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'''Axdel''' (Axdelian: ''Axdelia''), officially known as '''The Federation of Axdel''', is a sovereign federal state consisting of three constituent countries; [[Korstazia]], [[Lyrevale]], and [[Quartz Fern Coast]]. It is situated on the Axdelian peninsula of South-West [[Aurora]], and borders the nations of [[Emberwood Coast]], [[Great Morstaybishlia]], and [[Oceansend]], as well as having a maritime border withand [[ValericaKéya]] to the south. It is the second largest nation by land area on the continent. The capital city of Axdel is [[Andel]], a megacity with 11 million people, followed by Fenrir with 9 million.
The land on which Axdel sits has been inhabited for potentially up to a million years, with the arrival of the first anatomically modern [[Cava]] in the area. Since the iron age, the region was dominated by the Kormistazic empire and its satellite states. The [[Norvians]] invaded the area in the 4th century and established many kingdoms in the north, though were ultimately reabsorbed. The Kormistazic Empire also established and administered colonial territories on [[Arcturia]] for several centuries. After a five decade long series of invasions by Morstaybishlia in the 16th century, the area was incorporated into the empire and was known as Korstazia, later becoming a principality. Korstazia gained independence after a revolution shortly before the [[Auroran Imperial War]], gaining independence as [[Norograd]]. Noroist Axdel collapsed in 1996 after a nearly two year [[Axdel civil war|civil war]], with the present democratic government succeeding it. The majority of Quartz Fern Coast was incorporated in 2003 in a referendum following the collapse of its government in the years prior.
In the 12th century BCE, the walled city state of Quen exited a long period of social unrest, and began a highly successful conquest under Kind Eida which saw the entire Upper Ueclid come under his dominion. The Soltic confederacy, a naval coastal state east of the Ueclids mouth, began its own simultaneous campaign to control the lordships of the fertile floodplains in the area. The powers came into conflict in the middle of the century provoked war with Eida's Ueclidian Empire sending warships up the river to raid towns and constrict trade. Taking advantage of their weak land forces, Eida pushed down the valley and sieged their holdings on the river and the coast. However, many areas were able to hold out thanks to supplies brought in by their navy. Eida was succeeded by his son Eida II, who launched a campaign into Soltic territory which eventually succeeded, putting the entire Ueclid valley and the Northern coast under his dominion by the 11th century BCE. The unified Ueclidian empire remained the status quo for approximately a century and a half as the regions dominant power. In this time, a standardised system of writing and booms in trade leading to increased record-keeping signifies the end of the first dark age.
The Ueclid empire did not persist for long, as rebellions were commonplace and growing competition from other regions outside the Ueclid valley threatened their trading hegemony, primarily the Zycannian Mirazii Lordship and the southern Kassyr Chiefdom. The Kormistazic Confederacy was also founded on the southern coast during this time, deriving from the descendants of those who migrated south when Laqytia fell, and was based around the conurbationtwin city statestates of Sekan-Aruqa. The Ueclid empire finally fell following the twin revolts of the Soltics in the North and the Teba in the South. The two formed rival empires on their respective halves of the river, The Neo-Soltic Lordship and the Teba empire, and fought for land in the middle regions before coming to a peace agreement in 935 BCE. After this the Soltics expanded along the northern coast whilst the Teba strengthened cross-mountain trade routes with the Kassyr, Kormistazics and the Lyr valley. For the next two centuries the peninsula remained divided between dozens of small, mostly fledgling Lordships and was marred by frequent skirmishes whilst the larger empires benefited from their influence.
=== Classical Antiquity (748 BCE - 345 CE)===
Early in their history, the seafaring Kveshi civilisation of South East Aurora began exploring much of the Azure sea and establishing numerous outposts to facilitate trade. One of their furthest western excursions led them to contact the Kormistazics in 723 BCE, where it is written they were received very well and a cultural exchange took place between the two cultures. In order to facilitate further trade with the region, the Kveshi were granted a small, sparsely inhabited region of coastal foothills shadowed by the Okrani mountains. Most of the areas inhabitants were forced to relocate, and were either fled to Kormistazm or retreated further within the valleys of the mountains. The Kveshi then established an outpost on the territory which would later became known as Oceansend and began trading regularly with the cultures on the southern coast of the Axdelian peninsular, primarily silver from Kormistazm and the Lyr Valley. Among the most historically important effects of Kveshi trade was the introduction of iron smelting technology to the region. This combined with the reverse engineering of their advanced naval vessels allowed the Kormistazic confederations economic and military power to balloon rapidly whilst much of the peninsular continued to be stunted by conflict.
