The Union of Granmor

A federation of kingdoms allied with the Empire of Verdon who agree to the rules of The Magocracy or form some similar organization, and agree to the leadership of the Emperor. Similar in structure to the United Kingdom, several sovereign powers under one Emperor. The seven stars on the flag stand for one of the independent regions that are part of the Union. The Free Cities and the Snow Elves, for example, are not sovereign nations in their own right but are treated as singe entities by the Union as each has a representative, rather than a regent, that speaks for the people within the Union. In practice, each power is expected to nominate one representative anyway, as it is expected that the sovereigns require the vast majority of their time to rule their own domains. These representatives meet every day, and the regents meet once a month via magical means to resolve any outstanding issues that the representatives could not solve themselves. There is also an in person meeting of the regents every five years, although this is mostly ceremonial.
The Union had its inception in an agreement between Idrion and Verdon during the invasion of Centralia. The influential Idrionese Aristocracy wanted more independence for the country and to be remunerated for the huge financial losses they would incur by the collapse of Centralia and the Northern Federation. Once the King of Verdon assented to these terms, he realized that creating an extranational union would be a good way to bring his allies together under his express leadership and increase the power of the Empire he was planning to establish by forming a hegemony. The plan has worked perfectly, although it currently relies heavily on the Union members' fear of the Elves to keep them in line.

History

When Verdon made its declaration of war and invaded Centralia in 7 PE, the Principality of Idrion was infuriated at the loss of its investments in Centralia. Viridian was responsible for negotiating with them, and made a number of promises including partial restitution, a broad role for Idrion to finance and influence the direction of reconstruction, and far greater autonomy for the protectorate. This provided his framework for approaching other powers with the prospect of partial integration into the Empire.
Another concern at the time was invasion by the Elves from the south. Knowing this, the Military Governor Macragge Fallon of the occupied Southmark region came forward with a proposal. In exchange for an end to the occupation, Southmark would mobilize its population on a broad scale and lead a preemptive assault against the Elves to retake their historical lost territory. Viridian agreed to this, and returned the throne to Southmark's nobility, albeit as a vassal principality a la Idrion, to oversee the effort. This wasn't quite the independence Southmark was asking for, though, and Military Governor Fallon resigned angrily. Viridian then assured the nobles that a compromise could be made, and negotiations continued even as hundreds of thousands of Southmarquais risked their lives for Verdon's safety.
At this time, Viridian was already in contact with the Free Cities and the Dwarves. Like many Verdonese, Viridian held the Dwarves in high regard and viewed them as an integral part of his occupation of the continent and a bulwark against the Elves and to anchor the Free Cities within the Empire. He knew that the Dwarves were a moderating force in the Free Cities and could persuade them to accept the more centralized and legalistic Verdonese way. However, he also knew neither of these powers would formally give up sovereignty either.
With all these considerations, Viridian realized that he needed a kind of "Government of Governments", in order to fulfill his promises and also ensure integrity, loyalty, and the propagation of Verdonese values among those he was bringing into the fold. In 3 PE, as the Verdonese armies reached the Wastes for the first time, Viridian sent out envoys to each of the independence-seeking parties as well as his allies in the Gonewald and the Broken Horn with the proposal for a Union of Granmor. This proposal would allow New Southmark, Gonewald, the Sergal, the Dwarves, the Free Cities, and Idrion a high degree of autonomy and give them a way to exercise their own will as equals while giving himself and his successors a degree of personal and formal leadership over them. Two years of negotiations followed, at the end of which the charter for the Union including a pledge of loyalty to the Empire was signed by all parties.

Concessions Given to Signatory Parties

The Mountainhomes

1. Non-Aggression against Kolthis for a period of at least 150 years.
2. Guarantee the independence of The Free Cities in perpetuity and establish limits on any potential Imperial taxation there.
3. Military mutual defense pact between the Mountainhomes and the Regency of Verdon.
4. Preserve the Mountainhomes' ability to negotiate their own mutual defense conditions with other parties.

Idrion

1. Partial restitution for lost investments in Centralia, to be paid as a permanent percentage of taxes collected in the region until the settled amount is paid with interest.
2. Opportunity to create new investments in any territory conquered by the Empire with limited financial oversight and restriction.
3. More devolved powers to the Prince of Idrion in order to manage domestic affairs.
4. Mutual defense with Gonewald, New Southmark, and The Regency of Verdon and ability to negotiate own mutual defense pacs with other union members.

The Sharptooth Kingdom

1. Guarantee of Kingdom's independence and continued ability to manage domestic affairs.
2. No Imperial taxation within the Kingdom or tariffs against imports from the Kingdom.
3. Allow Sergal tribes to permanently resettle in certain Northern areas in exchange for occupation assistance (partially revoked by mutual agreement after the Bloodfrozen rebellion).
4. Mutual defense with The Regency of Verdon and ability to negotiate own mutual defense pacs with other union members.

The Free Cities

1. The Emperor of Verdon gains the title "Lord Protector of the Free Cities" and receives a fee proportional to the population of each city for protection of trade in the desert.
2. The Emperor will guarantee independence of each Free City without any oath of fealty from any ruler/rulers of any Free City.
3. The Free Cities will not trade with Kolthis, High Elves or the Dark Elves.
4. The Empire may not garrison military forces within one day's camel travel (60 km) of any Free City unless specifically invited to do so and may only garrison so many military forces as the ruler/rulers of any Free City specifically request.
5. The Free Cities may not negotiate mutual defense with any other Union member.
6. The Free Cities must nominate a representative to the Union collectively.

New Southmark

1. Mutual Defense with Idrion, Gonewald, and The Regency of Verdon. Additionally, military assistance to any Union member against any Elven nation upon request.
2. The Regency of Verdon will return Markus’ Needle within one year.
3. The Empire will devolve certain powers to New Southmark including the ability to select its own ruler within its territorial bounds, as well as raise and train an army under its sole regulation

From Many, One Purpose

Founding Date

1/1 EY 1

Type

Political, International

Power Structure

Confederation

Subsidiary Organizations

• Aurora League
• The Mountainhomes

Official Languages

• Sergal Common
• Verdonese Common

Controlled Territories

• The Broken Horn
• The White Horn