Arcadian Altanate

Arcadia (Arcadian: Arqadia [arˈkaːdja]), officially the Sublime Arcadian Altanate (Arcadian: Altanaša Arqadiava Čedaxa), is a nation located on the northeastern portion of the continent of Koganon. It is a theocratic semi-constitutional parliamentary monarchy, led by a religious and political leader called an Altan. The capital is the holy city of Wahat Almarjan. The Altanate is the center of the holy Mufijo faith, with all of its current followers living within the Altanate's territory. The divine mission of the Altanate is to befriend and peacefully convert Alathrans to the faith of Mufijo, although it rarely undertakes many efforts to fulfill this sacred goal.

Etymology
The name 'Arcadia' comes from the Kogongi word 'Arkhat' meaning 'land that has sun on both sides' due to how the sun could be seen rising and setting on the ocean from the peninsula. From there the word was picked up by Kogongi fisher men who used it to describe the peninsula, a hot spot for fishermen from all over the surrounding area to rest, causing the word to interchange with other cultures to a point where it eventually came to be pronounced as 'Arkada' and it came to mean 'view of the rising and setting sun'. Once settlement came to 'Arkada', the people of nearby Kais Kogong began to refer to the area as 'Arcadia' or 'land of the rising and setting sun'.

Pre-Arcadian History
The territory of Arcadia was mainly inhabited by the Kogongi People before the arrival of the Altan. The Arcadian Peninsula and Atolia Island were mainly used by fishermen as a resting ground, it has also been said that the area was popular amongst Kogongi younglings looking for a place to swim. The land around Kais Kogong, Gint, and Yoko was and is still known as the Cotona Forests, a sacred place for the Kogongi people. The mountains of Bal Duran wwre also an important religious site to the Kogongi. To the south, the harsh snowy lands of southern Kogongu Province and Icesteel Province did not have much major habitation, mainly serving as a barrier between Southern and Northern Koganon.

Establishing Wahat Almarjan
Arcadia itself began originally with it's capital city: Wahat Almarjan. The town formed in early April of 2021 as apart of Kogongu and was largely stagnant in terms of development, never going far beyond the humble home and farm of its founder, Pitru Punstraia (IAmTheSenate13), there was also another resident known as Pmak who was homeless. Senate had traveled Alathra in search of a permanent home, after being forced to leave his former home realm of Yuvantiya for his own safety and survival. Senate eventually met the Kogongi of the burgeoning nation of Kogongu, who offered him a home on the Arcadian Peninsula, a tract of land north of Kogongu's capital Kais Kogong. During this first meeting, Senate made the acquaintance of the druid Vasya and the builder Game Glider SKG, with the latter helping Senate establish and begin the preliminary constructions of the Great Mosque of Jiba the Wise. These plans stalled however, and Senate soon went into the previously mentioned life of recluse, living alone on his small farm at the tip of the peninsula.

Establishment of the Altanate
After roughly 2 months of inactivity as well as some internal down falls within Kogongu, Game Glider SKG opted to join Wahat Almarjan in order to help develop it and form a new nation alongside Senate and Pmak. The three residents would all be visited in their dreams by one of the three gods of the Mufijo Faith, Senate by Afi - God of the Sun, Pmak by Jorb - God of the Moon, and Glider by Xamu - God of the Land. The gods bestowed the divine title of Mumba upon them, and tasked them to found a great nation from which to preach and spread the Mufijo faith. This nation would come to be known as Arcadia, and the oldest follower out of the three, Senate, would be chosen to lead it as its Altan (Akin to a Caliph or Prince-Bishop).

Growth of the Nation
From there, the three began to build up their nation and develop their capital city. They also began to build up better gear so that they could more easily build structures and defend themselves. On August 11, 2021, Lopov (Ausgint), a native Kogongi from the Cotona Forests south of Wahat, joined the Altanate after founding his own settlement known as Gint. From then on, he would become a wealthy, well-equipped, and influential resident of Arcadia, who donated much of his wealth to the nation to help it grow. Around the time of August 15th, after roughly a week of good relations, Atolia Island opted to join the Altanate and became the growing nation's third city. Atolia would go on to become the industrial heartland of the nation, producing stacks upon stacks of various goods that it would sell in its widely used general store, allowing the residents there to become considerably rich. The islanders would also go on to build a number of different notable structures including the Tower of Atolia, the Atolian Underwater Market, as well as the Trans-Atolian-Wahati tunnel which was a joint effort between the two towns. The addition of new people and towns allowed for a further consolidation of resources for construction and the military. Unfortunately, the military would need these resources, as tensions began to reach a breaking point just after the annexation of Atolia on the 15th of August.

