Arells

Flag of Arells

### Background

The Kingdom of Arells, commonly referred to as Arells, is a constitutional monarchy in Elparia. Arells is located on two peninsulas and borders both the Arellian Sea and Selarian. Arells covers 79,350 square kilometers and has an estimated population of over 40 million. Arells is governed as a unitary state currently divided into 40 counties and 414 municipalities. The Directorate operates as a collegial body with collective responsibility and consists of the Prime Director and other cabinet directors, appointed and dismissed at the sole discretion of the Prime Director. The Directorate is the supreme executive authority and legislative power is vested in the 877-member unicameral Arellian parliament (Symposium).

Since its formation on September 23rd, 1944, Arells has grown rapidly, developing a sizable population, economy, and military force. Arells is notable for its sprawling welfare state, lack of readily available alcohol, social conformity, high taxes, and societal distaste for cheese.

Egalitarianism and moderation are at the center of Arells' ideals. Contemporary Arells prides itself on championing human rights and equality, as manifested in its social welfare system. Additionally, concepts such as moderation and modesty are cornerstones of Arellian culture. These ideas influence the country’s cuisine, architecture and even communication styles.

Arells maintains a primarily defensive military, with most of the military might entrusted to the Arellian Royal Air Force.

Arells is widely regarded as a capital of clean energy, with the pioneering of wind and solar technologies. 51% of all Arells' energy needs are provided by renewable sources of energy.

## History

#### **Early History**

Arells' history had began in ancient times tens of thousands of years ago with the settlement of the South Calderia by the Algonquin tribes. Anthropologists and archeologists have identified and studied a wide variety of cultures that existed during this era. Their subsequent contact with Trekans had a profound impact on the history of their people, and their eventual disappearance from the Calderian continent.

Temperate broadleaf, deciduous forests, and coniferous forests dominated the Arellian landscape, and in Arells' geography you could have seen a division between a broad south-eastern core radiating out roughly from Atford, which is generally low-lying, fertile and easily traversable land, and the north and west, lumpier and bonier with uplands, hills and mountains dominating, intersected with strong rivers and valleys.

Trekan colonization led to the creation of several provinces and trading outposts in 804, they were governed individually by elected officials. During this time, indigenous Arellians were enslaved in large numbers, typically by rich merchants and warlords who exported indigenous slaves to the rest of Calderia. A thousand years later, Arellian merchants became major participants in the "ENTER OCEAN NAME HERE" slave trade in the early modern period. Then wealthy people living within the Arells, might own Selarian slaves. Due to increases in trade and economic activity Arells flourished, and the various provinces of Arells were absorbed around 1000 AD into a single unit, The Oligarchy of Arl, it was ruled by a popular family of merchants who dubbed themselves royalty. The crown began to gain significant influence only during the late 13th century. In 1280 King Hector Duesenberry I (1275–90) issued a statute authorizing the establishment of a nobility and the organization of society on the feudal model. This resulted in a national currency, what is now known as the Thaler, and the formal adoption of Trekan as the national language.

Trade grew during the 14th century, especially with the Trekan and Corusconian towns. By the mid-16th century, those towns dominated Arellian trade, and many towns were founded as a result of lively commercial activity. However the Black Death, which reached Arells in 1350, led to a long period of social, economic, and population decline, that culminated in what is now known as "The Shattering".

Arellian historians feverishly debate when "The Shattering" actually began, due to the destruction of records and lack of reliable record keeping at the time. Conservative estimates that place "The Shattering" range from 1370 to 1420. However, most historians agree on the causes: The failure of the Oligarchy to manage social and economic inequality, rapid population growth and the inability to adequately finance government debt, unemployment and high food prices, combined with a regressive tax system and resistance to reform by the ruling elite. "Fringe" historians allegedly deemed "batty" by their peers, claim that a secret war initiated by Angel Land contributed to "The Shattering" and was the true main cause. These claims are not substantiated by any clear evidence, but there are records of widespread arsenic poisonings on the western border of Arells. Historians claim that Angel Land smuggled poison filled cheese into the western provinces of Arells to sow unrest and uncertainty. Conspiracy theories aside, these factors led to widespread protests, famine and revolt. In response, the monarchy banned cheese, and attempted to eradicate revolutionaries. In 1480 about 470,000 wheels of cheese had been confiscated and a little over 21,000 Arellian men, women, and children had been executed by The Red Legion, the Crown's personal guard. In turn, the Arellian populace targeted the nobility and over the course of 10 years about 130 were assassinated. The Oligarchy of Arls fell into a semi-anarchy, with the crown being largely ignored in favor of smaller municipal governments. This went on for about 30 years, but eventually order did return, and King Jonathan Arnport was elected king of Arells in 1523 and with his reign came the abolition of slavery, the creation of a small navy and a standing army, now known as the Arellian Royal Navy and Arellian Army.

