Airdan Republic
The Airdan Republic, named for the first Lord Defender Airdil Besk, encompases the southern half of the Alvieran Continent. The Republic split from the Albion Empire during the War of the Seven Emperors and remains a formidable opposition to Albion's quest for continental hegemony.
Geography
Airdan covers the entire southern region of Alvieran with Lake Albion spliting the northern portion in two. The northern border on the east side of Lake Albion borders the Albion Empire while the northern border on the western side of Lake Albion borders the Confederacy of Hanesia. Airdan generally has a warmer climate esspecaially along the southern coast.Government Structure
The Airdan government consists of two major branches: The Lords' Table and the Lord Defender. The Lord Defender is generally more of a ceremonial position during peacetime. However, during wartime, the Lord Defender is entrusted with nearly totalitarian rule over the country.The Lord's Table
The Lord's Table is the legislative body of the Airdan Republic. This is where the real political power resides in Airdan. It is comprised of the 21 Lords and Dukes who represent the 21 fiefdoms and duchies of Airdan. Dukes hold the most senior positions in the Lord's Table and they generally rule over the most proseperous lands in the Airdan Republic. Dukes generally have the first and then final oppinion when it comes to debate on the Table floor. Their policies are almost always considered first as well. There are no more than seven Dukes at one time in the Airdan Republic in order to promote competition among the noble rulers in Airdan. A Duke may be demoted by the Lord's Tabel to a Lord if they prove to be ineffective and an effective Lord may be promoted. The titles are hereditary so a Duke may be demoted to a lord, but the future Lord may then be promoted to a Duke and pass that title to their son or daughter. The Archduke is the most senior member of the Lord's Table and, by defualt, the most powerful. The Archduke decides what will be voted on and when the voting will take place. Their vote also counts for two. The current Archduke is Archuke Roland d'Besk, a direct decentant of Lord Defender Airdil Besk. While any sitting Duke can become the Archduke, traditionall, the Archduke position is held by the Duke of Besk. However, there have been exceptions to this tradtions esspecially when a Besk becomes the Lord Defender. The Lords are the less senior members of the Lord's Table, but are by no means less powerful. There are always more lords than there are dukes and while they may represent the smaller or less proseperous regions, weild a considerable amount of power due to their shear numbers. It is possible to striped of Lordship, but it is extremely rare and has only happened once in the history of the Airdan Republic. That being said, it is possible for a commoner to be granted a Lordship, but that is also extrememly rare and has also only happened once. The Lord's Table spend every other month starting with Hordus debating legislation so as to allow time for the nobles to adequatley govern their fiefdoms and duchies. Major Debates occur once a season where all legislation that has been debated must either be rejected or enacted. The Lord Defender presides over these sessions. Minor Debates are the normal sessions that occur througought the year and are presided over by the Archduke. While debated legislation can be enacted or rejected during these sessions, this time is usually reserved for verbal debates and negotiations. However, the Archduke has the power to call a debate or end a debate at any time. The current roster of the Lord's Table- Archduke Roland d'Besk
- Duke Archibald d'Forlorna
- Duke Bilan d'Singorn
- Duchess Sorna d'Wyrvian
- Duke Corge d'Garbo
- Lord Perci l'Minarn
- Lord Dane l'Marten
- Lady Vaaneth l'Zendosi
- Lord Kentor l'Sondreu
- Lady Xeneth l'Dronga
- Lord Corent l'Vern
- Lord Livov l'Argnol
- Lord Jovim l'Xandro
- Lord Hardim l'Montro
- Lady Donia l'Marz
- Lady Kivlia l'Poole
- Lord Morg l'Sarn
- Lord Simal l'Fardorth
- Lord Ardel l'Peer
- Lady Yanya l'Smazk
- Lord Quin l'Zmitz
Lord Defender of the Airdan Republic
Lord Defenders serve for an unlimited number of 10 year terms and the vote must be unanimously for or against. Prospective Lord Defenders must be nominated by a member of the Lord's Table who are of no blood relation. Nominations are only allowed during Major Debates of the Lord's Table where every member is present. Once a nomination is made, the Debate cannot end until there is a unanimous concensus to either elevate or reject the nominee. The current Lord Defender Novil l'Sondreu's nomination debate was the longest debate in history lasting twelve days. Consequently, Novil l'Sondreu is the most controversial Lord Defender in Airdan Republic history. His first two years have been largley peaceful; however, recent encroachment by the Albion Empire has lead many to believe a war with Albion is imminent. The Lord Defender can theoretically be any Airdianian noble or common who exhibits military and political skill to the highest standard. However, it is more common that a member of the Lord's Table or a family member of one of the Lord's Table is elected to be the Lord Defender. There are exceptions as one of the most famous Lord Defenders was Killian Genoisi, a commoner from the slums of Cobury. However, the current Lord Defender is from one of the lower Lord's houses. A wartime Defender is expected to call standing noble armies to arms and lead them in defense of the country. Although the nobles are not oblidged to send their malitias. They are also expected to oversea all aspects of the government to ensure the country is properly defended. A peacetime Defender is usually more of a politician than a military Defender whose chief responsibility is to preside over Major Debates in the Lord's Table and directs government policies withoug having any real power to enact it. The Lord Defender is also the chief diplomatic officer aborad and is expected to travel to foreign nations to garner diplomatic favor. Domestically, the Lord Defender is expected to frequently take four national tours per year in order to visit different areas of the Airdan Republic and gage public opinion that will ultimatley influence the Lord Defender's recomendations to the Lord's Table.Culture
Airdan culture adopts a duality of stoicism and convivial mentality. Airdanians are committed to the prepardness and believe enduiring hardship is the best form of preparing for the unexpected. Yet, Airdanians are friendly and jovial and are known for their openess. They are also known to be a very proud people.
