Commonwealth of Blackthorn

The Commonwealth of Blackthorn
The Commonwealth of Blackthorn; Hethikferal sav Zethortal
Banner	Coat of arms
	Motto: "The best is yet to come"; "Blackthorn on top!" (unofficial)
	Anthem: "Nu Estil"
Capital	Zethortal
Official languages	Valtaran, Alathran
Ethnic groups	Valtaran, Guldhirian, Leithlisi, Kyriskan, Azurian
Demonym	Blackthorian
Government	Republican Dictatorship
Establishment
Area
Population
Gini	81.532; very high
Currency	Blackthorn Dollar (BTD)

The Commonwealth of Blackthorn (Valtaran: Hethikferal sav Zethortal), commonly referred to as The Commonwealth or simply Blackthorn, is a nation on the continent of Ceyreto. The Commonwealth is ruled by Emilia Rivers as its Lady Protector, Ministress and de-facto dictator. The Commonwealth formerly claimed Blackthorn as their official capital city, this was changed in 8 AC to the Commonwealth's seat of government, Zethortal.

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

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.

In 6 AC, every town in the Commonwealth except Zethortal briefly seceded, joining onto the short-lived Rauthwald Empire, formed from the Kingdom of Guldhir. Once the Rauthwald Empire collapsed, however, the many towns would either collapse or rejoin the Commonwealth.

Following the shattering, the Commonwealth would experience a period of unprescedented growth, growing from just Zethortal in 6 AC to controlling nearly 2/3 of the continent of Ceyreto by the end of 8 AC.

Geography

The Commonwealth is anchored around Silver Lake, also known as Lake Kyriska, the largest freshwater body on Ceyreto. The nation's capital, Zethortal, lies on its shores, alongside other significant settlements like Fort Khriom, New Pangolias, and Faewood. However, the Commonwealth's reach extends far beyond the lake’s immediate surroundings.

To the north, the landscape is largely desolate, dotted with the ruins of once-thriving cities such as Guldhir, Mighgalir, and Thaambaile, remnants of a bygone era. The only surviving town in this otherwise barren region is Scarred Hallow, strategically positioned to guard the Northern Thorn River and maintain a critical connection between the Commonwealth and the Valtaran Sea.

In the east, separated from the heartland by the imposing Kariss Mountains, the Commonwealth stretches to the North Ocean. Here, the coastal city of Leithlis stands as a major trading hub, linking the Commonwealth with other continents and playing a key role in maritime commerce and diplomatic relations.

The southern region of the Commonwealth, characterized by vast moorlands, reaches all the way to the open ocean. The southernmost settlement, Azuria, guarding the Southern Thorn River, which provides the primary maritime access to Silver Lake. This region’s strategic importance cannot be overstated, as it controls the main passage for ships entering and exiting the Commonwealth's inland waterways.

Throughout the Commonwealth, the climate is consistently mildly cold, a result of its distance from the tempering influence of southern Ceyreto’s oceanic currents. This gives the region a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers, shaping both its natural environment and the lifestyles of its inhabitants.

Politics

Originally, the Commonwealth was governed by the Commonwealth Council, which had its roots in the Blackthorn Interim Council—a temporary body established to fill the power vacuum left by Lord Gem Valtara during the turbulent Ceyreto-Zydel conflict. The Interim Council aimed to maintain stability and governance during Valtara's absence.

However, in 8 AC, the Commonwealth Council was abolished. It was replaced by a republican dictatorship under Emilia Rivers, the former Foreign Minister of the Triumvirate of Ceyreto and the Mayor of Zethortal. Emilia assumed power amidst rising tensions and instability, consolidating authority under her leadership.

By 12 AC, the Commonwealth had further transformed into a Semi-Parliamentary Dictatorship, with Emilia still at its helm. Though the system maintained some elements of parliamentary governance, Emilia Rivers exercised near-complete control, relying on a small, handpicked council of advisors to manage the day-to-day affairs of the Commonwealth.

While these key advisors are responsible for most administrative decisions, the Commonwealth maintains a level of civic engagement through the Civic Forum. This forum acts as a secondary council, composed of town mayors and local leaders. The Civic Forum is a venue for proposing policy suggestions, seeking assistance, and communicating updates on regional matters. It also serves as a platform where concerns and issues are raised, debated, and addressed within the broader Commonwealth.

Population & Former Cities

The population of the Commonwealth is mostly situated around the Silver Lake, with areas further out being more and more sparse. As of October 7th, 19 AC, the largest city in the Commonwealth is Zethortal & Leithlis, followed by Fort Khirom. The total population of the Commonwealth is 138.

Former Cities of Commonwealth
City Name	Pop.	City Names
Zethortal	31	Taobh Locha	Bjornvik
Leithlis	31	Adventurer's Guild	Anishavokia
Fort Khirom	20	Vadimskyi	Hillside
Scarred Hallow	18	Golden Dawn	Alzamor
Faewood	16	Mythosia	Estuya
Azuria	15	Craghelm	Wrensbath
New Pangolias	4	Mothernest	Arkstadt
Rukia	1	Guildhir	Alblue
Talamh Salguis	1	Museum of Ceyreto	Marauder's Cay
Eberwood	1	Lucredia	Ironclaw Tribe
		Siylverpiek	Mighgalir

Census Data

The Agency responsible for the collection and publication of census data within the Commonwealth is the Office of Development & National Statistics.