Arienai

**The Principality of Arienai** is the northernmost island and territory of the Kingdom of Makkadal.

Its provincial capital is Latūnam, the White City.

## Geography

Surrounded by Bujanski waters, away from the northernmost main border, it is an enclave within Bujan, and also a condominium that allows people from both nations to freely across the straits. It is also one of three Makkadalish enclaves within Bujan, located off the coast of the city of Shanchazorra.

Two main ports there are Port Derevonsk and Port Latūnam. Both of them mean "the tree". They are located north of a mountain range.

* Port Latūnam - the provincial capital.
* Port Derevonsk

The entire island of Arienai and its surrounding archipelagoes consist of a single province. It is also Makkadal's biggest province.

* Mjolurik - a port on an island west of Arienai. Known for its pineapples.
* Söingata - a port on western Arienai.
* Nalmaik - a town in the centre surrounded by rice paddies and limestone peaks.
* Nojoltai - a port on an island south of Arienai.
* Tsolohan - Sun City, an artificial archipelago southeast of Arienai.
	+ The islands further southeast belonged to Zvesta, and under Makkadalish protection the entire archipelago became the only region in Zvesta that remained free.
	+ As one of two places in the world where the green Zvestarid flag openly flew, it was the unofficial capital of the Bujanski resistance.
	+ After the liberation of Bujan, most of the archipelago was returned to Makkadal, with the successor state of Bujan retaining Zvesta's original islands before Wannaenid conquest.
	+ Tsolahan was expanded during the Wannaenid occupation of Bujan, becoming a greater fortress city that also supplied weapons to the Royal Makkadalish Armed Forces and the Zvestarid Coalition. After the end of Wannaenid rule, many wartime factories were rebuilt as housing areas, parks, libraries, academies, science universities, and laboratories.

## History

In ancient times, Arienai was uninhabited until farmers and fisherfolk from Resovjant expanded farmland using mangrove forests, where they happened to settle on Arienai for the first time. Later, due to their proximity with ancient Makkadal, they were later disputed between Makkadal and Resovjant, until eventually the locals fought for Makkadal and became its subjects.

During the Wannaenid conquest of Bujan, Arienai was occupied by the Wannaenids for three weeks, before being driven out by the Makkadalish army. It was later fortified to defend it from further Wannaenid attacks, before it was used by Zvestarid and Coalition forces to land on mainland Bujan.

The northern coast is known for its fortified walls and airbases. After independence, some of the bases were converted to marketplaces, civilian airports, and parks.

An influx of Terran migrants arrived there on Bujanski independence, fearing coming purges by the unforgiving populace. Yet in the middle of the purge, some of the Terrans allowed to stay in Arienai supported a fundraiser to rebuild an undersea tunnel to Bujan, also supported by hundreds of rich Terrans in Olan Province.

In 1905 (ZE 2705), Makkadal, Bujan, and four other countries became a federation. A vast majority in Makkadal voted to create the federation.

Wonaos and Slavs supported because they wanted a united realm with freer travel and component authorities. Even the local Terran defectors supported the federation to show everyone else they were no longer a threat to all.

## Politics

### Condominium

In practice, Arienai is a condominium between Makkadal and Bujan. Therefore, citizens of both countries can freely enter each other's nations.

The free travel benefits have been extended to citizens of the other four realms, in 1905: the Republic of Joltaraata, the Republic of Toluduri, the Republic of Oenlamta, and the Kingdom of Ōhon.

The ruler of Arienai, more akin to a governor or a president, is known as a "Prince". His role is not hereditary, but elected by the citizens from any candidate. He is also forbidden from making any child of his family a candidate after him.

### Natives first

Like many countries across the region, including Bujan, Makkadalish citizens tend to be prioritised in various areas, ranging from housing to higher jobs. According to the government, this measure was to prevent foreigners from overwhelming the natives. People who move to Arienai from other parts of Makkadal are also subjected to similar restrictions.

For example, Makkadalish citizens can buy homes in Bujan, but Bujanski citizens are limited to certain townships scattered all over Arienai, to ensure native Arienavians always have any home they wish.

However, due to hundreds of objections from the Bujanski and the other four members of the federation, Makkadal ratified a treaty that ensured free trade and rights for businesses from those members.

## Economy

Its main exports are fruit and vegetables, along with tropical crops that are sold in Buyanski and colder countries' markets.

As much of mainland Makkadal has farmland, rice is another major export from the island.

## Culture

The island of Arienai has a tradition where people carve the roundest pumpkins and watermelons into lanterns with the faces of cats. This is to usher the start of merchant fairs and festivals, such as summer, the birthday of Makkadal's king, and the New Year.

Like Koscheigrad, traditional houses in Arienai tend to be stone, with their front sides painted in bright, pale colours.

Daizhouvian culture has influenced Arienai to some extent.

## Language

The official language of Arienai is a dialect of Makkadalish, known as Arienavian, or natively as Ārejanen. Due to the distinctive vocabulary, it is sometimes regarded as a related language.

Due to frequent trade with Resovjant, the local Tuuluns, and Bujanski Slavs, this dialect uses more words from their languages in daily life.

## Trivia

* Arienai may be influenced by Singapore and Brazil, as its colourful houses were influenced by local architecture.
* The round cat-faced pumpkin lanterns were possibly influenced by Curious Cat from RWBY, and jack o'lanterns.
* Arienai's name was picked because the author found one catchphrase by the character Nagisa Misumi, "Arienai!" (ありえな～い!, "Impossible!"), to be amusing.
* Arienai's three main islands are represented by the three white dots on the flag of Olan Province.