Argland Council State

Argland Council State (アーグランド評議国) is a demi-human nation located northwest of the Re-Estize Kingdom and surrounded by mountains.

Background
The Argland Council State is a state formed by demi-humans two hundred years ago during the era of the Evil Deities. Currently, they live together harmoniously side by side.

In the Web Novel, the demi-humans that are part of this country comprised of various races. For instance, Panasolei Gruze Day Rettenmaier stated that there were goblins and ogres who reside in their nation. Also it appears that marine races like the Sea Lizardmen and Mermen are also members of the Council State.

While so, the reigning leaders are the Five Dragon Councillors who lawfully set the policies for the nation. The Five Dragon Councillors are said to be very powerful.

On the other hand, this nation focuses on teaching unknown spells born from the wisdom of the Dragons to their magic casters.

The Dark Warrior Arc
The Argland Council State was briefly mentioned by the Swords of Darkness as they listed the various prominent figures in the New World.

The Lizard Man Heroes Arc
While reviewing a map of the New World with Albedo, Ainz concluded that Nazarick would have to be careful with approaching the Argland Council State, likely ware of Dragon Councilors that rule it.

The Invaders of the Large Tomb Arc
After Nazarick took control over Eight Fingers, Ainz noted that the tomb still had very little information available regarding the Council State.

When the various Worker groups hired to raid Nazarick discussed the strongest individuals they know of one of them brought up the Dragon Lords leading the Council State. Also, when comparing the strength of human warriors, the Workers decided to exclude the Council State's swordsmen, since they are mostly composed of demi-humans.

After Aura and Mare invaded the imperial palace of the Baharuth Empire with their dragons, someone almost mistakenly thought it was one of the Council State's Dragon Councilors.

The Ruler of Conspiracy Arc
When Ainz tried to convince Pluton Ainzach of humans need to coexist alongside other races, he makes a comparison to the Council State with its diversity of races living peacefully together.

Later, during a conference of the Slane Theocracy's leadership, it was noted that the reason why they had not conquered the Re-Estize Kingdom themselves was that would leave them bordering the Council State, which would inevitably lead to war.

The Witch of the Falling Kingdom Arc
The Council State was said to be actively negotiating with the Re-Estize Kingdom for an alliance against the Sorcerer Kingdom. Unfortunately, during the emergency meeting held after the Sorcerer Kingdom declared war on the Kingdom, when King Ramposa III asked how talks with the Council State were progressing, Crown Prince Zanac regretfully informed his father that nothing had been agreed on yet, effectively leaving the Kingdom to fend for itself.

After news of the Sorcerer Kingdom's declaration of war became public, the Council State was one of the nations that the Kingdom's citizens who could afford it considered fleeing to, due to its proximity. However, the Karsanas City-State Alliance was ultimately the more popular option, as it had a higher human population.

Unbeknownst to the Kingdom, while the Sorcerer Kingdom claimed that they would commence with their invasion in a month, they had already begun their attack, focussing mainly on the nation's northern regions to cut them off from the Council State.

While their attempt at an alliance had fallen through, one of the Council State's Dragon Councilors, Tsaindorcus Vaision, still ended up coming to the Kingdom's aid by attempting to assassinate the Sorcerer King, although he was likely acting on her own here. Unfortunately, the attempt failed and, despite operating under an alias, Demiurge managed to deduce his connection to the Council State.

Culture
The nation appears to be composed of demi-humans, humans being a minority. In fact, humans made up less than 10% of the country’s population.

Religion
It is currently unknown what the Council State's primary religion is. However, since it is a nation composed of various races, it likely has similarly numerous amount of religions.

Politics
The Council State is the only known democratic nation in the New World. It functions on a parliamentary system, with each seat being taken up by a representative from a race inhabiting the country elected through a periodic popular vote amongst said race. The exception to this system is the five Dragon Councilors, who in addition to there being five representatives for a single race also hold permanent seats in the parliament. It is unknown why this exception exists, though could be due to the members' great power or just bias since the Council State was founded by one of the members.

