Ionar

Local Region:
Capital:	Ionara
Demonym:	Ionites
Government
Ionar Emergency Council
Demographics
Religion:	Church of Myrae (Frequently referred to as the Orthodoxy)

“	And all the while, Ionar collapses around our ears. [...] This nation was built to be a monarchy. Until the court can finally decide on someone to elect to the position, we're effectively dead in the water. The court convenes once every three months, but that's not nearly enough to effectively moderate our country.	”
—Lord Carmaile of Tuarm, Unorthodox Behavior

The Kingdom of Ionar (colloquially just "Ionar") is a nation in UtSS. A formerly-strong monarchy, the nation has been slowly losing strength since the assassination of its last king, King Bramson, over 10 years ago.

Geography

Ionar currently consists of the western coast of the Thryn mainland and two islands off the western coast. The southern edge of the country shares a border with Zanara, while the northeastern side is boxed in by the Glitterdust Mountains. Ironways connect the three mainland cities.

Northern Ionar

Northern Ionar is dominated by the Glitterdust Plains and Glitterdust Mountains. The mountains meet up with the sea at the northern tip of Ionar territory, effectively boxing it in. At the north end, the city of Tuarm is situated on the coast, where further south, the kingdom's capital Ionara sits partially-protected by the mountains.

Glitterdust Mountains

A large, tall mountain range on Ionar's northeast border, the Glitterdust Mountains are Ionar's primary source of iron. So named because of unusually high amounts of quartz dust, and because the mountains are sometimes said to glitter when daylight strikes it just right.

The mountains are dotted with Ionite mines and small mining camps, and are also home to some ancient tombs of long-deceased kings. Additionally, the mountain range acts as a protective barrier for northern Ionar, shielding it from hostile invasion.

The quartz dust from the mountains is sometimes used in lower-class decorative jewelry, but is otherwise worthless.

Southern Ionar

Southern Ionar is fairly unimpressive. The only major city is Targus, located near the border, and the area is dominated by the Ionite plains. The eastern border is marked by the Ion Forest. Notably, while lacking in major civilization, the area is pockmarked by various small villages and hamlets, mostly beneath the notice of the Ionite Council

Artus Isle

The south-most of Ionar's two islands. Highly fertile land makes it perfect for agriculture, something which the city of Artus thrives on.

Greyfog Isle

The north-most of Ionar's two islands. Rather fertile, and a notable habitat for the Ionar Smoking Frog, the defense mechanism of which providing the isle's namesake. The small town of Gammon is on the coast, along with several smaller hamlets.

Turnblood Isles

Notably, in the past, Ionar used to control the islands directly north of Tuarm, along with the large island west of Grayfog. However, as Ionar's political situation destabilized, the lords of these islands declared independence from Ionar, attempting to form nations of their own. Ionar has threatened reprisal, but in its weakened state, is currently unwilling to actually bring forces to bear against the islands, save for minor skirmishes.

Politics

For the past 112 years, Ionar has been an elective monarchy. However, there are technically two ruling parties: the elected king, who holds absolute power along with any immediate advisors, and the Ionite Council, which acts to assist the king, unite the various Ionite lords, and if necessary, elect a new king.

Monarchy

An elective monarchy, Ionar is generally ruled by a single king, assisted by advisors and the Ionite council. The tenure of any king is indefinite, lasting until either the king dies or is deposed by the council; thusfar, no king has been deposed, with all five of Ionar's former kings having died of various causes.

The king's word is law: Any orders given by the king must be carried out. Additionally, if any of his advisors give an order, that order must also be carried out as if the king himself gave it. Despite this, the running of cities is usually left to City Lords, with only larger economic, political, or wartime decisions being handled by the king himself.

All four of Ionar's monarchs have been male; this is not because of Ionar law, which does allow females to take the throne, but simply due to Ionar's nobility demographic, which is primarily male.

Succession is decided by the current king, who chooses who amongst nobility will follow him. If no decision is made, the council decides who to elect.

