Aurlûnor Velande

The Aurlûnor Velande (Literally translated to Sun Dragon Empire) or Aurlûnor is a nation located in Southern Syltör. Its capitol city is Lhûmar, located on the northern coast of Gulf of Heaven, a subsection of the Western Sea. Its official religion and state ideology is the Twin Dragon, and Velereth Sareariel Lelya-Earcala is the current de jure head of state, with Sel Lelya-Earcala acting as imperial regent and Mao Meili as chancellor in her absence.

Etymology
Main article: Aurlûnoren language

The word Aurlûnor Velandé (párzì: 日龍土皇帝國 ) means "Sun Dragon Empire", which was said to have been the name Velereth Sareariel Lelya-Earcala gave the country. However, the name could also be due to the fact that the descendance of the Velereth from heaven was on the year of the Light Dragon, with the stars aligning in the form of that of a Dragon, and the Sun being at this constellation's center.

"Aurlûn" (párzì: 日龍 ) alone translates to "Sun Dragon" in, as the words aur meaning sun, and lûn meaning dragon, while "-or" while being used alone would mean "land" or "country". "Velandé" means "empire", or literally "[the] emperor's country".

Note the the é used in direct transliteration from Aurlûnoren is not an accent mark, but a tone marker, as the language features four tones which can effect the meaning of the word

Lore History
Main Article: History of the Aurlûnor Velande

The area occupied by the modern-day Velande was once occupied exclusively by human tribes known as the Guren, ancestors of most of the modern Aurlûnoren humans. Approximately 11,000 years ago the Elven Migration Period began, which coincided with the advent of agriculture among the Guren and the settlement of the Kumiho in Hampo. The ancestors of the Celestial Elves would establish a capitol in the city of Ardol, in modern day Tacua province.

An elven king by the name of Maxion the Conqueror consolidated the various elves on the Lothranis Sea's west coast, and began the conquest of the Dawou kingdom to the north. He would found the Kingdom of Almador, the predecessor of the Aurlûnor Velande, and place its capitol in the then-new city of Silamar. Almador would begin a period of conquest, dominating the other Guren kingdoms as well as the Kumiho. The rule of Almador was legalistic, and at many times excessively cruel. Rebellions were crushed and non-elves were commonly enslaved. However, during the centuries through which the kingdom lasted, the Imperial Humans and Kumiho were eventually assimilated to the level of equals.

Almador would eventually fall into chaos following the mismanagement of King Hireon and a large famine. Governors broke away from the central government to form their own kingdoms, beginning the "Warlord Period" or "Warring States Period". The following 400 years of conflict would see nearly a third of the population waste away from war, disease, and famine.

One small city-state that broke away was Dun, and from here a local warlord (warlady?) by the name of Sareariel Lelya-Earcala. She would capture the fishing village that would become modern Lhûmar and declare the founding of the Aurlûnor Velande. The various other elven kingdoms that occupied old Almadoran land would be swept up by the new velereth, though many other Almadoran territories were occupied by foreign governments. Years of strife and instability followed the founding of the Velande, but with the reform and stability of the central government the lives of the people improved as famine was eradicated and peace returned to the land.

History on the Server
Aurlûnor was founded on November 15, 2020, by player Coffeeccubus. Following their abandonment of Ashura, which they would found a month prior to the current country, Coffeeccubus was inspired to make Aurlûnor due to their Stellaris obsession, and the fact they would play a nation known as the Aurlûnor Velande, a paranoid isolationist spiritualist xenophobic pacifist nation that is a pre-scripted selectable from the Stellaris Mod, Elves of Stellaris. Coffee wanted to adapt them into a more fantasy world setting, and thus established it. The first attempt of establishing the nation failed, as she would be confronted by SikkeOst, who would confront them about settling on one of their islands, which Coffee found "perfect", and demanded them to either be annexed into his empire, Escharia, or leave. Coffee, who said that they "hate being a vassal to another", decided to leave, and migrate back to the original continent Ashura was on. They would find yet another ideal spot, which was located a few thousand blocks northwest of where Ashura was, and settled there. Facing no opposition, Aurlûnor was born with the city of Lhûmar as it's first settlement. Though originally was planning to be isolationist, they would join the alliance, the Syltörean Confederacy on November 17, 2020, which would make it the first time that Coffeeccubus has joined in a coalition with any nation. Dalatra would be titled "Imperial Concubine" on November 16, a day after establishment, and would see Coffeeccubus' character (who is also Sareariel Lelya-Earcala) becoming one of Dalatra's wives. They would also participate in the coronation of Dalatra as Empress of Yimmu-Audal, and would support her claim during the near Yimmu-Audal War of Succession, before the war was called off.

