County of Aglaea

**Aglaea** (/əˈɡliːə/), officially the **County of Aglaea**, is a planet in The Imperium, ruled by the Count of Aglaea, and home to multiple other vassals organized under Baronies, which are named and organized into Grands. Its ruling house is House Quincylia, which has been in power since its admission as a County title. It shares the Marikius System with House Lorcan and House Liu, and has two moons, Euphrosyne and Thalia.

## Symbology

Banner of the County of Aglaea (left) and Banner of House Quincylia (right)

### Members

Viscounty of Nyo-Dejan- Grand of Gennediy- Grand of Hauna- Grand of CantasViscounty of TODO- Grand of Malder- Grand of TarwaViscounty of Enno

## Main Attributes

### Official Languages

Imperial Basic (English)SpanishFrenchItalianArabicAfrikaanGreekPortuguese

### Ethnic Groups

15.3% Northwest African11.2% Sub-Saharan African9.8% Italian6.5% French6.1% Greek5.8% Turkish5.4% General Eastern European4.2% Western Middle East3.1% General Arabic2.8% Southeast Asian1.9% Spanish1.3% Portuguese29.6% Others

### Religions

58.1% Other32.9% No religion10.2% Aglaous

## Government

### Government Type

Feudal-elective constitutional countship (under The Imperium)

### Leader / Ruler

Count Jean F. Quincylia IHigh Grandmaster Safar Ermis Quincylia III

### Formation

2378 - First colonization2511 - Grandmasters Treaty2601 - County of Aglaea

## Other Attributes

### TLD

.ag

The County of Aglaea is a serene ocean planet, with a high degree of developed sea life and an endlessly stretching ocean dotted by tiny islands and a large central continent, featuring Mediterranean and tropical climates. Long since stuck in an agricultural period, the County has finally shed its past burdens and is rapidly industrializing. Marked by a diverse population and culture, it prides itself in its peoples, their customs, and skill.

House Quincylia, among the weaker Ruling Houses, has still maintained its prestigious position and control of Aglaea among its peers, fashioning together diplomacy, deals, and alliances to punch above its weight. Though still a ruthless force and long-time grudge holders in the defense of their honor, House Quincylia has begun to look to the stars once again in an attempt to make a name for itself and Aglaea before the rest of the Empire.

## Etymology and pronunciation

Aglaea (/əˈɡliːə/) or Aglaïa (/əˈɡlaɪə/; Ancient Greek: Ἀγλαΐα means 'splendor, brilliant, shining one') is the name of several figures in Greek mythology, the best known of which is one of the three Charites or Gratiae (Graces).

The name Aglaea was chosen in reference to the Greek goddess of beauty, splendor, glory, magnificence, and adornment. She is the youngest of the Charites, according to Hesiod. Aglaea is one of three daughters of Zeus and either the Oceanid Eurynome, or of Eunomia, the goddess of good order and lawful conduct. Her two sisters are Euphrosyne, the goddess of joy or mirth, and Thalia, the goddess of festivity and rich banquets, after which Aglaea’s two moons are named. Together they are known as the Charities in Greek mythology or the Gratiae (Graces) in Roman mythology, and they were responsible for overseeing all feasts and dances. They were part of the retinue of Aphrodite with Aglaea sometimes acting as her messenger.

Though originally named directly as Aglaïa by Todar Šerech, the Belrusian astrologist who first published the findings of the planet prior to the colonization period, the name was romanized to the “Aglaea” version in subsequent reports and official documents, leading to its widespread adoption and the popularization of the demonym “Aglaean” following the colonization period. “Aglaee” also became more widespread, but was never officially recognized by the County. In some circles of debate, the change from “Aglaea” to “Aglaïa” was partially due to a miscommunication between Todar Šerech’s thick accent and his disciple, Dr. Timothy Suvic.

## Geography

Aglaea’s habitable territory consists mostly of island chains and archipelagoes totalling about 57,640 islands, covering a total area, including inland bodies of water, of around 8,525,989 square kilometers. The vast majority of Aglaea’s colonized territory and population is situated on the continent of Vitus and is called Vitusian Aglaea, to distinguish it from the county’s various overseas polities and interplanetary developments.

The highest mountain is Mount Europa, named after the old Earth continent of Europe. It measures up to 4,954 meters above sea level and is the basis for the continent of Vitus. The longest river is the Nyo River flowing from northern to eastern Vitus, measuring about 2,520 kilometers. The Long River, which flows from the north to the lower east, is often compared as being longer in its totality, but since it technically received a combination of flow, it is categorized as three separate rivers. Barika Bay, upon the shore of which the capital city of St. Atioxta lies, is connected to the Aange Lagoon, the largest lake in Aglaea, by the Lainis River.

Situated on the western fringes of the Greater Northwestern Plate, northern Vitus experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity. The Krane Plateau to the west in the ocean is an undersea region active in tectonic subduction. Around 25 earthquakes are registered daily, though most are too weak to be felt, often spurred by the many active volcanoes along the region and across the planet.

Aglaea has valuable mineral deposits as a result of its complex geologic structure and high level of seismic activity. Aglaea is thought to have the second-largest gold deposits after [], along with a large amount of copper deposits, and the largest deposits of palladium. Other mineral-rich pockets include chromite, nickel, and zinc. Despite this, a lack of law enforcement, poor management, opposition due to the presence of indigenous lifeforms, and past instances of environmental damage and disaster, have resulted in these mineral resources remaining largely untapped.

Recent surveys and studies have discovered evidence that the planet once harbored a thin asteroid ring, roughly 2.8 billion years ago, but which was pulled onto the planet following the formation of the two moons. The reasoning is consistent with the chain of islands and volcanic activity which makes a ring around the equator of the planet, and is often used as an explanation of its richness in resources and possibly linked to the development of life on the planet. The depth of the oceans and lack of observable remains, however, make the phenomenon difficult to investigate and prove, though religion in Aglaea has seemingly embraced the theory.

### System and Planet

Aglaea is the [] planet from the [] and the [] astronomical object known to harbor and support life in the system. 1.681% of Aglaea’s surface is land consisting of continents and islands. The remaining 98.319% is covered with water, mostly by oceans, seas, gulfs, and other salt-water bodies, but also by lakes, rivers, and other freshwater, which together constitute the hydrosphere. Much of Aglaea’s polar regions consist of cooler waters. Aglaea’s outer layer is divided into several rigid tectonic plates that migrate across the surface over many millions of years, while its interior remains active with a solid nickel inner core, a liquid outer core that generates Aglaea’s magnetic field, and a convective mantle that drives plate tectonics. The planet is often compared to Earth given it shares many of the same characteristics, though is said to exist in a younger state than Earth had always been experienced in.

