Layarteb

Layarteb
Empire of Layarteb
Layarteb Empire of Layarteb
Flag	Seal
	Motto: "So I Dub Thee Unforgiven..."; "Ex Scientia Vera"; "From knowledge, truth"
	Anthem: Song of the Exile;
Capital; (and largest city)	Layarteb City
Official languages	English, Spanish
Recognised regional languages	English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Cottish, Germanian, Sinhala, Tamil, Indian
Demonym	Layartebian
Government	Authoritarian Republic
Independence from the Dominion of Tnemrot
Area
Population
GDP (PPP)	estimate
GDP (nominal)	estimate
Gini (2008)	30.1
HDI (2008)	0.976 (high)
Currency	Layartebian Shingrot (§)
Time zone	Various2
Internet TLD	.eol
Calling code	+57
1	Total: 2,558,799.40 km² (987,958.08 mi²).
2	Daylight Savings Time is not practiced in the Empire.

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Layarteb, officially the Empire of Layarteb or just The Empire is a nation located in Earth II. The Empire occupies a significant amount of land area in North, Central, and South America as well as land in northwestern Europe, the Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean, to much smaller degrees. Centered in Layarteb City, the Empire is a nation with a turbulent history dating back at least three thousand years to a time when the land known as "Layarteb" was territorially part of a country known as "Tnemrot." Since the dawn of the 20th century though, the Layarteb has gone from being a burgeoning republic to an enveloping empire and a global icon.

Layarteb itself dates back to the earliest days of human settlement in North America but the origins of Layarteb itself can be traced back as far as the year 2000 B.C. when nomadic hunter-gatherers first settled into the Adirondack Mountains in what is now Central New York. Cave paintings discovered show a primitive civilization that was like those observed elsewhere in North America that progressively grew with history and time. Tnemration settlers, who were arguably more advanced, first encroached upon this region in the early 1000s B.C. and by the year 100 A.D. the Tnemration settlers had fully engulfed all previous settlements and Layarteb was, essentially, part of the Dominion of Tnemrot. A society that was highly advanced for its time, the Tnemrations were fiercely pagan and converted everyone they could meet to their brand of paganism, usually at the point of a weapon.

Modern Layartebian history begins in 513 A.D. when the four tribes of Layarteb were created following a fierce revolt against the Dominion of Tnemrot. Though brutally squashed, the legends and myths that came from this era continue to influence Layartebians today. Other revolts would occur again in 570 and 666 but neither was strong enough to even budge the grip that the Dominion of Tnemrot held. After 666, no revolts would occur until independence was declared on the morning of October 31, 1157 A.D. The brutal war for independence would last until May 13, 1215 A.D. after over fifty-seven years. The peace would last until the 1450s when the First Layartebian Civil War broke out, lasting over 300 years until the Republic of Layarteb was declared on December 1, 1791 and made official on December 4, 1791.

The history of the Republic would be a noble one that saw enlightenment, industrialization, expansion, and eventually downfall. Falling apart from within, the Republic of Layarteb began to decline in the 1900s, rapidly intensifying in the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1960s, the Republic of Layarteb became involved with the First Venezuelan Civil War. The war raged throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, when Layartebian involvement became the foremost topic of discussion in the Republic. Marred by corruption, injustice, and terrorism, the Republic of Layarteb officially entered a state of civil war on March 13, 1977. Gruesome, horrific, and bloody, the Second Layartebian Civil War would last for more than 3 years and see casualties in excess of 2,700,000. The war would spill over the borders of Layarteb into several neighboring countries and claim untold hundreds and thousands there as well. It wouldn't end until July 4, 1980 when the Emperor and his Revolutionary Corps stood victorious on the steps of the Fortress of Comhghall in Layarteb City and lowered the flag of the Republic. Since then, the Empire has expanded from just 194,324.47 mi² to over 5,900,000 mi² during a 26-year period known as the Conquests.

The Empire was established as an authoritarian republic with the Emperor in charge of an authoritarian federal government. All local government is considered to be on the style of a republic. Despite being authoritarian in nature on the federal level, there is very little meddling with the privacy of the citizens of Layarteb and the citizens enjoy many, if not more, of the same freedoms any individual in a democratic country would have. The Emperor is both of the head of state and government and he and his cabinet rule from the Fortress of Comhghall on Governor's Island in Layarteb City. The Empire has no written constitution.

History

The history of the land of Layarteb goes back to the year 2000 B.C. but Layartebian history begins in the year 513 A.D., during the first revolt against the Dominion of Tnemrot. There were two more revolts thereafter and then, on October 31, 1157, the four tribes of Layarteb declared total independence from the Dominion of Tnemrot. This move brought on a revolutionary war that raged until 1215. Total peace lasted for 100 years and though some minor skirmishes erupted following this peaceful time, no major conflict happened until 1457, when a civil war gripped the newly formed state of Layarteb. It would last until 1791, when the Scythes declared the Republic of Layarteb as the victor and ruler of Layarteb. For the next 186 years, the Republic of Layarteb flourished and prospered.

However, as the latter years of the Republic dawned, it was severely weakened by internal strife and struggle, which resulted in grave internal division. In 1977, another civil war gripped Layarteb. Particularly bloody, the civil war raged for 3 years and ended on July 4, 1980, following the surrender of the president and his cabinet in Layarteb City. The leadership was ordered into exile and not executed, in a controversial move that evidently paid off. The leadership, grateful they were not killed in a bloody civil war that saw the deaths of approximately 2,700,000 people, would go on to help the new leadership secure power.

The 851 year history of Layarteb is one that is tumultuous with violence and peace. Prosperity and technological advancement also line the pages of Layartebian history, especially with concern to the Industrial Revolution, which occurred in the early 1800s, just a decade or more after the dawn of the Republic. When first formed, the Republic of Layarteb was extremely powerful and highly capable. However, over time, political correctness, the loss of freedom to equality, and ineffective, corrupt, incompetent, and inept leaders soured the history of Layarteb and sealed the fates of civil war.

At the outset of the civil war, the Republic of Layarteb was over $9 trillion in debt, engaged in a tragic war in Venezuela, fighting at the request of the Venezuelan government, and approval ratings of the government were well under 40%. Just 3 years after the end of the civil war, the debt was reduced to only about $1 trillion, the war in Venezuela turned into a conquest, and approval ratings had skyrocketed to 95%. People felt nationalism and pride in Layarteb. Honor and glory returned and when Venezuela was conquered and the Empire began, the public was more than grateful, they were ecstatic.

Early History

Pre-Independence (513 - 1157)

The land of Layarteb dates back to the year 2000 BC. Records between 2000 BC and the 500s AD are slim due to a loss of records. Before independence, Layarteb was ruled by the Dominion of Tnemrot. The Dominion of Tnemrot had a strong hold on Layarteb throughout the better part of the first millennium A.D. On three occasions, in 513, 570, and 666, minor revolts occurred but nothing strong enough to shake the grip of the Tnemrations.

The Four Tribes

Layartebian ancestry traces back through four major blood lines. They are called the Scythes, the Grunts, the Vandals, and the Ontarians. Until the mid-1400s, all four houses existed and existed separately. Never particularly friendly with each other, the four houses or tribes as they would be called, often clashed over borders, generally in terms of herding rights and the occasional intermarriage, which was forbidden.

All four tribes were pagan and worshiped hundreds of deities with their chief deity being Luna, the moon goddess. These beliefs were passed down right through Tnemration law. All four tribes were under strict laws that included arranged marriages, human sacrifice, tests of strength, and rule by a village elder, who was in direct communication with Luna and the pantheon of gods and goddesses.

Each tribe was arranged into small villages, which contained maybe as many as six hundred people or as few as fifty. They generally had many families living within them and survived on their own. They raised their own food or hunted for animals, constructed huts to live in, and generally were not nomadic. There were several roving villages but overall very few.

Central to each village was the village elder, the wisest and oldest man of the village, said to be a blood descendent of a god or goddess. He would offer sacrifices to the gods and goddesses and carried out their will and law, the most severe violations of which would require human sacrifice. He would conduct these and was generally assisted by two to eight scribes, very strong and powerful men who could read and write in the ancient language. Literacy was a sin inside the tribe and the only individuals who could read and write were the elder and his scribes.

Throughout rule under the Dominion of Tnemrot, Layarteb's boundaries are generally the same as those of the modern state of New York. In the southern region, south of Westchester County and included Long Island and New York City were the Scythes. North of them, comprising everything east of the Finger Lakes and south of Ticonderoga were the Grunts. North of the Grunts in the entire region were the Ontarians and they had up to the Saint Lawrence River. Finally everything west of the Finger Lakes was in the control of the Vandals.

The descendents of the four tribes is difficult to surmise. Best estimates put the Scythes as a nomadic group that came to North America prior to the previous Ice Age. The Ontarians most definitely came during the previous Ice Age, most likely from Asia. The origins of the Grunts are unknown though it is likely they came south from Canada. Lastly, the Vandals may have come from Mayan descendents but it is an unknown.

The Revolts of 513, 570, and 666

In 513, the first minor revolt against Tnemrot came. The onset was the forced sacrifice of a beautiful maiden in a village in middle Westchester County. The maiden and a boy in the village had fallen in love, something forbidden. The result caused the boy to be exiled and the maiden to be sacrificed to the gods and goddesses for their crimes. The name of the boy, Comhghall, would be synonymous with Layartebian history thereon and the name of the girl was Cordelia.

Legend has it that Comhghall, while banished, was cursed with immortality, having his heart removed. Legends also speak of a quest he went on to find his heart so that he could suicide himself and be reunited with his love, Cordelia. Neither can be confirmed. What can be though is that shortly after his banishment, there was a revolt inside the village against the elder, a Tnemration figure who was murdered. The result caused Tnemration soldiers to enter the village and put down a revolt against taxation and Tnemration rule and authority. Some eighteen people were massacred.

In 570, a revolt largely on paper but with little evidence other than a single source, Comhghall and a band of warriors returned to the village he was banished from. In his return, he slaughtered and burned the entire village to the ground. He burned seven more villages throughout the land, killing some eighty-four Tnemration officers in the process, resulting in his further banishment. Throughout his fighting, he instilled the ideas of independence and freedom from the Tnemration authority.

In 666, the Tnemration regional capital in Layarteb, which is modern day Syracuse, was sacked by an army of Grunts and Scythes. Opposition to harsh laws and taxes were the cause and though the Layartebian army won the battle, they were soon slaughtered by Tnemration reinforcements leading to over 1,000 dead.

Ideas of Independence

In the year 1100, an earthquake struck Layarteb, something highly unusual. Elders record it as an act of the goddess Luna as punishment for marital infidelities and fornication. It was at this time that individuals in various villages throughout all four tribes began to challenge the authority of their elders. In the wake of the earthquake, an ancient text was discovered, detailing the ideas of Comhghall, primarily those for independence.

Throughout the early 1100s, cooperation between the four tribes is seen to begin to form. Emissaries from the four tribes began meeting yearly and then more frequently once 1130 comes. They generally alternated meeting places and would often discuss ideas of freedom and independence, as well as cooperation and formal boundaries. Other ideas formulated was that of a defense treaty where all of the tribes would come to the defense of the other if a foreign body attacked them

Initial Struggles

In 1150, the initial struggles for independence were burgeoning. All four tribes had ironed out a treaty or rather a union called "A New Layarteb." They envisioned a type of council system. Each tribe would rule their area, which was defined through boundaries that were already set. They would all be loosely united until a council, which would meet every other full moon. Each time they would rotate where they would meet. The council would make rules and laws that would affect all four tribes. There was a mutual defense pact, though crude and primitive but it was present.

Small raider groups would plunder and attack Tnemration garrisons and fortresses throughout the four areas. Raids were infrequent at first and then grew more frequent and more violent. An estimated 1,850 Tnemration soldiers and people were killed between 1150 and 1157. That compared badly to an estimated 400 Layartebian raiders.

On October 31, 1157, the council met and declared independence from Tnemrot.

The War for Independence (Phase I) (1157 – 1180)

The War for Independence was a fifty-eight year war that resulted in well over 200,000 deaths on both sides of the fighting. Infighting amongst the four tribes was miniscule, if any. It came in three phases. The first phase was between 1157 and 1180 and saw initial victories by the Tnemration forces against the Layartebian armies. There were four major battles and many small skirmishes. The battles were mostly in the central region, in Grunt territory with one being in the west. Only two saw decisive victories to the Layartebians. The other two battles were both draws.

The First Battle of Cortland

The First Battle of Cortland was at the onset of the war. Tnemration soldiers from Syracuse traveled southward on November 1, 1157 to Cortland, where a massive army was staging to attack Syracuse. They arrived on November 10, 1157 and attacked immediately upon arrival. It was some 18,000 Tnemration soldiers against a mere 6,000 Layartebian soldiers, many of who were ill-equipped and in low morale, having traveled from all around the land. Caught by surprise, they fought hard. Most of the fighting was done with swords and axes. There were archers and longbowmen on each side and they were initially fighting but the fervor of the Tnemration forces closed the battle to something far closer. Few of the soldiers on the Layartebian part had their chainmail armor ready and on at the time of the fighting.

Despite the number difference, Layartebian forces fought on brutally and hard, repelling the attacking force and sending them into retreat. Tnemration forces lost some 2,400 men whilst the Layartebians lost about 1,700 men. The battle saw the retreat of Tnemration forces due to the ever changing tactics of the Layartebian soldiers, which began to introduce catapults in the midst of the fighting and a crude fire creating system, which saw most of the Tnemration deaths. In the battle, an archer killed the leader of the Tnemration forces.

The battle was a win for the Layartebians, even though their forces were more devastated than those of the Tnemration attackers. The battle lasted the better part of that day and recovery was slow afterwards. News of it spread throughout the four tribes and soon, a massive army was called up to lay siege to Syracuse, the Tnemration capital and stronghold.

The Skirmishes of 1157 – 1162

For five years, whilst the Layartebian armies gathered and planned their brutal attack against Syracuse, small groups of raiders pulverized outposts and garrisons all along the north and south of Layarteb. Their style was a quick strike with archers and swordsmen. They would kill all those present except one individual who they would wound mildly. Then they would plunder the garrison and burn it. The individual who survived would be sent to the next garrison to warn them. For the better part of five years, eighteen garrisons were slaughtered in the north and seven in the south, seeing about 900 deaths on the Tnemration side and a mere 40 on the Layartebian side. News of the slaughters were brought back to Syracuse and immediately sent out to the Tnemration homeland.

The First Battle of Syracuse

On May 13, 1163, a massive army of 24,000 Layartebian forces surrounded Syracuse with siege weaponry such as catapults, trebuchets, swordsmen, archers, longbowmen, and many other fighting forces. They also possessed a variation on Greek fire that could be fired in solidified form from catapults and trebuchets that would explode inside the walls of the city.

The battle began that day with a massive bombardment of Syracuse. The siege continued for four months and throughout the course of the siege, Layartebian forces suffered at least 11,000 deaths while dishing out similar figures against Tnemration forces within the city walls. Unfortunately not much is known about this battle except that Layartebian forces did not succeed in capturing the city and were forced to retreat on September 25, 1163. They would be pursued by Tnemration soldiers all the way west to the westernmost Finger Lake, Consensus Lake.

The Battle at Consensus Lake

On November 15, 1163, Tnemration forces caught up to some 13,000 Layartebian soldiers who were retreating from Syracuse. The Tnemration forces were estimated to number some 5,000 and though they were outnumbered, they engaged the Layartebian forces around the lake. The battle lasted the better part of three days and was a blow for Tnemration forces, who suffered 4,500 casualties. The Layartebian forces, on the other hand, suffered a mere 1,200 losses. News of the resounding defeat raised morale throughout the four tribes.

The Seventeen Years of Skirmishes

After the defeat at Consensus Lake, Tnemration forces were call in from the homeland and began to make their way across New England after landings to the extreme east. They would send some 120,000 forces to Syracuse to replace the many lost. They brought with them tons of weaponry, including siege weapons. Syracuse became a massive fortress.

Between 1163 and 1180, Layartebian forces ran skirmishes against the remaining 240 garrisons throughout Layarteb, sending them all inward to Syracuse. The skirmishes were not as successful as the previous ones, seeing much more losses to Layartebian forces but they did achieve their objectives and gained significant amounts of supplies, loot, and fear. Garrisons throughout the north, east, south, west, and center were all slaughtered, plundered, and burned, killing some 11,000 Tnemration forces, the last of those occupying the outposts. Thereafter, the only Tnemration forces were centered in Syracuse which had nearly quadrupled in size since 1163. Layartebian forces lost some 4,000 in the skirmishes.

The Second Battle of Syracuse

On January 11, 1180, Layartebian forces once again surrounded Syracuse with an estimated 40,000 soldiers. They were once again attempting to seize the fortress city. Siege weapons were used as well as all those previously used in 1163. For forty days and forty nights, constant pounding and bombardment leveled and razed one third of the city, along with 20,000 civilians and 14,000 soldiers.

Unaware of the reinforcements, Layartebian forces were caught by surprise by a massive counterattack by Tnemration forces numbering at least 50,000. The resulting battle pushed Layartebian forces back away from Syracuse and into retreat after seeing 16,000 casualties. This time, however, they were not followed. Tnemration counterattacking groups saw only 2,000 casualties.

Conclusions on the First Phase

The first phase of fighting really put the Tnemrations on edge. Tnemrations saw some 45,000 military causalities and at least 40,000 civilian casualties. Layartebian forces saw some 34,000 military casualties and perhaps 2,000 – 5,000 civilian casualties, most of them as a result of retaliation from the skirmishes.

The first phase was a quasi-victory for Layartebian forces. Syracuse remained in the hands of Tnemration forces but all garrisons and outposts throughout the four territories were destroyed. Tnemration forces had all retreated to Syracuse but expansion of the city created some eight tiers of walls and fortifications, which would be nearly impossible to defeat.

Tnemration leaders would be prepared for the next phase, which would last some twenty-five years.

The War of Independence (Phase II) (1181 – 1205)

Following the defeats at Syracuse, Layartebian forces turned their attention against garrisons and outposts throughout the better part of the first years of fighting. They were successful in seeing the defeat of those garrisons and outposts and forces Tnemration forces to center themselves in Syracuse. Reinforcements, however, created an impenetrable fortress in Syracuse.

The second phase saw a major offensive by Tnemration forces against Layartebian forces. An invasion from the north succeeded in defeating a large number of Layartebian forces and saw the resupply and reinforcing of Syracuse. Tnemration forces used the Saint Lawrence River to land forces and invade southward throughout the entire northern territory. In addition, it saw the reestablishment of Tnemration forces in Albany, the largest garrison and outpost prior to 1180.

The Spring Landings

On April 14, 1181, Tnemration naval forces traveled down the Saint Lawrence River to Clayton. They landed some 150,000 forces, the bulk of their military at that time. Tnemration military forces were estimated to number some 2 million as of 1157 and by the end of 1215, they would number far fewer. In contrast, Layartebian forces numbered a meager 300,000 at the height of their struggle.

Tnemration forces landed to an ambush set up by some 8,000 Layartebian forces but the results were dire for the Layartebian forces. They lost some 2,000 soldiers right out and another 1,500 to diseases later than month, contracted from mosquitoes from the overly warm areas of the landing. Tnemration forces lost a meager 800 and proceeded southward, towards Syracuse.

Layartebian forces set up two more ambush points along the way, stopping and halting the advance for a good week on the first ambush and a whole month on the second. The first ambush point was roughly 40 kilometers away from the landing and saw 1,500 Tnemration casualties and about 200 Layartebians. The second ambush point was roughly 50 kilometers from Syracuse and saw the same numbers of dead on both sides. The entire 133 kilometer journey was arduous for Tnemration forces. Unfortunately, the advance was not halted and by October 1181, Tnemration forces arrived at Syracuse with some 140,000 men. Skirmishes along their advance claimed the remaining men.

The Albany Campaign

Shortly after Tnemration forces entered Syracuse, a battle plan was drawn up to attack and secure Albany again for a garrison and outpost. Albany had been taken from Tnemration control in the spring of 1173 and saw heavy casualties, some 4,000 Tnemration forces died after seven months of skirmishes and attacks that were almost daily towards the latter two months.

Tnemration forces set out to recapture the city on December 14, 1181. The journey was some 200 kilometers. It would take them until June 1182 to reach their destination due to the onset of a particularly bad winter. Of the 25,000 Tnemration forces that set out to attack only 17,000 made it to Albany. The winter claimed most of the lives as well as Layartebian skirmishes.

The siege on Albany took place from June 8, 1182 until March 1, 1183. The campaign was brutal and saw nearly all 8,000 Layartebian forces stationed in the city killed, wounded, or captured. All 6,000 civilians were killed. With the recapture of Albany, a vital point on the Hudson River was secure and Tnemration forces began to secure points northward up the Hudson to the Saint Lawrence River.

The River Skirmishes

Tnemration forces, between 1183 and 1195 ran raids up and down the Hudson River from Albany to the Saint Lawrence and back down, securing nearly every village and town along the way. The skirmishes saw some 700 Layartebian military casualties and roughly 1,800 civilian casualties. In comparison, Tnemration forces lost 2,500 men.

By May 1195, the river was secure between those two points and Tnemration naval units began moving supplies to both Syracuse and Albany.

The Battle on Lake Ontario

By November 1197, Tnemration forces had free cause to go up and down the Saint Lawrence River and into Lake Ontario and down into Syracuse. Their supply lines were stretched but their naval prowess was something unmatched. Secretly, in the western region, near Buffalo, Layartebian forces were constructing a navy of roughly 400 ships. Using principles from classical texts as well as from Tnemration designs, they made formidable naval vessels. They had two goals, razing the port city of Oswego and sinking as many Tnemration naval forces as possible.

On March 7, 1198, the first Layartebian navy was launched with 389 ships. They traveled northward to intercept a major supply on March 19. Set up and in position, hiding in beneficial fog, they attacked the supply group on the morning of March 19 and over the course of the next eighteen hours, using archers, swordsmen, and their variation on Greek fire, burned and sunk over 700 Tnemration ships, more than eighty percent of the supply group.

They turned their attention to Oswego on March 21 and attacked the city over the course of the next week, landing some 9,000 Layartebian forces. By April 18, the city was under their control and Tnemration forces were without supply to Syracuse. Between the lake battle and Oswego, Tnemration forces suffered some 7,500 military casualties and at least 20,000 civilians. Layartebian forces saw fewer than 3,000 casualties.

The Fire on Lake Champlain

Following the victorious strategy on Lake Ontario, Layartebian naval forces moved up the Saint Lawrence with some 492 ships beginning on May 5, 1199. Their goal was to get into Lake Champlain and disrupt Tnemration supply convoys to Albany. By July, they were in Lake Champlain.

