The Thardan Alpharchy
The Thardan Alpharchy is one of the three great nations of Iorobush. It shares its borders with both of the other nations, The Sovereign State of Cradia and The Kodazar Hegemony. Its lands cover an area of roughly 692 thousand square kilometres, spanning the countries of Driudor, Cefrana and Thecros. Much of the Alpharchy (approximately 650 thousand square kilometres) is mountainous, with many of the settlements built underground or into the sides of mountains. The Alpharchy is the foremost technological nation in Croyora, with many pioneering technological advancements originating from the nation. The primary inhabitants of the Alpharchy are dwarves (an estimated 55% of the total population), with halflings and gnomes making up a majority of the remaining population. Overall, the population of the Alpharchy is 4.1 million. The seat of power of the Alpharchy is Vun Gokan, the most populous city.
Structure
A group of families rules the Alpharchy, known simply as The Four. These families are the Lozzurirr family, the Cokarr family, the Detguhark family and the Murunor. These four families create the legislation of the Alpharchy, and handle all matters of governance. The Lozzurirr have held the highest power since the first century T.I., with the nation's Alpharchs from that point on all being members of the Lozzurirr. Members of The Four sit within the ruling senate, known as the Xiarchy.
Below The Four are The Eight; these are lesser families who hold aspirations of joining The Four in ruling the nation. These families govern the various towns throughout the Alpharchy. The Eight families are the Strenkuner, the Glethgahr, the Mohuvack, the Tokinum, the Befdan, the Duthgarehr, the Gotguhonn and the Strakihank.
Below The Eight are the lesser families of the Alpharchy. These lesser families do not hold any power within the Alpharchy.
The Alpharchy also maintains a scientific council. The head of this council hold the title Phiarch, and is the chief inventor for the Alpharchy.
Culture
The Thardan Alpharchy places absolute value in the bonds of family. Families are structured as though they are organisations, with their own internal hierarchies of power. Families had their own internal politics and agendas. Political squabbles are known to occur between the great families, with each family having a political rival.
The process of joining a new family and leaving the old one is known as rematching. Thardan families often recruit promising young students, cadets and officers from the military to join their families, in the hopes that their achievements will bring further honour and glory to their family.
Family Ranks
Family members are given different levels of privilege and prestige within a family based on their ranking within it. The ranks of Thardan families are as follows, from highest privelege to lowest:- Blood: descendants of original members of the family, born into the family.
- Cousin: also born into the family, but descendants of Ranking Distants.
- Ranking Distant: a family member who has distinguished themselves further after passing the Trials.
- Trial-Born: a Merit-Adoptive who has successfully passed the Trials set out by the family's Sigmarch.
- Merit-Adoptive: a family member who has been recruited from a minor family.
Political Ranks
The head of a family holds the title of Sigmarch. The Sigmarch appoints the family's representatives within the Xiarchy. They also have the power to circumvent the normal bureaucratic process of Family Rematching, effectively skipping the months-long process of recruiting new members of the family. They can also authorise military action for the family militia in the event of a family emergency. The Betarch of a family is the leader of a family's delegation of Xiarchs to the Xiarchy, and the second-highest ranking official in a family. Upon the death of a family's Sigmarch, one of the roles of the Betarch is choosing a successor along with the various family Sigmaters. The biggest difference in responsibility between the Sigmarch and Betarch is that the Sigmarch deals with internal family matters, while the Betarch is the external face and voice of a family. A Betarch will often delegate lesser tasks to other Xiarchs of the family. A Xiarch is a member of the Xiarchy, the main political body of the Thardan Alpharchy. One of the main responsibilities of a Xiarch is to deliver messages to the military on behalf of the Xiarchy regarding members of their family. They also are responsible for recruiting new members of the family. A Sigmater of a family handles family matters on a local level within the various settlements of the Alpharchy. Sigmaters have the power to declare a family emergency, as well as authority over the local militia forces of the family. Upon the death of a family's Sigmarch, the Sigmaters are involved in choosing a successor.History
The Thardan Alpharchy was founded in the year 12 T.H., when the great families were united under one ruling family, the Thardans, marking them as the First Ruling Family. The Thardans were followers of Moradin, and placed a great emphasis on technological advancement. The head of the Thardans, Volmec "Strengthbringer", declared himself Alpharch, and set about laying the groundwork of the nation that would arise. Over the subsequent years after this unification, the number of Ruling Families grew to five, with The Four joining the ranks.
