Adashira Nikuko

Adashira Nikuko, more commonly known as Adashira, is a nation in southern Alteniquia. For the most part, it is culturally and aesthetically inspired by East Asia, but features several other cultures and build styles as well. Adashira is the successor state to the Kingdom of Adavia.

Birth of Adashira
Adashira’s predecessor, The Kingdom of Adavia, was viewed throughout its lifespan as a union of diverse cultures who had banded together to survive. While this was technically an accurate description of the nation, many felt it was disrespectful towards the predominant Najo culture that historically had a much larger influence in that region than the others.

The Najo majority of the Kingdom, particularly the influential Kaeru family, had felt this way for a while, but waited for the right opportunity to act on their concerns. This opportunity came when the Empire of Astyllea, which Adavia had been a part of, collapsed shortly after Adavia’s declaration of independence.

Anrem Talos, though he had been a very respected leader and one of the longest-reigning monarchs in Rathnir's history, was judged unfit to rule due to his chronic inactivity. Talos was removed constitutionally and replaced by Intant Kaeru after an election was held.

Adavia's government structure was also reformed from a constitutional monarchy into a democratic republic, and the names of government positions as well as the nation itself were changed to better reflect the Najo majority.

The concept of Adavia was not rejected completely, as the colors of the Adavian flag still remain on Adashira's, and the name Adashira is a portmanteau of "Adavia" and "Shirakaba", two of the nation's predessesors. Freedom of religion and culture, an integral aspect of Adavia, also remains in Adashira.

Despite the fact that Adashira is not an empire nor does it have a monarch, figurehead or otherwise, it incorporates the word "Nikuko", which means "empire" in the Hinoku conlang, into its name. There is no explanation to this other than that it simply sounds cool.

Culture and Religion
Adashira is a multicultural society, but the majority of citizens identify as some form of Najo, particularly in the cities of Numachi, Hiyokudo, Sakura, and Hichi. Aglax has a notable Sagaviri influence, while Thornwail and Revaria have cultures fairly unique to Adashira.

Adashira does not have a majority religion. Sakrelism is practiced by a few individuals, namely the former royal family of Adavia. Birch Cubism (Not to be confused with Cubism, which is actually younger but more well-known) is centered around a mysterious birch cube in Revaria that appeared one day without any explanation, and is considered a "meme religion". However, the cube itself stands as an icon of Adashira’s history.

Deus Helios, a sun-based religion, was popular in Revaria prior to the departure of Arch_Xngel, but is now functionally extinct. Mizunosei and San-Hei are two Najo religions practiced in Adashira, with the former primarily in Numachi and Sakura and the latter primarily in Hichi and Hiyokudo. Mizunosei focuses on water spirits, while San-Hei has a pantheon of several distinct deities.

The national colors of Adashira are blue, gold, and white, and its national symbols are the sun, the crane, and the blue orchid. The flag of Adashira features all of the aforementioned colors and two of the aforementioned symbols: the circle in the center represents the sun, with a blue orchid charge on top of it. The six smaller orchids also represent the six original cities of the Kingdom of Adavia: Hichi, Numachi, Hiyokudo, Revaria, Aglax, and Kuclela.

The official language of Adashira is Hinoku, which is a conlang currently in progress.

Cities
The cities of Numachi and Hiyokudo are the oldest continuously active cities in Adashira, and are Japanese themed. The cities of Revaria and Aglax are European themed, with Revaria having an extensive subterranean portion and Aglax being composed partially of reclaimed ruins. Revaria is also the site of the infamous birch cube. The largest known library in both Rathnir and Eldham is located in Numachi.

Sakura, a developing city, is Japanese themed, while Hichi, another Japanese themed city and the former capital of Hinokuko, is currently being revamped. Mimir's Pride, a very old and historically significant city, is also part of Adavia. Kuclela, which was later renamed Atenla, now lays abandoned.

The city of Melreth (previously known as Bogdanic), as well as the region known as Omsk, which contains the city of Krioplis, are historical possessions of Adashira that were returned after belonging to Cobbleworks.

Geography
Adashira's climate is temperate and it is composed primarily of forests and swamplands. There is a large centralized lake-like swamp in the middle of Adashira's original heartland, with a large peninsula jutting into it where the city of Sakura is located.

There are three main rivers in Adashira, one of which is located at the southwestern corner of the aforementioned swamp lake, and runs southeast into Viratayn before reaching the sea just south of the city of Athazolant. A second river has its headwaters in Carn, flowing in a roughly circular path before reaching the sea at Aglax. A smaller third river begins at Krioplis and flows south, passing Hiyokudo and reaching the sea at Mimir's Pride.

Adashira is also home to Shirakaba National Forest, a protected forest park located between Hiyokudo and Hichi, which features a campsite, retreat cottage, and hot air balloon.

Government
Adashira is a consitutional democratic republic with a system of checks and balances in place throughout three major branches.

Anrem
The Anrem is Adashira's leader and is in charge of creating and enforcing legislation. Among other duties, the Anrem is head of the armed forces and can appoint and remove court officials. The Anrem is elected by the council and has term limits.

Council
The Council votes on laws proposed to them by the monarch. They also have the power to remove the monarch with a 3/4 majority vote. The Council is composed of the Chikaenkos and the Kaenkos.

Chikaenkos
The Chikaenkos are city leaders who are in charge of creating and enforcing the laws for their respective cities. Each city has at least two Chikaenkos, although that number varies depending on the city. Typically, one is the city's founder, while the others are elected by the people of the city. However, in the case of a city founder leaving office, their replacement would be an elected position as well.

Kaenkos
The Kaenkos are the heads of Adashira's Orders, departments representing specific administrative sectors, and are periodically elected by all citizens of Adashira. The current Orders are the Order of the Rose (formerly the Ministry of Defense), Order of the Honeybee (formerly the Ministry of Infrastructure), Order of the Orchid (formerly the Ministry of the Interior), and Order of the Raven (formerly the Ministry of Economics). The positions of Kaenko and Chikaenko are not mutually exclusive, as a person can hold both positions at once.

Courts
The Courts process all civil and criminal disputes within Adashira. There are three Justices in Adashira, one of which being the Grand Justice, who leads the Courts. The three Justices can remove council members with a unanimous vote.