Theios-Essukdal

Theios-Essukdal is situated in the centermost-area of Rathnir on the continent of Alteniquia, bordering the Phagosian Sea to its north, the Atsyllean Sea to its south, and Sea of Pearls to its east where its capital of Urnu-Arrak stands in the Geshem Bay. The name "Theios-Essukdal" means "The Deserts of Theios". The nation is ruled by the continuation of the Audalad Dynasty and possess an intricate system of meritocratic-feudalism and a clergy of Theiostic-Sakrelism.

History
The Kingdom of Theios-Essukdal is the re-unified state of Yimmu-Audal which originated in Jagdas, and the Duchy of Theiónikos, which originated from the former Western Territories of the Rathnirian Yimmu-Audal-Ardatia. Following the Great Rathnir War, Yimmu-Audal was under the Soleannan Empire as an autonomous Kingdom. However, after the dissolution of the Trillium Alliance, threats by Bardonia and the Silver Coalition caused the Soleannan Empire Ascension, leaving the Sovereign Duke LethalMuffin of Theiónikos to remain as the leader of an Imperial successor state. Meanwhile, after seeing their independence desires realized a short time before Ascension, the previously elected King and Governor in the Kingdom of Yimmu-Audal, GrayIsYes and TheRealOJOJ became the last Emperor and Chief Diplomat of Yimmu-Audal respectively.

Foundation
After gaining independence, Theiónikos experienced rapid population growth while the once-again independent Yimmu-Audal was viewed as a declining, although ancient state. However, upon their return, Yimmu-Audal's original founder, StoryStudio, and the former Emperor, Harbardr, proclaimed a 'Renaissance', seeking to reestablish Yimmu-Audal as a major nation of Rathnir.

Following that declaration, Yimmu-Audal reorganized, reformed, and reestablished relations with its former territory, Theiónikos. The reforms resulted in renewed population growth and the rebuilding of infrastructure which was destroyed during the war, speeding up the already-in-progress reunification plan developed under the last Yimmu-Audalad Emperor GrayIsYes and Duke LethalMuffin, now being spearheaded by StoryStudio, Taki, and MisticCrafter.

On February 28th, 2021, a reunification summit was called in the National Meeting Hall in Urnu-Arrak, where StoryStudio, Takiruko01, CrazyChaosCaleb, Blue_Marble, dex_og of the Azurian Syndicate, Emperor GrayIsYes, Harbardr, LethalMuffin, MisticCrafter, Chief Diplomat TheRealOJOJ, and ViewedMarquis came together to formalize the cultural and government order of a reunified nation, settling on the name Theios-Essukdal.

The Kartoffel War
The Kingdom vowed itself to be a peaceful nation, only seeking to defend its peace and the security of its citizens, and has hither-since made defensive alliances with the Imperial Archonate of Viodoxa and the Aurlûnor-Ryzani Empire. In response to a war declared on the Kingdom on March 14 2021, the Kingdom and its allies lead a global operation of nations and organizations including the Soleannan Spirits, the handy helpers, and various anti-bandit oriented mercenaries willing to help against the bandit AdmiralKartoffel who threatened to attack the Essukdalad city of Amos. The war, named "Operation Netherrack" ended in a decisive alliance victory with AdmiralKartoffel surrendering before his public execution in Urnu-Arrak.

Territorial Expansion
Building on the initial reunification between Theionikos and Yimmu-Audal, which had brought together much of the original Alteniquian lands of the former Empire of Yimmu-Audal-Ardatia, Theios-Essukdal has significantly expanded its territorial holdings various times, holding true to the Jagdasian Audalad tradition of expansion only through peaceful and diplomatic means.

Fuscinian Annexation
Firstly, as a direct successor of Theionikos who had gained Fuscinia as a protectorate following the Fuscinian Map Incident, Theios-Essukdal built on the relationship leading to the declaration of Fuscinia as a vassal state. Eventually, relations were further improved and Fuscinia was annexed, becoming the Free County of Abayril under Lugal Taki.

Shiny Unification
The second major territorial expansion occurred on March 27th 2021 when, originally following plans for war given intelligence that the nation of the Royal Isles of Shiny planned to conspire with AdmiralKartoffel, negotiations between the Ningal Mistic Audalad and King Fear of Shiny instead led to the Royal Isles joining Theios-Essukdal as the Free County of Shiny-Wyngale, with King Fear preserving a local titular monarchy. The agreement was formalized in the Essukdalad-Shiny Unification Declaration following the signature of Ningal Mistic Audalad and King Fear. Soon after this treaty, the Free County of Shiny-Wyngale was promoted into the Duchy of Pearls consisting of the counties of Shiny and Revanov—a land in then-called Wyngale with previously unknown inhabitants who joined the Kingdom of Theios-Essukdal as a county upon discovering they lived in the nation's claims.