In conjunction with this, Layartebian forces began minor skirmishes up and down the Hudson, destroying outposts and garrisons under Tnemration control. Between May and July, at least half of the outposts and garrisons were destroyed, leaving Tnemrot with between 500 and 1,500 more casualties and Layarteb with 300 to 900.

Supply convoys coming throughout the summer of 1199 were harassed and destroyed by Layartebian forces. The campaigns saw some 5,000 casualties for the Tnemrations and fewer than 100 for the Layartebians.

As the winter dawned, a single convoy of 400 ships would be coming to provide winter supplies to Albany. Escorted by about 100 warships, the massive force moved down the Hudson, towards Lake Champlain to find no resistance. Layartebian naval units had already moved out back into the Saint Lawrence and came in behind the Tnemration forces. Lake Champlain had been covered in a filmy, stick incendiary fluid, another derivative of Greek fire. As Tnemration ships entered the lake, it was set ablaze. Any ships retreated were slaughtered.

All five hundred ships were destroyed as well as some 7,000 military forces and 1,100 civilians. Layartebian casualties are reported as zero.

The Five Year Stalemate

On January 1, 1200, Tnemration forces signed a temporary cease-fire with Layartebian forces. The goal was to have negotiations. Tnemrot already lost many men and roughly sixty percent of their navy. Layartebian forces reluctantly signed, which gave them more time to regroup. This is when their military came to the size of 300,000 men.

Later texts show that Tnemration leaders ordered the cease-fire to rebuild their navy and assemble a massive invasion force, which would land at New York. Throughout the course of the stalemate, they routinely engaged Layartebian forces in minor skirmishes.

Finally, on July 4, 1205, Tnemration forces declared the cease-fire to be in violation due to Layartebian raids on Albany and Syracuse. These raids came as a response to Tnemration skirmishes. The fighting resumed almost immediately. Tnemration forces are estimated to have lost 1,000 people during the campaign, equal numbers to Layartebians.

Conclusion

The second phase saw much more aggression on the part of the Tnemration military. It cost them some 45,000 military forces, bringing the total to 90,000. Their civilian casualties numbered 22,000 bringing that total to 62,000. Layartebian casualties were in the order of 18,000 military and 8,000 civilian, bringing those numbers to 52,000 and 13,000, respectively.

The War of Independence (Phase III) (1205 – 1215)

The third and last phase of the War of Independence saw only three battles. These were all offensives on the part of the Layartebians, in response for the failed cease-fire that had been purposely done to buy time for Tnemration forces. The three battles all went to the Layartebians and saw the complete and utter expulsion of Tnemration forces from Layarteb and eventual independence.

The Third Battle of Syracuse

In the early summer of 1206, Layartebian forces numbering 40,000 surrounded Syracuse for the third time. They brought heavy siege weapons and were determined to defeat the Tnemrations. At the same time, an equal force was seen around Albany. There was little use of naval forces, if any except to land forces on the west of Syracuse for the attack.

Layartebian forces began the siege against the eight tiers of the city firing at the outer tier, the one right after it, and the center tier. Their goal was to isolate the third through seventh tier and starve them out as they pushed inward. Tnemration forces within the city numbered some 60,000 military and 45,000 civilian. Over the next four years, Layartebian forces would attack each tier, the next tier, and the inner most tier.

The first four tiers were taken by late 1207. The next two fell in 1208 and the last two fell in 1209 and 1210, respectively. Tnemration forces suffered brutally and the fervor of the Layartebians had them completely surrounded.

One tactic the Layartebians would do would be to attack the tiers, starving out those in between. Then, they would move in on the outermost tier, attack and keep moving inward, setting up reinforcements behind them.

By the end of the battle, in March of 1210, Tnemration casualties numbered some 40,000 military and 30,000 civilian. The remaining people defected, fled, or were never seen from again. Many tried to make their way east, to Albany, but never made it. Layartebian casualties are estimated at 10,000.

The Fall of Albany

At the same time that Syracuse was being seized, Albany began being pummeled. Naval units attack from the north and the south as well as land forces from the east and the west. A force of some 35,000 Layartebians was attacking a city of some 27,000 Tnemrations with at least 35,000 civilians. Albany had been starved out throughout the campaign in Lake Champlain and throughout the stalemate.

The siege began about two months after Syracuse was first attacked but it ended far quicker, in August of 1208. After roughly two years of constant siege, against a city that wasn't nearly as layered as Syracuse was, the remaining 7,000 military and 15,000 civilians surrendered. The starvations had been a big factor to their defeat. Combined with some 20,000 military and 20,000 civilian deaths to the Tnemrations, the Layartebians lost between 8,000 and 14,000 soldiers and at least 100 ships.

The Battle of Layarteb City

In 1213, modern Layarteb City was nothing more than a large encampment for the Scythes. There were some 350,000 civilians living there and it was protected by around 60,000 military forces. It was the hub of the Hudson River and saw significant trading but was never attacked by Tnemration forces.

On July 6, 1213, a massive Tnemration assault consisting of over 1,000 ships (their entire navy) and some 300,000 men landed south of Layarteb City, on modern Long Island, near Howard Beach. The ill-prepared 60,000 military men in Layarteb City met them almost immediately and with civilian help, managed to repel the initial landing, which was merely a distraction. In the ensuing fight, the Tnemration landing fleet and moved westward to land on the western end of Long Island and on the southern end of Manhattan Island. They lost some 80 ships in the initial distraction and only about 700 men.

The real landing was successful and put all 300,000 men on land. It was of epic proportions. Scythe leaders sent immediate pleas for help from the other three tribes. Unfortunately, their pleas came to three groups who were cheering the defeat of Tnemration forces and so they would arrive in late 1214. Scythe military men and civilians would go on to attack, ambush, and strike at the massive Tnemration army between July 1213 and October 1214, when reinforcements arrived.

It is estimate that during that time at least 30,000 Scythe military men were killed and at least 100,000 civilians to a meager 40,000 Tnemration soldiers, many of whom died from diseases.

When reinforcements arrived, they staged north. Scythe forces attacked on Long Island and drove the Tnemration forces all onto Manhattan Island by January 1215. Naval vessels from north would come down and guard the south of the island as some 90,000 Layartebian forces battled against some 250,000 Tnemration forces. The battle would last until May 13, 1215, seeing all Tnemration forces killed and some 50,000 Layartebian forces slaughtered.

Conclusion

During the third phase, the most aggressive phase, Layartebian forces saw massive casualties. There were some 104,000 military deaths and some 150,000 civilian deaths, most of them Scythe. Tnemration forces, on the other hand, lost some 360,000 military casualties and at least 50,000 civilian deaths. This would bring the total number death to 450,000 military deaths and 115,000 civilian deaths. It would cost the Layartebians some 156,000 military casualties and 163,000 civilians. In the end, their land was theirs.

The Treaty of Layarteb (1215)

Following the abysmal defeat at Layarteb City, Tnemration leaders were forced to accept the independence that was declared on October 31, 1157. After 58 years of fighting, the war was finally over and independence had been had.

The Council & Four Autonomous Areas

Using the ideas set up in "A New Layarteb," the leaders of the four tribes established the Dominion of Layarteb. It was broken into four zones, each ruled by a tribe. The borders remained the same as they had under the declaration. The capital was set up in Albany, much to the anger of the Scythes, who suffered the most horrific casualties of the war. The permanent council saw two individuals from each tribe seated in the capital. They made up the High Council of Layarteb. They were in charge of legislation and adjudication. The executive was called the Overlord and would be elected from one of the four tribes on an eight year basis. The first Overlord was from the Scythe tribe. Legend put him as a descendent of Comhghall, though nothing was confirmed.

The Treaty

The treaty with Tnemrot also saw the expulsion of all Tnemration citizens. Only pureblood Layartebians could remain. Tnemration religious law was abolished as well as the village elder system. Each autonomous area, ruled by their tribes, would make their own laws and their own system. The north saw a return to the village system, the center saw a type of collective system set up, the west saw a very primitive system set up, and the south saw a very advanced, feudal society being formed. By far, the Scythes were the most advanced at the time of the treaty, being they controlled the main port of entry into the Hudson.

Tnemrot was banned from interfering with Layartebian affairs unless a unanimous vote by the High Council. Such never occurred.

The Four Governments

Inside Scythian territory, a republic was set up. The society was organized into one hundred different feudal estates, ran by a lord. The workers on the estates were free, although they had little options to leave and would not get very far if they did. The feudal lords would all represent their estate in a type of senate set up in Layarteb City. Amongst the senators they would elect a president on a six year term.

In Grunt territory, a type of communal living was established. The territory, the largest of all four, was organized into fourteen different states. Each one was ruled by a communal governor who was elected by a majority vote of the people within the state, although there usually was only one candidate running and votes were taken orally, most of the times the people didn't even know who they were voting for or for what purpose.

In the north, the Ontarians set up a village system again. This time the elder was the oldest individual in the village and did not rule by decree from the gods but rather from his own laws and rules. Many of them were not unlike Tnemration laws but that was what they were used to and that was what they understood.

In the west, the Vandals had a disorganized system. There was no clear ruling body or style of government. The territory was centered in Buffalo and whoever was the strongest there worked in Albany under the High Council.

Independence

The Hundred Year's Peace (1215 - 1315)

Following the defeat of Tnemrot and the independence of Layarteb, the four tribes formed their own autonomous governments, which would flourish underneath themselves as well as to expand outward. The Scythes, in the south, set up a republic style government, based in Layarteb City. The Grunts, in the central part of Layarteb, set up a communal type living, established around fourteen highly independent states. The Ontarians in the north returned to the Tnemration village-elder system. The Vandals, in the west, had no clear ruling system and it was more or less anarchy. The Vandals would become the eventual catalysts for the cessation of a peace that was put into place following the defeat of Tnemrot.

The Treaty of Syracuse

Seven years after the defeat of Tnemrot, in 1222, all four tribes met in Syracuse to sign a treaty of peace, prosperity, non-involvement, and trade. The four tribes maintained independent nations, so to speak, all underneath a single state, the High Council. It was at this meeting that the High Council established the Confederacy of Layarteb, organized around the four different tribes.

The treaty was highly unique and all four tribes agreed, despite the Vandal representatives being highly unorganized and highly wary. Trade would allow the four tribes to develop at an enormous rate, the Scythes leading the way in every area. The treaty established Syracuse as the capital of the High Council and the first Overlord was a Grunt, one Ynoga.

He ruled for forty-nine years, being elected to seven terms, dying only days after taking his oath in his ninth term. Ynoga established Layarteb as a burgeoning power and re-established trade and communications with Tnemrot in the year 1255. This move, which met considerable opposition by the four tribes and the High Council, would be perhaps the best move they could have undertaken. Within six years, Layarteb was a hub of international trade, communication, and culture. Layarteb City would grow at an unprecedented rate, becoming the largest port city on the entire continent by 1285.

Elected unanimously in 1270 to his ninth term, Ynoga would die shortly thereafter in July 1271 from the plague, one of the earliest deaths.

The Plague

The Bubonic Plague surfaced in Layarteb in 1269 but claimed its first victims in mid-1271. It mainly affected the cities of Layarteb, primarily Syracuse and Layarteb City, the largest cities within the Confederacy. It ran rampant until 1273 when it finally faded out. It is widely believed that the Bubonic Plague in Europe in the mid-14th century was a similar but different strain of the disease first seen in Syracuse, perhaps carried over by dormant rats and fleas.

The Plague claimed the lives of 780,000 Layartebians, most of them Scythe. At least sixty percent of the fatalities came from Layarteb City. Because of the nature of the city, the virus was brought throughout many other countries through traders and ships.

Brom

Brom, the second Overlord of the Confederacy was appointed to his position only eight days after the death of Ynoga. He led in much the same way as Ynoga did but unfortunately lacked the charisma that Ynoga enthralled.

A Scythe, his appointment was highly opposed by the Vandal lords, who wanted to see their own "leader" Sazanbar as the Overlord.

Despite his lack of charisma, Brom was a highly effective leader and brought Layarteb City into the forefront of Layartebian politics, using its massive wealth and its strategic position to bring even more trade and culture to the Confederacy. It was during this time that the wealth of the Ontarian nation effectively tripled. He would be elected six more times, serving almost as long as Ynoga did.

However, in 1315, he was assassinated by a group of Vandal Warlords. This brought the Scythe and Vandal nations into a de facto state of war, which effectively ended all prosperity between the two nations. The High Council, in opposition to the move, ejected the Vandals from the Confederacy and appointed an Ontarian to the Overlord seat. However, hostilities between the Vandals and the High Council dulled quickly. Hostilities between the Scythes and the Vandals would not subside any time soon nor would they between the Vandals and the Ontarians.

Border Clashes

Border clashes between the Vandals and the Ontarians began immediately following their ejection from the High Council. The Vandals saw the appointment of a Ontarian to the Overlord position as insulting and border clashes, though minor would last for at least another fifty-two years.

An Uneasy Existence (1315 – 1450)

Following the Vandal assassination of Brom, the Scythes declared the Vandals to be their enemy and assisted the Ontarians with minor border skirmishes. War did not break out on any massive scale as the Scythian government was quite pleased with the ejection of the Vandals from the Confederacy. Despite being a foreign state now the Vandals continued to trade with the remaining three tribes, albeit without reaping the rewards that the other three tribes saw from the prosperity brought in by Layarteb City.

The Agreement of Layarteb City

In 1320, the Scythes invited the High Council to Layarteb City in hopes of moving the capital from Syracuse, buried deep within the confines of the state to Layarteb City, the hub of the entire Confederacy.

The High Council, agreeing to visit the city, was thoroughly pleased but did not vote to move the capital to Layarteb City. However, they did pass a decree that allowed the Scythes more autonomy when it came to managing the trade into and out of Layarteb. This would become known as the Agreement of Layarteb City, an agreement which thoroughly angered the Ontarian people.

Border Skirmishes

As the Scythe nation became to burgeon and increase in population, they sought expansion. Unable to go north because of the Grunts, west because of the Vandals, they sought expansion south and east. They moved into Connecticut and New Jersey in 1340 and 1374, respectively.

The Vandals and Ontarians, seeing something very wary about this moved into Pennsylvania and Vermont, respectively, with the Grunts moving into Massachusetts. By 1390, all four tribes had expanded into most of the area around them, with the Ontarians moving through Vermont, New Hampshire, and into Maine, the Vandals remaining in Pennsylvania, the Grunts moving into Massachusetts, and the Scythes taking Connecticut and Rhode Island.

This led to inevitable border skirmishes, which began in 1392. Minor, in nature, it mostly had to do with traders being charged different taxes along different parts of the border. Law and order was almost non-existent along the borders and in some cases, there were villages and towns set up that owed their allegiance to no tribe but rather themselves.

Governors Island

In 1422, the Scythes, seeking to establish themselves as the dominant power within the Confederacy began construction of a "mega-castle" on a small, island inside New York Harbor. The "mega-castle," set to be deemed the Fortress of Comhghall, was not slated to be completed until 1445.

Governor's Island, a small 172 acre island was strategically positioned well. It was connected to no other island within Layarteb City and it was a nature defensive point, being able to see, unhindered, in every direction. The castle would allow for unhindered view in all directions for some thirty-five miles, allowing the Scythes to see any invading navy coming into the harbor from any direction, especially the south, the favored ingress.

Word of the "mega-castle" worried the High Council, especially the Ontarians who were still perturbed by the 1320 Agreement of Layarteb City. Ontarian saboteurs sought to delay the construction of the castle but succeeded not, being stopped in their efforts usually before they ever finished their mission. However, one saboteur, who was unnamed, managed to sabotage the delivery of an entire months worth of supplies, throwing off construction for some time.

It was not until 1450 when the "mega-castle" was completed but when it was, it was the largest structure in the entire Confederacy and a marvel of wonder. The Scythian government took refuge there and ran their nation from the castle with great ease, maintaining as much communication with the High Council as was possible.

Layarteb City (1450 – 1457)

Throughout the 1400s, the four tribes co-existed despite the Vandal ejection from the Confederacy. Border skirmishes continued throughout the century and were usually too minor to involve any major deployment of forces. Outlaw villages and towns were slowly brought into submission by the four tribes with very few remaining in existence by 1452. However, something worse was brewing, something far more dangerous.

Declaration of the Capital

The Scythes, once again seeking to move the capital of the Confederacy to Layarteb City, which by 1450 was wealthier in itself than the Ontarian and Grunt nations combined, invited the High Council down to Layarteb City again. In 1450, the High Council returned, invited to stay in the Fortress of Comhghall, which contained more rooms and secret passageways than designers had ever envisioned.

Impressed with the wealth, prosperity, and significance of the city, the High Council returned to Syracuse and voted to move the capital down to Layarteb City in 1451. This further infuriated the Ontarians who adamantly opposed the move but remained in the Confederacy. The Grunts remained neutral in the matters and saw it as a possible reunification of the Confederacy, their main goal being the reintroduction of the Vandals, feeling they had felt their punishment. In addition, the first Overlord in the new capital would be a Grunt.

Capital Move

The capital was fully inside Layarteb City by 1454 and the Grunt Overlord, Galahad, was appointed in 1454, the twenty-ninth election of an Overlord. It would be the last. The move of the capital was very beneficial to the Confederacy, although more beneficial to the Scythes as they could now heavily influence and control the Confederacy.

The Fortress of Comhghall played home to both the High Council and the Scythian government, which maintained its republican ideals. However, tensions brewed more and more as border skirmishes died down, leaving far more peaceful interaction between the four tribes, which sought to renew trade. The exchange of ideas eventually led to dissatisfaction amongst the tribes that the Scythes had moved the capital.

Reintroduction of the Vandals

In 1456, the High Council voted to reintroduce the Vandals to the Confederacy. The vote passed, despite fervent opposition by the Scythian representatives. The Vandal delegation, upon arrival in Layarteb City, were slaughtered by an angry mob, seeking justice for the death of Brom, still heralded as one of the greatest leaders of the Confederacy. Only Ynoga and Brom had served more than one term as Overlord, both of them being credited with the success that the Confederacy had following their independence in 1215.

Onset of Civil War

Following the slaughter of the Vandal delegation, the Vandals sought to eject the Scythes from the Confederacy, just as had been done to them. The High Council, despite being inside Scythe territory voted, in secrecy, excluding the Scythes from the vote, to return the capital back to Syracuse and to eject the Scythes, despite the importance of Layarteb City. On September 8, 1456, the declaration was made. It would take at least six months to prepare the capital to be moved back to Syracuse, a time that would not be taken wisely.

Anger erupted from the Scythe people, who saw the slaughter as justice and retribution for their slain Overlord. The Scythian government, preparing for war and preparing for reaction declared on January 2, 1457, that the Scythe Republic was the only true ruling body of the Confederacy and that the High Council, taken hostage by the wishes of the barbaric Vandals was illegitimate. The High Council was assassinated only days later by governmental guards. The Ontarians, Grunts, and Vandals immediately declared a state of war against the Scythe Republic and moved the capital back to Syracuse, despite being unable to gather any documentation or history from the Fortress of Comhghall, which had been sealed off. Slaughters and killings of Vandal, Ontarian, and Grunt traders within Layarteb City continued throughout the first eight months of 1457, with at least 25,000 being killed, mostly by beating.

Map of Layarteb before the onset of Civil War in 1457. All four territories are represented with their respective territories on a modern New York map.

The First Layartebian Civil War

Rejection

The Scythian declaration that is was the only true ruling body of the Confederacy and that the High Council, taken hostage by the wishes of the barbaric Vandals was illegitimate and their subsequent execution, was not met favorably. The Grunts, Ontarians, and Vandals all declared war upon the Scythe Republic and within months an all out war was on the horizons. Over 25,000 Grunts, Ontarians, and Vandals were killed within the Scythe Republic in the first eight months and by January 2, 1458, one year later, that number had turned to 30,000. The Grunts, Ontarians, and Vandals would not stand for the treachery of the Scythe's, as they called it, and after the one year declaration of Layartebian rule, invaded the Scythe Republic.

Invasion Staten Island

The Grunts and the Vandals both initated a simultaneous attack on Staten Island on the morning of February 28, 1458. The morning was cold and winter was in full force in Layarteb. Vandals positioned in modern day New Jersey had come down from their territory through modern day Pennsylvania. Grunts came down through New Jersey as well and stationed their attack along the banks of the New Jersey coastline. When they launched their attacks on February 28 it was doomed from the start. The large army of 45,000 men had been reduced from 100,000 because of the terrible winter and the long trek down to the staging area. The Scythe's, realizing that their enemies would want a foot hold in their territory, heavily reinforced Staten Island. When the Grunts and Vandals landed, their boats were sunk and their landing armies were sent to the slaughters through traps set for them by the Scythes. By mid-day, the battle was over and 2/3 of the army lay dead, the remaining 1/3 captured with few losses to the Scythes, historical documents report between 50 and 300. The battle was the first in the war and galvanized the Scythian people against their foes to the north.

The Vandal Conquest

Realizing that the Vandal's were the least organized and weakest of the three tribes, the Scythe's set out to attack them in May 1458, when the summer had begun to dawn and the winter thaw was completed. An army of some 80,000 Scythe warriors traveled along the same route that the Vandals used in January and February and attacked Buffalo on July 8, 1458. They laid siege to the city for 100 days and eventually won out, seeing the fall of the city on September 16, 1458. The rest of the Vandal territory fell within the coming months and by 1460, the entire Vandal territory, tribe, and culture ceased to exist. The conquest was regarded as the most lopsided of the entire civil war, which then put the Scythes at a clear advantage, being able to attack the Grunts from two sides. They effectively controlled the supply routes as well, ensuring that sentry posts were stationed throughout six major resupply and trade routes.

Map of Layarteb after the Vandal Conquest. All three territories are represented with their respective territories on a modern New York map.

Uneasy Peace

Recognizing the power and position of the Scythe Republic, the Grunts decided to hold off on further military campaigns, the brutal defeat at Staten Island still fresh in their heads. A non-aggression pact was signed between the two tribes, known as the Pact of Westch, after the Gruntian scholar who pioneered the idea of the N.A.P., the first in Layartebian history. The goal was to allow the Grunts enough time to build up their own forces so a 100 year time limit was put on the pact. Intent on doing the exact same thing, the Scythe's honored the pact and so did the Grunts. The peace was uneasy and border skirmishes doubled from an approximate 74,000 in 1460 to almost 150,000 in 1480.

The Ontarian Position

Worried after the defeat of the Vandals, the Ontarians sought their own N.A.P. with the Scythe's and received one as well, for the same purposes. Disagreements and skirmishes with the Grunts saw to it that the internal tensions between the Ontarians and the Grunts grew exponentially. The only common ground that they would have, by 1475, was that the Scythe Republic was an enemy to both of their tribes. Because they were far secluded to the north, the Ontarians expected them to be the final campaign of the Scythe's and they felt that they had plenty of time to prepare. Defense efforts were much slower than they were in the Grunt Realm, a fatal mistake.

