The stalemate in the Thraxian Civil War looks set to end as the faction officially led by self-styled Queen Leila has begun to push south into territory presently controlled by her father, King Shapur. Leilan forces have moved down the western coast of the nation, forcing Shapurian forces to retreat. Additionally, further Leilan forces in the south of the country are attempting to push north up the same coast, presumably aiming to make contact with their northern siblings and join up two of the three patches of Leilan territory.
Queen Leila, the fourteen-year-old alleged monarch, while officially in charge of her faction’s territory, is widely believed to be a puppet for the unknown forces who killed the former Chief Advisor Jared Hashemi and took over his territory in July 2025. Numerous rumours have spread regarding the identity of these forces, but none have been confirmed. Varying sources have alleged these forces are Kerlian, Xiomeran, or Saladian. One rumour claims they are Shuellian mercenaries working solely for private corporations with no state power involved; while another suggests they are “Auroras” – former Kerlian sleeper agents.
While the territory previously claimed by Chief Advisor Hashemi changed hands to Leila’s forces in July 2025, this was without a shifting of boundaries – and no other territorial changes have happened since November 2024. The three factions – currently led by King Navid, King Shapur and Queen Leila (who are three generations of the same family) have remained entrenched in their positions, refraining from any true attempt at expansion.
Since July, while territory has remained the same, a number of policy changes have occurred across all three factions. The Leilan faction rescinded the decree granting cats citizenship; and vastly liberalised gender laws, granting women the same rights in law as men. The Navidian faction has renamed their claimed state from Zargothrax to New Thraxia. And the Shapurian faction has changed the state religion from Zoroastrianism to the new religion founded by Shapur himself, “Harf Garbeh”, which literally translates to “the Word of Cat”.
Meanwhile on Samara Island, which Shapur granted independence before the outbreak of civil war, the residents have been spared any fighting. The island has become a go-to tourist destination for cat lovers, with a “Cat Parliament” tourist attraction, cat-themed restaurants and cat hotels; alongside the usual good weather and beaches. The relatively new state has achieved an unpredicted level of economic success between tourism, tax haven status, and wealthy Thraxians fleeing war.
