Athlon

Natopian demesne Athlon
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: Ευχομαί η Οσίος Βους Euchomai he Osios Bous Pray to the Holy Cow
Map versions	11.4 - Present
Capital	Doza
Largest cities	Doza
Official language(s)	Nats Athlonian Constancian
Official religion(s)	Bovinism
Demonym	Athlonian, Αθλονίος
- Adjective	Athlonian, Αθλονίκος (Athlonic)
Official full name	Pentheral State of Athlon
Government under the Constitution of Natopia	Unitary Bovic absolute elective monarchy
- Demesnial Charter	{{{demesnialcharter}}}
- Empress of the Natopians	Vadoma I
- Pentheros of the Church	Sergius Hergones
- Senior Metrobosarch	Gywn Moonoak
- Demesnial Legislature	Council of Metrobosarchs
- Part of (Demesnial Union)
Key Historical Dates	{{{historicaldates}}}
- Establishment	12 Liebluary 1530 AN (4 July 2007)
Area
Population	409,789 (1690 AN)
Key Landmarks	{{{landmarks}}}
Abbreviation	ATH
Administrative divisions of Natopia

Athlon, officially the Pentheral State of Athlon is a protected sovereign nation of Natopia. It occupies the two easternmost islands in the Pacarian Archipelago, which is traditionally associated with Eura. It's capital, Doza, is the universal seat of the Dozan Bovic Church.

The islands were originally a crown dependency of Lovely, named Psycotia. However, during the War of Matbaic Liberation Natopia invaded the dependency with a squadron of the Emperor's personal army, the Holy Order of the Armored Goats. Following the war, Natopia gained the islands as war spoils. The Emperor allowed the Armored Goats to remain on the island. They established a crusader state based on their roles as knight-defenders of the Emperor, who at the time was also Pentheros of the Bovic Church.

Origin of the name Athlon

The former islands of Psycotia came to be known as Athlon by way of their status as war spoils. Athlon is the Greek word for prize, or gift. The capital of Doza is derived from the Greek word for royalty, or jewels as it is the city of the monarchy.

History

While a dependency of Lovely, the two islands were invaded by Natopia during the War of Matbaic Liberation. The Order of the Armored Goats, was originally the personal army of the Sovereign Natopian Emperor. The Order remained on the islands throughout a republican revolution in Natopia, subsequent anarchy in Lindstrom, and the Natopian Dark Ages. The Natopian Emperor retreated to Athlon, which was proclaimed as a new Kingdom and continued on as a bastion of Natopian tradition. The Armored Goats thus became the military of Athlon.

Athlon enjoyed a special status in Natopia, being so far from the mainland and also being the only land Natopia claimed by way of war. As the natives and Natopian immigrants began to inter-marry, a culture resembling Greece developed. The Bovic Church soon moved to Doza, to become the Dozan Bovic Church embraced Athlonic culture.

During the Natopian Dark Ages, Athlon seceded from the collapsing Natopian state and joined the Confederacy of Gralus for several months as a protectorate. When Natopia was reformed, Athlon became a satellite state of Natopia to retain the Bovic Church's autonomy. This was in response to the culture of independence that took hold during the Natopian interregnum.

Athlon, along with South Mehlville, preserved the Natopian culture when mainland Natopia collapsed. However, when South Mehlville itself began to waiver, Athlon exercised its considerable degree of autonomy and annexed it, thereby granting Athlon territory on Eura. This created an interesting interaction between new Greek Athlonian settlers and the Persian Babkhans on Eura. However, the difficulty of administering a land composed of Athlonians, South Mehlvillians, and Babkhans soon became too great for Athlon. The Euran land was reduced and eventually ceded directly to Babkha. In exchange, Athlon gifted the land to Natopia proper to be fully integrated in the Dominion.

Government

Athlon is a protected sovereign nation of Natopia. It may maintain a defense force and conduct limited foreign affairs by itself, however due to it's small size it must rely on Natopia and uses Natopia's currency. The government of Athlon has evolved over the years until it settled onto its current form as an elected absolute theocratic monarchy. The head of state and absolute ruler of Athlon is the Pentheros, who is elected by the Council of Metrobosarchs. The six Metrobosarchs each have jurisdiction over the six continents (Corum and Eura are combined). The most senior Metrobosarch serves as president of the council. At various times the Council has been delegated certain responsibilities by the Pentheros, but its only required role is to elect a new Pentheros.

The authority of the Pentheros is derived from the first King of Athlon, who was also Pentheros of the Church. Over time, the positions merged and the royal title was dropped. The Pentheros issues Pentheral bulls for both dogmatic guidance and governing the State.

Military

The Holy Order of the Armored Goats is the primary defensive force of Athlon. It consists of a naval phalanx and specialized ground troops. Extraordinary defense is supplemented by the Natopian Defense Force.

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  Troikos class carrier

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  Kaiokai class destroyer

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  Eisboyle class assault ship

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  Hegchelus class missile sub

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  Unterdu class attack submarine

Geography

Athlon consists of two islands. Doza and Eupragia share the large island with Hergon on the smaller. The islands are topographically uninteresting. The climate is sub-tropical in the far north an subarctic in the south with the extreme southern border touching the permanent ice of the antarctic.

Sports

Athlonics practice individual sports to keep physically fit and show off their bodies. The most popular sports are gymnastics, wrestling, field athletic, boxing, pentathlon. Some popular team sports are doubles badminton, doubles tennis, doubles table tennis, quad rowing, 4-person curling; these sports are most often played at summer camps or by church groups. Athlon has a separate national football team from Natopia, which played in the 2015 FMF World Cup.