Kingdom of Vysaaria

Overview

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Vysaaria is a Federal Parliamentary Semi-Constitutional Monarchy¹ situated along most of the southern coast of the Continent of Aloria. Officially known as the Kingdom and Lands of the Vysaarii People, it consists of 11 provinces, and a single Autonomous Protectorate² known as Kyrilia. These seperate polities are broadly united through history, culture and geography, having developed alongside eachother and even fought in the past. Despite this, altogether these polities make up one of the major powers of the Continent.

Vysaaria acts primarily as a unitary state, despite its provinces and the special case of Kyrilia. The different constituent polities nonetheless maintain local Governance, Police Forces, and varying levels of Customary Law. The National Government still maintains absolute authority to determine foreign policy, national defense, citizenship, currency, and many other sections of Law. The colloquial name Vysaaria simply means Lands of the Vysaarii, a term that that doesn’t refer to a specific ethnicity or individual customs, but rather to the collective culture established in the country throughout its existance.

The capital city of Vysaaria is Hochenau, located north of Dygurschaff along the eastern banks of the Wyndsaar Straights.

While it is united primarily through its history, national culture and geography, it is nonetheless a linguistically and culturally diverse nation, with several officially recognised languages in use by local and national governmental bodies. The national education system broadly uses Tyvoni, a Creole that developed in the region based both on earlier local dialects and even contemporary languages, and that is broadly mutually interpretable with other languages spoken throughout Vysaaria.

Hasteig Constitution³ is the primary constitution of the Vysaarian Government.

History

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Early History

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Government

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Vysaaria’s government is officially defined as a Federal Parliamentary Semi-Constitutional Monarchy, though the Hasteig Constitution⁴ defines the state under Article 1a as “[…] a Constitutional Monarchy, where Political Power emanates from the People, while Stability emanates from the Crown”. The term Crown refers both to the legal institution of the monarchy and the National Government.

Constitution

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The Constitution of Vysaaria, officially known as the Hasteig Constitution⁴, was established in its current form in 11,768 by Queen Anja II. It established a separation of powers between the Crown, Legislative Assembly, Provincial Assembly, Royal Judiciary and Council of High Lords.

Legislative Assembly

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The Legislative Assembly is a representative body elected nationally under a system of universal, equal, direct, and secret suffrage according to the principles of approval voting and proportional representation. The Legislative Assembly is headed by a Chancellor of its own choice, who is the leader of a majority coalition government when one exists. In the absence of a majority, the Crown may appoint a Chancellor from a list of recommendations put forward by the Legislative Assembly itself.

The Legislative Assembly’s meetings are legally required to be public, unless a subject is considered highly sensitive and two-thirds of the Assembly agree to classify that session. Furthermore, the Legislative Assembly is required to release true and accurate reports of its proceedings to the public no later than 7 days after the session, unless it was classified. All resolutions of the Legislative Assembly require a simple majority other than Constitutional Amendments, and all votes must similarly be reported to the public. Classified sessions are declassified automatically 10 years after they are held, with a true and accurate report released to the public including all votes held, unless otherwise extended with authorisation of the Crown and the Royal Judiciary.

Crown

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The Monarch is chosen by method of Absolute Cognatic Tanistry, meaning that any member of the Royal Family may be elected to the position of Monarch regardless of age, gender or relation to the previous Monarch. They are chosen by a group known as the Prince-Electors, each of which represents one of the 11 provinces and often is simultaneously regional governor of that same province.

The Office of Prince-Elector of a province varies greatly throughout the provinces, though they must be of the family that holds the title related to that province⁵. Regardless of local customs, the Prince-Elector ultimately holds substantial political authority both locally and nationally, and often acts as a representative of the province even if they are not its governor.

Provincial Estate

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Despite the unicameral nature of the Legislative Assembly, the Provincial Estate exists as a primarily advisory body assembled at the request of the Crown. Its primary duty is to represent the States, with the Governors of each state acting as representative or choosing one in their absence. While not a permnantly standing body, it is required to approve of any Constitutional Amendment passed by the Legislative Assembly. When not assembled, the Provincial Assembly’s members are kept informed by the Legislative Assembly’s public reportings and are also informed of all classified sessions within 7 days of them being held.

Despite not being a permnant fixture of the legislative process, the Provincial Estate offers the provinces the ability to air concerns when they arise, and ensure that they consent to any change in the Constitution. While not as transparent as the Legislative Assembly, the Provincial Estate nonetheless makes up an important piece in protecting the democratic process and the local customs of the provinces.

Royal Judiciary

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The Royal Judiciary is a fully independent branch of the government in order to create a politically neutral and fair judicial system. Judges are appointed for life after being nominated for the post by the Crown, and approved by the Legislative Assembly. Candidates are required to have legal education, judicial experience and prior appointments before being nominated. These Judges can be removed by Judicial, Legislative or Crown decision for the execution of any crime, miscarriage of justice, corruption or inadequete physical or mental health.

