Arcea

Arcea, officially the Arcean National Labour Union, is a country which consists of metropolitan Arcea in Western Propastra and various overseas regions and territories. Nikea, the countries fourth largest city, is it's capitol, with other major cities being Scippia, Sudfell City, Hearth and Kingshome. A global centre of art, science and philosophy, Arcea has acted as the starting point for many movements, is a great power in global affairs and a founding member of the Union of Lanzarote.

First Empire
As such, the concept of Arcea as a nation was not thought of by the founders of Nikea, the political and cultural heart of Arcea, was founded in 0RT by Odea, the leader of the ancient Nikea Syerdawnic clan, after discovering the Librarian, an ancient eve AI. Being provided a wealth of ancient ideas and technology, his Kingdom of the Gold Coast quickly covered much of modern Syerdawn's coast by the time of his death. It would not be until 110RT that the first Empire of Arcea would form, a coalition of coastal city states ranging from modern Cournagorms to the north and modern Sudfell to the south. The first Empire was created as a means of ending piracy along the coast and ensuring safe ocean trade routes.

The Empire would collapse in approximately 700RT after a split between the Sudfellian cities and the remainder of the cities. However, by the end of the century, many of the small kingdoms and trade states were once again banding together in the name of collective defence and better protection of trade routes. This process would be accelerated by the creation of the Kingdom of Sudfell, a collection of the 23 houses of Sudfell. In 791, Sudfell invaded Syerdawn. After a series of major engagements, the alliance of Syerdawnic houses that had come to face the invaders were defeated in the Siege of Focail, forcing a surrender to the new Kingdom.

The Second Empire
Fearing further Sudfellian expansion into Syerdawn, the remaining Syerdawnic houses would combine into a single state in 801. In 802 the Rostefian houses would follow. Ultimately, in 839 the two would combine after the marriage of Prince McFindalch of Rostef and Princess Musa of Syerdawn, ensuring a balance of power against the combined Sudfellian houses. King McGennan, the first son of Musa and McFindalch, would lead the new Kingdom against the Sudfellians, managing to liberate southern Syerdawn and folding the new territory into the Kingdom of Syerdawn-Rostef.

The Kingdom of Syerdawn-Rostef would lay the foundation for the Second Empire. McGennan's successor, his son McSennan, would push the Kingdom's borders into former First Empire territory in Cournagorms under the guidance of the Librarian, with orders to find and secure as much ancient technology as possible. In alliance with its tributary cities in Cournagorms, the Kingdom would push eastward to the Dwyrain before reaching the Hokurikan Empire's eastern most borders. After a near 40 year long campaign, McSennan would reach the eastern seaboard of Propastra, founding Kisvarda in 889RT before his death.

With a trade network and allies from modern Nordvest to Orissca, McSennan's son McMor would call for the creation of the Second Empire in 914RT. Still guided by the Librarian to seize ancient artefacts and technology, he would push the Empire into Sudfell in a series of bloody wars, as well as into modern day Ghurrka. The conquests of the Second Empire would culminate in the death of the Professor, the eve of Rasman, during the Arcean-Orisscan (1241-1248RT) War. The Second Empire would also be the birth place of magnetic levitation, using it to create a rail system that stretched the empire allowing the fast and effective movement of soldiers to its various edges.

By the 1500's, the Second Empire would begin to collapse due to over extension, internal decay and decreasing support from the Librarian. Facing constant internal rebellions and economic decline, the issues would ultimately boil over in the 30 year long Tri-State Rebellion. Starting in 1572, by 1602, North and South Ghurrka, Karelia, South Arcea and Sudfell had all managed to break away from the empire. These defeats would ultimately lead to Civil War within the Empire itself, a period known as the Little Dark Age.

Dictatorship of the Merchants and the Third Empire
The Civil Wars would end in 1618, leading to a period known as the Dictatorship of the Merchants. In the chaos of Civil War, various powerful warlords as well as Sudfellian and Hoffnung Ironworks managed to gain power of disparate regions of Syerdawn and Rostef. They managed to bring peace to the region at war, hoping to make profits off the reconstruction and the later exploitation of the region's vast resources and cheap labour. The King of the Gold Coast Darius Cambyses, was made King of Syerdawn-Rostef by the various powerful private interest groups, who hoped a restored King would help hold the region together as it recovered from the Civil War.

For a century the Cambyses Kings and Queens would serve as puppets for the new and increasingly affluent merchant class, who slowly industrialised Syerdawn and Rostef. As more people began to move into the cities to work in factories however, discontent with the dictatorship of the merchants would begin to grow. King Muiredhach Cambyses would take advantage of this, managing to steal power from the merchants in 1724 in a series of brief and brutal engagements and assassinations. Promising a return to glory, and blaming the Sudfellians, Rostefians and Karelians for Syerdawn's fall from prominence, Muiredhach promised a return of the Arcean Empire. In 1739, he waged the 4th Sudfellian War. The 4 year campaign would prove to be the most deadly encounter in entire history of the continent of Propastra, with over 13 million dying before the wars conclusion in 1743. While successful in annexing Sudfell and creating a Third Empire, the damage from the war would make the new empire deeply unstable and fuel discontent throughout.

