The Valdreach Valor Rebellion

Religious Coup
Due to overwhelming displeasure within certain parts of the Valdreach Imperial Republic, citizens from the provinces of Aezenfjord, Tvear, and Falkenland plotted a religious coup against Keizerina Viomelia. While all of the provinces in the VIR were involved in the coup, none of the outer territories were informed or participated. When Viomelia learned of the coup, she preemptively abdicated the throne on October 25th, 2020. The religious zealots then took control of the government and instated Mer as God-Empress of the VIR. After her abdication, Viomelia also declaimed all of Aezenfjord, the capital of the VIR, forcing the zealots to seek the financial aid of their neighbors, New-Interland, to refound the capital.

Constitutional Convention
As her first action as God-Empress, Mer convened an emergency meeting of the Circle of Speakers to discuss modifying the Constitution. During the convention, motions were passed that


 * allowed the executive to assume emergency powers during emergencies without asking the Circle of Speakers
 * created a new judiciary controlled by priests from the Imperial Temple
 * outlawed offering religious services in provinces without approval from the Imperial Temple
 * outlawed animal sacrifice in provinces
 * required provincial religions to be incorporated into the Imperial Temple

along with other minor changes.

Reaction
The coup was met with international approval but much speculation about the internal stability of the VIR.

Within the VIR, the majority of the population within the three Provinces - Aezenfjord, Tvear, and Falkenland - approved. However, many of the Territories expressed uncertainty or disapproval with the coup, with several including Reyllea and Posopotamia mentioning the possibility of independence. Several Territories also opposed some of the Constitutional amendments, but such opposition meant little because the three Provinces held a supermajority of votes in the Circle of Speakers.

Robbery of Viomelia
Following Viomelia's abdication and the crowning of God-Empress Mer, there was a coronation at The Last Bastion for Harbardr, the new Emperor of Yimmu-Audal, who were allies of the VIR. Many members of the VIR were present at the coronation, including the recently deposed Viomelia and several members of the coup.

At the ceremony, it is reported that Viomelia tried to hit SirMisterPanda and Starlorde (ringleaders of the coup) with her fist, even though she knew PvP was off. This may have been done jokingly or in an expression of anger over the coup. SirMisterPanda, who was not wearing armor at the time, assumed Viomelia was trying to kill him. In the throne room of The Last Bastion, surrounded by witnesses from other countries, SirMisterPanada and Starlorde attacked Viomelia and murdered her. It's unclear how this was possible with PvP being disabled. Additionally, Viomelia did not create an Angel Chest on death, but instead "exploded like a pinata", according to SirMisterPanda, her items flying everywhere. Viomelia was unable to recover most of these items. It's unclear how much was stolen by members of other countries and how much was destroyed by ClearLag.

Following the incident, God-Empress Mer worked with Viomelia to seek retribution from SirMisterPanda and recover some of her items. But the incident soured opinions of the coup with the VIR nonetheless.

Independence Movements
As a result of the coup, several territories considered independence.

The Kingdom of Reyllea, which was in the process of migrating to a more distant location from the VIR, publicly mentioned the possibility but did not follow through.

Several days after the Robbery of Viomelia, Posopotamia declared independence, citing their own disapproval of the coup and the religious reforms, as well as the toxic political environment within the VIR following the coup, as a few of their reasons for seceding. The leaders of the VIR chose to let them secede peacefully and established friendly relations.

The day after the coup, Viodoxa strongly considered independence after a few citizens of Bardonia murdered the city's prized race horses. The VIR national government refused to immediately declare war on Bardonia as Viodoxa requested, so Viodoxa threatened to secede and declare war alone. The diplomatic situation eventually calmed down and Viodoxa's desired for independence was extinguished.

Government Reform
A week after the coup, the government of VIR was reformed yet again, this time removing the office of President and centralizing executive power under the God-Empress. Viomelia was declared the heir to Mer 's throne. This move was widely seen as reconciliation between the coup and the old Monarchy and placed Viomelia back into the power structure of VIR with the promise of eventually rising to the throne again.