Council of the High Lords

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The High Lords are a formal body of advisors to the Crown, including the Chancellor of the Legislative Assembly. Its other members are appointees of the Crown responsible for different aspects of the government, or subject matter experts in different fields. It is almost always made up of a Lord High Arbiter who heads the Judiciary, a Lord High Marshal who heads the Army, a Lord High Admiral who heads the Navy, and several other advisors who are experts in fields such as education, commerce and diplomacy.

The High Lords are not the Cabinet, however, despite the similar role. They are advisory in nature, and support the Crown, while the Chancellor maintains their own Cabinet of Ministers which hold more direct postings in the civilian government.

Provinces

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The provinces vary in naming conventions, culture, customs, religion, style of governance and even language across Vysaaria, but they all inherit the name and borders of a Feudal title that existed prior to the end of Feudalism in 11,602³. They are made up of three Duchies, two Marches, five Counties, and a Barony, with the tier of the title roughly corresponding to historical, political or military significance.

Duchy of Dygurschaff

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Accounting for 17% of the population and 15% of the area of Vysaaria, Dygurschaff is the largest province in both population and area. It is known as the breadbasket of Vysaaria, and is covered in seemingly endless fields of grain throughout its well irrigated interior. It also borders the Wyndsaar Straights on its western edge, and the Great Wansee Sea to its east, both offering it good access to the ocean. This has also led it to develop large coastal towns known for their fishing on both ends of the province.

Duchy of Ehrenfeld

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South of Dygurschaff and accounting for 13% of the population and 14% of the area of Vysaaria, Ehrenfeld is a the home of the Royal Family and is known for its vast wetlands, pine barrens, and temperate rain forests along its southern coast. It is not quite as agrarian in nature as Dygurschaff’s interior, nor as maritime as Wyndsaar, Ehrenfeld acts as a sort of baseline for the Provinces and is generally the image conjured when Vysaaria is mentioned as a whole.

Duchy of Wyndsaar

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Made up primarily of the large Isle of Wyndsaar and several smaller islands, Wyndsaar accounts for 14% of the population and 15% of the area of Vysaaria. It is known primarily for its maritime tradition, extensive wetlands, and chivalric history and was the last of the Duchies to be added to Vysaaria in 11,374 after the then Prince of Wyndsaar, Prince Ydwin, was elected Prince-Tanist of Vysaaria forming a Personal Union. After being permnantly integrated in 11,595 by King August I, Wyndsaar became increasingly influenced by Vysaarian culture and viceversa. Today, Wyndsaari culture is a core component of the wider Vysaarian culture, and it acts as one of the most influence provinces.

March of Esenwaldlant

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The furthest west of the Provinces, Esenwaldlandt is dominated by vast forests stretched accross hills and mountains from its coast to the peaks just south of Kyrilia. It accounts for a little over 13% of Vysaaria’s area and population, and borders the foreign nation of Rutenlandt to its west. It is culturally diverse, being made up not only of Vysaarians, but Wyndsaari and Ruteni peoples in its many towns and cities spread throughout its vast wilderness. Its natural boundaries make it strategically vital in the Western theatre of Vysaaria, and offer the Kingdom the ability to deny invaders access to the heartland via the West.

March of Heimarre

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The furthest east of the Provinces, Heimarre is a primarily rocky and coastal province with some internal grasslands that borders the Gystgari Empire to the south and east. Despite its status as a March, it only makes of 7% of Vysaaria’s area and 8% of its population. Its importance more so derived from its strategic position and role as the boundary in the direction of Gystgar. Heimarre has a long history as a battleground for various campaigns and wars between Vysaaria and Gystgar, and hosts an extensive military presence, with the accompanying infrastructure increasingly fueling settlement.

County of Neustria

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A relatively flat coastal province, Neustria accounts for 7% of Vysaaria’s area and 8% of its population, and sits happily at the very heart of the country. It is known for its lowlands, extensive farms, and seemingly endless windmills. It borders the Great Wansee Sea to its west, with many rivers from the north terminating along its coast. Despite its central location, Neustria has never been a particularly significant subject of political or military conflict, instead being extremely passive and known for its peaceful peoples in the time before the unification of Vysaaria.

County of Steinbach

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Just across the Great Wansee Sea to the northwest of Neustria, Steinbach similarly makes up 7% of Vysaaria’s area and 8% of its population, but is known instead for its many rivers, estuaries and deltas and the extensive farmlands that developed because of them. Its capital city, Kandorf, is a vital center of commerce between the provinces and the more populated areas of Kyrilia to the north, with the Bienau river accounting for the vast majority of trade up to the Kyrilian capital of Krisla.