Civil War And The Republic
Following the Civil War, contradictions between the Cambyses families objectives, the states finances and public welfare began to reach a head. Now Emperor Cambyses, Muiredhach began a massive expansion of his military. This included the first modern Airfortress class, the Intrepid. This further strained the situation, as the new class of airships made the already massive Imperial Air Force entirely outdated, requiring a massive program to replace existing forces. By the eve of the Arcean Civil War in 1760, the Third Empire had the world's largest and most modern air force, as well as the most powerful standing army. Muiredhach Cambyses had managed to do all of this while keeping an unstable state in order by regularly paying off strikers and constant appeals to Nationalism.

In 1761, Rordan Cambyses succeeded his father, becoming the 2nd Emperor of the Third Empire. He began to make preparations to take advantage of his father's military. But, was unwilling to negotiate with the same disgruntled forces that his father had, culminating in the arrest of popular radio personality and professor Fintan Faucher and the execution of many of his supporters. Quickly, the situation began to worsen.

Fylk, a prominent organizer in Rostef called together democratic and workers rights activists a week later. Meeting in apartment block in the working class neighborhood of Addison in Kingshome. After only a single evening of deliberation, the Addison Declaration would mark the beginning of the Arcean Civil War. The Rostefian Workers Society (RWS) declared its independence from the Third Empire, with Kingshome as its capital. The Rostefian Yeomanry, sent to put down the rebellion by Prince of Rostef Meryn Edern, instead flocked to Fylk's banner. The RWS then saw its ranks filled by miners from the country side who soon began to flood into Kingshome.

The Third Empire committed troops to uproot Fylk's upstart rebellion. The Aequalists would move south to meet the Imperial Army. In their attempt to cross the Stien Bridge across the river Tay River, the imperial troops were ambushed. Not prepared for or expecting open armed resistance, they were forced back south of the river. With the imperial army defeated on home soil, the emperors enemies began to circle. Before the end of the year, the Quill movement in Syerdawn, Rose Fanon's Red Wood Aeuqlists, alongside Devran Von Lark's Free Prince movement in Sudfell, were in open rebellion against the Third Empire.

Faucher's Republic
Despite Arcea rapidly deteriorating into a failed state, the UHR refused to intervene to support Rordan Cambyses militarily (they would materialry however). Only a handful of state troops volunteered by Sebring would be sent. None the less, Fylk's Rostefian Aequalist Society would expand its control over the region, while the ever growing Quill-RWS Alliance gained increasing support from nationalists across the country. In Sudfell, Red Wood Aeuqualists negotiated a cease fire with the Free Prince movement, forcing loyalist forces to withdraw from the region. By 1765, it became increasingly clear that the Empire was nearing defeat. Faucher and Fylk soon found themselves at each others throats.

In 1768, the royal family and the remainder of the Imperial Army fled the continent. A temporary government was formed by Faucher and the Quills and representatives from other major parties in the revolution. Acard, Fylk, and Rose Fanon, were notably excluded. A constitutional convention being held between the various competing members of the Quill-RWS Alliance. However, even before the convention was concluded, the RWS and Red Wood Aeuqualists became aware of the fact they would not see their revolutionaries aims met. Despite having been rivals within the Aeuqlist movement prior to the Civil War, Acard managed to bring Fylk and Rose Fanon together. The day prior to the finalization of Faucher's constituion, the Arcean National Labour Union was formed, based on the model of the HNG in the former UHR.

With the HNG being known for its violent tactics in the UHR, Faucher hoped to eliminate the organization by killing Fylk and Fanon. Despite the protestation of Acard, Fylk refused to fell. For the majority of 1769, Faucher would see his nascent army, alongside the Sudfellian Free Prince's, hunt through Rostef for the remaining Aeuqlist leader. Despite most of his RWS army having demobolized, Fylk managed to evade capture for almost a year. However, at the small town of Crannfige, Rostef, Fylk was finally sorrounded and killed. This would not be the end of the ANLU. Acard and Fanon called upon those who supported Fylk to take up arms one last time. Despite efforts to block their return, ANLU supporters in the air force facilitated the duos return. In spring 1770, Acard and Rose Fanon marched into Nikea at the head of a force of a half million farmers, workers, and Civil War veterans. Faucher and his supporters were forced to flee, their republic lasting less than a year.

Post Civil-War
Arcea would enter the world after the Revolution still greatly weakened by years of infighting. The ANLU took on the task of forming the new state. Instead of having a convetion, the ANLU simply took on administration through its existing channels of unions, labour federations, and community organisations. Various other stake holders joined the ANLU after, ranging from medical societies to charities. This system has largely continued in Arcea.

The People's Stadium emerged shortly after this initial period, providing a forum to better facilitate inter organizational planning. The ANLU also held elections to create 'spokespeople' positions to present this new experimental system of governance to the world. Acard would be made Executive Administrator, a new position for the chief spokesperson. Rose Fanon would become the Government Administrator, the spokesperson for the stadium.

