Government: Federal Monarchy. The German Empire is ruled by the Emperor and King of Prussia, though other kings make up his council; ie. King of Saxony, King of Bavaria, etc.
Important Characters: Kaiser Bismarck, King Widikund of Saxony, King Ferdinand of Bavaria, Empress Maria
Economy: The German Empire is an Industrial Powerhouse. They are one of the largest exporters in Europe. A few small deposits of Blue Coal along the coast of East Prussia have helped fuel their research on the matter but Kaiser Bismarck realizes that in order to see these ambitions through he would need to open a trade route with a nation in Asia.
Military: The German Empire boasts a magnificent wealth of foot soldiers, however, their newest technological advancement has come in the form of the Blue Panzer. A prototype artillery "tank" unit powered by Blue Coal. Kaiser Bismarck has seen the Asian airships with his own eyes and dreams of being able to include them in his own military. He's had his scientists begin implementing their own designs. They're rough sketches but his researchers promise that the Zeppelin will be able to surpass his expectations.
History: The Kingdom of Prussia was surrounded by several allied independent German states. King Bismarck of Prussia was able to diplomatically unify these nations to create the German Empire, forming a Federal Monarchy. He now rules as Kaiser, with ambitions to become an Industrial powerhouse and boost his nations economy by becoming the largest exporter of goods in Europe, and possibly the world.
His industrial ambitions reach further than his resourceful grasp, however, as his low stockpile of Blue Coal is constantly dwindling. In hopes of fueling his research and design efforts he must look to import the resource from a foreign nation. The obvious choice would be to open relations with a nation in Asia where Blue Coal has been most abundant. Kaiser Bismarck also has options across his immediate southern border in the friendly Austrian and Hungarian countries, as well as the Greeks, who have their own deposits in Gaza.
Kaiser Bismarck has many options available to him and he must choose what he is to do soon, lest he fall behind in the great race to become the greatest industrialized nation in the world.
Territories: The US states, with the last remnants of the Confederation holding certain strongholds and states. However they are already in talks of peace. Also Alaska is yet to be purchased and Hawaii has not joined as a state yet.
Government: A Constitutional Democracy.
Important Characters: President, Abraham Lincoln Vice-President, Andrew Johnson Secretary of State, George Mathews Secretary of the Treasury, Martin Goldman Secretary of Defense Charles, Bronto Attorney General, Jackson Sullam Secretary if the Interior, Tristan Marks Secretary of Agriculture, Lucas Phillips Secretary of Commerce, Mark Anscombe General of the United States Armed Forces, Ulysses S. Grant Second General of the United States Armed Forces, William T. Sherman.
Economy: The USA is currently in a period of great transition. Whilst the North is heavily industrialized, with a great number of factories and a big source of cheap labour from immigrants from Ireland and other countries, the South is still quite agrarian and so is still vastly grassland and open fields. Despite this split America still has a great deal of economic power, though the economy is currently set for helping the final stages of the war effort. Whilst deposits of Blue Coal are not as prominent as in Asia, America is so large that they have enough to match the output of many of the smaller Asian nations. Though if the country were to fully industrialise it would need a stable trade partner. Right now the country is fairly isolationist and so exports are down, hopefully that will change with the conclusion of the Civil War. Alongside industry America has large plantations and fields that produce huge amounts of agrarian produce that is exported around the world, with perhaps China being the only other nation that can match this.
Military: The US can field a large army that is rapidly modernising as the great deal of industrialisation allows for the rapid production of arms and armaments. In regards to advanced war machines the US has been stunted in recent years. A split on several key issues has meant that they aren't at the forefront at research and development, with other interests getting in the way, however they are more than able of retaking the mantle of leading power again.
History: The US has always been a powerful nation, since its creation in 1776 the US has grown into an economic and military powerhouse as well as an icon of democracy and freedom. Expansion into the west of the continent as well as wars with Mexico allowed for the acquisition of vast swathes of land as well as a lot of room for population growth. In response to this the administration has spent many years industrialising the open space and expanding cities. With the discovery of Blue Coal these efforts were doubled, as well as this great endeavours were taken to connect the country via railway. However during this expansion the ‘independence fever’ seemed to hit other colonies. With Australia’s declaration of independence in the early 19th century the US was one of the first countries to support them. Boat loads of mass produced weapons, goods and resources were shipped across the Pacific for the Australian people. After Britain finally relinquished their control of the large colony America was, to put it in laymen terms, rolling in the cash. However alongside this time of prosperity there was also an underlying dark side to the US.
The issue of slavery was a hot topic and whilst in certain States it was illegal, in many more it was still legal and the ownership of man was discussed almost daily by every party in congress. In response to this a state of emergency was declared, and using this emergency America’s system of government was changed, to better allow full control of the country. The new system, in basic, was as follows. Each state has a Local Commissary that organises public spending and local disputes within its state. This Commissary is made up of ten elected officials that come to power ever 4 years, any man can be part of the Commissary for as long as they get re-elected. At the same time each state also elects two representatives from the existing Commissary to be representatives at the National Congress, any man can, again, be part of the National Congress for as long as they get re-elected. The Congress is the body that passes bills and deals with the allocation of state funds. Finally every five years a President and Vice-President is elected. A President has complete control over the country and can veto any decision that the Congress makes, however many try not to. The President, under council of the VP, then hand picks a cabinet who have total control over the different departments and arms of the government. Each state also lost the right to determine its own certain laws, creating a much more centralized government.
These changes to the constitution were met with outrage all across the country. Many felt this infringed on their rights that the country was based on. However, whilst the North swallowed this large and sour pill the South was not so easily rolled over. After much discord and unrest the CSA rose up. Just over half the country fought for its right to the old ways, especially their right to own slaves. After a hard fought war America is finally coming to peace again, though the war has halted the great steps it had taken pre-war. With this war, however, people have seen and accepted the boons of a centralized government and so with the conclusion of the Civil war it will be a mission to convince the rest of the US that this is the way forward.
The Netherlands (duh), Belgium, Luxembourg, Dutch East Indies, Dutch Antilles, Suriname.
