Second Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire

The Second Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire, commonly referred to as just Aurlûnor-Ryzan, is a state in western and central Syltör, and spiritual successor to the briefly-lived First Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire. It is the 18th government of Ryzan, the second government formed by the Aurlûnor Velande, and the fourth government to be created by a peaceful transfer from the Ryvenate of Ryzan. Created due to common interests, shared history, and shared aristocratic ties, the Empire is comprised primarily of the sovereign but non-independent states of Aurlûnor (including the Viceroyalty of Isillûnde in south-central Eldham) and Ryzan, and the vassal states of Credia, Denthros, and Ashura.

Etymology
Officially known as the Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire, the empire derives its name from its two constituent states. Many simply refer to it as Aurlûnor-Ryzan, or the Aurlûnor-Ryzani Empire. At its most informal, the terms "the Empire", "the Union", or its abbreviation of ARE are used.

Its citizens may be referred to as Aurlûnor-Ryzani, or simply as Aurlûnoren or Ryzani depending on which side of the empire they hail from.

History
Full articles: History of the Aurlûnor Velande and History of Ryzan

Before the First Union
The earliest record of human habitation in the region is the Kozenstejn Culture, an archaeological grouping of various stone-age tribes that inhabited the lowlands of the central Syltör region. These early tribes coalesced in the west into agriculturalist groups known as the Ghûren, and slowly Dwarven and Elven peoples migrated from the east and west respectively into the region around the same time.

The large elven kingdom of Almador ruled over what would become Aurlûnor, and various dwarven holds ruled in the mountains of what became known as Durin. However, around 1000 BCA (-1900 SMP), the migration of the proto-Ryzani peoples from the land of Azia coincided with the collapse of Almador into the Warlord Era.

Aurlûnor was founded in the year 0 of the Twin Dragon Calendar (-807 SMP), and slowly regained the lands that comprised Almador and were still occupied by Celestial Elves, Kumiho, and the humans who would become the Aurlûnoren Humans. The state built itself up for centuries as the various Ryzani and Olthiac tribes consolidated.

First Union & Post-Union Periods
The first union between Aurlûnor and Ryzan was created in 848 ACA (42 SMP) between Tsar Canadian Toss and Velereth Sareariel Lelya-Earcala. The union was brief, and only lasted a single year, before its collapse. The state broke due to accusations on both sides and mutual distrust, which continued long after Ryzan and Aurlûnor split up.

The two nations had rocky relations, as Aurlûnor tried siding with Bardonia out of opportunism when the Bardonians tried to integrate Ryzan by conquest. Still, fear of Bardonian imperialism drew the two nations together, as did a growing number of shared dual citizens and the growth of the Twin Dragon religion into Ryzan. The nations had ups and downs; being allies in the Syltör League, then the Aurlûnoren occupation of Deutzan during the War in Ryzan, to the return of the Deutzan region and a brief embargo, to the rebuilding of relations once more. The Tsarina of the Ryvenate of Ryzan, Shan Yazovich Toss, was herself a member of the Lelya-Earcala dynasty, which aided in cementing friendly relations to the dynasty's matriarch Sareariel.

The defining moment of Aurlûnor-Ryzani relations prior to the second union was the Red Sun Campaign, wherein Josbar Liberium II, the king of Remtal, attempted to filibuster a part of western Aurlûnor for his own personal gain utilizing an army of mercenaries and Soleannan Imperium volunteers. Most of the rest of the Ryzani government resisted this, and working alongside Aurlûnor, the two prevented Josbar's soldiers from invading the city of Quacomar. Still, the threat of invasion led to Sareariel's abdication, and the creation of a regency under Chancellor Mao Meili.

The Chancellorate Era of Aurlûnor saw the rise of a union movement. Initially as a mere joke, the plan began to be taken seriously, as the Chancellorate government and Ryvenate began to work together towards unification. Finally, in 961 ACA, the two states signed the constitution of the Union and the union officially began. The regency in Aurlûnor ended as Tsarina Shan was chosen as Velereth, uniting the two states under one monarch.