Following Acard's administration, Arcea would continue to rebuild, and by the beginning of the Great War, was forming into a major power. After the collapse of the UHR, hesitations about constructing airships in Arcea's magnalocks melted away in the urgency of the moment. Through redistribution by the Arcean National Labour Union, this influx of investment spread throughout the country and elevated much of the country still struggling with the ramification of the Civil War. With massive amounts of global wealth pouring into Arcea and its cooperatives, the ANLU left the Great War one of the worlds foremost superpowers.

Organisation
Arcea is a Cooperativist State. A system by which a series of federations and councils administer the country. Governance can be best considered a series of rings. At the center is the Housing Cooperative and Labour Cooperative. The two are direct democracies that work in tandem as small councils that oversee affairs that most directly impact peoples lives. Housing cooperatives handle everything ensuring their members have enough toothpaste to how many cars will be afforded to the cooperatives members. Labour Cooperatives plan what will be needed to fulfill the orders of housing cooperatives, and produce those goods. Labour cooperatives include every form of work, ranging from the construction of children's toys to trains. The two work in tandem, ensuring the expansion of a Labour Cooperative doesn't, for example, cause environmental damage to the community.

Above them are City Councils. City councils oversee the interplay between various labour cooperatives within a city. They also represent a towns collective labour cooperatives to higher levels. City Councils are elected, with Cheif Administrators/City Administrators and City Representatives being elected by popular vote.

Above the City Councils are National Unions. Their are six National Unions in Arcea, Rostef, Syerdawn, Moher, Cosscar, Sudfell, and Overseas Territories. National councils oversee the interplay between City Councils within their jurisdiction. The National Administrator and National Representatives are all elected by popular vote.

At the highest level is the Arcean National Labour Union. This consists of the People's Stadium and the Executive Administration. The People's Stadium in Nikea has over 600 membrs. Of those 600, 10 are chosen to be members of the War Council, which oversees classified information. Executive Administration, as it was in the time of Acard and Rose Fanon, primarily meant to act as a "spokesperson for the Arcean experiment on the international stage." That said, the ability of the Executive Administrator to drive national conversation, and the Government Administrator to direct the Stadium policy agenda has resulted in the Executive Administration being almost a branch in on itself alongside the Stadium.

At all levels are 'Wings', official affiliations that represent the diversity of opinion within Arcea. Pragmatists, Cooperativists, and Sanstyrans make the largest wings, with most people placing themselves within one of the three wings.

Culture
Wickets and autoracing are the two most popular sports in Arcea, the former remaining incredibly popular as a participatory sport, the latter as a spectator sport. Most major Arcean cities maintain professional wickets team, with the teams being owned by the cities they play in. Two rounds of the International Rally Cross Championship are held in Arcea, (Antikori, Nikea).

Arcea is famous for its big band style popular music, combing traditional folk tunes with large orchestrations. Many internationally famous concert halls were built in Arcea immediately following the Civil War. To match, an extensive film industry also came from this period.

Even after the Arcean Revolution, Nikea remains the home of the Alterian religion. Alterianism remains the most prominent religion in Arcea despite the countries increasingly diverse and cosmopolitan population.

Demographics
Arcea is a diverse country featuring a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, national origins and religious denominations. Rather famously, Acard went as far to say as 'their is no such thing as an Arcean' in describing the countries lack of a sizeable majority ethnic group. The largest groups are the Syerdawnians, followed by Sudfellians, Rostefians and Ghurrkans, with Enshawdians, Cournagormians, and Hoffnungians, all of which are well represented. However, most residents of Arcea simply refer to themselves as Arcean. Arcea also has the most mixed race marriages of any nation on Unus Solum, constituting over 30% of all relationships. The Arcean Government strives to provide services in all languages present in the Republic, however, this objective can sometimes be difficult to achieve.

Military
Arcean Defense is handled by the Foreign Administration, with overall strategy and policy being set by the War Council of the People's Stadium. All wars and other diplomatic actions involving the use of military force require a majority of the War Council's support. How these actions are carried out is left to the Foreign Administration.

The largest branch of the military are the National Militias, consisting of militias from across Arcea. National Militias vote for officers and units must vote to be deployed if they are to see action outside of Arcea borders. The strategy and equipment of the units are handled by the Arcean Revolutionary Vanguard.

The Arcean Revolutionary Vanguard (ARVan), is the smallest branch of the Arcean military. It's primarily composed of the Campaigner Corps, which acts as countries permanent professional expeditionary force. Unlike the National Militias, the ARVan and the Campaigner Corps are built in the traditional style, with officers generally coming from the Army College of Botwood or being promoted from the lower ranks on merit. When National Militia forces vote to be deployed, or if Arcea is invaded, they are folded into the Campaigner Corps.

Larger than the ARVan is the Arcean Revolutionary Air Force (ARAF). Tasked with air defence and power projection, it controls radar stations, airships and light fighters as well as the Aerorifles. Unlike the ARVan, the ARAF can operate largely independently of the two other branches. It is, however, under the same overall high command as the ARVan. The ARAF has facilities across Unus Solum and on every continent and within a days flight of every island, making the Foreign Administrations preferred form of power projection.