Nation's Name

Irodein Empire

Nation's History
The Irodiens started out as a small city state in the turbulent Vosta region. They existed as a small force in-till the first Emperor arrived according to their legends he conquered the region and several of the outlining area. A series of emperor’s expanded Irodein power and territory bring the empire to global power. But some RSI affiliated groups started to gain influence in the northeast part of the empire. Deming them a threat to imperial power in the region the army was mobilized into the region. The act of the army mobilizing sparked a region wide revolt. The imperial army spent 35 long years of fighting to bring the region back in line. After the battle of mount Varus he Imperial army manage to break the main RSI resistance and bring the region back in line. The empire has rebuild since them even though there still some pockets of resistance left to clear out the empire is eager to show there new military prowess.
Race

Sanfures ;

Form of Government
The sanfures are mostly under the rule of an imperial government lead by a powerful emperor advised by an imperial council the most powerful of them is usably the military advertisers called Governor-Militant. Territory is dived into provinces witch are ruled by Governors. Expansionistic and have a Machiavellian mindset using their military to intimidate or outright conquer there weaker neighbors. But are willing to form alliances with other nation if it can be beneficial for them.

Current Leader(s)
Emperor Axaium Uldra

Notable Figures

his son Theadrean, and Governor- Militant Tybal

Total Population

155,000 million Imperial citizen

Nation's Location:

[Location](http://i.imgur.com/zJhDWZa.png)

Nation's Geography:

A rugged and harsh land the empire calls home the more central areas of the empire is mountainous are similar to the are's on earth. Towards the out lying area it's falter and much more fertile land.

Economy:

The economy of the empire is a regulated market.The nation are main exports is materials such as as ores, coals, refined metals, salts, weapons, stone, and imperial onyx a rare black colored stone that is prized for its building quality. A recent creation of the empire is Fire steel a iron alloy which is as strong as steel but can with very high temperatures making it excellent for engines.

Technology Overview

Much of Irodien technology can be described as simple and rugged. Most of the empires technology progess has be shaped by the 35 year long civil war. In military tech is equal to that most of the other nations. But on the civilian front only mining and factory technology improved. Metallurgic research is one of the few areas that the empire is leading in. The biggest discovery in that field was the process for creating fire steel. With fire steel the empire could build more powerful engines.

Military Overview

Population

6.5% total 10,075,000

The Imperial army is the largest of the armed force of the empire. Its troops are organized into legions consisting of 250,000 soldiers lead by a general. Imperial tactics are a mixture of static trench warfare and fast moving blitz.

Army Overview; number; 7,045,000

[Penal battalion](http://imgur.com/SCTlb4O)

Criminal, scum, traitors, dissident, and psychopaths are is the best way to discrbe the men of a penal battalion. The men assigned to the battalion are usually poorly armed and supplied. Common use of them is cannon fodder to cover more value Imperial units.

[Imperial legionnaire](http://imgur.com/EceNCHe)

The common imperial solider armed with verity of weapons such as bolt action rifles, a specialize revolver, to sub machine guns. In addition there stander kit includes a shovel, combat knife, bedroll, rations, and other necessary. For heavier or anti-tank weapons two legionnaire are organized into a team to use the weapon. Imperial commissioned and not commissioned officer look very slimier to the men they lead as not to be signaled out and shot by a sharpshooter. An imperial legionnaire are well trained highly discipline soldiers.

[Imperial Commissars](http://imgur.com/tpx7eah)

To keep order and in the legion the commissariat office was formed. Give the authority to do what is necessary to keep order in the ranks. they are 1 part terrify, 1 part inspirational, and 1 part ruthless.

[Strike legionnaire](http://imgur.com/iaJbj6m)

The elite troopers of the Imperial legions these men are recruited from the army they go through some of the grueling training imaginable. The end result are highly dangerous killing machines, they also are given the latest in imperial weapons technology.

[Imperial Lt-43 light tank](http://imgur.com/SOMTEXL)

The smallest tank in the imperial army its main role is infantry support and reconnaissance. Its armed with a 45mm, it has a max speed of 75mph on road and 50 off-road its armor it's very thick

[Imperial MT-57b medium tank](http://imgur.com/mLaJ4lL)

The main battle tank of the empire, simple to drive and easy to build make it excellent to quickly mass produce. Armed 77mm and sloping 1.8 inch of armor it can reach a max speed of 65mph. Its main roll is a main battle tank is to gain ground and to support infantry.

[Imperial HT-21 heavy tank](http://imgur.com/eaVX42a)

Armed with duel 88mm cannons and 5.8 inches of sloped armored. Its made to engage enemy armor formation and to create break through in enemy lines. it has a top speed of 60mph on both road and off road with its fire steel engine.

[Imperial ST-22A super heavy tank](http://imgur.com/CTMavML)

The largest tank in the imperial arsenal its armed with a 5in gun and can reach a max speed of 50mph. It has the same role as a heavy tank but with the additional role of anchoring it self into defensive lines to provide extra fire power

[Imperial TD-33 tank destroyer](http://imgur.com/uDXnoBB)
Armed with a 90mm gun and able to reach a max speed of 42 mph. Its main role is to hunt down enemy armor.

[Imperial APC](http://imgur.com/EPlCzy6)

The main workhorse of the army it has different load out for different roles. It can hold up to 12 legionnaires and reach a top speed of 70mph. it can also tow artillery piece behind it.

[Imperial 10.5cm gun](http://imgur.com/f0akF8d)

The stander artillery piece of the imperial army it has a range of 11,675 yds. it can also be mounted on to a tank body to make it very mobile.

[Imperial 240mm howitzer](http://imgur.com/8TUjMn9)

One of the heaviest artillery piece in the empire meant for sieges or heavy bombardment it has a max range of 14.3 mi. It its mounted onto a mobile vehicle for greater mobility.

[Imperial railroad gun](http://imgur.com/M6aqWpY)

A massive 16in cannon is the largest artillery piece in the empire its becoming less and less used due to the ability of the air force to deliver the same payloads.

Navy Overview; number; 3,030,000

The area of the most rapped growth the in the empires military has been putting a good amount of resources. Because of the empires desires to have a navy that rivals that of the traditional naval powers and to start establishing over seas colonies. The marine core consisting of 300,000 marines are armed and equipped in the same way as the army.

current naval strength

Battleships 22

Carrier, fleet 7

Carrier, escort 15

Cruiser 38

Destroyers 123

Air Force Overview

The air force isn't an independent group it devised into two branches the Imperial army air force (IAAF) and the Imperial navy air force (INAF). The empire has ignored designing airships instead focusing on fighters and bombers.

[Imperial AF-34](http://imgur.com/UtAEz2u)

Stander Imperial fight it is a rugged and powerful plane with an average climb speed and turning speed. Armed with 4 50.cal machine guns and two 20 mm cannons. Its an well rounded fighter overall.

[Imperial HF-43a](http://imgur.com/eewvc65)

A double engine fighters its has improved speed and maneuverability than the stander fighter. Its armed with four 30mm cannons in the nose.

[Imperial BA-23b](http://imgur.com/hYfgLx6)

The empires medium bomber it carries a good amount of ordinance making it the work horse bomber. It has several defensive positions.

[Imperial HB-55](http://imgur.com/YOJ6ulZ)

The heaviest bomber in the imperial air force it can carry the most amount of bombs and is a very rugged aircraft with plenty of defensive positions.

"I read that mess, can we start already!?"

Nation's Name: The Tsardom of Ventium Nation's History: Ventium is one of the oldest nations on the planet, staking it's claim on her land well before the common era. Ventium started out as a mass of rival tribes at eachothers throats, constant wars and skirmishes holding them back from advancement. However in the course of 10 years the 87 tribes were united under one flag, the flag of Ventium. The first Tsar, Darius Ventus, had united the tribes in many wars of conquest and royal marriages to form a stable base to expand and grow, in both territory and intellect. And they did grow, expanding eastwards from their western home, annexing tribes and small nations that spurred their territorial renaissance, giving them large swaths of fertile farm land and mineral rich earth. But after a glorious era under the rule of the first Tsar he passed away of old age in his bed, leaving the people of the tribe to choose his successor from his children, this ushered in the era of Tsarina Veronik Ventus. Her goal was no longer conquest, Ventium was large enough in her eyes, she wished to cultivate it, and through her guidance the country sides were turned into lush farms where cereal flowed like rain and vegetables grew faster then people could eat them. The rivers and oceans had been tamed and their fish farmed with care as to not upset the natural order, the people conscious of the world around them and not wanting it to fall into ruination. After the Tsarina's passing came the age of many other Tsars and Tsarinas that propelled Ventium skywards, building elegant yet functional cities and towns and raising good, grateful, patriotic folk that wanted to maintain the peace and tranquilty that their nation had given them. However the age was shut from the gaze of the rest of the world, Ventium had entered a long period of isolationism as new countries popped up and started looking at the old nation hungrily, wanting to destroy the balance and peace it had forged for itself, so they locked themselves from the world to protect their unity and locked they remained.  Race: Humans, mostly people of brown and black hair, skin tone depending on where they live within the nation, though all van be described as Caucasian. The most common eye color is a soft, blue-gray. They are a soft spoken people with pleasant accents and modest, controlled mannerisms. Form of Government: The government of Ventium is an Elected Monarchy, meaning that the people of Ventium choose the Tsar or Tsarina from the offspring of the previous Tsar or Tsarina. However when choosing a sovereign there are lots of protocol and rules: - Once the Tsar's or Tsarina's offspring have all surpassed the age of 21 the election shall commence. - Once a new sovereign is chosen the previous Tsar or Tsarina must abdicate  the throne after 10 years and the new leader take charge. - If the offspring of the Tsar or Tsarina do not appeal to the needs of the people they are obliged to choose one of the offspring of the current Tsar or Tsarina's siblings. - If none of the royal offspring suit the wants of the people they must choose from the offspring of the current Tsar or Tsarina. - If the current Tsar or Tsarina doesn't have 4 offspring or higher a niece or nephew may be chosen to fill the missing places. - If a the newly elected Tsar or Tsarina refuse to take the throne the crown is automatically passed to the offspring with the next most votes and so on. If all refuse the offspring with the smallest proportion of the vote will become sovereign. - Once the new Tsar or Tsarina takes up the throne, the old sovereign is obliged to act as an advisor to the Tsar or Tsarina until unable. Just to name a few. Current Leader: His Imperial Majesty, Supreme Commander, Tsar Voltus Ventus, Servant of The People. Notable People: - Tsarina  - Tsarette Katarinda Ventus, Daughter of the Tsar and Foreign Representative  of Ventium. - Tsarum Leopold Ventus, Son of the Tsar and Minister of Interior. - Tsarum Ericlis Ventus, Son of the Tsar and Captain of The Imperial Winter and Summer Guard.  - Tsarette Felicity Ventus, Daughter of the Tsar and Ministerette of Commerce and Finance. - His Excellency Kergov Ventus, Nephew of the Tsar and Minister of Science and Technology. - His Excellency Alexandra Ventus, Neice of the Tsar and Ministerette of Agriculture, Mariculture, Livestock. Total Population: 75,950,000 Nation Location: [location](http://voltusventus.deviantart.com/art/World-Map-498278470?ga_submit_new=10%253A1417716717) Nation Geography: The nation consists of mainly grasslands and highlands, most of the grasslands have been converted to farm land and used as pastures for live stock. The highlands however tend to be where most of the cities and centers are located because of their easily defendable positions and visibility over the low lying grasslands. To the south west are the more mountainous regions, here is the capital, built high in the rocky mountain for again, defensive purposes.  Economy:  The Ventian economy is generally an inwardly based economy running off trade that happens within the country, however with the opening of the eastern bordercrossing, trade internationally has increased, Ventium off loading excess agricultural and artisan crafted goods like food, clothes and furniture. In terms of industrialized economies Ventium is by no means a major player, with industry counting only towards 5% of their GNP, the rest is agriculture and primary recourse acquisition. Other then food and timber as primary recourses Ventium has a large mining sector, mainly based in the northern tundras and some of the unoccupied highlands, the three things Ventium is rich in is Iron ore, elektrum ore and Tanzanite, Iron is exports for obvious reasons, elektrum because of international demand for it's flexibility, maluablity and electric conductivity and Tanzanite because of it's beauty, through it is mostly exported in the form of jewelry. the two ores are often alloyed together with smaller portions of other metals to make Elektrum Steel, a Ventian trade secret that gives it's army an edge. Technological Overview: After half a millennia of isolationism when Ventium peaked across their borders they found that they were severly behind in technology, people had developed electricity while they were using steam and waterpower, people were sending messages across continents using telegraph cables while Ventium still relied on long distance couriers, and a multitude of other things. Spurred on by the prospect of falling behind even further they had an emense growth of technology, bringing in experts from across the world to electrify their country and train craftsman in the art of the soldering gun and the blow torch. The average person was the first to feel the impact of technological advancement, suddenly they had radios and telephones and refridgerators, a healthcare system that was over night transformed into one of the most advanced in the world. The Armed forces benefitted second, steamships were torn down and fleets of cruisers were put in their place, every soldier had a semi-automatic rifle and armor under their uniforms. Ventium even developed an airforce where there was none, they had started building computers, both analog and digital and were pioneering in it. However Ventium still has a long way to go before they consider themselves equal. Military Overview: Population: 2,750,000