Despite relative prosperity within Sekan-Aruqa, the economic booms led the way for the reignition of infighting between the controlling oligarchs, with the majority of the conflict centered around the Jakatei and Renequil dynasties. In the 5th century BCE a plague swept through the south of the peninsular, killing many members of the aristocracy on both sides and precipitatinginciting a short civil war aswhich accusationsresulted of usingin the diseaseJakatai's toexpulsion maskfrom assassinationthe plots escalatedcapital. The Renequilconfederacy succeededcollapsed ininto takingindependent control of the capitalstates, leaving the Jakatei with loyaltiesmany only inof the smallerinland outlyingones cities,controlled but not without safe land routes to Oceansend. Several decades latera devastating flood leftby the city vulnerableJakatai and Jakateithe mercenariescoastal attemptedregion to take control ofunder the government but were unsuccessfulRenequil. WithThe limitedmatriarch militaryof optionsthe forJakatei, reassertingVireña, themselves andused the Kormistazicsituation Confederacyto onorganise theher vergelands ofand collapsingreform intogovernment independentinstitutions, cityas states,well matriarchas Vireñaincreasing Jakateipopular publiclysupport embracedby theembracing Kozam faith as the state religionfaith. in order to garner grassroots support amongstWith the people.Renequil Sheremaining alsostaunchly enacted massive reformspagan, mostthis notablycreated standardisinga thesignificant oftenamount convolutedof and arbitrary relationshiptension between the centrallower and localupper governmentsclasses and establishing rules of succession, taking some inspiration from literature purchased from thein KveshiSekan. AlthoughWhilst Vireña would neverdie seebefore the fruitJakatai of herretook labourSekan-Aruqa, her eldest son Mariqo continued theher efforts, toconstricting underminetrade with the Renequil,south whoin wereorder facingto intenseexacerbate populartheir uprisingseconomic andharship, economicas hardshipswell as thegreatly Jakatei expandedexpanding their influence and began interfering with theirfurther inland trade.
In 537 BCE, the Renequil honour guard revolted, executingimprisoning manytheir of themcharges and sealing themselves within the city's palace.inviting Mariqo Siezed this opportunity and rallied an army of 20,000 to takeclaim the city from the remainders of the family whilst they were in disarraySekan-Aruqa. InsteadFacing oflittle a battleresistance, however,Mariqo he was welcomed intoretook the citycapiptal without resistance as a liberator. With his authority legitimised by the honour guard, Mariqoand immediately set about uniting the lands of the confederacy under the Jakatei dynasty, expanding the reforms introduced by his mother to every Kormistazic town and city. He also made a statement out of pardoning the remaining members of the Renequil, granting them governorship over their historic lands. A devout follower of Kozam, he further incorporated the religion into the government and promoted its worship as a unifying tenet of Kormistazic culture. He passed away a year later, his son Kalam Jakatei succeeding him. Like his father Kalam was enamoured by Kozam philosophy and took several years early in his reign to travel to the Zycannes mountain range from where the religion originated. Notin muchorder isto written about what he did during this time, but that he was divinely inspired toseek dodivine soinspiration. Upon his return in 533 BCE, he declared the reform of the Confederate government into an imperial executive supported by a council of Nobles and Kozam elders from every region of Kormistazm, and that he intended to unite the dozens of dividied states west of the Zycannes as equal territories under a single prosperous empire. Kalam then changed his name to Enullus Jakatei Kalamitas, beginning the Kalamitas Dynasty and officially beginning the Kormistazic empire.