The United Kingdom of the Netherlands is a Constitutional Monarchy, the Monarch is checked by the Staten-Generaal (Estates-General). This means that without the consent of the Staten-Generaal the Monarch is powerless in state affairs. The Monarch is not allowed to declare war nor is he allowed to raise taxes or pass a reform without the Staten-General’s approval. He is not powerless however as he is still the supreme commander of the armed forces and has to approve any law the Staten-Generaal wants to pass. This way there is a carefull balance between the Monarch and the Staten-Generaal. Meanwhile the supreme court has the Monarch as the highest judge. There is no Trias-Politica.
The Dutch capital city is in Den Haag (De Hague) and the Dutch East Indies’s capital city is Batavia (Modern day Jakarta).
In the colonies there is a very open policy. Although there is made use of forced labour in the Dutch East Indies, this is to provide the land with better infrastructure. Slavery is forbidden in the Netherlands so these labourers get a very low wage for the deadly work. But this has provided the East Indies with a good infrastructure, connecting the major cities with railroads.
Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk (also known as Willem III), Prince of Oranje-Nassau and king of the United Netherlands. He is the son of Willem II and Anna Paulowna (sister of the Russian Tsar Alexander I). 49 at the start of the scenario.
Willem Nicolaas Alexander Frederik Karel Hendrik, crown prince to the throne. 26 at the start of the scenario.
Johan Rudolph Thorbecke, premier (prime minister) of the United Netherlands, partyless. Thorbecke wrote the constitution, more info about that in history. He is a liberal and is known as a man who wants to keep the power to the richer class of citizens and wants to improve the infrastructure of the Netherlands. He does however want to make the people of the Netherlands richer and is overall a pacifist. He also wants the Dutch people to become more educated and thus made sure that highschool would be subsidised by the state.
Julius van Zuylen van Nijevelt, minister of foreign affairs. A member of the conservatives, he is an outspoken man and is overall more in favor of military interventions although he is not an idiot. He will not treaten with war lightly and always tries to complete his promises. Overall he is very pro German, Austrian and Russian and anti French (Napoleon is still fresh in the Dutch minds) and British (biggest trade competition).
Johannes Adrianus van den Bosch, minister of War. Van den Bosch is a conservative and has spend millions on re-organising the army and navy. He would love to test his new armed forces and is not afraid to cause an incident. He based his army on the Prussian model and dispises the French.
Anton Fokker. Owner of most of the weapons industry in the Netherlands. He is also the genious who designed the first Dutch airships and is now working on a vehichle which can change groundwarfare.
More characters like generals and such will be added later once they appear on the stage, untill that time these are the most important characters.
During the reign of king Willem I there had been a massive boost to the industry of the Netherlands, especially in the southern parts. He also saw massive potential in the steamlocomotive and when it was possible he ordered the construction of a large railroad system conecting the country’s main cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Although the Dutch had a strong party lobbying against industrialisation because they made alot of money in the merchant shipping, the Dutch industrialised anyway. Most of the industry is based in the southern Netherlands and the Randstad (Amsterdam, Den Haag, Rotterdam and Utrecht). The Netherlands control the biggest port in Europe, Rotterdam. They have coalmines in Limburg, which is a province bordering Germany. They also have a very large amount of Blue Coal in the Dutch East Indies and trade being the craft of a Dutchman they are willing to trade with any European power who would like some, for a good price ofcourse (Read: Ripping off).
The Dutch are obsesed with learning new things and they give out large subsidies to any scientis who wants to work in the Royal Academy. The only thing the scientists have to do to get this money and prestigious job is deliver their inventions to the state and if they do not they will need to pay back everything or will be imprisoned. A great trade which will in no way backfire on them… Right? That last part is not known to them though and so many scientist from all over the world flock to the Netherlands to conduct their experiments.
The Dutch military is largly based on the Prussian model. The Infantry are armed with state of the art breech loaded rifles. (This was a very new technology, remember that during the Civil War they still used muzzle loaded rifles and that ended a year earlier in the scenario). The Dutch military also had breech loaded artillery cannons.
Due to their abundance of Blue Coal and the European mindset the Dutch made great leaps in technological advancements. They were able to construct large Ironclad ships with rotating turrets instead of fixed emplacements. The Dutch had been visiting Japan and were able to produce airships of their own. They had also a very well contected telegraph system.
In 1815 it was decided that the Kingdom of the Netherlands would become a bufferstate against France for the UK and Prussia. King Willem I was a reformist interms of economics. He restructured the taxation system and made the Northern and Southern Dutch equal. Although Dutch was the language used by the government, the Wallonians were not forced to learn Dutch, this put them at a disadvantage though so slowly they are begining to learn Dutch aswell.
Due to the fair treatment of the Southern Dutch there was no civil unrest as was predicted to happen if Willem I had been more harsh to the southerners. (Guess what happened in real life...)
Willem I wanted to industrialize the Netherlands, and so he did. Factories were state financed for a while. This allowed them to create a large heavy industrial complex which would compete with the German Ruhr.
With the discovery of Blue Coal and the sudden industialisation and militarisation of Asia king Willem I decided that the army and, more importantly, the navy needed reform. The first thing he did was to let several ship builders compete in the creation of a new kind of ship, an early version of what later would be classified as an Ironclad. He also wanted the colonies to be treated as provinces of the Kingdom. This resulted in a fair treatment of the population in comparison to how other European powers treated them. And lastly he ordered the construcion of a line of fortified ports incase a war in Asia broke out.
On the 7th of October 1840 Willem I abdicated from the throne and was succeeded by his son, Willem II.
Willem II isnt really known for anything except for the constitution of 1848.
In 1848 Europe was engulfed by rebelions from liberals against the Ancien Regime. Fearing that the revolution would spread to the Netherlands, Willem II ordered Johan Rudolph Thorbecke to sign up a new constitution which would be appropriate acording to Thorbecke.
Some of the changes made by Thorbecke: Ministiral responsibility: The king is not responsible for his mistake, the ministers are. Freedom of speech, press, education and gathering. The king is no longer ruler of the Church. “Censuskiesrecht” is used as a way of electing the second chamber of the Staten-Generaal. This meant that only people who were wealthy were allowed to vote. The first chamber was elected by the members of the provincial states, which were in turn voted on through the “Censuskiesrecht”.
Inaugurated in 1840, Willem II died in 1849 and was succeded by his son Willem III.
