory and attempted to activate it... only to realize that the device first demanded a radius of "area to transport." Hurriedly, he dialed in the maximum value of 256 to ensure his escape, and threw the activation lever. The device roared to life, and a profound, thunderous ''crash'' was felt throughout the entire island. The machine immediately melted down and self-destructed in a blaze of melting circuits and fire that Eru only barely managed to escape. The moment he reached the surface, the true extent of what he had wrought slammed into his eyes with force only the divine could possibly muster.

The island's surface, its capital city, and its people had been ripped out of their former location, relocated across space, and superimposed on a large, deserted volcanic island in the [[Isles of Eriador]], known until that fateful moment simply as "West Eriador." ... And it happened to be Eru's intended target for escape. The resulting disaster reshaped West Eriador completely, with the device melting itself down to essentially perform a cosmic cut-and-paste function onto the deserted island. The move wasn't perfect. The device was meant for transporting infrastructure, not the terrain around it. While the entire island managed to move, the southern areas and interior met with an earthquake of unprecedented scale upon landing. The capital acting as the epicenter, the island down to its bedrock had essentially been cut away and placed neatly ''within'' its target destination, following the contours of terrain to match both the moving terrain and the destination's geology.

This movement and sudden change in the crust caused the otherwise dormant island's volcano to erupt. This violently filled in the seawater taken in by the island's sudden teleportation, which stemmed the very worst of the lava flow damage. Still, the earthquake paired with the resulting volcanic shock lasted for days, causing immense loss of life on the island. Some 10% of the island's 1.5 million people perished, and another 20% were either seriously injured in the cataclysm or suffered lifelong debilitations.

== Aftermath ==

Despite the enormity of the damage and the loss of life in the countryside, the central settlement of [[Imarru-Lugal]] emerged relatively unscathed, as did much of the former Dromosker area's former topography. These factors assisted in rapid rescue and recovery efforts, especially for the outlying (and mostly outcast) [[Askerr]] who had been disproportionately affected in the disaster. The dragon population of the island fared well in the initial displacement, but suffered greatly from the volcano's eruption, as the dragons were inclined to live on the island's southern fringes away from the urban core of the island.

The Imperial Federation came in with nearby forces, the earthquake having badly impacted [[Al Hamra|AL Hamra Island]] as well, and the smoke plume affecting areas as far as [[Fei-Jun Island]]. When the scale of the disaster became clear, every available ship in the [[Grand Armada of the Sunfire Sea]] was called in to assist with humanitarian efforts that would come to last for months. As calamitous as it was, the destruction of the island's central volcano proved to be an ecological boon for the island in the following years. The boosted agriculture due to massive gains in soil fertility restored the Askerr people's prosperity despite their sudden relocation so far from home. Proximity to the [[Imperial Federation|Imperial Federation's]] most densely populated regions also helped with speedy recovery efforts. These, and the island's enlarged area, also led to the more vagrant of the [[Askerr]] people taking up agricultural lifestyles, and the remainder found work in military contracting companies much easier to acquire, thanks to their proximity to their most relevant employers.

The dragon population remained stable, and some escaped to [[Al Hamra]] and [[Fei-Jun Island]], where they found plenty of open space amid the rocky outcrops offered by these places. Transporting these dragons both in and out of these places, like those in [[Drag'os]], was forbidden despite their considerably smaller size (originating from [[The Hexarchy]]). This would quickly end the dragon trade on Dromosker. However, there was now far less need of these creatures for security purposes, as the island came under more direct protection from the Imperial Federation and its vast military resources.

Prince Eru IV, however, did not come out of the disaster unscathed. Although he had saved his island and people, it came at immense cost. Not only was he severely injured during the opening moments of the disaster, but he was also blamed just as much for the island's miniature apocalypse as he was for its preservation. Were it not for the staunch defense from the islanders and the threat of a hostile population so close to home, Prince Eru IV kept his life after the trial was held in [[Gondolin]] late in that year. However, he wasn't so lucky to keep his personal power intact. Instead, he was forced to answer to an emergency council for similar situations, despite the impossible odds of ever finding another such device in the whole of Micras again. The proximity of Dromosker Island to a nearby major suzerain was also the fate he wished to avoid, and more direct rulership would be imposed via the royal court of [[Eriador]] also having a say, having lost a significant territory to the disaster (albeit an uninhabited one). Thus, Al Hamra's royal government would also gain a seat on Dromosker Island's Ruling Council, in exchange for the principality's continued autonomy within the [[Isles of Eriador]].

== International Reactions ==

File:Eriador 1757.png

2026-06-21T14:24:52Z

Cosmic Fury: Cosmic Fury uploaded a new version of File:Eriador 1757.png

== Summary ==
{{Imperial Federation Article}}

The [[Isles of Eriador]] following the [[1757 Spatial Displacement Disaster]].

File:Eriador 1757.png

2026-06-21T14:14:38Z

Cosmic Fury: {{Imperial Federation Article}} The Isles of Eriador following the 1757 Spatial Displacement Disaster.

== Summary ==
{{Imperial Federation Article}}

The [[Isles of Eriador]] following the [[1757 Spatial Displacement Disaster]].

All Micras Debutante Ball

2026-06-18T17:46:52Z

Cosmic Fury: /* List of debutantes */

{{Kurum Ash-Sharqia article}}
{{Hurmu article}}
[[File:Debutante Ball.jpg|thumb]]
The '''All Micras Debutante Ball''' is a formal social occasion in which debutants, of any gender or social status, meet each other, typically to find a romantic partner. The ball is held every year, alternating between [[Oud Laar]], [[Kurum Ash-Sharqia]] and [[Huyenkula]], [[Hurmu]]. The first ball was organised in {{AN|06|2024}}.

== List of debutantes ==
* Add your debutants at the bottom of this list. Remove him/her/them when a partner has been found.
* At regular intervals the rows at the top (the older rows) will be deleted to keep the list manageable.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Nation
! Name
! Race
! Birth
! Gender
! Looking for
! Title
! Notes
! User
|-
| {{team flag|Blackstone}} {{team flag|Celebarad}}
| Lucian Jacobion Lewis ab Earion
| Human
| {{AN|1714}}, aged {{AgeAN|1714}}
| Male
| Female
| Second in line to the Lordship of [[Blackstone]]
| Son of [[Jacob Utherion Lewis]]
| [[User:Jack]]
|-
|{{Team flag|Order of the Holy Lakes}}
|[[Siegfried Friedrich Heinrich Einhorn]]
|Human
|{{AN|1701}}, aged {{AgeAN|1701}}
|Male
|Female (18-25)
|[[Knight of the Holy Lakes]]
|[[Honoured Son]], Scion of the [[Green Einhorn]]s and [[House of Einhorn]]
|[[User:Continuator]] (Tiegang)/[[user:Primo]] (Hurmu)
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Masamune V|Prince Masamune V]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1728}}, aged {{AgeAN|1728}}
| Male
| Female
| Prince of the [[Imperial Federation]] Asst. Minister of State
| Eldest son of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. Easily one of the most distinguished of his siblings, alongside his twin sister. Seeking one of a set of twins.
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Mariko von Adrestia|Princess Mariko]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1728}}, aged {{AgeAN|1728}}
| Female
| Male/Female
| Princess of the [[Imperial Federation]] Senator of the Imperial Federation
| Eldest daughter of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. She's the pride and joy of her father. Seeking one of a set of twins. House of Adrestia
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Dalgar'on von Adrestia]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1730}}, aged {{AgeAN|1730}}
| Male
| Female
| Prince [[Imperial Federation]] [[Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (Hurmu)]]
| Son of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. Actively seeks a somewhat older partner.
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Lianna von Adrestia|Princess Lianna Toshiko]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1731}} to {{AgeAN|1731}}
| Female
| Female
| Princess of the [[Imperial Federation]] Consul to [[Taktwinkel]], [[Lanzerwald]]
| Daughter of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. Strongly prefers the company of other women.
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Ieyasu von Adrestia|Prince Ieyasu Chidao Turg'on]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1731}}, aged {{AgeAN|1731}}
| Male
| ???
| Prince [[Imperial Federation]] Consul to [[Longhïa'pyōn Tawao]], [[Phinoenesia]]
| Son of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. No stated preferences; he's there because he was pressured to show up.
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Takaharu von Adrestia|Prince Takaharu Fing'on]]
| Human
| {{AN|1733}}, aged {{AgeAN|1733}}
| Male
| ???
| Prince of the [[Imperial Federation]] Corporate relations officer for [[Baicha Heavy Industries]] in [[Haifa]].
| Son of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. One of a set of sextuplets. He's mostly here just as a wingman for his sisters Takara, Mako, Kaguya, and Noriko.
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Tadakatsu von Adrestia|Prince Prince Tadakatsu Maeg'or]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1734}}, aged {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Male
| Female
| Prince of the [[Imperial Federation]] Professional chess player
| Son of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. Hates political intrigue. Prefers to avoid marrying into royalty.
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Shinzo von Adrestia|Prince Shinzo Fean'or]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1734}}, aged {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Male
| Male
| Prince of the [[Imperial Federation]] Officer in the Imperial Federation Navy
| Son of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. Has a preference for worldy, well-educated partners.
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Yasuko von Adrestia|Princess Yasuko Tsubaki]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1734}}, aged {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Female
| Male/Female
| Princess of the [[Imperial Federation]] Professional bum in the Palace.
| Daughter of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. Uses her doting father as yardstick for any partner. Good luck peeling her away.
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Balaer'ion von Adrestia|Prince Balaeri'on Musashi]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1734}}, aged {{AgeAN|1734}}
| Male
| Female
| Princess of the [[Imperial Federation]] Professional ring fighter (MMA, kickboxing)
| Son of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. A deceptively gentle soul. He likes "powerful women" and impressing them is apparently the only reason he ever stepped into the ring.
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Azul'on von Adrestia|Prince Azul'on Toshiie]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1735}}, aged {{AgeAN|1735}}
| Male
| Female
| Princes of the [[Imperial Federation]] Film Actor
| Son of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. He has an over-the-top personality. Only takes a shine to similar people.
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Matsu von Adrestia|Princess Matsu Ancalin'ai]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1737}}, aged {{AgeAN|1737}}
| Female
| Female
| Princess of the [[Imperial Federation]] A really bad travel vlogger
| Daughter of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. She's living her best life traveling the world and sharing her experience. Her presentation skills, however, are awful. She wants a partner with a more organized personality.
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Hiruzen von Adrestia|Prince Hiruzen Ancalag'on]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1737}}, aged {{AgeAN|1737}}
| Male
| Female
| Prince of the [[Imperial Federation]] College Student; Aspiring period drama actor
| Son of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. Too much of an eccentric like his father. Also took the idea of "chivalry" a bit far. Maybe he'll calm down... but it's not likely.
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Toshi von Adrestia|Prince Toshi Ilien]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1737}}, aged {{AgeAN|1737}}
| Male
| Female
| Prince of the [[Imperial Federation]] College Student
| Son of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. People think he's a twink. His appearance doesn't help, and he's developed something of a complex about breaking the mold. Poor Toshi.
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Katsumoto von Adrestia|Prince Katsumoto Elend'ar]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1737}}, aged {{AgeAN|1737}}
| Male
| Female/Male
| Prince of the [[Imperial Federation]] College Student
| Son of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. He loves fire and aspires for a career in large-scale demolitions... in space. We all know where this is going. He doesn't, and simply thinks it's the "man's job of the future."
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-
| {{Team flag|Imperial Federation}}
| [[Shuna von Adrestia|Princess Shuna Mir'ai]]
| Human (Ralgonese)
| {{AN|1737}}, aged {{AgeAN|1737}}
| Female
| Male/Female
| Princess of the [[Imperial Federation]] Owns a practical joke-themed shop in [[Gondolin]].
| Daughter of [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion]]. She's an excitable person, and will cause no end of mischief. Ironically, she wants the opposite in a partner -- "A wall of stone and a face to match."
| [[User:Cosmic Fury]]
|-}

[[Category:Culture]][[Category:Balls (dance party)]]

Anzu-Nergal & Nippur Bill

2026-06-18T08:49:25Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Hurmu article}}

The '''Karnamark Coast, Anzu-Nergal & Nippur Bill''' is a bill, as of 1757, in development by the [[Secretariat of State]]. The purpose was the annexation of some of the land that the Hexarchy was unable to re-annex following its collapse of government in 1756 and re-establishment the year later. After lobbying from [[Senate of the Lakes|Senator]] [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon|Nobunag'an Ral]], the bill would end up creating a small [[List of realms of the Order of the Holy Lakes|realm]] for the people of [[Anzu-Nergal]], and an autonomous municipality in Karnamark for the city of Pi-Memphis for the people of Nippur.

The bill has not yet been proposed to the Senate of the Lakes.

== Background ==

The bill followed the [[Isolation of Anzu-Nergal & Nippur]], and sought to bring permanent solution to that grave issue, while stabilizing the Order's borders within the [[Keltia]] mainland.

==Provisions==

The bill consists of four section: The first contains general provisions. The second declares the integration of [[Anzu-Nergal]] as a fully constituent Realm, names a guarantor as its leader, and grants certain rights. The third section incorporates [[Nippur]] as a self-governing territory within [[Samhold and Karnamark]] and grants certain rights. The fourth section details native title and related rights.

Territorial changes are made as a result of this law. The new Realm of [[Anzu-Nergal]] is added with [[Naith]] as its capital, with its environs as its territory. [[Amon Dae]], [[Luna's Veil]], and their environs are ceded to other Realms. [[Nippur]] is added as a self-governing territory, with the area surrounding [[Pi-Memphis]] as its territory. Other settlements are not directly listed in the bill's provisions.

'''OOC provisions''' allow for Cosmic Fury to control certain characters in Anzu-Nergal and set its internal narratives. Control of Nippur's characters is shared, and Hurmu controls any changes in that territory in line with this page's provisions.

==Text of the Bill==

===Section 1: General Provisions===
#The sovereignty of the Order of the Holy Lakes is extended to the coast of Karnamark and the Arm of Anzu-Nergal between the realms of Amaland and Normandie, as indicated in the Appendix.
##The jurisdiction of the Earldom of Samhold and Karnamark extends to the Coast of Karnamark.
##The jurisdiction of the Realm of Amaland extends to the southern part of the Arm of Anzu-Nergal, excluding the city of Naith and its surrounding territory.
##The jurisdiction of the Duchy of Normandie extends to the northern part of the Arm of Anzu-Nergal, excluding the city of Naith and its surrounding territory.
##The city of [[Naith]] and its surrounding territory is admitted as a Realm of the Order with the name of the Realm of Anzu-Nergal.

===Section 2: Realm of Anzu-Nergal ===
#The sovereignty of the Order is represented in the Realm of Anzu-Nergal by an Overlord who answers to the Senate.
#[[Anarion]], his designated heirs and successors according to law, are named as ''Overlord of Anzu-Nergal'' at the pleasure of the Senate.
#The Overlord is charged with ensuring peace and good government over the Realm of Anzu-Nergal and may establish a constitutional government there in accordance with the [[Charter for the Order of the Holy Lakes]].

===Section 3: Incorporation of [[Nippur]] as an autonomous municipality ===
#[[Nippur]] is hereby granted the status of an autonomous municipality of the Earldom of [[Samhold and Karnamark]]. The territory shall encompass the area surrounding the metropolitan area of [[Pi-Memphis]].
#Governance shall, to the fullest extent possible, be self-contained within the territory.
#The Earl of Samhold and Karnamark shall make law for the autonomy of Nippur, including for the jurisdiction of tribal courts in Samhold and Karnamark, in accordance with the [[Charter for the Order of the Holy Lakes]].