==== Era of Rapid Kormistazic Expansion (532 - 310 BCE) ====
[[File:Cava family.png|thumb|Sketch of a cava family wearing colourful robes and loose pantaloons typically worn by the wealthy in the early Kormistazic empire]]
Upon Enullus' ascension to the position of Kormistazic emperor, he began a campaign of Northward expansion, incorporating the regions small Lordships and chiefdoms under his rule. Naval advances brought forth in earlier centuries now allowed faster and easier navigation of the Axdelian peninsular riverways, but the slow burn of conflict that had degradeddriven themany strengthpeople ofto manybanditry, Lordships meant thatand much of it could not be used without the risk of falling prey to opportunistic pirates. Thus as the Kormistazic empire used these rivers to assert themselves across the southern plains, andthe valleysloyalty theseof piratesconquered werepeople vanquished,was allowingoften forearned easewith the vanquishing of movementriver andpirates earningand the loyaltyopening of many local leadersfree peacefullytrade. With his children being unwilling to take the throne, Ennullus was succeeded bynamed his Generalcousin, Ax̂ilo Kariqo Kalamitas, as his successor in 485 BCE. Worried theabout Kveshi, wouldwhich percievehad reacted to the new empire asby aheavily fortifying the city of rivalOceansend, Kariqo expanded Kormistazic control over the southern coast of the Axdelian peninsula. ManyWith settlementsKozam followedspread Kozamwidely already,across the peninsula and sothe incorporatingimperial themarmy withinviolently thecrushing empireall remainedopposition, athere predominantlywas peacefuloften little resistance to Kormistazic affairexpansion. As the empires border expanded, so did it's power and thus its ability to expand further, leading to increasingly aggressive acts. The Empires first major military victory would come after the Kassyr Chiefdom declared war on the empire in 458 BCE. This came in response to repeated incursions of Kormistazic soldiers into Kassyri territory and several pleas to cease the actions were ignored. The [[South Teban War|First Kassyri Integral War]] lasted for over five years but resulted in a crushing defeat for The Kassyr, who were forced to cede all of their holdings outside of the Mona river valley to Kormistazm. However, Ax̂ilo was injured during the war and survived only six months before succumbing to an infection, and wasbeing succeeded by his daughter Ñeya JalaYala Kalamitas, becoming the first Kormistazic Empress.
By this point, thecivilisations empiresnorth inof the northKormistazm were predominantly weak and stagnant., Stillstill recovering from the century long conflict that ravaged them after the environmental fallout of the Koriba eruption. The only exception to this was the Neo-Soltic Lordship, which had recovered and now dominated much of the land north of the Teba mountains, enjoying a position of considerable military and economic influence. The once mighty Teba empire had struggled with a dwindling population and weak leadership for decades. In 447 BCE Teban Emperor Cerules II, famously visited the recently incorporated Kassyri city of Chaeqan to meet with Empress Ñeya. Following several weeks in the city, Cerules publicly converted to Kozam and announced that the Teban empire was to enter a pact of friendship and defence with the Kormistazic empire. The reaction from Teban citizens was mixed as many believed MeyaÑeya had seduced Cerules in order to gain influence over him. However amongst the nobility a closer relationship with the economically powerful Kormistazics was viewed very favourably. Cerules public conversion plus the close bond between the two empires also led to an explosion in Kozam worship during this period, which in the next century would become another justification for the Teban annexation into Kormistazm.
After the rapid pace of unprecedented expansion in the first half of the century that stretched, the imperial bureaucracy tohad been stretched beyond its limits,. Thus the sovereigns succeeding Ñeya focused their attention ondomestically, domesticreforming concernsthe thatempires ledgovernment structure to helpfulbetter reformsmanage toits thenew empireslands governmentand structureformalise relationships with its neighbors. The mostly disorganised territory that had been incorporated at this point also required attention to ensure its full integration and quell dissent. Among other things the empires provinces were reorganised and large scale public works were authorised to support the growing capital city, which washad fromgrown this point forwards began being referredsignificantly to asthe simplypoint Sekan ratherhad thanfully engulfed Sekan-Aruqa. Another important reform was an increasing trend towards freedom of religion, as it was successfully argued that non-adherentsleading to kozam, being treated like undesirables as they often were, would sow dissent against the empire and create instability. Despite this, religious discrimination remained aits commonname maladyshortening.
