The Carantoc Dominion
An excerpt from Emperor Tarsithian's annual address
My fellow citizens, as we continue to advance towards a peaceful future, it is mine and our government's duty to protect all Dominion citizens. We will continue to make this our top priority. The Dominion will continue to act as a beacon of freedom and justice for the continent of Obsidian. A number of countries have sought to join our ranks, and we have selectively allowed a few to do so, and those countries only strengthen our nation. We are accepting and welcoming to many different cultures and peoples as always, and have a firm belief that the more diverse we get, the more expansive our ideas and views will get and the more possibilities will be before us.
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And we must be at our strongest, as the enemies we have in this world are mounting. We will continue to build and fortify our defenses against any threats to the good people of this nation, and will never stop in our strive for peace among the continents. We will continue to help our neighbors when they need assistance.
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We also will continue to expand our programs within to bring down the unemployment percentage and make sure that all of our citizens are living comfortable lives. I thank you for your service to this country, and I will continue to do my best to serve you. God Bless the Carantoc Dominion and all of it's people.
Dominion Info - By Chase Meriden
Nation: Hydroc Dominion also known as the Carantoc Dominion Population: 304.2 million Establishment: 285 AGB Capital: Carantoc
Religion: No set religion Government: Republic Leader: President David Tarsithian (Elected 655, re-elected 5 times)
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When the main body of Concord collapsed in 34 AGB, many small kingdoms popped up in its wake, coming and going. The stories claim Carantoc and Hydrocia, husband and wife began a small town in the middle of it all. Carantoc named it Hydrocia, and Hydrocia called it Carantoc. For years, the town, turned city did not show up on any maps. Ironically, Carantoc was one of the only nation-states in Central Obsidian that made it through the Age of Chaos.
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In 204 Carantoc, Kagan, and Vineta were the only three kingdoms in the center to remain standing. Kagan was consistently aggressive against Carantoc and eventually, the War of Three started. Kagan pushed back Carantoc forces almost to total surrender, but supported by Vineta and led by Muldoon Carantoc, descendent of Carantoc and Hydrocia, Carantoc forces fought back and turned the tide of the war with a couple of major victories. Kagan backed off and then collapsed itself fifteen years later. Carantoc adsorbed the remains. It would be the nation’s first conquest.
In 460, Queen Mary III issued an edict against the government of Oukessia for mistreatment of their own citizens. When the response was negative, small squabbles turned into a war, which Carantoc would win and take the half of Lintukoto’s territory closest to them. A peace treaty is signed resulting in Carantoc holding onto the territory they gained.
In 515, King Ronald II invades neighboring Quivira. Carantoc ends slavery in the region.
In 560 border squabbles lead to tension between Carantoc and fellow Age of Chaos survivor Vineta.
In 565, During peace talks, Vineta King Aleksander Kolinska is assassinated, and it’s believed to be ordered by Dominion King Victor Horn. The War of Brothers erupts between the two nations. In 568, Vineta is defeated and conquered. The Kolinska family pledges loyalty to the new crown, but the family is all put to death in order to prevent a possible uprising in the future.
In 574 Horn dies mysteriously. Many people believe he was poisoned, but it is never proven. His son Liam Horn takes over for him, but he is very young and viewed as weak. Amid pressure for change, Liam Horn orders a government controlled by the people and develops a republic based off Rhone’s system. It is widely believed he was pressured into making the decision by a small group of advisors, who through Frederick Pauper, who was the Minister of Defense under Horn, take control of the government.
575 The Ecclesia is formed from a group of evangelic sects. Over the next several decades they grow in influence around the Dominion, which is a highly evangelic population.
590 tension boils between the Dominion and Olympus, who is the last slaveholding nation in Obsidian. The Ten Years war erupts. For much of the ten years it is a stalemate, but as sanctions hurt Olympus’ economy, and the military, not being paid, grows angry. Meanwhile Alexsander Christos leads a slave rebellion in Olympus and causes the central government to lose control. Carantoc takes advantage and mounts the Red Offensive, which sweeps through the once-powerful Olympus and cripples them. Olympus is conquered, and the slaves are freed by Carantoc. Carantoc is heralded as the “Liberator Nation.”