Noordelijk Bondsrepubliek Vakbonden/Northern Federal Republic of Unions

Nation's History

The Federal Republic of Unions was founded just over twenty years ago as a wave of Syndicalist revolutions occurred in the north saw multiple governments in the region toppled and replaced by Syndicalist Republics. These revolutions began with the peaceful overthrow of the monarchist government in the Principality of Naarden where growing unrest within the country led to a referendum, which ended with the abdication. The lower classes of neighboring States took heart in the successful revolution of Naarden and took up their own attempts met with mixed success early on. The first of these revolutions following the success in the Naarden was in the neighboring region of Flamardie where the far more aggressive defenders of the monarchists fought against the revolutionaries there. This was mirrored in Vallonia-Picardie where the similarly monarchist governments of the two regions made a pact to stop the spread of Syndicalism. The brutal conflict there only relented with the deaths of the two monarchs and the disillusion of their corrupt governments. In stark contrast to the brutality in the west, the revolutions in the east were relatively peaceful, with the peoples ousting the monarchs in Creußen, Elzach, and Lobenjun and the wealthy oligarchs in Denau and Rabenau. Since the founding of the NFRU it's main goal has been the continued spread of Syndicalist values around the world. With similar communist revolutions occurring in nearby polities it has become a major focus of the Federal Republic's government to support them in any way they can. With the revolution in the Kingdom of Dereham the NFRU made it's first steps in arming and supporting revolutions in other countries.

Race

Human majority. Officially the NFRU is multi-racial and accepts all peoples into it's arms. Numerous ethnic groups exist within the Republics, many of which sharing land with each other. These are the Naardeners, Picards, Flamards, Cournaille, Haldyr, and Hanzhans. Generally skin color remains light among all ethnicities, with fair hair being more common the farther east you go, most common in Hanzhans and Haldyr but seen in Naardeners frequently as well, with red hair being the majority among Cournaille.

Form of Government

The NFRU is considered a Federal Republic, relying on a decentralized system of Republics unified under one federal government as a response to distrust of powerful, centralized government. This distrust has led to numerous checks and balances placed on the executive department's leader, the Proletariat General, and similar positions of power. At the individual Republic level democratic representation is given to all citizens, whom elect officials to represent them in the Congress of their individual Republic. Each individual republic itself has representation within the Federal Congress, based solely on their population. The political position of Proletariat General is granted with the expectation that the incumbent will focus on the good of the Proletariat, not the state. In accordance with this, a Lieutenant Proletariat General is elected with similar powers who is to aid the Proletariat General in matters of foreign affairs so that the Proletariat General might focus on internal matters as his position requires. An elected body of legislators and judiciaries exists in the form of the Proletariat Assembly which deals in law making and the enforcing of said laws for the Republics. Each Republic is given representation equivalent to their population, of which these officials will then vote on legislation. Said legislation may only become a law once the direct democratic process is taken to ratify the legislation in each Republic. The Vergadering voor Sociale Harmonie, or Assembly for Social Harmony, is a further political body within the Federal Republic that has been on the rise as it's power base has expanded in recent years. A great deal of paranoia for political corruption has grown as political historians point to age of states having direct links to corruption within governments. In order to counteract this the legislature, with further ratification by direct vote, created the Assembly for Social Harmony with the intention of counteracting said possible corruption. An organization made up of lawyers, accountants, and self-repentant bureaucrats, ASH Inspectors regularly check in on branches of the Federal and Republican governments, doing complete inspections if need be, on the hunt for possible misuse of taxes or corruption. In the event of finding such discrepancies a force of well equipped enforces stand ready to enact sentences.

Current Leader(s)

Proletariat-General Erasmus Koen Dreyer - The incumbent Proletariat-General Erasmus Dreyer hails from the metropolis of Venlo, the Capital of the Naarden Republic. Born of a lower middle class family back during the reign of Prince Damian van Haanrath, Erasmus joined the many protesters swelling the streets of the Principality's capital, demanding the abdication of the Prince just over twenty years prior. Although not instrumental or even necessarily important to the victory against Monarchism that was won in Naarden, the young revolutionary quickly traveled the embattled region of Flamardie where he fought against the brutal monarchist government forces fighting against revolutionaries there. He is most know for his fiery demeanor, born of being a revolutionary, but few would call him out as anything more than a proud citizen of the Federation. Several of his detractors, however, would claim this to be a character flaw expected of far more aggressive politicians. Lieutenant Proletariat-General Erhard Brandt - The current Lieutenant Proletariat-General stands as Erhard Brandt, a ethnic Hanzhan hailing from the capital city of Emden in Denau. He was elected along with Erasmus and though not the first to hold his post has certainly been influential in the position. As with all Lieutenant Proletariat-Generals, Erhard is expected to focus on foreign affairs during times of peace to allow the Proletariat-General and the electorate the ability to focus on matters deemed more important: that of internal issues and focuses. To this goal, Erhard has filled the admirably, acting as the foreign minister and diplomat to other Syndintern Nations and those abroad. He is characterized by his cool demeanor and level headed nature when under stress.

Notable Figures

Inspector General Marceline Lara Favreau - Marceline Lara Favreau is the current Inspector General of the ASH, a member of the old liberal, educated elite of Vallonia-Picardie before the abdication of Prince Damiaan. She was instrumental in the founding of ASH and was indeed it's first and only Inspector General since it's inception. The woman has since been the major power behind ASH, with her goals remaining the continued safeguarding of governance from corruption. She has been called cold and calculating by those who have seen her meteoric rise as telling and many point to similar organizations from Monarchist nations, citing that one step towards militancy is all ASH needs to become reminiscent of the militant arm of a fascist party. Commandant General Ansgar Gehring - Ansgar Gehring is the aging Commandant General of the Federal Army and gained his position as a foreign fighter in Vallonia-Picardie during the brutal fighting that occurred there during the early days of the Federal Republic. The ethnic Haldyr, born of a small village in Lobenjun, gained notoriety in the conflict for his tactical know how, having claimed it's source being his father's earlier military career in the Monarchist Lobenjun's military. He was promoted to Colonel in the Vallonia-Picardie citizen's militia during the revolution and stepped down with the eventual disbanding of the militias, later commissioned the 23rd Lobenjun Landwehr as it's Colonel. It was soon after that the rapidly changing Federal Army put in the request for his transfer to Federal Command and request was made for him to serve as it's Commandant General, to which he accepted after several weeks of thought. Commandant Admiral Denis Thys - Denis Thys is ethnic Flamard born in Naarden and is currently the Commandant Admiral of the Federal Navy. The man is old by all standards, having reached his seventieth year only several months ago, and is considered one of the last holds the old Monarchist regimes have on the Federal Republics. He was, at one point, a Captain within several monarchist navies with a long history of naval excellence. Throughout his career he became famed for his aggressive naval tactics which saw each and every one of the Monarchist navies succeed against the other, depending on whom he served with at the time. When the revolution occurred Thys was serving as a Captain aboard the Naarden warship, the HMS Vertrouwen, and although he was not a revolutionary himself he quickly picked the winning side in the matter. Lacking any naval officers of note he naturally became the Commandant Admiral of choice as numerous veterans of his campaigns expressed their trust in his abilities. Commandant General Arzur Gwencalon - Arzur Gwencalon is the relatively young Commandant General of the Federal Air Corps and has garnered a following of loyal and exuberant pilots under his command. Ever since his service in Flamardie as a foreign fighter from Cournaille, Arzur has developed an air of adventure around him, often seen by the youth of the Federal Republic as a dashing sky captain. In fact, several children's stories have been written with a character by the name of Arzur, a dashing adventurer and captain of a sky-ship. In reality, Arzur Gwencalon has developed this mystique for a specific reason: his extroverted nature thrives on such attention. This alone has been pointed at as a reason for his retirement yet the youthful Commandant General has yet to even speak on the matter, let alone reply to such thoughts. Damiaan Ferdinand Gerd van Haanrath, ex-Prince of Naarden- The famous ex-Prince of Naarden is Damiaan Ferdinand Gerd van Haanrath, eleventh of his line, remains a citizen of Naarden even after his abdication as Prince. A well known fact from before the revolution, Damiaan has always been one for ignoring the traditional responsibilities as a Prince, a fact that brought great displeasure to his much more traditionalist father. Throughout his years as Prince of Naarden he was known for shirking duties and escaping the Court to take part in much more enjoyable endeavors, most famously being his love of partying. When the revolution occurred in Naarden and the request for his abdication made, Damiaan accepted the demands of his people with little resentment. For his cooperation and relative kind treatment of his people whom were fed up with the system, less so the Prince himself, he was granted the right to keep much of his own personal wealth with productive lands and palatial estates being taken and put to proper use. Ever since he has remained in Naarden, surprisingly pleased with his station in life as a unique curiosity for the young children of the Republic. As he has reached his fifties a strange shift has shown itself in the populace: this ex-Prince had became a beloved symbol of Naardener history. Talks within Naarden have began determining the possibility of reinstating the title of Prince as a ceremonial, historical title and granting it to Damiaan. This has been met with harsh disagreement from the Republics of Vallonia-Picardie and Flamardie but, as is constitutional law, the right to decide is given to the people of the Republic he will be affecting.

Total Population

<98 Million

Nation's Location:

[img=http://i.imgur.com/wtuRELN.png]

Nation's Geography:

As with much of the north, the Federal Republic consists of relatively sparse foresting along with highlands and expansive plains. Due to the clockwise turning gyre in the inland sea the Federal Republic remains generally temperate compared to nations at similar latitudes. The mountainous and hilly regions of the Federal Republic are known to hold vast mineral resources and are becoming more and more exploited as technology advances to levels necessary to efficiently put said resources to use.

