Izeryk

The Izeryk, officially known as The Union of the Izeryk (Izersprek: De Unjon—Izeryk), is a country in western Avinia, lying shortly off the coast of the north-western Avinian mainland. Izeryk includes the entirety of the Izeryker subcontinent—consisting of one large island and many smaller islands—and is completely surrounded by the Aegiric Ocean. The country consists of the realm core (Rykern), seven principalities (Prinsryk), and five duchies (Hartokryk) covering an area of 2,774,080 km2 (1,071,080 square miles) and containing about 281 million people.

Izeryk is an elective constitutional monarchy governed by a mixture of canon law and civil law. The monarch, Empress Anika II, was elected to the throne by a joint congress of Izeryk's noble peers and Apostolic clergy in 2007 from a list of eligible heirs provided by the royal family. Before ascending to the crown, Anika II served as the Princess of Buitenvoud—the head of state of Izeryk's southwesternmost subdivision. As a federation of 13 lesser monarchies ruled by six different noble families, Izeryk's subdivisions have significant autonomy over specific policy areas and family and regional political maneuvering plays a large part in national governance. With the exception of Rykern—which is ruled by the monarch of Izeryk—each subdivision has its own devolved governance. Principalities are ruled at-large by princesses or princes of the Izeryk royal family who earn their posts via a hereditary process and rule with the consent of a council of their subordinate dukes, counts, and viscounts. Duchies meanwhile are typically smaller in area and are ruled by independent noble families. They are more diverse in their governance when compared to principalities, with some being hereditary (with various succession systems) and others being elective. All duchies, including those subordinate to principalities, and the principalities themselves send an ambassador to the Congress of Nobles to represent the ruling noble class around the country.