The Sovereign State of Cradia
The Sovereign State of Cradia is one of the three great nations of Iorobush. It shares its borders with both of the other nations, The Kodazar Hegemony and The Thardan Alpharchy. It spans an area of roughly 1.65 million square kilometres. Of this, 59% (972 thousand sq. kilometres) is arable land, and 40% (659 thousand sq. kilometres) is wilderness. The remaining 1% is urban areas. It has a total population of 3.5 million. Cradia is a unitary elective monarchy, with its capital in Beacon, the country's largest city. The other major cities of Cradia include Hope, Chance and Fortune.
Structure
The Sovereign (Vevuri: Souverain(e)) is the highest ranking individual within Cradia. They are charged with setting the laws and deciding on matters of diplomacy. They are also responsible for dealing with local matters within the capital, however the more trivial matters are usually left to the Steward (Vevuri: Intendant).
Outside of the capital, the cities are governed by an Earl (Vevuri: Comte/Comtesse). The Earl of a city is responsible for upholding the laws of the State within their city, and collecting any taxes and duties owed. Towns are governed by a Mayor (Vevuri: Maire/Mairesse), who performs similar duties to those of an Earl, however they can escalate more serious issues to the nearest city. Villages have no set governor.
In legal matters, the regular policing is done by guards. These guards report to a Deputy, who in turn reports to a Sheriff. The Sheriff in a town can dole out punishment as they see fit, but these can be appealed before the local governor. In the capital, the policing is broken down into precincts with their own jurisdiction, with guard squads reporting to sergeants, who in turn report to their captain. The captains report to the Chief of the Guard (Vevuri: Chef du Garde).
Culture
Cradia draws its culture from the many different sapient species that reside within it. One standout cultural detail is that the military ranks retain the old Vevuri names for them, from a time when Vevuri was still the most used language in the nation. There are many different customs recognised throughout the nation, and its people are free to worship whichever deities/creeds they believe in. The multicultural aspects of Cradia can be easily seen in its architecture, with many different styles being present throughout its towns and cities.
The key principle of Cradian culture is that value is placed in the individual whilst maintaining unity. When making a major decision that would affect the citizens, the rulers are encouraged to consider every aspect of the decision's outcome, and how this could impact the individual.
History
The Sovereign State of Cradia was founded in 146 T.I. The nation was initially settled in the southeast by the Vevuri tribes, during the Age of Light. As the tribes began to grow and expand, the need to migrate west arose. As the tribes spread into the west, they began to encounter other peoples. For roughly a hundred years, the Vevuri tribes and the other peoples in the region had an uneasy peace, with suspicion arising on both sides. It was not until the leader of the Cradia tribe, a human man named Bastien Auclair, decided that the tension between the inhabitants of the region could not continue, that things began to change. Bastien set out with the goal of learning more about the other peoples who inhabited the region. He slowly began to develop an understanding of their cultures, even going so far as to learn their languages. This continued for several years, before he finally decided to return to where his tribe had settled. He invited some of the people he had met on his travels to come and join them in their settlement, expanding it and creating a beacon for those who wished to live in peace. The people who came to settle joined with the Cradia tribe, expanding it into a small nation. This tradition of peace continued for several decades, with the nation widening its umbrella to welcome in more of the peoples of the region.
As Cradia continued to grow and expand, the nation discovered that it was not the sole nation inhabiting the continent. In 189 T.I. they began expanding eastwards and discovered a large region of badlands, inhabited by the Yonad Dynasty. The Yonadi, seeking absolute dominion over the continent, attacked the Cradian settlers, and war broke out between the two nations. The Cradians, having seen peace up until this point, were vastly unprepared for war. They had no standing military to speak of, and quickly cobbled together a militia consisting of the various peoples inhabiting the nation. For the first two years of the war, the militia barely held together against the Yonad warriors, who had been bolstered by tabaxi from The Empire of Maz Ticca. However, in the spring of 192 T.I., the leader of the Maz Ticcans, Ronzu of the Heavenly Storm clan, approached the Cradian leader at the time, Thomin Brunelle, offering an alliance against the Yonadi. Thomin was hesitant to agree, suspecting a trap. However, Ronzu outlined his plans clearly to Brunelle, explaining in detail when and where the Maz Ticcans would betray the Yonadi. This detailed plan gained Thomin's trust, and the Cradians sided with the Maz Ticcans. After the Maz Ticcans' plan was succesful, Ronzu returned to Cradia, threatening that if they did not bow to the tabaxi, they would suffer the same fate as the Yonadi did. Brunelle, not wanting his people to suffer further, agreed.