Later, multiple changes happened around the nation. Most notably, it's "roleplay restart", where it restarted all foreign treaties and alliances, including the cancellation of Dalatra's marriage to Coffeeccubus' character. For the next few months, the nation remained neutral from world affairs, until it rejoined the Syltör Confederacy in later December. Coffeeccubus continued to deny Globalism, and keeps declaring that Aurlûnor will not recognize a declaration of war against them, unless they are neighboring or nearby to wage war. This opinion is unpopular by the community, but it is apart of the nation's strict roleplay policy.

This began to change, as on Janurary 17, 2021, Aurlûnor formally joined Bardonia, but made an agreement that they are only there in name and color, and agreed that they will keep their sovereignty, titles and such without having to change any aspect, but only have to follow Bardonian Law. But Aurlûnor's laws remained, which means that secularism is not allowed in the borders that Aurlûnor controls, and forced conversions may still happen should Aurlûnor conquer something. On the same day, Aurlûnor went through a small conquesting spree, and colonizing the unclaimed territory that Transyakistan had as a trade outpost. These gains, saw Aurlûnor's influence in the sole sea that it bordered increase drastically. They would purchase Sokalis as well, but not formally annex it until two weeks later.

On Janurary 20, 2021, Aurlûnor would renounce their ties to Bardonia as a Protectorate, and would even state that none of the things that happened between Aurlûnor and Bardonia happened, citing that they "will not take it to roleplay consideration if they are voiding the global war". Following the Bardonian Conflicts, Aurlûnor would go back to normal until Janurary 25, 2021, where the Takumakken Empire collapsed due to their leader no longer having interests of ruling the nation. This lead to a crisis between Cool_Man69 and Coffeeccubus over Sokalis, as Cool_Man69 claimed that the territory never belonged to Aurlûnor. Coffeeccubus would disagree and a war would almost begin, until being resoluted on Janurary 27, 2021, where the two leaders would agree to a compromise, fully annexing Sokalis (now Helemar) into Nir province.

In addition, the Partition of Takumakken occurred, and Aurlûnor managed to gain a large chunk of the western territories. This alone, finally end the three month long dispute with Takumakken over settlement, and greatly expanded the borders of the Empire. It would also aquire the County of Fornois on Janurary 30th, 2021. It would become the sole member of the Syltörian Confederation, which would also be dissolved on the same day.

Multiple raids would follow by a group of nomads by the name of the Boris. They would raid and sack Athrabar, and would settle there, establishing their territory. They would be eradicated during the First Barbarian Rally. Since the rally however, multiple more groups had shown up in Aurlûnoren territory, such as the Sangrians and the Anarchists of Froggi Town. These two would be delt with in the Second Barbarian Rally and the Third Barbarian Rally, the former not being declared due to their crushing defeat at the hands of Bardonia at Andorn. Froggi Town however, would of been eradicated, with their people being mercilessly slaughtered and the forced end of Jaxism.

Months later, the Velereth would marry Mistic II, in which would have the birth of Mistic III, who would go on to rule Theios-Essukdal, creating a dynastic defense pact. The Empire would engage in two massive wars which would reach their borders. The first being the war against Jazzon, Entropy's right hand man, following Entropy's multiple visits to the Empire, which would cause destruction to the old Temple of the Divines. Many Aurlûnorens commanded by both the Velereth and Governor Aesop of Tacua, would assist Bardonia and Theois-Esskudal in this engagement.

