The International Alliance
The International Alliance is a protective agreement the majority of the explored territory came to in the early 900s, a little over 100 years after the Aquatics Alliance between mer, maren, and naga was formed. It protects a country's right to exist under its own form of government, without the risk of being invaded or left to fend for themselves during hardships.
The International Alliance is best known for opening up trade routes and allowing the safe travel of citizens over the planet.
To join the alliance, countries must first gain approval of at least 51% of the countries already in the alliance, and then their current government must sign a legal document stating that they understand the terms of the alliance.
Breaching the alliance results in the alienation of the country. Their trade routes will be cut off, and to continue trading with a country that has broken the alliance is considered a breach of its own.
Terms of the Alliance
1. The borders between countries must be clearly agreed upon and respected. An exception is made for Das and Leng’sor Adedu Isl, who share several islands peacefully.
2. An education for at least one form of the International language must be made accessible for all citizens. If a citizen cannot afford the education or access classes, the government should provide private tutors free of charge.
3. A marriage between citizens of different countries creates an automatic joint citizenship that makes the couple legal citizens of both countries and allows them to travel freely between their two homes. Unless there is a good reason to deny them access.
4. Arrested citizens must be returned to their home country if their sentence would last more than 4 months, unless permission is given by their government to have their sentence served in the country they are currently visiting/residing in. The government may not physically punish or execute foreign prisoners without the permission of a country they hold citizenship in.
5. If able, a country must provide relief efforts during famine or disaster.
6. Theft from another country —whether it be land, supplies, or people— is forbidden.
7. Knowingly allying or trading with a country that has breached the rules of the alliance will be considered taking part in the breach and the ally will receive the same penalty as the infringer.
Benefits
Expanded Trade Routes
One of the benefits of joining the International Alliance is that it opens up many more trade routes, direct and indirect.
It ensures the safety of cargo passing through any country in the alliance; meaning that it is much easier to ship cargo through other country's lands. Though not required, the country that the cargo is being sent through will often allow senders to register their cargo and insure the items in case of theft. This provides official documents of all resources coming in and out of the country and minimises the risks to the economy of the country sending the items.
Citizen Safety
Because of terms 3, 4, and 6, countries in the alliance are able to ensure the safety of their citizens when they travel outside of their own lands.
International Warrants
International warrants help protect countries from dangerous criminals fleeing across borders. An international warrant gives all countries in the alliance permission to capture and/or punish wanted criminals without contacting the other governments and exempts the criminal from the safety given by term 4 of the alliance.
In order for a criminal to be given an international warrant, they must be wanted in 2 or more countries with at least one of their crimes having caused harm to another person; or be wanted in 7 or more countries for minor crimes.
Generally, international warrants will list the crimes of the person and whether or not they must be taken alive.
Notable Infringes
Coto’s kidnapping and enslavement of Ayaka’Doka Nuk citizens breached rule 6 of the alliance. Because of this, Ayaka’Doka Nuk’s involvement in Coto’s civil war was permitted. Since the end of the war, Coto and Ayaka'Doka Nuk have had extremely good relations.
Konde’s invasion of Bonark in 9,205 AE and the resulting war was considered a major breach and Konde wasn’t brought back into the International Alliance until the early 10,000s (through marriage to a Canis La’Can diplomat). Though no more breaches have been recorded, Konde’s reputation still suffers due to their belief the invasion was justified and their continuing refusal to trade with Bonark.
Sapious’ attack on Fallen Cloud and their murder of Canis La’Can’s king and prince in the early 10,000s were breaches of the alliance. Sapious was eventually completely seized by Canis La’Can’s Queen Distro, who demanded its reinstatement back into the alliance upon its return to Sapious’ surviving prince and heir. Sapious’ reputation has since improved, and they are now considered one of the most peaceful countries on Demrefor.
The Heck’ne’s kidnapping of Empire, Rendi, and Das citizens in the 10,000s was an infringement of rule 6 and so they were removed from the alliance. However, under the rule of the Prophet Tru'man, Heck’ne formally apologised for their actions and established an alliance with Konde. During the rule of Prophet Ta'kora the Heck'ne officially returned to the International Alliance. Their reputation is still recovering from their negative history, but they haven’t breached the alliance since.
In 11,629 AE Canis La’Can’s Queen Distro assaulted a Lakua diplomat; holding him down and drawing multiple penises on his face. Her only reason (“he was a little bitch and had it coming”) was agreed to be an acceptable defence by the majority of those in the alliance and she suffered no official consequences, though trades between Canis La’Can and Lakua stopped for over 400 years.
Incidents Not Considered Breaches
The Bar’tark civil war was not considered a breach as it was between members of their own government.
The Land of Night Magic’s cult war was not a breach, even though it affected countries in the alliance, as the Land of Night Magic was not a member of the alliance at the time the war took place.
Valenor raids dating before 9,548 AE are not considered breaches of the alliance due to valenor being considered Mystics.
Star Seer tribal wars are not breaches of the alliance, provided the tribes serve under the same Spirit Caller.
Wars between two countries that are part of the Felinic Gallamor are not considered a breach of the alliance unless 60% or more of the Gallamor representatives agree it is.
Kazzaquin’s trades with Konde during the Konde/Bonark war were not considered a breach of the alliance, as the trades were exports to Kazzaquin during famine, adhering to term 5.
Tssu and Turent's invasion of Dilia in 1,053 AE was never officially registered a breach of the Alliance by government officials, though most citizens agree it should have been.
Countries Not In The Alliance
Not all countries are a part of the International Alliance, and many entered into the alliance late. Famous examples of this are the Gallamor (joined in 6,562 AE) and Heck’ne (joined and left the alliance several times in the 10,000s).
Left The Alliance
•The Land of Night Magic (left in 4,502 AE over an argument with the Nurlak Islands over who owned the Ferestet farms)
•Kai’Aki (left upon its disappearance in 1,603 AE)
•The Passage (joined with Heck’ne’s first contract and did not officially rejoin on the second contract due to an oversight by the ruling Prophet)
Never Been In The Alliance
•Hyena Island
•Home
•Jangle
•Labuntur
•Torat
•Flu’Ta
•Craw’law