Willem III wanted to have stability in his country and in his point of view this was only possible by having a large armed force. The armed forces were to be integral parts of the Netherlands. Willem III made sure that there would be a large military force present in both the fatherland aswell as the colonies. The KNIL (Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger, Royal Dutch Indies Army) was to protect the Dutch Indies while the Royal Dutch Army would also provide protection for the antilles and Suriname. Conscription was active and the first bron was forced to serve for 4 years, he was allowed to study at the cost of the state during this period.
Naval rivalries with Britain were heated up again and some people want a war against them to retake Kaap de Goede Hoop (South Africa). The Dutch also didnt forget their humiliation by Napoleon and are highly distrustfull against the French. The only neighbour they actually respect are the Germans and although there is some economic rivalry with them the Dutch people see the Germans as their brothers. Due to him being half Russian Willem III also wants to uphold friendly terms with Russia.
Now the Dutch are one of the most industrialised nations in Europe. Being one of the only nations with direct acces to massive Blue Coal mines they have the ability to rival any other nation. Their navy being one of the most modern and it’s army being one of the best drilled they are a force to be reckoned with. Though pasifict by nature, waking this sleeping lion might be a bad idea.
Territories: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
Government: Constitutional Government formerly Constitutional Monarchy
Important Characters: Prime Minister Johnathon Lockly, Sir James William Minister of Foreign Affairs, Presley Cooks Minister of Defense
Economy: The Commonwealth's economy is built on plantations built across Australia during the times of the British occupation and are now owned by private interest paying the Commonwealth taxes for the land. Another form of income for the government is the export of Blue Coal from the mineral veins that were found in the Australian outback when expeditions were sent to explore the land. There are also several natural resources on New Zealand and Papua New Guinea that are exported to bring in extra income to the growing government. The Commonwealth of Australia is just starting to build new and improved factories on the main land to make use of new Blue Coal mines to help in the production of airships and other resourced needed for a flourishing nation.
Military: The Commonwealth military is not the greatest at the moment as it is still trying to establish itself after being freed from British rule, but what they lack in sheer number they make up for in ingenuity. They have an almost non-existent standing army with only ten thousand footmen making up the bulk of the army, but even though the land army is small they do boast a large Air Fleet and Naval force. This force has some of the most advanced technology with the direct source of Blue Coal being able to allow researchers to find new ways to use it. Many of the smaller pacific islands scattered around the Oceanic region house Hangers for planes and Air ships as well as Naval bases that can house a few ships to even fleets.
History: The Commonwealth of Australia is one of the new nations to join into the fight to become the superpower of the world. In it's last few decades as a colony of the English, there was growing discontent between the native people and the arriving colonists who were a mix of people looking for a fresh start and the convicts that were exiled to the large continent. There were a few leaders that directed this frustration back at the British government leading to an underground group to form whose purpose was to drive the British out of Australia and the entire Oceanic region. With the rise of Blue coal mines being dug across the Australian outback, the underground faction reached out to the United States of America for support in their effort to fight against the British.
In 1852, the British finally pulled out of Australia as the colony declared independence followed closely behind by New Zealand which soon joined with New Guinea to fall under the umbrella of the Commonwealth of Australia. With their own independence secured, the government slowly grew into an established Constitutional government over the next 14 years with money coming in from the States as they supplied them with Blue Coal and other goods. Over these fourteen years the Solomon islands and Vanuatu were added to the Australia as they continued the ambition of bringing the majority of the Pacific islands under their umbrella.
Government: The Government of the Kingdom of Naples is a total monarchy, whereby King Pagani holds full control of domestic and foreign policy, as well as being head of the Kingdom's army. There is a Parliament to the Crown of Naples, which in theory is supposed to advise the King on policy making, as well as other matters.
The Parliament to the Crown of Naples, or PCN, is occupied by sixty District Marshals - themselves appointed directly by King Pagani. It has the power to veto the King's decision on any and all subjects, however rather paradoxically, he also holds the power to ignore their veto. Which he has done before, but rarely, owing to the fact that most of the District Marshals are his friends and so never offer much resistance to him anyway.
The common man is kept firmly out of government, and even the wealthy elite have trouble getting a say if their views differ wildly from King Pagani's.
However, The Kingdom of Naples also operates along feudal lines. Each District Marshal has under him a certain number of knights, who under them holds a certain number of soldiers. If the King falls too far out of favour with Parliament, he can find himself short of men - though this has never happened.
Important Characters:
Name: Sante Pagani
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Appearance: A tall square chested male, with greying curled hair and a wispy black beard. He has two blue eyes that are often described as intelligent, and his Roman nose gives homage to his ancestry. He often wears ceremonial plated armour, and a plumbed helmet, when seen in public. In private, he finds comfort in expensive robes.
History: Sante Pagani was the son of a farmer, and came from a poor background. Uneducated, he taught himself to read, whilst his father taught him to ply his hands to the till.
The nations of the Italian peninsula were all effected differently by the discovery of burū sekitan. The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies saw a boom in industrial prosperity, but the King, Francis II, invested too heavily in urban areas and quickly caused unrest in the countryside. Naples, being a breadbasket of the world, relied heavily on agriculture. As more and more families moved to the cities to soak up jobs, the fragile rural economies were obliterated, and peasant uprisings took place.
Sante Pagani's father led once such uprising, but was killed just weeks into his campaign by Francis II's agents. Heartbroken, and shaken by the brutality of the world that he found himself in, Sante Paganai took up his father's mantle and went about sewing political unrest. His manniesto outlawed the use of of burū sekitan, and the establishments of factories. He loved his countryside home, and saw industrialisation as a great threat.
Several tours of Naples' and Sicily's industrialised hubs showed the hardening peasant what misery there was to be found in a factory. Children as young as six would ply themselves to the mills until they dropped dead; young women were forced to abort their unborn babies, sometimes with fatal repercussions, because they could not afford to lose their jobs. Men injured in the work place faced a slow descent into total poverty. It was a diseased living, driven by greed at its heart.
Pagani sought to change this.
His manifesto garnered much support from Naples' rural communities, and before long, he had gathered hundreds of enraged farmers to his cause. Together they launched a crushing guerilla campaign against Francis II's army stationed in Naples. This prompted a royal response, and as Pagani's forces swelled to thousands, King Francis II arrived in Naples with an army of 25,000 hardened troops.
