Arda

Arda

**Arda** (アル) comprises the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the Yonko in the Arda (Clan World) Role-Play Community. It originated with Vanguard of Valhalla (c. 2014 – 2016) where it had numerous possessions and posts established in practically every clan. At its height, Vanguard of Valhalla was the largest nation-state in history and, for over two years, was the foremost global power. By 2015, Vanguard of Valhalla held sway over 200 people, more than 75% of the Arda Role-Play Community at the time, and by 2016, it covered nearly 90% of Arda's total clan mass.

During the age of upheavals (2012 – 2013), DayBreak and SCAR pioneered modern Role-Play in the Arda Role-Play Community, and established large empires across the community. Envious of the great prestige these empires generated, the Akatsuki (proto-Vanguard) began to establish outposts of their own in neighboring clans. A series of wars in 2012 and 2013 with DayBreak and the Kaori Tribe left the Akatsuki the dominant power in the Arda Role-Play Community.

The independence of Ragnarok from the Akatsuki in early 2014 caused the Akatsuki to lose of its oldest and most prized members. The Akatsuki's attention soon turned towards Liberum and the aging Society of the Dark Skulls. After the defeat of Ragnarok, the Akatsuki emerged once again as the principal imperial power in the Arda Role-Play Community.

Unchallenged in Role-Play, the Akatsuki's dominance was later described as the *age of harmony*, a period of relative peace in the Arda Role-Play Community (2014 – 2015), during which the Akatsuki became the global hegemon and adopted the role of policeman.

By the start of 2015, Vanguard of Valhalla and the Fumetsu Gotei had begun to challenge the Akatsuki's lead. Subsequent tensions between the Akatsuki and Vanguard were major causes of the war that would erupt between them. The conflict placed enormous strain on a decaying Akatsuki. Although the Akatsuki achieved its largest territorial extent, it was no longer Arda's pre-eminent power.

The damage to the Akatsuki's prestige helped to accelerate its decline. Many families in the Akatsuki, who were arguably its most valuable possession, achieved independence as part of a larger movement. After independence, many of these former factions and families joined Vanguard of Valhalla, a free association of clans. The end of the Akatsuki would come in late 2016.

### Legacy

Most former members and factions of the Akatsuki were among the member states that joined Vanguard of Valhalla, a largely non-political, association of equal members, comprising around 200 Role-Players. More than ten clans in 2015 voluntarily shared the Vanguard monarch, King Sinbad, as their head of state. These clans are no longer equal legal entities.

Months, and in some cases years, of rule by empires and imperialist clans have left their mark on the independent factions that arose from the ashes of the Akatsuki and Vanguard of Valhalla. DayBreak established the use of standard Role-Play that is now practiced across various regions of the Arda Role-Play Community. Today, it is the primary practice of up to 100 Role-Players.

The spread of standard Role-Play from the latter half of 2012 has been helped by the cultural influences of clans like SCAR, The Fourth Order, The Brotherhood, and others. Except in the Yonko, most clans had adopted a system that was used in DayBreak, acting as a template for the government of many former dependencies.