Sylvania

Sylvania, officially the Imperial Archonate of Sylvania, is a transcontinental nation located in eastern Leifmyrr, northern Astios, and southern Katsura. It comprises Old Sylvanian heartlands, the rump state of Morladron and West Aristios.

Sylvania is a semi-constitutional monarchy and senatorial democracy. The capital and largest city is Noxwind, the first city built by the founders of Sylvania. Other major cities are Castellum, Lyriatell and Andrimar. Archduchies and Vassal States have their own governments, with varying powers.

Sylvania has evolved from a dominion of Aristios, to a large nation through annexation and treaties of union, between West Aristios and Sylvania. Sylvania remains a militaristic nation, with it's army able to express it's authority all over the world.

Etymology
Sylvania takes it's name from Sylvania's national goddess, Sylva, the goddess of balance, symbolising the balance between the original Nox and Lux provinces of Sylvania.

The title of Archon, is derived from Sylvania's Aristii heritage, as the leader of Sylvania was in theory subordinate to the Emperor of Aristios, and as such could not be a claimant to such a title. The Senators of Sylvania also derive their title from the Aristii Senate.

Citizens of Sylvania are widely referred to as Sylvanians.

Beginnings
The Grand Archonate of Sylvania was born on late October 2021, when an expedition of Aristii Sailors got lost in the waters of the continent of Leifmyrr, they crashed in the Western Frozen Coast, hungry, tired, and lost, this proved an excellent opportunity for Sir. Lad to manipulate the minds of the sailors.

The Sailors lost their minds. In the cold tundra, few things gave them hope. Their families were far away back in Aristios, their friends were in a similar state, and the only person who seemed to have kept the rhythm, was Sir. Lad, so they followed his word. The Sailors slowly but surely forgot about their families, friends, faith, or who they once were in their past life, they became servants of the Dark Gods, with Sir. Lad as the flesh representing their will in Eldham, and the first Archon of Sylvania.

Foundation of Noxwind
The foundation of Noxwind was a surprisingly fast process considering the conditions of the Sailors. Some think forbidden magic was used, but these rumors lack from any reliable sources other than the few whispers of people who left the dark Heartlands of Noxwind. The city grew to become the largest metropolis in South Eastern Eldham and Aristios, the inhabitants grew stronger and wiser as time went on, the armies grew larger, and the inhabitants were richer than they had ever been in their previous home.

The Gods gave a blessing to Sylvania and the people that lived inside. After months of darkness, the light for the first time had risen as an almost equal force in Sylvania.

Reformation of the Archonate
Noxwind reigned supreme in Sylvania for years, the Darkness had a complete hold over the Sylvanian Heartlands and Sir. Lad was a being made of pure power-driven madness and an obsession for perfection and efficiency. However, as the time went on, it was clear that the Dark Gods were not the only influence in the lands of Sylvania.

The Light was shown to the people of Noxwind for the first time since the creation of Noxwind Keep. At the very top of the tower, a very slim beam of sunlight could be seen penetrating the dark clouds and ever falling snow, which gave the first signs of wealth in the land. Now power was not the only drive: prosperity, happiness, success, and glory, were back on the table. The Gods of the Light officially made an appearance, and swiftly defeated the Dark Archon SirLad, whose blindness from the energy of Light made him an easy target for the ever wise Light Gods.

They gave him wisdom, and knowledge, for him and his people to see who they really were. They were not beings of mere darkness, but complex sentients who also had a light inside their darkness. From there on, the Archon of Sylvania was no more a dark being, but the perfect equilibrium between the two, Dark and Light Gods alike would exist in the sacred lands.

The Eternal Conflict of Sylvania
Although Sylvanians had seemingly found new wisdom that would bring eternal prosperity and unity to the Nation, this could not be further from the truth. Now the Light and Dark stood more divided than ever, with the Archon having the task of bringing a balance for both forces to feel equally relevant to the Argent Blood (Now Nox Lucis), the official cult of Sylvania. However, the Light Sylvanians were vastly outnumbered. Around 95% of the population of Sylvania was Dark Sylvanian, which made the Light Sylvanians feel like a second class.

The Archon being an equilibrium did not make the Light Sylvanians any happier, as the resemblance of the Dark past of the Archon stood in the eyes of Sir. Lad to this day, which makes them feel threatened by an Archon that is not truly balance, but merely a Dark Archon in all but name. However, as bad as the situation is among Light and Dark Sylvanians, the Nation seems to be performing well on the global stage, that the conflicts usually end in a celebration sacrificing heretics from other nations, as a reminder of who the true enemies of the Argent Blood are.

The Foundation of Luxwind
The situation in the Sylvanian Heartlands worsened by the day, the Light Sylvanians were in an eternal crusade against the tyranny of Dark Sylvanians, so the Archon arrived to an unthinkable conclusion. The Light Sylvanians would claim the arid lands of The South, way beyond the Dark Sands of the province of Naar'um, and found a new city, a new metropolis of Sylvania. However, this time around, they would not sit in a dark frozen wasteland, but in the place where the light shines the most, South Leifmyrr, in the Southernmost point of Sylvania, Luxwind was colonized by Light Sylvanians. The divide between provinces considering themselves either light or dark concerns some Sylvanians that fear the divide could lead to a power struggle in the future.

Transitions of the flag
The nation previously replaced the classic purple and white flag with a new black and white. The former purple-white flag being a symbol of Aristios representation upon the then vassal state, the black and white present flag representing Nox Lucis. Sylvania now uses a new flag that is purple, black, and white that draws on the history of the state as both a subsidiary of Aristios and its own nation.

Governmental Reforms
Throughout the nation's history, the government has gone through many changes. One of these changes that has had a significant effect on the government as a whole was the addition of ministries. There are currently several ministries, focused on things such as culture, finance, and defense. . The Archon is the final voice in all decisions on matter of the government as the head of it giving them power over the ministries.

Provinces
Sylvania is currently divided in 6 different administrative regions known as provinces administered by individual Lords acting as governors of the region. Currently, there are 3 Dark Sylvanian provinces and three Light Sylvanian provinces, however cities inside these provinces may not follow the province culture to the fullest extent.

Nox Heartlands, Naar'um and Riverheim are the dark regions, while Lux Heartlands (Merged into Naar'um), Castellum and Ostyliath are the light regions. More often than not, the allegiance of the provinces is defined by the biome. Light Sylvanians inhabiting mostly in the arid south, while Dark Sylvanians inhabit mostly in the cold North. Castellum is an outlier, inhabiting cold lands in the westernmost point of Eldham, but worshipping Deities of Light.