Haz-Arcanoh Proclamation
Not long after unification with Shiny, the nation of Khuzdurin, long being the cap of the Essukdalad northern border had become absolutely desolate as a result of inactivity. Seeing as the area became infested with various bandit organizations, including the infamous Bamboo Bandits, the Ningal Mistic Audalad issued the Haz-Arcanoh Proclamation which annexed the lion's share of Khuzdurin as a military occupied zone which later became an archduchy in a partition together with the Aesperium Niedea.

Recognition of Tálor
The island of Tálor had long been culturally connected to Yimmu-Audal, having been a former colony of the Empire of Yimmu-Audal Ardatia illegally settled on land of the former United Empire of Akratia which had pressured the colony to join it. However, Akratia had lost the territory following the region's declaration of independence and subsequent joining of Yimmu-Audal. After the Coalition War, the island as well as various other territories within the Atsyllean Sea became independent from Yimmu-Audal as the briefly existing Kingdom Of Tálor. Shortly after the formation of Theios-Essukdal, during the reign of Lugal Taki, the Kingdom of Tálor and its Atsyllean territories were threatened war and re-integrated into the Second Empire of Akratia.

Seeing that Akratia now possessed land on the continent of Alteniqia, then Chief Diplomat Mistic Audalad negotiated a non-aggression pact with Akratia in which Akratia also ceded its Altenqian territories known as the "Twin Islands" to Theios-Essukdal. The eastern "island," actually a part of Alteniqia, was thereafter gifted to the Azurian Syndicate.

The non-agression pact came to an end and following the outbreak of the Leythe-Akratian and Akratian Civil wars, the former Talorian town of Baronos lead by Astrobl1tz declared allegiance to Theios-Essukdal. Seeing Akratian weakness, Tálor too joined Theios-Essukdal and the territories collectively became the County of Atsyllean within the Duchy of Audal. In behind-the-curtains negotiations, the development appeared to be accepted by Neoz, the Akratian Emperor. However, after Neoz's announcement of the alleged conclusion of the Akratian Civil War, he stated he did not recognize Tálor as Essukdalad territory. This prompted the Ningal Mistic Audalad to threaten war, issuing a 48 hour ultimatum to sign to recognize the territory. Although Neoz refused, the Emperor unexpectedly died and the Recognition of Talor agreement was instead signed by his successor Emperor Dmitry Yazov, consequently avoiding war and formally resolving the dispute regarding the County of Atsyllean.

Reyllean Inheritance
Following the death of King Amaury de Reyllea, the Kingdom of Reyllea was inherited by the Ningal Mistic Audalad of Theios-Essukdal who briefly acted as the Queen of Reyllea before partitioning the land with The Kingdom of Sironia. The remaining territory was fully integrated into Theios-Essukdal as the Archduchy of Reyllea consisting of the counties of Centuri, Rosecella, and Kongleon.

Political Reform
On April 3rd, 2021 the Kingdom adopted The Second Constitution of Theios-Essukdal due to the fact that the previous constitution written by LethalMuffin no longer accurately reflected the state of the government and its functionality, and was largely impractical. Among other things, the 2nd constitution formalized an official military structure and lessened the powers of the clergy. The military structure details are not available to non-citizens, but are known to include Legions, Squads, and the positions of Grand Bashar and Bashar which act as supreme commander and as general respectively.

Political Geography
Theios-Essukdal encompasses the independent territory of Grizzly Bear located at the very center of Rathnir and borders the Aesperium Niedea to its north, the Kingdom of Sironia to its south, the Most Serene Republic of Carvay to its west, and the Azurian Syndicate to its east.

Internal Divisions
Theios-Essukdal consists of three duchies which consist of several counties. These duchies include the Duchy of Theionikos, the Duchy of Anoshfey, the Duchy of Audal, and the Duchy of Pearls. The Duchy of Theionikos consists of the counties of Ayesinco, Theiotokos, Gebel, and Auraion. The Duchy of Audal consists of the counties of Urnu-Arrak, Pryiad, Eldal-Adadi, and the County of Atsyllean. The Duchy of Anoshfey consists of the counties of Siroba, Anoshfey, and Apasaril. The Duchy of Pearls consists of the counties of Shiny and Revanov. The Free Counties of Coltmaere and Abayril do not fall into any duchy.

Theios-Essudkal further includes the Arduchy of Haz-Arcanoh and the Archduchy of Reyllea. The latter consists of the counties of Kongleon, Centuri, and its capital county of Rosecella. The Archduchy of Haz-Arcanoh consists of the former military-occupied region of Haz-Arcanoh which was expanded to include territories of the county of Siroba following a land-swap agreement with the Aesperium Niedea.

The lands of Theios-Essukdal, primarily the Duchy of Anoshfey is also home to a nomadic group called the Idan-Ridu who do not fall into any strict territorial boundaries, but who are full-fledged citizens of the Kingdom.