The total surface area of Aglaea is around 507,200,566 kmi², with an equatorial radius of 6,288.981 km, making it only slightly smaller than Earth. Its mass is around 5.965 ∙ 10²⁴, giving it an experienced G-force of about 9.87 m/s². Its rotation period is 28 hours, and its orbital period is 462.1541 days. The orbital period is divided into 6 months of 77 days each, with an added leap day in the middle months every 15 years, called the ‘day of the tempest.’ The rotational period consists of a day and night cycle which is usually equal in terms of daylight, with 11 days per 7 weeks of the month.

Aglaea’s atmosphere consists mostly of nitrogen and oxygen. More solar energy is received by tropical regions than polar regions and is redistributed by atmospheric and ocean circulation. Greenhouse gasses also play an important role in regulating the surface and oceanic temperature. A region's climate is not only determined by latitude, but also by elevation and proximity to moderating oceans, among other factors. Severe weather, such as tropical cyclones, thunderstorms, and heatwaves, occurs in most areas and greatly impacts life.

Aglaea’s gravity interacts with other objects in space, especially its two moons, Euphrosyne and Thalia, which are Aglaea’s only permanent natural satellites, equidistant from the planet and on symmetric axises. Aglaea’s axis of rotation is tilted with respect to its orbital plane, producing either a dry or wet season. The gravitational interaction between Aglaea and her moons causes minimal tides, stabilizes Aglaea’s orientation on its axis, and gradually slows its rotation.

According to radiometric dating estimation and other evidence, Aglaea formed over 3.65 billion years ago, making it a very young planet. Within the first billion years of Aglaea’s history, life appeared in the oceans and began to affect Aglaea’s atmosphere and surface, leading to the proliferation of anaerobic and, later, aerobic organisms. Some geological evidence indicates that life may have arisen as early as 3.0 billion years ago. Since then, the combination of Aglaea’s distance from [], physical properties, and geological history have allowed life to evolve and thrive. In the history of life on Aglaea, biodiversity has gone through long periods of expansion, occasionally punctuated by short bursts of regression.

More than 99% of all species that ever lived or are living on Aglaea do so in its hydrosphere, with a limited amount of life on the surface, comparable to the paleozoic era, though it is inconsistent with the lack of life developing outside Aglaea’s oceans. Almost [] humans live on Aglaea and depend on its biosphere and natural resources for their survival. Humans increasingly impact Aglaea’s surface, hydrology, atmospheric processes, and other life.

### Geology, topography, and hydrography

Vitusian Aglaea has a wide variety of topographical sets and natural landscapes. Large parts of the current territory of Aglaea were raised during several tectonic episodes millions of years ago, during which the Vindus, Oscar Massif, and the Dejan ranges and the island chain of Jamar were formed. These massifs delineate several sedimentary basins such as the Mira basin in the southwest and the Belibni basin in the north, the former including several areas of particularly fertile ground such. Various routes of natural passage, such as the Vindus Valley, allow easy communication. The Oscarian and Dejan mountains are much younger and have less eroded forms. At 4,954 meters above sea level, Mount Europa, located in the Vindus range, is the highest point on the planet. Although 60% of municipalities are classified as having seismic risks, these risks remain moderate.

The coastlines offer contrasting landscapes: mountain ranges along the north east, coastal cliffs east, and wide sandy plains in the south. The Jamar islands lie on the opposite side of the planet from Vitus, and mostly see flat, cliff sided islands. Vitusian Aglaea has an extensive river system consisting of the four major rivers; the Nyo, the Long, the Sven, the Ventura and their tributaries, whose combined catchment includes over 62% of the metropolitan territory. The Nyo divides the Vindus range from the rest of Vitus and flows into the Orlin Sea at []. The Sven meets the Long, forming the Great Estuary, the largest estuary on the planet which empties into the Gulf of Avekin and into the Uxue Ocean.

Nearly sixty percent of Aglaea consists of mountains or hills, making Vitus one of the most mountainous continents on record. The Vindus range continues through northcentral Vintus, crosses the islands of the Tore Sea and its way into the Oscar Massifs, and into the Oscar Chain where it eventually ends. The lower islands of the Liuba Archipelago are peaks of underwater mountains that once constituted an extension of the mainland. The Jamar Island chains are, similarly, the peaks of underwater mountains caused by a collision of Rhea Plate and the Cogar Plate. The lower Dejan Range  is characterized by its high, steep peaks, often dissected by numerous canyons and a variety of other karstic landscapes. The spectacular Gikos Gorge is the deepest gorge in Aglaea. Another notable formation are the Sund rock pillars, atop which have been built Aglaous monasteries.

Extensive plains are primarily located in the regions of Central Vitus. They constitute key economic regions as they are among the few arable places in the country. Some marine species have begun to live on the surface along some more biologically diverse coasts, with the Avenir Reef, which stretches over 911,300 square kilometers, the largest ever recorded reef, which can be seen from outer space, and is the biggest single structure made by living organisms with some 8,000 individual reefs and 2,000 islands. Aglaea is also characterized by its massive undersea beds of crystalline coral and sea crystals, which are depended on by major portions for the global ecosystem, and its lack of major tree coverage, with the wetter northern Vitusian portions and the island clusters having sparse jungle coverage as the extents of most woodland on the planet.

### Climate and environment

The climate of Aglaea is primarily Mediterranean, featuring mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. This climate occurs at all coastal locations, including St. Atioxta and the majority of the Vitus Aglaea region. The northern Vindus mountain range strongly affects the climate of Vitus, as areas to the west of the range are considerably wetter on average (due to greater exposure to south-westerly systems bringing in moisture) than the areas lying to the east of the range (due to a rain shadow effect).

The mountainous areas of Northwestern Vitus crowned by Mount Europa, and feature an Alpine climate with light snowfalls. The inland parts of northern Vitus feature a temperate climate with cold, damp winters and hot, dry summers with frequent thunderstorms. Snowfalls occur every year in the mountains and northern areas, and brief snowfalls are not unknown even in low-lying southern areas, such as St. Atioxta.

Most non-Vitus portions of Aglaea, notably its many island chains, have a tropical maritime climate that is usually hot and humid. The southwest monsoon lasts up to 3 months during the wet season. Annual landfall varies across the planet, but can average as much as 5,000 millimeters in the southwest or as low as 20 millimeters in the eastern dry regions of Vitus. The southwest monsoon belt also experiences frequent typhoons, with as many as 40 per year, with about one in five making landfall or reaching hurricane status.