Pagani's men fought primarily on horseback, wearing plate mail and wielding swords like their ancestors of old. Francis II's on the other hand, were using rifles, wheeled hulks and long ranged cannon. It looked set to be a blood bath. However, it was this obvious fact that played into Pagani's favour, and Francis II walked haplessly into a trap laid for him outside the city Naples.
Confident in the strength of his guns, Francis II dismissed the multitude of ranked archers forming up before him. He even ignored his advisers' warnings about Pagani's armoured cavalry forming on the flanks, believing that his dragoons would be more than a match for a few backwards farmers wearing their ancestors' chain mail.
He was wrong. Pagani's archers leased volley after volley against Francis II's tightly packed riflemen, who without much protection, died by the hundreds. They fired back, and some archers fell - but not all. Seeing defeat looming over him, Francis committed his wheeled hulks to the battle - big boxes of iron, powered by steam and harbouring a lethal cannon - but they proved laughably inadequate against massed infantry. Indeed, they were surrounded and had pitch poured through their hatches.
Pagani then sent in his cavalry on both flanks, and these were met by dragoons. Though Francis II's elite riders were great marksman, and felled many of Pagani's mounted warriors, their cloth uniforms and curved sabres stood little chance against plate mail and axes. The battle of the flanks was a short and bloody affair, but within the hour, it was settled in Pagani's favour.
Francis II then looked to retreat, but he was caught up by Pagani's pursuing men and executed - though this was against the peasant warlord's wishes.
Not wasting the opportunity, Pagani declared himself King of Naples, and led his army into Sicily. A few minor engagements took place, all ending in the new King's favour, until a peace accord was signed by the island's prominent nobles.
By 1866, after just four years of civil conflict, King Pagani had arisen as undisputed ruler of Sicily and Naples. His victory stunned international audiences, who found it hard to believe that what were essentially medieval knights, were able to overcome a modern army.
Economy: The Kingdom of Naples has outlawed industrialisation, and relies heavily on agricultural output. Land reclamation work, aided by foreign specialists, has increased arable land by 12% in the last 12 months, and this is likely to rise to 35% over the next few years.
Due to the outlawing of modern machinery, the kingdom's agricultural methods are a laborious and long affair. Oxen and field labourers are the main means of harvesting and maintaining crops, and at present, the country can barely feed itself - a growing source of public resentment to the King.
Wine remains a staple export of Southern Italy and Sicily, and the country has remained a leading exporter despite it's de-industrialisation.
People are free to trade what they wish, and laws regarding sales of merchandise are relatively lax. Taxes are collected on an annual basis, around March time, and are fixed at 12% of a citizen's total earnings.
The lack of raw materials in the Italian peninsula has hampered the King's attempts to refrain from modernisation, and his fragile economy leaves him little left in his coffers to import foreign aid - not that he would wish to do so in any case.
A small market has risen around the marble trade, with Neapolitan Marble being seen as somewhat a fashion trend in some developed nations. Its hand-crafted background give it that certain appeal to the rich and the wealthy.
With nothing to sell, and no money to buy with, the Kingdom of Naples faces large scale disaster if it does not find a solution to its economic woes. Many feel that modernisation is an eventual step that Kingdom must take, but Pagani seems intent on avoiding this.
However, the resent discovery of small Blue Coal reserves located at Mount Vesuvius and Mount Etna have provided the King with a potential life line - assuming that he can find nations to lease the land to. Though using Blue Coal to prop up the economy may be seen as hypocritical by both his peers, and his people.
Military: Each District Marshal employs 60 knights, who in turn employ 60 men at arms. This gives the Kingdom of Naples a total troop strength of 216,000, although these soldiers are rarely at their posts in peace time.
Typically, the Pagani Army relies on armoured troops and melee combat to win the day. The horse is still very much a prominent weapon, and although generally speaking the country's war machine looks laughable to an outsider, they would do well to learn lessons from Francis II's disaster.
Common Troop Types:
Neapolitan Men-At-Arms, which are either foot or mounted infantry. They usually wear armour, and wield swords or shields.
Neapolitan Knights, who are the tanks of the Pagani army. Much like their medieval counterparts, they rely on their heavy destriers and thick armour to win the day.
Neapolitan Crossbowmen, are exactly as stated on the tin. Crossbow wielding troops, who usually huddle into squares to launch mass volleys.
Sicilian Archers, who employ the Sicilian Longbow (more or less a copy of the English longbow).
Sicilian Petards, that are lightly mounted skirmishers who carry flasks of gun powder. Typically, their task is to overwhelm a tank and find a way of getting their crude explosives inside of it. Though this seems a desperate measure, it has proven effective in city fighting.
Sicilian Catapults, usually of manganol or trebuchet design.
Neapolitian Sky Ballistae, designed for firing missiles skywards at airships. They have yet to be tested.
History: View King Pagani's history, as it pretty much sums up the rise of the Kingdom Of Naples - albeit with a focus on him.
Can include an additional history section here, if the GM deems it necessary.
Lore:
Naples was in chaos in the Spring of '62, owing to the huge civil unrest caused primarily by Pagani - although there were many other peasant leaders who also added their weight to the cauldron.
Modern goods were boycotted by countryside farmers, and Fracis II's attempt to modernise the region's agricultural methods were met with instant hostility. Strong faith in the Catholic Church also proved problematic to Francis II's regime, as local clergymen started to proclaim the rate of industrialisation as an example of Man's 'inhumanity' and as an act that was against the will of God.
Francis II dispatched his key military advisor, Velio Socci, along with a Light Rifle Division to Naples City. Velio's mission was to restore peace, and to destroy any seeds of rebellion. However, Velio was a cruel man, born from the gentry, and fitted with a belief in the King's right to do what he willed. Many outspoken critics of the regime, mostly peasants, were therefore executed without trial. Villages thought to be harbouring rebels were torched, and some small scale massacres occurred.
These acts gave Pagani's propaganda machine all that it needed to incite further rebellion in the rural areas. It wasn't uncommon for a farmer to throw himself at the feet of passing soldiers, begging for them to spare him, even when they had no intention of evening bothering him.
Churches became the first gathering points of Pagani's loyal followers. Spurred on by preaching firebrands, who warned of the perils of pursuing "Far Eastern Sin", these gatherings soon swelled. Eventually, Pagani could call upon 500 men at any one time, and expect them to come to him bearing arms.
Pagani's proposed outlawing of industrialisation, coupled with the local Church's similar beliefs, provided the spark. Convinced that God was behind him, Pagani moved against Velio.
