North Volonté

The Republic of North Volonté (Volontéan: Republique du North Volonté / Republique dé North Volonté, Durnholi Samoran: Republica dov Nòrth Volonté) is a parliamentary republic located in southeast Leifmyrr in the world of Eldham. It is the spiritual successor to the historic Republic of Volonté. It borders Prübensia (Samora) to the west, Iversteiya to the south, Nazarii Kryvonea to the south-east, and the island nation of Xineria to the north-west

History
The area that is now North Volonté was once part of the Pioresná region of the old Republic of Volonté. After the old republic's collapse, and after many regime changes, the region was eventually under the rule of Kryvonea, lead by Yigon.

In Winter 239 TE, the people of Kirvograd, a city in the south of what was then the Kronetsk province under the leadership of former Volontéan monarch Basco Prola, declared independence from their Kryvon overlords, kickstarting the Kirvograd War. The First Battle of Kenka, which was fought in 242 TE, proved to be a decisive victory for the rebels, as the Kryvons were woefully underprepared for the upcoming war, lacking enough defensive infrastructure around Kenka as well as quality armor and swords. The utter defeat of the Kryvon army and the loss of many Kryvon government officials in the battle resulted in the complete collapse of the Kryvonea.

Hours after the signing of the First Treaty of Kenka, representatives from the remaining cities of the former Kronetsk provice, including Earisto Donvago of Pioresná and Victor Voyce Le Vernillard of Vekta (now Fréris), as well as the then-majority Volontéan residents of Durnhol, elected to merge with the Free State of Kirvograd. Together, they united their forces and became the Republic of North Volonté in Winter of 242 TE. During this time, Invicta also declared it's independence, but it wouldn't join North Volonté until much later.

Yigon, despite the utter defeat of his nation, did not back down so easily. He broke the First Treaty of Kenka not too long after it was signed by attempting a coup d'état in Gothria, one of the nations that inhabited Kryvonea's old territory, to regain power. This started what the Volontéans refer to as the Yigon War. Many more battles between the Volontéans, the Gothrians, and the remaining Yigonites followed. Not even treaties and armistices could stop the fighting, as Yigon and his supporters would break them the first chance they got, but after three grueling years of warfare, peace was finally achieved in Summer 245 TE after Yigon was exiled by his own supporters, formally bringing the Yigon War to a close. A new democratic Kryvon government, free of Yigon's absolute control, was established, and Gothria and North Volonté were able to keep their independence.

The Conseil, consisting of Basco Prola, Victor Voyce Le Vernillard, and Earisto Donvago, initially held absolute rule until a Senát could be formally established. That would be a long, long time, however, as the Senát of North Volonté wasn't officially established until 286 TE. At this time, it was agreed the Fréris will become the seat of government, as Pioresná was very densely populated and had no room for a Senát building, although Pioresná would keep it's title as the official capital city of North Volonté.

In 289 TE, Invicta joined North Volonté.

In Winter 294 TE, the Loisur Agence de Renseignement dela République (Republic Intelligence Agency Act) was passed by the Senát and the Conseil. Initially drafted by Senáteur TD, Senáteur Mattéu Fyrfox du Pioresná, and Senáteur Charles Astilor, it was the first bill that amended the North Volontéan Constitution, expanding the abilities and capabilities of the Armée de Volonté by granting them the ability to conduct espionage on both foreign and domestic targets.

In Summer 294 TE, North Volonté and the Leifmyrr Crowned States alliance fought in an international coalition, alongside Sethris, Ashai, Yuvaria-Valoore, Gunjou, and numerous other nations, against the Glanraess separatist movement, who illegally seceded from Sethris and verbally threatened both the Sethrians and Hrabs with death-wars. It was a decisive victory for the allied coalition, with the Battle of Ystkalü lasting no longer than half an hour.

In Summer 299 TE, the RIA discovered that prominent Senáteur Mattéu Fyrfox du Pioresná had plans to attempt a coup of North Volonté, planning to establish an authoritarian-socialist system with himself as the Sèulateur, or "Sole Authority". Mattéu had gradually lost faith in the Senát, as the legislative body was relatively ineffective and inactive at the time, and thought that more got done when the Conseil held complete control of the government from 242-286, when Mattéu was a child. The Volontéans quickly tried to apprehend Fyrfox with assistance from Samoran and Jorthari law enfocement, but Fyrfox was able to get away, fleeing the country and later started living in Valreach.

Geography & Climate
North Volonté is a collection of river islands in the delta of the Tia Via and Colto rivers. Due to this, the nation is mostly flat and moderate climate-wise, with areas further inland having wider ranges of elevation, and regions closer to the Prübensia border being more mountainous with a tundra climate. Many areas of the nation is also prone to flooding, although river contention projects have made this less of a threat and more of an inconvenience.

Culture
Volontéan culture is closely tied to the republic's unofficial religion, The Way of the Will. The city of Pioresná is the holy city of the religion and draws many to the nation through pilgrimages to Pioresná and the old Warmbank Shrine. The nation's geographic location also ties into it's culture through architecture; being located on a river delta means access to an abundance of clay, so most buildings in the cities of North Volonté are made of brick.

Pioresnán/Northern Volontéans, commonly refered to as the Norterrans or Norterreño, are the result of a mix of Neolian and Volontéan cultures. Many Northern Volontéans still use the Norterran script that the ancient Neolians used many years ago. Southern Volontéans are more closely tied to the Volontéan culture of old, with some influences from Kryvon culture. Most Southern Volontéans currently live in the Kryvonean Grand Republic, in the general area where the ancient Volontéan city of Warmbank once stood.