Second United Crowns of Syltör

The Second United Crown of Syltör, officially the Second United Syltören Crowns of Aurlûnor, Ryzan and Lennox-Taracrede, formerly known as the Third Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire, commonly referred to as Aurlûnor-Ryzan and abbreviated as UCS, is a state in central Syltör and northern and central Nándor. It is a spiritual successor to the short-lived First Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire and the more successful Second Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire, also known as the original First United Crowns of Syltör. It is a continuation of the Second Aurlûnor Velande, the Second Ryvenate of Ryzan, and the Kingdom of Lennox.

Following the dissolution of the Second Empire at the hands of Bardonia, the remaining post-union governments worked behind the scenes over the next 28 years, overthrowing Bardonian puppet states such as the Imperial Federation of Ryzan and gradually rebuilding the empire from the ground up once again, under the guidance of Elle Shan-Ashwood, until its eventual reformation in 1041 ACA following the Bardonian defeat at Dorasterrock.

Etymology
Officially known as the United Crowns of Syltör, the union derived its name from the constituent states that make up said union. It is most commonly referred to in its abbreviated form as the UCS, and some still refer to it by the previous government's names, Aurlûnor-Ryzan or, at its most basic form, the Union.

The citizens of the United Crowns may be referred to as Syltören, however, due to the term's connotations to the peoples of the rest of the continent, will more likely refer to themselves by their respective member state, whether that be Aurlûnoren, Ryzani, Lennoxer or Credian. Denizens of the Nándor half of the continent often refer themselves as Nándorese to seperate themselves from the general stereotype of a war-torn Syltör.

Dissolution of the Second Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire
Following the Siege of Tossagrad, the Velereth-Tsarina Shan de Poitín Tossova was severely injured and was deemed unfit to rule now she was under hospice care. In her place, her High Chancellor Nori, daughter Isabella Shan-Khamen and Ashuran Pharaoh Gildun Amakiir were left to manage the country during the rest of the war in her stead. Despite initial gains in the 990 Counteroffensive, where they pushed all the way to New Dorasterrock, dramatic losses followed, and eventually the trio agreed to sign a peace treaty with Bardonia, and dissolve the Second Empire to prevent further losses after an abyssmal performace by Imperial Forces at Slouttawa. The successor states, the Aurlûnoren Free State and the Imperial Federation of Ryzan, were deepy depopulated following 42 years of war, and the road to recovery was deemed by contemporary politicians to be a long one.

Ryzan was deeply divided between the Federation's revisionists, who believed that democracy should have more power than the Union-era system and that the Tsar should work in tandem with the people, and fundamentalists who believed that a continuation of the Union's systems was necessary for continued stability. This divide would ultimately prevent the state from being productive in any manner, with a rampant squatter problem and no government to deal with the coming crises facing the nation. With the President resigning, the Justice Minister being removed from his post, the government was descending into all-out collapse.

Reformation of Aurlunor
In Aurlunor, the state's historic depopulation issues were once again resurging. This, alongside a rampant insurgent issue sweeping through the eastern countryside, led to rapid liberalisation and reform by the new Free State under Nori. This resulted in the foundation of the National Intelligence Bureau and the reformation of the judicial branch to become much more unbiased and cut off what remaining government influences it had from the era of the Velande. With the Second Velande being founded in 1023 ACA under Arcon Kalasi-Vinyanis, the crackdown on insurgents in the countryside tightened, ultimately resulting in a temporary siege of Quacomar which resulted in a white peace between government forces and insurgents.

Reformation of Ryzan
In 1028 ACA, the town of Lebadistan declared independence from the Federation, declaring itself to be the true successor to the Ryvenate of Ryzan. Shortly afterwards, Elle Shan-Ashwood would announce the return of the Ryvenate, and towns began to flock to the reformed state. Despite an attempt to combat the rebellion, Peterhoff Shan-Khamen would ultimately abandon the Federation, fleeing to Eldham in an event known as Peterhoff's Flight. The last remaining cities under federal control would be absorbed into Elle's new state, the Second Ryvenate of Ryzan, which would begin adopting a policy of land reclamation from Bardonia following Peterhoff's Flight. Alongside pro-government insurgents, notably GR-FUTILLA, Ryzan would reclaim the majority of Carthya Province, as well as Liberium and other cities from foreign powers. Following the beginning of the Siege of Dorasterrock, Bardonia would begin giving away its Ryzani lands to the Ryvenate in trades in an effort to keep them neutral and gain some money from the deals. After 12 years of this policy and the fall of Dorasterrock in 1040 ACA, in a surprising movement, Ryzan would announce the reformation of Aurlunor-Ryzan.