The kings of Ionar, in chronological order of their rule, is as follows:

• King Ionar: Founder of the Kingdom of Ionar. Set a considerable amount of the Ionite legislation into place. Died of natural causes.
• King Ablume: Ionar's second king, selected by King Ionar before his passing. Reign ended after his executive airship (which at the time used hydrogen) caught fire and crashed.
• King Sydeny: Ionar's third king, elected by the council and former lord of Tuarm. Led a massive campaign, greatly expanding Ionar's territory and influence, and is directly responsible for Ionar's golden age. Died of old age.
• King Bramson: Ionar's fourth, and currently final, king. Assassinated two years into his reign with no successor.

At this point in time, Ionar started fracturing. The council was unable to determine who to elect to the position, and has failed to do so for the past 10 years.

Ionite Council

The Ionite Council is the second part of Ionar's ruling class. Composed of Ionar's combined City and Regional Lords, Ionite Military Commanders, and Ionite Nobility, the council acts as both a way for the entire upper-class to be heard in all respects, and as a check on the king's power.

The council convenes once every three months in the Grand Court of Ionar. During this meeting, new proposals from various lords and nobles are heard by both the king and the council, and the council votes on which measures pass and fail.

In the event that a dangerous or despotic king should take the throne, the council's job is to remove him. This is done via near-unanimous consensus during a meeting in the Grand Court of Ionar, along with a majority vote for a replacement. Should such a consensus come to pass, the reigning monarch must step off the throne immediately, or be guilty of high treason (which carries with it a kill-on-sight order). The replacement monarch will then take control.

The council's second function is to act in the king's stead should the king fail to select a successor before his passing. The council meets precisely one week after the king's passing and debates who should take the throne. If no decision can be made, the council will readdress the issue in one of their quarterly meetings.

City and Regional Lords

City and Regional lords act as local monarchs over a single city or group of towns, within the limits of Ionar law and in compliance with the King's and Council's orders. City Lords, such as Lord Carmaile, run a single city, whilst Regional Lords handle a small region. Both are considered high nobility within Ionar (City Lords slightly more so), and are capable of controlling economic, military, and legal issues within their own domain.

Nobility

The rest of the aristocracy holds little political power, other than what the council grants them. However, nobles and the upper-class have more entitlements and greater rights under Ionar law, and additionally, are eligible for the throne.

Military and Peacekeeping

In light of recent times, Ionar's once-strong military has dwindled in power. Most City Lords have pulled military forces inward, protecting their cities from attack. This has resulted in pockets of extremely hard military resistance, with very little left to patrol the countryside.

Army and Ground Forces

Ionar ground forces are fairly strong. Decent training, voluntary enlistment, and good weaponry all combine to make a very reasonable fighting force with strong morale. However, it also results in fairly low numbers, when compared to other nations. Ionar's army can be divided into three main divisions: Infantry, Cavalry, and Armored.

The Infantry serves as the backbone of the Ionite Army. Usually being equipped with Blackguard Vizsla Rifles and Wolfen Combat Pistols, their main purpose is to act as Ionar's primary combat force, protecting cities, ironways, and roads, or alternatively launching assaults against enemy forces. All soldiers in the Ionite military, regardless of aspirations or desired branch, must serve at least six months of active duty as infantry before moving to another division or branch. Infantry typically wears a standard maroon uniform.

The Cavalry acts primarily as Ionar's reconnaissance and raiding forces. They're also frequently employed as messengers, or as fast-attack groups to intercept enemy forces. They carry cavalry swords in addition to standard infantry load-outs, taking warhorses as their mounts. As faster and more powerful airships have been developed, cavalry's roles in Ionar's military have been dwindling. However, they're still frequently used in situations where airships are impractical for whatever reason (such as heavy anti-air presence). Cavalry uniform is maroon with a single golden stripe from left shoulder to right leg.