The Ontarian Invasion

In 1585, following a renewal to the N.A.P. between the Ontarians and the Scythe's a group of marauders attacked two Scythe villages along the Ontarian-Scythe border. The attack killed only civilians and the stories of rape, murder, and pillaging were phenomenal. This sparked a demand from the Scythe Republic of a full apology from the Ontarian council. They refused and on July 18, 1585, the Scythe's opened official war on the Ontarians, invading in six places along the banks of modern day Oswego and Jefferson counties as well as through the land routes connecting Oswego and Cayuga counties. The army of 350,000 Scythe warriors, many of them assimilated from the Vandal Conquest, proceeded to wreck havoc throughout the Ontarian countryside as they drove for their capital to lay siege to the city, Potsdam, in Saint Lawrence County. The city, well defended now, was not strong enough to resist the campaign by the Scythe's, which officially began on the capital in 1588. It would end on January 1, 1596, when the siege officially wore down the city and the leadership to surrender. It was during these eight years that Scythe warriors invaded and seized the remainder of the Ontarian territory. When the conquest of the Ontarians was officially completed in 1597, the Grunts were more than worried, now surrounded on three sides by the Scythe's. They sought new conditions with the Scythe Republic for their N.A.P. and even issued a decree to resume the council and allow the Scythe Republic equal representation. The Scythe Republic accepted this.

Map of Layarteb after the defeat of the Ontarians. Both territories are represented with their respective territories on a modern New York map.

To 1732

History between 1597 and 1732 in both the Grunt Realm and the Scythe Republic was quiet and calm. Neither tribe sought open conflict with the other and mild border skirmishes were the only types of real warfare between the two tribes. Most of the fighting was done in the capital of the Scythe Republic, Layarteb City, with the council. For four years, the council would meet in Layarteb City. Then, for the next four years, they would meet in Albany, a landmark deal, which was part of the Grunt-Scythe Union.

The Grunt-Scythe Union, established in 1600, called for a resumption of the High Council and a loose union between the two tribes under a common leadership that served in four year snippets with the leadership alternating between the two capitals. It was during this time that both territories grew significantly both technologically and politically. Both territories got along well and differences from the past were widely forgotten, if not completely buried. Prosperity and trade skyrocketed throughout the these 135 years.

The Rise of Sander Young

In 1732, Sander Young became the ruler of the Grunt Realm and with his ascension to power in the Grunt Realm came a heavy feeling of nationalism. Sander Young, whose ancestors were murdered by Scythe people in the 1457 - 1458 slaughter, brought up history as a lesson not to trust the Scythe Republic and its people. His fiery oratory abilities and his stern rule ensured that he would have a surefire following. Support for him grew as he instilled deep feelings of nationalism throughout the Grunt Realm, something that worried the Scythe government deeply. When his behavior was brought up to the High Council in Albany in late 1732, it was dismissed. The Scythe's had, essentially, been written out of the Union and they didn't know it. Over the next 2 years, the Scythe's were brutally treated within the Grunt Realm. Scythian people were expelled, imprisoned, executed, and humiliated, most of the time on false grounds. Corruption spread throughout the Grunt Realm at the behest of Sander Young and the Scythe Republic prepared for certain war, again.

In late 1733, Sander Young, to a crowd of millions, delivered a speech so bold and so brave that he, in short, declared war, all by himself, on the Scythe Republic. He stated, "The Scythe Republic is a disease and a pestilent virus that plagues the human race. Their history shows them to be nothing more than liars, cheaters, murderers, and scum. The Scythe people are not human, they are vermin and should be treated as such. Hang them I say! Beat them I say! Expel them I say! Whatever must be done to rid the human race of this epidemic must be done and it must be done now." Days later the Scythe Republic withdrew from the Union.

War

On January 17, 1734, the Scythe Republic openly declared war on the Grunt Realm. Citing the rise of Sander Young and the subsequent treatment of the Scythian people as Casus belli, they invaded at over seventy points, breaching right through Gruntian defenses all along their borders. The Scythian army numbered 2,000,000 warriors and people, almost the entire population of males between the ages of 16 and 34. The 2,000,000 man army pushed north, south, and east as they moved towards Albany.

By 1750, the Scythian army numbered 1,250,000 and they captured about 50% of the Grunt Realm and elminated well over 1,000,000 Gruntian soldiers. Civilians captured were enslaved or drafted into the ranks, to replenish those lost in the battles.

By 1780, Albany was encircled by over 800,000 Scythian warriors. Gruntian forces numbers between 400,000 and 1,200,000 at the time but were completely encircled by Scythian forces. What began was an eleven year siege that resulted in the final defeat of the Grunt Realm on December 1, 1791, and thus the day the Republic was declared. The Republic of Layarteb was made official three days later. Sander Young, still alive, was captured by Scythian forces and publically executed in Layarteb City on January 15, 1792, hanged in front of a crowd numbering over 50,000.

The Republic of Layarteb as it was on December 4, 1791.

The Republic

The Beginning

The Republic of Layarteb was officially declared on December 4, 1791 and it encompassed only modern day New York and had a population of 3,929,214, a smidgen of what the Empire of Layarteb currently has. The Republic of Layarteb set up a bicameral legislative system around a Senate and a House of Representatives, a democratically elected President, and a Supreme Court under the judiciary. All males and females over the age of 18 were given the right to vote and all positions were democratically elected by a simple majority. The first President of the Republic was a man by the name of Harold K. Artbery, a general who led Scythian forces against the Grunt capital of Albany. He would go on to serve two terms, back to back.

During those first eight years, the Republic of Layarteb established its constitution and its legal code, based on English Common Law. Its population grew to 5,236,631 by 1798. It was during these years that an alliance was formed with a southern state called the Commonwealth of Garamound, which occupied what is modern day New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The state was formed shortly after the cessation of hostilities with the Grunt Realm when the land was no longer needed by the Scythian Republic.

As the Republic of Layarteb grew throughout its early years, it advanced by leaps and bounds. Technological innovations and advances put the Republic of Layarteb well ahead of the rest of the world, so much that its Industrial Revolution began in early 1810, which put both the Dominion of Tnemrot and the Commonwealth of Garamound in precarious situations, neither being anywhere near as advanced as the Republic of Layarteb.

The First War

In late 1810, the Commonwealth of Garamound and the Dominion of Tnemrot signed a secret alliance against the Republic of Layarteb, a fact which wouldn't be known for decades. Unbeknownst of this, the Republic of Layarteb sought to set up an open-border policy with the Commonwealth of Garamound. It was done for the purpose of trade and economics but the Commonwealth of Garamound saw it as an attempt to have their people siphoned into the Republic of Layarteb for cheap labor or to feed their technological hunger. In 1811, it was refused by the legislature of the Commonwealth of Garamound and answered with an expulsion of all Layartebian citizens from Garamound. The move, which was looked at unfavorably by the Republic of Layarteb was answered with like moves.

What ensued was a series of border skirmishes between Layartebian and Garamoundian forces for the next year, culminating on November 16, 1811 with a declaration of war against the Commonwealth of Garamound by the Layartebian Senate, House of Representatives, and President, James Millson.

The war, titled the First War of the Republic of Layarteb, lasted until September 18, 1812, when Layartebian forces officially captured Philadelphia, the capital of the Commonwealth of Garamound. The war was characterized by countless battles in Pennsylvania and New Jersey as well the largest naval battle in Layartebian history. The battle was conducted off the shore of what is now Atlantic City and saw over a hundred warships fighting each other, a battle that swung heavily in the favor of the Layartebians. On October 1, 1812, the areas of Pennsylvania and New Jersey were officially added to the Republic of Layarteb, a move, which the Dominion of Tnemrot did not look favorably upon. It was at this time that the area of the Republic of Layarteb effectively doubled to 283,096.01 km². The population almost doubled to 9,638,453.

Between the First and Second War

Time between 1812 and the onset of a second war were spent in relative peace. An alliance with the Dominion of Tnemrot saw to it that neither of the two countries were at odds with each other. For 24 years, the Republic of Layarteb advanced by leaps and bounds and in 1830, its population had become 17,069,453, a phenomenal amount, most of them inside of Layarteb City. By now the Industrial Revolution had pushed the Republic of Layarteb by leaps and bounds and its wealth soared to epic proportions.

It was during this time that the Dominion of Tnemrot was doing just oppositely, their own countless years of "backwards" rule pushing them into a state of almost perpetual anarchy. The Dominion of Tnemrot still ruled its land as it did in 1157 and the emphasis on religion being the end-all, be-all of life within the Dominion of Tnemrot being a major hindrance to its progression. The Republic of Layarteb, which believed strongly in the separation of church and state.

As the Republic of Layarteb grew and its technological abilities far surpassed that of the Dominion of Tnemrot, a failing state, the Layartebian government offered annexation to the Dominion of Tnemrot as a "sister republic" in order to prevent its people from falling into total disarray. Though popular with the people, the High Council of Elders in Tnemrot strongly opposed the idea and in 1833, things appeared to be more than dire in the Dominion of Tnemrot.

The Second War

In 1834, under immense pressure to reform their ways, the High Council of Elders proposed the invasion of eastern New York of the Republic of Layarteb and carried it out on June 2, 1834. The move, which was widely opposed by the Tnemration people enraged the Layartebians and the invasion was quickly repelled by the technologically superior Layartebian forces and followed on with a counter invasion. The war that ensued, known as the Second War of the Republic of Layarteb would last for six years and see the fall of the Dominion of Tnemrot. Throughout the six years, Layartebian soldiers brutally annihilated the soldiers of the Tnemration army due to their technological capabilities, all of which were far more advanced than the Tnemrations.

The war ended in 1840 with the defeat of the Tnemration capital, which would become Falcon City. This added, to the Republic, the modern day territories of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine and their people, boosting the Layartebian population in 1840 to 31,443,321. The territorial claims increased from 283,096.01 km² to 464,536.01 km², almost doubling again in terms of population and size.

The Second Civil War

The Empire & Era of Conquests

Post-Conquests

Government & Politics

The Empire of Layarteb is organized as an authoritarian republic. Though these two terms are opposing each other, they are both highly respective of the Empire of Layarteb. On the federal level, which includes provinces and the higher, it is an authoritarian system. The Emperor rules over the entire federal level and provincial governors are appointed by the Emperor. Provincial governors appoint their cabinets with the approval of the Emperor and they serve until they are replaced, retire, or die. States, counties, towns, villages, cities, et cetera all work on the principle of a republic. Citizens directly elect independent candidates to directly represent them. It is because of this system that these democratically elected officials can serve far less people individually, allowing them better efficiency in ruling.

The federal government, organized around the Emperor is further organized by a cabinet of ministers. Each ministry has a primary focus (justice, foreign affairs, defense, intelligence, et cetera). There is no higher force than the Emperor and he is considered the supreme legislature, judiciary, and executive. He appoints individuals to rule in his capacity in these areas but, ultimately, he has final say.

Federal Government

The federal government of the Empire of Layarteb is organized in an authoritarian fashion, centered around the Emperor. The federal government encompasses all levels of government from the provincial states and higher. Though local governments are subservient to the federal government, they are organized differently. The federal government of the Empire of Layarteb is responsible for overseeing the vitals of the Empire of Layarteb such as foreign affairs, justice, commerce, defense, and many other categories.

The Emperor is both head of state and head of government and the operations of the government are organized around eight distinct ministries, titled for their roles. They are Commerce, Defense, Education, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, Interior, and Justice. Each ministry is led by an appointed minister who is considered an expert in the field of particular interest and each individual serving in the capacity as a minister has, at minimum, a master's degree in the relevant fields. Underneath each minister are two junior ministers who assist the minister with daily tasks and organization. Departments within each ministry are led by directors who are served by several deputy directors. A clear and distinct chain of command exists in these areas and issues and recommendations propagate both upwards and downwards.

The Ministry of Commerce is responsible for all commerce within the boundaries of the Empire of Layarteb. It is not responsible for foreign trading between nations but it does have consultation rights in all foreign economic deals and trade agreements. Inside the Ministry of Commerce is the Commerce Department and the Labor Department. The Labor Department is primarily responsible with worker relations and the human side of the commerce aspect whereas the Commerce Department is responsible for strictly the business aspect.

The Ministry of Defense is one of the largest of the eight ministries. The central concern of the Ministry of Defense is the Imperial Layartebian Military and the Joint Chiefs of the Military. Though the ministry is led by a civilian, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the Military is considered the ultimate authority in the military, underneath the Emperor. The Ministry of Defense is staffed by a combination of civilian and military personnel who support and organize the military. The Ministry of Defense frequently works with the Ministry of Intelligence and a permanent advisory committee exists between the two ministries.

The Ministry of Education is responsible for all education in the Empire of Layarteb. It is organized around three departments that concern elementary education, secondary education, and collegiate education. The ministry is well funded and has complete authority over education in the Empire of Layarteb.

The Ministry of Finance is the main hub of the federal government. It staffs the Treasury Department, which overseas all funds for the Empire of Layarteb. The Treasury Department is responsible for allocating and procuring funds for local and federal levels and for distribution throughout the various ministries. With consultation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance is responsible for foreign aide as well, all of which must be approved by the Emperor and the Minister of Finance before it can be allocated. The Ministry of Finance is also responsible for maintaining investments and bank accounts that hold Layartebian funds.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a very important and very vital ministry to the Cabinet. It houses the State Department and the Trade Department. The State Department is responsible for all foreign contact and maintenance of embassies and consulates on foreign soil. The State Department is also a crucial component in foreign pacts, agreements, and negotiations. Diplomatic recognition and negotiations, though subject to final approval by the Emperor are conducted solely by the State Department. When unable to attend foreign gatherings, the Minister of Foreign Affairs sits in his place. The Trade Department, on the other hand, is responsible for all foreign trade negotiations and oversight. It receives consultatory advice from the Ministry of Finance and Commerce.

The Ministry of Intelligence is the most secretive of the eight ministries. It is responsible for all intelligence work, both foreign and domestic. They engage in spying, espionage, paramilitary operations, and funding to militias that the Empire of Layarteb secretly supports. The Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency are both underneath the Ministry of Intelligence. The Central Intelligence Agency is responsible for all foreign intelligence activities, whether it is signals, human, communications, electronics, imagery, open source, and measurement and signature intelligence. The National Security Agency is responsible for all domestic intelligence activities. Both agencies operate under secrecy and are protected from public knowledge, especially in regards to funding, operations, and locations. The Ministry of Intelligence is well funded.

The Ministry of the Interior is the largest of the eight ministries and rightfully so. The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for all domestic affairs. It has eight departments and agencies underneath its control. The Agriculture Department is responsible for all agriculture within the Empire of Layarteb. The Development Department is responsible for all construction planning and major projects that exist within the Empire of Layarteb. The Energy Department is responsible for all forms of energy whether it is petroleum, ethanol, or electricity. Underneath the Energy Department is the Imperial Layartebian Power Authority, a government-enforced monopoly that controls all power plants and substations throughout the Empire of Layarteb. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for the protection and enforcement of the environment and environmental laws. The Food & Drug Agency is responsible for regulation on food production and distribution, as well as pharmaceutical drugs. The Healthcare Department is responsible for the healthcare system within the Empire of Layarteb. The Internal Affairs Agency is responsible with various, uncategorized topics within the Empire of Layarteb. The final area is the Transportation Department, which is responsible for all air, land, and sea traffic throughout the Empire of Layarteb. The Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Agency, and Maritime Administration are all divisions of the Transportation Department.

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for law creation and law enforcement throughout the Empire of Layarteb. The Central Justice Agency, which oversees law enforcement at both federal and local levels, is organized under here. In addition, the Court System is organized underneath the ministry as well. In addition, there is the Drug Enforcement Agency, responsible for anti-drug measures and operations throughout the Empire of Layarteb and abroad. The Federal Marshalls Agency is an agency dedicated to the protection of witnesses, tracking down escaped prisoners and prisoners on the run, and escorting prisoners to and from court appearances. The Federal Prison Agency is responsible for overseeing all prisons, local and federal, in the Empire of Layarteb. The Secret Service is the civilian police agency responsible, primarily, for protection of the leaders of the Empire of Layarteb.

The Cabinet is only one aspect of the federal government. The Emperor fills all three central roles of government: executive, legislature, and judiciary; however, the Cabinet is appointed to represent the Emperor in certain aspects of all of these roles.

The federal government underneath the Republic of Layarteb was a decentralized, corrupt, and inefficient morass that lacked any real capacity to get things done. It became bogged down with legislation and an inefficient bureaucracy. The federal government underneath the Empire of Layarteb is vastly different. It is far more centralized then it was underneath the Republic of Layarteb. Corruption has been stomped out, almost out of existence due to harsh penalties and an effective judicial system that was not afraid to prosecute corrupt politicians. Replacing the democratic system at the federal level with the authoritarian system, allowed for extreme efficiency.

Local Government

The local government of the Empire of Layarteb is uniquely different from the federal government and fundamentally opposite. Whereas the federal government is an authoritarian system, the local government is a republic system. The local government begins in the towns, cities, and villages and expands outward through the counties and to the individual states of the Empire, in which there are 88 individual states across the five provinces. There are far more territorial claims but many are unoccupied and thus considered parts of other states. Most notable is in Dnalkrad where many islands are considered territories of the larger islands, which are classified as states.

On the local level, executives, governors, council men and women, mayors, and commissioners are directly elected by their respective bodies of people. Under this system, each elected official represents far fewer individuals than they would at the federal level and thus can serve them better. State governors appoint cabinets similar to those at the federal level. They receive funding mostly from their constituents directly but they receive a good amount of funding from the federal level, which trickles down through each tier, to the lowest level.

Local officials serve terms between 2 and 8 years, depending on the municipality. Term limits exist in some areas and in others they do not. Political campaigns are known to be ruthless and begin between 4 to 8 weeks before the election date, which is always the first Sunday in November. On January 1, elected officials take their new office. Campaign funding is strictly enforced and funds may only come from personal wealth, private donations, and political parties. Private donations are limited to §250,000 per contributor and all funds must be approved by the Ministry of Finance before they can be allocated to the candidates. This helps to stamp out corruption, especially from corporations, who, in the days of the Republic of Layarteb, were known to give candidates hefty donations for political favors.

Voting is done by all citizens, male and female, over the age of 18. Registration is automatic at age 18 and voter turnout rates average in excess of 88%.

Local governments work in conjunction with the federal government and the Cabinet.

Governments of the Republics

In each Republic of the Empire of Layarteb, the populace chooses the form of government. Two are republican democracies around a president and two are parliamentary democracies based around a prime minister. In each autonomous republic, the populace votes, by referendum on what the new system will be and should it be a democratic system, the populace is given the same voting rights as they would have within the Empire of Layarteb. Republics are excluded from having ineffective and inept governments, which can be replaced at the behest of the Emperor.

In the Republican Democracies of the Irish and Atlantic Republics, the president rules in a democratic fashion. He or she is elected to serve a four-year term and he or she must be a citizen of the Empire of Layarteb, natural born, in order to be a president. Given the short time span of the Empire of Layarteb, in these republics, the president must be native born to the land that he or she is ruling. The president is given supreme authority over the republic as executive. The judiciary is arranged around a supreme court system that is subject to the same laws as the provinces. The legislature is a bicameral system with an upper house staffed by senators and a lower house staffed by representatives. The president can appoint judges and cabinet advisors but only with confirmation from the legislature. Senators serve six year terms and representatives serve two year terms.

In the Parliamentary Democracies of the Icelandic Republic and Western Republic, the system is organized around an executive who is the prime minister who appoints a cabinet as well. This executive group has an very high level of authority inside of the republic. The system is highly centralized and all of the power rests with the executive. The legislature is made up of two houses, an upper house and a lower house, referred to as the senate and the assembly. The lower house has significantly more power than the upper house in terms of politics but the upper house can block legislation and appointments. The judicial system is arranged much like that in the provinces.

Each republic is subservient to the federal government and though they are autonomous and allowed self-rule, they are limited to what they can actually do. Republics are not considered sovereign and thus are not allowed the right to conduct foreign relations by themselves. Domestic policies and rule are allowed, provided they do not violate any major laws in existence within the Empire of Layarteb.

Domestic Policies

Domestic policies of the Empire of Layarteb are vastly different from what they were under the Republic of Layarteb. Domestic policies focus on the conservative side of the spectrum with a major emphasis on responsibility, morality, and conservatism. Domestic policies are enforced strictly in some cases but leisurely in others, usually along a spectrum of importance. Petty crimes are no more enforced then they were in the days of the Republic of Layarteb whereas major crimes are far more enforced. They are determined by a council of appointed officials, headed by the Emperor and meet once every six months to determine if new policies must be added, if old policies must be modified or repealed, or if no action will be taken.

Character & Moral Conduct

With regards to character and moral conduct, the Empire of Layarteb has significant laws dedicated to these categories. Responsibility is a main factor with laws and something that was absent in the Republic of Layarteb. One instance, frequently cited, is the case of a woman who, after receiving a hot cup of coffee from the drive-thru at a fast food restaurant, placed the cup between her legs and proceeded to drive out. She hit a bump and the coffee spilled on her legs, burning her. She sued and won. Such frivolous lawsuits plagued the Republic of Layarteb. Funds wasted on these lawsuits severely drained and harmed the justice system. Other examples include cases where individuals were absolved of crimes because of "troubled child hoods" or because of the influence of "rock music." Responsibility was absent as someone was always looking to blame another for their faults and for their problems, never once admitting that the fault was their own. This changed with the Empire of Layarteb and responsibility remains at the focal point of judicial cases. Individuals who attempted to sue for their own misuse of products and "stupidity" were denied suit and were forced to pay back the government for the funds expended for the legal process. The influence of moral conduct on cases was significant as well. A heavy emphasis was placed on moral conduct within the Empire of Layarteb.

Conscription

With regards to conscription, the Empire of Layarteb began mandatory military conscription for a duration of two years for every male following their graduation of secondary school. Males with medical disabilities limiting them from combat service are given non-combat duties within the Empire of Layarteb. Failure to serve is met with a two year prison term without parole and their record reflects this. Being a felon, they lose many rights and freedoms that individuals are given. In times of war, the Emperor reserves the right to institute a draft and all males aged 18 to 40 are considered eligible for service and draft. Local militias do exist but they are severely limited by the law so as to not prevent them from becoming vigilantes.

