It started with two major empires developing on the East and West ends of Volandra. The two countries had lived in relative peace, acknowledging each other's existence, but reluctant to establish a more intimate trade relationship for various reasons.
The Eastern kingdom of Hubranch grew as a primarily farming society by virtue of its rich soil, trading around it’s grain, produce, animal products, spices, and other such materials to the neighboring empires and kingdoms throughout Volandra.
The Western empire of Bolandy grew alongside the Alpha River. With plentiful access to raw construction materials, in the form of lumber from the two nearby forests, and quarried stone and metals mined from the Blythemack Heights to the North, Bolandy was able to develop a powerful industrial economy that made them the technological powerhouse of Volandra.
One day, word reached Hubranch that monsters and Dwarves-turned-Duergar had begun to rise out of the Blythemack Heights, and the Empire of Bolandy petitioned them for assistance in dealing with the crisis. Hubranch sent a legion of soldiers and tons of supplies to aid Bolandy, and the two powers were able to push back the monsters and seal the entrance. After the matter was settled and thanks were given out, a strange red woman who went by nothing but Cinder approached the two emperors of both empires with a prophecy: "So long as their forces would stay together, they would never see a total defeat."
From there the two emperors and all their advisors met, discussing what could be meant by the prophecy, and potentially forging a strong alliance. That is when a young soldier who had earned his position in the War of the Surface spoke up, offering the idea of a confederation. The assembly pondered the idea before Emperor Josan of Bolandy walked over and offered his hand to King Namal of Hubranch, and the two agreed to work as one nation moving forward. From there the Cinder Confederation continued to expand, adding more kingdoms and other governments to their confederation as provinces, until they encompassed all the green lands of Volandra.
These additions were not always peaceful and consenting however, as a few decades after the foundation of the Confederation the population began to look at the already large amount of land the Cinder Confederation controlled and desire more. Looking to expand the Cinder Confederation across Volandra’s land. In many cases this was peaceful, the Confederation would send out an envoy offering sovereign nations the many benefits a member province of the Confederation would receive. Often the free trade, additional funds, and other benefits would lead to smaller countries joining write away. But some countries, fearing the ever-growing reach of the Confederation, would strike out against them when the offer was made, fearing the consequences of denial. This would lead to war with the Confederation and the annexation of the offending country after the victory. The Confederation would then immediately send relief and the other offered benefits of being members of the Confederation, winning over some of that province’s population, and over time gaining the support of the majority of most provinces.
The Cinder Confederation is made up of several provinces, the primary two historically being Hubranch and Bolandy. There are currently 23 total provinces, though most are smaller areas that hold little power outside of the rising province of Felaria.
The Confederation uses a single legislative body that meets in the guarded town of Llewellyn. Every province within the Confederation gets at least two delegates, but those with a larger population may have up to five delegates. The delegates meet during each equinox and stay at Llewellyn until all issues have been resolved or two months have passed, whichever comes first. Each province is able to pick their own delegates to this legislative body by whichever method they wish.
The Head of State resides in the capital of the Confederation, Croit which is in the Bolandy Province. This figure is in charge of the Confederation army (though must get major troop movements approved outside of war time) and receives a certain percentage of the federal taxes to work for the betterment of the Confederation (which they may essentially do as they wish with). This figure is also in charge of collecting the taxes and receiving foreign dignitaries. The Head of State is chosen through the Volandrian Hexadiel, where each province may select six champions to represent them in a combat tournament. The province whose champions win the tournament is able to choose the Head of State.
Provinces may be added by approval of either the majority of the current provinces or half the provinces and both Bolandy and Hubranch. Leaving the confederacy peacefully has not happened and thus has not been discussed. The only instance of leaving was the Hayling War, but as that was a full revolution against that provincial government it was not noted as a legal independence movement. Each province maintains its own style of government but must follow a set of rules laid out by the Confederation. This involves paying taxes to the Confederation, not keeping slaves, follow export taxes, the provinces may make no aggressive stances to other countries or each other, and a few others.
The power structure of the Cinder Confederation has grown increasingly volatile within the last decade. Many noble houses are clinging to the wealth and power they have grown so accustomed to, while the general populace rallies for equality and freedom. With the recent fall of Howe to Yarmehtoo occurring alongside this, everything is on the cusp of dramatic change. Two groups currently stand at the forefront of this political civil war, the Twilight Assembly and the Liberatum.
Major Provinces (Lists of the Major Provinces within the Confederation as well as a deeper dive into Bolandy and Hubranch)
Minor Provinces (Several of the other provinces that make up the Cinder Confederation but do not hold as much sway in it)
Kuokoa Isles (The island chain that broke away in the Hayling War and what became of them)
Blythemack Heights (A greater description of the mountains to the North of the Confederation and what they look like after the war)
Defa'er Grove (A look at the Northern forest of Volandra and the strange and dangerous goings on in it)
Dartleheim Forest (A look at the Western forest of the continent)
Lake of Wishes (A description of the Northern lake and the mysteries behind it)
Yarmehtoo (The nation that took Howe and is openly at war with the Confederation)
The Liberatum (People's Faction)
Twilight Assembly (Noble's Faction)