Western Alliance
"Trade? Western Alliance. Stability? Western Alliance. Freedom? Western Alliance once again. This territory harbors all your wishes and fulfils even more than your ambitions"- John Natalis, leader of an Offstoke trading guild
Exactly 200 years ago, on the ninth of the ninth moon, 52 small countries and city-states signed a pact that would shape history: the Western Alliance Pact. With this, they would band together as a single State, with the a whole new political system unknown to man: a merchant and Bourgeois autocracy, whose members vowed free trade and mutual defense if need be. Their territory now occupies the eastern part of The Continent, and they have attained true stability, valuing trade and a free government above all else, now having exactly 90 members. Many a law has been passed for tolerance and equality, making the Alliance the most welcoming territory in general to other races and immigrants, as slavery is also banned.
However, this freedom in the last decades has been accompanied by a certain nonchalance, making the Western Alliance ill prepared for an invasion that they are now undergoing by Eshneff'il, the southern Empire, with a stark deficit in troops. On the other hand, they make up this disadvantage by their many powerful mages and mage schools, that also dub as officer's academies. Furthermore, its proud citizens and merchants are ready to defend their freedom at any time. This is also a stark improvement compared to before the Alliance Pact, where many small countries possessing their own armies were at war among each other, or compared to the Eastern Realms that possess very little unity.
Though the Western alliance still leaves much to the individual members, the important decisions are made by the Alliance council, located in Offstike. The alliance council is a group a congress of all the political figures of the Alliance, including large merchant guilds and city-states. It is divided into 2 Parts: The elected deputies and the nominated deputies. Elected deputies number at one per alliance member, 2 for the largest founding members. As their name implies, they are elected by the population in the member region they represent, though mostly the ones educated enough to vote are the nobility and urbans. On the other hand, nominated deputies are the ones that either hold power through their influence or that have been nominated by the rest of the council. Nominated deputies include merchant guild delegations, local landlords of each member, or even mage elders. To keep balance, the split between nominated and elected deputies is kept at 50%. Elected deputies and some nominated deputies only have limited mandates, often of 10 years, and elected deputies can only be re-voted once. In total, there are now 190 deputies in the Alliance council, 95 elected deputies, and 95 nominated deputies, the latter among which there are about 30 merchant guilds represented. While the Alliance council does concentrate most of the executive and legislative power, the judicative power is held in the central court in Mikestshire. However, this almost democratic system is very slow, and money flowing behind closed doors is very common through its trading nature.
As rich as are the Alliance's merchants, so is its culture. Though its unified history might be quite recent (some of its lords even living before it through their elven blood), it has a rich and diverse past that is worth looking into.
However, this freedom in the last decades has been accompanied by a certain nonchalance, making the Western Alliance ill prepared for an invasion that they are now undergoing by Eshneff'il, the southern Empire, with a stark deficit in troops. On the other hand, they make up this disadvantage by their many powerful mages and mage schools, that also dub as officer's academies. Furthermore, its proud citizens and merchants are ready to defend their freedom at any time. This is also a stark improvement compared to before the Alliance Pact, where many small countries possessing their own armies were at war among each other, or compared to the Eastern Realms that possess very little unity.
Though the Western alliance still leaves much to the individual members, the important decisions are made by the Alliance council, located in Offstike. The alliance council is a group a congress of all the political figures of the Alliance, including large merchant guilds and city-states. It is divided into 2 Parts: The elected deputies and the nominated deputies. Elected deputies number at one per alliance member, 2 for the largest founding members. As their name implies, they are elected by the population in the member region they represent, though mostly the ones educated enough to vote are the nobility and urbans. On the other hand, nominated deputies are the ones that either hold power through their influence or that have been nominated by the rest of the council. Nominated deputies include merchant guild delegations, local landlords of each member, or even mage elders. To keep balance, the split between nominated and elected deputies is kept at 50%. Elected deputies and some nominated deputies only have limited mandates, often of 10 years, and elected deputies can only be re-voted once. In total, there are now 190 deputies in the Alliance council, 95 elected deputies, and 95 nominated deputies, the latter among which there are about 30 merchant guilds represented. While the Alliance council does concentrate most of the executive and legislative power, the judicative power is held in the central court in Mikestshire. However, this almost democratic system is very slow, and money flowing behind closed doors is very common through its trading nature.
As rich as are the Alliance's merchants, so is its culture. Though its unified history might be quite recent (some of its lords even living before it through their elven blood), it has a rich and diverse past that is worth looking into.
Geography
The Western Alliance is as diverse as its members are. This includes not only populations, but also its geography. While the southern part of the territory resembles Eshneff'il a lot, with its swamp terrain and a part of the Elven Forest being on alliance territory (theoretically), it very quickly transits to plains that then lead to a hill chain that almost cuts the territory in two, remains of a very ancient mountain chain, but that can be easily crossed. Going further north, you find mostly woods and barren fields, fertile land and small lakes. This terrain occupies almost all of the Alliance, with exceptions of course. On the Westernmost part of Alliance territory however, there is something unique never seen anywhere else: A clay desert. Covering the surface of a medium kingdom, it is a sight to behold like nothing else. Incidentally, the portuary city of Offstoke started its trade with clay, making the city prosper and adopt a unique architecture at the same time. Finally, to the north, the Western Alliance borders the Mahakam Mountains, with many powerful magic schools being founded in the harsh conditions of the mountains and their surroundings.
Fauna & Flora
Though the Western Alliance controls a vast territory with many biomes, that of course are inhabited by many species of flora, it is not as varied as its neighbors, mostly because of the soil being the same on a majority of the territory. There are, however, unique species inhabiting the more exotic regions such as the clay bloom in the clay desert, unseen anywhere else. On the other hand, the Alliance has a booming and diverse fauna everywhere, making hunting also one of the main nobleman's activities.
Monsters are also common, but they are more organized than in other countries. Orc hordes favor the unique hill terrain the Alliance proposes, and many other species have been found cooperating through necessity because of the scarcity of vulnerable places.
Monsters are also common, but they are more organized than in other countries. Orc hordes favor the unique hill terrain the Alliance proposes, and many other species have been found cooperating through necessity because of the scarcity of vulnerable places.
Natural Resources
The Western Alliance houses some of the most precious natural resources, which permitted it to thrive in its trade in the first place. It not only has mostly fertile land and freshwater reserves through lakes, but many precious minerals can be mined near the Mahakam Mountains. Finally, the unique clay from the clay desert is sought after around the world, making it a precious natural boon along with vast iron mines and cultivable land.
Western Alliance stats:
| Population | ca. 3 500 000 |
| Active military troops | ca.300 000 (excl. mages) |
| Wizard schools (officer's academies) | 3 official + ? hidden/independent |
| Main religion(s) | Gods, Second Pantheon(Daghda, Sarenrae), Yggdrasilism |
| Political system | Merchant/bourgeois autocracy |
Alternative Name(s)
The Alliance, the continent's port
Type
Territory
Included Locations
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