Economy:

One of the hallmarks of the International's revolutionary program is the Work Exchange, an organization by which unions come together to cooperatively manage the distribution of goods and services. There are Work Exchanges for cities, provinces, and regions, as well a Central Work Exchange for the NFRU as a whole. At the level of the workplace, NFRU union frameworks vary. In liberated territory, almost all workplaces are either worker-owned/managed cooperatives or integrated into larger democratic bodies. Sometimes the union itself acts as the governing body of all its constituent workplaces, owning many workplaces with managers appointed by the central democratic representatives or elected themselves. The economy of the NFRU focuses around the basic factors of production: agriculture, mining, quarrying all fall under the focus of the Republics. These industries have rapidly become industrialized in the past two decades as a Syndicalist state but factories focused on production with these materials are relatively infrequent, at least compared to their fellow members of Syndintern. This has allowed the NFRU economy to boom as it provides basic, necessary resources to their closest allies whilst also using materials at a decent rate.

Technology Overview

Technology within the Federal Republic, ever since the successful revolutions in the north, has focused on infrastructure and the means of production. Militarily the NFRU see's a focus on artillery and air technology, as well as a reliance on lighter warships such as destroyers and submarines. As of recently early forays into possible legged designs to supplant traditional tracked and wheeled vehicles have been made.

Military Overview

Population 3% total - 2,850,000 Personnel

History The RSI's history can be traced to several earlier working-class movements and socialist intellectual traditions. About ninety years ago, an assembly of labor leaders, professors, and other sympathizers founded the Syndicalist International as a space of exchange, cooperation, and mutual aid. The Syndintern movement began thrive in universities, poor communities, and among disfranchised groups in the North more generally. In response, some states and corporations began to engage in repression: companies hired thugs, courts passed injunctions, troops were deployed, and syndicalist parties were banned. This provoked a split in Syndintern, between Gradualists (who believed they could reform existing systems over time) and Radicals (who believed direct action – and violent rebellion if necessary – were the only sure methods of attaining collective liberation). Tensions brewed for years until finally, the International narrowly voted not to endorse or support a general strike in Picardie-Wallonia. There and then, those who had voted in favor of the resolution abandoned the rest and formed their own organization, the Revolutionary Syndicalist International. Their base of support was particularly strong in the province of Brouges due to two factors: (1) A very dense, radicalized proletariat that had managed to elect sympathetic local representatives but remained largely dissatisfied with progress, and (2) a disturbingly large influx of refugees from Picardie-Wallonia in the wake of massive reprisals following the General Strike. Shortly after forming, the RSI began organizing People's Militias wherever possible, clandestinely funneling arms and agents into the workplaces of member unions. In Brouges, many of the militias rallied together and formed what would become the RSI's standing army, the Revolutionary Guard. It also began to step up its investment in Mutual Aid Societies, soup kitchens, and Syndicalist newspapers. Meanwhile, the original SI pursued a program of electoral politics at the expense of their member unions. They managed to win many positions, including some very prominent ones, but seemed incapable of actually instituting meaningful reforms. Slowly but surely, its membership defected to the RSI. The SI, in turn, grew even more gradualist and complacent to the point of hardly being better than traditional parties in the eyes of many. When the Principality of Naarden was overthrown by massive civil disobedience and rebellion began to spout elsewhere in the region, the Grand Duke of Brouges feared for the stability of his own constitutional regime. He decided that he had allowed the Syndicalists a free hand for too long, ordering full military mobilization to crush the People's Militias in the city and intervene on behalf of his neighbor monarchs. But it was too late: Over the last two decades, Brouges had turned into a Revolutionary Syndicalist stronghold right under the Duke's nose. They had planned for this kind of situation. The Duke's declaration pushed many fence-sitters into the revolutionary camp to the point where virtually no one reported for draft duty, and from the beginning even the professional army struggled with defections and supply shortages. In one of the many great ironies of history, the Grand Duke of Brouges signed his own death warrant by calling for war mobilization. The decision set off a whole network of planned uprisings in the whole province, where armed workers and peasants re-appropriated industry from their bosses and fields from their landlords. Furthermore, Revolutionary Guard revealed itself as a far more professional, far better-equipped force than the Ducal Guard had expected. Within weeks, the Ducal Palace was under siege. Rather than face certain defeat at the hands of the urban population, a large group of surviving soldiers killed their officers and turned over the royal family. The royals were given a “fair” trial in which they were sentenced to death for heinous crimes against the people of Brouges. Twenty-one years ago, on a cool Autumn morning, the entire Ducal family was lined up and shot to death by a firing squad of their own former guards. That afternoon, the province voted in a referendum to join Syndintern as a special territory under direct RWC governance. After all, Congress and the Revolutionary Guard were already based there. In the coming decades, the RSI would continue to sponsor rebellions in the North, supplying arms, food, medical supplies, and even direct intervention forces. This was instrumental in the formation of the Noordelijk Bondsrepubliek Vakbonden, particularly in the old kingdoms of Vallonia-Picardie and Flamardie. More recently and more starkly, the International supported the bloody revolution in Dereham. Although the brand new Federal Republic and many unions within have not yet officially joined Syndintern, the process is expected to go through very soon. Race: Interspecies, de facto mostly human Form of Government: Union Democracy The fundamental political unit in the RSI is, naturally, the labor union. To qualify for membership in the International, a union must adhere to certain principles: Gender equality, no racial or ethnic exclusion, democratic internal structure, and a commitment to the liberation of all workers from capitalist-imperialist hegemony. However, this leaves plenty of room for difference, particularly in the organizational base and the exact definition of “union.” The RSI includes trade unions, industrial unions, pan-industrial unions, locale-based unions, ideological unions, underground working-class political parties, radical peasant assemblies, and even autonomous mountain tribes. The central political body is the Revolutionary Workers' Congress. Every union of the International is guaranteed at least one non-voting representative in the Council. To qualify for a voting representative, a union must have enough membership: For unions in already-liberated territory, the threshold is 1,00,000 members, but unions in non-liberated territories need only 50,000. From there, a union's representation rises proportional to membership. Thus, small RSI unions have strong incentives to federate into larger ones. Unions have a great deal of local autonomy in the RSI system. The RWC has only a few direct authorities over them: Calling them to arms (each union must mobilize a People's Militia), declaring particular institutions or individuals Enemies of the People (unions are banned from dealing with them), taxing a share of union dues for the Central Budget, and deciding on acceptance or expulsion from the RSI. Furthermore, with the approval of all unions (including non-voting ones) in a province or tied to a particular good, Congress can call General Strikes and Boycotts. The International also has its own territory, the great industrial metropolis of Brouges and the surrounding small towns and countryside. For the residents in this territory, the RSI itself is their union. Using its territory as well as part of the Central Budget, Syndintern maintains its own professional army: The Revolutionary Guard. Besides defending Brouxels and its vicinity, the Guard acts as an intervention force to aid fellow revolutionaries around the world. In the last two decades, with the rise of Revolutionary Republics, the RSI has developed a system for associating nation-states with the International. The government(s) involved must agree to arrange for all workers to have free and fair elections to join or form Syndintern member-unions (if they are not already a part), preserve and protect the democratic socialist management of all workplaces (via cooperatives or union bureaucracies), facilitate the formation of city and regional Work Exchanges, and adhere to the fundamental principles of the International. In return, the RSI promises to help defend the nation-state's territorial integrity to the best of its ability, allow it access to the Central Work Exchange and the benefits of a transnational integrated economy, and provide development aid to the nation. Within the RSI, in addition to ad hoc interest groups for unions sharing an industry or region, there are several political parties. Most unions and union representatives are not affiliated with a particular party; nonetheless, three in particular drive much of the RSI's internal debate. The Communist Party seeks to progressively integrate member unions into a unified, more centralized “One Big Union” of Syndintern. The Anarcho-Syndicalist Front, on the other hand, seeks to protect and even extend the autonomy of member-unions, as well as to provide smaller multi-union government structures like Regional Councils and Industry Councils. Finally, the Social Reformist Party seeks to maintain more or less the status quo as far as centralization and structure, preferring to deal with any issues that come up on a case-by-case basis. Current Leader(s) – RSI Spokesperson Jeannette Jaurès: Official top representative of Syndintern to the international community. Jaurès is a Vallard from a middle-class artisan family. A stellar student, she managed to complete an elite university education in the old Kingdom of Vallonia-Picardie. During this time, she was exposed to Syndicalist literature and progressively alienated by the elitism she encountered around her. Instead of moving on to clerical work as expected, she joined Syndintern as a low-level union organizer in the cities. Six years later, she fled in the face of persecution following the failed General Strike, which she had helped to organize. She first rose to prominence in the RSI through her involvement in successful anti-squalor campaigns, acting in solidarity (and as a renter herself) to force landlords to improve conditions as well as to kick out landlords in favor of cooperative apartment complexes. After participating in the Siege of the Palace as a People's Militia officer, she became known as a thoughtful, charismatic, and well-spoken leader in the Social Reformist Party. Jaurès has now been Spokesperson for over twenty years, an aging figure generally respected and admired by all. – RWC Chair Emma Goossens: Facilitator and representative in charge of the agenda for Congress, in some ways like a parliamentary head of government. Goossens is a mixed Flamard-Naardener mechanic from a family in Flamardie with deep blue-collar roots. She was involved in countless struggles ranging from banal to radical, and developed a reputation for always being on the scene to support her fellow workers wherever she could be useful. She was surprisingly mobile for her social position as a working woman, regularly moving across national boundaries for work and political engagement. She was a key organizer in the Grand General Strike of Cournaille, which (unlike in Vallonia-Picardie) eventually toppled the entire regime by transitioning the economy de facto from feudalism and capitalism to worker self-management. She was elected to the RWC shortly afterwards with overwhelming support in Cournaille and Naarden. She was elected from within Congress as Chair nine years ago; she is currently near the end of her second term. – Revolutionary Guard Marshal Quinn Caradec: Top commander of the Revolutionary Guard, elected by the soldiers from a pool of qualified officers. One of the only high-profile RSI leaders originally from the Dereham