Council of the West

The Council of the West (西方諸国評議会) is a gathering of human nations to the west of the Great Jura Forest.

Background
The Council of the West was originally established as a collaborative initiative aimed at addressing the looming menace of monstrous threats. Over time, its role evolved into a formidable organization primarily designed to serve as a check on the Eastern Empire's influence. Gradually, it assumed a central role in arbitrating international affairs among its member nations.

Situated at the very heart of this council was the Kingdom of Ingrassia. Geographically, Ingrassia's location made it the most convenient focal point for council members to convene. Consequently, it became the natural choice for the headquarters of the Free Guild, an organization closely intertwined with the council. It is worth noting that while the Kingdom of Falmuth held considerable power within the council's ranks, a deliberate decision was made to prevent any single nation from wielding excessive influence over the assembly.

Ingrassia, as the designated headquarters, possessed a unique advantage. Unlike its fellow council member nations, it did not share a border with the Jura Forest, thus affording it an added layer of stability and protection from the menacing threat posed by monsters. This advantageous geographic positioning played a pivotal role in Ingrassia's selection as the headquarters of the Council.

Political Power
The Council acted as a mediator between nations, weighing each member's interests against the others’ and managing them to prevent conflict. It held power in both economic and political circles, making it a strikingly influential group in the region.

The council had no standing military force as it didn't need one. That's because, in a way, the Council formed the higher bureaucracy of the Free Guild itself. The money paid to adventurers for slaying monsters came from Council funding—and in exchange, the council had the right to give orders to the guild.

This funding came from contributions provided by each member nation, which varied depending on how much speaking rights each one had. Refusing to pay these meant leaving the council. It was a way for the council to gain a louder voice in local affairs, using the shield of security it offered members. Many nations relied almost wholly upon the guild for monster management, and that meant there was no choice for them but to support the council.

War Policies
Within the Western Nations, the member countries of the Council of the West generally maintained a remarkable peace among themselves. Even in the rare instances where conflicts did arise, they strictly adhered to formal declarations of war and a set of stringent rules governing warfare. Deviation from these rules would trigger a collective response from the Council, with all member nations rallying against the transgressor.

For situations where non-member nations were engaged in disputes, the Council maintained a policy of non-interference, regardless of the victor or loser. However, if one of the parties involved in such conflicts engaged in exceptionally cruel and inhumane conduct beyond reason, it would undoubtedly tarnish that nation's standing within the Council's ranks.

The dynamics shifted significantly when a member nation of the Council found itself under invasion by an external force. In such cases, member nations possessed the right to request assistance and support from the Council. This principle formed a pivotal rationale behind the Council's inclusion of numerous small kingdoms among its membership, as it ensured collective defense and solidarity in times of peril.

Notable Members
The Following is a list of some of the various Western Nations:
 * General Kingdom of Doran
 * Kingdom of Blumund
 * Kingdom of Coleus
 * Kingdom of Falmuth
 * Kingdom of Ingrassia
 * Kingdom of Malukshure
 * Kingdom of Rostia
 * Kingdom of Siltrosso
 * The Republic of Zamund
 * Recently Joined: Jura Tempest Federation

Trivia

 * The Council of the West parallels the United Nations from the real world, albeit with much more power.
 * Following the events of Hero Awakening, it became evident that the Council had effectively fallen under the control of Tempest, primarily through the influence of Testarossa. Many of the council members began to regard Tempest with a mixture of fear and respect, eventually leading some to resign from their positions due to the overwhelming influence exerted by Testarossa.