Crime & Law

With regards to crime and law, the Empire of Layarteb maintains it as the focal point of the state, even above defense. Law and order are considered paramount in the Empire of Layarteb. Violations of law and order are treated as such and punished accordingly. Crimes are classified as common crimes, misdemeanors, felonies, and capital crimes. Common crimes include parking violations, speeding violations, and other petty crimes that are normally dealt with by summonses or warnings. Misdemeanors are "lesser" criminal acts. Misdemeanors are generally punished less severely than felonies; but theoretically more so than common crimes. Misdemeanors are classified in four groups ranging from a class A, which can have up to two years in prison and/or up to §20,000 in fines to class D, which can have a maximum of thirty days in jail and/or fines up to §5,000. Those serving prison sentences for misdemeanors are held in minimum or medium security facilities with individuals serving misdemeanors as well. Felonies are categorized in four groups as well, with class A felons serving prison sentences in excess of 35 years, class B felons serving prison sentences between 20 and 35 years, class C felons serving between 10 and 20 years, and class D felons serving between 2 and 10 years. Fines are imposed as well. Individuals convicted of felonies, upon completion of their sentence, are severely limited. They are required to have a tracking device surgically implanted into their body, their civil rights are curtailed to where they cannot vote and neither can they work in some institutions, usually determined by their crimes. Those convicted of sexual assault cannot hold jobs in schools and hospitals. Individuals convicted of robbery cannot work in banks. Then, there are capital crimes, punishable by death. There are four capital crimes: homicide, rape, severe crimes against children, and treason. Individuals convicted of these crimes are held in maximum security facilities are often kept in their cells for up to 23 hours a day and are severely restricted. These individuals, on average, are imprisoned for a total of 3 years before they are executed. With regards to appeals in all cases, all individuals are granted, under the law one appeal. Should that appeal maintain their conviction, they will continue to serve their sentence. In cases where released felons commit crimes again, even misdemeanors, they are immediately returned to jail and imprisoned for life as a class A felon, regardless of the level of the infraction. There is a "two-strike" rule. Ex post facto laws are prohibited. The Empire of Layarteb does not believe in rehabilitation as much as it believes in punishment. Lesser crimes may be met with rehabilitation but it will not reduce their sentences or punishment. Individuals who commit false accusations are charged with one class higher of crime as those that they are accusing and perjury is an automatic class C felony. There is a trial by jury for all misdemeanors. Felony trials are also trial by jury but the judge has far more power over the jury than in misdemeanor trials. Capital crimes are not trial by jury. Intoxication during a crime raises the class of the crime by one degree, for example, drunk driving where an individual is killed will be regarded as a capital crime.

Defense

With regards to defense, defense remains the second most important policy within the Empire of Layarteb. It is a primary obligation of the federal government to provide for the common defense, and to be vigilant regarding potential threats, prospective capabilities, and perceived intentions of potential enemies. The Empire of Layarteb is against Imperial Layartebian Military forces serving under the flag of a foreign country or command and even during war, they remain under Layartebian authority only. The goal of the Layartebian security policy is to defend the national security interests of the Empire of Layarteb. The Ministry of Defense calls for the maintenance of a strong, state-of-the-art military on land, sea, in the air, and in space. Women are not permitted to serve in the military under any capacity except as that of a civilian under the Ministry of Defense. Militias, not outlawed, are not to take the place of the military. The Ministry of Defense regards the Panama Canal as a necessity to national security.

Diseases

With regards to incurable diseases, the Empire of Layarteb classifies them in two main categories: contagious and non-contagious. Non-contagious diseases include cancer and other like diseases. Contagious diseases are classified according to their method of transmission. Venereal diseases are considered some of the most immoral and are frowned upon significantly. Such diseases are treated as threats to national security and individuals are forced to relocate to camps and secluded villages where they cannot pass their diseases to the remainder of the public [secret IC]. These areas, though segregated from society are not under standards but seclusion from the outside world is strictly enforced.

Drugs

With regards to illegal drugs, the use, sale, possession, and manufacturing of illegal drugs is considered a felony. Though no explicitly declared as a capital crime, extreme cases of drug trafficking can be met with execution. Drugs are a problem within the Empire of Layarteb and are being dealt with accordingly. The Food & Drug Administration has the authority to declare whether or not a drug is considered legal. Marijuana, a drug legal in some states, is not legal in the Empire of Layarteb for any use, recreational or medicinal.

Education

Education is considered the third most paramount topic in the Empire of Layarteb but, because of its distinctly domestic nature, it is proportionally more than defense. Education is considered extremely important within the Empire of Layarteb. There is full support for the unimpeded right of parents to provide for the education of their children in the manner they deem best, including home, private, or religious. Educational material is controlled strictly by the Ministry of Education and it encompasses many aspects. Religious education is taught only in religious schools. Sexual education classes are mandatory in all classes, public or private. Education is not considered secondary by any means and all education is taught in English. English and Spanish, being the mandatory languages of the Empire are taught in all schools. Foreign languages are also taught from the very earliest years. A major emphasis is put on Layartebian history and it includes history as far back as the years during the rule by the Dominion of Tnemrot. No history is ignored. Mathematics, science, and practical classes are taught as much as other courses. Following secondary school, while males serve two year conscriptions, females are enrolled in a practical school that teaches self-defense, home economics, finances, and other important topics.

Energy

With regards to energy, the Empire of Layarteb strongly supports clean, cheap, safe, and renewable energy. Because of this, the Empire of Layarteb has no reliance on petroleum. Vehicles are all powered by ethanol though some older cars use E85, which features 85% ethanol. Power is provided, mostly, through nuclear power. In areas where nuclear power is not deemed to be safe or economical enough, other methods are explored. Wind, solar, and hydro power stations are plentiful and every instance where power can be gained from the environment, without damaging it, is exploited. For instance, along the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer, where solar radiation is at its highest, solar power is frequently used. In instances were wind is significant, wind stations are constructed. Hydroelectric power uses the natural gravitational force of water to provide power. Other forms of power aside from nuclear power is the use of geothermal power, the burning of garbage, the burning of biomass, and the burning of natural gas. Oil and coal power plants account for well under 1% of the total power generated are only built in places where no other alternatives can be had. Petroleum is used strictly for military applications, jet fuel, shipping, and several other applications. For the most part, petroleum is not used significantly in the Empire of Layarteb. Substitutes are in constant use. Due to this reliance on renewable energy, the Empire of Layarteb is capable of storing up to 10 billion barrels of oil, enough to supply the military for up to one year, if all petroleum was cut off to the Empire of Layarteb.

Environment

It is responsibility of the Empire of Layarteb to be prudent, productive, and efficient stewards of the Earth's natural resources. This requires a proper and continuing dynamic balance between development and conservation, between use and preservation. The Empire of Layarteb supports realistic efforts to preserve the environment and reduce pollution - air, water, and land. The Empire of Layarteb protects in excess of some 650,000 km² of land from economic development. Offshore fisheries are protected as well and crimes that damage and destroy the environment are strictly enforced and prosecuted. However, the Empire of Layarteb does distinguish that humans have more rights than trees.

Family

The Empire of Layarteb places a very strong emphasis on family. Businesses are encouraged to stay closed on Sunday so that individuals may stay home with their families. The Empire of Layarteb defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman. The marriage covenant is the foundation of the family, and the family is fundamental in the maintenance of a stable, healthy and prosperous social order. The Empire of Layarteb rejects the notion that sexual offenders are deserving of legal favor or special protection. The Empire of Layarteb opposes homosexuality but does not openly prosecute it as a crime, although laws would consider it a felony. The Empire of Layarteb values the father and the mother in the home and strongly discourages divorce. Divorces, when allowed, must be proven to be the ultimate and final resort for the couple.

Foreign Policy

The Empire of Layarteb is properly a free and sovereign state which should strive to live in peace with all nations, without interfering in their internal affairs, and without permitting their interference in the domestic affairs of the Empire of Layarteb. The Empire of Layarteb remains in only one alliance, the October Alliance, which it regards as fundamental because of its emphasis on the sovereignty of each member nation. The Empire of Layarteb has entered into numerous trade alliances and even some mutual defense pacts. Non-aggression pacts are ignored as they traditionally lack any binding power whatsoever. The Empire of Layarteb strongly opposes international organizations that violate the sovereignty of states. The Empire of Layarteb opposes signing any international laws and remains a semi-isolated nation, only getting involved with conflicts abroad that directly threaten the national security of the Empire of Layarteb. It does not view itself as a worldwide "police force" and makes no attempts to dictate the domestic affairs of foreign nations. The Doctrine of Sovereignty is the largest piece of legislation for foreign policy concerns of the Empire.

Gambling

Gambling is legal above the age of 18 but debts incurred by gambling cannot be used as an excuse for problems in life. Gambling may be treated as an addiction elsewhere but each and every person has the capacity to overcome addictions if they are responsible enough.

Gun Control

The Empire of Layarteb makes no attempt to ban the right of its citizens to own firearms. However, it does place some limitations on them that serve to benefit the populace as a whole. Automatic weapons, whether they fire in burst or fully automatic modes, are restricted only to law enforcement and military personnel. Explosives such as, but not limited to, grenades, rocket launchers, and plastic explosives are banned. Suppressors are legal but require a special permit. Hand guns may be owned by any citizen who has not committed a felony in their life as long as they are over the age of 18. Rifles may be owned by citizens over the age of 16 in low calibers (under .31 caliber) and over the age of 18 in high calibers. Shotguns may be owned by citizens over the age of 16. Sawed-off shotguns are illegal. Machine guns, even in semi-automatic form are banned. No citizen may be denied the right to possess and own a firearm within these limitations if they are over the minimum legal age, they have qualified in a course that teaches safety and proper use of firearms, and they have never been convicted of a felony.

Healthcare

The Empire of Layarteb determines that healthcare is a basic necessity to life. Rightfully so, healthcare is universal to all individuals. Until the age of 24, healthcare is provided without limitation. This age covers the age through which an individual can complete their first four years of college. After this, the individual must be employed in order to receive health benefits. Individuals who are not employed and lack viable excuses are removed from the healthcare system. Individuals with limitations that are acceptable under law and the Ministry of Commerce do not have their health coverage terminated if they cannot continue to work.

Immigration

The Empire of Layarteb strong affirms its borders. Immigration is restricted according to certain classifications. Presently there are six tiers of classification. Each tier faces less and less restrictions to obtain a travel visa. Temporary immigration is considered travel visas. In so far as temporary residence visas and student visas are concerned, the Empire of Layarteb puts a national cap of 15,000 temporary residents and 50,000 students each year. Naturalization requires residency in the Empire of Layarteb for a minimum of 10 years, good moral character, completion of several interviews, and completion of several exams. Illegal immigrants are immediately deported. Illegal immigrants who repeatedly enter the Empire of Layarteb can be imprisoned. The Empire of Layarteb reserves the right to execute illegal immigrants attempting to subvert the borders of the Empire of Layarteb. Individuals with temporary visas who commit crimes can be imprisoned or deported. In order to travel to the Empire you must apply for a visa in advance and go through a short background check and interview. If you fail you won't be allowed the visa.

Personal and Private Property Security

The Empire of Layarteb affirms the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, including arbitrary or de facto registration, general and unwarranted electronic surveillance, national computer databases, and national identification cards. The Empire of Layarteb also reaffirms that the government must be strictly limited in their powers to intrude upon the persons and private property of individual citizens, in particular, that no place be searched and no thing be seized, except upon proof of probable cause that a crime has been committed and the proper judicial warrant issued. The Empire of Layarteb opposes legislation and administrative action utilizing asset forfeiture laws which enable the confiscation of the private property of persons not involved in the crime. Forfeiture of assets can only be enforced after conviction of the property owner as a penalty for the crime. Such forfeitures must follow full due process of law under criminal prosecution standards.

Pornography

Despite the focus on moral conduct, pornography is not banished. Pornography is recognized as a category of the film industry. However, because of its nature, it is regulated by the federal government. Tests are frequently given to pornographic actors and actresses. Actors and actresses who are proven to be infected with incurable diseases are treated just like any other individual within the Empire of Layarteb.

Religion

The Empire of Layarteb strongly affirms the separation of church and state. The government takes on an official agnostic stance. Religious freedoms are not infringed upon unless they violate the safety, security, and sanctity of other individuals. For this example, human sacrifice is banned. Churches are not exempt from taxation.

Sanctity of Life

With regards to the "sanctity of life," the Empire of Layarteb takes an unusual and non-traditional outlook. Abortion is illegal except in cases of rape, death to the mother or child, or if the child is determined to be born mentally retarded. In the first instance, the state pays for the abortion, should the victim choose to have one, and the criminal must repay the state with what assets they have remaining. Debts add to prison sentences. In instances where the mother or child may die, the ultimate question of whether or not to go through the abortion is ultimately left with the mother and father. More then three professional, medical opinions must be given in order to have the abortion approved. In instances where the child will be born mentally retarded, the same scenario applies where the decision is ultimately left with the mother and father and three professional, medical opinions must be given. In regards to suicide, there is no law against suicide but failed attempts can be often be met with state enforced institutionalization. Euthanasia is legal as well but only for cases of terminal illness, where three professional, medical opinions are given, consent from the individual or from those with power of attorney is given, and the disease is determined to be completely incurable, by any methods in existence.

Tariffs and Trade

The Empire of Layarteb opposes all international trade agreements which have the effect of diminishing Layarteb's economic self-sufficiency and of exporting jobs, the loss of which impoverishes Layartebian families, undermines Layartebian communities, and diminishes Layarteb's capacity for economic self-reliance, and the provision of national defense. Outsourcing is not an acceptable practice within the Empire of Layarteb. The Empire of Layarteb believes in Free Trade Agreements but does not allow them to weaken the national security and integrity of the Empire of Layarteb. Tariffs imposed are not imposed to dissuade foreign investment but are also in effect to encourage buying domestic goods over foreign goods.

Taxes

The Empire of Layarteb does not believe in heavy taxation. The lack of social welfare programs mean that more funding can be utilized where it is needed, which allows tax rates to be kept low. There is a 15% flat tax on all income and tax evasion is considered a felony crime. Taxation of inheritance, gifts, and prizes is not in effect. Sales tax is determined by the standard of living in certain areas and it is what provides the most funding to states. Sales tax is not imposed on food or clothing products, determined to be necessities of life. Property taxes exist as well but directly fund community programs.

Veterans

The Empire of Layarteb has a strong sense of feeling towards its veterans. Veterans are to be treated with respect and instances of "spitting on soldiers" is not considered acceptable.

Wage and Price Control

The Empire of Layarteb believes strongly that workers are the backbone of the country. The Empire of Layarteb stands up for workers' rights and does not view workers as assets or resources. Minimum wage laws are in effect and the minimum wage is determined by the standard of living indexes. The federal minimum wage is §7.25 per hour. No area may impose a minimum wage lower than this and the average minimum wage is §7.68 per hour.

Welfare

The Empire of Layarteb does not believe in social welfare. The Republic of Layarteb was plagued by scandals with welfare fraud. Individuals who worked illegally mooched off the welfare system and often lived better than those individuals who were working for a living. This is not tolerated within the Empire of Layarteb. Individuals without jobs are often considered to be "outcasts" of society and are strongly encouraged to seek employment as the government will not pay for them. The Empire of Layarteb does not discourage charitable donations.

Foreign Relations

The topic of Foreign Affairs for the Empire of Layarteb is very influential. Political commentators often speak about affairs outside of the Empire of Layarteb. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes a semi-isolationist stance when it comes to foreign affairs. International relations for the Empire of Layarteb take on a very self-serving point of view. The Empire of Layarteb views and treats the domestic affairs of each state as their own prerogative, something that the Empire of Layarteb prides itself. The Empire of Layarteb does not get involved outside of its boards unless it directly affects and threatens national security and sovereignty. Trade relations, on the other hand, flourish with various states. These are organized into six categories. These categories determine the viewpoint of the Empire of Layarteb to said nation as well as limitations on travel visas and residencies. The categories are as follows. The Empire of Layarteb belongs to one major alliance, The October Alliance, which was founded in the early 1980s amongst the four principle members: Hirgizstan, Layarteb, North Germania, and Soviet Bloc. It has since been expanded to include Cotland, Hawdawg, and Ottoman Khaif. In addition, the single most important piece of legislation the Empire has with regards to foreign relations is the Doctrine of Sovereignty.

October Alliance: The October Alliance category is the highest tier, reserved only for the members of the October Alliance, the only, single, major alliance that the Empire of Layarteb belongs to, despite several other minuscule, mutual defense pacts. Members of this category enjoy free trade relations with the Empire of Layarteb, mutual defense, an open-border policy, few restrictions on travel visas and residencies, priority above other states, and individual sovereignty. Travel visas for this category number between 5,000,000 and 10,000,000 each year. Their citizens are given priority over others when it comes to residency visas, naturalization, and student visas.

Free Trade Agreement Category: The Free Trade Agreement category is the highest tier that a non-October Alliance state can achieve with the Empire of Layarteb. F.T.A. states have an embassy located within the Empire of Layarteb and vice versa. These states enjoy free trade with the Empire of Layarteb and less strict regulations on travel visas and residency. Travel visas for this category number between 2,500,000 and 5,000,000 per year.

Embassy Category: The Embassy category is a level of recognition and relations above basic levels. States do not enjoy free trade status but there is an embassy exchange program in place that is a stepping stone towards further diplomatic relations and free trade agreements. Residency and student visas are limited and given lower priority than free trade agreement states. Travel visas for this category number between 150,000 and 2,500,000 per year.

Basic Category: The Basic category is the most basic level of foreign relations with a state. There is no embassy exchange program in place and residency visas are given low priority. Student visas are given higher priority than residency visas but restrictions are plentiful and information checks are much more meticulous. Travel visas for this category do not exceed 50,000 per year.

Recognition - No Relations Category: The Recognition - No Relations category is a level of foreign affairs whereby the Empire of Layarteb recognizes the state but does not have any open relations with the state. Because of this there is no allotment for travel, residency, or student visas.

No Recognition - No Relations Category: The No Recognition - No Relations category is most bottom level of foreign affairs whereby the Empire of Layarteb does not recognize the state and therefore has no relations with the state whatsoever. Because of this there is no allotment for travel, residency, or student visas.

Administrative Divisions

Overview

The Empire of Layarteb is organized into fourteen segments broken into several categories. The first category includes all of the fives provinces, which are under direct rule by the federal government, their leaders appointed by the Emperor. These receive the most funding from the federal level and the most support. They also have the most amount of freedoms and rights within the Empire. The second category includes all of the four republics, which are autonomous. Republics receive less federal funding as they are more self-sufficient and though they receive the same rights and freedoms as the provinces, they are subservient to the Empire and thus are slightly more limited, though these are only marginal. Individuals who live in republics are considered full citizens of the Empire of Layarteb. However, the different therein lies with the autonomy of the republic. Because they are autonomous, they can impose certain restrictions that wouldn't ordinarily be imposed in provinces. A third category is that of a city-state. There are two city-states, both of which are ruled by a mayor and though they are surrounded by the Province of Layarteb, they are, in effect, their own subdivisions. The capital, Layarteb City, is a federal city, ruled by the federal government, making up the fourth category. There are two other categories that exist, which are colonies and territories. Colonies are areas totally subservient to the federal government and their populace are not considered full citizens of the Empire of Layarteb; however they are still afforded most of the same rights and freedoms as provinces and republics and often have different laws. Territories are occupied lands of the Empire of Layarteb that are not afforded the same rights and freedoms as the provinces, republics, or colonies have. The populace are not considered citizens of the Empire of Layarteb and generally they are under military rule or some other derivative of it.

Provinces

Dnalkrad

The Province of Dnalkrad is largest of the five provinces and the least populated of the five provinces. The administrative center is Montréal in Quebec. The provincial governor is John James Charest, a Newfoundlander by birth. Dnalkrad was conquered by the Empire of Layarteb in 1986 and expanded in 1987, 1989, 1998, and 2004 after subsequent annexations. In 1986, the Free Land of Dnalkrad, an independent and sovereign country, seized control over the Layartebian embassy following the 1983 invasion and annexation of Venezuela. The leadership of Dnalkrad, which fell to a bloody military coup felt immediately threatened by the Layartebians when travel restrictions were applied following the coup. The war, which lasted a little over one month saw the total submission of Dnalkrad into the Empire. This added Labrador and Newfoundland to the Empire of Layarteb. In 1987 and 1989, Greenland and Baffin Island were annexed. In 2004, Air Force Island, Akimiski Island, Akpatok Island, Baffin Island, Belcher Island, Big Island, Bray Island, Bylot Island, Charlton Island, Coats Island, Devon Island, Ellesmere Island, Foley Island, Greenland, Jens Munk Island, Koch Island, Loks Land Island, Long Island, Mansel Island, Nottingham Island, Prince Charles Island, Resolution Island, Rowley Island, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Salisbury Island, Vansittart Island, and White Island were annexed into the province following the dissolution of the state of Huahin. Finally, in 2005, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island were annexed and in 2006, Southhampton Island and Quebec were annexed into the province following a short, 3 week war. The 2005 annexations were peaceful and, fearing certain annexation, the Quebecois invaded neighboring Roman Ontario, in hope of creating a large enough state that could repulse the Empire of Layarteb. The offensive was stopped by Roman forces and on December 15, 2005, war with the Quebecois and the Layartebians began. The invasion of Ontario and a terrorist attack on Jay, Vermont, killing 384 of 426 people within the village, by Quebecoi and domestic terrorist forces with VX gas, prompted an invasion on December 15, that ended on January 1, 2006. In late 2006, following a brutal civil war within the Imperium of Squornshelous, the Empire of Layarteb seized the remainder of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago with the exceptions of Prince of Wales Island, Somerset Island, and Victoria Island, all of which befell to the Realm of Cotland. Today, the province remains the largest of the five and vitally important to the remainder of the Empire of Layarteb because of its significant fishing zones and oil reserves.

Layarteb

The Province of Layarteb is the 2nd most populous province, the oldest, and the most important. The administrative center for the province is Falcon City in Massachusetts but Layarteb City remains the main seat for the federal government. The provincial governor is Augustus H. Glavin, a Maine born, career politician. Layarteb originally only consisted of New York in 1157 when it declared independence from Tnemrot. In 1215, the war for independence ended. When the Republic of Layarteb was formed in 1791, following countless years of civil war, New York still remained the only land in Layarteb. In 1812, following numerous border skirmishes with a neighboring country, New Jersey and Pennsylvania were annexed into the Republic of Layarteb. When the Dominion of Tnemrot attempted to invade eastern New York in 1834, a war ensued. Tnemrot would fall in 1840 and its territories in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont would be annexed into the Republic of Layarteb. The Dominion of Tnemrot ceased to exist following this war. Everything went smoothly until 1942. In early 1942, the Democratic Republic of Sevaris, to the south, began to oppose moves by the Republic of Layarteb to institute an open border policy. Skirmishes led to a quick and decisive 3 month war for Layarteb, ending with the annexation of Delaware and Maryland. It wasn't until after the Empire of Layarteb came to be that the province was expanded again. In 1981, during the 26-year establishment of the Empire of Layarteb, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin were seized following the collapse of the IDF government. In 1984, the military turned its attention southward and annexed Alabama, Florida, Georgia (US), Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia from the fallen nation of Colodia. Finally, in 1988, Bermuda was annexed and taken without so much as a bullet fired. In 2006, the territory of Bermuda was transferred to the Atlantic Republic.