Kingdom. He was originally an officer in the King's Army, an unusual case of a factory-working young man who enlisted and rose through the ranks against all expectations. However, after making contacts with several RSI members and reading some rather insubordinate literature, he began to plot against the monarchy in secret. Unfortunately, his scheming was revealed, and he was forced to flee to Brouges with a few loyal companions. He joined the Revolutionary Guard in its early days, and he eventually won enough respect and trust from his fellow soldiers to be elected Marshal, a position he has now held for twelve years. He has taken the last name of his wife and fellow officer, Emma Caradec. – Gaëlle Charpentier, Maire de Brouges: Mayor of the City of Brouges, de facto the highest authority in the direct RSI territories (the province of Brouges). Charpentier, a young Cournaillais baker who enjoyed a brief but successful career as a folk musician, was recently elected mayor and has since proven herself a master politician with an iron will. A Social Reformist Party activist who only recently moved to the city, she and her supporters managed to usurp the longstanding grip of the Communist Party over Brouges municipal politics. Notable Figures – Communist Party Chair and UIW President Brianne Corre: A middle-aged Cournaillais textile factory worker from Arzon, she became active in the Party after her factory joined the enormous United Industrial Workers, a Syndintern member-union. She was a vocal supporter of the economic and political integration of Syndintern, citing the success of the Work Exchange the UIW helped to set up in Arzon. A natural networker and negotiator, Corre rose in influence until she achieved a unique feat: Being the head of a political party and a powerful union. Since she was elected to office and began appointing loyal cabinets and functionaries fourteen years ago, the UIW has grown to become the largest single union in the International and nearly inseperable from the Communist Party. – Anarcho-Syndicalist Front Spokesperson Alice Willems: Coming from a Naardener farming family that moved to Brouges after a string of poor harvests, Willems is one of few influential Syndintern members from a strictly rural background. She is also one of relatively few prominent anarcho-syndicalists in the province of Brouges. At seventy years old, Willems has seen even more of the RSI's history than Jeannette Jaurès. She was among the first radicals to leave the original Syndicalist International and become a founding member of the RSI. She remains in good health to this day, but is rather mysterious and even reclusive for such an important politician. Willems refuses to leave her family farm (part of a larger cooperative encompassing a few old homesteads) during the Harvest season and the first plantings in Spring. But despite these absences, she is very highly respected for her role in organizing the first rural People's Militias and cooperativizing the fields. She is known as a very thoughtful, deliberate personality in RSI politics who chooses her words and presentation very carefully. – Social Reformist Party Chair Jacques Louhérou: One of few Vallard radicals to remain in Vallonia-Picardie during the great repression following the General Strike, Louhéro actually began his career as a Moderate. He was a railroad worker, part-time engineer and part-time track-layer, loyal to the old Syndicalist International until a local railroad strike was set off over a wage dispute. Believing the SI would support he and his coworkers' struggle for justice, Louhérou took a prominent role in organizing it only to find out that the SI had branded the railroad workers “impatient and out of line.” The strike was eventually put down by a police intervention, and Louhérou was arrested and incarcerated along with several other ringleaders. During his time in prison, he took up an interest in Radical Syndicalist literature, which fellow railroad workers managed to smuggle in. He was released five years later along with the others in truce negotiations with local armed unionists after a series of riots and street battles. From there, with his prison sentence giving him a level of respect, he helped to officially unionize his old rail crew. Unlike other leaders, he was very wary of what might happen after the great General Strike, and he had taken steps to go underground with a cell of urban resistance fighters if things went sour. This confirmed his reputation as a careful but courageous pragmatist, which remains to this day. He was elected Chair of the SRP eight years ago, making him the most recently-elected Chair/Spokesperson of the three major Syndintern parties. Total Population Roughly 15 million under the direct jurisdiction of the Revolutionary Workers' Congress. Hundreds of millions of RSI-affiliated union members worldwide. Nation's Location: Nation's Geography: The province of Brouges is formed, geographically, of low mountains in the North and East, dense forest in-between in the Northeast, and coastal plains throughout the rest. The province encompasses a wide natural bay, with the city of Brouges in the middle along the coast. The weather is cool but temperate: grey in the Fall, snowy in the Winter, and relatively sunny during the Spring and Summer. The flat land is good for farming, but the demand of the capital city easily dwarfs whatever the farms can produce. Economy: Syndicalism One of the hallmarks of the International's revolutionary program is the Work Exchange, an organization by which unions come together to cooperatively manage the distribution of goods and services. There are Work Exchanges for cities, provinces, and regions, as well a Central Work Exchange for the RSI as a whole. At the level of the workplace, RSI union frameworks vary. In liberated territory, almost all workplaces are either worker-owned/managed cooperatives or integrated into larger democratic bodies. Sometimes the union itself acts as the governing body of all its constituent workplaces, owning many workplaces with managers appointed by the central democratic representatives or elected themselves. The RSI's rural territory, the province of Brouges, is not especially remarkable. There are some forests for lumber and impressive coal mines in low hills, but the agricultural land does not produce enough food even to feed the city of Brouges. The small towns, though connected with modern rails, are mostly devoted to cottage industry despite growing populations. The metropolis, on the other hand, is a bewildering economic giant, quite possibly the largest and most diverse economy contained within a single city. It boasts a very powerful military sector, meant to support the Revolutionary Guard and distribute weapons to allies. Besides this, the mix of industries is eclectic, but not wild, being mostly devoted to the economic development of liberated territory. Machine parts, wheels, tractors, trucks, trains, boats, airplanes, combines, cement, bricks, synthetic oil, fertilizers, and chemical powders are among the lively industries of the great city. Brouges is also known for preserving a thriving artisanal tradition, particularly in bakeries, candy, cheesemaking, butcher-shops, cobblers, and tailoring. Brouges is also known for the People's Proletarian University, a truly gargantuan educational institution that mixes the usual university faculties (history, linguistics, physics, chemistry, etc) with medical, law, and all manner of craft trade schools. There, scholars, researchers, professionals, and master craftspeople from every corner of liberated territory (as well some from non-liberated territory) mingle in the global center of Syndicalist Thought and Practice! Technology Overview Syndintern abhors reactionary ideologies that idolize the past. Tradition is fine and good, but never at the expense of the security and prosperity of the member-unions. The enormous research facilities in the People's Proletarian University attract the brightest scientific minds from every corner of the International, particularly the Federation and certain professors' unions in the Dereham Republic. These researchers devote their time and extensive resources to technology useful in improving or defending the life conditions of all fellow syndicalists. This includes pollution reduction, more efficient public transit, fertilizers, and selective crop breeding. With most of the world still very hostile to Syndicalism, military technology remains a particularly high priority. Military: The Revolutionary Guard One million courageous souls serve the International through the Revolutionary Guard, the unrivaled professional intervention troops of the Syndicalist world. The Guard is designed as an elite force that can be deployed quickly and concentrate a great amount of shock power in a particular area as needed. In particular, it serves as a special military-on-call to bolster the Syndicalist cause wherever fellow revolutionaries could use extra firepower. The Revolutionary Guard is remarkable for its disproportionately high mechanization, making it lightning-quick in comparison to most of its enemies. Unlike most militaries, the Guard has an abundance of industry but a shortage of manpower, leaving stores of ships, planes, other vehicles, weapons, and ammunition unused. These are either distributed to member-unions for their People's Militias, sold to Syndintern ally-states such as the NFRU, or left as strategic reserves to replace material lost in war. Thus, the Syndicalist world is rife with military equipment produced in Brouges. 600,000 Army: The ground doctrine of the Revolutionary Guard focuses on intervention and support, trading overall staying power for speed and shock. To compensate for limited numbers, the Guard draws from all of Syndintern for the best instructors and officers necessary to build an elite army. Furthermore, its forces benefit from a very high degree of mechanization and a proportionally large army aviation wing. The Revolutionary Guard Army is particularly famous for its Airborne Infantry, either parachuted down from modified bombers or landing in their characteristic Pirate-Class Gunships. – 225,000 frontline soldiers (100,000 general, 75,000 airborne, 50,000 mountain brigade infantry) – 75,000 army aviation pilots and gunners – 300,000 logistics 400,000 Navy: Given its role in the overall Syndicalist project, the Revolutionary Guard cannot waste precious manpower attempting to operate enormous battleships. Nor does it invest much in submarines, relying on the NFRU for sea superiority. Instead, the Guard Navy focuses on amphibious landing and air superiority. Transport ships, landing craft, and assault carriers form the core, supported by cruisers and a few fleet carriers. – 100,000 crew sailors – 25,000 navy aviation pilots – 75,000 marines – 200,000 logistics The People's Militia System: Every member-union of the Revolutionary Syndicalist International is expected to maintain and drill its own militia(s), usually organized by work-place or cooperative. Unions in liberated territory can generally depend on Brouges to supply weapons and ammunition, but those in oppressed territory must navigate local conditions. They may tap into the black market, work with sympathizers in the military, or even construct makeshift weapons of their own. When called to arms, militias in liberated territory coordinate with the Revolutionary Guard, while those in oppressed territory must either send their troops in the general direction of the front to link up with the rest or, if they are in the territory of the enemy, prepare to wage a guerilla war from within. People's Militia soldiers are in some sense volunteers, since there is no direct conscription in the RSI. Those who are most devoted to the cause or best adapted to contribute as soldiers tend to offer themselves as candidates. However, since every union is required to maintain a militia of at least 1/10 its membership, there are some cases of draft-like actions: at best this may be pressure from friends and coworkers, at worst union representatives may round up choice workers against their will to make their quota. Fortunately, these tend to be rare cases, and even for those that aren't, the permanent nature of the militia means that every union's force builds a sense of commitment and group cohesion over time. The exact number of People's Militia soldiers that would mobilize in response to a call to arms is uncertain, and would depend heavily on several factors, such as whether Syndintern member nations had already raised levies or militias. But at the very least, the RSI can depend on the 2 million registered People's Militia soldiers in the province of Brouges. The NRFU is also considered a relatively dependable mobilization reserve, with 3 million registered People's Militia soldiers. Militias in the Dereham Republic are more uncertain, since the government there is more centralized and has conscription authority. The official numbers hover around 1 million, expected to skyrocket if and when Dereham joins Syndintern.