Aglaea is highly exposed to climate change, with a majority of its infrastructure only a few meters above sea level. The large amount of island, coastal, and other near-water living increases dependency of waterborne attributes and can result in unpredictable circumstances from rising sea levels or decreases in coastal and oceanic activity.

### Islands

Aglaea features a vast number of islands—between 21,200 and 57,640, depending on the definition, 1,780 of which are inhabited—and is considered a non-contiguous transcontinental county. Enno, at the end of the Enno chain, is the largest and most populous island; Emba, at the edge of Liuba Archipelago, is the second largest.

The Aglaean islands are traditionally grouped into the following clusters: the Enno Chain along the Orlin Sea and the volcanic lane, the Liuba Archipelago, a large but dense collection occupying the waters between the Tai and Uxue Seas, the Oscar Chain, a loose grouping off the east coast of the Oscar Massif, the Dodecanese, another loose collection in the east breaking off the Uxue Sea from the Outer and Inner Gulfs of Avekin, the Tore Islands, located to the north of Vitus in the Tore Sea, and the Jamar Islands, a small tight group on the opposing side.

Only an estimated 50-80% of all islands have been fully explored and mapped by humans since the first colonial missions. With an average oceanic depth of 14,290 meters, and 85% of waters constituting deep sea, oceanic mapping also averages at around only 5% of the exploration of total sea space, with around 250,000 marine species named and classified of some 1.5 million identified, out of an estimated 5 million to 75 million possible marine species.

### Administrative divisions

The County of Aglaea is divided into 18 Baronnies, which are named Grands, 5 County Administrative Regions (CAR), 2 Extraplanetary County Territories (ECT), and 1 station directly under the authority of the Count’s Territorial Management Institute.

The 5 County Administrative Regions are the cities of St. Atioxta and Pellebrum, which constitute the capital of the County, as well as the Avenir Reefs, White Dunes, and Black Beaches for policing and conservation purposes. The Euphrosyne and Thalia moons are considered Extraplanetary County Territories; non-contiguous portions of the County’s sovereign territory and are administered by appointed governors. The Aglaea Orbital Station is considered under direct Institute management for purposes of regulation and access. Which follows:

#### Baronies (Grands)

Since the end of the colonization period, Aglaea has been mainly divided into 18 Grands: 13 Grands in Vitusian Aglaea and the remaining 5 located across the seas. The regions are further subdivided at the Grandmaster’s leisure, though are usually devolved into Cantons for management purposes. The Grands are individually represented by Grandmasters, who are awarded the lands at the discretion of the Count but pending approval from the local assembly, and collectively represented by the Count.

The Grands have full sovereignty, as protected by the Grandmasters Treaty of 2511, which gives each the status of territorial collectivities with a local assembly and an executive, the Grandmaster. Cantons vary depending on the Grand, but often possess an elected assembly to handle local matters, often complemented by a municipal authority and executive. The Grands are also free to create their own judicial and policing system, with the express condition that the Count has final say on any matter, and that any case or policing action may be brought to them.

The term “Grand,” though only used by the County as “Barrony” remains the formal name for them, are pieces of land usually consisting of one primary city and the surrounding countryside and its villages. The term originally comes from the colonial grant-giving process, during which large pieces of Vitus and the island chains were carved out between prominent colonists which were considered “masters” of the grants. Over time, the meaning evolved and ultimately settled on “Grands” and their counterpart “Grandmasters,” though no original or first reference of the shift from “grants” to “Grands” has ever been identified and is largely believed to be a colloquial and verbal evolution.

#### Extraplanetary territories

In addition to the 18 Grands, Aglaea controls the Extraplanetary County Territories of Euphrosyne and Thalia, its orbiting moons, which function with Count-appointed Governors serving at their discretion, but usually remaining used primarily for economic and territorial continuity reasons rather than for the development of the moons or their full use. Governors are typically appointed to serve during the term of the Count, or until they declare their retirement.

The AOS, or Aglaea Orbital Station, is considered as private property of the County and under the direct authority of the Count and County government. The Count’s Territorial Management Institute is responsible for all oversight of directly administered territories, with a specific branch dedicated to the AOS which is partial to direct oversight but remains completely open for all Grands to utilize under regulated conditions.

## Government and politics

The County of Aglaea is a constitutional monarchy organized as a feudal-elective, constitutional countship under the Human Empire. By Imperial decree, it was proclaimed as a county in 2601, following the national organization Grandmasters Treaty of 2511 which was adapted in 2603 with the Constitution of the Aglaean County of the Human Empire, which has remained in place since.  The general framework follows a typical feudal system with a monarch, but also includes elements of citizen-government and a legislative branch for domestic and internal governance.

### Government

The executive branch of the County encompasses two predominant entities: the Count and the Institutes. The Count is elected directly by a three-quarters vote of the County Assembly of the Grandmasters, with all participants either casting one vote or abstaining. The Great House Quincylia has been the dominant House in charge of the County since its declaration, and was the original House granted the colony. The Institutes are branches of executive government each specializing in certain duties or spheres of government. There currently are 8 Institutes: the Count’s Territorial Management Institute (TMI), Count’s Martial Institute (CMI), Count’s Development and Urban Management Institute (DUM), Count’s Agricultural and Environmental Institute (AEI), Count’s Financial and Economic Institute (FEI), Count’s Welfare and Interior Management Institute (WIM), Count’s Infrastructure, Transportation, and Communications Management Institute (ITC), and Count’s Technology and Information Institute (TII). The Institutes carry out the Count’s will and serve at their leisure, though usually focus on County-wide initiatives and cross-Grand programs, with anything not directly under the involvement of the Count delegated to the Grands or the legislative branch. Traditionally, the County and House Quincylia have not adopted the gendered form of the title “count” or “countess,” and have always used “Count” in all titles.

The legislative branch of the County consists of the County Assembly of the Grandmasters, a unicameral body housing the Grandmasters from each Grand, 18 in total, and a High Grandmaster, which represents the Grands collectively before the Count and higher. Grandmasters are originally set by the Count and serve as long as the Count’s reign, or until they are dismissed by the Count or retire. The local assembly of the Grand may choose, with a majority vote from voting citizens over the age of 19, to dismiss their Grandmaster as well, and to nominate a successor. Traditionally, the Count sponsors the leading nominee in order to earn goodwill with the future Grandmaster, but may also present their own candidate.

The High Grandmaster must be elected with at least 12 votes in favor, and may be any person agreed between the Grandmasters, who serves as long as the Count’s reign, or until they are dismissed by the Count or retire. The Assembly may petition for the Count to dismiss the High Grandmaster with a majority in favor. Traditionally, the Count recommends a House family member for the position since the communication duties between the two makes the process easier. The Assembly has always elected the Count’s candidate, with the closest discrepancy being a lawman earning an opposing 6 votes during the Fourth Election.

