The Unclaimed North

The Unclaimed North is an unofficial term, used in select company, to describe the northern part of Tikaj not currently under the rule of the Keizon Empire. While the term would never be bandied about in front of commoners, it is exchanged between nobles within the Empire, and verbally (but never put on record) within the Keizornan Senate.   The Empire was formed over three centuries ago and has been gaining territories through various means (mostly underhanded) in phases ever since. It currently takes up more than half of the mainland, and about half of the entire continent. There are a few independent states in the south, but most are located in the north.   When one references the Unclaimed North, it is generally a term used covetingly. Notable nations within the Unclaimed North are Rupendu (the Empire’s greatest enemy), Caistria (the other mainland superpower), and the two Collectives: Shynok, which is made up of Mainland Shynok, North Shynok, and the islands of East Shynok; and Sorgrad, which controls Grad, Tagrad, Nagrad, and two lots of United Islands. These are the main powers outside of the Empire in Tikaj. Also much coveted is the Divine Kingdom of Kanpalakatafa, which while tiny holds great political influence, and Blueland, which—near destitute and likely to soon be an Empire territory—has the potential to be a solid bargaining chip with Shynok.   The Empire has not expanded its borders in almost a century, due to focusing most of its attention on (re)claiming its conflict territories; however, the Senate plays a long game, laying groundwork for future moves to claim territories, and are always on the lookout for opportunities that present themselves. The fact that the Unclaimed North is significant enough to have such an idiom attached to it is a source of motivation for the Senate to make it an immaterial one by expanding its borders into it.