Side Story 2.5: The Regions in the Central-West and Central-East of the Central Subcontinent of Arkanus.
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Territorial Division and Imperial Control
The Central Subcontinent of Arkanus stands as one of the most strategically significant landmasses in the known world, it has a total land area of 70 millions square kilometers , divided into two primary administrative zones that reflect both geographical boundaries and political influence. The Central-West side encompasses twenty-four distinct regions, each with its own unique cultural identity and governance structure. Of these twenty-four territories, eight fall under the direct administration of the mighty Empire of Elms-Arkanus, specifically Regions 1 through 4 in the northern territories and Regions 21 through 24 in the southern reaches.
The Empire's strategic positioning is no mere coincidence. By controlling both the northern and southern corridors of the Central-West's Great River, Elms-Arkanus maintains crucial oversight of trade routes, military movements, and diplomatic communications that flow through the subcontinent through the Great River. The total land area of this combined central-western region spans an impressive 35 million square kilometers, making it a territory of continental proportions that rivals the greatest empires in recorded history.
What truly sets the Empire of Elms-Arkanus apart from other regional powers is its stewardship of the subcontinent's most remarkable natural features. The Empire serves as the guardian of the Great Forests of Arkanus, vast woodland expanses that contain some of the oldest and most mystical trees in existence. These ancient groves are said to hold secrets of the old world and serve as sanctuaries for creatures and beasts both mundane and magical. The Great Ridges, towering mountain ranges that form natural fortifications that divide the subcontinent in two, provide the Empire with unparalleled defensive advantages while also housing valuable mineral deposits and strategic watchtowers, which is strictly guarded by the Ancient Dragons and the other mythical beasts that lived there. Perhaps most significantly, the Empire oversees the Great Caldera of Arkanus, a massive crater formation that was once the beating heart of the old Empire of Arkanus. But is now considered an area banned of human presence at least for the known world, what the three continents know is that the dragons and other beasts ruled and roamed this area.
These three great natural features alone encompass approximately 5 million square kilometers, not including the additional territories under imperial management. The remaining 32.5 million square kilometers of regional land territory are distributed among the various kingdoms, principalities, sovereignties and city-states that comprise the political tapestry of the Central-West.
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The Central-Eastern Counterpart
Mirroring its western counterpart, the Central-East side of the Central Subcontinent comprises thirty regions, reflecting the slightly larger size and more fragmented political landscape of the eastern territories. Of these thirty regions, ten fall under the administrative control of the Empire of Elms-Arkanus, specifically Regions 1 through 5 in the north and Regions 26 through 30 in the south. This distribution demonstrates the Empire's commitment to maintaining balanced influence across both halves of the subcontinent while respecting the autonomy of the central regions.
The eastern territories share the same total land area of 35 million square kilometers with their western neighbors, of which they also have a distributed area of 32.5 square kilometers and the other hand of the Great Forests and the Great Caldera, creating a perfectly balanced continental system. The Empire's management of the Great Forests, Great Ridges, and Great Caldera extends seamlessly across both eastern and western zones, emphasizing the interconnected nature of these natural wonders and the Empire's role as their unified protector.
The total land area of the entirety of the continent is 70 millions square kilometers.
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The Grand Assembly: Democracy in Action
The political heart of the Central Subcontinent beats strongest in the Western Subcontinent in the magnificent city of Aethelgard, the capital and crown jewel of the Empire of Elms-Arkanus. Here, in the neutral grounds carefully maintained by imperial decree, stands the Grand Assembly Hall, an architectural marvel that serves as the meeting place for the most important diplomatic gatherings of the two continents. This imposing structure, with its soaring columns and intricate stonework, represents the pinnacle of political cooperation and regional unity.
The Grand Assembly operates as a monthly convocation where representatives from all fifty-four regions (twenty-four from the Central-West and thirty from the Central-East) gather to address matters of continental importance. While Emperor Janus himself occasionally presides over these sessions when circumstances demand his direct attention, the day-to-day operations are expertly managed by the Empire's most trusted advisors: the Grand Advisor, the Grand Magus, and the venerable Elder Solomon Brand Elmsvale, whose wisdom and diplomatic acumen have helped maintain peace and cooperation for decades.
These monthly gatherings serve multiple crucial functions that extend far beyond mere ceremonial purposes. Primary among these is the fostering of solidarity between regions that might otherwise remain isolated or antagonistic toward one another. The Assembly provides a forum for addressing continental challenges that require coordinated responses, from trade disputes and resource allocation to natural disasters and external threats. Perhaps most importantly, the Assembly serves as the ultimate authority for declaring states of war against external invaders who might threaten the sovereignty and security of the Central Subcontinent.
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Governance and Justice
The Assembly operates under a sophisticated system of democratic principles that balance regional autonomy with continental unity. While inter-regional conflicts are not explicitly prohibited, the Assembly maintains the authority to condemn such actions and impose consequences on aggressor states. A two-thirds majority vote is required to demand cessation of hostilities between member regions, ensuring that conflicts do not escalate beyond manageable proportions.
For continental laws and policies to be enacted and implemented across all territories, unanimous support from all member states is required, reflecting the Assembly's commitment to consensus-building and mutual respect. Regions that fail to comply with Assembly decisions face a graduated system of consequences, ranging from verbal admonishments and temporary exclusion from Assembly proceedings to economic sanctions, complete banishment, and, in extreme cases, invasion and forced assimilation by neighboring regions.
The Assembly also serves as a continental court of last resort, where regions can bring formal complaints against neighbors who have violated agreements or committed hostile acts. These proceedings are conducted with full transparency and due process, with the Assembly serving as both judge and jury in determining appropriate responses to regional grievances.
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The Principle of Non-Interference
The foundational principle governing all Assembly operations is the doctrine of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign regions. Each territory maintains complete autonomy over its domestic laws, customs, and governance structures, with the Assembly intervening only when actions by one region directly threaten the security or sovereignty of another. However, when such violations occur, the Assembly is empowered to authorize defensive wars and coordinate regional alliances to protect threatened territories.
This principle was recently tested in the ongoing conflict involving the Kingdom of Arwen and the Kingdom of Ogind. When Arwen's leadership ordered their emissary, Baron Toffer, to instigate disturbances and commit atrocities within the Principality of Ogind—a territory under the sovereign protection of the Kingdom of Ogind—the Assembly was forced to address this clear violation of the non-interference doctrine. The resulting diplomatic crisis has highlighted both the strengths and limitations of the Assembly system, as regional alliances form to support their respective allies while seeking resolution through established channels.
The Central Subcontinent of Arkanus thus stands as a testament to the possibility of balancing regional independence with continental cooperation, creating a system of governance that has maintained relative peace and prosperity for generations while adapting to meet new challenges as they arise.