=== Appendix: Map ===

[[File:Naith.png]]

== OOC Notes ==

*This bill is the mechanism by which both territories are annexed by Hurmu per [[MCS]] purposes.
*Cosmic controls [[Order of the Holy Lakes|Hurmu]] characters originating from, or attached to [[Anzu-Nergal]].
*Should any exist, Cosmic waives control over any members of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] originating from [[Nippur]].

[[Category:Law of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]

Anzu-Nergal & Nippur Bill

2026-06-18T08:48:04Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Text of the Bill */

{{Hurmu article}}

The '''Karnamark Coast, Anzu-Nergal & Nippur Bill''' is a bill, as of 1757, in development by the [[Secretariat of State]]. The purpose was the annexation of some of the land that the Hexarchy was unable to re-annex following its collapse of government in 1756 and re-establishment the year later. After lobbying from [[Senate of the Lakes|Senator]] [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon|Nobunag'an Ral]], the bill would end up creating a small [[List of realms of the Order of the Holy Lakes|realm]] for the people of [[Anzu-Nergal]], and an autonomous municipality in Karnamark for the city of ....

The bill has not yet been proposed to the Senate of the Lakes.

== Background ==

The bill followed the [[Isolation of Anzu-Nergal & Nippur]], and sought to bring permanent solution to that grave issue, while stabilizing the Order's borders within the [[Keltia]] mainland.

==Provisions==

The bill consists of four section: The first contains general provisions. The second declares the integration of [[Anzu-Nergal]] as a fully constituent Realm, names a guarantor as its leader, and grants certain rights. The third section incorporates [[Nippur]] as a self-governing territory within [[Samhold and Karnamark]] and grants certain rights. The fourth section details native title and related rights.

Territorial changes are made as a result of this law. The new Realm of [[Anzu-Nergal]] is added with [[Naith]] as its capital, with its environs as its territory. [[Amon Dae]], [[Luna's Veil]], and their environs are ceded to other Realms. [[Nippur]] is added as a self-governing territory, with the area surrounding [[Pi-Memphis]] as its territory. Other settlements are not directly listed in the bill's provisions.

'''OOC provisions''' allow for Cosmic Fury to control certain characters in Anzu-Nergal and set its internal narratives. Control of Nippur's characters is shared, and Hurmu controls any changes in that territory in line with this page's provisions.

==Text of the Bill==

===Section 1: General Provisions===
#The sovereignty of the Order of the Holy Lakes is extended to the coast of Karnamark and the Arm of Anzu-Nergal between the realms of Amaland and Normandie, as indicated in the Appendix.
##The jurisdiction of the Earldom of Samhold and Karnamark extends to the Coast of Karnamark.
##The jurisdiction of the Realm of Amaland extends to the southern part of the Arm of Anzu-Nergal, excluding the city of Naith and its surrounding territory.
##The jurisdiction of the Duchy of Normandie extends to the northern part of the Arm of Anzu-Nergal, excluding the city of Naith and its surrounding territory.
##The city of [[Naith]] and its surrounding territory is admitted as a Realm of the Order with the name of the Realm of Anzu-Nergal.

===Section 2: Realm of Anzu-Nergal ===
#The sovereignty of the Order is represented in the Realm of Anzu-Nergal by an Overlord who answers to the Senate.
#[[Anarion]], his designated heirs and successors according to law, are named as ''Overlord of Anzu-Nergal'' at the pleasure of the Senate.
#The Overlord is charged with ensuring peace and good government over the Realm of Anzu-Nergal and may establish a constitutional government there in accordance with the [[Charter for the Order of the Holy Lakes]].

===Section 3: Incorporation of [[Nippur]] as an autonomous municipality ===
#[[Nippur]] is hereby granted the status of an autonomous municipality of the Earldom of [[Samhold and Karnamark]]. The territory shall encompass the area surrounding the metropolitan area of [[Pi-Memphis]].
#Governance shall, to the fullest extent possible, be self-contained within the territory.
#The Earl of Samhold and Karnamark shall make law for the autonomy of Nippur, including for the jurisdiction of tribal courts in Samhold and Karnamark, in accordance with the [[Charter for the Order of the Holy Lakes]].

=== Appendix: Map ===

[[File:Naith.png]]

== OOC Notes ==

*This bill is the mechanism by which both territories are annexed by Hurmu per [[MCS]] purposes.
*Cosmic controls [[Order of the Holy Lakes|Hurmu]] characters originating from, or attached to [[Anzu-Nergal]].
*Should any exist, Cosmic waives control over any members of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] originating from [[Nippur]].

[[Category:Law of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]

Anzu-Nergal & Nippur Bill

2026-06-18T02:52:14Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Section 2: Incorporation of Anzu-Nergal as a Realm of the Order */

{{Hurmu article}}

The Anzu-Nergal & Nippur Act of {{AN|1757}} was adopted by the Senate of the Lakes on XX.X.1757. The purpose was the integration of the Realm of [[Anzu-Nergal]] and Free Territory of [[Nippur]] into the [[Hurmu|territory of the Order of the Holy Lakes]], designation of their territory (and major settlements), and provisions for their self-governance. This was to provide economic opportunity for the former and protection for the latter after military authority from [[The Hexarchy]] collapsed north of [[Fort Defiance]].

The bill was introduced by [[Nobunag'an|Senator Nobunag'an, Emperor Emeritus of the Imperial Federation]]. The bill was adopted by the Senate through simplified majority procedures, i.e., voting continued until a majority had been reached.

== Background ==

The bill followed the [[Isolation of Anzu-Nergal & Nippur]], and sought to bring permanent solution to that grave issue, while stabilizing the Order's borders within the [[Keltia]] mainland.

==Provisions==

The bill consists of four section: The first contains general provisions. The second declares the integration of [[Anzu-Nergal]] as a fully constituent Realm, names a guarantor as its leader, and grants certain rights. The third section incorporates [[Nippur]] as a self-governing territory within [[Samhold and Karnamark]] and grants certain rights. The fourth section details native title and related rights.

Territorial changes are made as a result of this law. The new Realm of [[Anzu-Nergal]] is added with [[Naith]] as its capital, with its environs as its territory. [[Amon Dae]], [[Luna's Veil]], and their environs are ceded to other Realms. [[Nippur]] is added as a self-governing territory, with the area surrounding [[Pi-Memphis]] as its territory. Other settlements are not directly listed in the bill's provisions.

'''OOC provisions''' allow for Cosmic Fury to control certain characters in Anzu-Nergal and set its internal narratives. Control of Nippur's characters is shared, and Hurmu controls any changes in that territory in line with this page's provisions.

==Text of the Bill==

===Section 1: General Provisions===
#Due to the collapse of military authority from [[The Hexarchy]] north of [[Fort Defiance]], the native rulers of the regions locally known as [[Anzu-Nergal]] and [[Nippur]] have been isolated from economic, political, and social support.
#These regions have separately applied for integration into the realms held in right of the Order, and in a desire to maintain peace, security, and free trade. Their status & guarantees of native rights and responsibilities are separately enumerated in this law.
#The Senate is entrusted with the ultimate authority over these territories.
#As a guarantee of their security and negotiated rights, the Senate provides the following:
##Anzu-Nergal and its territory is admitted as a Realm of the Order, with the city of [[Naith]] as its capital.
##Nippur is admitted as a self-governing territory within the Realm of [[Samhold and Karnamark]], with [[Pi-Memphis]] as its capital.
##These and further provisions, as enumerated below.
#No provision of this act shall conflict with the existing laws of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]].
##Where such conflict exists, that provision shall be struck, and other provisions shall remain in force.

===Section 2: Incorporation of Anzu-Nergal as a Realm of the Order===
#Anzu-Nergal is hereby incorporated as a Realm of the Order of the Holy Lakes, with all attached rights and responsibilities.
##The Realm of Anzu-Nergal shall incorporate the city and environs of [[Naith]].
##The Realm shall be self-governed where not in conflict with [[Hurmu Law]].
##The people of Anzu-Nergal pledge their loyalty to the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] in perpetuity.
#The leadership of the Realm of Anzu-Nergal is vested in an Overlord, conditions detailed as follows:
##[[Anarion]] and his designated heirs are named as ''Overlord of Anzu-Nergal''. Further provisions are enacted to ensure local governance for his successors within Anzu-Nergal:
###The Overlord of Anzu-Nergal shall act as guarantor of local rights and governance.
###The Overlord shall forever occupy a place of authority and respect within Anzu-Nergal.
##After [[Anarion|Overlord Anarion]] vacates this title, future Overlords must abide by the following terms:
###Future Overlords must take up residence in Naith.
###Future Overlords may not be a foreign head of state, nor married to one.
###If in violation of these terms, they shall immediately relinquish the title of Overlord of Anzu-Nergal.
###No Overlord shall hold this title twice, upon the event of abdication, death, and/or resurrection of any kind.

===Section 3: Incorporation of [[Nippur]] as a Free Territory ===
#[[Nippur]] is hereby granted the status of a self-governing Territory of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]].
#Nippur shall be attached to the Realm of [[Samhold and Karnamark]], and shall be overseen by the head of that Realm.
##The territory shall encompass the area surrounding the metropolitan area of [[Pi-Memphis]].
##Territory outside of this area is ceded to [[Samhold and Karnamark]] to hold and to govern.
##The people of Nippur pledge their loyalty in perpetuity to the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] and to the Realm of [[Samhold and Karnamark]].
#Governance shall, to the fullest extent possible, be self-contained within the territory.
##Tribal courts shall be provided in native-majority settlements exceeding 25,000 persons located within [[Samhold and Karnamark]].
##Native title shall be governed in [[Anzu-Nergal & Nippur Act of 1757#Section 4: Native Title & Land Rights|Section 4 of this law]].

===Section 4: Native Title & Land Rights===
#Mineral rights within Anzu-Nergal belongs collectively to the people of Anzu-Nergal.
##Right of first refusal of mineral sales at agreed-on prices belongs to [[Hurmu|the government of Hurmu]] before sales elsewhere.
##Land designated for mineral extraction belongs to the people of Anzu-Nergal. Tribal pastoral areas belong to their designated tribe.
##Land purchases shall not be restricted within the city limits of [[Naith]].
##These provisions shall not impede the inherent right to live, work, move, and settle within Anzu-Nergal.
#Native title in [[Nippur]] exists on clearly marked agricultural land belonging to local tribes.
##Native title land may be owned by a tribe, not individuals. When sold by its corresponding tribe, native land title is lost.
##New native title shall not be permitted without authorization from [[Samhold and Karnamark]].
##Native title shall not apply within urban areas.

== OOC Notes ==

*This bill is the mechanism by which both territories are annexed by Hurmu per [[MCS]] purposes.
*Cosmic controls [[Order of the Holy Lakes|Hurmu]] characters originating from, or attached to [[Anzu-Nergal]].
*Should any exist, Cosmic waives control over any members of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] originating from [[Nippur]].

[[Category:Law of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]

Anzu-Nergal & Nippur Bill

2026-06-18T02:52:00Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Section 2: Incorporation of Anzu-Nergal as a Realm of the Order */

{{Hurmu article}}

The Anzu-Nergal & Nippur Act of {{AN|1757}} was adopted by the Senate of the Lakes on XX.X.1757. The purpose was the integration of the Realm of [[Anzu-Nergal]] and Free Territory of [[Nippur]] into the [[Hurmu|territory of the Order of the Holy Lakes]], designation of their territory (and major settlements), and provisions for their self-governance. This was to provide economic opportunity for the former and protection for the latter after military authority from [[The Hexarchy]] collapsed north of [[Fort Defiance]].

The bill was introduced by [[Nobunag'an|Senator Nobunag'an, Emperor Emeritus of the Imperial Federation]]. The bill was adopted by the Senate through simplified majority procedures, i.e., voting continued until a majority had been reached.

== Background ==

The bill followed the [[Isolation of Anzu-Nergal & Nippur]], and sought to bring permanent solution to that grave issue, while stabilizing the Order's borders within the [[Keltia]] mainland.

==Provisions==

The bill consists of four section: The first contains general provisions. The second declares the integration of [[Anzu-Nergal]] as a fully constituent Realm, names a guarantor as its leader, and grants certain rights. The third section incorporates [[Nippur]] as a self-governing territory within [[Samhold and Karnamark]] and grants certain rights. The fourth section details native title and related rights.

Territorial changes are made as a result of this law. The new Realm of [[Anzu-Nergal]] is added with [[Naith]] as its capital, with its environs as its territory. [[Amon Dae]], [[Luna's Veil]], and their environs are ceded to other Realms. [[Nippur]] is added as a self-governing territory, with the area surrounding [[Pi-Memphis]] as its territory. Other settlements are not directly listed in the bill's provisions.

'''OOC provisions''' allow for Cosmic Fury to control certain characters in Anzu-Nergal and set its internal narratives. Control of Nippur's characters is shared, and Hurmu controls any changes in that territory in line with this page's provisions.

==Text of the Bill==

===Section 1: General Provisions===
#Due to the collapse of military authority from [[The Hexarchy]] north of [[Fort Defiance]], the native rulers of the regions locally known as [[Anzu-Nergal]] and [[Nippur]] have been isolated from economic, political, and social support.
#These regions have separately applied for integration into the realms held in right of the Order, and in a desire to maintain peace, security, and free trade. Their status & guarantees of native rights and responsibilities are separately enumerated in this law.
#The Senate is entrusted with the ultimate authority over these territories.
#As a guarantee of their security and negotiated rights, the Senate provides the following:
##Anzu-Nergal and its territory is admitted as a Realm of the Order, with the city of [[Naith]] as its capital.
##Nippur is admitted as a self-governing territory within the Realm of [[Samhold and Karnamark]], with [[Pi-Memphis]] as its capital.
##These and further provisions, as enumerated below.
#No provision of this act shall conflict with the existing laws of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]].
##Where such conflict exists, that provision shall be struck, and other provisions shall remain in force.

===Section 2: Incorporation of Anzu-Nergal as a Realm of the Order===
#Anzu-Nergal is hereby incorporated as a Realm of the Order of the Holy Lakes, with all attached rights and responsibilities.
##The Realm of Anzu-Nergal shall incorporate the city and environs of [[Naith]].
##The Realm shall be self-governed where not in conflict with [[Hurmu Law]].
##The people of Anzu-Nergal pledge their loyalty to the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] in perpetuity.
#The leadership of the Realm of Anzu-Nergal is vested in an Overlord, conditions detailed as follows:
##[[Anarion]] and his designated heirs are named as ''Overlord of Anzu-Nergal''. Further provisions are enacted to ensure local governance for his successors within Anzu-Nergal:
###The Overlord of Anzu-Nergal shall act as guarantor of local rights and governance.
###The Overlord shall forever occupy a place of authority and respect within Anzu-Nergal.
##After [[Anarion]] vacates this title, future Overlords must abide by the following terms:
###Future Overlords must take up residence in Naith.
###Future Overlords may not be a foreign head of state, nor married to one.
###If in violation of these terms, they shall immediately relinquish the title of Overlord of Anzu-Nergal.
###No Overlord shall hold this title twice, upon the event of abdication, death, and/or resurrection of any kind.

===Section 3: Incorporation of [[Nippur]] as a Free Territory ===
#[[Nippur]] is hereby granted the status of a self-governing Territory of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]].
#Nippur shall be attached to the Realm of [[Samhold and Karnamark]], and shall be overseen by the head of that Realm.
##The territory shall encompass the area surrounding the metropolitan area of [[Pi-Memphis]].
##Territory outside of this area is ceded to [[Samhold and Karnamark]] to hold and to govern.
##The people of Nippur pledge their loyalty in perpetuity to the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] and to the Realm of [[Samhold and Karnamark]].
#Governance shall, to the fullest extent possible, be self-contained within the territory.
##Tribal courts shall be provided in native-majority settlements exceeding 25,000 persons located within [[Samhold and Karnamark]].
##Native title shall be governed in [[Anzu-Nergal & Nippur Act of 1757#Section 4: Native Title & Land Rights|Section 4 of this law]].

