Barande

The Barande Supremacy, also colloquially known simply as Barande, is a country in the world of *All My Wicked Nephews Crave the Throne*. Barande is almost entirely surrounded by water, with the Ocean Contested to the north, west, and south, and with the Wax and the Shimmergaal to the east. The country's only land border is that of the [Patreon] Desert to the northeast, which separates Barande from United Merion.

Barande is famous for its cultural and religious drive to expand and acquire more land, and it has overall been quite successful over the course of its history. As if to emphasize this point, Barandeans label the entire continent of Merion on their maps as "Future Barande," which, as can be expected, frustrates and/or unsettles the other nations. However, Barande has stopped pushing for expansion in recent history due to the difficulties in crossing the [Patreon] Desert (as well as the location of the Academe of Fire) to wage war against United Merion. This has led to a wary alliance between the two nations, best exemplified by the joint ruling of Doublecrown in United Merion.

## Geography

Barande is separated into five distinct regions. In rough West to East order, the regions are as follows:

* Blue Barande
* Prismatic Barande
* Green Barande
* Sacred Barande
* Outer Barande

### Landscape

The landscape of Barande significantly changes depending on which region one is in. Green Barande is very lush with a significant amount of plant life. However, Outer Barande is considerably less hospitable and is primarily arid grassland and small desert areas. Blue Barande's and Prismatic Barande's landscapes are in-between the other two, with more vibrant plant life than Outer Barande but less than Green Barande, particularly the closer to the coast one moves. Sacred Barande has as much vegetation as Green Barande but is considered considerably more aesthetically pleasing with visually impressive vistas and animal life, such as a large number of butterflies. This is in sharp contrast to the dangerous and inhospitable mountains that surround the region.

### Climate

Barande has a combination of dry-summer and arid climates, typically staying warm all year long and being either incredibly dry or humid depending on the region. Temperatures range, on average, from 80-100 °F (27-38 °C) in the summer to 40-60 °F (4-16 °C) in the winter. The temperature is typically cooler the closer to a coast one moves, although the humidity will increase and the temperature decreases.

### The Sages

The highest authority of the Barande Supremacy is the Sages, a group of mystical and spiritual leaders. Residing in Sacred Barande alone, as non-sages are not permitted to live in the region, they commune with He-Without-Number, Barande's founder turned legend/god, and occasionally delivering religious-tinged commands or constitutional clarifications to officials in Green Barande (which sits below the mountains surrounding Sacred Barande). The officials then ensure that the word of the sages is spread throughout the country, including to Doublecrown in United Merion as it is technically still partially ruled by Barande.

The process for a Barandean to become a Sage is extremely difficult. Devout Baranadeans make their way into the mountains in the hopes of becoming a sage. If they survive the rigorous and dangerous journey to Sacred Barande, they may or may not be asked (after a rigorous period of physical, mental, and socio-religious training) to join the ranks of the Sages. At this point, they are said to commune directly with the spirit of He-Without-Number and either go mad from the experience and join the sages' workers and underclass, or become full Sages themselves.

### The Count System

The largest authority of the Barande Supremacy, although still subservient to the Sages, the Count System is comprised of thirty-one Counts who each rule over a section of Barandean territory called counties. The Counts, while officially equal in rank, are typically split between the thirteen "original" Counts, who are located in mainland Barande, and the eighteen "frontier" Counts, who are located in Doublecrown, the [Patreon] Desert, the Ocean Contested, and the Shimmergaal. The thirteen "original" Counts are further stratified by the "first among equals" rank of the First and Thirteenth Counts, with the remaining eleven Counts seen as equal to each other below the First and Thirteenth.

While every Count rules their own county, the thirteen "original" Counts are also each tasked with an office that covers an aspect of Barandean government or culture that effects the entire nation. For example, the Fifth Count, in addition to ruling his own county, is tasked with the office of agriculture and children, while the Seventh Count is tasked with the office of foreign diplomacy and public relations. Each of the thirteen "original" counties has a different legendary forebear that the counties tend to view as a kind of political founder or patron. Counts are elected by constituents from their county, and it is common for a person who is similar in personality and training to county's original, legendary Count to be elected.

## Religion

Little is known about the specifics of the Barandean religion outside of its effects on the nation's government. Barande's founder and original ruler, He-Without-Number, is still revered as a legend and god across the country, and the Sages are said to still commune with his spirit in order to properly create or alter laws for the nation.

During his reign, He-Without-Number led the Barandeans out from Sacred Barande and went on to conquer all of modern mainland Barande (this does not include the "frontier" territories, which were acquired later following his death). It is from this conquest that the Barandeans take their religious doctrine to expand and acquire as much land as possible. This is the primary reason why Barandeans do not attempt to hide their desires to conquer other nations, as it is a religious movement meant to best honor their legendary progenitor.

## Relations with Foreign Powers

### United Merion

Due to cultural differences and historical conflicts, as well as both nations' inability to successfully move an army through the [Patreon] Desert, Barande and its northeastern neighbor United Merion exist in a state of political tension. The two nations primarily interact through trade, increasingly during the reign of King Lawrence XII, due to a mutual desire for each others exports, such as the Merionese desire for Barandean silk, rubber, and ores not native to Merion. This trade primarily occurs in Doublecrown (which is under joint rule by both United Merion and Barande but de facto controlled by the Candlebrooks) and Red Hills. This has led to a combination of the two cultures in these regions. However, despite a "friendship" that has supposedly grown between the nations, Barande's openness about its goal of conquering the continent has kept relations strained.

### The League of the Palisades

It is well known that Barande and the League of the Palisades have a poor relationship, bordering on despising each other. Any diplomatic actions or talks between the nations are kept to a minimum, and most of their trading is done with United Merion acting as a middle-man.

### The Dawnerland Empire

Like most nations, Barande keeps a watchful eye on the Dawnerland Empire. As the largest and most powerful political entity in the known world, The Dawnerland Empire's ability to conquer the continent is well known; it is assumed that only the combined forces of Barande, United Merion, and the League of the Palisades could stand a chance against the Dawnerlands. However, the Dawnerland Empire has shown no sign of expanding or interest in conquering new territory and mostly keeps to itself. Barande is also the nation furthest from the Empire, making them the least likely target if the Dawnerlands suddenly began a conquest for new territory. However, Barande's own desire to conquer the continent keeps relations between the nations strained, and there is minimal interaction between the two.

## Trivia

* King Colin I's wife, Rowan Skylark, is Barandean. Her family is famous for frequently being elected to the position of Fourth Count.
* Barande is known for its large number of performers, particularly those in circuses.