Acania

Acania (IPA: ɑːˈkeɪnaɪə), officially the Kingdom of Acania or the Acanian Kingdom, is a country that comprises Acanian Mainland and several islands surrounding it. Acania is located to the north of the Alinceiada Sea, in Northern Alheimia. A monarchy with Lurum as its capital, the country covers a total area of 298000 km2 and shares land borders with Kauria, Tamia, Borosia and Sarvaszia. Acania is also a vassal of Borosia. With over a million inhabitants, Acania is the fourth-most populous member state of the Alheimian Union.

Because to Acania having a somewhat homogenous society, its primary culture is Romanian. However, toward the border of Acania and Kauria, There are people who are engaged in Potozian culture. In ancient times, the former inhabitants of the land, the Aukranian people, inhabited most of central Acania, which today houses the country's capital, Lurum.

Acania ranks highly in life expectancy, quality of life, and especially, education. The country is a great power, and it has a significant role in global economic, military, cultural, and diplomatic affairs. Acania is a founding and leading member of the Alheimian Union. The source of various inventions and discoveries, the country has long been a global centre of art, music, literature, science and technology, and fashion and has influenced and contributed to diverse fields including cinema, cuisine, sports, jurisprudence, banking, and business. It has great cultural wealth.

Name
The name ‘Acania’ is derived from the Latin word ‘arcānus’, meaning ‘hidden’ or ‘secret’. This is because of Acania’s rich history of both magic and magic education, which was done in secret due to it being outlawed. When the country changed from Aukranian rule to Acaniic, those who were magically gifted rose over oppression and freed those in the magic arts. Magic was then legalised.

Prehistory and antiquity
Before becoming part of the union, Acania was known as Aukranus. The kingdom was created by various cultures over the years because of the region being colonised by different peoples, such as the Borosians and the Kaurians. Over the next five hundred years, the country gained much from its strategic location in the northern sea, which gave it a strategic advantage against the south. The country was formed in the year 1611. The Aukranian people lived in Acania. Some Aukranian people could be both magical and magical-minded. In their time, their magic was limitless, so long as they kept it secret from the ruling Aukranian government. The most notable of these gifted people were the talented magicians, Ptolemy and his daughter Atelia. Their descendants would later overthrow the Aukranus government and create the country that is today known as Acania. Those who had magical talent, including those in the royal family, were exiled. There were even strict laws against people performing magic in the street and in secret. Those with magic abilities wore special clothing that identified them only to other magical citizens. The kingdom had a unique culture and society. Many Aukranian citizens believed that magic was the ability to predict the future and create change in the present. Magic was viewed as a powerful, mystical force. It was a tool that should be kept hidden.

The Aukranus Kingdom was a monarchy. The royal family lived in Vindavarun, the oldest capital of Acania, which today is known as Lurum.

The Fall of Aukranus
In 174, a group of people to the east of the country known as ‘Dark Atelier’ declared war against Aukranus in order to free those who had been exiled and punished for possessing magical abilities. At first, the group was just a small group of protesters, but as word got around and people felt enough courage to join, it had soon accumulated into an army of its own. Anger had been festering amongst the magical community, and when they began fighting, they did not hold back. While Aukranus had guns and weaponry; those in Dark Atelier had magic behind them. Yet they were still losing due to lack of resources, so they requested the help of the Borosia Empire and made a deal that should they receive aid from them, they would become a vassal of Borosia after they win. The Borosians agreed to help them but made sure that after the war was over, they would send their troops back to the empire. While they were still fighting, the two sides fought their way up to the Capital City, Lurum. The battle that ensued would decide the fate of both countries.

The battle that was held for the fate of both countries had several factors in its making. First, how many resources both countries had to fight with. The Borosians had more resources than the Aukranian. Yet it was also because of their magic that would prove to be their undoing. The battle was fierce and lasted for hours. Each side was gaining ground on the other, but eventually, Dark Atelier won out. The Aukranians had pushed the magic-users back far, but that would not last long because the magic-users quickly made their move. The plan they had was in place. They could defeat the Aukranian troops in every area, including the Capital City of Lurum. They pushed Aukranus’s army back, cutting them down left and right. In just a few hours, they broke through and make their way to the royal palace. When they got there, they executed the King and Queen. The entire family was eliminated, including the royal family’s descendants, to the highest point the kingdom has ever seen. In one evening, the Dark Atelier had taken over a country the size of Italy. The name ‘Aukranus’ was changed into ‘Acania’, meaning hidden or secret.

The Rise of Acania
After Aukranus’s regime fell, there were many people who fled the country. Many of them went north to the country of Kauria, as Borosia was aligned with the newly formed country of Acania. Most of those who fled were those who discriminated against those with magical abilities, as they couldn't stand to see a world where magic was commonplace. The new country of Acania would be a place where magical abilities were welcomed and given shelter. All those who wished to leave were welcome to do so peacefully.

Around the year 176, the country began to transform from its Dark Atelier regime to the modern society it is today and the country became a place of enlightenment and growth. With the passing of time, the country would be home to magicians, healers, inventors and scientists.

Present Day
Acania today is a democratic monarchy where the citizens, most of them the magical citizens, have a say in how their country is run. Those who are magical are the majority in the country. The royal family today is an entirely different concept. The new Acaniic monarchy is an all-rounded monarchy, as it has an executive government and legislature. Lurum as the Capital City is a modern day, bustling city that has been constructed to be an economic, art, and culture center. The Kingdom has a diverse culture where all its inhabitants are able to follow their own path, whether it be magic, medicine, or science. As an independent nation, Acania has been able to develop a new culture and society that is based on freedom and individualism.