===Section 4: Native Title & Land Rights===
#Mineral rights within Anzu-Nergal belongs collectively to the people of Anzu-Nergal.
##Right of first refusal of mineral sales at agreed-on prices belongs to [[Hurmu|the government of Hurmu]] before sales elsewhere.
##Land designated for mineral extraction belongs to the people of Anzu-Nergal. Tribal pastoral areas belong to their designated tribe.
##Land purchases shall not be restricted within the city limits of [[Naith]].
##These provisions shall not impede the inherent right to live, work, move, and settle within Anzu-Nergal.
#Native title in [[Nippur]] exists on clearly marked agricultural land belonging to local tribes.
##Native title land may be owned by a tribe, not individuals. When sold by its corresponding tribe, native land title is lost.
##New native title shall not be permitted without authorization from [[Samhold and Karnamark]].
##Native title shall not apply within urban areas.

== OOC Notes ==

*This bill is the mechanism by which both territories are annexed by Hurmu per [[MCS]] purposes.
*Cosmic controls [[Order of the Holy Lakes|Hurmu]] characters originating from, or attached to [[Anzu-Nergal]].
*Should any exist, Cosmic waives control over any members of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] originating from [[Nippur]].

[[Category:Law of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]

Anzu-Nergal & Nippur Bill

2026-06-18T02:49:22Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Hurmu article}}

The Anzu-Nergal & Nippur Act of {{AN|1757}} was adopted by the Senate of the Lakes on XX.X.1757. The purpose was the integration of the Realm of [[Anzu-Nergal]] and Free Territory of [[Nippur]] into the [[Hurmu|territory of the Order of the Holy Lakes]], designation of their territory (and major settlements), and provisions for their self-governance. This was to provide economic opportunity for the former and protection for the latter after military authority from [[The Hexarchy]] collapsed north of [[Fort Defiance]].

The bill was introduced by [[Nobunag'an|Senator Nobunag'an, Emperor Emeritus of the Imperial Federation]]. The bill was adopted by the Senate through simplified majority procedures, i.e., voting continued until a majority had been reached.

== Background ==

The bill followed the [[Isolation of Anzu-Nergal & Nippur]], and sought to bring permanent solution to that grave issue, while stabilizing the Order's borders within the [[Keltia]] mainland.

==Provisions==

The bill consists of four section: The first contains general provisions. The second declares the integration of [[Anzu-Nergal]] as a fully constituent Realm, names a guarantor as its leader, and grants certain rights. The third section incorporates [[Nippur]] as a self-governing territory within [[Samhold and Karnamark]] and grants certain rights. The fourth section details native title and related rights.

Territorial changes are made as a result of this law. The new Realm of [[Anzu-Nergal]] is added with [[Naith]] as its capital, with its environs as its territory. [[Amon Dae]], [[Luna's Veil]], and their environs are ceded to other Realms. [[Nippur]] is added as a self-governing territory, with the area surrounding [[Pi-Memphis]] as its territory. Other settlements are not directly listed in the bill's provisions.

'''OOC provisions''' allow for Cosmic Fury to control certain characters in Anzu-Nergal and set its internal narratives. Control of Nippur's characters is shared, and Hurmu controls any changes in that territory in line with this page's provisions.

==Text of the Bill==

===Section 1: General Provisions===
#Due to the collapse of military authority from [[The Hexarchy]] north of [[Fort Defiance]], the native rulers of the regions locally known as [[Anzu-Nergal]] and [[Nippur]] have been isolated from economic, political, and social support.
#These regions have separately applied for integration into the realms held in right of the Order, and in a desire to maintain peace, security, and free trade. Their status & guarantees of native rights and responsibilities are separately enumerated in this law.
#The Senate is entrusted with the ultimate authority over these territories.
#As a guarantee of their security and negotiated rights, the Senate provides the following:
##Anzu-Nergal and its territory is admitted as a Realm of the Order, with the city of [[Naith]] as its capital.
##Nippur is admitted as a self-governing territory within the Realm of [[Samhold and Karnamark]], with [[Pi-Memphis]] as its capital.
##These and further provisions, as enumerated below.
#No provision of this act shall conflict with the existing laws of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]].
##Where such conflict exists, that provision shall be struck, and other provisions shall remain in force.

===Section 2: Incorporation of Anzu-Nergal as a Realm of the Order===
#Anzu-Nergal is hereby incorporated as a Realm of the Order of the Holy Lakes, with all attached rights and responsibilities.
##The Realm of Anzu-Nergal shall incorporate the city and environs of [[Naith]].
##The Realm shall be self-governed where not in conflict with [[Hurmu Law]].
##The people of Anzu-Nergal pledge their loyalty to the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] in perpetuity.
#The leadership of the Realm of Anzu-Nergal is provided for in detail as follows:
##[[Anarion]] is named as the first Overlord of Anzu-Nergal. Further provisions are enacted to ensure local governance for his successors within Anzu-Nergal:
###The Overlord of Anzu-Nergal shall act as guarantor of local rights and governance.
###The Overlord shall forever occupy a place of authority and respect within Anzu-Nergal.
##Future Overlords must abide by the following terms:
###Future Overlords must take up residence in Naith.
###Future Overlords may not be a foreign head of state, nor married to one.
###If in violation of these terms, they shall immediately relinquish the title of Overlord of Anzu-Nergal.
###No Overlord shall hold this title twice, upon the event of abdication, death, and/or resurrection of any kind.

===Section 3: Incorporation of [[Nippur]] as a Free Territory ===
#[[Nippur]] is hereby granted the status of a self-governing Territory of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]].
#Nippur shall be attached to the Realm of [[Samhold and Karnamark]], and shall be overseen by the head of that Realm.
##The territory shall encompass the area surrounding the metropolitan area of [[Pi-Memphis]].
##Territory outside of this area is ceded to [[Samhold and Karnamark]] to hold and to govern.
##The people of Nippur pledge their loyalty in perpetuity to the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] and to the Realm of [[Samhold and Karnamark]].
#Governance shall, to the fullest extent possible, be self-contained within the territory.
##Tribal courts shall be provided in native-majority settlements exceeding 25,000 persons located within [[Samhold and Karnamark]].
##Native title shall be governed in [[Anzu-Nergal & Nippur Act of 1757#Section 4: Native Title & Land Rights|Section 4 of this law]].

===Section 4: Native Title & Land Rights===
#Mineral rights within Anzu-Nergal belongs collectively to the people of Anzu-Nergal.
##Right of first refusal of mineral sales at agreed-on prices belongs to [[Hurmu|the government of Hurmu]] before sales elsewhere.
##Land designated for mineral extraction belongs to the people of Anzu-Nergal. Tribal pastoral areas belong to their designated tribe.
##Land purchases shall not be restricted within the city limits of [[Naith]].
##These provisions shall not impede the inherent right to live, work, move, and settle within Anzu-Nergal.
#Native title in [[Nippur]] exists on clearly marked agricultural land belonging to local tribes.
##Native title land may be owned by a tribe, not individuals. When sold by its corresponding tribe, native land title is lost.
##New native title shall not be permitted without authorization from [[Samhold and Karnamark]].
##Native title shall not apply within urban areas.

== OOC Notes ==

*This bill is the mechanism by which both territories are annexed by Hurmu per [[MCS]] purposes.
*Cosmic controls [[Order of the Holy Lakes|Hurmu]] characters originating from, or attached to [[Anzu-Nergal]].
*Should any exist, Cosmic waives control over any members of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] originating from [[Nippur]].

[[Category:Law of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]

Eternia

2026-06-17T16:24:52Z

Cosmic Fury:

{{Eternia Article}}
{{Imperial Federation Article}}
{{Infobox Nation Comprehensive
|fullname = The United States of Eternia
|commonname = Eternia
|flag = File:Eternia flag.png
|coa = File:Blank flag.png
|motto = ''Find the Light''
|anthem = WIP
|map = File:Eternia_v1.1.png
|mapversions = pending MCS approval
|capital = Vulcania
|largecity = Vulcania, Yazdegerd, Wesport, Hormuzan
|lang = Standard (official gov't language) Aqaluit languages (spoken outside the interior)
|demnoun = Eternian
|demadj = Eternian
|govtype = Constitutional, Semi-Parliamentary Monarchy
|headofstatetitle = King
|headofstate = [[Sozin V of Eternia|Sozin V, the Peacemaker]]
|religion = No official religion Eternianism, [[Draconic]], and Native folk religions prevalent
|headofgovernmenttitle = Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]
|headofgovernment = [[Anarion|Anarion the Great]]
|legislature = Parliament
|estdate = {{AN|1715}} {{AN|1737}} (accession to the [[Imperial Federation]])
|agerank =
|area = NA
|arearank = NA
|pop = 8,765,000 ({{AN|1738}}) (est.)
|activepop = NA
|currency = [[Imperial Federation|Imperial]] Guilder (£)
|abbrev = USE
|site =
|forum =
|animal = Frigian Ice Dragon
|food =
|drink = Jabba juice [drink made from a unique variety of polar dates
|tree = Polar Sequoia
}}

The '''United States of Eternia''', or the United Eternian States, is known in short-hand as '''Eternia'''. The region was formerly known as the Union of Frigia, Vulcania, and Koralia before its first unification in {{AN|1715}}. Eternia is a unitary state located on a mostly frozen subcontinent southwest of Eura, known in ages past as [[Pacary]]. Known by various names to outsiders, it was originally referred to alternatively as "Frigia" due to the icebound region explorers and traders made first contact with. Despite knowledge that the country was called ''The Union of Frigia, Vulcania, and Koralia'', it lacked a shorthand name, frustrating the natives for years.

Rather upset at the lack of balance in treatment to the rest of the country (specifically being named for less than half of itself), it was clear that the polity needed a shortened name its prominent leaders could agree with. Looks at the few remaining archives of the island's history failed to produce good results. After a deadlock in the country's small parliament, they turned to the King, then a purely religious figure. It was then that the King, after contemplating the nature of the divine, claimed that the gods revealed to him a long-forgotten name for the islanders: Eternia. The name represented an unchanging balance, an eternally frozen yet hospitable land unlike any other. A referendum in the core regions was held, which approved the name overwhelmingly.

The island takes a near-pacifist stance to foreign relations, instead preferring to conduct diplomacy through commerce and cultural exchange, while collaborating with major partners for self-defense on a bilateral basis. Because of the very low crime rate on the island and its high level of prosperity, the otherwise quiet and peaceful country offers itself as a niche tourist destination that has been increasing in popularity since its application for recognition by the MCS in {{AN|1718}}. During the summer the country is a paradise for vacationers, although during the winter there are some parts of the country still hospitable for tourists to visit, if they're willing to brave the ice to get into the deep interior.

The country is a constituent country of the [[Imperial Federation]], which has assumed responsibility for an increasing share of Eternia's national defense since its independence, eventually absorbing the country as part of a sovereignty deal starting from {{AN|1733}}. With most of its international trade through either the Imperial Federation, or (to a lesser extent) other [[Raspur Pact]] powers, the country has gradually shifted under the umbrella of its more powerful maritime neighbor. While annexation remains a topic of debate among the elite of both nations, nothing was proposed before either country's legislature during the 1720's. With the old king seeing his last days into the 1730's, however, renewed talks of accession have accelerated. These lead to the formal accession of the country into the [[Imperial Federation]] in {{AN|1733}}, with the formal integration of institutions into the expanded Eternian territory and the greater Imperial system set completed by {{AN|1737}} and the accession process finalized.

After this, Sozin III abdicated and, after his eldest son Sozin IV succession, passed the crown to Solomon Sozin Aquelish, being crowned as [[Sozin V of Eternia]] later in {{AN|1737}}. The country quickly integrated into its new mother country, quickly expanding its territory and encompassing an area now known as Greater Eternia, these including the entire Imperial-controlled Eternian archipelago, along with [[Imperial Eura]] and related territories. The country's economy and population saw a rise in its economic prowess, only stunted by the aftermath of the [[Recession of 1737]], the expenses for which took until {{AN|1740}} to fully pay off. The country fell into a period of quiet afterwards, gaining wealth later in the following two decades thanks to renewed connections via newly associated territories, and to the rest of the Imperial Federation via [[Beihagh]], [[North Corum]].

==History==

The country peacefully unified in the years leading to {{AN year|1715}}, through a long and quiet process. The country is led by King Sozin III, a formerly tribal leader who lived in Vulcania as the region's paramount chief for many years. The quiet country is known for the contrast of its hot springs in the interior, and harsh polar climate near most of its coastline, which remains nearly uninhabited save for the sparse natives and their exotic-looking flying mounts.

In recent years, as the country gained recognized sovereignty on Micras, it signed a infrastructure and maritime defense deal with the [[Imperial Federation]] in exchange for near-uninhabited islands off the country's northwest coast. In return, Eternia gained a vast sum of cash, as well as large infrastructure contracts to develop the island's most desolate regions, enabling it to gain sufficient strength and international support to apply for [[MCS]] membership in {{AN|1718}}.

Over the ensuing years, the country remained quietly at peace, preferring to focus on its own internal development, while its neighbor in the [[Imperial Federation]] slowly assumed a progressively greater share of the country's national defense, namely in maritime defense capabilities from its bases north of the country in [[North Frigia]]. By {{AN|1727}}, there was active talk of accession among the elites of both countries to the Imperial Federation, with the King of Eternia reaching an advanced age and nearing retirement, and the Emperor of the Imperial Federation, [[Anarion]], having freshly ascended the throne. However, no serious bills would be introduced to either country's legislature to initiate the process, with the Imperial Federation worried about the ramifications that a major possession so far from home would entail for its other far-flung territories, and for its relations with its many maritime neighbors.

In {{AN|1730}}, King Sozin III began to step back from his royal duties, passing an increasing amount of authority to Parliament, which in turn designated Sozin IV as the heir-presumptive to Eternia's throne, pending any other negotiations with Emperor Anarion of the Imperial Federation (who, at least publicly, expressed no open interest in directly ruling the far-flung nation). The country continued its quiet period of isolation, with few interactions of any note with its neighbors. The country eventually joined the Imperial Federation in {{AN|1733}}, expanding its institutions as a newly constituent country of the empire, and assuming governance of North Eternia and most of [[Imperial Eura]] in those same negotiations. The country is now a core part of the Imperial Federation, with direct representation in the Imperial court after reforms to the executive in {{AN|1753}}, as well as on the Senate.

==Geography==

Eternia is located almost in its entirety on the [[Pacary Islands]], and shares maritime borders with [[Natopia|Natopia's]] protectorate of [[Athlon]] to the east. (It has no open political relations or direct contact with the latter.) It is located close to the Antarctic Circle of [[Micras]], with the southernmost parts of the country found within the permanent Antarctic ice cap. The main islands of this territory are several hundred kilometers southeast of [[Eura]], being geographically part of that continent. Local geographers assert that Eternia proper is part of the so-called "Pacary Subcontinent," named such after the former long-gone occupants of [[Pacary]].

The country also nominally administers [[Imperial Eura]], a set of self-governing islands off the southern mainland of [[Eura]]. Imperial Eura enjoys direct representation in Eternia's democratically elected People's Assembly, the lower house of its legislature. (Its senate is appointed jointly by the King of Eternia and the Emperor of the Imperial Federation.)

=== Location ===

The island of Eternia is a polar island in the far south of Micras that, were it not for its interior volcanic activity, would be entirely frozen and completely uninhabitable. The country consists entirely of this island and nearby islets, and a group of larger, icebound islands to the south. Most of the population lives in the interior, with only a single major city on the west coast able to operate off the coast year-round. (Population centers dot the otherwise frozen coastlines, but even the larger towns barely boast more than 5,000 people.)