Government
Theios-Essukdal is a feudal semi diarchy governed by two leaders who split the responsibilities of administration and diplomacy, which are the Lugal/Ningal and Chief Diplomat, with the Lugal/Ningal's decisions taking priority over that of the Chief Diplomat's.

The head administrative position is the Lugal (Ningal if feminine). Originally established upon the foundation of Jagdasian Shyr-Arrak, the word Lugal means "King" and is the highest feudal title in Theios-Essukdal.

The head diplomatic position is the Chief Diplomat. originally established after the announcement of Jagdasian Yimmu-Audal. CrazyChaosCaleb was the first Chief Diplomat and responsible for the initial Yimmu-Audalad growth in the Jagdasian period.

Theios-Essukdal continues the diarchic tradition of its predecessors. Upon the end of their terms, the current rulers appoint their successors. This tradition originated in Jagdas and has been considered a key aspect of a stable government ever since.

Beyond this, Theios-Essukdal inherited the feudal system of Theiónikos which now includes the roles of Lugal/Ningal, Duke, Count, Sahrad, and Nadu.

Civilian Positions
To help with the management of the government, Theios-Essukdal posseses a number of non-noble/religious/military positions subservient to the Lugal and Chief Diplomat.

These include titles such as the Domestikos (head of recruitment), Ambassador (aid to Chief Diplomat), Royal Architect (Head of Builder's Guild), Grand Archivist (manages Gebel Library records), Royal Cartographer (makes national maps), Royal Treasurer (in charge of the national budget)

Ranks of Nobility

 * Lugal/Ningal (King/Queen, supreme feudal authority, all lands are his, all nobles are subservient to the Lugal)
 * Gidesh (Plural: Gideshae. Archduke, administers an Archduchy as its supreme feudal authority, autonomous to level of their personal preference, has absolute power over their Archduchy and may establish a government within it as they like without need to obey the lower tiers of the ranks of nobility)


 * Duke (Administers over a duchy which consists of Counties, may order Counts, Sahradae, and Nadae of his duchy)


 * Count (Administers a County, may order Sahradae and Nadae of their county)


 * Free Count (Administers a Free County, which is not a part of any Duchy and thus needs not to take orders from any Dukes)


 * Sahrad (Plural: Sahradae. Administers a city, akin a mayor, may order any Nadae within it)


 * Nadu (Plural: Nadae, owns land in a large city or a fort within a county, or an influential person for another reason, may order citizens within their land/tribe)

Religion
The official state religion of Theios-Essukdal is Theiosism, a form of Sakrelism, and is actively promoted by the government converting new citizens

Clergy Hierarchy

 * Lugal / Ningal - Supreme religious authority and ordained by Theios.


 * Ecumenical Patriarch - Head of the Clergy, responsible for theological interpretation and religious administration
 * Patriarch - Responsible for management of Sakrelist temples and head clergy authority within a national Patriarchate.
 * Triarch - Head Priest of notable of one of the three most notable Sakrelist temples
 * Archpriest - Notable priest with authority over normal clergy members
 * Grand Inquisitor - Head of the Theiositic Inquisition, responsible for using positive reinforcement to convert non-Sakrelist citizens of the Kingdom
 * Inquisitors - Assist Grand Inquisitor in conversion efforts
 * Priest - Assists citizens in knowledge of religion, helps with conversion efforts, clergy member
 * The Theosian Templars, an organization of Priests dedicated to spreading faith on the battlefield.

Legal Faiths

 * Theiosism (State Religion)
 * Sakrelism (Treated as official state religion including all sects)
 * Soleannen (Tax exempt throughout kingdom)
 * The Red Cult (Legalized as an interpretation of Theiosism in the Edict of Treiur)

Illegal Faiths

 * Worship of Entropy (Completely Banned)
 * All faiths not pertaining to the official list of legalized faiths as seen above. (Heretic Citizens are Taxed)

Caveats
An exception to taxation of heretic citizens applies in the County of Urnu-Arrak, where citizens are allowed absolute religious freedom due to its long standing tradition of doing so dating back to the Empire of Yimmu-Audal. As a testament to this principle, the Bishara-Sharud Library of Religious freedom which stands in the capital as one of the largest collection of books and religious texts within Rathnir.

Symbolism
Religious symbolism can be seen on the national flag of Theios-Essukdal where the sun of Theios is depicted above the Holy Golden Seabird above the message given by it to StoryStudio, the founder of Yimmu-Audal. This symbolism is interpreted such that The Holy Golden Seabird, a.k.a Hukar Dezum Autai Dar Shur in Audalad was in actuality the messenger of Theios. In this manner the message given to StoryStudio to establish the Audalad (now Essukdalad) nation stems directly from Theios. When a Lugal (formerly Emperor) and Chief Diplomat appoint their heirs, they pass on this holy message of Hukar Dezum Autai Dar Shur and thus justify their heirs' right to rule via Divine Right.