The Assembly is first and foremost charged with public policy, oversight over domestic matters, determining the rules and principles concerning areas of internal law, politics, and policy, with a domestic approach, pending approval from the Count, who may choose to reject any law or override any pre-established law by Royal Decree. The Assembly is also responsible for electing the Count upon their death, retirement, or dismissal, provided the Emperor does not do so already, with a majority vote, not including the High Grandmaster who sponsors an heir on behalf of the late Count. The County cannot exist without a Count for more than 462 days, or 1 year. The Assembly also has the power to dismiss the current Count by unanimous vote, including the High Grandmaster, provided they also have a voted-upon replacement.

The Count has exclusive power over civil servants and the Institutes, foreign policy, and all branches of the military, including the ability to levy troops from the Grands, though such is usually done through the Assembly. In the event of disagreement between Assemblymembers, the Count has the final say, and may transmit such through the High Grandmaster, who also casts all tie-winning votes.

### Law

The County of Aglaea uses a civil legal system, wherein law arises primarily from written statutes; judges are not to make law, but merely to interpret it, though the amount of judicial interpretation in certain areas makes it equivalent to case law in a common law system, and some Grand judiciaires implement case law to a more significant degree. Basic principles of the rule of law were laid out in the Grandmasters Treaty of 2511 and the Constitution of the Aglaean County of the Human Empire of 2603, based on the principle that law should only prohibit actions detrimental to society and not create a conforming population.

Aglaean law is divided into three main categories: civil law, criminal law, and constitutional law. Civil law and criminal law are governed by the Grands, under the legislation of the Assembly, and completely devolved from the Count except in cases of the highest order and magnitude, in which case it may be petition by the Grandmaster for the Assembly or the Count to act as an appeals court or review the case. Constitutional law is performed by the Assembly, with the Count as overseer, though may also be applied by the Assembly onto the Countship in rare cases of review pertinent to a dissolution of the Countship by the Assembly.

The County does not recognize religious law as a motivation for the enactment of prohibitions. However, more general terms such as offenses against public decency or disturbing public orders have been used in the past to exert religiously inclined rulings, and decisions. Some also consider Aglaea’s laws against hate speech to be overly broad or severe, undermining certain characteristics of freedom of speech, which is guaranteed in the Constitution alongside freedom of religion.

### Foreign Relations

Aglaea, or more precisely the founding House Quincylia, is a founding member of the [], and serves as one of the Great Houses within its body. The County has often been described as overtly diplomatic and friendly, with its seemingly infinite amount of diplomats and correspondents, but also hiding a grudgeful side which can maintain negative relations for considerable amounts of time. The County is also among the largest donors of development and medical aid, though among the smallest in terms of military aid or interventionism.

### Military

The Aglaean Martial Forces (AMF) are the military and paramilitary forces of the County, under the Count as supreme commander. They consist of the Terrestrial Forces Detachment (TFD), the Aerospace Combat Wing (ACW), the Maritime Guard Flotilla (MGF), and the Aglaean Guard (AGG), each with unique specialization into their various domains and fields, but with significant amount of overlap in operations and during joint efforts. Within the AMF, the TFD are mostly focused on planetary ground defense and invasion, the ACW both as air forces in Aglaea and as the interstellar naval forces, the MGF operates exclusively on Aglaea’s waters, and the AGG is the Count’s personal guard which also fulfills civil police duties across the Grands, including counter-terrorism. The AGG also encompasses the military police branch of the AMF and is responsible for public guardkeeping. The AMF is logistically organized under the Count’s Martial Institute for matters of logistics, personnel, and organization, though still under the authority of the Count.

The County is also among the rare to house special international military corps. The Aglaean Foreign Legion (AFL), founded early on, consists of nationals from numerous other nationalities who are willing to serve in the AMF and become Aglaean citizens after the end of their service period. This is consistent with Aglaea’s other combattants practices, as they hold a small military force but which is overwhelmingly composed of career soldiers, with few levies or enlistees, giving them a much higher degree of effectiveness and strength.

Aglaean intelligence units, both foreign, via the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS), and domestic, via the Domestic Intelligence Service (DIS), are also organized under the Count’s Martial Institute, with the latter also sharing duties with the Count’s Welfare and Interior Management Institute for policing efforts. The AMF also encompasses the Cybersecurity and Cyberwarfare Division (CCD), which hold limited capabilities. The nuclear status of the County is unknown, but unsuspected given their lack of warhead construction-capable materials.

Aglaea has one of the most robust maritime industries in the Empire, owing to its impressive oceanic defense and security needs and met capabilities, though its military industrial complex overall is comparatively smaller and less diverse, with limited terrestrial and atmospheric capabilities and a tightly focused stellar navy scene. Though the AMF prioritizes rapid-deployment, defensive, and response-based tactics at home, its projection and outwards forces follow a slower mothership doctrine with a handful of heavily-armed cruisers each with numerous, small ships acting as its defensive entourage.

### Government finance

The County of Aglaea raises revenue by implementing a tax on final goods and services, as well as a VAT on certain products, mainly heavy manufacturing, complimented by a small, flat revenue tax. Grands also pay duties as a percentage of their own revenue. The average tax rate for citizens revenue is 11.25% and the average tax on Grands revenues is around 12.5%. Grands are free to raise revenue as they see fit, though land ownership taxes, sales taxes, and tolls are among the most common and largest contributors.

### Limited monarchy

The County of Aglaea has never implemented an absolute monarchy system during its existence, and instead opted to directly create a constitutional monarchy with a feudal elective among vassals in order to preserve values of individual freedoms which, although democratic experiments had garnered deep reputation hits, remained popular. The original Constitution of the County includes a Charter of Human Rights, which are applied universally to residents and include rights such as freedom of speech and religion, to life, for the ownership of property, for suffrage, etc.

### Subordinate houses

The eighteen Grands, in turn, are themselves governed each by a minor house; with the title of Grandmaster, or Baron, at the lowest subdivision. Though all are directly subordinate to the Count, the land of Aglaea is intermediately split between five Viscounts; who act as the usual superiors to each ‘Baron and Grandmaster’, as they are called.