Eternia is located southwest of Eura, and east of Tapfer, on the eternally icebound subcontinent known in ages past as [[Pacary]]. The country borders Athlon off its east coast, where the two have no contact due to the polar landscape preventing contact for many years. The [[Floria|Florian]] overseas territory of [[Etourney]] lies, for the most part, off to the northeast coast, with a tiny exclave sharing a land border with its polar northeast. No contact yet exists there either. Finally, the [[Imperial Federation]] holds island territory on its northwest coast, having purchased the land at a very high monetary and material cost to themselves.

Thanks to its interior's low-level yet widespread volcanic and geothermic activity, the island's interior is warm, with the Eternia's central caldera forming an island that contains the largest city and only year-round interior port in the country, named Vulcania. Most of the island is taken up by three provinces. Frigia occupies most of the western portion of the island, as well as much of the north. Koralia is found to the east, and holds the most ice-bound territory of the island. Vulcania's three districts form the country's interior, serving as a capital for the country's two halves.

=== Frigia ===

Originally known by outsiders after the name of this territory, Frigia's territory takes up some 40% of Eternia's total land mass. Located on the western half of the country, Frigia is mostly tundra regions, with its habitable areas confined to the south-center of the region for the most part, with only a tiny portion of its other coastal territory being habitable, and the rest being near-impassable ice sheets. The only year-round major commerce going from the western end of Eternia passes through Frigia, where the city of Wesport serves as the region's economic capital. Like the rest of the country, most of Frigia's land area is only kept above freezing thanks to geothermic activity and warm ocean currents near limited areas of the coast. This allows for coastal settlements in the north to develop, although most of Frigia remains permanently icebound throughout the year.

Frigia consists of three areas: Frigia proper, Hargeon, and South Frigia. Of these, Frigia's south-central region and the territory of [[Hargeon]] are the only major areas of the region that remain free of ice for the entire year, thanks to combinations of geothermic activity and warm ocean currents allowing small pockets of land unaffected by the extreme cold of the interior. South Frigia is nearly uninhabited, with only the quasi-religious community of Agni-Qai remaining permanently inhabited, with the ice being so thick in winter that the marking of temporary roads to Icehome and parts of Vulcania are possible. During the summer months, seaborne transport allows icebreakers to travel easily between Frigia and its wintry southern possession.

=== Vulcania ===

Vulcania is the smallest of Eternia's three major regions, but it is by far the most populous, with over two-thirds of the country's inhabitants year-round, and three-quarters during the winter. Vulcania consists of three regions: Hokarae to the south, Brazor to the north, and Vulcania proper, which consists of the capital city and the region to the eastern end of the so-called Bay of Vulcania. Hokarae is based out of the city of Yazdegerd, and it serves as the economic corridor connecting Vulcania to Frigia. Much like the rest of Vulcania, the region is densely populated near the bay, and on the foothills of the geothermic hills running throughout the region. This area connects with the temperate area of Frigia, forming a corridor of relatively warm areas year-round. Brazor is located to the north, and is the least populated of the three territories. Its capital of Kozrow is the smallest capital city in Eternia after Icehome (which in turn serves as the main city of South Koralia).

Internationally, the region is known for its many hot springs, resort towns, and tourist-friendly destinations. The locals and small expatriate community (consisting mainly of foreign retirees and businesspeople) are collectively well-known for their hospitality, prosperity, and friendly disposition. Generally, poverty is extremely low and close to nonexistent, although tax rates tend to be high relative to other areas in Micras. This has led to strong public infrastructure for a nation of such small size and sparse population. In addition to the abnormally favorable climate for a polar region, the area experiences intense auroras that draw tourists during all times of the year.

==== Fauna ====

The area is also known for its exotic fauna, including the Eternian Blue Dragon, a species of flying lizard that grows between half a meter to two meters in length. They lizards hunt by using their breath weapon, an unknown mixture of liquid nitrogen and other substances that freeze small animals to death near-instantaneously on contact. This evolutionary quirk is also used in self-defense, as it usually causes substantial pain to large predators and leaves most species (even those native to Eternia) with at least minimal cases of frostbite on contact. This anatomy is the subject of scientific research, as ways of storing ultra-cold substances may be rendered easy and extremely cost-efficient if there are breakthroughs in engineering design.

The same animal depicted on Eternia's national flag, the tiny dragonoids are a protected species, and are (on rare occasions) kept as pets by the most wealthy individuals in the country. Those caught from the wild until the opening of the 1700's generally had their breath organs either neutralized or removed. Due to the harsh side effects, most do not survive this treatment and so numbers of blue dragons as pets has been historically extremely low. Since 1715, nearly all pet blue dragons have been genetically engineered to lack frost breath abilities, and furthermore are exclusively bred and raised in captivity. Poaching, while very rare due to the animals' skittishness and danger to hostile humans, was a problem until the 1710's, when the practice fell out of favor due to the combined risks of capture and handling, well-equipped authorities, and more viable sources of captive lizards, albeit in very small numbers at high costs. Since breeding efforts of modified Eternian Blue Dragons succeeded in that year, the exotic pet trade has stabilized and attempted poaching has been further reduced to near-zero, as the animals are known for their skittishness and unintelligent dispositions, in addition to the extremely harsh and remote habitats they usually occupy.

In contrast, wild blue dragons are generally not used to humans, although they're known to be docile in the presence of natives in sparsely populated areas. Most small specimens will flee on sight, with larger lizards being somewhat unpredictable in whether or not they'll choose to ignore people. Especially skittish lizards may render those approaching too close with very severe frostbite on their extremities if the lizards feel both threatened and cornered and, consequently, employ their freezing breath to deter their opponent. A small number have been domesticated by native Eternians, but the wild lizards are known for their seemingly abject lack of intelligence after domestication, like their captive counterparts.

=== Koralia ===

Although Frigia has the coldest tundra regions, Koralia is nonetheless the most icebound region of the entire country. Koralia consists of two regions, those being Koralia proper and South Koralia. These regions are separated by the year-round polar ice. The small port town of Hard Knox is considered part of Koralia proper, but its de facto self-governance effectively turns it into the least populated of Eternia's various districts.

== Demographics ==

Only the interior is heavily populated, although the country has various port towns on the coast used to export exotic polar products, rare minerals, and in turn import foodstuffs and crops found elsewhere on Micras.

The country is characterized by slow population growth. In {{AN|1718}}, the country was estimated at 7,950,000 people upon its addition to the [[MCS]] map. By {{AN|1730}}, the country's first official census since that point had shown that Eternia's population had grown by 2.56% to 8,153,520 people, its highest decadal growth in recent memory. Much of this was due to immigration from abroad, due to the country's hospitable climate in the interior, and rapid economic growth along both its coastal cities and its revitalized interior settlements.

The majority of the country's population lives in the interior districts (the sole exception being the western Frigian coastline), although during the 1720's, there has been movement towards the northern, less frigid coastal settlements, due to favorable economic conditions arising from trade through foreign partners, including the [[Imperial Federation]]. The island country has a tiny coast guard, and a small but highly advanced air force and ground force.

Some flying dragonoid creatures call the islands home, but only the polar native tribes tame the larger species for hunting and transport, with the creatures avoiding the warmer interior parts of the country for reasons unknown. Most such dragonoid creatures are effectively harmless to humans, their light bodies instead better suited for hunting fish and small game. However, these same creatures are often an active nuisance to those who wander too close to their major nesting sites, and there are increasingly strict laws governing who is allowed to capture them, where, and how. They are sometimes kept as companions by those living in the wastelands, as they serve as effective deterrents for vermin (despite their often-annoying antics around humans).

The population consists of mostly indigenous peoples, the vast majority being human or mostly of human stock (with some descended in very small part from Elfinshi peoples). Significant populations are descended from Jingdaoese or related peoples who migrated here in long-forgotten days. More recently, Jingdaoese and related oriental cultures have been imported into the country through its dealings with the [[Imperial Federation]], itself a heavily oriental country. [[Jingtown|Jingtowns]] popped up throughout most major settlments, most notably in the capital. These influences are found throughout the country, and cultural revival has had notable influences. For instance, the country's recently adopted flag has Jingdaoese symbols, reflecting some of Etnernia's long-forgotten roots for immigrant-descended peoples.

=== Religion ===

About 65% of the population follow the local tribal religion that believes in the gods of hot and cold. The dualistic religion emphasizes the maintenance of the natural order, with neither god considered evil. While an afterlife features in the country's semi-organized religion, it is thought that most simply become one with the universe, and may reincarnate if either of the two gods deem it willing. Given the primitivist nature of the Eternian folk religion, much of the population is found observing the faith in tandem with foreign religious thought. Examples include tenets of [[Draconic]] recently taught among priests in the interior, or [[Umraism]], which is practiced by a few native tribes in the polar regions.

About 20% of the island's population is irreligious, with the remaining 15% practicing either foreign religions or more obscure tribal-level folk religions.

The country has no official religion, although the King is ostensibly tasked with preserving the country's indigenous religious and cultural traditions.

=== Population Centers ===

There are three major population centers on Eternia: The Interior, the West, and the Outer Coast.

The Interior regions consist of Vulcania Bay, its city, and the metropolitan regions that depend on the volcanic activity and warm water areas for agricultural, economic, and strategic security. The city of Vulcania is the largest in the country, with some 700,000 inhabitants, or just under 10% of the country's population. The interior also consists of four of the five largest cities in Eternia, the others being Yazdegerd, Hormuzan, and Kozrow, in order of population. The interior forms the regions of Vulcania, Brazor, and Hokarae, with the western portions of Koralia also falling into this category.

The Western region consists of nearly the entirety of Frigia, as well as its northern coastline. The capital city of Wesport is the third largest city in the country, with 400,000 inhabitants, and the port of Hargeon to the north of Eternia's western coast takes a distant sixth place with about 75,000 inhabitants.

The Outer Coast is considered to comprise the coastlines of the north, east, and southeast of Eternia. This region, as well as most of the country's deep interior, is sparsely populated except for settlements hugging the coast. No city exceeds 50,000 people, with Qorsair having 40,000 inhabitants and Hard Knox only having 25,000 permanent residents. While the region earns by far the least GDP in the country, the per-capita earnings still indicate relative prosperity thanks to year-round warm water fishing and imports from passing trade vessels refueling nearby.

== Government ==

=== Overview ===

Eternia is led by a King, who in turn leads the country's unicameral Parliament. Due to the lack of major events happening in the country, policy leans greatly towards developing national infrastructure, with the belief that stability breeds a strong (albeit small) military with the sole purpose of self-defense and internal security. Generally speaking, the unwritten rule surrounding policy is to make moves quietly, with the only things the government wanting on the headlines being how little of note happens in the country.

=== The King ===

Other than being able to veto legislation and appointments, the king's job is mostly religious, although post-unification he is supposed to weigh on political matters during rare times of gridlock in the country's parliament. The first king of the country, Sozin III, was jokingly named the "Ice King" by foreign leaders due to his seemingly cool demeanor and rule over a mostly ice-bound country. Despite his quiet style of governance (or possibly because of it), he quickly became a respected figure in Eternia due to his moderate stance in dealing with even the most contentious issues. The country's religious capital is on the island of South Frigia in the town of Agni-Qai, where the king journeys every winter for a ceremony of renewal and holds a special session of parliament.

The King began to take a somewhat more active role in the country after {{AN|1728}}, in the midst of deeper integration of the kingdom's externally facing portion of the economy with the [[Imperial Federation]]. While the king lacks the power to issue executive orders, he nonetheless gathered enough political power to influence Parliament to join the Imperial Federation's customs union by {{AN|1730}}, following which the country's currency became directly pegged to the Imperial Federation guilder. Following a potential accession into the Imperial Federation, the office of the King would remain, either in its own right under central authority in [[Gondolin]]/[[Glacier City]], or exist in personal union with the Emperor of the Imperial Federation.

=== Cabinet ===

The Cabinet acts collectively as the country's executive. Comprising a total of fifteen officials, the body exists to serve the King and act on his behalf. Despite this and the fact that the King reserves power to dismiss officials, all Cabinet officers (called Directors) and their replacements (should the King fire them) are chosen by the Prime Minister, with approval from Parliament. Any new appointments are given with the King's assent, as with all measures, according to the country's constitution.

=== Parliament ===

The Parliament consists of fifty representatives apportioned by population from those districts comprising Frigia, Vulcania, and Koralia. As Vulcania is the most populous in the country by far, its representatives are capped at half the Parliament, with the caveat that the King would always be a Vulcanian.

==Foreign Policy==

{{main|Eternian Foreign Policy}}

Because of the country's almost total lack of a navy (relying instead on vast polar terrain as a potent natural defense against invasion) is nominally a protectorate of the [[Imperial Federation]] when it comes to coastal defense. In exchange for this and the transfer to Eternia of a vast sum of money's worth of infrastructure and defense deals (as well as hard cash), the Imperials hold the islands of North Frigia.

Despite their reliance on the Imperials for naval support, the otherwise isolated Eternia nonetheless enjoys independence in foreign policy thanks to its strong interior defenses. Rumor has it that the island's frigidity is what long deterred colonization outside of occupation of islands off the north coast, but this has been unconfirmed. However, the same frigid nature of most of the country's outer coastlines stimy trade with most of its neighbors, so Eternia has taken a slow pace to foreign policy, preferring to find unaligned partners or nations with friendly reputations to conduct business with.

==Military==

Eternia is, nearly by default, a pacifist country compared with most of the powers of Micras. The country's self-defense forces are small, although the interior is extremely well protected by both natural and manmade defenses. However, thanks to a combination of its relatively small size, the extremely small navy, and lack of exterior-facing military logistics, the army lacks the ability to deploy in force outside of the country to any real effect against powers with a comparable land size. While this also hurts trade, the country maintains just enough infrastructure to maintain trade routes during certain times of the year through its various port towns, for those nations that actively maintain trade with Eternia.

Despite its small military and near-lack of a navy, Eternia is ironically one of the most well-defended nations on Micras, relying on its vast trackless, polar wastelands to act as a natural barrier to invasion and on its advanced technology to counteract the small numbers of its troops. This two-pronged defensive stance does not allow for much external action, but allow the country to maintain its independence despite its proximity to some of Micras's strongest countries. The first prong is the hostile terrain itself. While foreign powers may hold Eternia's coastlines during an invasion, the lack of resources and the extremely harsh climate on nearly all of its outer coastline immediately grind the enemy down before defeated by the elements or by a well-placed strike from Eternia's relatively unaffected ground and air forces. The second prong in Eternia's defense is its technologically advanced interior, allowing the armed forces to easily repel attacks that actually make it inland.

The country's lack of a navy is a key vulnerability, though, as are its lack of infrastructure that allow its units to deploy quickly to the most frozen and far-flung reaches of the island without giving attackers the same advantages. The country, therefore, signed a defense agreement with the [[Imperial Federation]], becoming an at-sea protectorate of sorts. To wean the country off the need for external defense, Eternia signed infrastructure deals with their new Imperial neighbors, as well as contracts to build the country's navy to a usable state. In exchange for these contracts (in addition to a vast sum of cash)), the Eternian government gave up its claims on the islands of [[North Frigia]], allowing the [[Imperial Federation]] to use it as a strategic base between [[Eura]] and [[Tapfer]] as a part of the latter's [[Operation Icebox]].

[[Category:Nations]]
[[Category:Eternia]]

Anarion

2026-06-17T16:20:52Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Titles */

{{Imperial Federation Article}}{{Hurmu article}}
{{Hurmu Senator
|fullname = Anarion Masamune Sasuke Benimaru von Adrestia
|image = Anarion the Great.png
|image-2 = Imperial Federation CoA 1.png
|Tenurebegins = 1.I.{{AN|1746}}
|Tenureends = 24.VII.{{AN|1751}} ({{AgeAN|1746|1751}})
|positions = Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]
|senate = [[Fourteenth Senate|XIV]]
|elected = [[1745 Senate of the Lakes election|1745]]
|faction = [[Draconic Humanist List|Draconic Humanist]]
|OHLline =
|comment =
|gender =
|Race = Ralgonese
|species =
|hairstyle =
|eyecolour =
|skincolour =
|other =
|father = Prince Masamune III
|mother =
|spouse = [[Qasima Çakar]]
|children = 25 (see below)
|birthdate = 1701 ({{AgeAN|1701}})
|birthplace =
|deathdate =
|deathplace =
|}}

'''Anarion''' is the current Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]. Known as "The Great" since {{AN|1734}} within the Imperial Federation, the Emperor has presided over a near-uninterrupted period of explosive population growth, empire-wide infrastructure development, and booming economy, even during such hard times as the [[Recession of 1737]].