Under Maz Ticcan dominion, Cradia grew slowly. The Maz Ticcans sought the same goal as the Yonad Dynasty before them, total dominion of the continent. As part of this, they conscripted troops from the nations they had conquered, sending them against their enemies. As a result of this, the Cradians began to learn military tactics from the empire. Their warriors grew more competent, and they became integral to the Maz Ticcan war effort. In the Maz Ticcan campaign against The Thardan Alpharchy, the Cradians saw the onslaught that the empire suffered as a result of the Alpharchy's advanced technology.
During the reign of Ronzu II, the Cradians used the lack of war to start training and building their army. They incorporated tactics from the Maz Ticcans, as well as those observed during their time fighting against the Thardan Alpharchy. The military grew in strength, and the structure that is still maintained to this day was developed. The Cradian leadership knew that if they took this time to develop their army during peacetime, they might have the chance to lead a successful rebellion against the Maz Ticcans. They continued to supply resources to Maz Ticca, however they would send less and less each time, in small quantities so as not to give away their goal.
When Ronzu II was succeeded by a ten-year-old emperor, Prenakur, the Cradians saw their opportunity. Rallying their forces under the command of Marshal Zath Shadesteel, the Cradians rebelled against their Maz Ticcan overlords. They began a campaign of striking out against Maz Ticcan fortresses that had been constructed within their territory, capturing them and defeating their garrisons. The young emperor was inexperienced in warfare, and the Cradian rebellion swiftly and efficiently removed the Maz Ticcan presence from their nation, regaining their true independence. After his successful campaign, Zath Shadesteel was elected Sovereign, a position that he maintained for 27 years until his death in 339 T.I.
After Zath Shadesteel's death, a new Sovereign was elected. A woman named Biatriz Maddox, formerly a general in the Cradian military, was nominated for the position. She would hold this post for 19 years, when the Maz Ticcan empire launched a campaign against Cradia. However, one of her predecessor's acts was to solicit the Thardan Alpharchy for arms and equipment. The technological advantage gained by these armaments allowed the Cradians to swiftly defeat the Maz Ticcan invaders. After this campaign, Sovereign Maddox abdicated, wishing to spend her remaining life in peace.
Maddox's successor, Bevreitim Moontouched, was elected in 358 T.I. He was considered a very lax sovereign, for after just three years in office, two of the settlements within Cradia were overrun with criminals, and became completely independent, crime boss-governed towns; namely, the town of Perfidy, and the village of Porton (since dubbed Brigandston). After this event, a vote of no confidence was raised against him, and he was removed from power.
Bevreitim's successor was a woman, Violet Basselle. She spent much of her 35-year sovereignty combatting raids on Cradian territories by pirates from Perfidy. Without a standing naval force, the nation was left vulnerable to coastal attacks, which these pirates took full advantage of. Sovereign Basselle ordered the construction of fortresses along the docks in coastal towns and cities, with the exception of the capital. During the process of constructing these forts, she also commissioned ships from the Thardan Alpharchy, equipped with cannons. Thus, the Cradian navy was formed, and set out against the attacking pirates. Within a matter of months, the piracy was squashed, and regular coastal patrols established.
The next 41 years became known as the Age of Ten Sovereigns, as there were ten sovereigns serving during this period, each with a term shorter than the last. The first of these, Alzangridrak Awjizay, served for eleven years, but was ousted from power when it was found that he had been overtaxing the working class. His successor, Thoriak "Bearjumper" Kulanavi, was sovereign for nine years, before dying suddenly from a heart attack. He was succeeded by Lyasu, who held the post for seven years. Lyasu disappeared mysteriously after these seven years, never to be heard of again. Lyasu's successor, Oesnan Stormpelt, served for four and a half years. Stormpelt's sovereignty was plagued with bandit attacks from Brigandston to the east, and he abdicated as a result. Stormpelt was succeeded by Ilya du Plessis, who had served as marshal of Cradia under Lyasu and Stormpelt. She led the Cradian forces against the bandits from Brigandston, nearly wiping them out in a four-year campaign which resulted in her death on the battlefield. Du Plessis' successor was Clinton Dorley, who held the post for two and a half years, when he was embroiled in a scandal involving him divorcing his wife to marry a courtesan from Cabosa Nucas. Dorley was succeeded by Retta Mulvahil, who served as sovereign for eighteen months before being assassinated by a scorned ex-lover. Mulvahil's successor was Ridam Polinac, whose term lasted only one year. He stepped down due to ailing health, and was succeeded by Howell Learnan, a merchant from the city of Chance. Learnan served for just four months, when it emerged that he was working as a spy for the Maz Ticcan emperor. Learnan was succeeded by Besia Plainorb, who was sovereign for a total of two months. During these two months, the Cradian economy crashed, and unemployment skyrocketed. She stepped down in shame, leaving the nation in shambles.