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"I read that mess, can we start already!?"

Nation's History

When speaking about the history of the Esperantist Commune, one would do well to distinguish between the history of the diverse people who inhabit it, the history of the wondrous mechanical metropolis that is at the heart of it, and the history of the commune proper, which is far more recent but no less complex. All three great tales are ultimately bound together by a single thread: human desperation. The metropolis now known as Esperi was born from a region of the world deformed by decades of alchemical warfare, and its people hailed from all corners of the earth, many of them seeking refuge from war, famine and disease in this legendary sanctuary, isolated from the dark and wild world beyond by the miasma-ladden wastelands surrounding it. It was, in other words, a city of immigrants. The nations of this region, known to this day as the Moonlands, were all bound by faith, language and folklore for thousands of years, as well as a peculiar fascination for alchemy. These states were constantly warring against one another, locked in an endless struggle for political and cultural supremacy, and as the Industrial Revolution reached their shores, the mass production of alchemical products prompted their equally widespread use in war. So it was that, when a dispute over the royal succession in one of the Moonlandish nations sparked a regionwide war, the world saw its first full-fledged alchemical war, and the indiscriminate use of alchemy against one another soon began to take its toll on their lands. In a matter of years, the air and water in the cities became so polluted that many among the urban aristocracy abandoned them for the countryside, and the countryside itself saw large expanses of fertile land become desolate wastelands under the scourge of noxious fumes and so-called 'starfire'. Entire cities were covered in miasma and abandoned, or swallowed whole by massive sinkholes, until the situation became intolerable, thus provoking a Moonlandish exodus. Millions of commoners fled their homelands in all directions, while the wealthiest Moonlanders sought refuge in purifying sanctuaries built in relatively isolated areas. Facing the worst enviromental disaster in the world's history, the government of the most affluent of the remaining nations began the construction of one of the most ambitious engineering projects since the invention of the steam engine: the great mechanical tower of Remény. Built on the edge of the remote Emile peninsula, it was designed to purify the air and water of its surroundings, thus providing a healthy enviroment for its inhabitants to begin their lives anew, safe from the horrifying consequences of their actions. Originally meant to sustain only a few thousands at most, Remény continued to expand over the decades as more and more refugees flocked to it. Most of them were Moonlanders, fleeing from the fallout of the alchemical wars, but there were also foreigners, escaping from their own war-torn and poverty-ridden homelands. Thus, it ceased to be a mere tower, and became a vertical clockwork metropolis teeming with life. The earth beneath it blessed with an abundance of valuable metals and minerals, Remény's industry thrived grew exponentially over the years, while the rest of the Moonlands neared their complete and final disintegration. When the last sovereign states in the Moonlands vanished in a final, maniacal act of alchemy-ladden violence, Remény became the sole remaining glimmer of life in an otherwise lifeless region, covered in the ruins and corpses of once prosperous civilizations. Following years of instability, a military dictatorship took over the tower, supported by the remnants of the Moonlandish nobility and bourgeois. As the tower's population of immigrants grew in the lower levels, attracted to the technological wonder by legends of peace and opportunity, the old aristocracy entrenched itself in the upper levels, where their air was purer and the military concentrated the bulk of its might. The rule of the military over the city, masked by a symbolic prince and parliament inherited from olden days, transformed Remény into an industrial powerhouse, particularly famous for its exceptional pharmaceutical products and machinery, both necessary to sustain the city and its populations while surrounded by a toxic enviroment. For decades, the city was economically prosperous, and the prestige of its government earned it a place among the most trusted exporters of manufactured goods. Unfortunately, for all its superficial welfare, life had become politically and socially stagnated underneath the upper levels of the tower, the social hierarchy inherited from its founders perpetuated by the military's strict policies. The aristocracy concentrated most of the benefits of Remény's good fortune, and the dictatorship ensured that the workers and immigrants in the lower levels remained there, unable to disturbe the tranquility above. In time, however, people with new, foreign ideals reached the lower levels of Remény, and from the middle and upper castes came a plethora of intellectual movements that looked at their little clockwork world with critical eyes. Syndicalists rebelled in the mines, demanding better working conditions, while anarchists distributed literature in the factories, encouraging a great revolution, and several groups of scholars throughout Remény published extensive cultural studies that severely criticised the socioeconomic and political structure in the tower. When the dictatorship suppressed these first movements, their remnants became radicalised, and what had initially been peaceful movements turned into full-blown revolutionary movements. Officials and magnates were killed in terrorist attacks, barricades arose in all levels of the tower, and the government started to tear itself apart as the military and the parliament berated one another, while hundreds died on the streets and entire levels were closed off. In an attempt to forestall a civil war, the Prince of Remény single-handedly introduced some reforms, and personally led a liberal monarchist movement, supported by the clergy, but staunchly opposed by the military and the republicans in the parliament. The real turning point in this turbulent period of Remény's history, however, would come with two events: the arrival of a new, huge wave of refugees from several wars taking place on the shores of the Great Southern Ocean, and the emergence of a new movement, led by a Sanfure ophthalmologist and philologist, that revolved around a constructed language called Esperanto. The sudden influx of thousands foreigners was far more than the military could handle, and the Esperantist movement's advocacy for multiculturalism and the inclusion of Esperanto as the official language of Remény turned them into one of the most popular factions in the increasingly volatile political climate. The long feared political implosion finally occurred five years ago, in the midst of a severe economic crisis, fears of the air purification machinery of the city failing in the lower levels, and a conflict over the succession to the throne of Remény. Following the death of the childless Prince Valentin IV, several claimants appeared to claim his place, each supported by their own faction. Amongst these candidates, two stood out from the rest: András Lovász, a young colonel, supported by the military and several labour unions; and Lázára Zamenhof, a young student and suspected Esperantist sympathizer, supported by the liberal monarchists and republicans in the parliament. Although both had relatively weak claims to the throne, they were the two most popular choices, and when a special tribunal was set to determine which of them would be made sovereign of Remény, the deliberations constantly derived in prolongued deadlocks. As the debate stretched on, tensions sparked in all levels, and the situation deteriorated in the areas that had seen the worst of the political violence during the past years. In this state of affairs, left-wing groups saw the opportunity for a final revolution, and the Esperantists began to demonstrate in the cities, demanding a sovereign that would bring an end to ethnic and socioeconomic segregation in Remény. As rumours spread that Lázára Zamenhof was not just a sympathizer, but rather a prolific author and active participant in the Esperantist movement, with ties to anarchist groups both in her place of study, the University of Szarvas-Virág, and in the industrial areas, a resistance against her potential coronation grew in the upper levels. Elsewhere, however, she quickly became widely popular, thanks to her charisma and the support of many religious figures. Perceived as a modest, compassionate young woman, her sincerity and openness attracted the immigrants and workers, as well as some sectors of the middle class. When the special tribunal declared Lázára the legitimate heir of Valentin IV by a slim majority, with passionate dissents from the rest of its members, the decision was met with loud protests from the military and the parliament, and violence broke out in many of the lower levels. Both the parliament and the military began a series of investigations with the objective of impeaching the new Princess of Remény, while she was placed under house arrest with her half-brother, Félix Király. These investigations, carried out while whispers of a massive left-wing insurrection spread through the tower, uncovered the full extent of Lázára's relationships with radical political movements. Combined with false evidence of her allegedly collaborating with the armed revolutions in the lower levels, the accusations were enough to have her impeached and stripped of her crown. The outrage in many sectors was instantaneous. While tens of thousands demonstrated on the streets in her defence, a group of politicians, magnates and preachers occupied the Basilica of Remény and turned it into Lázára's seat of government. From there, they demanded that she be trialed by a special tribunal, rather than the parliament, while the military grew more and more restless. András Lovász rallied his supporters around the Basilica to demand Lázára's abdication, leading to violent clashes with her supporters. A special tribunal was convened to review the parliament's decision, much to the military's chagrin, and only three weeks later, they ruled in Lázára's favour and reestablished her as princess. With all legal resources exhausted, and popular support for András Lovász waning, the military staged a coup two days after the ruling, storming the Basilica and arresting Lázára and her supporters. In the hours that followed, the parliament was dissolved, its members were arrested, and András was crowned prince. Immediately after news of the coup reached the lower levels, the Esperantists led the largest uprising in Remény's history, aided by the anarchists. Hundreds of thousands laid siege to government and military buildings, barricades were raised, and all elevators leading to the upper levels were destroyed, effectively isolating the different levels of the tower from each other. As the military prepared for their counter-attack, their leaders decided to exile Lázára and Félix to the wastelands beyond the city, warning them that, should they return, their entire families would be executed. In her exile, Lázára explored the remains of the Moonlandish civilization, lived off what few life there was to be found amongst the cinder, pitch-black lakes and noxious fumes, and encountered the descendants of survivors from the alchemical wars, as well as many who had been exiled from Remény before her. Through these ordeals, and many more, Lázára experienced a profound spiritual revival, part self-realization, part religious epiphany. At first, she meditated in solitude, beside the ruins of the Moonlands, but as she matured, she began to preach to the inhabitants of the land. Her interpretation of Moonlandish mythology and religious doctrine was heavily influenced by her anarchism and Esperantism, and found some adherents among the exiles and refugees that passed through the wastelands. Two years into her exile, rumours of her sermons reached Remény, dispelling the myth that she had perished at the hands of the miasma, and granting the religious groups who had supported her new strength in their fight against the military. By then, the civil war had claimed the lives of over a million people and destroyed several cities near the tower's base, and the military was laying siege to the middle city of Énekesmadár, the heart of the anarchist movement in Remény. When deserters from the city told Lázára these news, she raised a small army out of her followers, and marched to Remény, not to reclaim her throne, but rather to overthrow the entirety of the tower's political system, including the principality. She renamed herself Ludovika, in honour of the creator of Esperanto, and sent spies ahead of her force to spread the word of her return. Followed by her few hundred famished refugees and exiles, Ludovika arrived at a half-ruined Remény, the mines and the surrounding areas rendered uninhabitable by the encroaching miasma, and many cities that had once stood high, clinging to the tower's sides, now lied in ruins at the bottom of the great craters below the city. She was greeted in the lower levels with unbridled joy by the militants loyal to her, as well as many among the anarchist partisans, although the more anti-clerical maintained their distance. Three days later, the anarchist partisans, in cooperation with thousands of Esperantists and refugees, successfully led an assault against the military's last bastion in the lower levels, and Ludovika was joined by a vanguard as she ascended to Énekesmadár to break the siege. When the forces loyal to Prince András were driven back to the upper levels, Ludovika tended to the injured and sent the military an ultimatum, demanding that they laid down their arms and, if they did not wish to join the revolution, abandon the tower for all eternity. After several days of uneasy peace, hostilities resumed as the Esperantists and anarchist laid siege to the upper levels. The military mounted a desperate defence to protect their last bastion, while most of their civilian supporters abandoned the tower by airship. Seeing no hope for victory, Prince András sent Ludovika his abdication behind the military's back. When this was discovered, the military staged a second coup d'état and executed him. The killing of the prince was the last nail in the military's coffin, their last few supporters either deserting or sabotaging them, and by the sixteenth day of the siege, the upper levels fell. The Esperantist Commune was proclaimed the very next day, on the steps of the Basilica and, in the months that followed, a series of referendums set took place. The tower was renamed Esperi, all goverment institutions were abolished (including the military), Esperanto became the official (although not the only legal) language in the tower, the tower's currency was abolished, and the mines and large industries were expropriated and given over to the workers and their families. Later on, a referendum established a communal constitution based on the principles of individual liberty, free association, mutual aid, consensus democracy, and enviromental protection. It has been over two years since what was once conceived as a sanctuary for the privileged became the world's first large-scale anarchist community, and much has changed since then. People are working in the factories and mines once again, only this time it is out of a sense of duty to their community, rather than the obligations of an exploitative system. The universities are swelling with students, able at last to get an education without being constrained by restrictive fees. Moonlandish literature and art are experiencing a veritable Renaissance. The land and sea near Esperi has become inhabitable again, thanks to the efforts by thousands of volunteers. What was destroyed during the civil war is slowly being rebuilt, and missionaries from the Basilica, together with the many volunteers, care for the orphans and the injured that it left behind. Ludovika now resides in the Basilica, accompanied by her half-brother, living the life of a spiritual leader. She has more influence than she would prefer, but she is nonetheless happy to serve as the Celestial Ocean's apostle. The near future looks bright for most of Esperi's inhabitants, but few have given much thought to what may await beyond. While the Revolutionary Syndicalist International and the Northern Federal Republic of Unions may have plans to bring their revolutions to the rest of the world, the Esperantist Commune has no such plans. For now, this youthful society is content to look no further than the horizon, and relish what they have already accomplished.

Race

Moonlanders To this day, despite of the many waves of mass immigration that Esperi faced over the decades, the Moonlanders continue to represent over half of the tower's population. They are, for the most, part willowy and fair-skinned people with sharp features. Shaped by countless generations of varios degrees of exposure to alchemy, Moonlanders developed a strong resistance to toxins in the air, water and soil. Over the course of Esperi's history, however, they also lost musculature, particularly in the tower's upper levels, rendering their frames and limbs long, but frail-looking. Fair hair is not uncommon among Moonlanders, but light shades of brown, auburn and burgundy are the norm. Eye colours typically range from brown to yellow to green. Despite the slight Moonlandish majority, Esperi as a whole is a multiracial society, and in recent times miscegenation has become widespread.

Form of Government

True to its anarchist roots, the Commune is a stateless, classless society, founded on anti-authoritarian and communitarian principles. Although it is not entirely devoid of laws or institutions, it has no official government to speak of. All policy is decided by the people through a consensus democracy, and the enforcement of laws is left in the hands of volunteers who are granted temporary authority by their community. Such is the norm for most other services once provided by the state or by private enterprises: volunteers, approved of by their community, using the community's resources. Unions, religious groups and cooperatives make up the majority of what few civilian organizations exist, and by law they cannot have any permanent hierarchies, nor impose limits on their members that would constitute a breach of the principles of the Commune. The same goes for the Commune's military forces, which are mostly comprised of Esperantist and anarchist partisans who fought during the civil war, as well as former members of the principality's military. The Commune has no official political divisions, but following its establishment some of the smaller communities that comprised it organised themselves into sub-communes of sorts. These are, for the most part, self-regulating and self-sufficient units, although they are never isolated from the rest of the Commune. With all that said, it cannot be ignored that, when the last remnants of the former principality were abolished, countless people turned to a particular person and a particular institution for guidance. The person was, of course, the spiritual leader of the revolution: Ludovika Zamenhof. The institution, on the other hand, was none other than the Basilica, respected even by secularists for the tireless work done by its missionaries and scholars during the war. In the absence of the former government, it fell to both to provide a modicum of stability to the people, particularly to those who had not fought in the name of anarchism. Because of that, to this day Ludovika and the Basilica continue to have much influence in the decisions taken by the people of the Commune, and are usually the ones tasked with speaking to foreign diplomats who try to contact the tower. Neither of the two has abused this power yet, however, both being committed to the ideals of the Commune, including its secularism.

