Arcturus

Arcturus is a small island nation in the south west of Rathnir. Nestled between the Imperial Archonate of Viodoxa and Bardonia's Sparwood holdings. It was established May 7th 2021 by Cedar, the island was granted to him by the United Kingdoms of Western Sparwood. It's a constitutional monarchy, with power being shared between the three monarchs.

Government
Arcturus is a constitutional monarchy governed by a council of three monarchs. Each monarch shares power and responsibility over the island, and each must cooperate on foreign affairs. One of the three monarchs acts as head of the council giving them the majority of executive power. When the head of the council dies the responsibility rotates to one of the other monarchs on the council.

When there is a vacant seat on the council the position is filled by the previous monarch's eldest child or heir-apparent. Ensuring there will always be three monarchs.

Events

 * The Old Kingdom
 * Southern Migration
 * The Granting of Arcturus
 * Collapse of the First U.K.
 * Second U.K. and Rebellion

The Old Kingdom
The people of Arcturus originate from the land of Artemis. A kingdom once ruled by a single king, a man with many enemies in his time. During a diplomatic mission the king was murdered by the city of Archburg, sending the kingdom into chaos and war as Archburg invaded. The three princes of the king escaped the carnage, the eldest taking the royal crown, the second a book and quill, and the youngest the royal sword. They would spend their years before adulthood in exile, preparing to reclaim their kingdom.

When the three brothers came to Archburg again the youngest would enter the city at night alone. He began enacting his revenge, burning the city and slaughtering civilians just as Archburg had done decades ago. Once morning came the youngest felt great remorse for the suffering he caused, and the three brothers left the ruined city. They moved further north, founding new Artemis in the land of snow.

Southern Migration
The first settlers of the island came from the new kingdom of Artemis. The kingdom suffered a climate shift covering the land in an eternal winter. The three brother kings decided then kingdom could not survive this and that they must leave. Taking only the supplies they would need and their most loyal subjects they set off south towards warmer climate. Eventually arriving in Rathnir.

The Granting of Arcturus
The current territory of Arcturus was originally gained through a land grant to Cedar, after the collapse of the Ferrymen. The land grant was agreed upon by the United Kingdoms of Western Sparwood and Viodoxa. A minor conflict arose when a lord of Sparwood from Appleharbor attempted to colonize the island for agriculture, not knowing about the agreement. The lord, Waymanites, publicly issued an apology and willingly stepped down from his position.

Collapse of the First U.K.
On May 30th, 2021 Cedar, leader of the Kingdom of Arcturus, officially announced that it would be joining the United Kingdoms of Sparwood(U.K.) as a lorddom. However, on June 4th, 2021, a mere five days later, a coalition of nations united against the U.K. due to plans to invade Tortuga. Arcturus and two other Kingdoms would immediately declare independence from the U.K. and neutrality in the war. This would lead the remaining nations to officially dissolve the first U.K.

Second U.K. and Rebellion
On June 19th 2021 the second U.K. would be formed, later renaming itself the Union of Free Kingdoms. The leader of Greenstem would demand under threat of war that Arcturus join the union or pay 100k in payment. The leadership of Arcturus decided to acquiesce and join the U.F.K., but began immediately planning a rebellion in secret. However, this rebellion would never occur, because on June 29th 2021 the U.F.K. would sell the island of Arcturus to Nocturia without the kingdom's knowledge. The leadership would learn about this the next day and immediately declare independence, and enter negotiations with Nocturia. Nocturia would allow Arcturus to leave peacefully, in exchange for some goods, leading to Arcturus' current independence.

Island of Arcturus
The island of Arcturus is split into three natural regions. A desert in the north connected to the central savanna by an isthmus, and another desert to the south. A thin stretch of plains goes across the southwest through Woodsted.

Culture
The ancestors of the arcturians were a group of Nortfolk that traveled far into the north forming the kingdom of Artemis. They held onto some of the core gods of the Nortfolk's old pantheon, but have slowly abandoned their religious practices over the decades. The many conflicts and diaspora have created a people that value peace and stability, with the military primarily geared to defending the island. Arcturians tend to focus more on diplomacy and trade in their relationships with other nations and people.

Religion
During the earliest history of those who would settle Arcturus they worshiped various pagan gods of the Nortfolk pantheon, but have since lost these practices. The majority of arcturians lacking any religious belief once they began migrating southward. The few practices that have survived are the funeral pyres and burial mounds.

The Holy Six
Arcturus would be introduced to the Church of Six Divines when the missionary Mana_guardian arrived on the island. He began converting citizens of Arcturus within the temple he constructed for worship. Eventually founding a separate sect of the Church focused on the god Mortuus. The sect would develop the Six Divines Laws and construct various buildings within Arcturus.