Wanting to avoid further crises, a council was formed to take the reins of the nation, and restore stability. This council was comprised of top-ranking officers from the military and navy, merchants from each of the towns and cities, and village elders. This council spent the next ten years getting the nation back to its original state before the Age of Ten Sovereigns. This involved creating jobs, and ramping up exports in order to fund the economy and fill the nation's coffers. After this point, an election was held for the next Sovereign.
The people elected Galen Stormglory, a general in the military who had served on the council. Stormglory served as sovereign for twenty-three years, during which the nation underwent an industrial boom. Factories began to spring up in towns and cities, creating more jobs and fuelling the economy. The Cradians began to manufacture their own technology, becoming less dependent on the Thardans who had supplied them with new equipment up until this point. Although much of the Cradians' technology was considered inferior to that of the Thardans, the Cradians saw it as a means of being less reliant on their neighbours, and as a result less susceptible to Thardan pressure. One of the Cradians' crowning technological achievements during this time was being able to mimic the invention of the airships that was achieved by the Thardans in the early 5th century T.I.
At the age of seventy, Sovereign Stormglory stepped down in order to enjoy his last few years of life. He was succeeded by Zedhirakul Suvinika, who commissioned explorers to visit the other lands of Croyora. One such explorer was Gideon Ascew, captain of the airship le Ciel Azuré. Ascew aspired to become the first individual to visit every continent in the world. He set out to the west, arriving in Bevalonia after six months of travel. He landed within the Yoritame Dynasty of Aku Toch, and from there learned of the other nations in Bevalonia. He proceeded to travel to the remainder of those nations, and then continued on to Velkana. Over the course of the next fifteen years, he eventually succeeded in his goal of travelling to each of the continents, and became the first individual to visit every nation in the world.
At the end of Zedhirakul's sovereignty in 483 T.I., Alben Wilges was elected. Wilges' term as Sovereign saw the massive push for unionisation within the booming industrial sectors. Initially, Wilges clamped down on the union organisers, issuing warrants for the arrest of anyone found pushing for trade unions. Although this gained him popularity with the bourgeoisie, the masses were less impressed with this behaviour. Revolutions began to occur in the towns and cities, with the unionised workers engaging in guerilla warfare tactics against the better-equipped guards. After two years, with over one hundred guards killed in these attacks across the nation, Sovereign Wilges called for a truce, ceding that trade unions could be established, and workers' rights were cemented in the constitution. The next twelve years were spent legislating these trade deals with the unions, after which point the sovereign stepped down.
The next sovereign elected was Ramni Amaron, who had a peaceful term of thirty-four years. During this time, the University of Mages in Beacon was established. This university would grow to one day become the foremost educational institution for novice casters in the world.
Amaron's successor was Jonas Peaton, who had previously served as the mayor of Melody. Peaton served as Sovereign for forty-one years. His term saw the dawn of a new age, with the Cult of the Dragon Crisis in Lecharia leading to the empire's dissolution, and a near-calamitous event being prevented by the group of heroes known as Birds of a Feather. After the Lecharian Empire was dissolved, Peaton saw an opportunity for Cradia to become the strongest military power in the world. He decreed that manufacturing of arms and equipment needed to be ramped up, amassing an arsenal that would function as a looming threat to any other nations who had the same designs as he.
Peaton was succeeded by Cora Whagard, a retired admiral. Whagard's term lasted thirty-seven years, during which she continued her predecessor's mission. She allocated funding from the nation's coffers for the advancement of technology, recruiting the top scientific minds from across the nation to work on top-secret programs.