Finally, the Armored division is the Ionite army's smallest division, formed of Ionar's elite shock troops. Usually promoted from the best of Ionar's Infantry division, the Armored is a force to be reckoned with. Typically equipped with Ionic Submachine Guns, though some prefer Vizsla rifles, they also wear artificed Brigandines, making them a nightmare to deal with. Typically used for Lordly security, special ops, or reinforcing regular infantry, any who have faced them in a fight agree that their maroon-with-silver-stripes brigandines are a terrifying sight to behold.

Navy

Ionar boasts a small but strong navy to protect its isles and coast. In a change from normal Ionar procedure, the Ionite navy lacks any massive battleships or cruisers, instead preferring to use smaller and faster ships. Organization of naval vessels is fairly loose. Most ships fall under one of four classes.

Destroyers: Ionar's largest class of combat vessel, typically carrying 12-20 Cloudscar Machineguns and 8-10 Cloudscar Anti-Vehicular Cannons, Ionar Destroyers are fast, heavily-armored Ironclad ships. Generally used to take on other naval vessels or airships, or escort less-protected vessels. The largest vessel in the Ionar fleet is the IMS Paladin, carrying a stunning 28 machineguns and 14 CAVCs. Most Destroyers in Ionar's navy usually carry one or more racks of Cloudscar Rockets for longer-distance bombardment against massed fleets.

Rocket Frigates: Floating ironclad artillery platforms, rocket frigates are slightly smaller than destroyers, and carry only 4 Cloudscar Machineguns. The rest of the weaponry is replaced with Cloudscar Rockets, of either Explosive or Incendiary varieties. They're typically used for shore bombardment of forts, cities, or amassed enemy troops. However, some rocket frigates have used their rockets to strong effect against large airfleets. They're also typically escorted by Destroyers, and considerably less armored to improve speed.

Corvettes: Ionar's smallest and fastest vessels meant for scouting or fast attacks. Typically, armaments includes 6-10 Cloudscar machineguns, a single forward CAVC, and a few racks of rockets in the event of heavier resistance, these lightly armored ironclads rely on speed and small profile to survive.

Tamacts: Their name deriving from their specification (Troop and materiel armored combat transport vessel), Tamacts are meant to move troops or supplies in dangerous territory. Ionar Tamacts are not to be underestimated; Typically carrying 5-8 machinegun emplacements, 2 CAVCs, and heavy armor, Tamacts more than make up for their large profile and slow speed.

Airfleet

Once the shining star of Ionar's military, the Ionite Airfleet has fallen into severe disrepair and obsolescence. Indeed, Ionar has the weakest Air presence on Thryn. Most Ionar airships are of the heavier varieties; primarily gunships, bombers, and Ionite Battlezepplins.

Enforcers

The law enforcement of Ionar, Enforcers serve as the civil investigative services and justice system. Enforcers act not only as police in Ionar, they also act as the judicial system, with a small "Judicial Circle" deciding each case.

Standard Armaments for active-duty Enforcers is a Vizsla Rifle, along with an older model Ionic Handgun.

Adjuvants

Generally considered the highest authority next to Lords or the King himself, Adjuvants are highly-trained men and women of noble blood, acting above typical authority. Their duties are to protect their master with their life, and to act as their master's eyes and ears within his or her domain. They are also expected to covertly carry out tasks on their master's behalf; this sometimes extends as far as assassination and political cover-up.

Adjuvants are directly appointed by their master, but are generally expected to keep a low profile; those who bandy about or abuse their new position tend to meet an unfortunate end by another Adjuvant. They typically carry one or more handguns, kept concealed, and are also trained in either swordplay or hand-to-hand combat. Some are also mildly skilled in artifice.

Notably, there are also Foreign Adjuvants; these Adjuvants, rather than staying at home, are instead sent to neighboring countries to gather intelligence or act as diplomats.

Economy

Historically, Ionar's economy has always been tightly controlled by the ruling class. However, in recent times, the market has been freeing up thanks to the political troubles in Ionar.

Culture

Ionar has always prided itself on its culture, which revolves around its religious roots.

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