Known as a (mostly) just and fair ruler, Emperor Anarion has been known to act with a fair hand toward the Empire's many territories, Ralgonese or otherwise. This was most recently demonstrated by his decision in {{AN|1757}} to honor a referendum in which the [[Treaty concerning the Transfer of Kita-Mylecia|Geneva Autonomous Region]] chose to depart the Imperial Federation and join with [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]]. On the other hand, his eccentricities are [[Incidents at the Imperial Court|known to the public]], right alongside most of his considerable group of progeny.

Within the [[Imperial Federation]], Anarion exercises strong executive and judicial control within the Empire, while preferring to leave legislative affairs with the Imperial Senate and the newly formed Parliament. Day-to-day executive affairs have increasingly been delegated to a highly-trained Cabinet-type group of ministers within the Imperial Court. Under his tenure, the Ralgonese as part of the Imperial Federation reached its greatest extent in history in both territory and population. Anarion's reign of {{AgeAN|1705|noAN=y}} is already unmatched by nearly every Ralgonese ruler before him except for [[Nobunag'an IV]] of the erstwhile [[Holy Ralgon Empire]]. Near the end of {{AN|1758}}, Anarion became the ruler with the second-longest reliably documented reign in Ralgonese history with 53 years. Only counting his personal rule, he already surpassed his predecessor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro of Ralgon's]] rule of {{AgeAN|1673|1705}} in {{AN|1757}}.

Within [[Hurmu]], Anarion was elected to the [[Senate of the Lakes]] for the [[Draconic Humanist List]] in the [[1745 Senate of the Lakes election]]. He served as an active Senator for 6 years, then stood for re-election in the [[1751 Senate of the Lakes election|1751 election]] at the second position of the list, but was not re-elected. He was succeeded in that seat by [[Nobunag'an|Emperor Emeritus Nobunag'an]].

== Biography ==

=== Early Life & Regency ===

Born in {{AN|1701}} as '''Anarion Masamune Sasuke Benimaru von Adrestia''' and initially crowned as Prince Masamune IV, he is a direct descendant of [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]] via the House of Ral and its cadet branch, the House of Adrestia, founded in 1675 by Prince Masamune I. Having taken the throne in {{AN|1705}} just before his fourth birthday, his entire reign until his 21st birthday was under the regency of the Hawkins Family, the Dukes of Gondolin, acting on the advice and consent of the Imperial Senate.

While the Emperor was able to exercise soft power over time during the Regency due to his status, this was blunted by his eccentric personality combined with his chaos-inducing antics at court. While this posed constant headache to the Court, the reality was that the vast majority of the child Emperor's stunts were meant only as a minor nuisance. In efforts to curb a few of his more unorthodox hobbies, the Regency Council redoubled efforts to acquire a suitable bride, ideally before he could finish university studies abroad and subsequently take the throne in his own right. Thus it was that, On 12.II.1720, he [[Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar|married]] [[Qasima Çakar]]. As such, he automatically became a [[Knight of the Holy Lakes]]. The Emperor continued to study abroad until {{AN|1726}}, earning a master's degree in international relations at [[Metzler University]] in [[Shireroth]]. Shortly upon graduation, he returned home to assume power as the Emperor on the last month of that year, granting the country its first full-fledged monarch since the death of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] a quarter-century earlier.

=== Early Reign ({{AN|1726}}-{{AN|1740}}) ===

{{WIP}}

=== Height of Power ({{AN|1740}}-{{AN|1760}}) ===

{{WIP}}

== Personality ==

The eccentric personality of the Emperor was already a known quantity during the Regency, and it was hoped that a combination of age and the duties of matrimony would considerably abate these tendencies. While he was indeed kept busy with his imperial duties and truly extraordinary number of children (which at once caused awe and panic in the Court), this not only failed to blunt the Emperor's love of unusual antics and creative spirit, but the reverse instead happened. Despite having most of his children watched very closely by a constantly increasing assortment of nurses and governesses, the Emperor's children took on their father's eccentric streak and, eventually, triggered a feedback loop that resulted in well-known [[incidents at the Imperial Court]].

While the Emperor was no slouch in his duties, and instead contributed to unprecedented prosperity in the Empire, it still came at the cost of many courtiers' sanity. Many were made to deal with the increasingly creative nuisances that the imperial family were constantly engineering, ranging from (convincingly realistic) fake vermin running about chaotically at court to the Emperor's occasional tendencies to deliberately host mad scientists with bizarre experiments at Court sessions. Although the Emperor did possess a sadistic streak in punishing the harshest criminals to appear before his person, it was deemed something of a divine gift that this proclivity did not extend to tormenting the commonfolk outside of the Palace. (In fact, it was widely remarked that his many children were perfectly behaved nearly everywhere but the palace grounds.)

== Family ==

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, Emperor Anarion is {{AgeAN|1701|noAN=y}} years old. He has a truly extraordinary number of children, with twenty-five known progeny by his wife, [[Qasima Çakar]] by {{AN|1738}}. All of these children are ostensibly eligible to contest the throne under Imperial Federation law upon the vacancy of the throne, but elections are due to be held during that time -- the first such contest set to happen in centuries. The eldest is a boy, being a fraternal twin with a sister, born in {{AN|1728}}. A third child, a boy, was born on {{AN|1730}}, and a fourth child, a girl, was born in {{AN|1731}}, followed by another boy at the end of that same year. In {{AN|1734}}, the Emperor and his wife welcomed a rare set of sextuplets into the family. The birth of the eleventh child in any family was a sacred moment to any Ralgonese due to religious principles, and so the occasion was declared a national holiday. The next year saw a set of septuplets born to the family, much to the concern (if not dismay) of the Imperial Court, given the already-eccentric personalities of the existing children. By {{AN|1738}}, he and his wife marked the birth of their 25th child, part of a set of triplets. Due to the physical toll that delivering so many progeny had on the Empress, they decided to have no more children directly through their union. It was further agreed that, should Anarion be permitted to sire any further progeny, they would only be legitimized solely through both the Empress's written consent, and only then on Imperial decree on the consent of the Imperial Senate. As of {{AN|1757}}, however, such a question was never seriously brought up, and the Emperor has had no other known paramours, never mind illegitimate children.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}}, Anarion is still looking forward to a veritable army of grandchildren. And few within the Imperial Court's inner circle are looking forward to it.

== Titles ==

Anarion was given the epithet "The Great" by the [[Imperial Senate]] in {{AN|1740}}, the only Ralgonese ruler given such a designation since {{AN|1450}} during a rare victorious phase of the [[Great Swamp War]]. He was also given the epithet "Beloved of Th'ror" in {{AN|1755}}, on the 50th jubilee of his reign. At the end of the Regency in {{AN|1726}}, he was given the ceremonial title *''Defender of the Senate and Peoples of the Imperial Federation''" and "''Defender of the [[Draconic|Draconic Faith]]''." As Emperor of the Imperial Federation, he is also the "''Guardian of the [[Glacier City|Glacier Mountain]]''", Head of the House of Adrestia, and Great Chieftain of the House of Ral.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, Anarion currently holds the following functional titles. If he gained or otherwise received those titles after the definitive end of the [[Conquest of Valora|Imperial Federation's civil conflict]] in {{AN|1715}}, the date will be listed.

'''As Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]:'''
 Primary titles:

*King of the [[Adrestia|Realm of Adrestia]]
**Sovereign Prince of [[Gondolin]]
**Lord Paramount of the [[Nixtorm|Dominions of Nixtorm]]
**Lord Protector of [[Blore Heath]] ({{AN|1728}})
**King of [[Eriador]]
**Prince of [[Realm of Alphaville|Alphaville]]
*Emperor of all [[Ralgon|Ralgons]]
**Supreme Overlord of [[Drag'os]]
**King of [[Stormhold]]
**King of the [[Scarterra|Two Scarterras]]
**High King of [[Valora]]
**King of [[Tar-Palantir]]
**Prince of [[Nova Victoria]] ({{AN|1756}})
*Sovereign Prince of [[Haifa]] ({{AN|1728}})
**Protector of the City of [[Abeis]] ({{AN|1737}})
**Guardian of the [[Straits of Haifa|Southern Straits]] ({{AN|1737}})
*High King of [[Eternia|the Eternian States]] ({{AN|1733}})

Secondary titles: 
*Sovereign Prince of [[Beihagh]] ({{AN|1740}})
*Guardian of the [[Mala|Mala First Nations]] ({{AN|1732}} & {{AN|1754}})
*Overlord of [[Dromosker Island]] & Great Chief of the [[Askerr]] ({{AN|1757}})
*Overlord of [[Anzu-Nergal]] ({{AN|1758}})
*Lord of the Dominions Beyond the Seas

'''As part of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]:'''
*Knight of the Order of the Holy Lakes ({{AN|1720}})
*Former [[Senator of the Lakes]] ({{AN|1745}}-{{AN|1751}}
*Overlord of [[Anzu-Nergal]] ({{AN|1758}})

== Ancestry ==

While this is an incomplete list, this is the one official genealogists use in determining rights to succession, specific forms of nobility, and connection to the Imperial Household, both in Adrestia and within the greater empire.
Reigning monarchs in bold.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon|Nobunag'an IV]] of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- married 8 times, had issue with 5. (All spouses died from age and other natural causes, without having divorced). Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the penultimate being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}), and the last one, [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] ({{AN|1716}}, m. {{AN|1746}})
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** WIP
*** Several descendants of little note.
** WIP
*** [[Draeg'ar Ral IX|Draeg'ar Ral I & IX]], Crown Prince Draeg'ar XXIV & IX of Ralgon; later became Emperor Draeg'ar I of [[Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1718}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Emperor Anarion]]. He reigned over the rump state of [[Valora]] in concert with local rulers, until the country was conquered and partitioned between the [[Imeperial Federation]] and the [[Mondosphere]]. He spent the rest of his life in obscurity.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral X|Draeg'ar II & X]], Prince of South Valora (♂ {{AN|1710}}-; r. {{AN|1718}}-) Prince Draeg'ar II took the throne from his 84-year-old father as his only son from this marriage late in life to a much younger woman. He is seen as a puppet of [[Mondo]], who rules [[South Valora]] following its partition after the Imperial Federation's [[Conquest of Valora]].
**Benimaru Ral IV, Prince of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}; Benimaru's mother was Princess Rani of [[Nixtorm]] (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1649}}), King Nobunag'an's first wife. Although a successful career soldier, he lived in relative obscurity. He never took the throne, and died of natural causes.)
*** (three other children)
***Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1624}}-; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1680}}) 
****'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1664}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Crowned King in 1680, he oversaw a massive expansion of his realm. Prince Masamune died of complications from wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 by his son Masamune III, outliving [[Shiro]] by only a few days.
***** (two other children)
*****Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1701}}) Masamune III was executed at the age of 21 for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was imprisoned for life on [[Devil's Island]] as soon as their only son was born.)
******'''[[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' Known initially as Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]], he was later crowned Emperor during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]]. Married [[Qasima Çakar]] of [[Çakaristan]] (♀ {{AN|1701}} - ) in {{AN|1720}}, acquiring knighthood in the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]. He has an impressive number of natural-born children with his wife: 18 in total, as of {{AN|1734}}.

== Family and Descendants ==

Emperor Anarion had an impressive 25 children in {{AN|1734}} by his wife [[Qasima Çakar]], who he married in {{AN|1720}}. They stopped delivering more progeny after {{AN|1738}} due to the physical toll of delivering so many children. His legitimate progeny and current house is listed below.

{{Tree list}}
*'''[[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' Married [[Qasima Çakar]] of [[Çakaristan]] (♀ {{AN|1701}} - ) in {{AN|1720}}. Known initially as Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]], he was later crowned Emperor during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]]. Acquired knighthood in the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] by marriage. Had 25 legitimate children from this marriage by the end of {{AN|1738}}.
** [[Masamune V|Prince Masamune Takeshi Celeborn]] (♂ {{AN|1728}} -) Known officially as Prince Masamune V of [[Adrestia]], he was born minutes before his twin sister, taking his name from diverse cultures in the empire, and after his still-living ancestor, [[Nobunag'an]]. To the dismay of the court, he and his twin sister share their father's fondness for oddities, although his interests are more macabre. He's taken to love fire more than the court would otherwise like. Far more than the court would otherwise like. Attended the [[Peace Academy]] with his sister Mariko from {{AN|1746}} to {{AN|1750}}.
** Princess Mariko Luthien (♀ {{AN|1728}} -) Born minutes after her twin brother, taking her name from diverse cultures in the empire. To the dismay of the court, both she and her older brother share their father's fondness for oddities. While little else is known, what is clear from insider sources is that she has taken a rather excessive interest in the carnivorous plants. Attended the [[Peace Academy]] with her brother Masamune from {{AN|1746}} to {{AN|1750}}.
** Prince Dalgar'on Hikaru Elent'ar (♂ {{AN|1730}} He is one of the few to share a name with past reigning monarchs, yet not be assigned the traditional numeral with his princely name. Has not yet made any public appearance.
** Princess Lianna Toshiko (♀ {{AN|1731}} - ) One of the few to ever take a non-Ralgonese name in the Imperial Household. Sent with her brother, Chidao, to [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] in {{AN|1740}} during her childhood to receive a world-class education in that country, under the guardianship of [[Nobunag'an IV]].
** Prince Ieyasu Chidao Turg'on (♂ {{AN|1731}} - ) Born in [[Glacier City]], named partly after the [[Chidao Emperor]]. Sent with his sister, Lianna, to [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] in {{AN|1740}} during his childhood to receive a world-class education in that country, under the guardianship of [[Nobunag'an IV]].
** Princess Takara Yavan'na (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) First of a set of sextuplets.
** Princess Mako Nien'na (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Second of a set of sextuplets.
** Princess Kaguya Meli'as (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Third of a set of sextuplets.
** Prince Takaharu Fing'on (♂ {{AN|1733}} - ) Fourth of a set of sextuplets.
** Prince Satoshi Ayreon Mand'os --- (♂ {{AN|1733}} - ) Fifth of a set of sextuplets. One of the few to be given a non-Ralgonese name. Named partly after [[Kaiser Ayreon IV]].
** Princess Noriko Ra'ni (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Sixth of a set of sextuplets. Was given an older Ralgonese name, after a legendary woman warrior.
** Prince Tadakatsu Maeg'or (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) First of a set of septuplets. Named after ancient Ralgonese and Menelmacari heroes.
** Princess Masako Nien'na (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Second of a set of septuplets. Named after a previous queen of [[Ralgon]]
** Prince Shinzo Fean'or (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Third of a set of septuplets. Named after a mythical king of [[Menelmacar]].
** Princess Yasuko Tsubaki (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Fourth of a set of septuplets. Named after a quasi-legendary female warrior who supposedly lived in the Ralgonese Dark Ages.
** Princess Yoko Miri'na (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Fifth of a set of septuplets.
** Prince Kenshiro Sind'ar (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Sixth of a set of septuplets. Named after a semi-legendary sailor.
** Prince Balaeri'on Musashi (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Seventh of a set of septuplets. Named after a previous king of [[Ralgon]].
** Prince Azul'on Toshiie (♂ {{AN|1735}} - ) The elder of two twins (M/M). Named after a previous king of [[Ralgon]].
** Prince Valac'ar Shiro (♂ {{AN|1735}} - ) The younger of two twins (M/M). Named after Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], but is always answers to Valac'ar.
** Princess Matsu Ancalin'ai (♀ {{AN|1737}} - ) The elder of two twins (F/M).
** Prince Hiruzen Ancalag'on (♂ {{AN|1737}} - ) The younger of two twins (F/M). Named after a semi-mythical warrior from ancient Zamma.
** Princess Shuna Mir'ai (♀ {{AN|1738}} - ) First of a set of triplets. Her name is rumored to come from an altered form of an ancient word meaning "reflecting light."
** Princess Toshi Ilien (♀ {{AN|1738}} - ) Second of a set of triplets. Her name comes from one of several ancient Ralgonese words meaning "moon."
** Prince Katsumoto Elend'ar (♂ {{AN|1738}} - ) Third of a set of triplets. Named after an ancient hero.