With the Teba empire serving as a buffer between the Soltic and Kormistazic empires, the turn of the century saw campaigns of lateral expansion launched to secure riverways and establish coastal provinces. This triggered a war with a coalition of Lyr valley Lordships which resulted in a Kormistazic loss, humiliating the more organised and centralised empire. A second more successful conquest was attempted a decade later, but it was a pyrrhic victory which resulted in massive losses of life. Fearing a revolt would lead to further costly wars of attrition, efforts to interlink the Lyr valley economy into the empire were undertaken via trade and the construction of infrastructure to link the Lyr Valley with the Kormistazic heartlands. A permeant military presencegarrison of high-moralevolunteer Kozam volunteerssoldiers was also established. These projects were so successful that they were extended to the rest of the empire in the following centuries and were a key factor in its long term success. Increased security along the southern coast and economic prosperity led to the expansion of the Kormistazic navy, which also reduced reduced raiding attacks from Kveshi pirates which had becomabebecome a nuisance for the growing empire. Without serious resistance, The Kormistazic empire continued to expand its influence over the Lyr valley, using its navigable waterways as arteries through which rapidmaterials connectionand to the Kormistazic heartlandlabour could be maintained,rapidly andsupplied tofor supply materials and labour forestablishing roads, fortifications and settlements in the interior. Much of this expansion was funded and directed by Kozam affiliated nobles, who saw spiritual and economic benefits to spreading the religion.
==== Solto-Kormistazic Wars (309 - [] BCE) ====
Rapid Kormistazic expansion into the Lyr valley was viciously denounced several times by the North Lyr descended Neo-Soltic Lord Tulis VII in the 320's BCE. A large army was called to be raised with the intention of conquering and dismantling the dangerous state. Emperor Uuranqa, was unimpressed by the Soltic Lord, believing the state to be a declining power destined to fall to Kormistazm sooner or later. Thus as a show of force, Uuranqa convened with the Teban emperor Cerules V and produced a declaration of protectorateship over the empire. Furthermore, threats of trade embargo against the Soltics were made that were expected to force Tulis into submission without a costly war that would pull resources away from the politically and economically unstable Lyr valley. A miscommunication led to Tulis being informed that an embargo had already been enacted, which he considered to be a Kormistazic declaration of war and began rallying his forces for a campaign to sack Sekan. He also ordered the Soltic Navy to sail around the Peninsula to cripple Kormistazic shipping, raid the southern coast and rally dissidents to the Kormistazic empire in the Lyr valley. After tearing through the border with the Teba empire first target of his army was The Teban capital of Montza and Cerules V. A battle in the fields just north of the city saw a major defeat against the Teban army that had assembled there handily defeated, whilst the Kormistazic garrison in the cityreinforcements arrived late and waswere forced to retreat in order to avoid being slaughtered. Cerules was quickly executed and replaced with one of Tulis' generals to watch over the city whilst the bulk of the army continued its charge southwards. In one fell swoop the Teban central government was destroyed, and Montza was pillaged by the occupational forces. Tulis' army would never reach Sekan, however, but for over 6 continuous years would maraud across the Kormistazic empire, gathering supplies by pillaging and foraging, and humiliating its military at every engagement. Attempted counterattacks into Soltic territory were also unsuccessful. Eventually the army was halted after it crossed the Okrani mountains into the Lyr valley. Tulis intended to rally the Lyr Aboriginesnatives to their cause in order to sow dissent against Imperial rule and replenish manpower that his army had lost to attrition. This failed due to local opposition and mistrust, and after being surrounded on all sides by Kormistazic forces his army was decimated and he was forced to retreat back to Soltan. With Tulis defeated, the Teba Empire was quickly recaptured and would remainremained a protectorate of Kormistazm, albeit worse for wear.
