Thalassian Occupied Zone

State flag of the Thalassian Occupied Zone

## Introduction

The Thalassian Occupied Zone, is the region referring to the lands currently held by The Red Sun and it's Armed Forces. It is run via direct Military Occupation and began with the founding of Falcon's Landing by the Red Sun during the War of the Ancients. These territories were seized by the Ancient Houses, particularly from House Orias who held the region of Feralas prior to the Red Sun's invasion.

## Foundations

The Thalassian Occupied Zone emerged as the Red Sun's answer to it's conquered territories across western Kalimdor. It's initial conquests of Feralas and and beyond, wrestling them from the control of House Orias had created an unofficial state within the crumbling Highborne Empire. It's formation was official after the creation of the War Council that began to organise the regions it had conquered, recruiting local populace into it's armed forces as Informants.

From it's foundations, it was under heavy assault from House Orias, who's forces initially outnumbered the Red Sun's forces, but with a vast land to control and 38,000 troops to spread across approximately half of modern day Kalimdor, the Red Sun had a significant advantage in pushing House Orias backwards.

## Control of Eldre'thalas

Eldre'thalas is currently the largest, and only city under The Red Sun's control, with hundreds of thousands of inhabitants it has become an economic center for the occupied zone, and a strategic hub from which the War Council is directed. Eldre'thalas was seized and occupied after a lengthy siege that broke House Orias' hold and influence over the city and it's ruling class, particularly Magister Kalendris, who sought to betray the current ruler, Prince Tortheldrin. Over 12,000 troops from House Astarte and The Red Sun contributed to the victory, it led to weeks of chaos amongst the last remaining vestiges of power inside the region of Eldre'thalas, but had later surrendered, leaving the city in Red Sun hands.

## Northern Campaign

The Thalassian Occupied Zone continues to grow, with section by section border conflicts with it's northern adversary, House Orias. The back and forth conflicts between the Red Sun Armed Forces and House Orias, has lead to the beginning of the Northern Campaign, a series of forward offensives by the Red Sun, with collaboration with it's ally House Astarte, to encircle and destroy one of the largest concentrations of Oriasic forces based in the city of Then'ralore, a large strategic hub for House Orias' eastern provinces. Lead by Red Sun Centurions Gathios, Pathaleon & Telonicus, they are planned to spearhead the 14,000 strong set of pincers to encircle the city.

## Economy

The economy of the Thalassian Occupied Zone varies widely depending on region. Thriving off of trade between Eldre'thalas and regions across the occupied zone, the state itself receives a large portion of it's income through what is known as *Para Bellum.* A policy strongly promoted by Lord Irillien Bladesworn, arguing that the economy of the Occupied Zone will grow through the rewards reaped by conquest of the Ancient Houses, which is the main policy of economics through the War Council

The variety in economic policy grew as the control over Eldre'thalas expanded, and the Battle for Sardor Isle rewarded them with a reliable source of Marble & Port Access, to which they could trade across Kalimdor. The source of marble promoted it's use and trade across the territory, and further increased it's self-reliance in terms of building materials.

One of the key allies and trading partners is the vast spreading territories held by House Astarte, with vast troll Kingdoms under it's thumb, House Astarte and the Red Sun contribute greatly to each other's efforts, both military and in terms of economic development. It is House Astarte that has funded recent development in Eldre'thalas, in return for a recent political favor from the War Council. It is through this growth both in development and trade, that increases the Thalassian Occupied Zone's growth rates, expected to reach up to 8-9% each year.

## Military

The military capabilities of the Thalassian Occupied Zone, and the Red Sun Armed Forces that directly governs the region, is one of the strongest powers across Kalimdor, with an average growth of 25,000 troops per week. and with the numbers growing rapidly. The Red Sun's Armed Forces' currently quality stems from the Sunfury troops that once served under Prince Kael'thas, an elite sect of Sin'dorei that hold immense skill and capabilities, making it's battle prowess exceed that of the Ancient Houses, making up for the shortfall of numbers during the founding of Falcon's Landing.

The Red Sun Armed Forces hold three registered elite sects of the military, known to Sin'dorei culture as The Blood Knights, powerful paladins under the command of Lord Irillien Bladesworn, the Farstriders, currently lead by Ranger-Captain Mylathandris Goldpath-Sunbow. And lastly, the Magisters under the command of Lord Eidanar Sunreach with a vast majority of the military power stemming from the three organizations.

The first section of the Red Sun Special Forces are known as the Phoenix Battalions, an ultra-elite section of the Farstriders, operating under secrecy and serve as extremely powerful Farstriders used in risky and dangerous operations.

Other emergent sections, while not of pure Thalassian origin, have been employed by the Red Sun in an auxiliary capacity. Examples of these emergent paramilitaries include: Lord Occotar Bloomsinger's Serpent Paradigm militant priesthood caste, of mixed Sin'dorei and Kaldorei origins, and the Kaldorei Resistance movement, championed by Tyrande Whisperwind.

## Legitimacy

The Thalassian Occupied Zone is a de-facto state, with no official declaration of statehood, the Thalassian Occupied Zone remains under the direct control of the Red Sun's War Council, and the overwhelming power of it's Armed Forces. It is under this regard, that the Thalassian Occupied Zone can be regarded as a Military Junta, with no elections or democratic freedoms of the populace.

The Occupied Zone in terms of state legitimacy is low, with a lack of recognition from any of the Ancient Houses or Azeroth's strongest military power, the Highborne Empire under Queen Azshara. But with that said, the state itself is contending in terms of status, with a growing military of over 25,000 troops a week from local recruitment and population increases. It's economy is also continuing to grow, with a large reserve of funds gained from the collapse of the Manar'dorei Empire.

## Possibilities for Statehood

The status of the Thalassian Occupied Zone as of modern times, continues to exist as a military occupation under de-facto statehood status. With it's current choice of being a Military State under serious deliberation by the War Council with possibilities between a Monarchy, or a dictatorship under the Military Junta. It is already known that the Ancient Houses and the Highborne Empire will not accept statehood for the Occupation Zone, as the current war continues to escalate. It is on the fence however, if House Astarte would recognize such a move.

## The National Flag

The flag adopted for the Occupied Zone is to represent the symbolic struggle of the Sin'dorei people.

**Red -** To honor the blood and sacrifice of all who have given there lives for the Sin'dorei

**Black -** To represent the darkest times in Sin'dorei history.

The Sunfury Sigil in the center, is in honor of the legendary Sunfury, an elite group of Blood Elves who have directly contributed alongside the Red Sun, to the Thalassian Occupied Zone's success.

The Symbol of the Sin'dorei, adopted by many Ultranationalists and Nationalists within the Occupied Zone, is also widely used alongside the National Flag. But this has never been officialy adopted as a state symbol, but is widely recognised as a key symbol of the SIn'dorei people