County of Marhelheim

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Dominated and divided by the gigantic Lausach river, Marhelheim is dominated by temperate rain forests and wetlands. Its black soil is of particular value to its agricultural sector, though it is better known as a hub of trade being positioned just along the Wyndsaar Straights, next to the national capital of Hochenau, and sporting the widest river in the known world. Despite this significant trade and political importance, Marhelheim only accounts for 6% of Vysaaria’s area and 7% of its population. It is known for its many small baronies and lordships along the banks of the Lausach, with vast fortifications established either side of it for its entire 300 mile stretch.

County of Eiberie

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A nearly landlocked province, Eiberie just barely reaches the sea through a slim portion of the coast along the Great Wansee Sea between Neustria and Steinbach. It is dominated by rolling hills and grasslands, and an extensive taiga in its north as the hills turn to mountains near the border with Kyrilia. It makes up 8% of Vysaaria’s area and 6% of its population, and is best known for its skiing during the winter months in the mountains in its interior.

County of Sengenlandt

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The final county, just to the north of Heimarre and bordering the Grand Duchy of Walbia to its northeast, Sengenlandt is defined by the expansive and strategic fortress city of Neusengen, which is positioned in the heart of the County. Of the provinces, Sengenlandt is the northernmost and highest in terms of elevation, primarily made up of extensive taiga, mountains and fortified mountain passes protectign the interior from the East. Accounting for 8% of the area and 5% of the population of Vysaaria, Sengenlandt’s importance is chiefly strategic in the modern age, though the fortress city of Neusengen was the center of many powerful military regimes throughout the pre-Unification period.

Barony of Hochenau

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The capital of Vysaaria, Hochenau, is seperated into its own province that accounts for 1% of both area and population of Vysaaria, but is nonetheless the most political vital of the provinces. The city itself was established from the ground up to act as capital of the country in 11,703, and was part of the Duchy of Dygurschaff until 11,885 making it the youngest province by far. Despite its short existance as a province in its own right, its strategic position and role as the capital of the nation make it the heart of culture and trade for the entire nation.

Kyrilian Protectorate

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Existing in a state of personal union with Vysaaria, Kyrilia maintains its own Army, Customs, Laws and culture carried over from its extensive history as a sovereign entity. It dominates the center of the continent of Aloria in its high mountains, with glaciers at its most extreme peaks leftover from the last ice age. If it was directly counted as part of Vysaaria, it would account for almost a quarter of its area and just under a tenth of its population, though it is broadly not considered a direct part of the nation. Its most populated areas are along two rivers seperated by its expansive mountain ranges. The Lausach in the West, and the Bienau in the East, along with hundreds of other rivers throughout Vysaaria originate in Kyrilia and act as the primary methods of travel and trade to the distance settlements populated by the Kyrils.

Kyrilian Culture

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Kyrilia is defined by its matriarchal culture and religion, often referred to simply as Kyrilism. Kyrils are easily identifiable by their wearing of the Darsakan, a red cloth with intricate braiding in white and other shades of red across it. These are worn by Kyrils as a symbol of their faith, but in more agnostic circles also of their culture, as scarves, sashs, headbands, belts, and in many other methods. The core feature of Kyrilism is the worship of the Blood Goddess, Kyra, who all Kyrils are believed to be descended from, and a veneration for nature that has come to define the governance of the territory with resource extraction banned. Communities are organized along familial lines as Clans, with a Clan Mother being the head of local and town communities. Clans are generally much larger than a nuclear family, and often maintain their own unique customs and beliefs, with some extending far beyond local communities and including large swathes of territory and many different towns.

Kyrilian Government

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The Monarch of Vysaaria acts as the Head of State for Kyrilia, through the title Lord (or Lady) Protector of Kyrilia, with a locally elected Minister-President acting as the Head of Government. The Kyrilian Council acts similarly to the legislatures of other provinces, and is to varrying degrees subject to the Vysaarian Legislative Assembly with special consideration nessecary for the application of most laws to Kyrilia. The Royal Family of Vysaaria are believed to be direct descendants of Kyra, and are semi-venerated because of that association, though the male Lord Protectors tend to be far less respected than the female Lady Protectors are, given the matriarchal nature of Kyril culture.

Kyrilian Military

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Kyrilia maintains its own Army, the Maavahti Kyrilma, often referred to simply as the Territorials. During wartime, the Territorials are absorbed into the Armiya Vysaarii, though during peacetime they are fully autonomous. They are equipped, trained, and organized by the Armiya Vysaarii, though use their own distinctive cultural uniforms. It has acquired a unique reputation as a highly professional military trained for mountain warfare, and it is a fully volunteer force with local communities establishing their own units for the Territorials.