Aelmere Federation

Dating back thousands of years, the continent of Aelmys was largely divided up amongst a myriad of dynasties and tribes. Alliances were common between different tribes, though they rarely grew to encapsulate more than three. Outside of their own alliances, tribes were rather isolationist, preferring to trade exclusively with their trusted partners. Wars were not uncommon, however, but they were predominantly small scale.

The most powerful was the Keikôri dynasty, located along the north-central coast of the continent due to its fertile land and river systems for growing rice. Most of the tribes were predominantly located along the central column of the continent, steering away from the eastern and western edges due to their geography. The mountainous Charred Ridge along the eastern coast and its surrounding plateau prevented those who lived their from expanding their reach, and the eastern desert was equally inhospitable. It is because of said geography that they remained rather isolated and cut off from the rest of the world when the idea of international trade was becoming to come about.

Compared to the rest of the world, the continent of Aelmys was not overly advanced, largely due to its fragmentation. Its civilizations were the first ones to make use of many metals' magnetic properties (something that they still excel at today). They were also incredibly adept farmers with advanced irrigation systems, water locks, and dykes, though all relatively small in scale. Other notable inventions include various martial arts, steel forges, and complex woodworking joints.

Come 9896 AE, however, and the continent was first colonized by the Royal Caskyan Empire. The first wave of colonizers comprised of soldiers from the Royal Army and Ilumiére missionaries. They made first landfall within Keikôri territory and were greeted as envoys. Once more began arriving, the kingdom opted to turn them back, though the Caskyan's possession of muskets and artillery decimated what meager defense the kingdom could mount. Within forty years all major tribes and kingdoms were colonized by the Caskyans.

Many Caskyans started immigrating to Aelmys, mainly divided into two groups: nobles who were granted or bought new land to govern, or farmers and peasants who were sent over to work the fields as indentured servants. The Empire also deposited many a criminal from the Caskyan archipelago, making Aelmys a wildly diverse and profitable colony.

In following with the Empire's laws, the Canisean and Felonian populations were treated quite differently. The indigenous Felonian population was largely enslaved and forced to work in sugar farms or iron and silver mines. Canisean males could taken from their homes at a young age and sent to boarding schools set up by the Empire. There, they would learn about Caskyan culture, ideology, and the Empire's guiding religion, Ilumiéne. Said religion's teachings were the basis of the Empire's treatment towards Felonians. Once they came of age, the boys would be conscripted into the Royal Guard, never to see their family again. The population become indoctrinated into Caskyan ideology within a few generations as the various cultures of Aelmys were erased and forgotten by most. Canisean girls hailing from Aelmys were commonly taken to nobles' homes and trained to be servants or married off to Caskyan officers.

Like before Caskyan colonization, Aelmys was divided up into different regions. The Governors of these regions oversaw the rapid industrialization and transportation of goods back to the Caskyan homeland. What had been the Keikôri kingdom became the Province of Asteria and was central the Empire's central trade hum on the continent.

In 10030 AE, the Royal Governor of Asteria, Denisot Beaufremont, defected from the Empire. He had served the Emperor for close to three decades, born into nobility, and had been a decorated war hero. However, he slowly developed a degree of self-awareness, partly by drifting away from the Ilumiére church and becoming an atheist, partly by reading the controversial philosophers of his day. He became interested in the realms of intrinsic rights and egalitarianism, and upon defecting, he published the Tiberius Manifesto. In it, he calls for the guaranteed provisions of food, shelter, medicine, and education for all, a meritocratic government, and the equal treatment of all individuals regardless of sex, race, and class.

The ruling class of the colony did not take well to his succession and put a bounty on his head. His radical ideas undermined their authority, religion, and ideology.

The man, now going by the name Knox Tiberius, had converted all of his assets into gold before defecting and used the money to lay the foundations of the Silver Star, an organization named after the brutal silver mines employed by the Caskyans, focused on bringing about a cultural, economic, and political revolution. The organization initially sent out delegates to towns and the provincial capitals to bring about change using diplomacy, though all of them were captured and imprisoned. Believing that revolution could only come about via violent means, Tiberius decided to pivot and begin using his wealth to arm insurgents, changing the Silver Star into a paramilitary organization.