As follows, each House is named and titled:

* **Couprand,** Baron and Grandmaster of Kypris, Viscount of Nyo-Dejan.
	+ **Kharkonev,** Baron and Grandmaster of Gennediy.
	+ **Keoua,** Baron and Grandmaster of Hauna.
	+ **Hale,** Baron and Grandmaster of Avenir.
* TODO
	+ **Dexter,** Baron and Grandmaster of Malder
	+ **Torborg,** Baron and Grandmaster of Tarwa
* TODO
	+ **Smythe,** Baron and Grandmaster of Hosni, Viscount of Enno

## Economy

Aglaea has a mixed economy characterized by a sizable government involvement, diverse sectors, a skilled labor force and high innovation. Though not often considered as a major economic power, it has recently flourished given new technological advances which have enabled significant population growth and a rapidly growing industrial scene. As a recently industrializing planet, the Aglaea economy has been transitioning from one based upon agriculture to an economy with more emphasis upon services and manufacturing.

Though state ownership dominates public services such as transportation, defense, and telecommunications, more private companies have sprung up recently, particularly in the shifting service economy, though government involvement in research and development has been peaking every year for the past few decades as it attempts to surpass its major hurdles in agricultural production and as the County attempted to combat the Aglaea Merchant Marine Guild, which held over 95% of all waterborne transit across the planet.

### Agriculture

Aglaea has historically been a large producer of agricultural products. A wide pocket of fertile lands in central Vitus, the application of modern technology, and extensive subsidies have combined to make the County an exporter of agricultural products, in contrast to its early developing days as an importer of agricultural products prior to the introduction of humidity and dryness-resisting crops which could proliferate in wet soil.

Aquaculture accounts for nearly 85% of all agricultural production, with fishing and fish raising accounting for 8.1% of the planet’s GDP and nearly 20% of employment, with land-based farming being largely technologically efficient and shifting into skilled labor for the use of heavy machinery compared to the largely still personal or familial aquaculture scene. Refining process for many ocean forest, fish, and sea creatures has led to hundreds of types of agricultural exports across the County, namely delicacies, alcohol, and drug production based on exclusively growing life.

### Tourism

Tourism has been a key element of the economic activity in the County and one of the County’s most important sectors, contributing 20.6% of the GDP every year. Welcoming immense amounts of tourists from across the Empire, usually for long stays, it has become one of the most visited planets of the Empire in recent years. Aglaea is also a popular retirement destination for foreigners due to its climate and low cost of living.

#### St. Atioxta region

St. Atioxta, the capital city of the County, is among the most visited cities in the Empire. It includes some of the largest and most renowned museums, institutions, and landmarks of the planet, including the Barika Bay, upon the shore of which the great cliffs and beaches lie, is connected to the Aange Lagoon, the largest lake in Aglaea, by the Lainis River, all of which feature prominent touristic and scenic stops along the way, and is the most developed region on the planet.

The great churches and foundational monuments of the planet are also located in the city, including the Blue Clocktower, the Atioxta Waterfall Park, and the original Colonial Administration Palace. Many old castles, fortifications, churches, and more dot the landscape, as well as the central travel port in the bay.

#### Aglaous holy sites

Multiple sites dot the landscapes of Vitus which are considered of great importance by certain Aglaous communities, though not standardization or centralized recognition of any sites exist to a significant enough degree. Among the most well-known exist the White Dunes and Black Beaches, as well as the St. Joseph Volcano, the Aaqil Volcano, Oscar Massif limestone cliffs, the Nyo River, and the Jamar Islands.

The White Dunes and Black Beaches are considered opposing brothers, showcasing the existence of both good and evil within and on Vitus. The Enno Chain, seen as the tail of Vitus, marks the St. Joseph Volcano as a site of exploration as it is the well into darkness and the epitome of the Black Beaches. Observation and travel to the White Dunes is also considered a critical step in Aglaous practices, as is navigating the Nyo River, usually from its northernmost lake and onto the Gulf of Avenir. The dormant Aaqil Volcano and its ancient rifts in the Oscar Massif are considered the eye and gills of Vitus and therefore see many travelers, including a dangerous trip between the two, which is often complimented by a passage across the Dogar Ocean to the Jamar Islands in an oceanic pilgrimage.

Though relative numbers of visitors, tourists, and religious folk at these locations are relatively small, they remain crucial locations for other visitors and general tourists, leading to a high degree of tourism infrastructure in these locations, and a reliance on tourism-related economic factors. Though many of these areas are considered County Administrative Regions, it is not uncommon for select exceptions to be made for some prominent Aglaous followers in order to gain good will with the community.

#### White Dunes and Black Beaches

The White Dunes and Black Beaches are considered two of the most unique land features of Vitus and Aglaea as a whole, and are often compared and juxtaposed due to their highly contrasting natures. In Aglaous mythology, the two exist in juxtaposition to each other, with the Black Beachers of the Marvan Island containing the well to the darkness at the lowest depths of Aglaea, and the White Dunes representing bright, blinding life.

The White Dunes is a large desert spreading between the Gulf of Avenir and the Liuba Archipelago in lower central Vitus, stretching from coast to coast in a relatively isolated area. It consists of a fine white, crystal-like sandy powder which is shaped into dunes from the harsh wind current between the two seas, which is also reflected in the Gulf’s current, which carries shed crystal and coral from the Avenir Reef onto the dunes and has gradually built it up for the past millions of years. The crystal powder is highly toxic when it enters the bloodstream, and harsh winds make it easy to be cut from lifted sands or to inhale and receive internal lung blisters from the sharp, fine crystals. The entire area is considered off-limits, and visitation is only allowed either from the sky or in specified coastal boat trips in the Gulf.

The Black Beaches cover nearly the entirety of Marvan Island, on which lies the St. Joseph Volcano in the center. The entire island is covered and built from volcanic rock of old volcanic flows meeting the surrounding seas and rapidly cooling, forming small pebbles and rocks of varying size. It is believed that the currently active volcano of St. Joseph erupted about 11 million years ago in an immense VEI 8 eruption. The beaches are marked by occasionally steep cliffs from the ocean and rapid, harsh waves. A multitude of tours are offered throughout the island, including up to the active volcano, which occasionally erupts every few years. The continuous rain and wetness of the area has kept the beaches smooth and dark, which creates vibrant contrast with the seafoam and clear waters, though the area is often prone to strong storms in the wet season.

#### Avenir Reef

The Avenir Reef, which stretches over 911,300 square kilometers, is the largest ever recorded reef, which can be seen from outer space, and is the biggest single structure made by living organisms with some 8,000 individual reefs and 2,000 islands stretching across the Gulf of Avenir. The warmer volcanic tides coming from the West settle onto the nearby islands, bringing together prosperous temperatures and a chemical cocktail conducive to the development of marine life along the islands, with crystal plants and coral following the currents to the other side of the Gulf and amassing in the White Dunes.

The entire area is considered protected, with the highest level of protection possible by the Count themselves, limiting tourism and even some studies deemed too infringing on the delicate balance of life in the Reef. Only one area has been specially cordoned off for touristic diving explorations, usually booked some couple years in advance, and the majority of other trips are done either in electric gliders above the surface, or through windowed submersibles keeping far from the coast.

