Arlanestran Territories

The Arlanestran Territories was a government that existed on the western Mainland between 600 LA and 1447 LA. The Territories separated from the kingdom of Chernarus in 598 LA at the beginning of the Logos War. At its height, the Territories ruled the majority of the land between the Frontier and the Red Desert, including all the former holdings of Chernarus and most of the neighboring Kessler Dominion. The Territories were dissolved as a ruling body in 1447 LA at the Council of Trigonon.

Name

As the kingdom of Chernarus began using a weapon of mass destruction to force the northern Kessler Dominion to capitulate in a long cold war, dissent stirred the southeastern reaches of the kingdom. Under leadership from Viceroy Raquel Sunbourne and Sir Duncan Varner, the provinces of Gaiak and Reen declared independence from Chernarus.

Additionally, nobles from Gaiak, Elda-Reiss and Jaldessa Taraan, had reclaimed old holdings near the village of Bacatta. Citing the atrocities committed by Chernarus, the Taraans encouraged Sir Duncan to rebel, using the local popularity of their Lone Wolves adventuring company to rally support for the fledgling state.

As the rebellion swelled and forces were dispatched from Trigonon to put down the uprising, the Lone Wolves found themselves on the front lines of the Logos War. Among those serving with the Lone Wolves was a Bacattan witch, who was later revealed to be a copper dragon under a spell. Through a series of retold legends and propaganda, the name and likeness of Arlanestra the Copper became a rallying symbol for the rebels. The regions of Gaiak, Reen, and newly admitted Emberwood were altogether named "the Arlanestran Territories" in 600 LA.

Government

The nation of Arlanestra was best classified as an oligarchic monarchy. This was a departure from the parliamentary monarchy of Chernarus.

Formation of the Arcana Regulation Bureau

Following the devastation of the Logos Vortex, Chancellor Duncan Varner formally established the Arcana Regulation Bureau, or A.R.B., in 605 LA. It was intended as a way to protect against dangerous magic use in the Territories. The memories of the terrible Chernaran weapon were fresh in the minds of the Arlanestran people, and Varner wanted to begin his regime strongly. By establishing the Bureau, Varner and his allies hoped to shield common people from powerful magic-users.

However, it eventually grew into an arm of the government so powerful, even the ruling oligarchs of Arlanestra found it nearly impossible to control. The Bureau spiraled into a sort of secret police, and as early as 700 LA, became an authoritarian force strong enough to project influence throughout the western Mainland. Lone Wolves hero Medrash Turnaroth was said to have warned Duncan Varner about such a potentiality, but his long-sightedness went unheard. The A.R.B. became synonymous with Arlanestra's might, and fear of the Bureau caused significant issues in the Territories. Even those suspected of casting spells or operating magical devices without a license were targets of arrest, interrogation, and even torture.

The A.R.B. was able to keep the wizard-warriors of the advanced Thaedran Imperium at bay. Because of the Bureau's hound-like ability to sniff out and expunge sorcery, Arlanestra and the Imperium maintained a "cold war" status for the majority of their mutual existence.