Great Alathran War
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Post War Period
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Annexation of Kogongu
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Population Boom and Modern Day
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Geography
Much of Arcadia is located on the aptly titled Arcadian Peninsula, with small area in the southern forests of Cotona. The peninsula itself could be described as a barren and flat coastal grassland with small caves found in the south along with a handful of small ponds. The peninsula is also surronded by several coral reefs, from which Wahat Almarjan takes its name. The land possessed by the Altanate in the Kogongi forests are hilly with tough rock found only a few feet below the surface as well as a few small ponds. East of the Arcadian Peninsula is the island of Atolia, another territory of the Altanate. It is a flat, grassy, and sandy island surrounded by many reefs, similar to the Arcadian Peninsula.

Ecology
Little plant life besides small shrubs, tall grass, Cacti, and a very small amount of oak trees are truly native to the Arcadian peninsula. Many species were brought in from other lands nearby such as Gaushan, where Acacia saplings were found and then brought back where they would go on to be a very popular plant amongst the people of Wahat Almarjan. Bamboo was also imported, however; it is not known from where it came but scholars believe it may have come from the jungles of nearby Prospit. A number of different flowers can also be found, it is believed the vast majority of them are not native besides the rose bushes and oxeye Daisies. In the South, the land is dotted by mainly dark oak trees, mushroom trees, and a few Birch trees, all of which are connected to a larger forest within the borders of Kogongu. The fauna of modern day Arcadia is quite diverse but this is mostly thanks to creatures being imported from other lands. It is believed that the only animals that originally inhabited the peninsula were sheep, chickens, and horses. Cows and pigs can now be found roaming around Arcadian lands and have managed to fit in well with the various species native to the area.

Government
The Arcadian Altanate has a complex political history. It has had three major forms of governance in its tenure of sovereignty, which scholars have divided into several eras.

Mumbocratic Era (late July - early September 2021)
Arcadia was originally an oligarchic and absolute monarchy under the Altan and his first two subjects: the Mumbas. The Mumbocratic Era is characterized by several features, chief among them being the lack of democratic institutions due to the small population in the Altanate. Other features of this era included the warlike nature of the Altanate; most clearly shown in its short participation in the Great Alathran War, an infrastructure and land area deficiency, and a heavy focus on transcribing religious texts.

Senatorial Era (September 2021)
In September of 2021, demands for democratization from Mumba/High Ambassador Glider and the growing population of the Altanate led to the first political reforms since the founding of the Arcadia. Over the course of the month, a group of prominent citizens from towns all over the Altanate were appointed by the Altan as the first democratic institution in Arcadia's history: the Holy Senate. The Holy Senate was tasked with creating bills, debating and discussing, and ultimately voting on whether to approve the motion/bill. The Altan had his powers drastically diminished, although he still remained as the executive and had the power to make alliances, represent the nation abroad, and veto laws sent to him by the Senate. The senate could then override this veto if they saw fit with a 3/4 majority.

Provincial Era (October 2021-)
This first Senate, however, proved to be quite bloated and inefficient, prompting an administrative and governmental reform in late September - early October. Arcadia became divided into several provinces, each of which would elect one senator to represent them in the Holy Senate. The Senate would retain many of its previous powers, but would also have the ability to elect a prime minister. This prime minister would serve as a secondary executive, indirectly elected by the people. The prime minister originally served for a term of only two weeks, but upon the announcement of the election of the Second Session of the Holy Senate on October 11, 2021, the Altan declared that the next session of the Senate would have a duration of 1 month. The first elections to this new, more efficient Senate took place in early October. In a high-stakes senate vote of 2-1, leader of the Arcadian Reform Party, ClanofwadaC30, became the first Prime Minister of Arcadia.

The Council of Electors
Apart from the Senate, the Altan has also created the Council of Electors, a tradition originating from his native Punstraia Clan used to elect a new Sifan (leader of the Punstraia). The electors must each be of Mufijo Faith and be a member of the Punstraia Clan. The Altan adopts any electors on the council into the Punstraia, thus allowing them to vote for the next Sifan of Clan Punstraia, and thus Altan of Arcadia, upon the death or dethroning of the current leader.