Fishing, polluting, waste generation, and other harmful activities committed around the Reef or in the area are punishable by the utmost degree, at the discretion of the Count. In 2654, Count Lionel Quincylia I executed a group of 5 which had been illegally dumping aquacultural waste chemicals in a river which fed into the Reef.

#### Other protected areas

Overall, the County features more than 350 protected sites across Vitus and overseas, spanning nearly 25% of the surface of the planet, though far from its peak of nearly 40%. They feature cities of high cultural interest, beaches and seaside resorts, ski resorts, as well as rural regions that many enjoy for their beauty and tranquility. Small and picturesque Aglaean villages are promoted through join associations, as well as important cultural, heritage, and artistic sites, alongside major parks and attractions, which contribute to the planetary economy and localities are often highly reliant on tourism industries, which attract fleets of visitors, cruises and ferries, and more.

### Energy

The vast majority of electrical generation and distribution throughout Aglaea is devolved to the Grands, especially as it relates to rural energy distribution and city-wide use. Recently, the Assembly has begun to centralize some forms of energy production, mostly by having a standardized power grid for the continent of Vitus and by combining efforts for power plant construction and joint operation for multi-operator use. The breakdown of electrical production in Aglaea averages around 58% from geothermal sources, 22% from hydroelectric, 15% from wind and solar, and 5% from other sources, possibly nuclear power plants. Due to the low prevalence of extracted fossil fuels and nuclear-capable material which are contained almost entirely under seabeds, electricity production from those sources is near zero. Coal burning is prohibited by law, and any fossil-fuel based energy production must be carbon-negative on a yearly basis.

### Transportation

Transportation throughout the County is facilitated by road, air, rail and waterways. The vast majority of transit on Vitus is done via rail, which is almost completely wired or uses battery electric trains, with waterways and air travel coming in second and third. There are multiple impressive infrastructure pieces across the planet, including the Tri-Point Towers Initiative, or Delta Program, the Avekin Bridge, the longest bridge on the planet at nearly 5,000 meters, and the Barika Bay tunnel. Most cities and Grands also feature prominent internal transportation networks combining rail lines, metro and subway systems, roads, bus networks, and more. The Jaram Islands are only accessible by air, in a 6 hour trip, or by boat in three or four days. St. Atioxta contains the only major space port on the planet, though others are planned among major Grands.

Road travel is often less utilized outside of rural areas due to the topography of the planet and continent. Cross-Grand infrastructure development is often seen as a County-centered undertaking, with road construction being of small scale and usually left to Grandmasters to build, with the majority then becoming toll roads. The new car market is dominated by imports from other planets as Aglaea has struggled with large-scale vehicle production outside of ship building and aerospace.

Most travel between islands or Vitus is accomplished via air or sea, with some one thousand airports across the planet and over five thousand ports, all served by the Count’s Infrastructure, Transportation, and Communications Management Institute (ITC)’s Aglaean Transit Network (ATN), which operates the largest passenger air and sea fleet, complemented by multiple other privately-run travel services. Most ATN operated vehicles are electric, with hydrofoil and subsonic planes being the norm. Nearly all rail on the planet is owned and operated by the ATN, and every major urban center is connected to the network by high-speed rail, one of the largest networks in the Empire. Expansions of the rail service have been planned mostly across the Enno Chain since its relatively lined-up.

### Science and technology

The Count’s Infrastructure, Transportation, and Communications Management Institute (ITC) and Count’s Technology and Information Institute (TII) are the primary County-wide governing agencies responsible for the development and coordination of science and technology-related projects as well as designing, implementing, and supervising national research and technological policy across Aglaea. Strict guidelines exist on the possibilities of project, avenues for research and development, and prioritization of projects, including adherence to the ban on artificial intelligence-employing algorithmic systems and designs, with most efforts concentrated on energy, transportation, aerospace, communication, medicine, and defense.

The most prominent scientific institute is the Ahès Gautho University for Science and Development, often referred to as “AGUS,” the first post-secondary university established in the colony and directly under the authority of the County. AGUS is ranked first in scientific publications across the planet and among the highest in the Empire, usually for topics related to agricultural and medical advancements, with energy and transportation as close seconds. Multiple other major technology parks, institutes, and museums complement the Grand’s own efforts, of which each is required to sponsor at least one university within their lands.

Since its colonial stages, the County has launched multiple satellites into the orbit of the planet, with more recent ones being home-built, though the vast majority are bought and sent on cheaply-built reusable rocketry, which helped to construct the Aglaea Orbital Station. The chance for Aglaea to develop nuclear capability is small, given the immense costs of acquiring the proper nuclear-capable resources.

## Demographics

The current population of the planet is around [], making the [] most populous County in the Empire and the [] most populous in the [] system. Aglaean society has changed rapidly over the last several decades, prompted by recent periods of economic and technological growth as it rides out the end of its rapid expansionary era due to advances in agricultural and aquaculture innovations making food growth on the planet much easier and more nutritious. In recent years, fertility rates have stagnated, and so has youth, though they have not begun to decline nor has the population begun to age considerably. Aglaea had one of the highest infant mortality rates and lowest life expectancies throughout its colonization due to the unavailability of crops that could survive the geography, but both have significantly ameliorated in the last few decades.

The County processes a relatively high rate of natural population growth, with natural births accounting for most of its population growth. The fertility rate is around 1.92 children per woman, slightly below the replacement rate of 2.1, and considerably below the high of 4.41 during the peak of the expansionary period. The population’s median age is 26.4 years, up from its 25-year average of 22.7 years, with 60.9% ages between 15 and 64 years old. Life expectancy at birth is around 73.1 years, but growing rapidly, and the rate of poverty has almost halved in the last 25-year period, down to under 7.6%. In the last 25-year period, the population growth averaged 1.9%, with immigration being a large component to the trend. The average life expectancy is higher in women, at around 78.4 years, and the sexual distribution is one of the widest with 53.4% female and 46.6% male.

### Ethnic groups

There is substantial ethnic diversity within Aglaea, a product of the mass colonial period, expansionary period, and Imperial involvement, which has shaped unique blends across the planet, but remains grounded in a few identified groups which still proudly proclaim their heritage. The initial discovery and colonization of the planet which held significant similarities to the lifestyles, visual landscape, and elements of Mediterranean, Northern African, Middle Eastern, and equatorial tropics of Earth attracted large amounts of remaining populations from these areas as they sought to rekindle some cultural attributes.