[[Category:people]]
[[Category:Living members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category: Ralgonese members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category:Metzler University Alumni]]

{{Imperial Federation Nav}}

Anarion

2026-06-17T16:17:58Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Titles */

{{Imperial Federation Article}}{{Hurmu article}}
{{Hurmu Senator
|fullname = Anarion Masamune Sasuke Benimaru von Adrestia
|image = Anarion the Great.png
|image-2 = Imperial Federation CoA 1.png
|Tenurebegins = 1.I.{{AN|1746}}
|Tenureends = 24.VII.{{AN|1751}} ({{AgeAN|1746|1751}})
|positions = Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]
|senate = [[Fourteenth Senate|XIV]]
|elected = [[1745 Senate of the Lakes election|1745]]
|faction = [[Draconic Humanist List|Draconic Humanist]]
|OHLline =
|comment =
|gender =
|Race = Ralgonese
|species =
|hairstyle =
|eyecolour =
|skincolour =
|other =
|father = Prince Masamune III
|mother =
|spouse = [[Qasima Çakar]]
|children = 25 (see below)
|birthdate = 1701 ({{AgeAN|1701}})
|birthplace =
|deathdate =
|deathplace =
|}}

'''Anarion''' is the current Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]. Known as "The Great" since {{AN|1734}} within the Imperial Federation, the Emperor has presided over a near-uninterrupted period of explosive population growth, empire-wide infrastructure development, and booming economy, even during such hard times as the [[Recession of 1737]].

Known as a (mostly) just and fair ruler, Emperor Anarion has been known to act with a fair hand toward the Empire's many territories, Ralgonese or otherwise. This was most recently demonstrated by his decision in {{AN|1757}} to honor a referendum in which the [[Treaty concerning the Transfer of Kita-Mylecia|Geneva Autonomous Region]] chose to depart the Imperial Federation and join with [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]]. On the other hand, his eccentricities are [[Incidents at the Imperial Court|known to the public]], right alongside most of his considerable group of progeny.

Within the [[Imperial Federation]], Anarion exercises strong executive and judicial control within the Empire, while preferring to leave legislative affairs with the Imperial Senate and the newly formed Parliament. Day-to-day executive affairs have increasingly been delegated to a highly-trained Cabinet-type group of ministers within the Imperial Court. Under his tenure, the Ralgonese as part of the Imperial Federation reached its greatest extent in history in both territory and population. Anarion's reign of {{AgeAN|1705|noAN=y}} is already unmatched by nearly every Ralgonese ruler before him except for [[Nobunag'an IV]] of the erstwhile [[Holy Ralgon Empire]]. Near the end of {{AN|1758}}, Anarion became the ruler with the second-longest reliably documented reign in Ralgonese history with 53 years. Only counting his personal rule, he already surpassed his predecessor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro of Ralgon's]] rule of {{AgeAN|1673|1705}} in {{AN|1757}}.

Within [[Hurmu]], Anarion was elected to the [[Senate of the Lakes]] for the [[Draconic Humanist List]] in the [[1745 Senate of the Lakes election]]. He served as an active Senator for 6 years, then stood for re-election in the [[1751 Senate of the Lakes election|1751 election]] at the second position of the list, but was not re-elected. He was succeeded in that seat by [[Nobunag'an|Emperor Emeritus Nobunag'an]].

== Biography ==

=== Early Life & Regency ===

Born in {{AN|1701}} as '''Anarion Masamune Sasuke Benimaru von Adrestia''' and initially crowned as Prince Masamune IV, he is a direct descendant of [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]] via the House of Ral and its cadet branch, the House of Adrestia, founded in 1675 by Prince Masamune I. Having taken the throne in {{AN|1705}} just before his fourth birthday, his entire reign until his 21st birthday was under the regency of the Hawkins Family, the Dukes of Gondolin, acting on the advice and consent of the Imperial Senate.

While the Emperor was able to exercise soft power over time during the Regency due to his status, this was blunted by his eccentric personality combined with his chaos-inducing antics at court. While this posed constant headache to the Court, the reality was that the vast majority of the child Emperor's stunts were meant only as a minor nuisance. In efforts to curb a few of his more unorthodox hobbies, the Regency Council redoubled efforts to acquire a suitable bride, ideally before he could finish university studies abroad and subsequently take the throne in his own right. Thus it was that, On 12.II.1720, he [[Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar|married]] [[Qasima Çakar]]. As such, he automatically became a [[Knight of the Holy Lakes]]. The Emperor continued to study abroad until {{AN|1726}}, earning a master's degree in international relations at [[Metzler University]] in [[Shireroth]]. Shortly upon graduation, he returned home to assume power as the Emperor on the last month of that year, granting the country its first full-fledged monarch since the death of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] a quarter-century earlier.

=== Early Reign ({{AN|1726}}-{{AN|1740}}) ===

{{WIP}}

=== Height of Power ({{AN|1740}}-{{AN|1760}}) ===

{{WIP}}

== Personality ==

The eccentric personality of the Emperor was already a known quantity during the Regency, and it was hoped that a combination of age and the duties of matrimony would considerably abate these tendencies. While he was indeed kept busy with his imperial duties and truly extraordinary number of children (which at once caused awe and panic in the Court), this not only failed to blunt the Emperor's love of unusual antics and creative spirit, but the reverse instead happened. Despite having most of his children watched very closely by a constantly increasing assortment of nurses and governesses, the Emperor's children took on their father's eccentric streak and, eventually, triggered a feedback loop that resulted in well-known [[incidents at the Imperial Court]].

While the Emperor was no slouch in his duties, and instead contributed to unprecedented prosperity in the Empire, it still came at the cost of many courtiers' sanity. Many were made to deal with the increasingly creative nuisances that the imperial family were constantly engineering, ranging from (convincingly realistic) fake vermin running about chaotically at court to the Emperor's occasional tendencies to deliberately host mad scientists with bizarre experiments at Court sessions. Although the Emperor did possess a sadistic streak in punishing the harshest criminals to appear before his person, it was deemed something of a divine gift that this proclivity did not extend to tormenting the commonfolk outside of the Palace. (In fact, it was widely remarked that his many children were perfectly behaved nearly everywhere but the palace grounds.)

== Family ==

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, Emperor Anarion is {{AgeAN|1701|noAN=y}} years old. He has a truly extraordinary number of children, with twenty-five known progeny by his wife, [[Qasima Çakar]] by {{AN|1738}}. All of these children are ostensibly eligible to contest the throne under Imperial Federation law upon the vacancy of the throne, but elections are due to be held during that time -- the first such contest set to happen in centuries. The eldest is a boy, being a fraternal twin with a sister, born in {{AN|1728}}. A third child, a boy, was born on {{AN|1730}}, and a fourth child, a girl, was born in {{AN|1731}}, followed by another boy at the end of that same year. In {{AN|1734}}, the Emperor and his wife welcomed a rare set of sextuplets into the family. The birth of the eleventh child in any family was a sacred moment to any Ralgonese due to religious principles, and so the occasion was declared a national holiday. The next year saw a set of septuplets born to the family, much to the concern (if not dismay) of the Imperial Court, given the already-eccentric personalities of the existing children. By {{AN|1738}}, he and his wife marked the birth of their 25th child, part of a set of triplets. Due to the physical toll that delivering so many progeny had on the Empress, they decided to have no more children directly through their union. It was further agreed that, should Anarion be permitted to sire any further progeny, they would only be legitimized solely through both the Empress's written consent, and only then on Imperial decree on the consent of the Imperial Senate. As of {{AN|1757}}, however, such a question was never seriously brought up, and the Emperor has had no other known paramours, never mind illegitimate children.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}}, Anarion is still looking forward to a veritable army of grandchildren. And few within the Imperial Court's inner circle are looking forward to it.

== Titles ==

Anarion was given the epithet "The Great" by the [[Imperial Senate]] in {{AN|1740}}, the only Ralgonese ruler given such a designation since {{AN|1450}} during a rare victorious phase of the [[Great Swamp War]]. He was also given the epithet "Beloved of Th'ror" in {{AN|1755}}, on the 50th jubilee of his reign. At the end of the Regency in {{AN|1726}}, he was given the ceremonial title *''Defender of the Senate and Peoples of the Imperial Federation''" and "''Defender of the [[Draconic|Draconic Faith]]''." As Emperor of the Imperial Federation, he is also the "''Guardian of the [[Glacier City|Glacier Mountain]]''", Head of the House of Adrestia, and Great Chieftain of the House of Ral.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, Anarion currently holds the following functional titles. If he gained or otherwise received those titles after the definitive end of the [[Conquest of Valora|Imperial Federation's civil conflict]] in {{AN|1715}}, the date will be listed.

'''As Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]:'''
 Primary titles:

*King of the [[Adrestia|Realm of Adrestia]]
**Sovereign Prince of [[Gondolin]]
**Lord Paramount of the [[Nixtorm|Dominions of Nixtorm]]
**Lord Protector of [[Blore Heath]]{{AN|1728}}
**King of [[Eriador]]
**Prince of [[Realm of Alphaville|Alphaville]]
*Emperor of all [[Ralgon|Ralgons]]
**Supreme Overlord of [[Drag'os]]
**King of [[Stormhold]]
**King of the [[Scarterra|Two Scarterras]]
**King of [[Valora]]
**King of [[Tar-Palantir]]
**Prince of [[Nova Victoria]] ({{AN|1756}})
*Sovereign Prince of [[Haifa]] ({{AN|1728}})
**Protector of the City of [[Abeis]] {{AN|1728}}
**Guardian of the [[Straits of Haifa|Southern Straits]] ({{AN|1737}})
*High King of [[Eternia|the Eternian States]] ({{AN|1733}})

Secondary titles: 
*Sovereign Prince of [[Beihagh]] ({{AN|1740}})
*Guardian of the [[Mala|Mala First Nations]] ({{AN|1732}} & {{AN|1754}})
*Overlord of [[Dromosker Island]] & Great Chief of the [[Askerr]] ({{AN|1757}})
*Overlord of [[Anzu-Nergal]] ({{AN|1758}}

'''As part of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]:'''
*Knight of the Order of the Holy Lakes ({{AN|1720}})
*Former [[Senator of the Lakes]] ({{AN|1745}}-{{AN|1751}}
*Overlord of [[Anzu-Nergal]] ({{AN|1758}})

== Ancestry ==

While this is an incomplete list, this is the one official genealogists use in determining rights to succession, specific forms of nobility, and connection to the Imperial Household, both in Adrestia and within the greater empire.
Reigning monarchs in bold.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon|Nobunag'an IV]] of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- married 8 times, had issue with 5. (All spouses died from age and other natural causes, without having divorced). Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the penultimate being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}), and the last one, [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] ({{AN|1716}}, m. {{AN|1746}})
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** WIP
*** Several descendants of little note.
** WIP
*** [[Draeg'ar Ral IX|Draeg'ar Ral I & IX]], Crown Prince Draeg'ar XXIV & IX of Ralgon; later became Emperor Draeg'ar I of [[Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1718}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Emperor Anarion]]. He reigned over the rump state of [[Valora]] in concert with local rulers, until the country was conquered and partitioned between the [[Imeperial Federation]] and the [[Mondosphere]]. He spent the rest of his life in obscurity.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral X|Draeg'ar II & X]], Prince of South Valora (♂ {{AN|1710}}-; r. {{AN|1718}}-) Prince Draeg'ar II took the throne from his 84-year-old father as his only son from this marriage late in life to a much younger woman. He is seen as a puppet of [[Mondo]], who rules [[South Valora]] following its partition after the Imperial Federation's [[Conquest of Valora]].
**Benimaru Ral IV, Prince of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}; Benimaru's mother was Princess Rani of [[Nixtorm]] (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1649}}), King Nobunag'an's first wife. Although a successful career soldier, he lived in relative obscurity. He never took the throne, and died of natural causes.)
*** (three other children)
***Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1624}}-; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1680}}) 
****'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1664}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Crowned King in 1680, he oversaw a massive expansion of his realm. Prince Masamune died of complications from wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 by his son Masamune III, outliving [[Shiro]] by only a few days.
***** (two other children)
*****Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1701}}) Masamune III was executed at the age of 21 for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was imprisoned for life on [[Devil's Island]] as soon as their only son was born.)
******'''[[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' Known initially as Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]], he was later crowned Emperor during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]]. Married [[Qasima Çakar]] of [[Çakaristan]] (♀ {{AN|1701}} - ) in {{AN|1720}}, acquiring knighthood in the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]. He has an impressive number of natural-born children with his wife: 18 in total, as of {{AN|1734}}.

== Family and Descendants ==

Emperor Anarion had an impressive 25 children in {{AN|1734}} by his wife [[Qasima Çakar]], who he married in {{AN|1720}}. They stopped delivering more progeny after {{AN|1738}} due to the physical toll of delivering so many children. His legitimate progeny and current house is listed below.