Whagard was followed by Nicola Chamond. Chamond's sovereignty lasted for thirteen years. Chamond did not place as much value in the nation's military strength, but her term did see several highly-classified incursions into Kodazar territory, the only nation that was perceived to be a threat to Cradian military supremacy. Since then, Cradia and the Kodazar Hegemony have been locked in a cold war, with both sides vying for military power, but divided in their politcal ideologies. The Cradian ideology involves the free market, with the means of production being privately owned. The Kodazar ideology involves an ultranationalist movement, wherein the ruling Orcs believe themselves superior to the other races residing within their borders.
Chamond's successor, and currently-serving Sovereign, is Jania Sunborn. Sunborn has continued the cold war with the Kodazar Hegemony, with tensions continuing to rise throughout her tenure. Experts speculate that tensions will boil over into full-scale war.
Military
The Cradian military, Le Militaire, maintains a hierarchical structure. The ranks of the Cradian military are as follows, with 1 being the highest and 12 being the lowest.
- Le Souverain - The Sovereign, ruler of Cradia and commander-in-chief of the Militaire.
- Maréchal(e) de Cradia - The Commander of Le Militaire, reports directly to the Sovereign. Their orders are treated as the Sovereign's own, unless the Sovereign is present in the theatre of war. Identified by a badge depicting a golden raven holding a purple star in its talons pinned to their epaulettes.
- Général(e) - The Commander of a Division Militaire. Identified by a golden star pinned to their epaulettes.
- Colonel(le) - The Commander of a Brigade. Identified by five golden bars on their epaulettes.
- Majeur(e) - The Commander of a Battailon. Identified by four golden bars on their epaulettes.
- Capitaine Adjutant Majeur(e) - Assistant-Commander to a Majeur. Identified by four bars on their epaulettes, alternating gold and silver.
- Capitaine - Commander of a Compagnie. Identified by three golden bars on their epaulettes.
- Lieutenant(e) - Commander of a Contingent. Identified by two golden bars on their epaulettes.
- Sous-Lieutenant(e) - Assistant-Commander to a Lieutenant. Identified by a single golden bar on their epaulettes.
- Sergent(e) - Commander of an Équipe. Identified by a golden double chevron on the sleeve.
- Caporal(e) - Lowest Non-Commissioned Officer, can command an Équipe in the absence of a Sergent(e). Identified by a singular golden chevron on the sleeve.
- Soldat(e) - Rank-and-file footsoldiers of the Militaire.
- Division Militaire - The largest unit. There are 3 divisions within the Militaire, each one specialising in a different kind of combat. Within each division there are anywhere from 2 to 10 Brigades.
- Brigade - A large unit which consists of 3-6 Battailons.
- Battailon - A unit made up of between 300 and 1000 troops. Battailons are subdivided into Compagnies.
- Compagnie - A unit consisting of 100-250 troops, subdivided into Contingents.
- Contingent - A unit consisting of anywhere between 20-50 troops. A contingent is made up of several Équipes.
- Équipe - A unit consisting of 5-10 soldiers.
- Le Souverain
- L'Amiral(e) de Cradia - The Commander of La Marine, reports directly to the sovereign. Responsible for the deployment of fleets in the theatre of war. Identified by a badge depicting a golden raven holding a purple star in its talons pinned to their epaulettes and sleeve cuffs.
- Amiral(e) - The Commander of a fleet. An Amiral(e) often serves aboard a dreadnought. Identified by five golden stars forming a pentagon pinned to their epaulettes and sleeve cuffs.
- Vice-Amiral(e) - The Commander of a dreadnought-class ship. Identified by four golden stars forming a diamond pinned to their epaulettes and sleeve cuffs.
- Contre-Amiral(e) - The Commander of a cruiser-class ship. Identified by three golden stars forming a triangle pinned to their epaulettes and sleeve cuffs.
- Commandant(e) - The Commander of a destroyer-class ship. Identified by two golden stars in parallel pinned to their epaulettes and sleeve cuffs.
- Capitaine - The Commander of a frigate-class ship. Identified by five golden bars on their epaulettes and sleeve cuffs.
- Lieutenant(e)-Commandant(e) - The Commander of a corvette-class ship. Identified by four golden bars on their epaulettes and sleeve cuffs.
- Lieutenant(e) de Vaisseau - The Commander of a patrol ship. Identified by three golden bars on their epaulettes and sleeve cuffs.