Several attempts at banditry and raids would happen following the influx of new peoples coming from the newest Stoneworks Minecraft uploads, which saw mass murderers, excessive toxicity and settling in Aurlûnoren territory, much to the dismay of Coffeeccubus.

Geography
The Velande is located in Syltor, along the northern shores of the Sea of Lothranis. It also borders the western edge of the Phagosian Sea at some points. The Velande contains 12 provinces. The Velande is also in possession of a colony known as the Viceroyality of Isillûnde on the continent of Eldham (Sinawendor), with it's capital of Cúamwan.

Government
The Celestial Empire is ruled under an Absolute Pharaonic-style Theocratic Monarchy, in which, the Velereth (or Empress) has the final authority on all matters of the state, and is usually worshipped as a divine being, as seen in the Twin Dragon religion. As per custom, members of the Imperial Court are not allowed to speak, until permission is given by the Chancellor or the Velereth to "speak freely". When either one says they may speak freely, anyone in the court may state their opinion without being silenced. The Imperial Court, which is subordinate to the Velereth, are also the final authority unless she overrides the decisions.

The country is divided into Imperial Provinces, each governed by an Imperial Governor. The Governors of the Provinces double as ministers of the court, with each minister having different positions within the Imperial Court itself. The highest level of bodies is the Grand General of the Empire, the highest military rank of the country, and the Grand Chancellor, who is in charge of all of the affairs of state in the Velereth's stead. Military garrisons are governed by military generals under supervision of an Imperial Governor. Governors are considered to be trusted by the Velereth with large amounts of power, and are able to conduct their own affairs in their respective provinces uninterrupted unless direct intervention is required. Sometimes, the Imperial Court will come into direct control of regions that do not have government control, or are protected under mandate of the Velereth. Upon acquisition of governorship, this long term protection is relinquished, and is given to local authority. Being a governor is a lifetime position without elections, and once a governor either resigns or dies, it is passed on to either a relative of their family or by request, a new one is assigned.

Territories are considered the Velereth's personal domains, and are controlled by her directly. Anyone she assigned in a territory are apart of the Imperial Court functionally as either military or civilian general.

The Velande also maintains a navy, which is under the de jure direct control of the Velereth.

Law
The Velande Law are the mandated code of law in the country. It is known as the harshest law codes in Rathnir, as many of them involve beatings by bamboo canes, which can be seen as brutal. The law is also among the most controversial due to it's suppression of free speech and religion, with the most executions per capita, with many of the laws involving execution. The Velande is also one of the few countries that sends convicts of the more severe crimes to hard labor mostly in the Erúme Province. It is often called the "Bloody Dragon Empire" due to these causes, and the "Graveyard of Practitioners" due to it's anti-heresy laws.

Religion
''"Free Religion leads to societal collapse, civil war, destruction, and no-good barbarians invading your borders. This is what happened to Almador. Never again, shall this happen to the Sun Dragon Empire. The Velereth may not like this idea, but her majesty will understand why we had decided on it." - Unknown Court Official, 2ACA''

The majority of the Aurlûnor Velande adheres to the religion of Twin Dragon with a 98% majority. The largest minority religion is Dune Elven Animism at around a 1.2%, mostly in the Erúme Province, Soleannen at 0.4%, traditional Hampo Animism at a 0.2%, and various other religions making up varying minorities throughout the nation.

The official religion of the Aurlûnor Velande is Twin Dragon, which is also mandated by law through a method of either forced conversion, persecution of public displays or worship or through integration. It is against the law in the Velande to worship any other religion other than the state religion. Violators are usually subjected to the harsh heresy punishments. However, the law seems to loosen up outside of large settlements, or less densely populated regions that are not made up of a majority Celestial Elven population. The least population provinces appear to have this law less enforced, although cases of anti-heresy crackdowns had been seen upon order of the governors. Provinces such as Sharla, Veassda and Erúme seem to suffer from these problems of heresy, due to their secluded locations, and less appearances of larger settlements.