Current Leader(s)

Ludovika Zamenhof [+]

A photograph of Ludovika Zamenhof, taken on the day of her return to Esperi from her exile. It was hand-coloured later on, and has since then become the best known image of her. Born in the aristocratic city of Csillár, far away from the downtrodden masses, to parents of noble blood but modest wealth, Lázára Zamenhof was an only child, doted on by her father and overprotected by her mother. Indeed, the girl had an upbringing that could be considered the least likely to produce an anarchist intellectual and preacher. Growing up, her gentle and pious disposition pleasantly surprised her relatives and made her a promising future heiress in their eyes. They were not as pleased, however, by her close relationship with her half-brother, born from her father's adulterous involvement with a maid. At the age of fifteen, having displayed an aptitude for science and history, she started attending classes at the University of Csillár, where she studied Medicine for less than a year, before she was convinced by one of her professors to study Anthropology at Szarvas-Virág. The study of human cultures, and the political groups she encountered while in Szarvas-Virág, radically changed Ludovika's worldview. She became a passionate advocate for cultural tolerance, and found kinship amongst the Esperantist students. By the time she was named as one of Valentin IV's potential successors, she had written several teatrises, many of them overtly critical of the principality's treatment of immigrants, and brought together her university's anarchist and Esperantists into a single coordinated group. At the age of twenty-three, Ludovika Zamenhof is a very different woman from the one she was back then, over five years ago. Today, she is the closest thing the Esperantist Commune has to a leader, albeit a mostly spiritual one. A missionary of the Basilica since her return to Esperi, in public she is modest, compassionate and sincere to a fault, notorious for her poetic way of speaking. Articulate and cultured, her education in Medicine and Anthropology has enabled her to assist in several projects undertaken by the Commune, either through volunteer action or by giving the people her own insight. She is fiercely devoted to her faith, but also respectful, even of her most virulent detractors. In private, she is not much different, except for one thing: though her soul may belong to the Celestial Ocean and the people of Esperi, her heart belongs to two people. After a whole life of loyal companionship, Ludovika and Félix have grown love one another as more than half-siblings. This love, unspoken even in the intimacy of the Basilica, is only matched by the love the two of them feel for one man who followed them from the wastelands and into the war-torn Esperi: Adorján Pataki, a journalist who had been exiled from Esperi for the crimes of sodomy and sedition. The fondness each felt for the other two did not reveal itself as romantic until the night before the siege of the upper levels. That night, as the three awaited the beginning of the final battle against the principality, they discovered underlying flames that had been sparked while in exile, and that their perilous return to the home they had been forced to abandon fueled. This relationship, unlike most other things in her life, Ludovika conceals, ravaged by shame and doubt. The war, and its aftermath, have left their mark on the spiritual leader of the Commune. Even as the tower recovers from it before her very eyes, Ludovika mourns over the horrors that were inflicted upon it because of her, specially when she meets those who lost loved ones fighting in her name. Today, should war loom on the horizon, she would do everything in her power to prevent it, to keep this little world of theirs far away from the brutal world beyond.

Notable Figures

Felix Kiraly [+]

A photograph of Félix Király, taken on the day of his return to Esperi from his exile. In the upper levels of Esperi, being a noble's bastard was the sort of crime that could earn a newborn the death sentence, even if infanticide was technically illegal. A tarnished reputation was always worth more than the life of a suckling born from irresponsibility. Félix knew this from the moment he was old enough to speak. He knew that, as the illegitimate son of Boldizsár Zamenhof, his whole life he would have to keep his head down, and remain quiet and invisible, as his betters had their feasts, played their games, and intoxicated themselves with wine and opium. In this regard, Félix's childhood was not, in any way, shape or form, a happy one. His mother might have naïvely named him the way she did in the hopes that her sickly son would grow to have an innocent, carefree heart, but there was no room for innocent, carefree hearts when you were being raised to be a house servant. Félix learned to scrub his father's floors shortly after he learned to speak, and could fold his half-sister's bedsheets long before he could read. When he did learn to read, however, that's when Félix ceased to be just another servant. Courtesy of his half-sister, his reading lessons opened his eyes to the vast world beyond the windows of Zamenhof Manor. More importantly, however, it opened his eyes to a world where a servant could be powerful, rather than helpless, a force to be reckoned with. As the chip on his shoulder grew in size and bitterness with every cruel jape, every indiscreet glare, and every condescending scoff, so did Félix understanding of everything he heard and saw. He learned how to listen to the darkest secrets without being noticed, and what those secrets meant. He memorized the names and faces of hundreds of people. Then, he memorized the parts of their lives that they kept concealed. And then, finally, he memorized the places where those parts were worth far more than his annual salary. By the time he came of age, Félix had become his father's informer and his half-sister's confidant, and earned a scholarship for the University of Csillár. There, he studied Mathematics under a pseudonym, and continued to remain close to Ludovika as she neared her own coming of age. The military's coup, and the civil war that followed, treated Félix most unkindly. Being exiled, and being unable to stop it, triggered the part of him that had always felt inferior to everybody else. The hostile enviroment of the wastelands, on the other hand, took its toll on his already fragile health, leaving him nearly unable to walk for days at a time. Driven to the verge of death more than once, his half-sister's prayers were a much appreciated source of comfort, even if her sudden transformation into a preacher perplexed the more skeptic Félix. Their chance meeting with Adorján Pataki gave Félix perhaps his first real male friend. Both young men were fond of photography, information and idle chatter by nature, they grew close to one another on their march back to Esperi. Over two years after that, the twenty-four-year-old Félix is both different and quite similar to the boy who was exiled from the tower. Overtly cynical, but secretly hopeful; cunning and articulate, yet easily rendered speechless by the two most important people in his life; tender, yet fierce. He does not share his half-sister's faith, but he loves her even more for her devotion. He admires Adorján's passion for the truth, even though he conceals countless secrets. In the Esperantist Commune, Félix's role is simple yet complex: He is Ludovika's confidant and assistant, the man who watches over her at all times and administers her affairs, and the one she turns to when she needs information, or someone to speak on her behalf. His loyalty is not with the Commune, nor is he an anarchist, but he is unflinchingly loyal to his only real family and lifelong companion, and that is his only motivation.

Adorjan Pataki [+]

Photograph of Adorján Pataki taken by Félix Király during the latter's exile. The life of a journalist under the principality was not an easy one. That much Adorján had understood when he told his mentor he wanted to be one. The military did not take kindly to those who uncovered the secrets of the tower, and the people of the upper levels could do without their secrets being known by the masses below. Adorján simply had not cared. He had always been insatiably curious, and eager to tell others the things he discovered, so why not do it for money? Life was short anyway, specially if you were born in the lowest of the low levels, where sunlight was a comodity for those few lucky bastards who could afford to live at the top of the highest buildings. Armed with a notebook, a handful of pencils, and an old, rusty camera he had spent his life-savings on, he snuck his way higher and higher, until he made it to Énekesmadár. There were no small amount of newspapers and magazines in the city, all of them willing to pay a handful of forints for a minor scandal. Of those, there was an over-abundance, most of them involving the military and some business tycoons, and Adorján took full advantage of each and every last one of them, at least so long as he was able to. As he improved his writing, with report after report about the corruption and exploitation of workers in Énekesmadár, he also began to write columns, struggling yet succeeding in putting his thoughts into coherent strings of sentences. With the columns, came popularity, and with popularity came upset letters from people with a lot of power. To say that Adorján was not frightened by them would have been a lie. To say that he stopped, on the other hand, would have been an even bigger one, and that was his mistake. His last story, and the one that earned him his exile, involved several high-ranking military officers and their clandestine activities, which included the torture and execution of hundreds of militants and innocents. Accused of sedition and sodomy (both, in hindsight, fair accusations), he was given the option to either be executed or exiled. His exile lasted a couple of years more than Ludovika and Félix's, and when the three met, he was ready to return home and watch the military burn for its tyranny. That he grew fond of the Princess-In-Exile and the Bastard of Zamenhof would be an understatement. Both he found fascinating and beautiful in their own right, and Ludovika in particular shared Adorján's anarchist leanings. The photographs that Adorján took upon his return to Esperi, and the chronicles he wrote about his experiences in the final days of the civil war, became one of the most praised works of journalism produced during that time. As Ludovika settled into her role as a missionary, and Félix as her confidant and assistant, Adorján returned to his former life as a journalist, now as one of the countless writers and photographers of the Commune's leading newspaper, the Verda Voĉo. The thirty-one-year-old Adorján is, above all else, confident. He knows his strengths, he knows his weaknesses, and he conceals nothing. He keeps few secrets, if any, and is committed to his work as one of the voices of the Esperantist Commune, so that its legend is heard throughout the world.

Total Population

19.277.000 approx.

Nation's Location Nation's Geography

A hand-coloured photograph of Esperi taken from an airship. The wastelands that once surrounded Esperi have slowly began to regain their old, long-forgotten colour. The Emile peninsula, renamed Maraĵa after the civil war, is a land of grasslands and low hills. The enviromental decay caused by the alchemical warfare destroyed the local fauna and vegetation, forcing the tower to rely on its glasshouses and imported goods to feed its inhabitants. Following the civil war, the area surrounding the tower was restored to fertility and transformed into farmland. The tower of Esperi itself is, of course, the peninsula's defining feature. Several miles high, enough for the uppermost level to be far above most clowds. At the base of the tower, an ever-expanding hole on the earth leads to the lowermost levels and the mines. The earth beneath the tower is rich in valuable metals and minerals used by the alchemical industry in the past, not the least of them being the rare 'starstone'. The tower's largest machinery is also there, the miles-wide cogs still working perfectly despite the age, keeping the city's air and water safe. The climate of the peninsula was originally temperate, but has for the past decades been unusually cold and stormy, with strong winds continuously coming from the raging seas. Heavy rains are quite common during spring, summer and autumn, and winter can be harsh as well.

Economy

When the military still reigned, the tower's economy revolved around mining, machinery and pharmaceutical products. With a culture experienced in chemistry, a home that required constant mechanical maintenance, and an earth rich with ore, it made sense. The profits from those industries were more than enough to pay for the raw materials and manufactured goods that could not be produced locally, or at least not in large enough quantities to feed the ever-growing population. Under the Esperantist Commune, the desire for profit vanished along with the concept currency, and the principles of mutual aid and free association too precedence. The people needed food, water, housing and electricity, and there were thousands of volunteers eager to provide. While the pharmaceutical and mining industries continued to operate, now entirely in the hands of their workers, production slowly dropped to the levels needed to sustain the tower's population and little more. The recovery of the long lost farmland surrounding Esperi meant a significant boost in the Commune's food production, but even then it struggles to cover all needs. Several cooperatives have pursued the path of innovation, trying to find new, better methods to grow food, so far with a few successes. The Commune is thus left wondering if it will be forced to trade with foreign powers, or seek the help of other revolutionary societies abroad. If any economic activities have thrived under the Commune, those are the heavy industry, particularly in the production of airships and railways, and the film industry. In the past two years, truly revolutionary designs for airships and trains, and equally groundbreaking techniques in the creation of cinematic art have found a home in the recovering Esperi. The material known as 'starstone', which was only found in the Moonlands, is relatively abundant underneath the tower, and to this day Esperi has a monopoly on it. Starstone is a remarkably versatile material, more potent than most fuels, and in the past it was used to produce the famous Moonlandish starfire, one of the world's earliest fragmentation bombs.