The Council-State is also one of only two nations in the region capable of setting national-level organizations.

Military Strength
As of yet, there is no concrete knowledge or evidence of the Argland Council State's military background. However, it was noted that this nation is one of the few places where Wild Magic may still be practiced. From the perspective of the Slane Theocracy's Cardinals, they were said to be very powerful, with the Platinum Dragon Lord being among their councilors.

In the Web Novel, the country seems to enlist Dragon Knights in their ranks. As well as the adventurers are mostly comprised of demi-humans. There are about four adventurer parties that are around the same rank as Blue Roses.

Foreign Relations
The Council State is one of the two military superpowers of its region of the New World, the other being the Slane Theocracy. However, it has historically preferred to stay neutral out of fear of retaliation from its counterpart while also trying its best to restrict its rival's moments as well. Following the founding of the Sorcerer Kingdom, however, the Council State has begun to take a more active role to protect the New World from what it perceives as an existential threat.

Slane Theocracy
According to the Theocracy's leadership, citizens of the Council State and Theocracy actively hate each other. This is mostly due to the Theocracy's doctrine promoting discrimination against demi-humans, prompting the Council State to hate them right back in kind.

However, both nations are aware of their military limitations and thus hesitant to wage open war against each other, which would most likely result in mutual destruction. In a way, the two nations keep each other in check, with neither being willing to overreach out of fear of provoking the other. The Council State particularly tries to restrict the movements of the Theocracy's God-kin.

Overall, despite the extremely tense relationship between them, the Council State and Theocracy still maintain political dialogue with each other.

Baharuth Empire
According to Jircniv Rune Farlord El-Nix, the Baharuth Empire maintains political dialogue with the Council through its ministry of foreign affairs.

Sorcerer Kingdom
After the founding of the Sorcerer Kingdom, the Council State seems to regard them as a severe threat to the New World. As a result, one Dragon Councilor, Tsaindorcus Vaision, has been actively pushing for a military alliance with the Kingdom against the Sorcerer Kingdom. However, the other Dragon Councilors, and regular Councilors as well, have been more hesitant to take an aggressive stance, seemingly preferring to instead remain neutral while maintaining a political dialogue with the fellow demi-human nation.

Unfortunately, as a result of Tsaindorcus' attempting to assassinate the Sorcerer King without his fellow councilors' consent, tensions between the Council State and the Sorcerer Kingdom are likely to only escalate further.

Re-Estize Kingdom
The Kingdom was the Council State's neighbor to the south and served as a buffer country between itself and the Theocracy. Perhaps because of this, for the longest time, the Council State had seemingly no political dialogue with the Kingdom, fearing potential retaliation from the Theocracy.

However, following the founding of the Sorcerer Kingdom, the Council State attempted to form an alliance with the Kingdom against their mutual foe. Unfortunately, talks were progressing slowly, with not many councilors being sold on the idea, causing the Alliance to ultimately not be formed on time before the Sorcerer Kingdom began their conquest of the Kingdom. Afterward, the idea of an alliance was seemingly abandoned, since it was the Kingdom who technically instigated their conflict with the Sorcerer Kingdom.

Despite their attempt at a military alliance falling through, at least one councilor still came to the Kingdom's aid by attempting to assassinate the Sorcerer King. However, it seems that the said councilor acted on his own and the rest of the Council State's leadership had no intention of aiding the Kingdom.

Elf Country
While the Council State's exact relationship with the Elf Country is unknown, the fact the Slane Theocracy's Cardinals believed that they would not interfere with their attempt to assassinate the Elf King implies that the two nations are not on good terms.

Five Dragon Councillors

 * Platinum Dragon Lord
 * Blue Sky Dragon Lord
 * Diamond Dragon Lord
 * Obsidian Dragon
 * Wyrm Dragon

Others

 * Azuth Aindra

Trivia

 * The Argland Council State was one of Platinum Dragon Lord experiments, and has created many strongholds over the years, and experimented with building various communities.