Commonwealth of Blackthorn

The Commonwealth of Blackthorn (Valtaran: Hethikferal sav Zethortal), commonly referred to as The Commonwealth or simply Blackthorn, is a constituent country in the Triumvirate of Ceyreto, and is situated on the island of Valtara, located off the coast of the continent of Ceyreto. The Commonwealth is ruled by the Blackthorn Interim Council. The council claims Blackthorn as its official capital city, but operates out of the city of Zethortal due to Blackthorn's occupation by Zydel.

Toponymy
The Commonwealth takes its name from its capital city, Blackthorn. The city's name derives from its initial form of defence, a large network of decaying rose bushes.

History
See: History of Blackthorn

The city of Blackthorn was founded in 254 BCW by King Hadas I. Its first walls were built in 156 BCW out of wood and later replaced with stone in 103 BCW. The castle was constructed in 249 BCW to accomodate King Hadas I and his family.

The city served as the main stronghold of the Loyalists during the Valtaran Civil War, and served as the main target of the Ceyreto-Zydel war.

After the exiling of Lord Gem Valtara, the city's former leader, an Interim Council was set up to take his place. The council would later renounce all loyalty to the Valtaran monarchy.

Following defeat against Zydel, the people of the Ceyretan cities of Blackthorn and Tìrean Ùra migrated eastwards to escape the wrath of their new Zydel occupiers. This led them to settling their current location by the Silver Lake. Shortly after arrival, the people of Zethortal and Taobh Locha (made up of former Tìrean Ùra citizens) would officially unify into the Commonwealth, later admitting the towns of Fort Khirom, Faewood, and Vadimsky into the union.

Geography
The Commonwealth is entirely around the Silver Lake (or Lake Kyriska as it's also known). The climate throughout The Commonwealth is considered mildly cold, lacking the oceanic currents of the southern Ceyreto seas. Officially, it is classified as having a humid continental climate.

Politics
The Commonwealth is run by the Commonwealth Council. The council was initially formed out of the Blackthorn Interim Council, a council created to act in the absence of Lord Gem Valtara during the Ceyreto-Zydel conflict. Since the nation's formation and the admission of the Kyriskan lands into the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Council has since become a mix of leadership of Zethortal, Taobh Locha and Fort Khirom.

The council is officially led by Emilia Rivers, the mayor of Zethortal and former Foreign Minister of the Triumvirate of Ceyreto.