Second Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire

The Second Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire, commonly referred to as just Aurlûnor-Ryzan, was a state in central Syltör and northern and central Nándor, and spiritual successor to the briefly-lived First Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire. It was the 18th government of Ryzan, the second government formed by the Aurlûnor Velande, and the fourth government to be created by a peaceful transfer from the Ryvenate of Ryzan. Created due to common interests, shared history, and shared aristocratic ties, the Empire was comprised primarily of the sovereign but non-independent states of Aurlûnor (including the Territory of Isillûnde in south-central Eldham) and Ryzan, and the vassal states of Credia, Denthros, and Ashura.

Etymology
Officially known as the Aurlûnoren-Ryzani Empire, the empire derived its name from its two constituent states. Many simply referred to it as Aurlûnor-Ryzan, or the Aurlûnor-Ryzani Empire. At its most informal, the terms "the Empire", "the Union", or its abbreviation of ARE are used.

Its citizens may be referred to as Aurlûnor-Ryzani, or simply as Aurlûnoren or Ryzani depending on which side of the empire they hail from.

Before the First Union
The earliest record of human habitation in the region is the Kozenstejn Culture, an archaeological grouping of various stone-age tribes that inhabited the lowlands of the central Syltör region. These early tribes coalesced in the west into agriculturalist groups known as the Ghûren, and slowly Dwarven and Elven peoples migrated from the east and west respectively into the region around the same time.

The large elven kingdom of Almador ruled over what would become Aurlûnor, and various dwarven holds ruled in the mountains of what became known as Durin. However, around 1000 BCA (-1900 SMP), the migration of the proto-Ryzani peoples from the land of Azia coincided with the collapse of Almador into the Warlord Era.

Aurlûnor was founded in the year 0 of the Twin Dragon Calendar (-807 SMP), and slowly regained the lands that comprised Almador and were still occupied by Celestial Elves, Kumiho, and the humans who would become the Aurlûnoren Humans. The state built itself up for centuries as the various Ryzani and Olthiac tribes consolidated.

First Union & Post-Union Periods
The first union between Aurlûnor and Ryzan was created in 848 ACA (42 SMP) between Tsar Canadian Toss and Velereth Sareariel Lelya-Earcala. The union was brief, and only lasted a single year, before its collapse. The state broke due to accusations on both sides and mutual distrust, which continued long after Ryzan and Aurlûnor split up.

The two nations had rocky relations, as Aurlûnor tried siding with Bardonia out of opportunism when the Bardonians tried to integrate Ryzan by conquest. Still, fear of Bardonian imperialism drew the two nations together, as did a growing number of shared dual citizens and the growth of the Twin Dragon religion into Ryzan. The nations had ups and downs; being allies in the Syltör League, then the Aurlûnoren occupation of Deutzan during the War in Ryzan, to the return of the Deutzan region and a brief embargo, to the rebuilding of relations once more. The Tsarina of the Ryvenate of Ryzan, Shan Yazovich Toss, was herself a member of the Lelya-Earcala dynasty, which aided in cementing friendly relations to the dynasty's matriarch Sareariel.

The defining moment of Aurlûnor-Ryzani relations prior to the second union was the Red Sun Campaign, wherein Josbar Liberium II, the king of Remtal, attempted to filibuster a part of western Aurlûnor for his own personal gain utilizing an army of mercenaries and Soleannan Imperium volunteers. Most of the rest of the Ryzani government resisted this, and working alongside Aurlûnor, the two prevented Josbar's soldiers from invading the city of Quacomar. Still, the threat of invasion led to Sareariel's abdication, and the creation of a regency under Chancellor Mao Meili.

The Chancellorate Era of Aurlûnor saw the rise of a union movement. Initially as a mere joke, the plan began to be taken seriously, as the Chancellorate government and Ryvenate began to work together towards unification. Finally, in 961 ACA, the two states signed the constitution of the Union and the union officially began. The regency in Aurlûnor ended as Tsarina Shan was chosen as Velereth, uniting the two states under one monarch.

Capital Vote
On the 13th of June, the nation held a vote on where the new capital of the Empire would be located.

The ballot included Poobshire, Haegiel, Quacomar and the Monarch themselves. All options were picked in a manner that did not show bias towards each of the two member states.

The vote concluded with Haegiel having the majority of the votes and being made the capital.

Laumont War
Along with the nations of Hearthstone Yuldai, Kingdom of Lennox, Archduchy of Borhammar, Dominion of Ashura, Aurlûnor-Ryzan declared war on the kingdom of Laumont in defense of Yaszria.

After the war ended with borders of both Laumont and Yaszria remaining unchanged, the empire recalled its troops from Haven.

Second Westmarch Crisis
On the 9th August 2022, Andreas issued an official declaration of war on Aurlûnor-Ryzan on behalf of Bardonia, stating that  'the dandelions have guided him to Aurlûnor-Ryzan' , and  'Let the Second West March War Begin'.

In response, Aurlûnor-Ryzan issued a state of emergency and prepared defenses at its border with Bardonia.

There were three skirmishes related to the conflict.

Carthya
Around the time of the initial declaration, Bardonian skirmishers raided Carthya City. While it is unclear what exactly happened or how many people were involved on either side, it is known that the Bardonians withdrew after attacking soldiers and residents of the city alike, with both sides sustaining moderate casualties.

Lobopolis
The Raid on Lobopolis was held on the evening of August 10th. A small gathering of citizens and foreign soldiers gathered at Carthya and launched a raid across Bardonia. The raid was initially aimed at New Dorrasterock, however the raiders found the city empty, and instead began to search for other towns to attack, eventually resulting in a skirmish in Lobopolis. The WLA army and its associates initially held the advantage, however one of the attackers was trapped after teleporting to the town; this bogged down the attacking WLA forces, who lost organization attempting to free their comrade and quickly were surrounded by Bardonian reinforcements and took heavy casualties. Whilst the raid was an undeniable loss for the WLA, its commanders and soldiers took it as a lesson on how to truly engage the Bardonians on their own turf.

Tossagrad
After the Raid on Lobopolis the WLA forces withdrew to Tossagrad, where they were reinforced by a small contingent of the Dual-Crown Military. A small Bardonian force moved to pursue the WLA forces and entered Tossagrad, but was forced to retreat after suffering casualties from the Dual-Crown reinforcements.

A few days after the declaration of war, Bardonia called it off.

Aurlûnor-Ryzan refused this, and attempted a counter offensive but this too, was called off. This left the two empires in a state of deep mistrust and tension.

Integration of Lennox and the United Crowns of Syltör
Following the West March Crisis and threats from Azurov's Domain following their secession from Tortuga, the Kingdom of Lennox decided it would be beneficial to join Aurlûnor-Ryzan and avoid a potential Bardonia-backed invasion. Lennox joined Aurlunor-Ryzan on August 24th 2022 as an Imperial Governate, putting it under direct control of the government as Avondale had been prior to the reunification of Andorn. Over the following month, much was conspired regarding Lennox's status in the Empire, and whether or not it would upgrade to become the third member of Aurlûnor-Ryzan. Finally, on September 25th, 2022, the United Crowns of Syltör was announced, the successor state to Aurlûnor-Ryzan and new name for the union. Among the many things announced, it was announced that Lennox, alongside Credia, would become the third member of the Union as the Diarchy of Lennox-Credia.