Raef

The Province of Raef started out as a mere republic underneath the Empire of Layarteb. Following the establishment of the Province of Layarteb, the Caribbean Sea became of the utmost importance for the Empire of Layarteb as they were establishing territories in northern South America and Central America and thus began a 10 year conquest of the Caribbean Sea. The Bahamas and Grenada were seized in 1994, establishing extreme points for the invasions throughout the Caribbean Sea. The main assaults began in 1996 with annexations of Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Barbuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Navassa Island, Nevis, Puerto Rico, Redonda, Saba, Saint Kitts, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint-Barthélemy, Sint Eustatius, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. By 2002, the only islands that remained unheld by the Empire of Layarteb was Saint Lucia and the Barbados and the Cayman Islands and Cuba. The former two were seized by the Cottish Realm and the latter of the two were still untouched, remaining in the hands of the Empire of Teh Ninjas. Following a civil war in this land, when the Empire of Teh Ninjas was at its weakest, the Empire of Layarteb launched an all-out assault on Cuba and the Cayman Islands, seizing them by 2004. Following the last pieces, the Caribbean Republic was instituted as a province and the administrative center remained on Grenada. However, in June 2006, the island of Grenada was seized by communist rebels and a month long standoff ensued, culminating with the invasion of Grenada by military forces of the Empire of Layarteb. Havana in Cuba became the administrative center during this time and remains to date. It is also the smallest of the four provinces in terms of land area. In 2008, both the Barbados and Saint Lucia joined the Empire following their release from the Cottish Realm.

South Eastern Virginia

The Province of South Eastern Virginia was the first "new" established province of the Empire of Layarteb. It is, to date, the most populous of the five provinces and its administrative center is Caracas in Venezuela. The provincial governor is Juan Barreto. The province was established in 1983 after a 2 year long invasion and annexation assault on Venezuela, in an attempt to establish a southern outpost for future invasions of Central America and the Caribbean Sea. The war was particularly bloody and in 1988 there was an uprising in Venezuela that was brutally suppressed. In 1990, in advance of invasions in the Caribbean Sea and after the completion of the Province of Layarteb, Guyana and Surname were seized by the Empire of Layarteb an in 1992, French Guiana was seized. As the province expanded, the invasion of the Caribbean seamed imminent. The province played a vital role in securing the Caribbean as assaults were made from two directions, seizing the islands quickly and efficiently. In 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and the Galapagos Islands were seized following the successes in the Caribbean Sea. By 1996, the Caribbean Sea was established except for Cuba and the Cayman Islands. The capture of Colombia ensured that Central America would be annexed as well. To date, the province remains the most impoverished of the five, albeit it was less impoverished than most developed countries. It is also the most undeveloped of the five.

Ynoga

The Province of Ynoga was the fourth established province after South Eastern Virginia and Dnalkrad. The administrative center is Panama City in Panama and the provincial governor is Pedro Castillo, a Salvadorian. The province was first established following the end of a 4 year war that began in 1993 and ended in 1996. In 1993, the Yucatán area in Mexico was seized by Layartebian forces in hopes of creating a unified strip of land straight through to Colombia. Invasions of Quintiana Roo and Campeche were never followed through because of other plans. In 1994, Belize, El Salvador, and Guatemala were secured after blitzkrieg style wars. In 1995, Honduras and Nicaragua fell in a very bloody and fast paced set of wars. Finally, in 1996, after seeing the devastation brought on in the areas north of them, Costa Rica and Panama surrendered to Layartebian forces. The province was established shortly thereafter, being a colony until that time. An uprising in the Yucatán in 2004 led to a significant but secret military force being deployed there, only to result in the suppression of said insurrection. The insurrection was led by former Mayan leaders who fought in the original war against the Layartebian forces in 1993. In 2007, Campeche and Quantiana Roo were annexed from Neuvo Rica to be added to the province, linking Belize with the Yucatán state. Following the dissolution of the Neuvo Rican empire, the Empire moved into and secured Chiapas and Tabasco to add to a secured and more even border. Conditions for moving in also had to do with illegal drug shipments and cartels, both related to the War on Drugs, as well as pacification of several rebel groups still existing in the Yucatán that were hiding away in the other territories.

City-States

Falcon City

Falcon City is considered an autonomous city-state. Ruled by a mayoral system, its citizens can democratically elect their mayor and city council members ever four to eight years, depending on the office. It is, for all intents and purposes, considered part of the Province of Layarteb in terms of defense, tax, education, and all other sectors.

Washington City

Washington City, like Falcon City, is considered an autonomous city-state. Ruled by a mayoral system, its citizens can democratically elect their mayor and city council members ever four to eight years, depending on the office. It is, for all intents and purposes, considered part of the Province of Layarteb in terms of defense, tax, education, and all other sectors. It was annexed in 1942 following the war with the nation of Sevaris.

Federal City

Layarteb City

Under the control of the federal government, Layarteb City is the most populous city in the Empire of Layarteb and one of the most populous in the entire world. It is home to the seat of government and seat of the state. Like the City-State of Falcon City, it is considered a part of the Province of Layarteb but its governing body is appointed directly by the Emperor.

Republics

Atlantic

The Atlantic Republic is amongst three Atlantic Ocean based republics. It consists of Bermuda, Canary Islands, Desertas Islands, Madeira Islands, and Savage Islands, the latter three being seized in 2004 after war with the Empire of Teh Ninjas. The Canary Islands were secured in 1996 without shots being fired. The administrative center is Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. It is organized as a Republican Democracy with the leader being President George Copper. Magistrate Marco Fernão remains the Layartebian representative to the republic. The republic, although it does not list the Azores as a territory, has administrative authority over Layartebian individuals on those islands, which are occupied by the Fourth Reich but jointly staffed by Layartebian and Germanic soldiers. It is the smallest republic in terms of land area. In 2006, the territory of Bermuda was transferred from the Province of Layarteb. In December 2006, the Atlantic Republic grew significantly with the addition of Ascension Island, the Falkland Islands, Saint Helena, and Tristan da Cunha. The Falkland Islands were seized in a war with Varsola following evidence linking the bombing of Saint George's, Grenada to a group on the island group. The remaining three possessions were seized when the Bjornoyan government collapsed. Inaccessible Island on Tristan da Cunha was used as a test of the B109 Mod 1 Apocalypse 100 megaton thermonuclear bomb in February 1992. In 2007, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands were annexed into the republic. In 2008, the Azores joined the Atlantic Republic following the dissolution of the Fourth Reich.

Icelandic

The Icelandic Republic, instrumental to Layartebian control over the North Atlantic, was established in 1994. It is a Parliamentary Democracy led by Prime Minister Agnar Helgason. Magistrate Friðrik Ólafsson represents the republic for the Empire of Layarteb. The republic is the largest of the four in terms of size. During the conquests of the 1980s and 1990s, it was decided that Layartebian control over the North Atlantic was as paramount as control over the Caribbean Sea, especially to aide allies in Europe, primarily Hawdawg, Cotland, Hirgizstan, and North Germania, all October Alliance allies. Following the abdication by the Hogsweatian government, the island was seized by Layartebian forces without much hostility as both the Hogsweatian nation and the Layartebian nation were allies.

Irish

Following the annexation of Iceland, Ireland was at the focus. In 1995, in a joint endeavor with the Hibernian Commonwealth of GnOoLoCoPeLep, the southern portion of the island was invaded and split in half. In 2005, the Hibernian Commonwealth of GnOoLoCoPeLep collapsed after the assassination of their president. The remaining half of the island was seized by Layartebian forces. In 1997, following the dissolution of the Collective Oligarchy of Kriegorgrad, Layartebian forces secured Northern Ireland, in the midst of an outbreak of the Plague, released in the final days of the war by a desperate remnant of the Kriegorgradian government. The administrative center is Dublin. It is a Republican Democracy led by President Shamus McMahon. The Layartebian representative is Magistrate James McCafree and it remains the most populous of the four republics.

Western

The Western Republic was originally established as the entire island chain of Hawaii, seized in 1994 with the abdication of the Hogsweatian government. Shortly thereafter, independence was given to the Kreynorian peoples on the island chain and the Empire of Layarteb retained only the western most two islands, Kauai and Niihau. In March 2006, Easter Island was seized under bizarre circumstances that remain classified, to date. A few months later, Nauru was annexed by the Empire of Layarteb to establish a far refueling port and supply base for naval vessels traversing through the Indian and Pacific oceans. In fall 2006, Heard Island and the McDonald Islands were seized quietly as well. The administrative center is Lihu'e on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. In late fall, early winter, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were seized by the Empire of Layarteb as well as the southern portions of Sri Lanka. In early 2007, the Empire ceded possession of Heard and the McDonald Islands as they were of no strategic value. It was, until 2007, a Constitutional Monarchy led by King Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole. However, it has since become a parliamentary democracy with Harry Nevis as the leading prime minister. The Layartebian representative is Magistrate Wallace R. Farrington. In 2007, the Western Republic experienced a vast expansion. With the fall of the Kreynorian state, Hawaii was re-annexed, in its entirety along with Clipperton Island, Johnston Atoll, New Caledonia, the Pitcairn Islands, and the Solomon Islands. With the fall of the Doomani state in mid-2007, the remainder of Sri Lanka was annexed into the republic. Also, in 2007, Wake Island was transferred from the Eastasian Republic and the Revillagigedo Islands were transferred from the Russian Federation. Early in 2008, the Kreynorian state collapsed, leaving Hawaii once again in the possession of the Empire of Layarteb.

Colonies & Territories

Amazonian Territory

Following the 2007 Venezuelan War, intelligence analysts identified the Federal Republic of the Amazon, which consisted of the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Roraima, as the source of revolutionary training. Throughout the history of Venezuela since the 1950s, the area near the Venezuelan border in this state was considered friendly to the causes of rebellious Venezuelans. In May and early June of 2007, the Layartebian government pressured the government of the Amazonian Republic to allow military operations to be conducted against these revolutionaries. Cooperation was non-existent at first. On May 12, the president was assassinated, which resulted in the vice-president assuming the office. The vice-president proved to be far more cooperative to Layartebian needs and operations commenced clandestinely. Unfortunately, in early June, the Amazonian Republic reversed its policies and shortly thereafter, a Layartebian military force invaded the republic. Major fighting ended on June 27 though insurgent activity continued through December 2007. In September and early October, Layartebian forces attacked insurgents over the border in Mato Grosso who were supplying arms and soldiers to insurgents in the Amazonian Territory. The war ended with a cease fire on October 8 after an intense campaign to push insurgents south of Bras Norte. As of December 2007, the Amazonian Territory remains under military rule.

Colony of Denmad

In 2007, the Layartebian Empire annexed the Brazilian states of Paraíba and Pernambuco and set up a special economic zone in these territories, labeling it the Colony of Denmad. Prosperous and peaceful, the Colony continues to be a major industrial and economic enter in the world and the Empire. It allows a plethora of nations to trade under relaxed laws and allows for a booming tourism industry.

Climate

Climate within the Empire of Layarteb varies significantly. In the northernmost parts, there is the Arctic Circle and its chilling climate whereas in the southernmost parts it is tropical. Each republic and province has a unique climate that differs heavily from others and each one is treated separately.

Climate for the Atlantic Republic is described as a perpetual spring time with temperatures rarely going below 59°F (15°C) and usually not exceeding 73°F (23°C). Because of the trade winds, these islands can be either mild and wet or very dry to the southernmost parts of the republic and, to the northernmost parts, subtropical. Water temperatures are often the same as external air temperature and the Gulf Stream affects these islands very significantly. There are also a significant portion of lands in the Southern Atlantic Ocean and even as far south as the South Sandwich Islands. Though the majority of the republic experiences wonder weather, the Falkland Islands experience a cold, maritime climate with temperatures averaging 66°F (19°C) in summer and 36°F (2°C) in winter. Rainfall is relatively low at about 24 inches (610 mm). Humidity and winds, however, are constantly high. Snow is rare but can occur at almost any time of year.

The South Sandwich Islands and South Georgia, on the other hand, experience very cold weather. The permanently cold sea maintains a cold maritime climate on the islands and the weather is very variable and harsh. Typical daily maximum temperatures in South Georgia at sea level are around 32°F (0°C) in winter (August) and 50°F (10°C) in summer (January). Winter minimum temperatures are typically about 23°F (-5°C) and rarely dip below 14°F (-10°C). Annual precipitation in South Georgia is about 59 inches (1500 mm), much of which falls as sleet or snow, which is possible in any month. Inland, the snow line in summer is at an altitude of about 985 feet (300m). Westerly winds blow throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm. This gives the eastern side of South Georgia (leeward side) a much pleasanter climate than the exposed western side. The prevailing weather conditions generally make the islands difficult to approach by ship, though the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays which provide good anchorage. During mountain wind conditions, the winds blow straight up the western side and straight down the eastern side of the mountains and become much warmer and drier; this produces the most pleasant conditions when temperatures can occasionally rise over 68°F (20°C) on summer days. The seas surrounding South Georgia are cold throughout the year due to the proximity of the Antarctic Current. They usually remain free of pack ice in winter, though thin ice may form in sheltered bays, and icebergs are common. Sea temperatures drop to 32°F (0°C) in late August and rise to around 39°F (4°C) only in early April. The South Sandwich Islands are much colder than South Georgia, being further south and more exposed to cold outbreaks from the Antarctic continent. They are also surrounded by sea ice from the middle of May to late November (even longer at their southern end).

Iceland is one of the northernmost territories of the Empire and is therefore subjected to some of the harsher climates. However, Iceland's climate is moderated by the North Atlantic Current, which, surprisingly, gives it a temperate climate. Winters are mild but very windy and snow is a guarantee. Summers are cool, being damp and wet in the south and west of Iceland. Iceland does have volcanic origins and about half of Iceland's land area, which is of recent volcanic origin, consists of a mountainous lava desert and other wasteland. Eleven percent is covered by three large glaciers and several smaller ones. In Reykjavik, the average temperature is 52°F (11°C) in July and 30°F (-1°C) in January.

Overall, Ireland has a mild, but changeable, climate all year. The island is not noted for its extremes. Precipitation falls throughout the year, but is light overall, particularly in the east of the country. The west of the country; however, tends to be wetter on average and prone to the full force of Atlantic storms, more especially in the late autumn and winter months, which occasionally bring destructive winds and high rainfall totals to these areas, as well as snow and hail. The regions of North Galway and East Mayo have the highest incidents of recorded lightning annually (5 to 10 days per year). Prolonged snowfall is rare, and tends to be confined to the northern half of the country.

The Western Republic is the most spread out of any of the Layartebian territories. It stretches from as far west as the Indian Ocean to as far east as Clipperton and Easter Island. The areas enjoy a predominantly tropical and subtropical climate. The climate over the Andaman Islands, New Caledonia, Nicobar Islands, Solomon Islands, and Sri Lanka add a heavy dose of tropical climate. Sri Lanka's climate can be described as tropical, and quite hot. Its position between 5° and 10° north latitude endows the country with a warm climate, moderated by ocean winds and considerable moisture. The mean temperature ranges from a low of 60°F (16°C) in Nuwara Eliya in the Central Highlands (where frost may occur for several days in the winter) to a high of 89°F (32° C) in Trincomalee on the northeast coast (where temperatures may reach 100°F (38°C)). The average yearly temperature for the country as a whole ranges from 82° to 86°F (28 to 30 °C). Day and night temperatures may vary by 4° to 7°. In January, the coolest month, many people wear coats and sweaters in the highlands and elsewhere. May, the hottest period, precedes the summer monsoon rains. The rainfall pattern is influenced by the monsoon winds of the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, which encounter the slopes of the Central Highlands, they unload heavy rains on the mountain slopes and the southwestern sector of the island. Some of the windward slopes receive up to 99 inches (2500 mm) of rain per month, but the leeward slopes in the east and northeast receive little rain. Periodic squalls occur and sometimes tropical cyclones bring overcast skies and rains to the southwest, northeast, and eastern parts of the island. Between December to March, monsoon winds come from the northeast, bringing moisture from the Bay of Bengal. Humidity is typically higher in the southwest and mountainous areas and depends on the seasonal patterns of rainfall. At Colombo, for example, daytime humidity stays above 70% all year, rising to almost 90 percent during the monsoon season in June. Anuradhapura experiences a daytime low of 60% during the monsoon month of March, but a high of 79% during the November and December rains. In the highlands, Kandy's daytime humidity usually ranges between 70 and 79%. On the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the climate is typical of tropical islands of similar latitude. It is always warm, but with sea-breezes. Rainfall is irregular, but usually dry during the north-east, and very wet during the south-west, monsoons. Not only does rainfall vary from annually, but there are often major differences between places close to one another. The Islands are not usually strongly affected by the cyclones that move through the Bay of Bengal, though they are within the influence of most. The Andamans were once important for monitoring weather in the region for the benefit of the Indian mainland and ships at sea in the Indian Ocean.

Temperatures and humidity tend to be less extreme, with summer high temperatures seldom reaching above the upper 80s (°F) and winter temperatures (at low elevation) seldom dipping below the mid-60s. Local climates vary considerably on each island, grossly divisible into windward and leeward areas based upon location relative to the higher mountains. Windward sides face the Northeast Trades and receive much more rainfall; leeward sides are drier, with less rain and less cloud cover. This fact is utilized by the tourist industry, which concentrates resorts on sunny leeward coasts. The islands receive most rainfall from the trade winds on their north and east flanks (called the windward side) as a result of orographic precipitation. Coastal areas in general and especially the south and west flanks or leeward sides, tend to be drier. Because of the frequent build-up of Tradewind clouds and potential showers, most tourist areas have been built on the leeward coasts of the islands. In general, the Hawaiian Islands receive most of their precipitation during the winter months (October to April). Drier conditions generally prevail from May to September, but the warmer temperatures increase the risk of hurricanes.

Temperatures at sea level generally range from high temperatures of 85 - 90°F (29 - 32°C) during the summer months to low temperatures of 65 - 70°F (18 - 21°C) during the winter months. Very rarely does the temperature rise above 90°F (32°C) or drop below 60°F (16°C) at lower elevations. The Hawaiian Islands are also subject to earthquakes, volcanic activity, and tsunamis, as well as cyclones, although they are less likely because of the vastness of the Pacific.

Further to the south, on Easter Island, the climate is subtropical as well, with significant amounts of rainfall and temperatures that rarely drop below that of the Hawaiian Islands but never get as hot as they do. Rainfall is considerable on Easter Island. May brings the most rainfall and in summer, the maximum temperature may reach 82°F (28°C) and the minimum may fall to 59°F (15°C). February is the hottest month, whereas in winter (June to August), temperatures range between 57°F (14°C) and 72°F (22°C).

Nauru's climate is hot and extremely humid year-round, because of the proximity of the land to the Equator and the ocean. The island is affected by monsoonal rains between November and February. Annual rainfall is highly variable and influenced by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, with several recorded droughts. The temperature ranges between 26 and 35 °C (79 and 95 °F) during the day and between 25 and 28 °C (77 and 82 °F) at night. As an island nation, Nauru may be vulnerable to climate and sea level change, but to what degree is difficult to predict; at least 80% of its land area of Nauru is well elevated, however, this area will be uninhabitable until the phosphate mining rehabilitation program is implemented.

In the Province of Dnalkrad, in the more northern areas there is a polar and tundra climate and, in the southernmost parts it is subarctic and cool summer climates. Regions with a polar climate are characterized by a lack of warm summers, specifically, no month having an average temperature of 50°F (10°C) or higher. Arctic tundra occurs in the far Northern Hemisphere, north of the taiga belt. The word "tundra" usually refers only to the areas where the subsoil is permafrost, which means permanently frozen soil. Permafrost tundra includes vast areas of Canada.

The arctic tundra is a vast area of stark landscape, which is frozen for much of the year. The soil there is frozen from 9.8 - 35.4 inches down, and it is impossible for trees to grow. Instead, bare and sometimes rocky land can only support low growing plants such as mosses, heaths and lichen. There are two main seasons – winter and summer in the polar Tundra areas. During the winter, it is very cold and dark, with the average temperature around -18.4°F (-28°C), sometimes dipping as low as -94°F (-70°C). In the summer, temperatures rise and the top layer of the permafrost melts, leaving the ground very soggy. The tundra is covered in marshes, lakes, bogs and streams. Generally temperatures during the summer rise to about 12 °C (53.6°F), but can often drop to 3° (37.4°F). Arctic tundras are sometimes the subject of habitat conservation programs. In Canada many of these areas are protected through a national Biodiversity Action Plan.

The tundra is a very windy area, with winds blowing upwards of 30 - 60 miles an hour. However in terms of precipitation, it is desert-like, with only about 6 – 10 inches falling a year (mostly of snow). During the summer, the permafrost thaws just enough to let plants grow and reproduce, but because the ground below this is frozen, the water cannot sink any lower, and so the water forms the lakes and marshes found during the summer months.

In the Province of Layarteb, there are two dominant climates. In the more northern areas it relies on a continental climate and in the southern areas it is a more mild climate.

A continental climate is the climate typical of the middle-latitude interiors of the large continents of the Northern Hemisphere in the zone of westerly winds; similar climates exist along the east coasts and southwest coasts of the same continents, and also at higher elevations in certain other parts of the world. This climate is characterized by winter temperatures cold enough to support a fixed period of stable snow cover each year, and relatively low precipitation occurring mostly in summer, although east coast areas (chiefly in North America) may show an even distribution of precipitation.

These regions generally have either forest or tall-grass prairie as natural groundcover and include some of the most productive farmlands in the world. All such climates have at least three months of temperatures in excess of 50°F (10°F) and winters with at least one month below 32°F (0°F). Continental climates exist where cold air masses infiltrate during the winter and warm air masses form in summer under conditions of high sun and long days. Places with continental climates are as a rule either far from any moderating effects of oceans or are so situated that prevailing winds tend to head offshore. Such regions get quite warm in the summer, achieving temperatures characteristic of tropical climates but are much colder than any other climates of similar latitude in the winter. These climates grade off toward subtropical climates equatorial where winters are less severe and semiarid climates where precipitation becomes inadequate for tall-grass prairies. In Europe these climates may grade off into oceanic climates in which the influence of moderating air masses is more marked toward the west. The subpolar climate with very cold, long and dry winters, but with at least one month above 50°F (10°C), might be considered a sub-type of the continental climate.