Striking patrols at night, with axe and spear, Pagani's warbands caused only superficial damage at first to Velio's army. However, the propaganda value of these attacks was massive, and it soon brought yet more followers to Pagani's cause.
Velio responded with more executions, more village raids and more massacres. None of these served to assist him, and only handed over more angry farmers to Pagani's command. Eventually, what had begun as a rather minor civil unrest in the rural areas, snowballed into a serious military threat.
The frequency of attacks increased, and soon it was not just patrols that were being targeted, but barracks and supply depots. Enraged, Velio marched 5,000 men to Campagua - a known strong point of Pagani's support. On the way he faced constant attacks from mounted soldiers, and though these attacks often ended heavily in the favour of Velio, they did much damage to morale of his men.
By the time he reached Campagua, he has lost two thousand to desertions and the attacks. Pagani by this time could count on 5,000 men of his own, and as he approached Velio's column, the King's military advisor made a chaotic rout. Pagani pursued him all the way back to the City of Naples, capturing most of his army, and confiding him to the city's interior. The countryside rose up in support of Pagani's victory.
King Francis II responded by heading to Naples himself, with an army of 25,000 soldiers... and so ended the guerilla campaign.
By winter of 1863, King Francis II had arrived in Naples City and broke Pagani's siege without bloodshed. He chased the peasants across Southern Italy for two weeks, and as Pagani's army splintered into several groups and almost outright vanished - he assumed victory secured.
However Pagani was cunning, and had split his army on purpose to give such an illusion. In secret, he ordered his forces to circumvent the King, and to re-emerge at Naples City. It was a military manoeuvre of miraculous logistics, skill and indeed luck. Only a few of Pagani's men were caught as they made their way to Naples, disguised as refugees. Those that were caught rarely spoke of Pagani's plan, even though they were subjected to horrible torture, and when they did, King Francis II refused to believe that the rebels were capable of such coordination.
A shock then was it, when his messengers brought word of Naples City's occupation by Pagani. The King promptly turned his forces around, and marched back the way they had come, confident at least that he had the rebels trapped.
Pagani marched from Naples City with 18,000 men. Many of these were armoured in crude plate, rode heavy horses, and wielded weapons better suited to the 15th century. Never the less, he marched out all the same.
Knowing that Francis II would attempt to destroy his forces in a pitched battle, Pagani ordered that "every man choose himself a bow or a crossbow, so that gun powder can be shown its weakness". As a result, when the armies met, 15,000 of the 18,000 soldiers following Pagani were equipped for range combat.
Many of the crossbows and bows were crudely made, and put together in a hurry. There were concerns over the availability of ammunition, and the ability of his men to stand toe-to-toe with riflemen. Even Pagani speculated at his blunder, knowing full well the perils wrought by massed rifles.
Luckily, the terrain around the city could be described as hilly, and it was the uneven earth that he used to his advantage. Deploying on the northern side of a raised mound, Pagani waited for Francis II to march within bow-range (roughly 200 meters).
Though Francis had dispatched scouts, and knew of the mass of rebels waiting for him beyond the hill's peak, he had been advised by Velio that the rifle's bayonet was more than a match for a melee engagement with "mere farmers". Indeed, this may have been true, if Pagani intended to charge the royal line.
As the first regiments of Francis II army crested the hill, Pagani ordered the first volleys to be leased. They struck with devastating force; their crude designs more than able to propel arrows and bolts through cloth and wool. Francis' men fired back in a disorganised panic, and most of their return fire fell wide. Pagani then issued the order to engage, and all at once, 15,000 bow-armed soldiers charged up the hill.
Francis' vanguard broke and fled before the attack, and soon the King found his forces being looked down on by Pagani's archers. Volleys of arrows soon followed, and the riflemen, unable to deploy all their weapons in the same manner as Pagani's, were steadily slaughtered.
It was at this point, that Pagani ordered the cavalry to charge both of Francis II's flanks. 3,000 mounted and plated warriors surged around the base of the hill on both sides. Around 5,000 dragoons galloped to meet them, and fired volleys of lead balls from their saddles. Hundreds of Pagani's knights fell to this accurate fire, but when they managed to close the gap, they tore through the dragoons like a scythe through grass.
Within an hour, Francis II's flanks had evaporated and his central infantry were retreating after sustaining heavy losses. Unbeknown to him however, was that Pagani's cavalry had been reduced by two thirds, and his infantry by a third - indeed, had Francis II ordered a frontal assault, and has his men been prepared to do so, he may have turned the tide of the battle.
Instead, he chose to send in his wheeled hulks. Early tanks, powered by steam and blue coal, they were designed to destroy armoured targets and to provide close-range fire support for infantry. Francis II, however, decided they were so formidable, that they could simply run down the amassed peasants. However, they were laughably slow and prone to getting stuck on the slopes of the hill, allowing for Pagani's men to surround them, break open the hatches and to pour pitch inside.
Seeing their modern weapons so easily pushed aside, Francis II's infantry lost heart and fled. Their King followed suit, and a general rout ensued.
Pagani's cavalry chased the fleeing riflemen, cutting down hundreds and capturing thousands more. Francis II was caught by a particularly disgruntled farmer-turned-cavalryman, and had the indignity of a short sword shoved up his anus.
The battle ended with half of Pagani's men dead, but the entire Sicilian Royal Army destroyed. Pagani quickly proclaimed himself King, amongst popular support, and was crowned in a small ceremony held in Naples City. Then he looked across the narrow channel to the west.
Territories: In addition to of course, Japan, the Empire of Japan controls Korea, Manchukuo(As designated by the Japanese), the Island of Formosa, the Philippines, and the Island of Guam.
Government:
The Empire of Japan is an Absolute Monarchy, ruled currently by Emperor Meiji and his Imperial Court from Tokyo. Various Governmental agencies do exist to assist in the management of the Empire, as well as a parliament, however the Emperor reserves authority to override any of these decisions at anytime, and replace them with his own.
Important Characters:
Emperor Meiji
While originally merely little more than a symbol under the Tokugawa Shogunate Meiji’s quick and decisive actions during the Boshin War lead to the turnover of power to him and the Imperial Court. Emperor Meiji was also quick to exploit the blue coal and rapidly build up Japan’s industrial and military strength, leading to the creation of the Empire of Japan and it’s territories. He is however known to be not afraid to use military strength to quickly put down any rebellions, and thus is also known for being a bit brutal in the treatment of non-Japanese peoples that have been conquered.