{{Tree list}}
*'''[[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' Married [[Qasima Çakar]] of [[Çakaristan]] (♀ {{AN|1701}} - ) in {{AN|1720}}. Known initially as Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]], he was later crowned Emperor during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]]. Acquired knighthood in the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] by marriage. Had 25 legitimate children from this marriage by the end of {{AN|1738}}.
** [[Masamune V|Prince Masamune Takeshi Celeborn]] (♂ {{AN|1728}} -) Known officially as Prince Masamune V of [[Adrestia]], he was born minutes before his twin sister, taking his name from diverse cultures in the empire, and after his still-living ancestor, [[Nobunag'an]]. To the dismay of the court, he and his twin sister share their father's fondness for oddities, although his interests are more macabre. He's taken to love fire more than the court would otherwise like. Far more than the court would otherwise like. Attended the [[Peace Academy]] with his sister Mariko from {{AN|1746}} to {{AN|1750}}.
** Princess Mariko Luthien (♀ {{AN|1728}} -) Born minutes after her twin brother, taking her name from diverse cultures in the empire. To the dismay of the court, both she and her older brother share their father's fondness for oddities. While little else is known, what is clear from insider sources is that she has taken a rather excessive interest in the carnivorous plants. Attended the [[Peace Academy]] with her brother Masamune from {{AN|1746}} to {{AN|1750}}.
** Prince Dalgar'on Hikaru Elent'ar (♂ {{AN|1730}} He is one of the few to share a name with past reigning monarchs, yet not be assigned the traditional numeral with his princely name. Has not yet made any public appearance.
** Princess Lianna Toshiko (♀ {{AN|1731}} - ) One of the few to ever take a non-Ralgonese name in the Imperial Household. Sent with her brother, Chidao, to [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] in {{AN|1740}} during her childhood to receive a world-class education in that country, under the guardianship of [[Nobunag'an IV]].
** Prince Ieyasu Chidao Turg'on (♂ {{AN|1731}} - ) Born in [[Glacier City]], named partly after the [[Chidao Emperor]]. Sent with his sister, Lianna, to [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] in {{AN|1740}} during his childhood to receive a world-class education in that country, under the guardianship of [[Nobunag'an IV]].
** Princess Takara Yavan'na (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) First of a set of sextuplets.
** Princess Mako Nien'na (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Second of a set of sextuplets.
** Princess Kaguya Meli'as (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Third of a set of sextuplets.
** Prince Takaharu Fing'on (♂ {{AN|1733}} - ) Fourth of a set of sextuplets.
** Prince Satoshi Ayreon Mand'os --- (♂ {{AN|1733}} - ) Fifth of a set of sextuplets. One of the few to be given a non-Ralgonese name. Named partly after [[Kaiser Ayreon IV]].
** Princess Noriko Ra'ni (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Sixth of a set of sextuplets. Was given an older Ralgonese name, after a legendary woman warrior.
** Prince Tadakatsu Maeg'or (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) First of a set of septuplets. Named after ancient Ralgonese and Menelmacari heroes.
** Princess Masako Nien'na (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Second of a set of septuplets. Named after a previous queen of [[Ralgon]]
** Prince Shinzo Fean'or (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Third of a set of septuplets. Named after a mythical king of [[Menelmacar]].
** Princess Yasuko Tsubaki (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Fourth of a set of septuplets. Named after a quasi-legendary female warrior who supposedly lived in the Ralgonese Dark Ages.
** Princess Yoko Miri'na (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Fifth of a set of septuplets.
** Prince Kenshiro Sind'ar (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Sixth of a set of septuplets. Named after a semi-legendary sailor.
** Prince Balaeri'on Musashi (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Seventh of a set of septuplets. Named after a previous king of [[Ralgon]].
** Prince Azul'on Toshiie (♂ {{AN|1735}} - ) The elder of two twins (M/M). Named after a previous king of [[Ralgon]].
** Prince Valac'ar Shiro (♂ {{AN|1735}} - ) The younger of two twins (M/M). Named after Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], but is always answers to Valac'ar.
** Princess Matsu Ancalin'ai (♀ {{AN|1737}} - ) The elder of two twins (F/M).
** Prince Hiruzen Ancalag'on (♂ {{AN|1737}} - ) The younger of two twins (F/M). Named after a semi-mythical warrior from ancient Zamma.
** Princess Shuna Mir'ai (♀ {{AN|1738}} - ) First of a set of triplets. Her name is rumored to come from an altered form of an ancient word meaning "reflecting light."
** Princess Toshi Ilien (♀ {{AN|1738}} - ) Second of a set of triplets. Her name comes from one of several ancient Ralgonese words meaning "moon."
** Prince Katsumoto Elend'ar (♂ {{AN|1738}} - ) Third of a set of triplets. Named after an ancient hero.

[[Category:people]]
[[Category:Living members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category: Ralgonese members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category:Metzler University Alumni]]

{{Imperial Federation Nav}}

Anarion

2026-06-17T16:17:27Z

Cosmic Fury: /* Titles */

{{Imperial Federation Article}}{{Hurmu article}}
{{Hurmu Senator
|fullname = Anarion Masamune Sasuke Benimaru von Adrestia
|image = Anarion the Great.png
|image-2 = Imperial Federation CoA 1.png
|Tenurebegins = 1.I.{{AN|1746}}
|Tenureends = 24.VII.{{AN|1751}} ({{AgeAN|1746|1751}})
|positions = Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]
|senate = [[Fourteenth Senate|XIV]]
|elected = [[1745 Senate of the Lakes election|1745]]
|faction = [[Draconic Humanist List|Draconic Humanist]]
|OHLline =
|comment =
|gender =
|Race = Ralgonese
|species =
|hairstyle =
|eyecolour =
|skincolour =
|other =
|father = Prince Masamune III
|mother =
|spouse = [[Qasima Çakar]]
|children = 25 (see below)
|birthdate = 1701 ({{AgeAN|1701}})
|birthplace =
|deathdate =
|deathplace =
|}}

'''Anarion''' is the current Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]. Known as "The Great" since {{AN|1734}} within the Imperial Federation, the Emperor has presided over a near-uninterrupted period of explosive population growth, empire-wide infrastructure development, and booming economy, even during such hard times as the [[Recession of 1737]].

Known as a (mostly) just and fair ruler, Emperor Anarion has been known to act with a fair hand toward the Empire's many territories, Ralgonese or otherwise. This was most recently demonstrated by his decision in {{AN|1757}} to honor a referendum in which the [[Treaty concerning the Transfer of Kita-Mylecia|Geneva Autonomous Region]] chose to depart the Imperial Federation and join with [[Bassaridia Vaeringheim]]. On the other hand, his eccentricities are [[Incidents at the Imperial Court|known to the public]], right alongside most of his considerable group of progeny.

Within the [[Imperial Federation]], Anarion exercises strong executive and judicial control within the Empire, while preferring to leave legislative affairs with the Imperial Senate and the newly formed Parliament. Day-to-day executive affairs have increasingly been delegated to a highly-trained Cabinet-type group of ministers within the Imperial Court. Under his tenure, the Ralgonese as part of the Imperial Federation reached its greatest extent in history in both territory and population. Anarion's reign of {{AgeAN|1705|noAN=y}} is already unmatched by nearly every Ralgonese ruler before him except for [[Nobunag'an IV]] of the erstwhile [[Holy Ralgon Empire]]. Near the end of {{AN|1758}}, Anarion became the ruler with the second-longest reliably documented reign in Ralgonese history with 53 years. Only counting his personal rule, he already surpassed his predecessor [[Shiro I of Ralgon|Shiro of Ralgon's]] rule of {{AgeAN|1673|1705}} in {{AN|1757}}.

Within [[Hurmu]], Anarion was elected to the [[Senate of the Lakes]] for the [[Draconic Humanist List]] in the [[1745 Senate of the Lakes election]]. He served as an active Senator for 6 years, then stood for re-election in the [[1751 Senate of the Lakes election|1751 election]] at the second position of the list, but was not re-elected. He was succeeded in that seat by [[Nobunag'an|Emperor Emeritus Nobunag'an]].

== Biography ==

=== Early Life & Regency ===

Born in {{AN|1701}} as '''Anarion Masamune Sasuke Benimaru von Adrestia''' and initially crowned as Prince Masamune IV, he is a direct descendant of [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]] via the House of Ral and its cadet branch, the House of Adrestia, founded in 1675 by Prince Masamune I. Having taken the throne in {{AN|1705}} just before his fourth birthday, his entire reign until his 21st birthday was under the regency of the Hawkins Family, the Dukes of Gondolin, acting on the advice and consent of the Imperial Senate.

While the Emperor was able to exercise soft power over time during the Regency due to his status, this was blunted by his eccentric personality combined with his chaos-inducing antics at court. While this posed constant headache to the Court, the reality was that the vast majority of the child Emperor's stunts were meant only as a minor nuisance. In efforts to curb a few of his more unorthodox hobbies, the Regency Council redoubled efforts to acquire a suitable bride, ideally before he could finish university studies abroad and subsequently take the throne in his own right. Thus it was that, On 12.II.1720, he [[Marriage contract between Anari'on and Qasima Çakar|married]] [[Qasima Çakar]]. As such, he automatically became a [[Knight of the Holy Lakes]]. The Emperor continued to study abroad until {{AN|1726}}, earning a master's degree in international relations at [[Metzler University]] in [[Shireroth]]. Shortly upon graduation, he returned home to assume power as the Emperor on the last month of that year, granting the country its first full-fledged monarch since the death of [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] a quarter-century earlier.

=== Early Reign ({{AN|1726}}-{{AN|1740}}) ===

{{WIP}}

=== Height of Power ({{AN|1740}}-{{AN|1760}}) ===

{{WIP}}

== Personality ==

The eccentric personality of the Emperor was already a known quantity during the Regency, and it was hoped that a combination of age and the duties of matrimony would considerably abate these tendencies. While he was indeed kept busy with his imperial duties and truly extraordinary number of children (which at once caused awe and panic in the Court), this not only failed to blunt the Emperor's love of unusual antics and creative spirit, but the reverse instead happened. Despite having most of his children watched very closely by a constantly increasing assortment of nurses and governesses, the Emperor's children took on their father's eccentric streak and, eventually, triggered a feedback loop that resulted in well-known [[incidents at the Imperial Court]].

While the Emperor was no slouch in his duties, and instead contributed to unprecedented prosperity in the Empire, it still came at the cost of many courtiers' sanity. Many were made to deal with the increasingly creative nuisances that the imperial family were constantly engineering, ranging from (convincingly realistic) fake vermin running about chaotically at court to the Emperor's occasional tendencies to deliberately host mad scientists with bizarre experiments at Court sessions. Although the Emperor did possess a sadistic streak in punishing the harshest criminals to appear before his person, it was deemed something of a divine gift that this proclivity did not extend to tormenting the commonfolk outside of the Palace. (In fact, it was widely remarked that his many children were perfectly behaved nearly everywhere but the palace grounds.)

== Family ==

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, Emperor Anarion is {{AgeAN|1701|noAN=y}} years old. He has a truly extraordinary number of children, with twenty-five known progeny by his wife, [[Qasima Çakar]] by {{AN|1738}}. All of these children are ostensibly eligible to contest the throne under Imperial Federation law upon the vacancy of the throne, but elections are due to be held during that time -- the first such contest set to happen in centuries. The eldest is a boy, being a fraternal twin with a sister, born in {{AN|1728}}. A third child, a boy, was born on {{AN|1730}}, and a fourth child, a girl, was born in {{AN|1731}}, followed by another boy at the end of that same year. In {{AN|1734}}, the Emperor and his wife welcomed a rare set of sextuplets into the family. The birth of the eleventh child in any family was a sacred moment to any Ralgonese due to religious principles, and so the occasion was declared a national holiday. The next year saw a set of septuplets born to the family, much to the concern (if not dismay) of the Imperial Court, given the already-eccentric personalities of the existing children. By {{AN|1738}}, he and his wife marked the birth of their 25th child, part of a set of triplets. Due to the physical toll that delivering so many progeny had on the Empress, they decided to have no more children directly through their union. It was further agreed that, should Anarion be permitted to sire any further progeny, they would only be legitimized solely through both the Empress's written consent, and only then on Imperial decree on the consent of the Imperial Senate. As of {{AN|1757}}, however, such a question was never seriously brought up, and the Emperor has had no other known paramours, never mind illegitimate children.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}}, Anarion is still looking forward to a veritable army of grandchildren. And few within the Imperial Court's inner circle are looking forward to it.

== Titles ==

Anarion was given the epithet "The Great" by the [[Imperial Senate]] in {{AN|1740}}, the only Ralgonese ruler given such a designation since {{AN|1450}} during a rare victorious phase of the [[Great Swamp War]]. He was also given the epithet "Beloved of Th'ror" in {{AN|1755}}, on the 50th jubilee of his reign. At the end of the Regency in {{AN|1726}}, he was given the ceremonial title *''Defender of the Senate and Peoples of the Imperial Federation''" and "''Defender of the [[Draconic|Draconic Faith]]''." As Emperor of the Imperial Federation, he is also the "''Guardian of the [[Glacier City|Glacier Mountain]]''", Head of the House of Adrestia, and Great Chieftain of the House of Ral.

As of {{AgeAN|0|noAN=y}} AN, Anarion currently holds the following functional titles. If he gained or otherwise received those titles after the definitive end of the [[Conquest of Valora|Imperial Federation's civil conflict]] in {{AN|1715}}, the date will be listed.

'''As Emperor of the [[Imperial Federation]]:'''
Primary titles:

*King of the [[Adrestia|Realm of Adrestia]]
**Sovereign Prince of [[Gondolin]]
**Lord Paramount of the [[Nixtorm|Dominions of Nixtorm]]
**Lord Protector of [[Blore Heath]]{{AN|1728}}
**King of [[Eriador]]
**Prince of [[Realm of Alphaville|Alphaville]]
*Emperor of all [[Ralgon|Ralgons]]
**Supreme Overlord of [[Drag'os]]
**King of [[Stormhold]]
**King of the [[Scarterra|Two Scarterras]]
**King of [[Valora]]
**King of [[Tar-Palantir]]
**Prince of [[Nova Victoria]] ({{AN|1756}})
*Sovereign Prince of [[Haifa]] ({{AN|1728}})
**Protector of the City of [[Abeis]] {{AN|1728}}
**Guardian of the [[Straits of Haifa|Southern Straits]] ({{AN|1737}})
*High King of [[Eternia|the Eternian States]] ({{AN|1733}})

Secondary titles:
*Sovereign Prince of [[Beihagh]] ({{AN|1740}})
*Guardian of the [[Mala|Mala First Nations]] ({{AN|1732}} & {{AN|1754}})
*Overlord of [[Dromosker Island]] & Great Chief of the [[Askerr]] ({{AN|1757}})
*Overlord of [[Anzu-Nergal]] ({{AN|1758}}

'''As part of the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]:'''
*Knight of the Order of the Holy Lakes ({{AN|1720}})
*Former [[Senator of the Lakes]] ({{AN|1745}}-{{AN|1751}}
*Overlord of [[Anzu-Nergal]] ({{AN|1758}})

== Ancestry ==

While this is an incomplete list, this is the one official genealogists use in determining rights to succession, specific forms of nobility, and connection to the Imperial Household, both in Adrestia and within the greater empire.
Reigning monarchs in bold.

{{Tree list}}
*'''Emperor [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon|Nobunag'an IV]] of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1564}}-; r. {{AN|1595}}-{{AN|1673}})''' -- married 8 times, had issue with 5. (All spouses died from age and other natural causes, without having divorced). Nobunag'an was originally known as Prince Takeshi Ral XV until his coronation in {{AN|1595}}, and as King until his retroactive declaration as Emperor by [[Shiro I of Ralgon]] in {{AN|1673}}. He married and took consorts several times due to his extremely long life and high status, the penultimate being Yukino Chuujiwara ({{AN|1623}}-{{AN|1699}}; m. {{AN|1686}}), and the last one, [[Stella Sturgeon Wythe]] ({{AN|1716}}, m. {{AN|1746}})
** WIP
*** '''[[Shiro I of Ralgon]], Ralgon Emperor (♂ {{AN|1650}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1673}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Reigned as Emperor of Ralgon after Nobunag'an's abdication in {{AN|1673}}. Died of a rare form of cancer in {{AN|1705}}, setting off the [[Ralgon War of Succession]].
** WIP
*** Several descendants of little note.
** WIP
*** [[Draeg'ar Ral IX|Draeg'ar Ral I & IX]], Crown Prince Draeg'ar XXIV & IX of Ralgon; later became Emperor Draeg'ar I of [[Valora]]; (♂ {{AN|1634}}-; r. {{AN|1706}}-{{AN|1718}}), m. Kitamura Valorum Draeg'ar ultimately lost the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to his rival, the latter now known as [[Emperor Anarion]]. He reigned over the rump state of [[Valora]] in concert with local rulers, until the country was conquered and partitioned between the [[Imeperial Federation]] and the [[Mondosphere]]. He spent the rest of his life in obscurity.
**** [[Draeg'ar Ral X|Draeg'ar II & X]], Prince of South Valora (♂ {{AN|1710}}-; r. {{AN|1718}}-) Prince Draeg'ar II took the throne from his 84-year-old father as his only son from this marriage late in life to a much younger woman. He is seen as a puppet of [[Mondo]], who rules [[South Valora]] following its partition after the Imperial Federation's [[Conquest of Valora]].
**Benimaru Ral IV, Prince of [[Ralgon]] (♂ {{AN|1590}}-{{AN|1655}}; Benimaru's mother was Princess Rani of [[Nixtorm]] (♀ {{AN|1562}}-{{AN|1649}}), King Nobunag'an's first wife. Although a successful career soldier, he lived in relative obscurity. He never took the throne, and died of natural causes.)
*** (three other children)
***Masamune XIV & I, Crown Prince of Ralgon & Royal Prince of [[Adrestia]] of (♂ {{AN|1624}}-; r. in Adrestia {{AN|1675}}-{{AN|1680}}) 
****'''Masamune II, Prince of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1664}}-{{AN|1705}}; r. {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1705}})''' Crowned King in 1680, he oversaw a massive expansion of his realm. Prince Masamune died of complications from wounds following a prior attempt on his life in 1701 by his son Masamune III, outliving [[Shiro]] by only a few days.
***** (two other children)
*****Prince Masamune III of [[Adrestia]] (♂ {{AN|1680}}-{{AN|1701}}) Masamune III was executed at the age of 21 for trying to stage a violent coup. His wife was imprisoned for life on [[Devil's Island]] as soon as their only son was born.)
******'''[[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' Known initially as Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]], he was later crowned Emperor during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]]. Married [[Qasima Çakar]] of [[Çakaristan]] (♀ {{AN|1701}} - ) in {{AN|1720}}, acquiring knighthood in the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]]. He has an impressive number of natural-born children with his wife: 18 in total, as of {{AN|1734}}.