In the southern areas there is a humid subtropical climates are characterized by hot, humid summers and cool to mild winters. Rainfall is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. Winter rainfall - and sometimes snowfall - is associated with large storm systems that the westerlies steer from west to east. Most summer rainfall occurs during thunderstorms and an occasional tropical storm or hurricane. Humid subtropical climates lie on the southeast side of continents, roughly between 24 degrees and 37 degrees latitude. The main temperature range in this climate, considering normal annual extremes, is 10°F to 110°F (-13°C to 38°C), though this range may greatly depending on the exact location.

The southernmost limits of this climate are around Miami and areas further south have a true tropical climate with a very warm weather year round and minimal temperature differences between seasons. The northernmost limits of the humid subtropical climate are often considered to be around Philadelphia, southwest to Washington, DC and the edge of the Blue Ridge west to Louisville, Kentucky then roughly along the Ohio River. Areas further north, inland, and higher in elevation have a humid continental climate with cold and harsh winters.

Snowfall varies greatly in this climate zone. In areas around Florida and the Gulf Coast, snow is very rare. In southern cities farther north, such as Atlanta, Little Rock, Nashville, Dallas, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Norfolk, snowfall is sporadic, but occasional light snow is not unusual. Into the northern limits of this climate zone, in cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Louisville, snow is more common and it occurs every year. Significant winter storms are also much more common in those locations.

Precipitation is plentiful in the humid subtropical climate zone. Although most areas tend to have precipitation spread evenly throughout the year, a somewhat monsoon-like pattern is seen in parts of the Southeast (in locales such as Augusta, Georgia and Columbia, South Carolina), which experience an extremely dry (by humid subtropical standards) and warm spring, followed immediately by a hot and humid summer.

In the Province of Ynoga, there is a significantly tropical climate. All twelve months have average precipitation of at least 2.36 inches. These climates, usually occurring within 5-10° latitude of the equator. In some eastern-coast areas, they may extend to as much as 25° away from the equator. This climate is dominated by the Doldrums Low Pressure System all year round, and therefore has no natural seasons. Tropical climates are characterized by constant high temperature (at sea level and low elevations) - all twelve months of the year have average temperatures of 64.4 °F (18°C) or higher.

The Province of Ynoga and Raef share a tropical wet and dry season as well. These climates have a pronounced dry season, with the driest month having precipitation less than 2.36 inches. Most places that have this climate are found at the outer margins of the tropical zone, but occasionally an inner-tropical location (e.g., San Marcos, Antioquia, Colombia) also qualifies. Actually, the Caribbean coast, eastward from Urabá gulf on the Colombia–Panamá border to the Orinoco river delta, on the Atlantic ocean (ca. 2,500 mi), have long dry periods (the extreme is the BSh climate, characterized by very low, unreliable precipitation, present, for instance, in extensive areas in the Guajira, and Coro, western Venezuela, the northernmost peninsulas in South America, which receive < 11.81 total annual precipitation, practically all in two or three months). This condition extends to the Lesser Antilles and Greater Antilles forming the Circumcaribbean dry belt. The length and severity of the dry season diminishes inland (southward); at the latitude of the Amazon river — which flows eastward, just south of the equatorial line — the climate is Af. East from the Andes, between the dry, arid Caribbean and the ever-wet Amazon are the Orinoco river' Llanos or Savannas, from where this climate takes its name.

The Province of South Eastern Virginia shares climate patterns similar with Raef and Ynoga. In the mountainous areas, it shares a climate that varies with altitude. At lower altitudes it is similar to the area around it whereas at higher altitudes it resembles arctic climates.

Culture

The culture of Layarteb is something very distinctive and unique in the world. Since the earliest days of independence and even prior to independence, Layarteb has gone through four major changes, centered around the ruling government. These four eras are defined as: pre-independence, pre-Republic, Republic, and Empire. Under each distinct era, there are major changes over the past and shifts and focuses that were centered around the times.

During the first era, the pre-independence era, the culture was centered around the pagan religion of the Dominion of Tnemrot. Under the pagan culture, women were suppressed and viewed in subservient ways. Marriages were arranged and a strict code of conduct and ethics ruled over the people. Organization was done around tribes in villages, some roving, others static. At the center of every tribe and village was an elder who spoke not only the language of the common people but also the ancient language, which was the primary language of the religious texts. Only he and a handful of scribes could read this language and the texts. Everything that happened was directly attributed to the gods. The primary focus of the time was similar to that of other cultures around this time, the time of the Middle Ages. Literacy rates were extremely low within the common folk and primary responsibilities of people within the tribes and villages was to support the others and themselves. Religion was a major focal point during this time and it dominated all forms of daily life.

Following the independence of Layarteb, the land was broken into four distinct areas, for each of the four main tribes. The Scythes in the southeastern section flourished the most because of their prosperity and wealth coming in from the Atlantic Ocean trade routes. During this time, women were elevated to a slightly better status but they were still held subservient. Religion played a major role for other tribes but not so much for the Scythes. As time developed and the civil war ensued, the culture changed only marginally. The focus of the pre-independence era on hunting, gathering, and simple subsistence, was shifted towards prosperity and building in this era. Cities sprung up from villages and expanded outwards. External threats were minimal, which allowed the Layartebians to flourish and build.

With the dawn of the Republic, culture shifted and changed yet again. Women were elevated to equal rights with men, one of the earliest nations to do this in the world. The Republic was formed in 1791 and women were given equal rights in 1792, only a year later. Any type of slavery that existed prior to the formation of the Republic was banned, although what forms existed were mostly indentured servants, prisoners of war, and those who failed to repay debts. With the consolidation of power in Layarteb City, prosperity bloomed and people flourished. Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution hit the Republic in the early years of the 1800s. Technological advancements changed culture significantly and with a primary focus on technology, education became a priority. At the same time, the military was further organized and expansion occurred, bolstering a sense of nationalism. It was during this time that a focus on language became a priority and the main languages were declared to be English and Spanish, a move that occurred throughout the geographical area, mainly as a result of open border policies and other expansive trade negotiations. War was more frequent but usually only as a result of expansionary goals and dreams. Border skirmishes were frequent but failed to have a significant impact on the people.

When the Republic fell and the Empire dawned in 1980, things changed significantly. The Republic became an authoritarian system with a focus on law, order, defense, and education. Commerce continued to flourish and grow but regulations brought corporations from being above the law to well under it. A shift away from an "independent" woman blossomed with a post-High School program that enlisted all males for two years of mandatory military service and all females into a sort of practical studies course that focused mostly on self-defense, home economics, motherhood, and other similar topics, including finance and business relations. Women continued to maintain a prominent role in the business world but with a focus more on traditional morals and norms, more and more women delayed significant careers until children were enrolled in full-time schooling. The focus on law and order brought a strict and stern focus to law and order. Justice was a primary concern and freedoms were altered. There remained the freedom of speech, press, and all those that existed with the Republic except the freedom to vote for the government. On local levels, there was a republic system set up whereby all citizens, male or female, over the age of 18 could vote for the local officials, all of whom ran independently. Capitalism remained primary in the Empire as it did within the Republic but capitalistic attitudes towards labor and resources were suppressed by significant rights to workers. Conservative ideals fell upon the Empire but still there were some liberal policies, primarily relating to workers' rights. Universal healthcare was offered but only to individuals who were employed. Social welfare programs were cut and eradicated, primarily welfare. Taxation was brought to a flat tax and more wealth was redistributed back to the citizens. Popularity of the new government blossomed heavily as the expansions were undertaken, creating a high level of nationalism in the Empire. Modern technology and the focus on education bolstered the HDI of Layarteb significantly over the Republic. Defense, another priority, remains one of the most significant advances for the Empire. Under the Empire, the military was, effectively, tripled, in size and funding. Corruption was a major factor in the Republic but it was heavily suppressed and almost brought to extinction within the Empire. Double standards were eased and erased and political correctness took a side note. Responsibility became a major factor in daily lives. Examples of frivolous lawsuits in the Republic were appalling when the dawn of the Empire came about and were stopped by the Empire. The endless pursuit of equality that the Republic embraced, which, arguably, erased freedom from daily life, was rolled back and freedom was given its rightful place, despite being an authoritarian style of government.

Demographics

According to the 2000 census, the Empire had a population of 1,008,263,097. That is now estimated to be, roughly, 1,325,000,000 individuals, making it one of the most populous places on Earth. Of those individuals, some 57.45% are women and 42.55% are men. The distribution of the populace is 20.4% (ages 0 - 16), 54.9% (ages 17 - 64), and 24.7% (ages 65 and above). The average age of males is 36.2 years and the average age of females is 37.4 years, giving a median average of 36.8 years. The Empire is seeing an annual growth rate of some 0.91% with an average 14.14 births per 1,000 people and an average 8.26 deaths per 1,000 people. Migration rates are low, mainly because of the citizenship requirements and heavy nationalism of the Empire, averaging only 1.01% per 1,000 people.

Infant mortality rates for males are 3.09 deaths per 1,000 live births and 1.84 deaths per 1,000 live births with a median average of 2.47 deaths per 1,000 live births. Life expectancy at birth, for males, is 80.47 years and for females it is 88.28 years with a median average of 84.38 years, one of the highest in the world. On the average, each women gives birth to 2.09 children.

Individuals with HIV/AIDS numbers under 5,000 individuals, mainly due to strong sex education programs in schools and encouraged use of contraception.

Ethnically speaking, the majority of the populace is white. Some 94.10% is classified as Caucasian, of which some 37.29% of that is classified as Hispanic. Some 2.48% is black, 1.87% is Native American, 1.25% is Asian, 0.27% is Pacific islander, 0.022% are Arab, and the remaining 0.008% is Indian. The majority religion in the Empire is pagan, a throwback to the old days before independence. Some 52.47% of the populace belongs to the pagan religion, 30.21% are Roman Catholic, mostly in the Hispanic regions of the Empire, 5.02% are Christian, 0.73% are Jewish, 0.25% are Muslim, and 0.62% are not listed. Agnostics make up 8.20% of the populace and atheists make up the remaining 2.5%. Though English and Spanish are the primary languages of the Empire, in which some 98.45% of the populace speaks both languages, other significant language groups include French, mostly in Quebec, German, in certain areas of the Empire, Icelandic, and Gaelic. Pacific islander languages and native languages are also spoken but not in significant amounts. Indian languages are spoken only on Sri Lanka, the Andaman, and Nicobar Islands. The average Layartebian speaks English, Spanish, and at least two other foreign languages, usually Cottish, German, or French. Literacy rates are quoted as 99.23% with an HDI of 0.975.

Economy

The economy of the Atlantic Republic is based on tourism, which, on average, accounts for 36% of its GDP. Fishing and construction, together, take up another 40%, between the two of them. The rest of its GDP is made up hundreds of other minor categories. Tropical agriculture accounts for a significant export, especially to mainland Europe and Africa, as well as to the west, to North America.

There was once a concern over overexploitation of natural resources but this has since been resolved with the establishment of rule by the Empire.

The economy of the Iceland is heavily dependent on fishing and related industries, which account for more than 60% of export earnings. The state of the economy is heavily dependent on conditions in markets for marine products. Marine products account for more than 60% of Iceland's total export earnings. Other important exports include aluminum, ferrosilicon, equipment and electronic machinery for fishing and fish processing, and woolen goods. Foreign trade plays an important role in the Icelandic economy. Exports and imports each account for one-third of GDP.

Iceland has few proven mineral resources. In the past, deposits of sulfur have been mined, and diatomite (skeletal algae) was extracted from Lake Mývatn until recently. That plant has now been closed for environmental reasons. The only natural resource conversion in Iceland is the manufacture of cement. Concrete is widely used as building material, including for all types of residential housing.

Abundant hydroelectric and geothermal power sources are gradually being harnessed and currently nearly 90% of the population enjoys geothermal heating. The hydroelectric power is harnessed by the many Icelandic hydroelectric power stations. By far the largest is Kárahnjúkavirkjun (690 MW), which is being constructed in the area north of Vatnajökull. Other stations include Búrfell (270 MW), Hrauneyjarfoss (210 MW), Sigalda (150 MW), Blanda (150 MW), and more. Iceland has explored the feasibility of exporting hydroelectric energy via submarine cable to mainland Europe and also actively seeks to expand its power-intensive industries, including aluminum and ferro-silicon smelting plants.

The economy of the Ireland is modern, relatively small, and trade-dependent with growth averaging a robust 14%. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 46% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and employs 29% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for the Republic's robust growth, the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer spending and recovery in both construction and business investment.

The primary sector constitutes 5% of Irish GDP, and 8% of Irish employment. It is largely made up of cattle grazing, dairy production, fishing and tillage farming; particularly of turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beet, and wheat. Forestry has become a sizeable part of the Irish Economy. Zinc and Lead are mined in County Meath by Tara Mines. Quarrying is generally only for the internal market. In recent years, natural gas exploration has become a significant contributor to the economy - there is gas off the south of County Cork and to the West of County Mayo. Peat exploitation in the midlands provided large employment and a valuable contribution to the energy needs of the country for much of the 20th century; however, its significance has dwindled in recent years. Other natural resources include Gold deposits in the Wicklow Mountains, which however are at present not exploited due to their commercial unavailability.

The secondary sector constitutes 46% of Irish GDP — but only 29% of the labor force. Dominated for many years by textile companies like Fruit of the Loom, the sector is now largely made up of high-tech/high value multi-nationals such as Dell, Intel, Pfizer and IBM. The secondary sector in Ireland manufactures products such as computers, computer parts, drugs, confectionery (HB, Jacobs and Cadbury-Schweppes all have significant Irish operations), beer (the Guinness and Smithwicks, and Harp Lager breweries are located in Ireland), high quality glass and crystal (Waterford Crystal is made in County Waterford), software (Ireland is one of the world's largest exporter of software – Oracle and Microsoft both have large operations in Dublin) and machinery.

The tertiary sector constitutes 49% of Irish GDP and 64% of Irish employment. The tertiary sector is by far the largest driver of modern Irish economic growth. It is made up of several industries such as accountancy, the legal sector, call centers and customer service operations, finance and stock brokering, catering, and tourism. Many firms (such as IBM and Apple Computer) located their European customer service operations in Ireland due to the availability of a young, highly educated, English speaking workforce. The Irish tourism industry attracts over five million visitors annually and employs over 100,000. The IFSC in Dublin created some 14,000 jobs in the 1990s, all in the high-value finance and legal sectors. The hospitality and retail sectors are quite large — there are hundreds of domestic and foreign retail firms in Ireland (such as Next and Argos), and most cafe and restaurant firms operate in Ireland such as McDonalds, Starbucks, Burger King and Subway, to name a few.

The economy of the Western Republic is far less superior than that of the Atlantic Republic or any other ones. Both Easter Island and Niihau are uninhabited by civilians, leaving only Kauai and Nauru as the only source of revenue. Whilst the other two islands are dominated by military facilities and military personnel, the island of Kauai is just the opposite, with a significant lack of military personnel except small numbers on a small airfield and port whereas Nauru has a decent sized military population. The economy of the republic comes solely from this island, which relies heavily on tourism and the exportation of sandalwood, sugarcane, pineapple, and other agricultural stocks. On Sri Lanka, the Andaman, and Nicobar Islands, the economy is mostly made up of tourism with a heavy emphasis on plantation. Cinnamon, rubber, and Ceylon tea are chief exports of Sri Lanka and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The services industry is growing on the islands.

In the Province of Raef, the majority of the economy relies on tourism and agricultural exports. Fish, vegetables, and fruits are big exports for the province as well as hand-crafted goods. The province is one of the hardest hit by dips in the tourism season. The Province of Ynoga is mostly agricultural and textile based as is that of South Eastern Virginia. Technical services exist in both areas significantly and since the introduction of the Empire of the Layarteb, they have grown significantly. The provinces of Dnalkrad and Layarteb both have the most modern economy that exports food, clothes, textiles, and many other items. Natural resources are a big export for the five provinces and they are well funded by the federal government.

Geography

The Atlantic Republic is made up of multiple areas, the Canary Islands, the Desertas Islands, the Madeira Islands, and the Savage Islands, all located west of Morocco in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Saint Helena, Ascension Island, Tristan de Cunha, Falkland Islands, and South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. The islands are arranged in three distinct groups above the equator, from south to north being the Canary Islands, Savage Islands, and the Madeira and Desertas Islands and spread out throughout the south. In total, they consist of some twenty-six islets and islands, many uninhabited.

The island groups are very different as well, ranging from extremely barren landscapes to high vegetation. All of these islands have volcanic origins, as with Cape Verde and the Azores, to the extreme south and north of the Atlantic Republic.

On the Canary Islands, in areas below about 400 m (1,300 ft) elevation, the vegetation is typically northern African; characteristic varieties are the date palm, dragon tree, and cactus. Growing at higher levels are laurels, holly, myrtle, eucalyptus, pine, and a variety of flowering plants.

The Desertas are high, long, and rocky islands of the group are barren of soil, and the only wildlife consists of about sixteen bird species, eight being seagoing, and a scarce population of non-native goats, rabbits, and rodents, brought from Portugal by the mariners who first touched the rocky shores.

The Madeira Islands, on the other hand, are starkly different from the Desertas. On the main island, Madeira, there is a long mountain chain that runs the spine of the island. On the south there is very little left of the indigenous laurisilva forest which once clothed the whole island (until the original settlers decided to clear the land for farming by setting most of the island on fire) and gave it the name it bears (Madeira means "wood" in Portuguese), but on the north some of the valleys still contain native trees of fine growth. A long narrow and comparatively low rocky promontory forms the eastern extremity of the island, and here there is to be seen a tract of calcareous sand, known as the Fossil Bed, containing land shells and numerous bodies resembling the roots of trees, probably produced by infiltration.

The Savage Islands, located closer to the Canaries than to the Madeira Islands are most islets. An extensive barrier reef surrounds the archipelago and makes it difficult to anchor on the islands' shores. Most of the islands are only a few kilometers apart.

Saint Helena has a rugged volcanic terrain. There are several rocks and islets off the coast, including: Castle Rock, Speery Island, The Needle, Lower Black Rock, Upper Black Rock (South), Bird Island (Southwest), Black Rock, Thompson's Valley Island, Peaked Island, Egg Island, Lady's Chair, Lighter Rock (West), Long Ledge (Northwest), Shore Island, George Island, Rough Rock Island, Flat Rock (East), The Buoys, Sandy Bay Island, The Chimney, White Bird Island and Frightus Rock (Southeast), all of which are within 3,300 feet of the shore.

Ascension Island includes the main island and several uninhabited tiny satellite islands and rocks such as Boatswain Bird Island, Boatswain Bird Rock (east), White Rocks (south), and Tartar Rock. The main island is formed by volcanic peak rising from just west of the mid-Atlantic Ridge known as Green Mountain. Most of the island is a moonscape of rugged black lava flows and red wind whipped cinder cones. Where lava has penetrated to the ocean a striking seashore is dotted with white sand.

Like its sisters, Tristan de Cunha is also rugged and volcanic. Due to a Layartebian nuclear test in 1992, the island group is largely radioactive and vast devastation has been experienced to trees and other plant life. There is no known life on the island as the epicenter of the test was over Inaccessible Island. It is estimated that life will not return to the island group until at least 2092.

Iceland does have volcanic origins and about half of Iceland's land area, which is of recent volcanic origin, consists of a mountainous lava desert and other wasteland. Eleven percent is covered by three large glaciers and several smaller ones.

Twenty percent of the land is used for grazing, and only 1% is cultivated. An ambitious reforestation program is under way. It is assumed that prior to human settlement in the 900s; trees covered about 30-40% of the island. Today, however, the only existing patches of birch forests are Hallormstaðarskógur and Vaglaskógur.

The inhabited areas are on the coast, particularly in the southwest, whereas the central highlands are totally uninhabited. The terrain is mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, ice fields. The coast deeply indented by bays and fiords.

The geography of Ireland describes an island in northwest Europe in the North Atlantic Ocean. The ocean is responsible for the rugged western coastline, along which are many islands, peninsulas, and headlands. The main geographical features of Ireland are low central plains surrounded by a ring of coastal mountains. The highest peak is Carrauntuohill, which is 3,414 feet (1,041 m). There are a number of sizable lakes along Ireland's rivers, with Lough Neagh the largest in the British Isles. The island is bisected by the River Shannon, at 161 miles (259 km) with a 70 mile (113 km) estuary, it is the longest river in Ireland (and the longest in the British Isles if the estuary is included), which flows south from County Cavan in the north to meet the Atlantic just south of Limerick.

Ireland consists of a mostly flat low-lying area in the midlands, ringed by mountain ranges. The main river in Ireland is the River Shannon and many inlets dot the Irish isle.

The geography of the Western Republic is very similar and also very different. All of its islands have volcanic origins, much like that of the Atlantic Republic and Iceland.

Easter Island is very rugged, with a large central peak on the center of the island with two smaller peaks at either edge of the triangular shaped landmass. There is little flat terrain except in the extreme southwest of the island. There are few trees on the island but rather it is dotted by vast grasslands.

All of the Hawaiian Islands were formed by volcanoes erupting from the sea floor from a magma source described in geological theory as a hotspot. The theory maintains that as the tectonic plate beneath much of the Pacific Ocean moves in a northwesterly direction, the hot spot remains stationary, slowly creating new volcanoes. This explains why only volcanoes on the southern half of the Big Island, and the Loihi Seamount deep below the waters off its southern coast, are presently active, with Loihi being the newest volcano to form. The last volcanic eruption outside the Big Island happened at Haleakala (Haleakala) on Maui in the late 18th century (though recent research suggests that Haleakala's most recent eruptive activity could be hundreds of years older). The volcanic activity and subsequent erosion created impressive geological features. The Big Island is notable as the world's fifth highest island. Because of the islands' volcanic formation, native life before human activity is said to have arrived by the "3 W's": wind (carried through the air), waves (brought by ocean currents), and wings (birds, insects, and whatever they brought with them). The isolation of the Hawaiian Islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and the wide range of environments to be found on high islands located in and near the tropic, has resulted in a vast array of endemic flora and fauna. Hawaii has more endangered species per square mile and has lost a higher percent of its endemic species than anywhere else on Earth.

Nauru is a small, oval-shaped island in the western Pacific Ocean, 26 miles (42 km) south of the Equator. The island is surrounded by a coral reef, exposed at low tide and dotted with pinnacles. The reef is bound seaward by deep water, and inside by a sandy beach. The presence of the reef has prevented the establishment of a sea port, although 16 artificial canals have been made in the reef to allow small boats to access the island. A 492 – 984 foot (150 – 300 m) wide fertile coastal strip lies landward from the beach. Coral cliffs surround the central plateau, which is known on the island as Topside. The highest point of the plateau is 213 feet (65 m) above sea level. The only fertile areas are the narrow coastal belt, where coconut palms flourish. The land surrounding Buada Lagoon supports bananas, pineapples; vegetable, pandanus trees and indigenous hardwoods such as the tomano tree are cultivated. The population of the island is concentrated in this coastal belt and around Buada Lagoon.