Technology Overview

Moonlandish culture was never a traditionalist one, and even less so when it came to exploiting the gifts of nature to create seemingly magical wonders. Alchemy was not an art first developed by Moonlanders, but it was one that they quickly mastered and never abandoned. All sorts of great potions and poisons were developed by Moonlandish alchemists over the years, as were some of the best explosives and fertilizers. Of all the things that changed with the advent of the Esperantist Commune, this ancient obsession was not one of them. Even today, countless scientists work in laboratories throughout the tower, trying to develop new medicines, new chemical weapons, new explosives, and new fertilizers. Every day, rumours spread of the latest grand invention that will change the world, and now and then the rumours speak true. Lately, most public efforts have focused on pharmaceutical endeavours. In secret, however, many chemists work with the Commune's military to develop weapons that may keep potential invaders at bay. Outside of the realm of chemistry, popular opinion has encouraged further innovation in infrastructure and heavy industry, particularly that aimed at improving the efficiency of Esperi's industry, machinery and defenses, to turn it into a truly safe haven for the Commune, at whatever refugees come to it seeking sanctuary. The most ambitious projects yet, in this regard, has been the development of a flotilla of airships and fighters to protect the tower's airspace and transport civilians between the tower's levels without the need for elevators. As a whole, the Esperantist Commune is technologically up to par with the rest of the world, both in civilian and military terms, but its greatest strength lies in the Moonlanders' peculiar understanding of chemistry.

Military Overview

Population 1,8% Army Overview The Remény Army was one of the first institutions to be abolished when the Commune was established, and not without good reasons. Its officers and soldiers had been behind the worst atrocities committed during the military's reign, and its structure ran counter to the core principles of the new social and political order. What the Esperantist Commune has in the army's place is a collection of groups of volunteers, most of them veterans from the civil war, self-trained and armed with the weaponry left behind by the previous regime. The groups vary in size, equipment and methods, but all are equal in their lack of a proper hierarchy. Their tactics and strategies are decided by consensus, and in wartime they divide themselves into smaller groups to make split-second decisions easier to make. As of today, 303,916 people have chosen the lives of full-time soldiers, the Esperantist People's Front being the largest, at 61,622 members. They are followed by the People's Hope, with 49,794, the Sons of the Moon, with 37,414, and the Victorious Corps, with 33,106. Overall, the Commune's standing forces are mostly defensive in nature, and far more experienced in urban warfare than anything else. They tend to favour guerrilla tactics and chemical warfare over grand displays of raw power, and this is reflected in the widespread use of light weaponry and equipment, and the underuse of heavy tanks and artillery. The only exceptions to this rule are the Fiera and Brava Squadrons, of 4,412 and 2,633 members each, which consist of former members of the principality's armoured brigades who defected upon Ludovika's return to the tower. The two groups rely on heavy weapons and tanks, and currently guard Esperi's perimeter. Navy Overview Despite standing right next to the sea, the tower never really had a proper navy. The military preferred airships as their first line of defence, and what few ships they built to guard their territorial waters abandoned them when the civil war turned against them. Following the establishment of the Commune, some efforts were made to build a navy, with the volunteer group Maraĵa, with 673 members, beginning the construction of two submarines and a corvette. As of today, all three vessels remain unfinished but nearing completion. Air Force Overview The military took much pride in their airships and airplanes, and were always eager to innovate. They employed hundreds of engineers over the decades, and exploited countless workers, to create new, awe-inspiring masterpieces of aerial warfare. By the beginning of the civil war, the Remény Air Force boasted hundreds of fighters and bombers, dozens of airships, and the veritable flying fortress they named Sárkány. This impressive array of flying wonders was amongst those that suffered the most during the civil war. Torn apart by the coup against Ludovika, the different factions that formed warred against one another over the tower until the end of the war, and the Sárkány itself sustained countless sieges as the factions fought over it. When the upper levels of the tower finally fell, dozens of squadrons and airships had fallen, and a few others had abandoned the tower along with the Remény Navy. Today, a plethora of groups, all in all comprising 42,397 people, work tirelessly to restore this fleet to its former glory and protect the skies above the Commune. The Sárkány, now renamed the Tondra, is manned by the 288 Ĉiela Drakoj, and remains beside the uppermost levels of Esperi, watching over the horizon.

The Nation Sheet Quddami Republic of Ardan Nation's History The Quddami Republic of Ardan is home to one of the oldest civilizations, tracing it's history back almost 8,000 years. Ardan is home to the religion of Quddam, which was founded by the Prophet (PBUH) 600 years ago when the Angel Jibril came to him in a vision while he was meditating in the north mountains. Qudduam became split between the two sects, Maliki and Hakkam when the Prophet (PBUH) died. This schism came to be because of the followers of Basir al- Latif, who contested Bin Rahmans's claim to the Caliphate. The Maliki and Hakkam Qudduam sects became further detached from eachother in later years though, with the Maliki's putting more power into the Imams and Ayatollahs, aswell as only praying 3 times a day as opposed to the Hakkam's 5, but other than that, the schism was and continues to be purely political, and trivial considering that both sects follow the same version of the Al Haqq, the Qudshim holy book. The modern state of Ardan was rekindled by Shah Hafez Hashemi after he managed to unify greater- Ardan for the first time in 1,250 years over 500 years ago. Shah Hafez's reign also played a key role in the rise of Maliki Qudduam by converting the Hakkam nation to a Maliki one. After the death of Shah Hafez 'the Great', the Hashemi dynasty ruled Ardan for centuries after, before the last Shah died without an heir, causing a minor power struggle. After the resulting power struggle, the nation was headed by the Shah Jalal 'the Bald' Asgharid, and Ardan was ruled by the Asgharid dynasty for numerous years after his death. The Asgharid Dynasty was toppled though, due to a mixture of corruption and famine, which cause mass unrest and ultimately resulted in the Ardanian Constitutional Revolution, headed by Hassan Ali Jafari who set up the first Constitutional Monarchy in Ardan, ending a long cycle of Absolute Monarchies. Though Shah Hassan Ali's reign was cut short, as he contracted tuberculosis in the fifth year of his reign, and with his death his incompetent son, Sadegh Ackbar Jafarid ascended to the throne. Shah Sadegh Ackbar quickly gained the favor of the populace in the capital and several major cities, though this ultimately caused mass neglect in regards to the villagers and the people in smaller cities and towns, which made up the majority of the country. His neglectful, corrupt and decadent reign caused great unrest, finally causing a Revolution headed by the in- exile Ayatollah Sadegh Sarafzani, with the religious and syndicalist populations rising up against the Shah after listening to the his cassettes, which were smuggled into the country. The Mujahideen e Gharb also joined in later, though to the dismay of Ayatollah Sarafzani, who criticized their extreme behavior. After this Qudduami Revolution, Ayatollah Sarafzani was finally granted re- entry to the country after 20 years of exile and the Shah fled Ardan, seeking political asylum. After he fled the country, it turned out that the Shah has late- stage lung cancer, and he died only three years after being deposed. Soon after the Revolution had ended, there was a massive purge of the Shah's army, with the newly formed Quddami Republic imprisioning and killing many of the Shah's old generals and officers. Though the Shah's army weren't the only targets after the revolution, with the Mujahideen e Gharb being targetted after they assassinated several of the first Quddami Republic's presidents, due to the anger they had that they were not represented in the new government. 10 years after the formation of the Quddami Republic, the death toll was heading towards 20,000, more than 60% of which being Mujahideen members, labelled as terrorists by the new government. In the following years, as the new government managed to get a definite hold within the country, Ayatollah Sarafzani and his Majlis decided to embrace a new school of thought within the Maliki sect which embraces the concept of Syndicalism and workers equality, which lead to the creation of the Guardian Worker's Council, but it also sponsors ideas such as martyrdom and self sacrifice for the good of God and Country. This new school of thought, the Markazi, also places great emphasis on scientific discovery and that idea that God put us where we are so that we may unlock the puzzles that make up this world. The great Ayatollah Sarafzani died 27 years after the Quddami Revolution, and the Ardanian Majlis elected Ayatollah Ali Saharzad as the new Supreme Leader of Ardan. Race Human, brown skinned with dark hair. Form of Government Theocratic Republic Current Leader(s) Ayatollah Ali Saharzad, who is elected by the Ardanian Majlis President Houssein Farhangi, who is elected by the people of the nation Grand Vizier Jamshid Perozi, who is appointed by the Ayatollah to supervise internal dealings Notable Figures Foreign Minister, Kamran Sargashteh Minister of Armed Forces, Bahram Shari Minister of Religion, Imam Ghasem Luri Total Population 86 million, 14 million of which are situated within the capital city of Miladshahr Nation's Location: Nation's Geography: Majority desert, wooded grassland and coast in the South West. Mountainous regions in the middle, North and North West Economy: Syndicalism Oil, Refined Petroleum, Benzine, Gold, raw Iron, Munitions, Industrial goods, Woven goods, Camels and Elephants Technology Overview While the Quddami Revolution has many social reforms, the technological hit the nation took during it has made it so the nation is several years behind it's neighbors, though the current administration is striving to close the gap between Ardan and it's fellow nations. Military Overview 6% of the population, 2,510,000 in reserves and 2,650,000 active personnel. Ardan has mandatory service where every able- bodied man is required to serve 2 years in the military atleast once, if they are between the ages of 20 and 45. Single children are granted immunity during peacetime, but their immunity will be stripped during war time. Army Overview 1. Sepah- e Pasdaran e Enghelab e Quddami: Elite forces of the Ardanian army, when not at war, they are used as peacekeeping forces in and outside of Ardan. Given 20 weeks of advanced training. 2. Child Basiji: Children volunteers to the Ardanian army are almost never turned down, and are given jobs such as sending messages from one point of the field to another and in dire circumstances, grenade throwers and riflemen. 3. Colonel: A higher ranking officer, mostly in charge of the Revolutionary Guard but occasionally also leading the Pasdaran. 1. Regular Pasdaran troop: The main force of the Ardanian army, made up of men who chose to serve their country for longer than their 2 year long mandatory service. Given 12 weeks of basic training. 2. Command Sergeant Major: A basic non- commissioned officer in the Pasdaran. 3. Ardanian Expeditionary Force: Units who undergo strenuous training in the harsh mountain climates of northern Ardan, where winters are known to be exceptionally snowy. 1. Basiji: Volunteers into the Ardanian army, made up of men doing their mandatory service. Given 7 weeks of basic training. 2. Mobile Basiji: Volunteers into the Ardanian army, differing from the on- foot Basiji because of their state- issued bicycle which allows them to go from area to area faster with less strain on the soldier. Given 8 weeks of basic training. 3. Toufangchi: Basiji's who distinguished themselves during basic training and/or combat with their exceptional shooting, given a longer range rifles and are trained to hone their shooting skills. Given 9 weeks of basic training. Feil e Janghi, Mk. I: Ardan's primary armored land unit, aside from the Aghrab Mk. II. This armored unit is exceptional in flatter terrain, but can also work in low hills and sparse forest. It may not work at it's best in densely forested regions, but it becomes useless in heavy mountains and steep hills, due to it's sheer weight and size. Aghrab Mk. II: Ardan's mid- armored land unit. The Mk. II is one of the Quddami Republic's newest breakthroughs in the art of warfare, and it replaces the old decommissioned Aghrab Mk. I's used by the Shah's army. The Aghrab is most exceptional in flat area, such as desert or plains. It's legs are made specifically to deal with the fine, grainy sand of the Ardanian desert, but it also adapts well to mountainous environments and hilly terrain, unlike it's counterpart, the Fiel e Jangi Mk. I. Perooz Anti- Armor Cannon Mk. I: The Perooz Mk. I is an anti- armor cannon that is capable of penetrating most mid to heavy armors. The downside to this beast of a gun is that it's dependant on it's crew of three, and it takes up to a minute to reload and re- aim a round. 1. Toupchi: Ardanian artillerist, picked from the Basij to man the armored vehicles and artillery 2. Lieutenant Colonel: Commisioned officer looking over enlisted men in the Pasdaran and Basij artillery and armor units 3. Toupchi Sarkar: Spotter for the artillery and the armored machinery. Navy Overview 106 Cruisers 78 Destroyers 12 Dreadnoughts 56 Torpedo Cruisers 24 Transports Total of 276 ships in the Ardanian fleet 1. Pasdaran Marine: Pasdaran who chose to be directed to the naval branch of the armed forces as Marines. Given 12 weeks basic training. 2. Basiji Sailor: The lifeblood of a vessel, made up of Basiji's who chose to be directed to the naval branch of the armed forces. Given 5 weeks basic training. 3. Admiral: A commander of several vessels in the Ardanian fleet Air Force Overview Ardan doesn't have a functional airforce and relies on the RSI for air support.

