Old Regime

## History

### Monarchy

For over eight centuries, monarchic rulers reigned over the Red nation. This monarchic system came about after a long period of internal peace under tribal councils, and for the most part that peace was preserved. Apart from small-scale local revolts or conflicts, there were no uprisings against the monarchic Red leadership.

### Consolidated Power

Internal peace led to internal prosperity. This period of peace and prosperity made Red civilians fairly disinterested with leadership and internal politics. Their preoccupations ranged from newly opened trade with foreign nations to the management of unexpectedly high agricultural yields. For this reason, the monarchic Red government was able to deviate from their consular roots and concentrate power in the hands of a select few within the city of Jogorod. There was no opposition from the populace.

### Claps' Origin

The individual known as “Claps” remains a mysterious historical figure to this day. However, part of their background is on formal record. They had been a volunteer soldier for several years, serving as a lightly-armored foot soldier, then a scout. When steam airships were first designed and prototyped, the Red monarch made the controversial choice to add them to the ranks of the Red military. Having seen the impressive forces of other nations, the monarch focused on mechanizing their own army. They feared that any technological lag would prove a fatal weakness if the peace were to end. Claps was a brave and experienced fighter and scout, and so was a clear choice to man these experimental craft. The success of these early airships brought these pilots into privileged positions, Claps included. Informal accounts allege that Claps was a favorite of the monarch at this time, and was often a guest at court. A few years later, Claps was hand-picked to become the monarch’s advisor for all military affairs. Claps was trusted for their bravery, experience, and tactical skill.

### Influence

Claps’ promotion to an advisory position was one of many. The monarch had quietly seized many powers that had before been delegated to other officials, and for this reason required skilled advisors that- importantly- were loyal to the crown. This move from the monarch put Claps in a small circle of powerful people with a direct influence on the power in Red. We have few records of this time period, and almost nothing is known about interactions between Claps and the monarch themselves. There are traces of several domestic military interventions that were most likely orchestrated by Claps, but we do not know how much control the monarch had on them. These campaigns imply that Claps’ influence grew over time, and that the monarch was losing their grip.

### Treachery and the Old Regime

Only a few months after returning from a campaign in the cold south-east of Red, Claps overthrew the monarch and seized full power. The exact details remain mysterious. Immediately, the former council of advisors was disbanded, with all power in Claps’ hands alone. This newly concentrated power enabled a large-scale series of reforms like none that had come before them. Claps imposed on freedom of the press, freedom to gather and organize, and freedom of speech. This society was termed the Red Dominion, and is now called the Old Regime.

Claps renamed the capital "Sloliclapingrad" and replaced the former advisors with newly appointed members, consolidating his power. One went on to form Happenstance from the previously existent spy agencies, and the other became a military advisor. More advisors were appointed throughout the Old Regime, and their actions have lasting, though subtler, effects to this day.

### Religion and Rediscovery

Claps imposed harsh religious policy, promoting Blood theologies and restricting the practice of the Flame and Rose religions. The reasons for this policy are still somewhat mysterious, but modern scholars largely believe that Claps viewed Blood ideologies as stronger, and thought Rose animism and Flame mysticism were weakening the Red populace. This new environment pushed leading theologists and leaders of non-Blood religious groups into hiding, which in turn allowed knowledge of ancient rituals and magic to fade from the Regime’s body of knowledge. There was no open conflict, because Rose and Flame mentalities were largely pacifistic; they chose to retreat quietly rather than face oppression. The Regime did not dedicate resources to finding them, having other priorities like national security and diplomacy as a young government. Later on in this period of religious restriction, scholars under the Regime undertook covert research missions into Red theology and, more importantly, powerful Red arcana. They began with ancient Blood texts in the Red south-east, rediscovering leads on vampirism and kickstarting Claps’ hunt for a way to militarize vampires. Several years later, a Red military excursion would encounter hidden Flame-Tenders. Because there had never been violence between Regime forces and Flame worshippers, and because Regime censorship had largely erased Flame theology from the collective mind, the soldiers involved did not target the worshippers. Instead, they reported them to the Regime as potential allies. Before Claps or other more knowledgeable officials could crack down on this information, news of mystical and benign Flame-Tenders had spread to much of the Red nation, providing an important morale boost. When some of the Flame-Tenders agreed to testify for an official report, and spoke of their beliefs and traditions, public support for them grew. Claps knew it was impossible at this stage to cover them up or target them with violence. Regime military forces were too busy to put down a potential public revolt.

### Revolution

Opposition Reds that had been quiet so far saw the return of the Flame-Tenders as a sign that they should act. Among them were Rose and Flame clergy that had abandoned public practice of their religion to avoid exile, idealists that advocated for the return of the free press and civil liberties, and avant-garde artists that saw the Regime as holding back the spread of ideas, to name a few. This group made their movement public not long after news of the discovery of the Flame-Tenders spread. The Crimson Courier was founded and began spreading information and news throughout the Red continent, using artisanal printing presses and riding on Blood Stallions to sidestep Regime checkpoints. Artists released deeply political works of all kinds. Religious figures reemerged and taught their traditions to the populace. The Regime could not oppose actions so benign in appearance without turning the people against them, especially with their military spread thin and economic instability a constant problem.

### Disappearance and Change

This growing movement was dubbed the “Redvolution”, and was halfway between a cultural change and a political one. Despite being a clear threat to the established power, there was essentially nothing that the Regime could do to stop the tide. Then, suddenly, Claps disappeared. Because there had still not been open conflict, there was no power vacuum left behind. Instead, the leaders of the opposition formed a coalition, instating the first iteration of the modern system of Premiership.