Sri Lanka is a pear-shaped island that consists mostly of flat-to-rolling coastal plains, with mountains rising only in the south-central part. Amongst these are Sri Pada and the highest point Pidurutalagala (also known as Mt Pedro), at 8,281 ft (2,524 m). The Mahaweli ganga (Mahaweli river) and other major rivers provide fresh water. The south-central part of Sri Lanka--the rugged Central Highlands--is the heart of the country. The core of this area is a high plateau, running north-south for approximately 40 miles (65 kilometers). This area includes some of Sri Lanka's highest mountains. (Pidurutalagala is the highest at 8,281 ft (2,524 m)). At the plateau's southern end, mountain ranges stretch 50 kilometers to the west toward Adams Peak (7,358 ft. (2,243 m)) and 31 miles (50 kilometers) to the east toward Namunakula (6,680 ft. (2,036 m)). Flanking the high central ridges are two lower plateaus. On the west is the Hatton Plateau, a deeply dissected series of ridges sloping downward toward the north. On the east, the Uva Basin consists of rolling hills covered with grasses, traversed by some deep valleys and gorges. To the north, separated from the main body of mountains and plateaus by broad valleys, lies the Knuckles Massif: steep escarpments, deep gorges, and peaks rising to more than 5,905 feet (1,800 meters). South of Adams Peak lie the parallel ridges of the Rakwana Hills, with several peaks over 4,593 feet (1,400 meters). The land descends from the Central Highlands to a series of escarpments and ledges at 1,312 to 1,640 feet (400 to 500 meters) above sea level before sloping down toward the coastal plains. Most of the island's surface consists of plains between 98 and 656 feet (30 and 200 meters) above sea level. In the southwest, ridges and valleys rise gradually to merge with the Central Highlands, giving a dissected appearance to the plain. Extensive erosion in this area has worn down the ridges and deposited rich soil for agriculture downstream. In the southeast, a red, lateritic soil covers relatively level ground that is studded with bare, monolithic hills. The transition from the plain to the Central Highlands is abrupt in the southeast, and the mountains appear to rise up like a wall. In the east and the north, the plain is flat, dissected by long, narrow ridges of granite running from the Central Highlands. A coastal belt about thirty meters above sea level surrounds the island. Much of the coast consists of scenic sandy beaches indented by coastal lagoons. In the Jaffna Peninsula, limestone beds are exposed to the waves as low-lying cliffs in a few places. In the northeast and the southwest, where the coast cuts across the stratification of the crystalline rocks, rocky cliffs, bays, and offshore islands can be found; these conditions have created one of the world's best natural harbors at Trincomalee on the northeast coast, and a smaller rock harbor at Galle on the southwestern coast. Sri Lanka's rivers rise in the Central Highlands and flow in a radial pattern toward the sea. Most of these rivers are short. There are 16 principal rivers longer than 62 miles (100 kilometers) in length, with twelve of them carrying about 75 % of the mean river discharge in the entire country. The longest rivers are the Mahaweli Ganga (208 mi (335 km)) and the Aruvi Aru (105 mi (170 km)). In the highlands, river courses are frequently broken by discontinuities in the terrain, and where they encounter escarpments, numerous waterfalls and rapids have eroded a passage. Once they reach the plain, the rivers slow down and the waters meander across flood plains and deltas. The upper reaches of the rivers are wild and usually unnavigable, and the lower reaches are prone to seasonal flooding. Human intervention has altered the flows of some rivers in order to create hydroelectric, irrigation, and transportation projects. In the north, east, and southeast, the rivers feed numerous artificial lakes or reservoirs (tanks) that store water during the dry season.

The Andaman Islands has 576 islands in the group, 26 of which are inhabited. They are located 590 miles (950 km) from the mouth of the Hooghly River, 120 miles (193 km) from Cape Negrais in Myanmar (the nearest point of the mainland), and 340 miles (547 km) from the northern extremity of Sumatra. The length of the island chain is 219 mi (352 km) and its greatest width is 31 miles (51 km). The five chief islands, spread over a distance of 155 miles (251 km), are known collectively as Great Andaman. The individual islands are, in order from north to south: North Andaman, Middle Andaman, South Andaman, Baratang and Rutland Island. Four narrow straits separate these islands: Austin Strait, between North and Middle Andaman, Homfray's Strait between Middle Andaman, Baratang, and the north extremity of South Andaman; Middle (or Andaman) Strait between Baratang and South Andaman and Macpherson Strait between South Andaman and Rutland Island. Of these only the last is navigable by ocean-going vessels. Together with the chief islands are, on the extreme north, the Landfall Islands, separated by the navigable Cleugh Passage; Interview Island, separated by the navigable Interview Passage, off the West coast of Middle Andaman; Labyrinth Island off the southwest coast of South Andaman, through which is the navigable Elphinstone Passage; Ritchie's (or the Andaman) Archipelago off the East coast of South Andaman and Baratang, separated by the wide and safe Diligent Strait and intersected by Kwangtung Strait and the Tadma Juru (Strait). Little Andaman, roughly 26 by 16 miles (42 km by 26 km), forms the southern extremity of the whole group and lies 31 miles (50 km) south of Rutland Island across the Manners Strait, the main shipping route between the Andamans and the Madras coast. Besides these are a great number of islets lying off the shores of the main islands. The principal outlying islands include the North Sentinel, a dangerous island of about 28 mi² (73 km²), lying about 18 miles (29 km) off the west coast of the South Andaman. About 18 miles (29 km) west of the Andamans are the dangerous Western Banks and Dalrymple Bank, rising to within a few metres of the surface of the sea and forming, with the two Sentinel Islands, the tops of a line of submarine hills parallel to the Andamans. The Andamans is the only place in India with an active volcano. Barren Island, northeast of Port Blair, became active in 1990s after being quiescent for almost two hundred years. The isolated extinct volcano of Narcondam, rising 2,329 feet (710 m) out of the sea, is 71 miles (114 km) east of North Andaman. Plans are afoot to stimulate tourism to the volcanoes in the area. Also 40 miles (64 km) to the east is the Invisible Bank, with one rock just awash, and 34 miles (55 km) southeast of Narcondam is a submarine hill rising to 2,260 feet (689 m) below the surface of the sea. Narcondam, Barren Island and the Invisible Bank, a great danger of these seas, are in a line almost parallel to the Andamans inclining towards them from north to south.

The composition and make up of the Nicobar Islands is similar to that of the Andaman Islands. The Nicobar Island chain has 22 islands, of which only 12 are inhabited.

New Caledonia is made up of a main island, the Grande Terre, and several smaller islands, the Belep archipelago to the north of the Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands to the east of the Grande Terre, the Île des Pins to the south of the Grande Terre, the Chesterfield Islands and Bellona Reefs further to the west. The Grande Terre is by far the largest of the islands, and the only mountainous island. A mountain range runs the length of the island, with five peaks over 4,900 feet (1,500 meters). The highest point is Mont Panié at 5,341 feet (1,628 meters) elevation. New Caledonian soils contain a considerable wealth of industrially-critical elements and minerals, including about one-quarter of the world's nickel resources. Mining is therefore a significant industry that greatly benefits the national economy. However, the country is also home to numerous, critically-important ancient ecosystems. Thus, widely-practiced and indiscriminate open-pit mining across much of New Caledonia, has been (and continues to be) responsible for severe deterioration of the nation's irreplaceable natural heritage. New Caledonia is one of the northernmost parts of a (93%) submerged continent called Zealandia. It sank after rifting away from Australia 60 – 85 million years ago and from Antarctica between 130 and 85 million years ago. New Caledonia itself is separated from Australia since 65 million years ago, and subsequently drifted in a north-easterly direction, reaching its present position about 50 million years ago.

The Solomon Islands is a wide island nation that lies east of Papua New Guinea and consists of many islands: Choiseul, the Shortland Islands; the New Georgia Islands; Santa Isabel; the Russell Islands; Nggela (the Florida Islands); Malaita; Guadalcanal; Sikaiana; Maramasike; Ulawa; Uki; Makira (San Cristobal); Santa Ana; Rennell and Bellona; the Santa Cruz Islands and three remote, tiny outliers, Tikopia, Anuta, and Fatutaka. The distance between the westernmost and easternmost islands is about 930 miles (1,500 kilometres). The Santa Cruz Islands (of which Tikopia is part), are situated north of Vanuatu and are especially isolated at more than 120 miles (200 kilometers) from the other islands. Bougainville is geographically part of the Solomon Islands, but politically Papua New Guinea. The Solomon Islands archipelago is part of two distinct terrestrial ecoregions. Most of the islands are part of the Solomon Islands rain forests ecoregion, which also includes the islands of Bougainville and Buka, which are part of Papua New Guinea, these forests have come under pressure from forestry activities. The Santa Cruz Islands are part of the Vanuatu rain forests ecoregion, together with the neighboring archipelago of Vanuatu. Soil quality ranges from extremely rich volcanic (there are volcanoes with varying degrees of activity on some of the larger islands) to relatively infertile limestone. More than 230 varieties of orchids and other tropical flowers brighten the landscape. The islands contain several active and dormant volcanoes. Tinakula and Kavachi volcanoes are the most active.

Johnston Atoll consists of four islands located on the coral reef platform, two natural islands, Johnston Island and Sand Island, which have been expanded by coral dredging, as well as North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina), artificial islands formed from coral dredging. ue to the atoll's tilt, much of the reef on the southeast portion has subsided. But even though it does not have an encircling reef crest, the reef crest on the northwest portion of the atoll does provide for a shallow lagoon, with depths ranging from 10 - 33 feet.

Wake Island is officially called an island in the singular form; however, it is actually an atoll comprising three islands surrounding a central lagoon.

Clipperton Island is a unique island in and of itself. Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton, the only economic activity is tuna fishing. It has no other natural resources. The lagoon is devoid of fish. Clipperton Rock, at 95 feet (29 meters), is the highest point. It is a volcanic outcrop located in the southeast. Clipperton is now almost a desert.

The Revillagigedo Islands are a group of four volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean, known for their unique ecosystem. The Revillagigedo Islands are home to many endemic plant and animal species, and are sometimes called Mexico's "little Galapagos". They are recognized as a distinct terrestrial ecoregion, part of the Neotropic ecozone. Socorro is the most diverse in flora, fauna, and topography.

The Province of Dnalkrad shares a unique geography. To the north of this region is the broad Canadian Shield, an area of rock scoured clean by the last ice age, thinly soiled, rich in minerals, and dotted with lakes and rivers - Canada by far has more lakes than any other country in the world and has a large amount of the world's freshwater.

The Horseshoe Falls in Ontario is the largest component of Niagara Falls, one of the world's greatest waterfalls, a major source of hydroelectric power, and a tourist destination. In eastern Canada, the Saint Lawrence River widens into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the world's largest estuary; the island of Newfoundland lies at its mouth. South of the Gulf, the Canadian Maritimes protrude eastward from the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are divided by the Bay of Fundy, which experiences the world's largest tidal variations. Northern Canadian vegetation tapers from coniferous forests to tundra and finally to Arctic barrens in the far north. The northern Canadian mainland is ringed with a vast archipelago containing some of the world's largest islands.

In the Province of Layarteb, the geographical makeu of the eastern seaboard has a coastal plain which is widest in the south and narrows in the north. The coastal plain does not exist north of New Jersey, although there are glacial outwash plains on Long Island, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. In the extreme southeast, Florida is home to the ecologically unique Everglades.

Beyond the coastal plain, the rolling hills of the piedmont region end at the Appalachian Mountains, which rise above 6,000 feet (1,830 m) in North Carolina, Tennessee, and New Hampshire. From the west slope of the Appalachians, the Interior Plains of the Midwest are relatively flat and are the location of the Great Lakes as well as the Mississippi-Missouri River, the world's 4th longest river system. West of the Mississippi River, the Interior Plains slope uphill and blend into the vast and often featureless Great Plains.

The Province of Ynoga, physiographically, is a narrow isthmus of southern North America extending from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico southeastward to the Isthmus of Panama where it connects to the Colombian Pacific Lowlands in northwestern South America. Central America has an area of some 523,000 square kilometers. The Pacific Ocean lies to the southwest, the Caribbean Sea lies to the northeast, and the Gulf of Mexico lies to the north.

Central America and the Caribbean Plate. Most of Central America rests atop the Caribbean Plate. The region is geologically active, with volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occurring from time to time. In 1931 and 1972 earthquakes devastated Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. Fertile soils from weathered volcanic lavas have made it possible to sustain dense populations in the agriculturally productive highland areas.

The geography of the Province of Raef is very distinct. The province consists only of islands, some that range from mountainless, flat lands and others include high mountains. The islands boast beautiful coasts and thick vegetation.

On Cuba, the largest island of the province, the geographical make up is mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast. The lowest point is the Caribbean Sea.

Hispaniola is the second-largest island in the Caribbean (after Cuba). The island of Cuba lies to the northwest across the Windward Passage; to the southwest lies Jamaica, separated by the Jamaica Channel. Puerto Rico lies east of Hispaniola across the Mona Passage. The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands lie to the north.

Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico are collectively known as the Greater Antilles. The Greater Antilles are made up of continental rock, as distinct from the Lesser Antilles, which are mostly young volcanic or coral islands.

The Island has five major mountain ranges: The Central Range, known in the Dominican Republic as the Cordillera Central, span the central part of the island, extending from the south coast of the Dominican Republic into northwestern Haiti, where they are known as the Massif du Nord. This mountain range boasts the highest peak in the Antilles, Pico Duarte at 10,128 feet (3,087 meters) above sea level. The Cordillera Septentrional runs parallel to the Central Range across the northern end of the Dominican Republic, extending into the Atlantic Ocean as the Samaná Peninsula. The highest point in the Cordillera Septentrional is Pico Diego de Ocampo. The Cordillera Central and Cordillera Septentrional are separated by the lowlands of the Cibao Valley and the Atlantic coastal plains, which extend westward into Haiti as the Plaine du Nord (Northern Plain). The lowest of the ranges is the Cordillera Oriental, in the eastern part of the country.

The Sierra de Neiba rises in the southwest of the Dominican Republic, and continues northwest into Haiti, parallel to the Cordillera Central, as the Montagnes Noires, Chaîne des Matheux and the Montagnes du Trou d'Eau. The Plateau Central lies between the Massif du Nord and the Montagnes Noires, and the Plaine de l'Artibonite lies between the Montagnes Noires and the Chaîne des Matheux, opening westward toward the Gulf of Gonâves.

The southern range begins in the southwesternmost Dominican Republic as the Sierra de Bahoruco, and extends west into Haiti as the Massif de la Selle and the Massif de la Hotte, which form the mountainous spine of Haiti's southern peninsula. Pic de la Selle is the highest peak in the southern range and is the highest point in Haiti, at 8,793 feet (2,680 meters) above sea level. A depression runs parallel to the southern range, between the southern range and the Chaîne des Matheux-Sierra de Neiba. It is known as the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac in Haiti, and Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince lies at its western end. The depression is home to a chain of salty lakes, including the Saumatre Lagoon in Haiti and Lake Enriquillo in the Dominican Republic.

Lastly, on the Province of South Eastern Virginia, the geography goes from similar to Ynoga and Raef to being highly mountainous in other areas, namely Peru and Ecuador. In Peru, on the eastern side it is part of the Amazon Rainforest, whereas to the west it is filled with the Andes Mountains, which run up through Colombia and into Ynoga, where they eventually become the Rocky Mountains in North America.

Most observers describe Venezuela in terms of four fairly well-defined regions: the Maracaibo lowlands in the northwest, the northern mountains extending in a broad east-west arc from the Colombian border along the Caribbean Sea, the wide Orinoco plains (llanos) in central Venezuela, and the highly dissected Guiana highlands in the southeast.

The Maracaibo lowlands form a large spoon-shaped oval bounded by mountains on three sides and open to the Caribbean on the north. The area is remarkably flat with only a gentle slope toward the center and away from the mountains that border the region. Lake Maracaibo occupies much of the lower-lying territory. Areas around the southern part of Lake Maracaibo are swampy, and, despite the rich agricultural land and significant petroleum deposits, the area was still thinly populated in 1990.

The mountains bordering the Caribbean Sea are actually the northeasternmost extension of the Andes chain. Broken by several gaps, these high mountains have peaks over 14,750 feet; the fertile valleys between the ranges contain most of Venezuela's population, industry, and agriculture. The discontinuous westernmost range, the Sierra de Perijá, runs along the Colombian border and is the least densely populated part of this region. The ranges of the Mérida Andes, south and east of Lake Maracaibo, contain some of the highest peaks in the country (Pico Bolívar reaches 16,427 feet), a few of which are snowcapped year-round.

A broad gap separates this mountainous area from another rugged pair of ranges that parallel the north-central coast. The series of valleys between these two parallel ranges constitutes the core area of the country; as the site of burgeoning metropolitan Caracas, this comparatively small area hosts the country's densest population, the most intensive agriculture, and the best transportation network. Another broad gap separates this area from the easternmost group of mountains, a series of dissected hills and uplands that rise steeply from the Caribbean and extend eastward almost to Trinidad.

The great expanse of lowlands known as the Orinoco plains extends westward from the Caribbean coast to the Colombian border between the northern mountains and the Orinoco River. This region is commonly known as the llanos, although it also contains large stretches of swampland in the Orinoco Delta and near the Colombian border. The area slopes gradually away from the highland areas that surround it; elevations in the llanos never exceed 650 feet. North of the Río Apure, rivers flowing out of the northern mountains cut shallow valleys, leaving eroded ridges that give the land a gently rolling appearance. South of the Apure, the terrain is flatter and elevations lower.

One of the oldest land forms in South America, the Guiana highlands rise almost immediately south and east of the Río Orinoco. Erosion has created unusual formations in this region. Comprising over half of the country, the highlands consist primarily of plateau areas scored by swiftly running tributaries of the Orinoco. The most conspicuous topographical feature of the region is the Gran Sabana, a large, deeply eroded high plateau that rises from surrounding areas in abrupt cliffs up to 2,600 meters high. Above the rolling surface of the Gran Sabana massive, flat-topped bluffs emerge; many of these bluffs (referred to as tepuis by the Venezuelans) reach considerable altitudes. The most famous tepui contains Angel Falls, the world's highest waterfall.

Geographers have devised different ways to divide Colombia into regions. It is most appropriate to divide the country into four geographic regions: the Andean highlands, consisting of the three Andean ranges and intervening valley lowlands; the Caribbean lowlands coastal region; the Pacific lowlands coastal region, separated from the Caribbean lowlands by swamps at the base of the Isthmus of Panama; and eastern Colombia, the great plain that lies to the east of the Andes Mountains.

Suriname is made up of rolling hills, but there is a narrow coastal plain that has swampy terrain. Guyana can be divided into five natural regions: a narrow and fertile marshy plain along the Atlantic coast where most of the population lives, then a white sand belt more inland, containing most of Guyana's mineral deposits, the dense rainforests across the middle of the country, the grassy flat savannah in the south and finally the larger interior highlands consisting mostly of mountains that gradually rise to the Brazilian border. Guyana's main mountains are contained here, including Mount Ayanganna (6,699 ft) and on Mount Roraima (9,301 ft - highest mountain in Guyana) on the Brazil-Guyana-Venezuela tripoint, part of the Pakaraima range. Roraima is said to be have been the inspiration for The Lost World. There are also many steep escarpments and waterfalls, including the famous Kaieteur Falls. Between the Rupununi River and the border with Brazil lies the Rupununi savannah, south of which lie the Kanuku Mountains. French Guiana consists of low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains. Ecuador is divided into three continental regions--the Costa, Sierra, and Oriente--and one insular region--the Galápagos Islands. The continental regions extend the length of the country from north to south and are separated by the Andes Mountains. The Galápagos Islands, officially called the Archipiélago de Colón, are located 621 miles west of the Ecuadorian coast within 1 south of the equator.

Military

Summary

The Imperial Layartebian Military (ILM) is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Empire of Layarteb. Consisting of roughly 50,000,000 individuals at its peak, the ILM has seen some downsizing now that the conquests of the Empire are complete. It is organized around six branches underneath the Ministry of Defense, a civilian organization underneath the Cabinet. The Imperial Layarteb Military, though organized underneath a civilian organization, is not run by civilians. Civilians aide in the assistance of the military but do not have any administrative positions. The Minister of Defense is in charge of all civilians but the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the Military is considered the ultimate authority in the military, underneath the Emperor. The Minister of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the Military work hand-in-hand underneath the Emperor and within the Cabinet.

The Imperial Layarteb Military, when it was underneath the Republic of Layarteb was called the Republican Military and the branches were respectively called the same way (i.e. Republican Air Force, Republican Army, etc.). Underneath the Republic, the military had been drastically cut in size over the final three decades of the Republic of Layarteb. This deeply hurt the pride of the people within the Republic of Layarteb and though conscription was not a policy, the Republic of Layarteb was beginning to draft males and females for the Venezuelan War, which was never going well for the Republic of Layarteb. Technologically outclassed and downsized, the Republican Military gained initial victories in the Venezuelan War, fighting with government troops but, as the war dragged on into its fifth year, in 1973, those victories became shallow. The rebel cause won popular support among the people and the corruption of the government only furthered the plight against them. In 1976, the Layartebians had lost some 23,940 soldiers in the war. When the civil war broke out in 1977, troops were immediately withdrew to fight the pro-revolutionary forces of the Emperor. By late-1978, military defections were rampant.

With the rise of the Empire of Layarteb and the beginning of the conquests, the military of Layarteb was given a massive injection of steroids. Technological advances that had been pioneered by the Layartebians in the years past were turned into realities. Conscription brought the force levels up significantly. Women were removed from the military, which worked on a morale level and helped the soldiers feel safe that their daughters, sisters, wives, and mothers were not in harms way. By 1989, after the province of Layarteb had been secured, the military was some 400% larger than what it was in 1978. By 1993, it had nearly doubled in size since 1989. By 1995, it reached its peak of just over 58,000,000 individuals. In 2006, when the conquests were completed, the size of the military had dropped significantly but not so much that it weakened the national security of Layarteb.

The ILM is a vast element of the Empire of Layarteb. It consists of 16,500,000 men (1.28% of the national population) during peacetime but can balloon to 45,000,000 men (3.50% of the national population) in time of war with indefinite sustainment. There is also an emergency provision which can swell the ranks to 64,000,000 (4.98% of the national population) in extreme circumstances but sustainment is less than a few years, at the most.