Army Overview: Despite the Empire's focus on aviation, the ground forces remain to be very rugged and flexible, so their equipment reflects that. The Army is known as the "Streitkräfte" and handles most ground operations as well as paratrooper divisions. Arkillian Infantry (Going from left to right) Paratroopers: Highly trained infantry that are dropped behind enemy lines. They use various select fire automatic rifles, marksman rifles, and pistols. They are usually equipped with sabotage gear and are dropped to either hold positions until main forces arrive or to create havoc in enemy supply lines. Standard Infantry: Regulars of the Empire, they usually carry semi-automatic rifles and service revolvers. They usually have one or two per squad equipped with specialized equipment such as machine guns or AT weaponry, and may be given sub-machine guns for urban fighting environments. CQC/Special Forces: Veteran combat units that specialize in urban warfare or remote combat operations. They usually carry their own personal equipment, ranging mainly from trench guns to single hand axes. They also wear heavier armor, yet despite this, can be surprisingly swift. Least common among the ground forces. Arkillian Armor: E-76 Heavy Tank This heavy tank is designed to be both a tank killer and an infantry support vehicle. Thick slopped armor and its large 90mm cannon mounted on an electric driven turret make it a terrifying behemoth. However, it's overall speed is slow and its great weight means it requires extra effort in logistics to move these large tanks around. Thus, they are not very common on the battlefield. E-22 Medium Tank This tank services to be the versatile backbone of the Empire's armored forces. It carries a 76mm cannon with decent armor and speed. It's flanking armor is a major issue at the moment, as it is fairly thin and easily penetrated. However, its speed and machine guns make it an excellent infantry support vehicle and it can be easily produced. M-48 Light Tank/Tank Destroyer This is one of the newer tank designs and it comes in two variations. One is the light tank version, with a 47mm cannon, and two heavy machine guns. It's great speed allows it to be a decent reconnaissance vehicle as well as support for infantry. The second version has a modified, high velocity 57mm anti tank round with specialized armor piercing rounds. In combination with its speed, it can be quite the terrifying hit and run tank destroyer. E-22T Armored Transport Vehicle (Yes, yes, I too see the Cirnos on the APC....) This armored vehicle uses a modified E-22 chassis. It was enlogated and its internal components were moved about to make it into an APC for regular infantry. It is armed usually with a 20mm autocannon and a heavy machine gun, but other variations include an AA and self propelled mortar version. Ryler's 2-22 Truck From the "Ryler's Automotive Company", this is an example of some of the logistical support trucks used by the Empire. Artillery: N-6 Infantry Mortar Standard heavy mortar used by infantry units. Crewed by three soldiers. N-120 120mm Howitzer This howitzer is the most common in the Empire, used both as an artillery piece, anti tank gun, and anti aircraft gun thanks to its wide variety of ammunition. N-380 240mm Siege Gun This heavy piece of artillery is used mainly as a siege weapon on fortresses and strong points. Not usually seen nor used in typical engagements as it often has to be specifically requested by the general in the battle. Air Force Overview Now the Empire of Arkillia may have a decent ground military, but what they are truly known for is the massively impressive fleet that guards the skies above and rains hell down below. The Arkilian Airborne Fleet is the main focus of the overall military, with great funding and research put into making the best airships they possibly can. Here are the current classifications of the fleet: Typical Arkillian Trade/Civilian Airship This airship is the most commonly scene design from Arkil. They are produced to transport large amounts of cargo and sold to other nations. Speed varies based on cargo, but without all the armor and guns of military airships, they are typically much faster and more maneuverable. As they say, time is money! Arkillian Destroyer The most numerous combat airship of the fleet, this serves as the backbone to the Airborne Fleet. These airships are commonly scene patrolling the airspace or escorting fleets. Main Armament consists of three 105mm cannons and a secondary armament of four turrets that house twin 7.7cm Flak cannons. They can reach a top speed of 40mph. Arkillian Light Cruiser One of the older ship designs, these provide the more common "heavy muscle" in battles. Armed with six 150mm cannons and one single 38cm cannon as well as four 7.7cm Flak cannons, these ships are essentially stronger, heavier destroyers. They have a top speed of 35mph. Arkillian Battle Cruiser Thanks to its lighter armor and more powerful engine systems, this newer addition to the fleet has mobility and heavy firepower. It carries seven turrets with twin 20cm cannons and four 7.7cm Flak cannons. With all this, they can still maintain a good 35mph. Arkillian Heavy Cruiser An out of date ship, these used to provide the heavy firepower of the fleet They are armed with three turrets that contain twin 20cm cannons, four broadside turrets with one 8.8cm cannons, and two turrets that house quad 7.7cm Flak cannons. They can reach a top speed of 25mph. They are currently being decommissioned in favor of the newer Battle Cruiser design. Arkillian Fortress Class Both the least common and largest airship of the fleet, it is said to carry enough ordnance to destroy entire cities. Exaggerations aside, it is still a terrifying ship. Armed with six turrets carrying twin 32cm cannons, eight turrets carrying 8.8cm cannons, and around twelve turrets carrying duel 7.7cm flak guns. It also has a bomb bay that can easily carry up to 10,000 pounds of bombs. Only two of these ships exist as they are a nightmare of logistical support. It could be even said that they serve as intimidation weapons more so than actual strategic weapons. The top speed of this ship is a breakneck 15mph. Arkillian Aircraft Carriers As a newer ship with only four in deployment, they are multi-deck aircraft carriers that can carry a large number of fighter and bomber aircraft as well as soldiers and invasion forces. Strike Witches are also usually based out of these carriers. Top speed of around 24mph Aircraft: The Arkillian Strike Witch The Arkillian Strike Witches are a female only fighter squadron that use leg mounted flying machines known as "Strikers". They are an elite unit of aces, often tasked with unique machines for their quailities. They usually carry 20mm autocannons or heavy machine guns into battle, and while they are very much more exposed to AA fire, they are incredibly nimble and fast, climbing like a rocket and turning on a dime. The AW-7 Multi Role Aircraft This push engine aircraft is the most common strike fighter in the Empire. It is armed with four 30mm cannons and has a top speed of around 380mph at 10,000ft. It is well balanced with a great climb and dive rate as well as famed for its strength under high G maneuvers. However, it's turning speed is somewhat poor, thus pilots are trained around using "boom and zoom" tactics as opposed to conventional turn dogfights. It can also carry up to 500lbs of bombs. Launched both from Carriers and airbases. The AT-40 Attacker Aircraft This push engine aircraft is slow but very maneuverable. It is armed with twin 40mm cannons and can carry up to 1000lbs of bombs. It's main role is to attack ground and naval forces with its powerful cannons and heavy bombs. Thus it is vulnerable to high performance fighters as it climbs slowly and generally does better at lower altitudes. For protection it also as a rear facing turret with twin 12.7mm machine guns. The AB-77 Heavy Bomber (Please mind that it does not have jet engines despite the image. The image is just for you to get an idea of what I have in mind.) The main bomber of the Arkillian Airborne Fleet, it can carry up to 2000lbs of bombs and its protected by various strategically placed turrets armed with 20mm cannons. It is a lumbering aircraft of sorts, thus it is very vulnerable to fighter aircraft, however it has been known to be a "bullet sponge" thanks to its smartly designed fuselage and inline built rudder system.

The Cyzin Federation of Xulao Nation's History Race: Human (Lin ethnicity) The Lin ethnicity have smooth, dark brown skin, black and occasionally brown hair, and brown or hazel eyes. They are unusually short for humans, rarely standing more than 5 feet 4 inches tall. Occasional variations happen – the Cyzin family is famous for having green eyes, and that coloration is now considered a sign of royalty. Form of Government: Oligarchal Monarchy The stated goal of the Federation forces is the revival of the old Cyzin imperial government: a centralized monarchy with an expansive, merit-based bureaucracy. Because of the young age of the current Cyzin monarch and the state of the revolution, the current government is essentially an oligarchy of revolutionary leaders. Whether they will cede power once the Federation is stable is a major question both domestically and for foreign leaders. Current Leader: Empress Cyzin Ao (Current Cyzin Empress) As the twelve-year-old heir to a centuries-long dynasty, Cyzin Ao has a lot on her young shoulders. The revolutionary’s forces are constantly paranoid about her safety, yet her mere existence has sparked a revolution. The old Cyzin family is synonymous with the dignity and power of Xulao. Surprisingly she holds up to the stress well for her age and has a dignified demeanor that inspires her followers, perhaps a trait forced on her by her role. Notable Figures Zhan Arika (Imperial Chancellor) – Some call her “the shadow empress” for her immense influence and power in the current Federation. Arika is the de facto head of state and newly self-appointed chancellor to the empress. She is a large, brutally calculating woman – she once sacrificed an entire company in order to launch a surprise attack on an enemy position miles away. Lon Fen (Imperial Chaplain) – Lon Fen was a major leader of the Hulan rebel organization advocating the establishment of a theocracy in Xulao. When Cyzin Ao was discovered five years ago he jumped ship to join the monarchists and took a large number of veteran partisans with him. Now he has secured the job as Imperial Chaplain in recognition. Cerzak Inaha (Imperial Treasurer) – Inaha is the academic woman responsible for popularizing the statist model of economics through numerous treatises. Her work in the revolution was largely academic and she herself was a rather low-profile figure. She has now been given the unenviable job of putting her ideals into practice and getting Xulao’s economy on track after decades of strife. Total Population: 35 Million (23 million in controlled territory) Nation's Location: Nation's Geography: Xulao is a region of lowlands warmed by hot ocean currents, sea breezes and occasional monsoons or hurricanes. Swampland and forests make up most of the hinterlands, but much of the region is covered in rice paddies and intense agriculture. To the north the land becomes drying, hotter and more mountainous. Flooded fields give way to terrace farming and swamps lose out to dense jungle. The north is home to many of the region’s oldest and most famous temples. Economy: Technology Overview Xulao’s technology level is sorely lacking. The state’s only industry consists of those factories built by Irodia which were captured and nationalized rather than being destroyed, and education in the region is sadly lacking. Only in the cities is public schooling widely available. Most machinery, weapons and other technology are imported. Cultural Overview Military Overview Population: 1,600,000 (7%) After half a decade of brutal war against a superior combatant, Xulao’s population is thoroughly militarized. More than a million and a half Lin stand under arms and ready to fight. Unfortunately most of those troops are guerrillas armed with small arms and little formal training. The newly minted Federation Army has yet to be tested and is sorely lacking in supplies and armaments.