== Family and Descendants ==

Emperor Anarion had an impressive 25 children in {{AN|1734}} by his wife [[Qasima Çakar]], who he married in {{AN|1720}}. They stopped delivering more progeny after {{AN|1738}} due to the physical toll of delivering so many children. His legitimate progeny and current house is listed below.

{{Tree list}}
*'''[[Emperor Anarion]] of the [[Imperial Federation]] (♂ {{AN|1701}}-; r. {{AN|1704}}-)''' Married [[Qasima Çakar]] of [[Çakaristan]] (♀ {{AN|1701}} - ) in {{AN|1720}}. Known initially as Prince Masamune IV of [[Adrestia]], he was later crowned Emperor during the [[Ralgon War of Succession]]. Acquired knighthood in the [[Order of the Holy Lakes]] by marriage. Had 25 legitimate children from this marriage by the end of {{AN|1738}}.
** [[Masamune V|Prince Masamune Takeshi Celeborn]] (♂ {{AN|1728}} -) Known officially as Prince Masamune V of [[Adrestia]], he was born minutes before his twin sister, taking his name from diverse cultures in the empire, and after his still-living ancestor, [[Nobunag'an]]. To the dismay of the court, he and his twin sister share their father's fondness for oddities, although his interests are more macabre. He's taken to love fire more than the court would otherwise like. Far more than the court would otherwise like. Attended the [[Peace Academy]] with his sister Mariko from {{AN|1746}} to {{AN|1750}}.
** Princess Mariko Luthien (♀ {{AN|1728}} -) Born minutes after her twin brother, taking her name from diverse cultures in the empire. To the dismay of the court, both she and her older brother share their father's fondness for oddities. While little else is known, what is clear from insider sources is that she has taken a rather excessive interest in the carnivorous plants. Attended the [[Peace Academy]] with her brother Masamune from {{AN|1746}} to {{AN|1750}}.
** Prince Dalgar'on Hikaru Elent'ar (♂ {{AN|1730}} He is one of the few to share a name with past reigning monarchs, yet not be assigned the traditional numeral with his princely name. Has not yet made any public appearance.
** Princess Lianna Toshiko (♀ {{AN|1731}} - ) One of the few to ever take a non-Ralgonese name in the Imperial Household. Sent with her brother, Chidao, to [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] in {{AN|1740}} during her childhood to receive a world-class education in that country, under the guardianship of [[Nobunag'an IV]].
** Prince Ieyasu Chidao Turg'on (♂ {{AN|1731}} - ) Born in [[Glacier City]], named partly after the [[Chidao Emperor]]. Sent with his sister, Lianna, to [[Nouvelle Alexandrie]] in {{AN|1740}} during his childhood to receive a world-class education in that country, under the guardianship of [[Nobunag'an IV]].
** Princess Takara Yavan'na (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) First of a set of sextuplets.
** Princess Mako Nien'na (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Second of a set of sextuplets.
** Princess Kaguya Meli'as (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Third of a set of sextuplets.
** Prince Takaharu Fing'on (♂ {{AN|1733}} - ) Fourth of a set of sextuplets.
** Prince Satoshi Ayreon Mand'os --- (♂ {{AN|1733}} - ) Fifth of a set of sextuplets. One of the few to be given a non-Ralgonese name. Named partly after [[Kaiser Ayreon IV]].
** Princess Noriko Ra'ni (♀ {{AN|1733}} - ) Sixth of a set of sextuplets. Was given an older Ralgonese name, after a legendary woman warrior.
** Prince Tadakatsu Maeg'or (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) First of a set of septuplets. Named after ancient Ralgonese and Menelmacari heroes.
** Princess Masako Nien'na (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Second of a set of septuplets. Named after a previous queen of [[Ralgon]]
** Prince Shinzo Fean'or (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Third of a set of septuplets. Named after a mythical king of [[Menelmacar]].
** Princess Yasuko Tsubaki (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Fourth of a set of septuplets. Named after a quasi-legendary female warrior who supposedly lived in the Ralgonese Dark Ages.
** Princess Yoko Miri'na (♀ {{AN|1734}} - ) Fifth of a set of septuplets.
** Prince Kenshiro Sind'ar (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Sixth of a set of septuplets. Named after a semi-legendary sailor.
** Prince Balaeri'on Musashi (♂ {{AN|1734}} - ) Seventh of a set of septuplets. Named after a previous king of [[Ralgon]].
** Prince Azul'on Toshiie (♂ {{AN|1735}} - ) The elder of two twins (M/M). Named after a previous king of [[Ralgon]].
** Prince Valac'ar Shiro (♂ {{AN|1735}} - ) The younger of two twins (M/M). Named after Emperor [[Shiro I of Ralgon]], but is always answers to Valac'ar.
** Princess Matsu Ancalin'ai (♀ {{AN|1737}} - ) The elder of two twins (F/M).
** Prince Hiruzen Ancalag'on (♂ {{AN|1737}} - ) The younger of two twins (F/M). Named after a semi-mythical warrior from ancient Zamma.
** Princess Shuna Mir'ai (♀ {{AN|1738}} - ) First of a set of triplets. Her name is rumored to come from an altered form of an ancient word meaning "reflecting light."
** Princess Toshi Ilien (♀ {{AN|1738}} - ) Second of a set of triplets. Her name comes from one of several ancient Ralgonese words meaning "moon."
** Prince Katsumoto Elend'ar (♂ {{AN|1738}} - ) Third of a set of triplets. Named after an ancient hero.

[[Category:people]]
[[Category:Living members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category: Ralgonese members of the Order of the Holy Lakes]]
[[Category:Metzler University Alumni]]

{{Imperial Federation Nav}}

Shiro I of Ralgon

2026-06-17T15:10:36Z

Cosmic Fury:

Shiro of Ralgon was the Emperor of the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]], being both the second and last to rule over that polity. He was preceded by [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]], and his rule lasted for 32 years, a period that saw the brief and meteoric rise of the Ralgon state to cover the island of [[Drago'os]] and its colonization of [[Adrestia]] in {{AN|1675}}. The second half of his reign saw the complete reversal of his realm's fortunes amid the near-total collapse during the [[Crisis of 1685]]. Immediately after his death, the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] transformed the failing Ralgonese state into the [[Imperial Federation]], under the regency and then reign of his distant cousin and successor, [[Anarion|Anarion the Great]] (r. {{AN|1705}}-).

Born {{AN|1650}}, Shiro Ral I of Ralgon died at the age of {{AgeAN|1650|1705}} in the early days of {{AN|1705}} of a rare, aggressive form of cancer that even his country's most advanced medicine was unable to remove. From {{AN|1673}} to {{AN|1705}} as the [[Ralgon]] Emperor, reigning since New Year's Day, 1673. He served for {{AgeAN|1673|1705}} as the Ralgon Emperor, having taken that title upon his coronation. He is also the head of state (ex officio) of [[Adrestia]] as the King of that country, his title being made official in early {{AN|1675}}. That title reverted to the Adrestians immediately on his death, merging again with the crown when the [[Imperial Federation]] was founded with [[Anarion|Masamune Ral IV]] of the House of Adrestia as its emperor, being crowned under his personal name ''Anarion'', following that newly established tradition.

His full title was Shiro the First of That Name, Lord of the Ralgons1, King of [[Stormhold]]2, King of the Mountain3, King of [[Adrestia]]4, Emperor of [[Drag'os]]5, Defender of the Faith, and Liberator of the Senate and People of Drag'os.

The reign of Emperor Shiro saw a tumultuous history within the Empire. While, at the same time, the Empire reached its zenith and created affluent Ralgon populations all over Micras, he also presided over the worst crises to ever befall the Empire since before living memory. During the 1680's AN, he has seen his power wax and wane the most, with the Empire's greatest successes and defeats occurring simultaneously in those intervening years. However, it was the contraction of empire that occurred in 1686 during the [[Ralgon Civil War]] that most devastated the Empire. Although he managed to hold the Empire together against a series of rebellions and losses against natives in [[The Green]], he only barely managed to emerge intact from the carnage. As the leader of the central Ralgonese state, by the close of his reign in {{AN|1705}}, his government's effective authority ended beyond the island of Drag'os and some important settlements on northern [[Cibola]], with the majority of the Empire now being under the rule of Adrestia, the other constituent half of the Empire.

While the Emperor's reign was, by and large, a partial success, his chief failure lay not with the receding power of the central government (which Adrestian sources claim he deliberately orchestrated), but instead with his failure to produce a direct heir to his crown. Instead, he bequeathed his throne to the infant Adrestian Prince, named Masamune (the fourth of that name to bear that title). While having a direct heir would normally avoid the generally bloody selection process, this unprecedented break with tradition, while made to save the Empire, ultimately destroyed the last of his authority after his death of cancer in {{AN|1705}}.

Because of a lack of a native heir, and his supposed passage of a crown that was no longer his on death to an "outside" noble (despite said noble being in the Imperial Family himself), the gap in reality and ability for the central government to uphold its own law and produce a rival claimant threw the Empire into chaos. While the Emperor had, during life, promised the crown (notably in secret) to a specific heir, the royal title ceased to belong to the Emperor upon death. The extremely aged Emperor Emeritus, [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]], was unable to stop the chaos from spreading beyond the Senate halls due to each side refusing to give up a priceless possession each thought belonged to them: The Imperial Crown.

With the Adrestian heir being a child, the Emperor Shiro now freshly dead, and the Emperor Emeritus being (according to Valoran accounts) too weak from age-related illnesses to act decisively, the door was thrown wide open for the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to begin. This second civil war would prove to be the death blow for the ability of [[Drag'os]], the homeland of the Ralgon peoples of the world, to lay claim to any form of central authority in the future. Instead, the only legacy that Emperor Shiro would decisively leave behind outside of military tradition would be the firm solidification of the worldwide [[Draconic#Holy Draconic Church|Holy Draconic Church]]. The salvation of the Ralgonese state would, instead, come about under the regency and eventual reign of his immediate successor, [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion the Great]], under whose long reign the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] would completely transform into the much larger and considerably more powerful [[Imperial Federation]].

==Notes==

1 Clan title only. Not used on official documents since 860, which saw the Kingdom of Stormhold's formation.
 2 Since 1260, during the reign of Bael'ar IV.
 3 "King of the Mountain" denotes [[Glacier City, SAR]], used since 228 AN. Personal union maintained since 1178.
 4 Never used by itself in official documents. Princely title held fully in right by Masamune II as of 1692.
 5 Monarchs instead used the style "King of Kings of Drag'os" from c. 1330 to 1672.
 6 Since 1687, in the aftermath of the Crisis of 1685.

[[Category:Ralgon]]

Shiro I of Ralgon

2026-06-17T15:02:40Z

Cosmic Fury:

Born 1650 AN, he died at the age of {{AgeAN|1650|1705}} in the early days of {{AN|1705}} of a rare, aggressive form of cancer that even his country's most advanced medicine was unable to remove. From {{AN|1673}} to {{AN|1705}} as the [[Ralgon]] Emperor, reigning since New Year's Day, 1673. He served for {{AgeAN|1673|1705}} as the Ralgon Emperor, having taken that title upon his coronation. He is also the head of state (ex officio) of [[Adrestia]] as the King of that country, his title being made official in early {{AN|1675}}. That title reverted to the Adrestians immediately on his death.

His full title was Shiro the First of That Name, Lord of the Ralgons1, King of [[Stormhold]]2, King of the Mountain3, King of [[Adrestia]]4, Emperor of [[Drag'os]]5, Defender of the Faith, and Liberator of the Senate and People of Drag'os.

The reign of Emperor Shiro saw a tumultuous history within the Empire. While, at the same time, the Empire reached its zenith and created affluent Ralgon populations all over Micras, he also presided over the worst crises to ever befall the Empire since before living memory. During the 1680's AN, he has seen his power wax and wane the most, with the Empire's greatest successes and defeats occurring simultaneously in those intervening years. However, it was the contraction of empire that occurred in 1686 during the [[Ralgon Civil War]] that most devastated the Empire. Although he managed to hold the Empire together against a series of rebellions and losses against natives in [[The Green]], he only barely managed to emerge intact from the carnage. As the leader of the central Ralgonese state, by the close of his reign in {{AN|1705}}, his government's effective authority ended beyond the island of Drag'os and some important settlements on northern [[Cibola]], with the majority of the Empire now being under the rule of Adrestia, the other constituent half of the Empire.

While the Emperor's reign was, by and large, a partial success, his chief failure lay not with the receding power of the central government (which Adrestian sources claim he deliberately orchestrated), but instead with his failure to produce a direct heir to his crown. Instead, he bequeathed his throne to the infant Adrestian Prince, named Masamune (the fourth of that name to bear that title). While having a direct heir would normally avoid the generally bloody selection process, this unprecedented break with tradition, while made to save the Empire, ultimately destroyed the last of his authority after his death of cancer in {{AN|1705}}.

Because of a lack of a native heir, and his supposed passage of a crown that was no longer his on death to an "outside" noble (despite said noble being in the Imperial Family himself), the gap in reality and ability for the central government to uphold its own law and produce a rival claimant threw the Empire into chaos. While the Emperor had, during life, promised the crown (notably in secret) to a specific heir, the royal title ceased to belong to the Emperor upon death. The extremely aged Emperor Emeritus, [[Nobunag'an IV of Ralgon]], was unable to stop the chaos from spreading beyond the Senate halls due to each side refusing to give up a priceless possession each thought belonged to them: The Imperial Crown.

With the Adrestian heir being a child, the Emperor Shiro now freshly dead, and the Emperor Emeritus being (according to Valoran accounts) too weak from age-related illnesses to act decisively, the door was thrown wide open for the [[Ralgon War of Succession]] to begin. This second civil war would prove to be the death blow for the ability of [[Drag'os]], the homeland of the Ralgon peoples of the world, to lay claim to any form of central authority in the future. Instead, the only legacy that Emperor Shiro would decisively leave behind outside of military tradition would be the firm solidification of the worldwide [[Draconic#Holy Draconic Church|Holy Draconic Church]]. The salvation of the Ralgonese state would, instead, come about under the regency and eventual reign of his immediate successor, [[Anarion|Emperor Anarion the Great]], under whose long reign the [[Holy Ralgon Empire]] would completely transform into the much larger and considerably more powerful [[Imperial Federation]].

==Notes==

1 Clan title only. Not used on official documents since 860, which saw the Kingdom of Stormhold's formation.
 2 Since 1260, during the reign of Bael'ar IV.
 3 "King of the Mountain" denotes [[Glacier City, SAR]], used since 228 AN. Personal union maintained since 1178.
 4 Never used by itself in official documents. Princely title held fully in right by Masamune II as of 1692.
 5 Monarchs instead used the style "King of Kings of Drag'os" from c. 1330 to 1672.
 6 Since 1687, in the aftermath of the Crisis of 1685.

[[Category:Ralgon]]