The ILM is staffed by a highly educated and capable civilian staff of 2,000,000 in the Ministry of Defense and an additional 14,500,000 personnel throughout the various branches. The Empire of Layarteb has a conscription program in place that requires all males to serve a minimum of two years in the ILM before they attend college. They are conscripted at the age of 18, following the completion of high school and can be honorably discharged at the age of 20, following 24 months of completion, including boot camp. The ILM does not allow women in its service except in the Ministry of Defense, civilian staffing. Males who dodge the draft are given a prison sentence of a minimum of six years, triple the time they would have served, and a fine of up to §500,000.00. They are also not eligible to attend college, receive collegiate funding, or obtain many jobs. Employers are discouraged from hiring draft-dodgers. During the conquests, it was not unusual for conscripted forces to remain for more than two years although, as the 2000s began to progress, conscripted forces often served their term of 24 months and were released.

The ILM is under the control of the Ministry of Defense although its upper tier is arranged with a bit of confusion. The upper tier of the ILM is staffed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Imperial Layartebian Military. Within the Joint Chiefs there is the top general or admiral for each of the four branches of the military with a chairman as the overall leader. At the upper tier of the MOD, there is the Minister of Defense and various other directors for the departments and areas. Ultimately, all military decisions must be run through the Emperor, who is the only individual who can authorize military action.

Aside from the conventional forces, the Empire of Layarteb maintains a sizeable WMD force. All WMD forces fall under the respective branches of their use. The Emperor is also the only individual who can authorize the release of WMD weapons and it must be done with more than just the two-man rule, which normally sits in place in the various countries of the world. Release of WMD weapons can only be done with the authorization of the Minister of Defense, the Emperor, and two other, unnamed cabinet members.

Organization & Structure

The Imperial Layartebian Military is arranged around four main branches and two secondary branches. The terminology is used to denote the role of the branches. The main branches include the air force, army, defense forces, and marines. The secondary branches include black operations forces and special operations forces. Despite being deployed in advance of military operations the black and special operations forces are far less "public" and are used for much more limited purposes than the other branches.

Each branch is represented in the Ministry of Defense by the Joint Chiefs of the Military. The leader of each branch is situated within the Joint Chiefs of the Military and their deputies sit there as well. The overall leader of the military is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the Military, an individual appointed by the Emperor who is the direct liaison between the military and the Emperor. The Imperial Layartebian Military is supported by a large civilian-based staff within the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Intelligence. Intelligence for operations and other military endeavors comes straight from the Ministry of Intelligence. The Ministry of Defense does not have intelligence assets and relies on the various organizations within the Ministry of Intelligence for assistance. Cooperation is regarded as imperative. The only type of intelligence that the Ministry of Defense gathers comes in the form of reconnaissance through aircraft, satellites, ground soldiers, and shipping. Human intelligence is strictly controlled by the Ministry of Intelligence though information is more then frequently shared.

All branches are organized around two groups of soldiers: enlisted and officers. Enlisted personnel are usually conscripts who serve their two-year requirement and those who wish to stay on for longer. Officers are normally career soldiers or individuals who wish to serve leadership roles, versus enlistees.

Ranks of the Imperial Layartebian Military.

Ranks are organized around pay grades, ranging from E-1 to E-13 for enlisted and O-1 to O-12 for officers. E-1 ranks carry no insignia and all E-1s are given the rank of cadet. They are not represented on the above chart, which begins at E-2 for all enlisted ranks. Cadets are all trainees and upon graduation from boot camp, they are elevated to E-2. For officers, the O-12 rank is considered the highest rank and only bestowed upon the leaders of the individual branches, hence the General of the Air Force is an O-12. This rank can only be held by one person at a time. In the ILDF and the ILN, because it uses both sets of officer ranks, there could be a conflict with the forces. In the ILDF, the senior rank is considered an O-12 under General whereas the senior rank in the ILN is considered an O-12 under Admiral. All officers, whether they use traditional naval or modern aviation & land sets have the same insignia. For ranks O-7 through O-11, the rank is denoted by a single silver star for O-7 and an additional star for each other rank, thereby giving five stars for O-11. The rank of O-12 is denoted by a six star cluster.

Aviation Enlisted Ranks (ILAF, ILA, ILDF)

Airman (E-2)
Airman First Class (E-3)
Senior Airman (E-4)
Staff Sergeant (E-5)
Technical Sergeant (E-6)
Master Sergeant (E-7)
Master Sergeant First Class (E-8)
Senior Master Sergeant (E-9)
Senior Master Sergeant First Class (E-10)
Chief Master Sergeant (E-11)
Command Sergeant Major (E-12)
Senior Sergeant (E-13)

Land Enlisted Ranks (ILA, ILBF, ILDF, ILN [Marines], ILSF)

Private (E-2)
Private First Class (E-3)
Specialist (E-4)
Corporal (E-5)
Sergeant (E-6)
Staff Sergeant (E-7)
Sergeant First Class (E-8)
Master Sergeant (E-9)
First Sergeant (E-10)
Sergeant Major (E-11)
Command Sergeant Major (E-12)
Senior Sergeant (E-13)

Naval Enlisted Ranks (ILDF, ILN)

Seaman (E-2)
Seaman First Class (E-3)
Petty Officer Third Class (E-4)
Petty Officer Second Class (E-5)
Petty Officer First Class (E-6)
Chief Petty Officer (E-7)
Senior Petty Officer Third Class (E-8)
Senior Petty Officer Second Class (E-9)
Senior Petty Officer First Class (E-10)
Master Chief (E-11)
Senior Master Chief (E-12)
Command Master Chief (E-13)

Officer Ranks (ILAF, ILA, ILBF, ILDF, ILN [Marines], ILSF)

Second Lieutenant (O-1)
First Lieutenant (O-2)
Captain (O-3)
Major (O-4)
Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
Colonel (O-6)
Brigadier General (O-7)
Major General (O-8)
Lieutenant General (O-9)
General (O-10)
Field Marshall (O-11)
General of xxx (O-12)

Officer Ranks (ILDF, ILN)

Ensign (O-1)
Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2)
Lieutenant (O-3)
Lieutenant Commander (O-4)
Commander (O-5)
Captain (O-6)
Rear Admiral (O-7)
Senior Admiral (O-8)
Vice Admiral (O-9)
Admiral (O-10)
Fleet Admiral (O-11)
Admiral of xxx (O-12)

Figures & Statistics

Figures

Commander-in-Chief: The Emperor
Civilian Commander: Minister of Defense
Top Command: Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Imperial Layartebian Military (J.C.S.I.L.M.)
Military Age: 18 - 45
Available for Military Service: 330,385,992
Reaching Military Age Annually: 6,728,102
Budget: §5.40 trillion (9.39%)

Personnel

Civilian Staffing (MOD): 2,000,000
Air Force: 3,500,000
Army: 4,000,000
Defense Forces: 2,500,000
Navy: 3,500,000
Paramilitary Forces: 1,000,000
Total: 16,500,000

Imperial Layartebian Air Force

The Imperial Layartebian Air Force (ILAF) is the mainstay of the Imperial Layartebian Military (ILM). The ILAF is the second largest branch of service behind the Imperial Layartebian Navy and ahead of the Imperial Layartebian Army. The ILAF is a global reaching force with every aspect of aerial warfare covered from simple fighter missions to the most complex logistics and reconnaissance operations. Staffed by almost 100,000 pilots and several million support personnel at air bases and the Ministry of Defense, the ILAF is usually the first branch of the ILM to see combat in any war. In total, the ILAF consists of around 3,500,000 people and operates in excess of 42,000 aircraft.

The Air Force is broken into 12 separate entities: 5 based in the provinces, 4 based in the republics, 1 based in the colony, 1 based on permanent foreign deployment, and 1 on expeditionary deployment.

The Provincial and Republic groups of the ILAF are responsible for defense of the nine provinces and republics of the EOL and have set air bases and coverage zones. The Foreign Deployment group of the ILAF are air wings deployed, permanently, overseas, primarily in October Alliance countries. The Expeditionary group are air wings that are deployed overseas but are not on permanent deployment at their respective locations. They are fluid and can be moved around much easier than any other group.

The Air Force also operates a number of aircraft both retired and foreign as aggressor aircraft, some of which include the Mi-28 Havoc, MiG-35 Fulcrum, F-22 Raptor, and F-16 Falcon. The training wings of the Air Force serve as the training wings for the entire Imperial Layartebian Military.

Imperial Layartebian Army

The Imperial Layartebian Army (ILA) is one of the largest, strongest, and most technologically advanced army in the world. It is the third largest branch in the Imperial Layartebian Military (ILM) and can, with the aide of the ILAF, deploy anywhere in the world with enough force projection to invade and occupy most, if not any nation on Earth. The ILA provides the main ground force for the ILM and the Marines of the Imperial Layartebian Navy (ILN) are a first strike force. The Army is the main force that wages war, despite the ILAF being the mainstay of the ILM and the ILN being the largest branch. The Army uses both foreign and domestic-made products, more so than the ILAF and features one of the most capable and the best main battle tank in the world, the M2032 Sabertooth. Staffed by over 29,000 pilots and several million support personnel at army bases and the Ministry of Defense, the Imperial Layartebian Army has a large enough staff that it can operate anywhere in the world extremely effectively and efficiently. Coupled with a standing army of 2,500,000, a reserve force of 550,000, civilian and stationary people, the ILA maintains a size of just under 4,000,000.

There are 3,602 attack helicopters, 1,346 reconnaissance helicopters, 130 UAVs, and 5,896 transport helicopters in service in the ILA.

The Army is broken into 12 separate entities: 5 based in the provinces, 4 based in the republics, 1 based on permanent foreign deployment, 1 based on mobile foreign deployment, and 1 quick reaction force.

The Provincial and Republic groups of the ILA are responsible for defense of the nine provinces and republics of the EOL and have set army bases and coverage zones. The Foreign Deployment group of the ILA are deployed, permanently, overseas, primarily in October Alliance countries. The 11th Army Group is a mobile deployment force and acts as the de facto expeditionary group within the ILA.

Army forces are broken into three operating parameters. The first is the airborne contingent, which consists of aviation brigades. The second is the infantry contingent, consisting of a set number of forces, arranged into various subdivisions. The third is the cavalry contingent, consisting of all vehicles.

Infantry forces are organized around a set order of battle. At the very basic level there is the squad, consisting of eight men led by a lieutenant. Higher is the platoon, consisting of four squads, totaling thirty-two men, led by a captain. Above that is a company, consisting of four platoons, one of which is specifically dedicated to reconnaissance. A company consists of one hundred and twenty-eight men and is led by a major. Further up is a battalion consisting of four companies, five hundred and twelve men, and is led by a lieutenant colonel. Even further up is the regiment, which consists of four companies, two thousand and forty-eight men, and is led by a colonel. A brigade, led by a brigadier general, is the next evolution and consists of three regiments of six thousand, one hundred, and forty-four men in total. Cavalry forces are organized at the brigade level as well. Further up is the division, which consists of three brigades, led by a major general, and has eighteen thousand, four hundred, and thirty-two men. Higher is the corps, consisting of three divisions, totaling fifty-five thousand, two hundred, and ninety-six men and is led by a major general. Then there is the army, which is led by a four star general and consists of an HQ staff of seven hundred and seventy-eight and a total number of fighting men of one hundred and sixty-five thousand, eight hundred, and eighty-eight. At the highest level is the army group, consisting of three armies, an HQ staff of two thousand, three hundred, and thirty-four, and four hundred, ninety-seven thousand, six hundred, and sixty-four fighting men. Led by a field marshall, a five star general, in essence, an army group contains five hundred thousand men. It represents the highest level of organization under the Imperial Layartebian Army. Within each army group there are a total of twenty-seven divisions, three of which are airborne divisions. Each airborne division is specifically tasked to the aviation brigades and are trained in insertions requiring air drops especially.

Cavalry forces are organized at the brigade level. In total, within the entire ILA, there are three hundred and forty-eight brigades. Within each army group there are eighty-one brigades, providing the bulk of the cavalry force. The remaining twenty-four brigades come from the other eight divisions deployed within the ILA. There are cavalry squadrons acting in both the airborne and infantry rules. All airborne units can be transported with soldiers and are quickest to be deployed.

In total, there are four full army groups, one deployed with the 1st Army Group, the 7th Army Group, the 8th Army Group, and the 10th Army Group. These represent four of the five provinces of the Layartebian Empire. The 9th Army Group, which is tasked with defending the Province of Raef consists only of a corps of men. The 2nd Army Group, tasked simply with October Alliance deployment consists of two infantry divisions. In the 3rd and 4th Army Groups, there is a division in each territory. Between the 5th and 6th Army Groups there is a division deployed as well. Lastly, in the 11th Army Group there is an airborne division. In total, this gives rise to 2,500,000 men in the army who are active. An additional force of some 550,000 reserves is maintained. At its height, during the conquests, the standing army exceeded 8,000,000 soldiers with reserves in excess of 1,750,000.

Imperial Layartebian Defense Forces

The Imperial Layartebian Defense Forces (ILDF) is the primary home guard force of the Imperial Layartebian Military (ILM). The ILDF, like the ILN has a triple attack availability with air, land, and sea. The main and only task of the ILDF is to protect the borders and inner regions of the Empire of Layarteb and all of its territorial holdings. The ILDF constitutes the last line of defense of the conventional forces of the ILM.

The Defense Forces are broken into 11 separate entities: 5 based in provinces, 1 based in the colony, 1 based in a foreign country, and 4 based in the republics. Elements based in a foreign country are based in the Azores in North Germanian territory to support defense of the North Atlantic Ocean.

The aviation division has nearly 13,000 aircraft. It employs its own support and logistics squadrons as well as unmanned aerial vehicles and even weather reconnaissance aircraft. The aviation division is also broken into six commands. There is the Air Defense Command, which is responsible for the main line of defense against ground and airborne threats. The Air Mobility Command is responsible for providing transportation and aerial replenishment. The Coast Guard Command is a non-combat command responsible for maritime rescue. The Maritime Defense Command is responsible, primarily for defense of territorial waters against surface and subsurface threats. The Space Command is responsible for all aerial intelligence and reconnaissance such as AWACS and J/STARS. The Tactical Defense Command is a helicopter unit responsible for defense against land invasions and border protection. There are over 35,000 pilots in the ILDF.

The maritime division has almost 800 naval vessels, over 160 of which are submarines. There are a total of over 70,000 sailors, officers, and pilots in the maritime division. They use state of the art submarines and surface vessels to do a wide array of tasks that include defense of territorial waters, search and rescue, reconnaissance, and civilian research projects, especially those concerning climate change and fisheries. In total, the maritime division displaces 1,850,960 tons.

Infantry and cavalry forces are grouped accordingly, based on the requirements of the Empire. The provinces of Layarteb, Dnalkrad, Ynoga, and South Eastern Virginia all have full national guard group of 125,000 men. Raef has a full division of men numbering around 14,000 men. Each of the four republics have a brigade sized contingent of almost 5,000 men each. There is a division sized contingent deployed to the Colony of Denmad. In addition to these forces and approximately 62,000 vehicles, there are various other forces.

In total, there are roughly 970,000 active forces including 175,000 men attached to the air defense network, 65,000 men within the air forces, 50,000 men attached to the maritime defense network, 130,000 maritime forces, and 550,000 national guardsmen. There are an additional 1,030,000 other forces attached to the ILDF in seven different groups: Border Guards, Civil Defense Forces, Counter-Terrorism Force, Embassy Guards, Infrastructure Protection Forces, Interior Ministry Forces, and Secret Service.

The Border Guards number 250,000 and are responsible for defending the land borders of the Empire of Layarteb by manning outposts and conducting patrols. They include many reservists but are highly trained. The Civil Defense Forces are an "emergency" group consisting of 120,000 men. The Civil Defense Forces are normally inactive and only called up in the event of invasion. These forces train several times during a year and are called upon only if the Empire is going to be overrun or in the event of national disaster. They provide backup to law enforcement personnel in the event of a national disaster in keeping order in towns, cities, and various other centers throughout the Empire of Layarteb. In the event of being overrun, they can provide an irregular fighting force against the enemy and are tasked with post-invasion operations, which include but are not limited to sabotage, assassination, and intelligence gathering. The Counter-Terrorism Force is a federal law enforcement agency of 100,000 men that are dispersed throughout the ministries of justice and the interior. They are primarily tasked with stopping terrorism, both domestic and foreign. The Embassy Guards are a force of only 25,000 men and are responsible for defending embassies and providing security forces at the embassies. The Infrastructure Protection Forces are mainly a paramilitary force of 285,000 men tasked with protection of infrastructure within the Empire in the event of invasion. They are tasked with defending powerplants, bridges, industrial centers, airports, etc. The Interior Ministry Forces are a paramilitary force of 200,000 men, which include spies for the Ministry of Intelligence and the Interior. They have a wide array of tasks, although most of them revolve around irregular military operations and defense operations to support the integrity of the Empire, regardless of the state of the Empire, invasion or not. Lastly, the Secret Service consists of 50,000 men and are body guards for various governmental personnel as well as providing a federal law enforcement agency with significant although limited capabilities.

In total, the ILDF consists of 2,500,000 men.

Imperial Layartebian Navy

While the Imperial Layartebian Air Force (ILAF) is the mainstay of the Imperial Layartebian Military (ILM), the Imperial Layartebian Navy (ILN) is the heart of the ILM. It is the largest branch of service and the most complex. It utilizes air, land, and sea modes of attack and it is a global reaching force with over 1,230 warships. While the ILAF can reach anywhere in the world with its strategic bombers and aerial refueling, only the ILN can go anywhere in the world and be totally self-sufficient. The ILAF cannot utilize ground or sea forces and the ILA focuses on ground whereas its maritime and aerial divisions are not entirely self-sufficient. The ILDF maintains its presence only within the borders of the Empire of Layarteb. The ILN can go anywhere in the world and bring with it fighters capable of air defense and ground attack, aerial refueling tankers, electronics and reconnaissance aircraft, as well as soldiers to fight on the ground, the Marines, and its own shipping. In total, the ILN has around 3,450,000 personnel.

Though the ILAF is usually the first branch to see combat in any war it never strikes without some sort of naval presence and the presence of the ILN usually attacks equally with the ILAF between fighters and cruise missiles. A single carrier battle group is sufficient to destroy entire countries and the ILN as a whole can wage war without help from afar.

The ILN is organized into 7 distinct fleets. The 1st Fleet is based in Norfolk, Virginia and is responsible for the Atlantic Ocean. The 2nd Fleet is based in Niihau, Hawaii and is responsible for the Pacific Ocean. The 3rd Fleet is based in Matara, Sri Lanka and is responsible for the Indian Ocean. The 4th Fleet is based in Akpatok Island, Quebec and is responsible for the Arctic Ocean. The 5th Fleet is based in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and is responsible for the Caribbean Sea. The 6th Fleet is based in Manta, Ecuador and serves as a reserve fleet. Lastly, the 7th Fleet is based in Charleston, South Carolina and is responsible for special operations.

In total, the ILN has over 1,000,000 people between its three tiers, 6,652 aircraft both fixed wing and rotary wing, 19,800 combat vehicles, and 1,230 fighting ships, of which 401 are submarines. Despite the large presence of submarines, the ILN is organized around carrier battle or carrier strike groups. There are amphibious assault groups but those are organized around aircraft and helicopter carriers as well. Submarines play a vital role in the ILN and are usually the first pieces of military equipment into any combat zone long before there is a combat. Submarines can launch deadly, precision strikes against enemy targets while remaining completely undetected. In total, the ILN displaces 43,045,432 tons.

Though not mentioned with any group, the ILN also operates 13 hospital ships of the Relief class. Each one of them is unarmed and operates independently where needed. The ILN also has 440 HLCAC hovercraft at its disposal although some are usually tasked automatically as part of an Amphibious Assault Group.

Paramilitary Forces

Paramilitary Forces of the Imperial Layartebian Military

Like every other country in the world, the Empire of Layarteb contains certain paramilitary forces. At the base level, they include Special Operations Groups and Black Operations Groups but they also encompass agents and assets of the various ministries, including defense, intelligence, interior, and justice. The paramilitary forces of the Empire of Layarteb number roughly 1,000,000 and do not contain reservists. Their existence is strictly denied and classified. The soldiers of these groups are considered highly elite, highly capable, and highly experienced. They represent the best of the best and even the best of the best of the best. Depending on the nature of the threat, these groups can be deployed both on or off Layartebian soil, sometimes in just a few hours. Regardless of the nature, they can be anywhere in the world in a maximum of eighteen hours and can function for days and weeks on end without resupply.

Black Operations Forces: The Black Operations Forces are the most secretive elements of the Imperial Layartebian Military. Existence of these Black Operations Groups (BOGs) is classified to the highest levels of command and is unknown to most military commanders, save for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. All BOGs are under the chain of command of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a whole and are deployed with the Emperor's orders only, although certain standard operating procedures (SOPs) allow them to be deployed immediately and the Emperor informed. BOGs may operate under the authorities of the ministries of defense, intelligence, interior, and justice, depending on the nature of the threat. Each BOG is secret unto itself and the existence of other BOGs is classified even to each individual BOG so that one may not know of the other or the role of the other. There exist little to no links between these BOGs and the Empire of Layarteb. They are capable of striking anywhere in the world within just twelve to eighteen hours as well as performing missions for a sustained duration of time. They are considered the most elite of the elite.

Special Operations Forces: The Special Operations Forces are elite branches of the Imperial Layartebian Military (ILM). They exist within the various branches of the ILM. Existence of these Special Operations Groups (SOGs) is a classified fact on paper. Most countries in the world contain SOGs and the Empire of Layarteb is no exception. Although these groups are classified, their existence denied, and their members carefully trained to avoid detection, their existence is no secret. However, the details of said units and even of all of the units is not known in its entirety except to those with proper clearance. They can be deployed anywhere in the world within eighteen hours and their operations are classified, regardless of the situation. They can operate as law enforcement personnel, body guards, reconnaissance, assassination, protection, etc. Their array of missions is so vast that they can virtually do anything. They are elite soldiers, picked from the ranks of the various branches for further training. Little information is given to recruitment policies, training techniques, or selection processes.

Layarteb

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Contents

History

Early History

Independence

The First Layartebian Civil War

The Republic

The Second Civil War

The Empire & Era of Conquests

Post-Conquests

Government & Politics

Federal Government

Local Government

Governments of the Republics

Domestic Policies

Foreign Relations

Administrative Divisions

Overview

Provinces

Dnalkrad

Layarteb

Raef

South Eastern Virginia

Ynoga

City-States

Falcon City

Washington City

Federal City

Layarteb City

Republics

Atlantic

Icelandic

Irish

Western

Colonies & Territories

Amazonian Territory

Colony of Denmad

Climate

Culture

Demographics

Economy

Geography

Military

Summary

Organization & Structure

Figures & Statistics

Figures

Personnel

Imperial Layartebian Air Force

Imperial Layartebian Army

Imperial Layartebian Defense Forces

Imperial Layartebian Navy

Paramilitary Forces

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