Law
The Arcadian Altanate currently has no official set of laws and rules, but a constitution is currently in the first phases of being written,

Early Diplomacy
The Arcadian Altanate was originally quite isolationist, holding a policy of no diplomatic relations upon its founding. In the coming months after her founding, however, Arcadia would come to abandon this foolish policy and establish strong ties with several nations. The Altan appointed trusted Mumba and old friend Game Glider to the position of High Ambassador, a crucial diplomatic position that Glider has held to this day. The first diplomatic agreement was reached with Atolia Island in late-July, and the international relations of the Altanate would only multiply from there.

The Great Alathran War
As tensions began to increase across Alathra in mid-August, Arcadia met with their southern neighbor Lydoneia to address the perceived threats of Acqeundavia and Elyria. Soon after, on August 18, 2021, the Altanate entered into a defensive and economic agreement with Pyrrhia and the Fossores Republic respectively. The next day, August 19th, saw Arcadia join the Altathran Entente, a coalition of six nations committed to containing Elyria. The Altanate also issued its first declaration of war on this day, together with all the members of the Alathran Entente, against Elyria, beginning the Great Alathran War. The conflict went poorly for Arcadia, its forces along with the rest of the Entente were decimated on the first day of battle, August 20th. Negotiations were swiftly opened with Elyria, with the kings of Peachfield providing generous terms in form of moderate reparations and the return of none of the armor lost in the war. While her allies in the Fossores Republic, Pyrrhia, the Kingdoms of Arith, and the Federation of Arith all collapsed or became dormant, Arcadia pulled through.

Post War and Modern Developments
Arcadia's annexation of Kogongu was a major factor in the diplomatic rise of Arcadia, as the nation has become better known amongst the people of Alathra, and attracted allies old and new. Lydoneia stayed a firm ally of Arcadia, while relations with Elyria were repaired. The Lethonians have agreed to protect Arcadia if any nation were to attack the nation's holdings on Koganon, providing a powerful defensive ally on Arcadia's home contienent. In mid-September, an alliance was agreed upon between Arcadia and the recently reestablished U.S.A, specifically in response to the Aemsa Crisis. In early October, during his term as the first Prime Minister of Arcadia, ClanofwadaC30, appointed the first official diplomats other than Game Glider, including Lopov of Gint, who secured the Altanate a mutual defense pact with the powerful Kingdom of Encavia, and Haij Tumal, who helped mediate and reason with King Theodmer of Estea during the Styx Crisis.

Trade Relations
In the modern day, Arcadia has attempted good relations in as many nations as possible, and continue to exercise their mercantile spirit to do so. Arcadians originally mainly took part in extensive trade with Lydoneia by supplying them with quartz and other goods. While this trade with Lydoneia is still very much present, Arcadia now trades with nearly every nation in Alathra, achieving a long time dream of the Altan to create a mercantile hub.

Languages
For most of its history, the Arcadian Peninsula was devoid of any permanent settlement, but was frequently visited by Kogongi fishermen, speaking the Kogongi language. However, when the Altan arrived, and founded Wahat, he brought with him the entirely foreign tongue of Arcadian. Although the Altan actually spoke Ddazan, a dialect of another larger language whose name has since been forgotten, the form the Altan speaks was renamed Arcadian, corresponding to the peninsula on which the Altan first settled and the Altanate began. Arcadian acts as the religious lingua franca that crosses the different cultures and languages of the Mufijo faithful. All signage, religious services, and media must be printed in Arcadian. Kogongi is used heavily by the Kogongi people residing in Arcadia, but was originally not a recognized language of the Altanate. However, after requests by the Kogongi for more linguistic rights, the Altan allowed for the language to become nationally recongnized. Upon the request of King-Under-The-Mountain Raistron, Dwarvish was also declared a national language after the influx of Dwarves to the city of Bal Duran.

A Sample Sentence of Arcadian:

English: I was going to cook the food, but we don’t have any coal for the fire.

Arcadian: Ri pižanattó, pesa poero aq ǧu pozanoša.

Towns

 * Wahat Almarjan
 * Gint
 * Atolia
 * Kais Kogong
 * Bal Duran
 * Spadecrown
 * Anchridge
 * Kais Jerriko
 * Kais Termina
 * Winterhallow
 * Among Us Town (Also known as Frost Walker or Bunger)
 * Toscurnama
 * Yoko