The true foundation of the Arellian state was laid during the reign of King Jonathan Arnport (1523–60). The church was nationalized, its estates confiscated by the crown, the Protestant Reformation was introduced, and two assemblies in Atford marked the first time that representatives of all four estates – the nobility, the clergy, the citizens and the peasantry were called on to to discuss and determine a number of affairs affecting the country as a whole. The term "Symposium" was first used in the 1540s. Power was concentrated in the hands of the king and the hereditary monarchy came into force in 1548.

Since the Shattering, Arellian foreign policy had been aimed at gaining dominion over what is known today as the Arellian sea, leading to repeated wars with The United Kingdom of Bronze from the 1560s onward. Arells was a great power in southern Calderia. The country even founded a short-lived colony in what is now Ubizieten in Northern Osho. It still retains an island near it today. However, Arells had a largely agrarian economy and lacked the resources to maintain its position as a great power in the long run. After its defeat in the Great Southern War (1700–21) against the combined forces of Sereine, The United Kingdom of Bronze, and Elklandia. Arells lost most of its provinces on the other side of the Arellian Sea and was reduced essentially to the same frontiers as present-day Arells.

After the death of the Warrior King Hector XII in 1718 and Arells' defeat in the Great Southern War, the Arland parliament (Symposium) and council were strong enough to introduce a new constitution that abolished royal absolutism and put power in the hands of parliament.

Eighteenth-century Arells was characterised by rapid cultural development, partly through close contact with Treka and Chuuckango. Overseas trade was hard hit by the Great Slump, which led to general stagnation and economic crisis in Arells during the early 19th century. In the late 19th century, 90 per cent of the people still earned their livelihoods from agriculture.

One consequence was emigration, mainly to Treka. From the mid-19th century to 1930, about 1.5 million Arellians emigrated, out of a population of 3.5 million in 1850 and slightly more than 6 million in 1930.

Industry did not begin to grow until the 1890s, although it then developed rapidly between 1900 and 1930 and transformed Arells into one of Calderia’s leading industrial nations after the Lorraine War.

#### **The 20th century – A Century of Reforms**

Late 19th-century Arells was marked by the emergence of strong popular movements that included the free churches, the temperance and women’s movements, and above all the labour movement. The labour movement, whose growth kept pace with industrialization in the late 19th century, was reformist in outlook after the turn of the 20th century.

The first Democrats entered government in 1917. Universal suffrage was introduced for men in 1909 and for women in 1921. Plans for a welfare state were drawn up during the 1930s after the Democrats rose to power, and put into effect in 1945.

During World War II, a coalition of Arells’ three ‘democratic’ parties (excluding the Communists) formed the government. After the war ended, a purely Democratic government resumed office under Stephen Whitford Baxter. Under Democratic leadership, but in close co-operation with the other democratic parties, a series of reforms were carried out in the 1940s and 1950s that together laid the foundations of the Arells' welfare state. At the same time, there were calls for a modernization of the 1732 constitution.

A new constitution was adopted in 1974, stating that all public power is derived from the people, who are to select the members of parliament in free elections. The monarch is still the head of state, but in name only. In 1979, an amendment to the order of succession gave male and female heirs an equal claim to the throne. Accordingly, Crown Princess Guinevere II (Gwen) is next in line to the throne, not her younger brother, Duke of Answen, Alistair Ryder.

#### **Recent History**

Arells remains non-aligned militarily, although it participates in some joint military exercises with THP and some other countries, in addition to extensive co-operation with other Calderian countries in the area of defence technology and defence industry.

In recent decades Arells has become a more culturally diverse nation due to significant immigration; in 2013 it was estimated that 15 per cent of the population was foreign-born, and an additional 5 per cent of the population were born to two immigrant parents. The influx of immigrants has brought new social challenges. Violent incidents have periodically occurred including the 2013 Atford riots which broke out following the police shooting of an elderly Nerian immigrant. In response to these violent events, the anti-immigration opposition party, the Centre Party promoted their anti-immigration policies, while the left-wing opposition blamed growing inequality caused by the centre-right government's socioeconomic policies.

The 2018 general election saw the Green Party lose seats to the right-wing United Front and to the centre-right parties of the former Alliance. Despite holding only 33% of the seats in the Symposium, the Democrats and the Greens managed to form a minority government in January 2019, relying on supply and confidence from the Reform Party.

Arells' future looks uncertain, but it still looks forward, eager to grow, excel, and prosper.

## **Geography**

Most of Arells's landscape consists of low hills and forests, with upland and mountainous terrain in the north and west of the country. The north of the country includes the Clifcarres, a chain of mountains dividing east and west. The highest point in Arells, at 3,209 ft (X km), is humorously named Pecker's Pike.

In geological terms, the Clifcarres, known as the "backbone of Arells", are the oldest range of mountains in the country, originating from the end of the Paleozoic Era around 300 million years ago. Their geological composition includes, among others, sandstone and limestone, and also coal. There are karst landscapes in calcite areas such as parts of Sesa and Ashburton. The Clifcarres landscape is high moorland in upland areas, indented by fertile valleys of the region's rivers. They contain two national parks, the Windsay park and the King Arnport Park.

