Alter-Dragonian Combine
The Alter-Dragonian Combine (or simply, The Combine), is a relatively new nation formed during the Combine War, consisting of many of the older nations and city-states on the planet of Alter-Dragon.
Contents
Land
The Combine proclaims dominion over the majority of the eastern continent of the planet of Alter-Dragon. From the far northlands once maintained by the Kingdom of Windia to the farthest southern tip of The Highlands, and stretching east to west to both coastlines (though not over the length of the entire continent) are within the Combine’s claimed borders.
Population
The Combine’s population is as diverse as they come. In addition to humans, who are largely either Drogen refugees or off-world immigrants, Primans, Armataurs, Tigrans, Guntzans (Gants), Krydions, Simans, and Highlanders make up the bulk of the Combine’s populace.
Numerically, it is impossible to gauge the Combine’s population levels. With large groups of wandering refugees from both the previous war against the old New Drogen Alliance and the more recent wars of unification in the Highlands, mobility and a lack of transparency in the dense undercountry conspire against researches attempting to establish solid numbers. The largest and most active Combine cities, Coursair and Capitan, each boast populations of more than a million people.
Religion
The Combine government endorses no official religion, but tolerates the worship of Alter-Dragon’s primary deities Namanda and The Dragon God. There are reports that many of the Drogen and Windian churches devoted to the Dragon God have been closed by Combine forces, but these are unverified.
Economy
The Combine boasts the most elaborate and complex economy of nearly any Fringe nation. Capitan and Coursair serve a hubs for the exportation and importation of mass quantities of goods. Guntz and The Pasturelands are massive producers of machines and foods, respectively. The Combine directs trade with off-planetary groups on Alter-Mana and in recent times has pushed into the Core world markets.
Law
Law is largely established by the local rulers of each individual province. The Executive Council has handed down a decree of written Combine laws regarding taxes, fealty, use of lands, and trade procedures, but has left the day-to-day business of running each province to their appointed provincial leaders.
Government
Combine President
The face of the Combine among other nations and in the Web of Worlds is the President. Possessing little real power, the President is the chief ambassador but also, from a legal standpoint, the ultimate commander of the Combine’s armies. The President maintains a small staff of advisors and breaks ties that may occur in either of the lower houses. The President’s term is life, and he is appointed by the Executive Council.
Executive Council
The true ruling body of the Combine, the Executive Council maintains power in some form over every other arm of government. The Council appoints its own members (the number of which is not fixed), who serve life terms and can only be removed by a unanimous vote by the Council. The Council has the power to appoint the Combine President, dissolve either or both of the houses of government, and replace and appoint judges to the Court of Final Appeal. The Council is made up entirely of Primans.
House of Deputies
The lowest ruling house of the Combine. The Deputies are elected by national ballot and serve two year terms. There are currently 90 seats in this house, a number fixed by decree of the Executive Council. The House of Deputies may issue proclamations and pass legislation, which also must be passed by the House of Notables and endorsed by the Council before it may become law.
House of Notables
The higher ruling house of the Combine. These are appointed directly by the Council and include most provincial governors and leaders. The House of Notables rarely meets and is a sign of status within the Combine, rather than a true legislative and deliberative body.
Court of Final Appeal
What matters of law that are not settled by the provincial rulers that demand the Combine’s attention are settled by the Court of Final Appeal, a three-person body that is appointed directly by the Council. Rulings by the Court are final.
Internal and Foreign Politics
Internal Politics
Because power in the Combine's government is so centralized, there is little in the way of a vibrant political atmosphere in the Combine. Elections are largey ceremonial, and problems and divisions are handled internally, through back channels by members of the Executive Council and their associates in the Priman Merchant's Guild.
Foreign Politics
The Combine faces the challenge of re-casting itself in a more positive light after the harsh and brutal Combine War and the formation of a central authoritarian government. As such, many Combine ambassadors are regular visitors and guests of notable heads-of-state Web wide, currying favor and goodwill, and ensuring that trade among all the Combine's partners remains vibrant. In particular, the Combine has close ties with the Nekos of Alter-Mana.
Military
The Combine maintains a large standing army consisting of, among other things, conscripts and magical abominations known as Joinings.
Native Hardware
A period of rapid industrialization following the discovery of the Alter Dimension brought Guntz and the surrounding towns to a roughly Great War-era level of technology. Though the factories of Guntz are limited in what they produce to ground-based artillery and light tanks, these pieces are far and away the most powerful on the planet.
Stolen/Acquired Hardware
The Combine, being an outgrowth of the more shadowy Priman Merchant's Guild secured in the days leading up to the Combine War a contingent of Guardian fighters from Merge Colony, through blackmail. This tactic has been widely used through many of the Guild's dealings, and the Combine's main forces are butressed with many state-of-the-art atmospheric fighters, tanks, and artillery.
Joinings
The backbone of the Combine's forces and the key element to the series of quick and total victories in the Combine War were the Joinings. Formed of Uniscali fusing magics, the Joinings are living amalgamations of volunteers and prisoners. Many are simply great walls of flesh with arms and legs, but some are created for more specialized purposes, such as sneak attacks.
People
Combine President Bullram Axhind
Supreme General Trubolon
Queen Lupis
Consul LaFayette