Studies conducted conclude that ancestry varies widely throughout the County, with many citing interchanges between multiple groups and the lack of clearly delineated cultural groups, but usually gives the following groups as some of the largest, general categories: French (6.5%), Italian (9.8%), Spanish (1.9%), Portuguese (1.3%), Northwest African (15.3%), Sub-Saharan African (11.2%), Turkish (5.8%), Greek (6.1%), General Eastern European (5.4%), Western Middle East (4.2%), General Arabic (3.1%), Southeast Asian (2.8%), Others (29.6%).

### Immigration

Post-colonization and well into the Imperial era, Aglaea remains a major destination for immigrants, with high acceptance rates of large numbers of immigrants annually. The County has an open-door policy for asylum seekers, which is a point of contentious domestic and international political debate, but on which the ruling House has remained fairly open, though the process is growing more strict.

The total number of foreign-born immigrants is estimated to be around 8% of the population, with Aglaean-born descendants numbering around 11% of the population. Nearly every immigrant coming into the County applies for citizenship, with nearly 95% beginning the citizenship process within their first year, and all children born in the County automatically becoming citizens. A significant portion of immigrants coming into the County enter into the Aglaean Foreign Legion (AFL) and complete service to earn their citizenship and guarantee stable, professional employment, as well as smooth out the process for other family members.

#### Major Cities

Slightly more than half of the Aglaean population lives in urban areas, with the capital city, St. Atioxta constitutes nearly 13% of the County population across its dense urban area. Rural flight and rapid urbanization are being seen as currently undergoing issues in the County. The following list describes the most populated and largest contiguous metropolitan or urban developed areas of the County:

### Languages

Count’s Infrastructure, Transportation, and Communications Management Institute (ITC) lists 186 individual languages in Aglaes, 182 of which are Earth-born languages, with 4 distinctly evolved Imperial dialects. Most native languages are either Indo-European or Afro-Asiatic languages, with Turkic and Austroneisan as minority languages alongside Niger-Congo. In addition, various Indo-European and Afro-Asiatic-based creole varieties collectively called Aglai exist, which is a growing dialect combining all of the existing language groups in the County. French Sign Language is the national sign language of the County, specifying that it shall be recognized, supported and promoted as the medium of official communication in all transactions involving the deaf, and as the language of instruction of deaf education.

English is the official language of the country. The County does not regulate the choice of language in publications by individuals but the use of English is required by law in formal commercial and workplace communications. English is primarily used in government, education, print, broadcast media, and business, with two to four local secondary languages often being used at the same time. The Aglaean Constitution provides for the promotion of all officially recognized languages of the County, which are: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Arabic, Afrikaan, Greek, and Portuguese; on a voluntary and optional basis, though every post secondary university-level education, as mandatorily established in each Grand, must have programs in place for the formal study of these languages and their use.

### Religion

The County of Agalaea is a secular state, in which freedom of religion is a constitutional right, and no religion is officially promoted or embraced by the County.  No specific right may be recognized to a religious community apart from legal status such as military chaplains, non-profit organizations, and the likes, which follows a strict formal legal criteria that do not address religious doctrine. Certain institutions may further be classified into ‘pseudo-religions’ or fold traditions and do not necessarily share the same status, a process developed to combat cults and Constitutionally-breaching organizations self-identifying as religious.

The breakdown of the population between legally recognized religious communities has remained stable in the past, though the regional Aglaous community has emerged based on traditions revolving around Aglaea itself: 16.2% Christian, 29.4% Muslim, 10.2% Aglaous, Jewish, 11.3% Other, and 32.9% no religion (atheism or agnosticism).

#### Aglaous

The Aglaous religious community is a relatively small but still highly prevalent fold-tradition based religion which has developed on Aglaea since only a few years into its colonization period. Incorporating the natural environment of the planet as a way to conciliate its existence with other traditional or religious beliefs, it does not have any specific doctrines or formal customs, and instead exists as a loose set of beliefs about the nature, existence, and history of the planet. Its specific nature also allows it to exist alongside other beliefs and many elements of it have been incorporated into more prevalent religious communities throughout Aglaea and by the County itself as a way to honor the identity of the traditions and as symbology for the County as a whole.

In traditional Aglaous belief, the giant Mobulidae, Manta-like ray named Vitus exists as a spaceborn creature with a star-like pattern across its body representing the existence of light within darkness, which is often compared to goodness within evil. Vitus carries upon it multiple worlds, primarily Euphrosyne and Thalia, on which Vitus will create life. Poisoned by an opposing space-faring ray, Vitus succumbs to his wounds and falls onto the pure-water planet of Aglaea, dropping his two planets. The remainder of his energy then seeps into the oceans of the planet, with the darkness sinking at the bottom and the lighter energy rising to the top, creating life in the oceans of Aglaea and ultimately being concentrated in its crystalline life. The two planets he was nurturing are left to float around and become the moons of Aglaea, devoid of the life-giving energy of Vitus and sitting as cold rock. The Enno Chain is representative of Vitu’s tail, and the Aange Lagoon is his eye, with the mountain ranges huge scars from his final battle dotted by the poisonous clots as the volcanos dotting the continental scape and sinking all the way to the bottom of the planet, where the darkness lies in large concentrations.

Most of the teachings of Aglaos focus on living in harmony with nature, as it is sacred and the byproduct of the death of greater beings, of which we should be honoring. Pilgrimage, lifestyle decisions, scholarly work, and holiday celebrations are the most common forms of Aglaous representations and traditions, with other religions often incorporating similar attributes or aspects of the belief in their own writings. Though Aglaous is a decentralized, non formal religious community, multiple scholars have sought to put together all of elements of the story or create a planetary-wide community for shared celebrations and traditions. The banner of Aglaea shows a manta ray with the water planet across his back, superimposed, a symbol of common Aglaean identity.

### Health

The County healthcare system is decentralized and primarily devolved to the Grands, with varying systems such as universal health care, client payer, Barrony health insurance, etc. Multiple Grands have come together to implement joint or shared systems in order to streamline some aspects. County Administrative Regions operate with a County-financed statutory health insurance, which is one of the highest quality in Aglaea and attracts many from across the planet, operated by the Count’s Welfare and Interior Management Institute (WIM). The County care system provides free care for chronic diseases and high coverage from hospitals, clinics, and some alternative medicine establishments.

Health expenditure is relatively low across the County, and the quality of healthcare has been steadily rising recently, in part due to the extremely diverse and developed biology of the planet which has led to the discovery of multiple new drugs, formulas, and other treatment options, constituting a critical aspect of Aglaea’s economy. The obesity rate in the County is one of the lowest in the Empire, attributed to the lack of processed foods and heavy cultural emphasis on cuisine and traditional dishes which are notably very healthy and agriculturally-based. Multiple ‘blue zones’ are perceived across the planet, with one of the highest amounts across the Empire.

