The Protectorate

The Protectorate is a semi federal semi democratic alliance between Sirex, Tarrin, Nymeria, and the Outerlands Collectives established in 1698 common era. The alliance was created as a response to increasing orc incursions on the Outerlands territories which threatened the grain supply of the region. After the conclusion of the 1st Protectorate war many questions remain about the sovereignty of involved states, the powers of the chancellor, and the future of the union.

### Structure

#### Member States

##### Sirex

Sirex established the Protectorate in 1698 CE to safeguard the Outerlands border. Chancellor Oddlefius lauded the union as a much needed deepening of the cordial relationships between the member states and an important step in ousting the Orc threat. On the other hand, Sirex gains the most from this union and an increased role in the affairs of the other states. Sirex is the largest economy and military within the protectorate, and the increasingly dire situation during the First Protectorate War meant an increased level of centralized power, this has led to external criticisms of a domineering attitude by Sirex as well as internal criticisms about spending too much on the welfare of other polities. Although technically possible under the charter, there has never been a non-Sirex Chancellor.

##### Tarrin

Tarrin is the second largest signatory of the Protectorate charter and has taken on the opposition role in the Protectorate parliament. Membership in the Protectorate is highly controversial in Tarrin, with many of it's elites seeing the union as a thinly veiled Sirex annexation of the Outerlands. Nonetheless, Tarrin joined during the First Protectorate war, no doubt to safeguard grain supplies and project power over a region increasingly under Sirex's thumb. While Tarrin has remained in the Protectorate during peace time, flare ups of the old rivalry are common, with both the political elites and the general staff of the Tarrin military keen on supplanting Sirex authority.

##### Nymeria

As the southernmost state of Arcadia, Nymeria has very little interest in the grain supply of the Outerlands, however the Protectorate offered several free trade agreements that Arasaka was keen to exploit. Though very much a junior partner, Nymeria's roll in the administration allows it to have an outsized say on policy by siding with the Tarrin opposition party or the Sirex unified front.

##### The Outerlands Collectives

The Outerlands were inducted into the Protectorate as a fait accompli, without a large army to resist the Orc invasions, the Outerlands had to rely on the military aid of its neighbors. This came at a cost, as the Outerlands have only one delegate in the Protectorate Senate, a consequence of their weak position during the signing of the Protectorate Charter. Anti-Protectorate sentiment is widespread around the Outerlands as the toll from the First Protectorate was was most widely felt around the region including cession of territory and the complete destruction of the city of Silver Hearth.

#### Administration & Political Parties

The Protectorate is overseen by a senate with the following split of representatives from each nation, Ties are broken by the Chancellor, Any amendments to the constitution must be agreed upon by 3/4s of the Senate and ratified by each nation.

**Sirex Federalists :** 166

**Tarrin Democratic Republicans:** 141

**Nymerian Peoples Party** 42

**Outerlands Representative** 1

#### Magic Use

The Protectorate has relaxed rules on the use of magic in the administration, spells such as zone of truth are commonly used to compel testimony before the judicial council.

Protectorate military magic rules: Sorcerers and warlocks are not allowed in the military. Clerics and Paladins are, but receive special designation, must swear fealty to the Protectorate, and must be reviewed regularly by commanding officers to ensure they are following Protectorate orders and not the church. Druids, bards, and rangers fall under similar designation, though bards have more freedom as bardic magic is seen as the most regulated and scientific. Artificers are only allowed to act in a mechanical support role, though use of their tech is unrestricted (it is the most powerful tech available so to ignore it would be foolhardy).

### Post-War Era

After **1709** there was some question as to whether the union would continue to exist in its centralized form, however the Shahd administration stressed the need for vigilance against any further Orc incursions. This meant a wave of fortification in the Outerlands which some have likened to a Sirex military occupation. Meanwhile several constitutional challenges emerged from Tarrin during the Shahd administration, but internal turmoil was largely avoided due in part to Shahd's popularity for ending the war. After Shahd's assassination, the Tarrin state's efforts to destabilize the existing structure of the Protectorate redoubled.

### Criticisms

The most common refrain from non-Sirex residents laments the antidemocratic nature of the protectorate. The Senate is largely controlled by Sirex as the Sirex United Front bloc only needs 10 votes from any other party to gain an absolute majority. Additionally, the Senate is appointed by member states rather than voted on by citizens, leading to accusations of corruption and favoritism. The oligarchic structures inherent in the protectorate give the public plenty of interest groups to denounce, and the bickering between Sirex and Tarrin often flare up in dramatic rows that polarize both nations further. In addition, there is general political unrest (particularly in Sirex) over the power and economic imbalance in these nations, and populist leaders have begun to oppose the Protectorate. There are several populist movements in every member state devoted to the weakening of the union or further democratization.