Redpeppers

Redpeppers is an island nation in the Boraelin Ocean and the only nation on the Jilapa continent, located between the Borealin Ocean and the Sea of Letanrica. Its population of 300 million is primarily concentrated in and around the Nine Cities: Jafalond, the capital city, Ryenel, Aedorn, Cainhorn, Holmsa, Windhaven, Erkus, Basmer and Blackford. Originating from the Akjanan continent, the Redpeppersians fled their homeland in what they called "the Collapse", seeking refuge in their small, former colony. It is ruled by the High Council of Redpeppers, an autocratic institution, held in check by a democratically elected Parliament, and led by the High King of Redpeppers. The mountainous island is rich in minerals and metals, yet it provides poor land for farming, causing a constant threat of food shortages should its agricultural sector encounter significant difficulties. As a result, while Redpeppers can sustain itself in isolation, it has historically tended to import food and is in no position to export any, opting instead to trade its ore and minerals. Its economy is mostly free market, with exception of the energy, agricultural, educational and healthcare sectors, which are state-run. The banks, as well, are government-owned, although competition from private enterprises is allowed on a limited scale. Due to their history, Redpeppersians are notoriously distrusting of the outside world, and several periods of an isolationist policy have left the nation poor and politically and diplomatically isolated. In recent years, this policy has shifted dramatically.

Founding
The first civilisation in Redpeppers started around 900, when local towns started to form in the island's many fjords and bays and along its rivers. Due to the isolated nature of these towns, only connected by the odd road and the sea, these towns developed relatively isolated and diverse in cultural, political and social norms. Eventually, however, around 1150, these cities started to trade and interact with each other on a greater scale, leading to a shared sense of identity and culture as Redpeppersian. Politically, however, the nation remained a sea of city-states, petty kingdoms and the odd federation. It wasn't until 1350 that some of its more powerful rulers started to move for a united Redpeppers, although none were succesful. This led to the Unification Wars, a series of conflicts initiated by King Arnould Barag II of Tarkaz, aimed at unifying the nation under his rule. They lasted even after his death in 1383, after which his son, King Jordan I, took upon his mission. Finally, in 1389, Jordan defeated the League of Five at the Battle of Red Hill, breaking the last resistance to a united Redpeppers.

Crowned High King Jordan I of the Barag dynasty, he set out to unite his nation into a cultural and political force. To this end, he led cultural endeavours, ordered the construction of roads, bridges, town halls and other public infrastructure projects, and created the first central government of the nation. In a move to appease the former city-states, Jordan created the predecessor to Redpeppersian Parliament, the Assembly of Representatives. This council, consisting of 27 members, would be made up of representatives from each of the major cities, and had the authority to oversee the government through its legislature, although its powers in actuality were limited. By the end of Jordan I's reign, Redpeppers had been established firmly in the minds of its citizens.

Vargold Dynasty
In 1678, High King Asgrim died without an heir, which led to the Great Succession Crisis. The Assembly of Representatives, by law, was required to vote upon his successor within a year of his death. Two main candidates presented themselves: Astrid Eglad, niece of the late High King, and Garm Sannemor, cousin of the former High King. These two candidates, each backed by one of the two most powerful noble clans, fought for control over the Assembly with the wealth and political power of their respective families behind them. Lord Regent Harald tried to steer the country as best as he could, and managed to succeed until the day of the vote. That day, the vote was split 14-13 in favour of Astrid, to which Sannemore claimed the vote was unlawful and fled the capital. Eglad declared him a traitor, which was the final spark: Redpeppers was plunged into the Succession War, lasting nearly two decades and bringing the nation to near ruination. The Eglad and Sannemore clans wiped one another out, and after 18 years of warfare, Kharis I of the Vargold dynasty ascended to the throne.

In the aftermath of the civil war, High King Kharis I set out to rebuild the nation. To this end, he allied himself with the Faith of Vidar, which had grown into a powerful force shortly before and during the Succession War. This alliance proved prosperous to both sides, and the country underwent significant political, social and cultural changes under Kharis' reign. Kharis I's son, High King Hacon II, continued his father's political alliance with the Faith, and furthermore imposed more severe restrictions upon the maintenance of private military forces such as the ones that had dominated the Succession War.

Social Reform
Towards the end of the 1980's, a series of protests and strikes were organised, protesting the continued privilege of the aristocracy and the exploitation of Redpeppersian workers. Protestors demanded the abolition of the aristocracy, reduced power for the High King and a democratically elected parliament to control the High King's power. Such protests were initially ignored, but the issue grew more pressing when some of the protests turned violent. Fears of rebellion began to grow, and the High King at the time, Arnould III, caved due to the public and political pressure. While the aristocracy retained its privileged position, the High King agreed to introduce a democratically elected parliament and to take a less active role in the affairs of state, and started on these reforms in 1989.

In 1993, the Assembly of Representatives was abolished and replaced by the democratically elected Redpeppersian Parliament, consisting of 90 seats, 10 from each of the regional districts. This did not solve the issue entirely, however: the district of Tarkaz, which held the highest concentration of noble families and their estates, was smaller in population yet held an equally great say in Parliament as the other districts. Representatives were also all of noble heritage, although this was not necessarily a requirement. As a result of this perceived imbalance, unrest remained.

Revolution
While the reforms of 1989 and 1993 reduced the tension somewhat, and ensured the continued survival of the Vargold dynasty, this prosperity lasted only until Arnould's death in 2028. His son and heir Bethon took a different approach altogether. Over the next seven years, Bethon reversed his father's reforms, initiated a purge in military leadership against those he labelled "disloyal", and inflared tensions between the common people and the royalist government and aristocracy. This led to the Spring Uprising of 2035, during which numerous rebel groups took up arms against the royal government.