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Zalesian Federation

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The Zalesian Federation is a constituent federation of the Asterian Union State, situated along the western reaches of the eponymous continent. The second-largest of the Union State's continental federations, it is superceded only by the Kashlikian Federation. Zalesia is bordered to the west by the Kingdom of Chrysony, and bordered to the east by the Union State federations of Turukan and Kashlik. Its capital and largest city is Bogomolsk, with other major urban centers including Zolotograd, Zhelezny Port and Triglav. Due in part to Zalesia's founding role in the Union State, Zalesian culture has become the de-facto 'high culture' of the Union State, influencing uniform styles and military organizational methods. The Zalesian language also serves as the “common language” of the Union State, facilitating communication between the diverse and numerous peoples of Asteria.

History

Preceding the founding of the Union State, the territories of the Zalesian Federation, the Turukani Federation and the Kashlik Federation were under the domain of the Zalesian State, an authoritarian and pseudo-theocratic federal republic established in the aftermath of the triumph of reactionary forces over Labourists in the Second Smuta (864-873 S.C.). The murder of the entire Zalesian branch of the imperial Hohenburg dynasty preceding the conflict ultimately left the state in the hands of a provisional regency without a crown. Disagreements and internal squabbles regarding the monarchy (and how it might be continued) led to the foundation of the Zalesian State, which largely upheld the values and ideals of its predecessor, sans Tsar.

Thus the 'new' regime largely continued the policies of the old imperial regime, resuming adventures into the southern and eastern reaches of the Asterian continent and contending with Serica over influence in the 'Great Game,' a centuries-old dispute between Zalesia, Serica, and outside imperial powers over dominance on the Asterian continent. Serica's own republican revolution in the early 10th century S.C. did little to change this status quo, though the advent of new technologies served to intensify the scale and devastation of the conflicts between the two aspiring continental hegemonies.

By the time of the Twilight War, the two opposing powers' spheres of influence had been set, though not officially assuming membership. Where Serica earned the support of the Allied Powers, Zalesia had sought the approval of the International Avant-Garde. The ensuing Asterian Theatre of the Twilight War would prove to be one of the most deadly battlefields of the conflict, seeing the heavy use of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Gene-engineered plagues obliterated crop yields, bringing about starvation that would go on to kill in the tens of millions. In their desperation, both powers turned to the use of anomalous, highly-classified 'boundless weapons,' utilizing an energy form unknown to the broader world, yet studied extensively by the continent's esoterics. Their use and exchange in battlefields from Kashlik to Orubia would see the formation of the Kashlik Vortex as well as the Shortugai, Mundigak and Azag Cyclones, metaphysical 'geotrauma' brought about from their reality-altering properties.

The two powers would participate in the subsequent Great Exchange, which left both Zalesia and Serica thoroughly devastated by atomic hellfire. Control gradually shifted from civilian offices to the hands of siloviki, charismatic leadership figures hailing from the nation's military and security apparatus. Even in the aftermath of the Twilight War, sporadic fighting persisted between the two powers, despite cratering morale and increasing dissent. Many perceived themselves as having been 'used' by the Allies and the Avant-Garde, who were now one and the same with the founding of the Coalition of Congressional Nations. One such figure would be Mikhail Voronin, a high-ranking officer of the Okhrana. Together with a cadre of likeminded officials and military elements, he conducted a swift, successful coup of Zalesia's government in 979 S.C. (0001 R.C.).

Wide-spanning purges followed in his wake, solidifying his hold on power. While initially painting himself as an apolitical patriot merely wishing to bring the troops home, by 0005 R.C., his ideals had gradually taken form with the foundation of the Revolutionary Prostasist Party, with a manifesto he had drafted alongside a number of philosophers and visionaries. Voronin pursued reconciliation with Compatriot Society-controlled Serica, capitalizing on similar bitter sentiments towards their mutual role in the Twilight War. The Treaty of Kosogorsk in 0008 R.C. would officially conclude the Great Game, laying down a mutual framework of reconciliation regarding the Kashlik frontier both nations aggressively disputed.

The peace process would be interrupted in 0009 R.C. with the Ningyang Incident, nearly leading to a continuation of hostilities between the bear and dragon. However, this would be completely reversed following thorough investigation, which revealed the role of Tenzan's Public Security Office in the bombing of Ningyang Naval Base. Paranoia regarding the newly-established Coalition would only grow in the years that followed, leading to further detente between the two powers, spurred on by mutual fears of Coalition involvement in the continent. Driven by these fears, the Consensus of Xinjing took place in 0014 R.C., leading to the establishment of the Asterian Union State.

Under the terms of the Consensus, Zalesia and Serica settled all border conflicts, reorganizing themselves as 'federations' under a common 'Union State,' motivated by a common ethnofederalist consensus. Kashlik, Aniran and Turukan would be separated from Zalesia as their own, separate federations, while Serica revoked all claims beyond its antebellum borders and granted autonomy to the regions of Jinsha, Haigga, Lanto, Tong and Hemeng as 'ethnic republics' under the broader Serican Federation, while Topat was reorganized into a distinct federation. While Voronin would go on to become the first Vozhd of the Union State, Serica's president Liu Xuchang would act as its first Premier. This unspoken power-sharing agreement has continued into the present, with the Union State's paramount offices typically held by a Zalesian and a Serican in either role, with sporadic exceptions.