### Education

The County education system is decentralized and primarily devolved to the Grands, with varying systems, though nearly all follow the standard pattern of the primary, secondary, and higher education stages, and is considered lacking in multiple criteria, with County higher education schools, handled by the Count’s Welfare and Interior Management Institute (WIM), being disproportionately attended despite the requirement for every Grand to operate one. It is common for most to conclude education seeking after secondary schools and enter directly into labor, though professional schools, guild apprenticeships, and vocational schools have undermined the previous deficit in skilled labor.

The simple literacy rate is around 98.3%, with critical literacy at around 78.4% on average, but closer to 89.6% in women, which make up an overwhelming majority of university attendees. Military schools attract nearly three-quarters male attendees and is also considered a post secondary educational option given the AMF’s reliance on skilled and professional soldiers rather than enlistees. The Pellebrum War Studies College is the largest military academy in the County and is responsible for about a fifth of all combatants and personnel of the AMF. A large portion of the education system also relies on private school, which may be of religious, paying, career-focused or other orientation.

## Culture

Aglaea has been the center of Mediterranean, Northern African, Islamic, and lower European culture since the start of the colonization era and is one of the greatest cultural assemblies combining aspects from each and helping to keep them alive after the fall of Earth. Mostly owing to the similar landscape and visual identity that was found across the planet, which has aided cultural traditions in their growth and adoption. The declaration of the County has strengthened the creation of a unified Aglaean culture and identity, which has been generally well received among residents and sponsored by the governments of the planet.

### Visual Arts

Artistic production in Aglaea began very quickly into the colonial era, and has continued to flourish since, specifically in painting, photography, videography and cinema, sculpting, and other artistic movements. A few key elements are found across most Aglaea art, most notably elements of nature, landscapes, and the beauty of the environment and world, which remain prominent motifs in modern and contemporary art movements. Statue sculpting and other architectural movements are central to Aglaean identity, with many famous artists in those spheres mimicking and taking inspiration from ancient works.

Cinema is also a critical aspect of visual identity in Aglaean, with documentary filmmaking, specifically concerning life in its oceans, being one of its largest cultural exports. The County is also an extensive filming location given its incredibly cheap nature and lax laws in certain Grands. Aglaean production outside of those spheres, however, remains low and largely unable to compete with larger blockbusters, which has kept the cinema scene on the planet small, though some local films have managed to find success, particularly more philosophical or literary works and adaptations.

### Architecture

Environmental factors have left an imprint on Aglaean architecture in the way that buildings were designed and constructed, mostly due to direct factors. The limited availability of certain building resources during the early days of the colonial era such as wood, steel, and concrete meant that other, more locally inclined materials needed to be used, mostly built from heavy limestone, which could also resist the severe weather of the planet. Other clays later left an imprint on buildings as lack deposits of hard stone had imprints on them from ancient, gian crystals, which gave slabs distinct, bright colors, usually from primary palettes, which became a crucial identity piece among architecture and is still mimicked today. Most construction took an air of neoclassicism or new classicism design, which was used to reinforce the Grandmasters era, though it has since branched into more ideas of the classical functionalism, which is most well seen in interstellar ship building.

### Philosophy and literature

The dominant forms of literature philosophy of the County came about during the Grandmasters era, in line with the expansionary period, as more wealth and a greater focus on education and the arts was spurred from the increased living standards and end of the harsh colonial period. Many famous works deal with positivism and spiritualism, with heavy influences from the romantic movement. Recently, the Imperial era have begun to sea a shift into postmodernist philosophy and a movement away from the writing of epics, poems, and narrative literature and into more humanism and analytical or truth-seeking works with more criticisms about society, the impacts and effects of humanity, and more spurred by shifting power balances and ideas.

### Performance arts

Musical trends across the County usually follow the popular movements associated with grandeur social movements as a whole, though Aglaea has also developed its own, unique musical scene. Instruments built from local fashion, usually string-based harmonic instruments, though percussion has also gained popularity as uniquely built instruments in the region.  The majority of famed composers and musicians have appeared during the Imperial era, mostly as immigrants from other planets, and have been largely concentrated in royal duties, with branchings out into scores and epics in some cases of overlap.

### Mass media

Aglaean media is predominantly in English, though most local variants are in secondary languages, with multiple County-wide radio stations and TV channels, a national newspaper. Many Grands also have their own public channels and more local newspapers, though free broadcasting is legally open throughout the territory. The Imperial internet network, social media, and television remain the top source of news and information of many Aglaeans with newspapers, publications, and broadsheets remaining more popular among executives, professionals, and students.

The top newspapers by planet wide readership, as well as credibility, are the St. Atioxta-based *The Ray*, the County-sponsored *County Reader*, and the press guild-run *Aglaean Star*. Popular lifestyle magazine *Zalika*, sport reader *The Aglaean Player*, and military bulletin *Ares* also achieve high amounts of readership and have international versions. While freedom of the press is protected by the constitution, high amounts of corruption, intimidation, and other practices are often prevalent in some media outlets.

### Cuisine

Aglaean cuisine shares many characteristics of the traditional, healthy Mediterranean diet, incorporating fresh ingredients into a variety of local dishes such as salads, soups, pies, skewered meats, and a wide selection of dairy products and alcohols, with fish and other seafood as the primary meat component. Wine is the most common alcoholic complementary drink usually made in regions of higher altitude, and olive oil is a common staple of most meals. Aglaean cuisine’s plant-based diet is also known to improve environmental and agricultural sustainability, mostly due to the lower use of dairy products, ruminant meat, and processed foods, the latter of which has seen little success in piercing the planet’s markets.

### Sports

A multitude of sports are considered fairly popular across Aglaea, with football, basketball, water polo, and sailing being among the most popular and those at which the planet excels the most. There are multiple planet-wide leagues for each, and an independent cross-Grant league holds a yearly bracket tournament between football teams culminating in one of the largest sporting events in the later dry month.

The cross-university water polo league tournament is also a grand, yearly event which sees the largest participation in terms of players after the bi-annual Vitusian Sailing Competition. Held every two years, it is the biggest sporting event on the planet in terms of length, participants, attendees, viewers, and fame. Holding a multitude of varying routes usually spanning nearly half the periphery of the continent, it is one of the most dangerous and intense sporting events of the County, held and sponsored by the Count every two years in a four-week race usually ending in Barika Bay and called at the capital. It is the only sporting event or public competition where a member of the ruling House has ever participated, with Ève Quincylia II participating in 2689 and winning third place.