Ellesborg: Difference between revisions
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The Cryrian government historically had little inclination to involve itself in the distant continent of Arcturia, however, Cryrian business interests would take a growing interest in the area starting in the 19th century. This can be traced back to when experts from the Royal Cryrian Railway Company were hired by local Zapolese authorities to develop a modern transport network in the area, likely in no small part due to the fact that Cryria's distance gave the impression that the Kingdom was unlikely to attempt to exert any undue influence beyond its contract. The presence of the RCRC would, however, lead to the discovery of copper deposits that would draw the interest of a variety of Cryrian mining interests, who would use their nations newly developed local contacts and goodwill to acquire mining rights within the area. Copper would be shipped down the Elles river to the sea, and a fortress called Ellesborg was built at the mouth of the river to guard this trade, thus giving the area its name.
The coalition of investors and companies involved in the copper trade would soon consolidate into the Ellesborg Mining Cooperative, and would increasingly take advantage of regional instabilities and the weakness of Zapolese rulers to expand their influence and control over the area. By the mid-nineteenth century, the EMC effectively acted as independent governors over the area, largely free of any kind of regulation or taxes as local authorities were subverted or bribed. The EMC's situation remained precarious, however, as it had little real support from any actual government or military, least of all the distant Cryrian homeland, and its power was derived almost entirely from its financial resources and a small but comparatively well armed private army, largely consisting of native Zapolese troops.
== Government ==
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