Economy:
The Empire of Japan uses a capitalist model to run their economy, with intervention reserved as right of the government. It is to be noted that the government however does control all blue coal deposits, and does also provide subsidies for other industries and the construction of railroads and other infrastructure to further grow Japan’s strong economy. Japan exports huge amounts of blue coal due to it's huge deposits in the Japanese homeland as well as those gained from conquest. Japan also has a strong industrial base, allowing to export machinery and other goods, weapons and other war machines are kept to Japan however with the exception of Small Arms to allies. They also export huge amounts of refined materials to help fuel the economy.
Military:
Japan’s blue coal deposits as well as it’s huge population has allowed it to build up quite a large military. Their Air Force uses top-of-the-line airships to perform bombing runs and the latest in aeroplanes to help combat enemy airships. The navy as well as made large strides in the development of iron ships, and uses them to further secure Japan’s naval dominance over Asia and the Pacific.
Ground forces also make heavy use of blue coal to help fuel the war machine. Mechs and steam tanks are quite large. Mechs are used to fill both artillery roles as well as acting as mobile AA when the forces need it. Tanks are often designed to help punch through other enemy tanks as well as knock down any mechs. Ground forces are equipped with standard rifles, with most divisions possessing a few machine guns for use on enemy forces as well.
History:
The beginning of the Empire of Japan(and thus by extension the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate), can be traced back to the discovery of blue coal in Japan. It was given a Japanese name by the miners who discovered it, and it quickly lead to more deposits being discovered across the Asian Continent. The Imperial Court and it’s supporters found that the territories they held in Japan held a majority of the blue coal in Japan, and allowed them to become rich and industrialize while the other shoguns that supported the old order found themselves collapsing under the growing might of the Imperial Court.
It was shortly following this period that the Boshin War began, seeking to eliminate the Shogunate and once again grant the Imperial Court and by extension the Emperor supreme authority over Japan. The war was relatively short, as the Imperial Court’s access to blue coal was much more than that of the Shogunate, allowing the Imperial Court to dominate the fields with Airships and Mechs, while the Shogunate was stuck with outdated weapons.
With the end of the Boshin War Emperor Meiji stepped on to the steps of the Imperial Palace and declared that with Japan’s access to blue coal it shall no longer be dominated by the Europeans, and that it shall build it’s own Empire. Emperor Meiji began the Meiji Restoration, seeking to fully industrialize Japan and build up its military strength to compete with the rest of Europe. This move became highly popular amongst the Japanese people, as it brought new goods to them as well as new jobs, and made transportation and communication much easier than it would have ever been without the technology.
After Japan’s position was secure, and their military strength strong, they turned their eyes toward the nation of Korea. It was not long before Japan declared war on Korea with one intent, conquering it for the Empire of Japan. While Korea had blue coal deposits it’s touch had been felt much later than Japan, and thus it was not prepared for the Japanese invasion. A few years after the war began it ended, with the entirety of the Korean Peninsula occupied and under Japanese control. The King was forced to sign a treaty under duress handing Korea to Japan, and was then promptly exiled to Beijing in the Qing Empire.
The Empire of Japan with Korea as a valuable territory of the Empire and a powerful military and a population growing increasingly more Jingoistic by the day the Empire took notice to the Philippines and Guam, realizing that they would make valuable territories and bases for the Empire of Japan. The war shortly began, and while Spain held out much longer than Korea due to their status as a European Nation, they to fell to the Japanese Forces. Spain signed a treaty in Tokyo seceding the Philippines and Guam to the Empire of Japan. The war was also historic as it marked one of the first times a asian nation not only defeated a European Nation but took some territory from them in the process as well.
As the Japanese secured the former Spanish Treaties Japan sent a treaty to Qing Empire which would have granted Japan many unfair trade rights in Qing Ports as well as open up several to Japan. However the Qing Empire refused Japan, as despite Japan’s dominance they still saw themselves as the strongest Asian Nation. The Qing Empire’s conservative values and humiliation by the European Powers at made it, despite blue coal deposits, refuse to adopt even basic industrial machines. The Qing Empire also saw Japan’s takeover of Korea as illegal and still recognized Korea as independent.
The war did not last long, as Japan easily wiped away China’s old navy, as well as pushing up into Manchuria. After a Japanese forces reached Beijing, the Qing Government contacted Japan and sued for peace. The Treaty signed made the Qing recognize Korea as a part of Japan and the earlier treaty that was signed after the war as legal, in addition the Qing had to open up ports and grant the Japanese several trade rights. Another severe blow was the Qing was forced to secede Formosa and Manchuria(renamed Manchuoko after the war) to Japan. This war and treaty proved Japan was now the dominant power of East-Asia, and that they held more prestige than the Qing.
With Japan’s dominance in East Asia secured many European Nations with colonies still in Asia fear that Japan may try to take them, and while Japan has made no moves to indicate they will do so, the rumors exist none the less.
Government: Hegemony ruled over by the Queen of the ruling nation. Power remains solely in the hands of this nation, though other states under the Hegemony have their own rulers and forms of government.
Important Characters: Queen Marianna Von Eisenkern, The Red Queen, The Hegemon
Economy:
Built upon the engineering of the Parteienbündnisses Gezwungen, Eisenkreis has emerged from the ashes of Old Austria as a powerhouse of industrial and technological might. Pushing the field of Blue Coal power in any way they can, the nation has created a wide variety of machines based upon this substance. To those few the Hegemon considers her allies, Eisenkreis exports their more military-oriented technologies, such as the various models of the WandernPanzer and a wide array of infantry arms. Open to all nations are the civilian exports, those machines meant for the civilian populace such as steam-cars and more domestic items. No matter the purpose for the machine, Eisenkreis reaps a tidy profit from their stance as a technological leader in Europe, especially with the recent union with their neighbor Kzechverin and the massive reserves of Blue Coal beneath the nation.
While their industry and science may lead the field, what the nation does lack is available natural resources outside of metals and Blue Coal. Things such as grain and meat are largely imported from Kzechverin, but the nation seeks a greater supply from abroad to continue to fuel their rapid advancement. Another major import the nation has are in textiles, a field which has been largely neglected in favor of more refinement capabilities and ore-processing.