Due to the warmer climate, Airdanians wear loose fitting clothes and have adopted the excentric colors of the Slanterian traders. Their food is known for its flavor and spices. Airdanian spiced wine is their most popular commodity.
Demography and Population
- 75% | Human
- 15% | Half-Elf
- 7% | Elf
- 3% | other
Military
The Airdan Republic's society is heavily based around thier military. However, unlike Albion, who boasts an expansive national military, the Airdan Republic relies on the individual malitias controled by Dukes and Lords. Tradtitionally, the malitias would be unified under the Lord Defender during wartime; however, the current Lord Defender pointed out that there is no efficent mechanism for the Lord Defender to unify malitias. The current system is reactionary rather than proactive and the Lords and Dukes are not obliged to send their malitias to the Lord Defender's command.
The Lord Defender, Novil l'Sondreu, recntly created an elite force entirly under his command known as the Defender's Daggers. His is usually seen accompanied by a handful of Daggers at all times and many speculate they were created to act as body guards. Officically, l'Sondreu agreed with that speculation but did not elaborate. A few members of the Lord's Table have argued the Daggers are an overeach in power, but Novil simply stated they will "thank him later."
Unofficially, the Defender's Daggers are a combination of body guards (for official purposes) and spies (for unoffical purposes). Novil personally trained all of his Daggers and secretly embeded them with some of his diplomatic missions to Albion as well as sent them on individual missions to gather infomraiton on the current affairs of Hanesia and Dobright. They report exclusivly to Novil and many are trusted friends from his days in the malitia. Novil has debated secretly informing the Lord's Table of their unoffical duties, yet he fears the Lords will overreact and call for their disbanment. He believes that would be a mistake as his Daggers have already provided him with valuable intelligence on Albion and for now, Albion remains ignorant to their true intentions. Ironically, Novil followed the same method Alboril X used when creating the Albion Whispers.
Religion
There is no official state religion; however, the majority of Airdans follow the Astral Host. The most popular god is Farend, Goddess of War and there are numerous temples dedicated to the Goddess of War. However, all of the gods are represented by at least one temple in Airdan.
Foreign Relations
The Airdan Republic has excellent relations with the Kingdom of Dobright. King Keoforoy has made frequent visits to Mel Kanen in order to enjoy the warm climate as well as solidify relations with the Lord Defender and Lord's Table.
Lord Defender Novil l'Sondreu has also smoothed over relations with the Confederacy of Hanesia after the previous Lord Defender ignored the seige of Liyan. The Airdan Republic enjoys decent relations with the Confederacy for the time being. While the Lord Defender has not promised military aid in their War with Albion, there have been rumors that the Airdan Republic has been secretly suppling the Confederacy with weapons for their army and funds to hire merceneries.
Since Albion's conquest of Liyan and the recent encroachment onto previously seceeded lands, relations with the Albion Empire have been rocky. Although Emperor Alboril X enjoys a good working relationship with the Lord Defender and Archduke. Like the King of Dobright, the Emperor and his family have made extended trips to Mel Kanen in the past. However, with the Emperor's failing health, those trips have become less frequent. Princess Gwendolyna has made most of the diplomatic tours to Mel Kanen as of late which as made the Lord Defender and Archduke nervous considering her recent military victories and successful leadership of the Whispers.
Due to Airdan's enormous coastline, the country enjoys an expansive array of international traders. Particularly from the Republic of Slanteria. Relations with Slanteria have always been friendly and continue to thrive.
Type
Geopolitical, Republic
Capital
Demonym
Airdanian
Head of State
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Comments