- Majeur(e) - Officer aboard a corvette-class ship or higher. These officers maintain different stations aboard the ship, those being Weapons Officer, Navigation Officer, Communications Officer and Helm Officer. Identified by two golden bars on their epaulettes and sleeve cuffs.
- Maître(sse) - The lowest-ranking Officer of La Marine who hold more specific roles, e.g. Cannon Officer. Identified by two golden chevrons on their epaulettes and sleeve cuffs.
- Matelot(e) - Regular sailors of La Marine. Identified by their unembellished epaulettes and sleeve cuffs.
- Le Souverain
- Maréchal(e) de l'Air - The Commander of l'Armée de l'Air, reports to the Sovereign directly. Their orders are treated as the Sovereign's own, unless the Sovereign is present in the theatre of war.Identified by a badge depicting a golden raven holding a purple star in its talons pinned to their epaulettes.
- Général(e) de l'Air - The Commander of an air base, responsible for deploying squadrons. Identified by a golden star pinned to their epaulettes below a silver raven.
- Lieutenant(e) de l'Air - Commander of an aerial squadron, formation leader and pointman. Identified by a silver star pinned to their epaulettes below a silver raven.
- Sergent(e) de l'Air - Commander of a flight crew, reserved for larger craft such as airships and the more recently invented bombers. Identified by a golden double chevron below a silver raven on their epaulettes.
- Aviateur(e) - Pilots. Identified by a golden chevron below a silver raven on their epaulettes.
- Caporal(e) - Ground crew, responsible for aircraft maintenance, directing craft to take off/land etc. Identifiable by a golden diagonal slash below a silver raven on their epaulettes.
Laws
The crimes, and relevant punishments, contained within the Cradian constitution are outlined below.
Murder: The malicious, unjustified killing of another person.
Death.
Treason: Crimes undermining or causing harm to the Sovereign State.
Branding and Exile.
Bribery: Bribery or attempted bribery of a Cradian official.
Fine of two hundred gold pieces, payable to the Cradian Sovereign, and three days in a cell.
Repeat offenders: removal of one finger for each offence.
Blackmail: Blackmailing or intimidating, or the attempt of such, a Cradian official.
Fine of five hundred gold pieces, payable to the Cradian Sovereign.
Repeat offenders: removal of one eye.
Arson: The burning of property or goods, especially those belonging to the Cradian State.
Fine of two hundred and fifty gold pieces, plus damages; if the damage caused is deemed extensive, branding and one year's imprisonment.
Repeat offenders: Branding and five years' imprisonment, in addition to fines payable.
Hampering Justice: Hindering or resisting the dispensing of justice.
Fine of two hundred and fifty gold pieces, and one day in a cell.
Repeat offenders: Facial branding.
Assault: Attacking another individual without cause.
Fine of ten gold pieces, one day in a cell.
Repeat offenders: 100gp fine, three days in a cell.
Disturbing the Peace: Disrupting trade, commerce, and daily peaceful life of citizens.
Fine of ten gold pieces.
Vandalism: Damaging property.
Fine of fifty gold pieces, plus the cost of damages.
Repeat offenders: fine, and one day in a cell.
Smuggling: The movement of contraband products, including narcotics.
Fine of five hundred gold pieces, payable to the Cradian Sovereign.
Repeat offenders: Fine, and the removal of a finger.
Petty Theft: Stealing others' property, valued under one hundred gold pieces.
Fine of ten gold pieces, plus three days in a cell.
Repeat offenders: Removal of a finger, and three years' imprisonment.
Grand Theft: Theft of property with a combined value of over one hundred gold pieces.
Fine of two hundred gold pieces, plus three years' imprisonment.
Repeat offenders: Six years' imprisonment.
Fencing Stolen Goods: The purchase, and sale, of stolen goods.
Fine of two hundred and fifty gold pieces, payable to the Cradian Sovereign.
Repeat offenders: Loss of title (if any) and confiscation of assets.
Illegal Casting: The casting of spells which have the ability to cause harm to, or exert influence on, others. This includes any spells that are necromantic in nature.
Fine and imprisonment (which vary based on the repercussions) plus damages, if any. Destructive spells are punishable by three years' imprisonment. The casting of lethal spells is punishable by death.
En Force, Nous Prosperons
Founding Date
146 T.I.
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Alternative Names
Cradia, The Sovereignty
Demonym
Cradian
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Power Structure
Unitary state
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Comments