-Faust Die Eisen-
The stalwart protectors of the fatherland, and dedicated patriots, the soldiers of the Faust Die Eisen are the descendants of the traditional tribes of the mountains and valleys, albeit far more organized and well equipped than those of the ancient days. Divided into the Wehrmacht, Heer and the Stahl-männer, each division operates largely independently, though in support of the other two as a well oiled machine of war.
First among the Faust Die Eisen is the Wehrmacht, or the Defense Force, the armored companies of the army. A more recent development as compared to the Heer and Stahl-männer, the Wehrmacht relies heavily on the manufacturing base of Eisenkreis and the three companies of Arctonen, Kellheim, and Ytterban. Though each of these companies produce differing components for the fighting vehicles of the army, they all share in common the basic designs of the Dampfturbinenmaschine, a steam turbine engine created twenty years ago and perfected over time into dozens of variations of size and shape. Foremost among these is the Arctonen-DTM 350bph, the engine which powers the Sd.Kfz4, better known as the WandernPanzer, or Mobile Armor. Though these engines are capable of putting out a large amount of power for their size, they do not come without drawbacks. Chief among these is the reliability issues out of some of the larger engines, as well as the complexity of the machinery often requiring a specialist engineer to accompany vehicles during operations. The biggest concern among tank crews of the Wehrmacht is the sheer amount of heat these engines put out during active operations, forcing the division to operate their crews on a rotational basis lest they die of heat stroke inside the armored confines of their vehicle.
Forming the bulk of the Eisenkries military, the Heer stands as the infantry force that mans the defenses of the Fatherland, and if need be, march against the enemies of the state. These soldiers are the men and women of the people, many of them having served since joining the academy once their primary school has released them to begin job-training. Most soldiers are modestly equipped with a standard uniform that offers minimal protection against the elements, and a rifle of the Gewehr 98 designation, both more than sufficient for the basic infantryman to execute his or her duty effectively. Likely differing from most of the outside world, Eisenkreis makes no exemptions based upon gender in the selection of their fighting forces. Both men and women have equal opportunity to rise through the ranks, and are both held to the same standard. In a way, it is because of this that a larger degree of camaraderie is held between the members of Eisenkreis squads, since all are held responsible for their actions regardless of biology.
Though a full twenty divisions consist of standard infantry troops, there are also several specialist divisions within the Heer. Of particular note are the 20th through 25th infanteriedivisions, all of which man the emplacements that ring the border of Eisenkreis and form the iron circle for which the nation is named. These troops operate namely the 8.8cm autocannon for anti-air defense, though these emplacements are further supplemented with a selection of larger anti-infantry and anti-vehicle cannons of the 150mm and 250mm variety.
Perhaps the most iconic of the Faust Die Eisen, the Stahl-Männer are the armored infantry that serves as the main-line troops of Eisenkreis. Clad in the armor which gives them their name, these troops march forth bolstered by their unwavering faith in their god and the steel of their plate. Who actually developed the Stahlkörper Rüstung is still unknown, with most sources pointing to a submission by an anonymous inventor of the Arctonen region. Designed as a replacement to earlier quilted doublets, and the plate armor of older days, the Stahlkörper Rüstung consists of a multi-piece uniform of thick linen with heavy steel plates placed to protect the vital areas of the body, as well as supplementary plates on the arms and legs. Not unlike the plate armor of older ages, this armor differs in the thickness of the plates and how they are forged, utilizing modern techniques to forge 5mm thick steel plates which can withstand most small arms on direct impact. The main drawback to the armor is one which directly correlates to the source of inspiration for it, plate armor. Due to utilizing multiple solid steel plates, the armor weighs nearly three times that of standard kit for the Heer, and as such requires additional training and far tighter physical fitness standards in order for one to be part of the Stahl-Männer. Though they are an important part of the Eisenkreis military, the Stahl-Männer consists only of ten divisions of a thousand men and women each.
Technology:
Benefiting most of the powerful industry of the Arctonen and Arisovian states is the heart of the technological might of Eisenkries, Ytterban. It is here where the revolutionary Blue Coal-turbine engine was first conceived as a new way to power machines, and it was here where the Iron-Core first roared into being. Continuously striving for the next technological wonder, the scientists of Ytterban are taught that no subject is taboo, that nothing is too sacred for science, and that there is only progress. The only concepts the technomancers of Ytterban are allowed to hold to is their faith in the Hegemon, and the belief that the Akashic Records will one day be in the hands of an Eisenkries ruler.
Perhaps most well known, and the most widespread technological wonder is the AEbct80 Blue Coal-turbine engine, the powerplant in the vast majority of vehicles in the nation, and forms the backbone of the military's armoured divisions. A twin turbine design pioneered by the late Alena Zahradnik of Ytterban, the engine is capable of putting out up to 4,250 bhp at drive-thrust, and capable doubling that under high-speed thrust for very short durations as well as being exceptionally lightweight even using standard materials. Despite the widespread adoption of the turbine engine by Eisenkries, thereby reducing costs of production significantly, most Blue Coal-turbine engines are still costly to replace, frustratingly complex to repair, and while the external casings can be fortified to resist jarring and damage, should any internal part be broken, it will spell disaster for the entire block.
Name: The Principality of Kzechverin
Territories: Hungary
Government: The Noble Republic of Kzechverin
Important Characters: Princess Csilla Kzechverin
Economy:
A far cry from the industrialized might of Eisenkreis, what Kzechverin lacks in engineering prowess and capabilities, they more than make up for with the massive deposit of Blue Coal beneath the surface of their lands. Primarily centered around the "Pokolgödör", or better known as The Pit of Hell for the sheer number of lives lost to the mine, the nation produces a staggering amount of Blue Coal, almost matching the East and their resources. Not only does the mine produce Blue Coal, but it is also a large source of other minerals including tungsten and rarer metals, most of which are shipped to Eisenkreis for refinement. Most of the nation's exports to other nations rely upon their source of Blue Coal, bolstering their economy with much needed income, and allowing them to further fuel the combined military of the Hegemony. Though not an export to nations beyond the borders of the Hegemony, Kzechverin does maintain a sizable agricultural base, providing much needed relief to the urban centres of Eisenkreis and allowing a degree of leeway in the event of cessation of food imports. Imports for Kzechverin lie largely in the vein of metals and labor, though they still share the issue of grain and meat that their neighbor has.