In around the time of 51 T.I., the entire Thardan family mysteriously disappeared. The Lozzurirr stepped in and took control in the chaos that ensued, and continued along the course the Thardans had set out. The Lozzurirr decided to retain the Thardan element of the nation's name, as a means of honouring the family. The Alpharchy continued to grow under Lozzurirr rule, and the masses were content with the family's rulership.
In the year 117 T.I., the Alpharchy faced its first major external threat; the Yonad Dynasty attacked the eastern borders of the Alpharchy, plunging it into chaos. The Thardan Alpharchy had not experienced warfare on this scale in centuries, and were wholly unprepared to deal with the situation. They were disorganised for the first initial years of the conflict, with no standing military to speak of. Eventually they managed to repel the invaders, but at a heavy toll to Thardan lives. In the fallout of this conflict, the Defence Forces were formed.
The Alpharchy faced further hardship in the year 220 T.I., when forces from The Empire of Maz Ticca arrived within the Alpharchy, attempting to conquer it. Luckily, the Alpharchy was much more equipped to deal with this crisis. However, one issue that arose throughout the conflict was that high-ranking officers from the great families were focusing on protecting their own family interests rather than those of the Alpharchy as a whole. As a result, the Defence Conclave was formed, and the rules around high-ranking officers severing family ties introduced.
In 227 T.I., the Maz Ticcans' twenty year military campaign against the Thardan Alpharchy began. Over this period, the Alpharchy saw wave after wave of Maz Ticcan troops attacking their nation, but due to the set up of most of their settlements within the mountains, the Alpharchy mounted a strong defence, preventing the Maz Ticcans from ever gaining a foothold. During this time the advancements made by the Alpharchy escalated even further, with new technologies and weapons being developed over a matter of months in most cases.
In around the time of 358 T.I., the Alpharchy entered into an alliance with the Cradians, providing arms and equipment to them in order to help them repel Maz Ticcan armies. This started a tradition which would last for approximately ninety years of the Alpharchy selling equipment to Cradia.
In the year 53 A.H., Phiarch Federigo Capello invented the Bionic Offensive Trooper, an automaton which would be used to bolster the forces of the Thardan Defence Forces. Alpharch Dirmarth Lozzurirr signed off on the use of these automatons, their production escalated. These Bionic Offensive Troopers can be found throughout the Alpharchy.
Military
The military of the Thardan Alpharchy is governed separately to the main legislation. This was an endeavour to keep family politics out of any military ventures. The military is instead governed by the Defence Convocation, a council consisting of high-ranking officers from within the military's ranks.
Upon reaching the rank of Major, an officer severs their family ties. This is a further initiative to keep family politics out of military decisions.
The ranks of the Thardan Defence Forces are as follows:
- Alpharch
- Omegarch
- General
- Brigadier
- Major
- Senior Captain
- Mid Captain
- Junior Captain
- Senior Commander
- Mid Commander
- Junior Commander
- Master Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Senior Warrior
- Mid Warrior
- Junior Warrior
Laws
The legal system of the Alpharchy has defined the following crimes and subsequent punishments.
Murder: Causing the death of another without just cause. Punishable by imprisonment for twenty-five years, without the option of parole.
Espionage: Revealing secrets of the Alpharchy to an external party without prior authorisation. Punishable by branding and exile.
Cowardice: Cowardly acts on the field of battle undermine the strength of the Alpharchy. Punishable by demotion or loss of rank and/or title.
Vandalism: Deliberately causing damage to Thardan property or technology. Punishable by a fine of one hundred gold pieces plus the costs of any damages incurred, payable to the Alpharchy, and imprisonment for two years.
Petty Theft: Stealing property which belongs to another. Punishable by a fine of twenty-five gold pieces, and six months' imprisonment.
Grand Theft: Stealing property with a value of over two hundred and fifty gold pieces, or family relics. Punishable by a fine of five hundred gold pieces, and five years imprisonment.
If any fine cannot be paid by an individual, an additional prison sentence is assigned, corresponding to the severity of the crime.
As Rigid as Rock, as Sturdy as Steel, Through Strength We Prevail.
Founding Date
12 T.H.
Type
Geopolitical, State
Capital
Alternative Names
The Alpharcy, The Thardans
Leader
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Transnational government
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Comments