Using guerilla tactics such as the liberation of labor camps and plantations, the kidnapping of officials' children, the assassination of political figures, and the sabotage of shipping ports, the Silver Star created a riff amongst the populace. Many indigenous people saw the organizations barbarity and radicalism is dangerous and frightening; on the other side of the spectrum, many Caskyans began agreeing with the Tiberius Manifesto, decrying the Empire's treatment of indigenous Felonians and Caniseans alike. One such Caskyan, Claire Garniér, was a soon-to-be duchess who joined up with the Silver Stars.

Over the next five years, the Silver Star would continue to wage war against the Royal Caskyan Empire. Its mission would expand towards the ensured prosperity and liberation of Aelmys from imperial rule. The idea of a unified, national identity also arose within the movement with revolutionaries calling themselves Aelmerians.

The rebellion was not one of nationality, ethnicity, or religion, however. As mentioned previously, many indigenous Caniseans and Felonians sided with the Caskyans, and the Silver Star had no qualms about killing them. Instead, it was one purely about ideology, building off the ideas of nationalism and socialism.

As the years went on, the Silver Star spread to provinces outside of Asteria and grew increasingly violent. However, the organization also acted as humanitarians, aiding those who were injured, in need of supplies, or outcasted. They built schools in liberated provinces, protected individuals from gangs, and organized subsidies for farmers and craftsmen. This does not excuse their tactics, though. Blackmail, extortion, threats, and assassinations were not above them. They knew that they could not go toe to toe against the Royal Caskyan Army, so they went after the defenseless and powerful.

The war lasted for five years with the Silver Star declaring victory at the end of the so-called "Liberation Revolt." Tens of thousands were dead on both sides with the Caskyan colonists having their houses burned down in the middle of the night and Aelmerian natives being rounded up and killed to prevent anyone from joining the resistance. Both sides committed war crimes, though some justify the Silver Star’s actions by saying that strong action was required in order for peace to eventually be gained. Others say that atrocities do not excuse other atrocities, and many Caskyan philosophers said that rebelling against one’s leader gives said leader the power to do whatever he deems necessary to reinstall order.

Regardless of which side was (and still is) right, the continent of Aelmys eventually achieved independence. Leadership positions were given to individuals who had proven their aptitude in strategy, civil engineering, and the organization of assets, regardless of the individual’s background. Many Caskyans gained roles high up in the newly formed government as well. A person’s national identity changed from where they were born to what they believed in.

Those formerly inhabiting Aelmys but against the new government fled to a nearby archipelago, forming the nation of Qi Sheng. Most of the Caskyan nobility on Aelmys returned home, and the Empire established a much more symbiotic relationship with Qi Sheng as Aelmys was isolated from the rest of the world and abandoned by the Empire.

With the Silver Star controlling the continent, the newly formed government remained deeply connected with the military. In 10035 AE, envoys from the original ten, colonial provinces met in a town along the Green River called Taipys, drafting the Articles of the Federation. Using the military as the basis for a meritocratic government, the top ten highest ranking individuals would form the Generals Council, unable to participate in any other governing or military body. They would select the Sentinel of the Federation, in charge of discharging their duties of governance, serving as the head of state and the head of government and free to select various Ministers at their discretion to delegate governing. The Sentinel acts with high degrees of autonomy, though the Generals Council holds absolute power and is able to override any decision made by the Sentinel with a majority vote. In the event of a 5-5 vote on the council, the Sentinel acts as the tie breaker.

Admiral Knox Tiberius was selected as the inaugural Sentinel due to his popularity with the general populace, idealism, and proven strategic acumen. His chief economic advisor, Claire Garniér, was chosen to be his Economic Minister. Her policy suggestions were essential in forming the centralized economy and labor institutions directly following the creation of the Aelmere Federation. Many historians would argue that she was Tiberius' closest ally in his administration, connecting with him through their shared experience coming from the Caskyan nobility.

Sentinel Tiberius' Defense Minister was a former peasant farmer who joined onto the Silver Star early on the revolution