As for the peninsula of Answen it closely matches much of the geography of the mainland, basically consisting of low hills and plains.

In this region, the winters are long, cold, and heavy snow is common (most locations receive 60 to 120 inches (1,500 to 3,000 mm) of snow annually). The summer months are moderately warm, though summer is rather short. Annual rainfall is spread evenly throughout the year. Cities average around 45 inches (1,100 mm) of rainfall and 60 to 90 inches (1,500 to 2,300 mm) of snow annually. The frost-free growing season ranges from just 90 days in far northern Arells and in the valleys of the Clifcarres, to as much as 140 days along the Southern Arellian coast and in most of the west.

Arells has four major metropolitan cities. Steelridge, is the largest and most populous, it's located furthest west on the isle of Boxpawa. Atford, located in the south-east, is the country's capital and is the most influential Arellian metropolis, it's the most international city in the country. New Serento, located on the peninsula in the north east, is Arells' culinary capital. Usebeto, located in the mid-west is Arells's military headquarters and contains a high percentage of the country's universities and cultural centers.

A political and physical map of Arells can be found here.

## **Demographics**

There are over 40 million citizens of Arells, Arells' population has become much more ethnically, religiously and linguistically diverse over the past 70 years as a result of global immigration. Approximately 49% of the population are Caucasian with 47% being ethnically Arellian or people who can trace their ethnicity to Arellian stock going back at least 12 generations, 20% are of Herzolandish descent, 20% are of Selarian descent and 0.8% are a small indigenous minority know as the Algonquians, 10.2% are other races.

Almost all Arellians speak Trekan, although for patriotic reasons the Arellian Trekan dialect is considered the official national language. There are only a few slight differences between standard Trekan and Arellian Trekan and these are mostly vocabulary differences, such as the tendency for Arellians call the front of a car the cap, while Trekans call it the hood. Trekans go on vacation, while Arellians go on tours.

The majority of Arellians identify as Atheist/Agnostic (44%), with Christian Denominations (34%), Buddhism (9.5%), Judaism (8%), and Mormonism (1%) comprising significant minorities.

## Culture

Arellians are pragmatic, proud, and wealthy people. Although borne out of Trekan traditions, Arellians have differentiated themselves to the extent that it is very possible that one may tell an Trekan from a Arellian after a brief conversation with each.

Arells' culture is very closely tied to Treka, adopting almost all Trekan holidays and traditions. There is, however, a strong Herzolandish, and Sereinian influence. That adds a bit of uniqueness to its culture. When discussing Arellian culture one must also note a deep-seated desire for conformity, individuality is frowned upon and stamped out among the youth. Winter sports, baseball, basketball, martial arts, rifling, and boating are among the most popular Arellian sports.

One of the key characteristics of Arellian culture is that Arellians are egalitarian in nature, humble and find boasting absolutely unacceptable. In many ways, Arellians prefer to listen to others as opposed to ensuring that their own voice is heard. When speaking, Arellians speak softly and calmly. It is rare that you were witness a Arellian demonstrating anger or strong emotion in public. In terms, Arellians rarely take hospitality or kindness for granted and as such, they will give often give thanks.

Architecture, art, and music have a big role to play in Arells. There are a large amount of artists and musicians relative to other nations, and many children wish to enter into the entertainment industry when they grow up. TV and movies are often watched in a family setting, and the most popular video games are cooperative-based. Access to the internet is viewed as a right, and there is little regulation concerning it.

## Infrastructure

The Atford underground is the only underground system in Arells and serves the city of Atford via 270 stations and 250 miles (400 km) of track. Despite its name, only 45% of the system is underground in tunnels, with much of the network in the outer environs of Atford being on the surface. The rail transport market is privatised, but while there are many privately owned enterprises, the largest operators are still owned by state. The counties have financing, ticket and marketing responsibility for local trains. For other trains the operators handle tickets and marketing themselves. Most of the railways are owned and operated by Traffix.

Arells has two domestic ferry lines with large vessels, both connecting Answen with the mainland. The lines leave from Uflon harbor in New Serento, and the ferries sail to either Jefferson or Redingtonn.

Arells has 282,707 mi (X km) of paved road and 2,682 mi (X km) of expressways. New motorways are still under construction and a new motorway from Usebeto to Kirham was finished on October 17th, 2019. There are 14 international airports in Arells, six of them are located in Steelridge, Atford, and Usebeto City. Cargo imports and exports mostly travel through the harbor of Steelridge, but Jefferson and Yorkia also serve as major international trading hubs.

### **Energy**

Nuclear power and hydropower are the chief forms of energy production in Arells, with five nuclear power plants spread around Arells to provide optimal distribution. In rural areas, wind turbines are commonplace. In total, more than 51% of Arells' energy needs are provided by renewable energy, and for the power sector the government aims to have 90% renewable energy production by 2030.