Reformation of the United Crowns
Following multiple decades of direct diplomatic talks of the reformation of the UCS, Lennox would finally be admitted into the Union, with the Third Aurlunoren-Ryzani Empire was renamed to the Second United Crown of Syltor, with it being outlined that the Third Empire was merely a steppingstone towards reforming the Union.

Such a lenghty negotiation process was due to multiple factors within Lennox's own geopolitical sphere of influence in Yulara. Firstly, countless decades of cold war on the isle was coming to a close, as Lennox secured the northern Halgean enclave of Aragon. Secondly, the Kingdom was locked in talks with the breakaway Credian territory of Taracrede to admit them as a vassal of Lennox. In both cases, Lennox's Pharaoh could not commit immediately to joining the Union before these processes ended. Upon their completion, Lennox and its vassal would join the union, forming the UCS.

The admittance of Lennox would be followed by a Syltorii superalliance, known as the New Continental Directive, to be founded between Bardonia, Andorn and Nandor-Lukkawa, with the hopes of ensuring peace in Syltor for the foreseeable future without having to unite Syltor under a singular banner. This allowed the UCS to pursue internal development and fully develop its internal government, founding the Crown Council and setting up the internal Ministries.

Transition to semi-democracy
In 1063 ACA, the Crown Councillor for Endanor, Taren-ra Khamen al-Qamiya, announced the newly passed PM-D Bill, a piece of legislature which would establish the position of Prime Minister as a presider over the internal government. These were followed by a collection of democratic reforms which culminated in the following year, with the PM-D Bill taking effect across the Union, with the added democratically elected heads of ministries also being announced, with Prime Ministerial elections being set to take place by the end of the decade.

Government
The United Crowns of Syltör is a semi-democratic confederation of non-independent sovereign states. There are many different layers to the government structure, and certain limitations mean that only certain parts of the government function in certain states.

Heads of state
The Veleran, Tsarina and the Pharaoh are the heads of state in the Union. In government, the Veleran, Pharaoh and Tsarina have near absolute power, getting the final say on laws, pardons, judicial sentences, honorary distinctions, among other things. However, they are still not above the constitution, and hence can still be tried for violation of the document. There remains doubt as to how this process would work, due to the difficulties in applying said constitution to each ruler's kingdoms directly. The role of Velereth/ Veleran, Pharaoh and Tsarina is highly symbolic, and the incumbent stands as the representative of the United Crowns' image on the international frontier. They are also direct rulers of their countries internally.

Prime Minister
The Prime Minister acts as a presider over the Crown Council, who is also capable of serving the duties of the Veleran, Tsarina and Pharaoh when they are not available for whatever reason, with the Veleran, Tsarina and Pharaoh's expressed permission. The Prime Minister is democratically elected once every 8 years (32 days). When not filling in as head of state in the Veleran, Tsarina and Pharaoh's absence, the Prime Minister acts as the internal manager of the state.

Imperial Court
The Imperial Court is comprised of selected trusted individuals who act as the highest governmental body of the Union. Each member is selected by the Tsarina herself. The Imperial Court is headed by the heads of state, and is responsible for all geopolitical decisions.

The Order Councillor oversees the Union Armed Forces and personally runs the Union Army. The Judicial Councillor leads the Judiciary and acts as the Head Judicial Officer of the Judicial Department. The Relations Councillor oversees all foreign affairs regarding the Union and acts as Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Economics Councillor manages the Union's economic sector, including banks, resource distribution and shops. The Advisory Councillor serves as a tie-breaker and mediator for votations and discussions in the Court and Regional Councils of Ministers, is not bound to any duty but is put there as a sign of immense respect by the Velereth-Tsarina.

The Regional Chancellors act as the head of their respective Regional Council of Ministers, voices opinions of their Council to the Imperial Court.

Crown Council and Ministries
The Crown Council serves as the local governing bodies of the states within the Union, and the internal governing body. The Crown Council is comprised of ten seats, with one seat for each of the five most populated cities and the 5 most populated states in the Union. The Crown Council is presided over by the Prime Minister. Alongside this, there are five ministries, which are democratically elected.

The Construction Minister manages the region's infrastructure projects. The Roleplay Minister, also referred to as Cultural Minister, is responsible for the production, collection and documentation of the region's culture. The Truth and Propaganda Minister is responsible for the organisation of events and the Department of Propaganda's production. The Events Minister manages all aspects of events, such as holidays, parties or anniversary celebrations.