Second Tsardom of Ryzan

The Second Tsardom of Ryzan is the 5th and modern government of the Ryzani States. It is lead by Tsar CanadianToss from the capital city Tossagrad, located in the state of Ryzan. The nation is currently in a state of relatively unprecedented peace, as the region has historically been very unstable politically. Ryzan consists of eight states (although an ninth has been proposed) with varying degrees of independence. The eight official states of the country include Balreska, Nebskoslavia, Remtal, Ryzan, Volkore, Carthya, and Vologda.

Geography
The Second Tsardom of Ryzan is a powerful state encompassing vast amounts of territory, and therefore has extremely varied geography. The southwestern part of the country has dry and arid deserts complimented with sprawling savannah plains. The animal population here is sparse, with agriculture consisting almost solely of wheat crops that have grown accustomed to the dry winds of this region. As one crosses over the narrow isthmus that connects the two major parts of Stylör, they encounter spacious forests teeming with cattle that have sprung up around the Tossan River. The woods are rather unremarkable when compared to the towering trees of the northern forests, but the strong, sturdy wood of this region allowed for the creation of good defenses around Ryzan's capital city. In the spring and summer, the southern territories of Ryzan and Vologda experience a lot of precipitation. The storms are also particularly violent, as they are unhindered and even fueled by the warm flat oceans around here. The center of the country is dominated by monumental mountains and marshy valleys. Due to the area being naturally impenetrable it is sparsely-populated, with the town of Volkore being the only major settlement. Past the rocky middle to the north lies a landscape of lush fields and soaring forests, dotted with dozens of small lakes and ponds. Despite being much cooler in temperature than the south, the states of Nebskoslavia and Remtal are shielded from most large storms by the mountainous central region. The grassy plains and steppe of the north are much more fertile than their southern counterparts, which has allowed for much more crop and biodiversity in the sector. Wolves and foxes prowl much of the northeastern parts, relishing the cooler temperatures and feasting on snow rabbits. The frigid waters of northern Ryzan are much less productive for fishing than the warm waves in the south, though residents of the region will claim that their mild summers and picturesque winters more than make up for that. Most districts from the central mountains and north aren't very well-mapped or well-documented, and therefore lack signifying names for natural landmarks.

Central Government
The government of Ryzan is a non-secular absolute monarchy run by the Tsar. A similar system was first used in the First Tsardom of Ryzan, and despite heavy variation or disuse for the majority of the nation's history, the system was revived along with the Tsardom and remains highly popular today.

Tsar: The Tsar, CanadianToss, is the head of state and head of religion. He rules from the nation's capital, Tossagrad, and has absolute authority over all but is bound to reason by tradition and the state leaders.

Tsarina: The Tsarina is mostly a symbolic title, as she holds no authority over other citizens. However, the title is above all but the Tsar's, and everyone is expected to treat her with respect and dignity.

State Leader: The leader of each state goes by a different title, but none is above any other. The Chancellor of Balreska, Count of Remtal, Governor of Sazan, High Templar of Vologda, King of Nebskoslavia, Lady of Bjornsull, and Lord of Carthya are all state leaders despite the different titles. The state leaders have seats in the Senate, the upper legislative house.

Citizen: Citizens are the only civilians with a role in the government, getting the right to vote in the Duma and the right to live outside the capital, among other minor privileges.

The legislative branch of the central government is split into two houses: the Senate and the Duma.

Senate: The Senate is the upper house of the legislative branch. It is comprised of the state leaders, who mainly vote on issues of national security, foreign diplomacy decisions, and changes to the government. Although it very rarely does this, it has the right to overrule any actions made by the Duma. The Senate is also in charge of the country when the Tsar is unable to fulfill his duties, a power handed over in a short ceremony.

Duma: The Duma is the lower house of the legislative branch. It doesn't have any permanent members, but all citizens (including state leaders) have the right to a seat in the Duma. The Duma mostly votes on new domestic legislation and minor changes to the government, but it is also sometimes presented with legislation that gets decided by the Senate in order to judge how popular it will be before going into effect.

Religion and Culture
Most people in Ryzan are humans, some with Borean blood. A majority of citizens accept or at least tolerate most other races, but a minority is staunchly pro-human.

The official religion of Ryzan is Tossanism, used consistently since the Tossan tribe of ancient times. Some states in the country allow religious freedom, which has led to a small number of players converting to Minecraftism, Slimeism, or other more obscure cults.

Ryzanis value loyalty, dedication, and honesty. Those who have the favor of the Tsar or are in the military must have proven their loyalty, and therefore are highly respected.

Military
Ryzan's military was officially established on March 2nd, 2021. It has three fighter ranks - Recruit, Soldier, and Officer - and is headed by Tsar Toss. Training is conducted by Officers and the Tsar, who assign the ranks based on skill. Soldiers and Officers are the main fighting force, but Recruits and volunteers are accepted during wartime or in anticipation of it.

The Navy is a very small and select group mainly made up of ship-builders and Officers specially-trained to fight in the water. It is based in the state of Remtal, but also has significant forces stationed in Volkore. The Navy's main purpose is emblematic, but it is occasionally used for amphibious assaults and transportation.