In 600, the first recorded time the Ecclesia influences politics pushing the people and government to pass a law restricting a number of women's rights.
In 610 Matthew Horn becomes King. He is notoriously charismatic. While he is never particularly outwardly cruel or negative, he makes massive changes behind the scenes to the Carantoc government, both physically and culturally. He increases the power of the Ecclesia, making them nearly equal to the executive branch. Mistrust spreads, people turn on each other, assasination attempts are thwarted. Many historians claim that Horn’s reign was the beginning of a left turn for Carantaoc from the “Liberator Nation” to something darker.
In 615, Siblings Meredith and Avery Horn launches the Horn rebellion, and a civil war breaks out, as Horn's forces try to retake Carantoc from their uncle Matthew and the Ecclesia. The rebellion is notably bloody, and Avery is killed in the Batlle of Carantoc in 617. Afterwards, Meredith assumes High Ruler and has the entire Ecclesia put to death for crimes against the country. The monarchy is re-established.
In 620 Carantoc purchases land from Ryugu-Jo expanding to the north
In 630 Carantoc purchases land from Lintukoto. Harp renames Carantoc the Hydroc Dominion, also referred to as the Carantoc Dominion.
643 Martin Horn jails lead opposition Harry Gate. Gate is executed for “crimes against the state.” There is outcry as those “crimes” are never identified, and Gate is accused of murder of a political threat. A resistance movement forms against Martin Horn called the CFF (Carantoc Freedom Fighters). They are labeled as terrorists in 647 (although there is no record of them committing violence against civilians) and hunted by the government.
In 650 the CFF exposes a number of corrupt things about Horn, including a recording on tape of him admitting they needed to “get rid” of Gate. A volatile trial takes place. Martin is found guilty and removed from power by his brother Rickerd. He would later commit suicide under home arrest in Oukessia. (Although some suspect it was assassination) The CFF declare victory upon his removal, but many historians believed the damage done by Martin Hone was far too deep, and changed the country Carantoc was at its core. Other historians argue Martin revealed who they were all along. It is debated to this day.
In 644 Mary Horn takes the throne. She withdraws the CFF from the terrorist organization list. They have at that point disbanded since their purpose was achieved, but still publicly acknowledge feeling vindicated. (In 650 three former members would turn up dead. I believe the remaining ones got roped into a battle with a former Harp high official, but there are no official details. All I know is that over the next month, two more CFF members were found dead, and so was a high official linked to the admin and a lot of his security. I’m unclear what went down, and remaining CFF members are not easy to track down)
In 652, Mary Horn is assassinated. Her son, Gregory Horn who takes over is greatly suspected. The government and country begins to fall into turmoil. He even brings back the Ecclesia, albeit in a much more limited role.
652-660 is considered the Edge of the Abyss, for Carantoc. The nation almost crumbles, as Gregory Horn mismanages the country and never is able to establish himself as truly accepted leader, being much of the country suspects him of assassinating his mother.
In 660, General David Tarsithian leads a military coup supported by the Ecclesia and seizes power from Gregory Horn, who had lost virtually all support. Horn is tried and found guilty of his mother's assassination and a handful of other high crimes such as treason and endangering the state. He is publicly executed. Tarsithian calls for elections, in which he wins by a landslide, although there are suspicions of the elections authenticity. Rumors begin to spread Tarsithian has any remaining Horn heirs put to death to end the line for good. He begins to expand the army ten fold. Within five years, the Hydroc Dominion have the biggest land army on the Two Continents.
In 665 The Hydroc Dominion annexes land from Dvaraka. There are accusations of corruption in the annexation.
In 666 Tarthsithian in a ceremony supported by the Ecclesia retitled himself Emperor, effectively destroying the republic he started.
In 670 there is an attempt on President Tarsithian’s life. It is attributed to a Lintukoto assassin. War breaks out between the two, and Lintukoto falls quickly.
In 675 the Dominion annexes Kitezh.
In 680, the Dominion responds to an uprising in Dolche in Dvaraka. They help quell the uprising but keep troops to “maintain peace.” In 681, they officially annex the territory. The Cerberus Alliance is signed by the Riven nations of Rhone, Sphera, and Kalahari in response to the Dominion’s fast expansion.