Over time war between Kormistazm and the Soltic empire would flare up over the status of the Teba Empire and Northern Lyr Valley. The two great empires also fought for control over the coastal strip West of the Auric Mountains both directly and through proxy conflicts. Eventually the Soltic Empire would slowly succumb to mounting losses and low morale against the more populous and fervent Kormistazic empire, and iswas forced to accept punitive territorial and economic concessions. Despite previous wars, the Soltics attempted to form an alliance with the Maltervenian empire in order to counter Kormistazm, however this instead incited an opportunistic conquest of the Molvian corridor,
(cont: Lyr valley expansion provokes violent response from Soltics. long series of wars, which once resolved in a kormistazic victory is followed by the final rapid expansion to the first empires peak size and consolidation of control)
Axdel has an extensive network of serviceable roadway that connects to practically every part of the country. The system is interlinked with highways that connect internationally to Emberwood coast, Morstaybishlia and Oceansend as part of the larger Auroran highway network. Axdel is part of the Auroran free movement zone and no customs check is required for crossing borders by any means, including road. Most new cars on the road are imported, with the majority coming from other Auroran car manufacturers, although the domestic automobile market makes up a significant fraction. The road network is publicly funded and operates without tolls, with vehicle, road and fuel tax contributing towards its maintenance. Road freight, primarily transported by lorries, is a major source of road wear, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in Axdel.[[File:Rail map Axdel.png|thumb|A map of Axdelian main line railways with notable lines named]]Axdels railway network is one of the most extensive and well developed in Aurora. It is maintained and operated on by the state owned railway company ARC, with other operators also running on the network for international high-speed services. High-speed track that allow trains to reach up to 350km/h connects most large cities, and inter-urban lines connect a large proportion of the nations towns with regular service. Rail connections exist between every country that borders Axdel and like the roadways requires no customs check. Intraurban systems are also very common, with most cities and large towns having ARC operated metro and/or tram systems to compliment local buses. The majority of the network uses standard gauge track, much of it being electrified using a combination of 25kV AC overhead catenaries and 750V DC third rail standards.
Axdel has a very long coastline with numerous ports along both the Azure and West seas as well as a number of navigable riverways and canals. The rivers and their interconnected canals serve as important arteries for freight and the transport or bulk goods. In the industrial era, Axdels canal network expanded to become one of the largest and most intesivelyintensively used in the world in order to supply the Morstaybishlian empire with iron and coal. However most of these canals have now been demolished, and are now only used recreationally.
There are a large number of airports in Axdel, with Winston Ulysses International on the outskirts of Andel being the busiest in the country. Axdelia Air is the national flag carrier, with several other private companies also serving domestic and international flights.
==== Recent Developmental History ====
Whilst under the Morstaybishlian empire, the duty of developing Axdels infrastructure was oftenthe delegatedresponsibility toof competing private companies. Compared to the rest of the mainland empire, Axdel often lagged behind in terms of development, but immensely benefited from projects to facilitate access to the regions mineral wealth during the industrial era. With the massive governmental reforms following the end of the Great war, Axdel gained significantly more autonomy and rapidly caught up in terms of its infrastructure. However the relatively low income of the average Axdelian meant that automobile ownership was low and that as air travel became popular it was generally unaffordable. When Axdel gained independence in 1969 and the provisional government took control of all the countries infrastructure, it invested into constructing a huge number of cheaply made and easily repaired freight railways in order to facilitate the efficient movement of goods across the country for the war effort. Many highways were also built during the war, all of which had wide, long straights at various points that were mandated to be capable of allowing military aircraft to land and take off safely.
With an oil price crisis, a bomb damaged, lacklustre infrastructure network, and a low income populace without widespread access to automobile and air transport, the post-war government commissioned a vast, nationwide transit project focusing on railways. This included the electrification, modernisation and expansion of intraurban and commuter services for workers, as well as the construction of thousands of kilometers of new metro systems in dense urban areas and high-speed rail track for intercity journeys that would serve as an alternative to air travel. This would also provide tens of thousands of high paying jobs across the country for the recently demobilised populace. The ultimate goal of the project was to vastly increase the efficiency and capacity of the rail network, reduce the overall cost of its maintenance and operation, and reduce Axdels dependence on imported automobiles and petroleum for its transportation. Almost all of the new railways were electrified thanks to the high capacity of the hydroelectric and nuclear energy plants in place or under construction across the country. Criticism often came with the demolishing of neighbourhoods, both damaged and undamaged by the war, for the construction of new railway and metro lines, including several historic buildings. The cost of the project was also immense, requiring a noticeable percentage of Axdelian copper wire, steel and concrete production to satisfy the construction. As both Lyrevale and Quartz fern coast were reintegrated into Axdel the scope of the project was increased to adjust for it, and aside from a halt during the late 90's, it has continued to the present day.
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