Military:
Built upon the strong traditions of their Polish and Czech heritage, Kzechverin has long held their cavalry regiments in high regard, even affording those who serve luxuries normally given to the officer cadre of other nations. Most prominent is their reliance on the traditional Winged Hussars of Polish origin, heavily armored horsemen armed with a lance and sword. Despite the advancements in military technology, the horsemen of Kzechverin remain firmly rooted in their ways, standing true with the principles of noble combat astride their horses and taking the battle to their enemy. It was only with the strong recommendations of Eisenkreis that the Winged Hussars began carrying repeating rifles, and even then they still insist upon carrying the lance as their main weapon. Though they may seem outdated in a world rapidly advancing past them, the Hussars of Kzechverin should not be underestimated, for while they may not have the greatest of weapons, they have hundreds of years of tradition and cultural pride to bolster strong military leadership within their nation.
Though the union between the nations of Kzechverin and Eisenkreis is a relatively recent event, the two nations have historically been close, even despite the rivalry between their predecessors. Beginning with the shattering of the Austrian succession for the Holy Roman Empire in mid 1600, the Von Eisenkern family began to push for the removal of the Von Habsburgs from the ruling dynasty of the nation. Support was high due to concerns over the Habsburgs handling of the Thirty-Years War, and the loss thousands of German lives. Though they fought on the side of Austria, Bohemia was able to sway the electors to elect Argus Kzechverin of the Kzechverin family, a prince who had managed to make his way into the ruling family of Bohemia. This movement lasted only a decade however, for it was shortly afterward that imperial integrity began to dissolve under the pressure of religious turmoil lingering from the great war. Without wide support for Bohemia's re-election, and without a Von Habsburg in power in Austria, the Empire was ruled by a council of the Electors until 1670. It was at that time that the Von Eisenkern family had finally seized support of the other noble families, and was able to make a claim for emperorship, installing Baldur Von Eisenkern as Holy Roman Emperor and archduke of Austria.
One of the first actions of Emperor Baldur was to remove the legacy of the Habsburgs from Austria and the HRE by officially proclaiming the state of Eisenkreis from the holdings of Austria. While reformation swept through the new nation, Hungary and Bohemia had been locked in a rivalry, the feuding rulers of both nations engaging in multiple small wars between 1630 and 1670. In the end, the Kzechverin bloodline ended in Bohemia, continuing in Hungary and Bosnia with the princes of the family coming together in common blood to support growing resentment against the power of the monarch, and the rights taken from the princes of the lands. Knowing that Hungary's allies were occupied elsewhere in Europe, the nobles gathered against the monarchy and rebelled against their rule in the name of restoring their old rights. The revolt was short, as thirteen princes from noble families across Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Dalmatia rallied against the remnants of state troops from the wars against Bohemia. Despite their intentions, the revolt was more successful than the princes had intended, leaving the ruling family of the nation broken and unable to claim the throne. Faced with an emboldened peasantry in the aftermath of their revolt, the nobles came together to enact a temporary government until one of them could prove their legitimacy over the others. Without a way to assert one noble's claim over another, they created the Principality of Kzechverin, deciding that each noble family would have the chance to rule the collective based upon a vote by the majority.
For the next hundred years the two nations consolidated their power and participated minimally in the global scene, Eisenkreis holding on to the title of Emperor through their advancements in military tactics the stability of the nation. Kzechverin similarly remained stable, though became more involved with conflicts against the Ottomans to their south, as well as the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth. While conflict with the Ottomans ended in numerous truces with the Turks, the nation was able to gain concessions from the PLC, taking hold of the Galicia region and Krakow from the Polish. This lead to tense relations between the Principality and their neighbors, leaving them to look to the last ally possible for them. Both Eisenkreis and Kzechverin entered into the alliance with the understanding that it would be temporary, and a purely defensive alliance, with the former Austrian nation swearing to come to their aid in the case of war. In the absence of Hungary to war with, and the rise of stronger germanic and prussian nations on their borders, Bohemia began to feel pressure from all sides as the powers of Europe looked to the nation as a weak state ripe for conquest. War threatened the nation as Poland began to seek a way to reclaim their lost prestige from the Kzechverin conquests. Looking to their south, Bohemia joined into the alliance between Eisenkreis and Kzechverin, forming the Alliance of the Three Crowns which would continue until the peaceful annexation of Bohemia by Eisenkreis.
In modern times, both nations have seen a great deal of change in the way they involve themselves in the greater world's politics. On the one hand, Kzechverin remains steadfast in their hold to dying traditions of the nobility and of the great houses, refusing to modernize their military for fear of losing their identity. This has not stopped them from remaining a major player on the world scene, however, for when Blue Coal was discovered scientists went out across all of Europe to discover if they too had this resource. While many nations found traces of the substance, it was a farmer's well deep in the mountains of Szepes that lead to the largest concentration of Blue Coal in the European region, and one which rivaled some of the larger mines in Asia. Operations to mine the substance began immediately, with Eisenkreis engineers entering the region to undertake the largest engineering project the region has ever seen. In eight years the Pokolgödör mine has reached a depth of four kilometers, branching tunnels out at fifteen points along the main shaft, and creating a network of tunnels deep below the nation that extend for kilometers. Taking advantage of the major cache of resources in their backyard, Eisenkreis has made leaps and bounds with Blue Coal, catching up with the powers of Asia and making their own gains in the field through aggressive advances that have lead to some questioning their restraint.
The modern day alliance between the two nations has become stronger with the very recent union between the ruling families of Eisenkern and Kzechverin, a move that while the two historically tolerant nations saw as a way to bind their cultures together, has left a mark upon their relations with the more traditional world. Despite what some would portray as a move by the Eisenkerns to take more power for themselves, it was actually the Princess Csilla Kzechverin who proposed the union to Eisenkreis, one which some in Kzechverin had seen in the making for several years as the noble became more interested in the queen of the neighboring nation. What came as a surprise for the people of Eisenkreis, was that the typically cold and distant Queen Marianna Von Eisenkreis took to the princess and accepted her offer, binding the two together as rulers of both nations. With the union just a few short months ago, the two monarchs stand together in the face of a changing world, looking only to ensure the stability and survival of their countries.
