Type of Government: Theocratic Empire

Government Persona Dramatis:






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Economy:
The Ceresian economy is despite being of a nation politically and militarily considered a Great Power is only recently industrializing properly. The Ceresian Empire’s existence as a mostly underwater empire with the exception of its land-based colonies has made it a very poor producer of manufactured goods and overall has lagged considerably behind other nations in industrialization because of it.

The Ceresian Empire is rapidly catching up with the other Great Powers, though this has mostly been done through importing technology and bringing over foreign advisers and experts on how to develop industry in a nation where such a thing is so difficult. The Ceresian is a capitalist economy overall, however it does have some powerful state corporations as well as a caste system that makes free enterprise difficult.

Ceresian trade is vast (even with lagging industrialization) though is mostly built around luxury goods and unique products that few others can export as well as its absolute domination of the seafood and naval supply markets. Ceresians typically import land-based food, lumber and various things needed for industrialization (machinery, experts, electronics, construction, etc).

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Nation's Major Export:
Seafood, Naval Supplies (Ships, Warships, Submersibles, Parts), Crude Oil(In abundance), Minerals(Copper, Nickel, Iron, Cobalt, Manganese, other minerals found under the ocean), Salt, Dyes, Perfume, Tropical Wood, Incense, Luxury Goods, Chemicals, Algae, Sand, Gravel , Tropical Fruit

Nation's Major Imports:
Agricultural Produce (Rice, Wheat, Corn, Vegetables, Fruit), Non-aquatic meat products (Pork, Beef, Chicken, etc), Lumber (Non-tropical), Helium, Mineral Resources, Jewelry, Fur, Clothing, Machine Parts, Aircraft/Airships, Non-naval military gear/vehicles/equipment, Paper, Cotton, Wool, Machinery, Building Materials, Electronics, Experts

Primary Species: Mesulids

Species Description: A species of aquatic half-humanoid half-serpent like beings, the Mesulids are essentially a race of naga/mermaids. They are amphibious and capable of breathing both above and below water; however they are far more comfortable under water. The Mesulids excrete pheromones that are appeasing to the opposite sex, regardless of species. This trait along with their medieval tradition of “Siren-Maidens”, singer-priestesses has made them a racial stereotype of seductresses and sinister witches of the ocean.

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Population: 111,544,000
58,271,000 Mesulids
44,212,000 Humans
9,061,000 Others

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Culture:
The Ceresian Empire is a unique culture, its focus on submersed aquatic living aside. First is its political culture. Due to the Mesulids reversed gender hierarchy and religious belief, the empire is heavily matriarchal. Women traditionally hold political offices more often than men and are exclusively given religious offices, which is overwhelming significant in the deeply religious and theocratic nation. The military forces is more even, with the army and marines represented by both men and women (Since Mesulid females lose their martial advantage beyond water), though the navy has a higher number of female commanders than the marines, air force and army. Outside of gender politics, the air force has a large number of human officers, since Mesulids aren't exactly the best fliers.

The ethnic social order of the Ceresian Empire is mostly enforced by religion, with the largest minority, humans, mostly taught from birth to understand that the Mesulids are their deities chosen people. Racism is relatively common in the empire, though humanity (And other common sea-faring species) has more acceptance than other minorities due to the extended presence in the ocean. The Mesulids cultural syncretism has also seen a number of human cultural norms being adopted, such as marriage.

Socially, aside from race and gender there is also deeply ingrained religious castes. This caste system divides the “Lamia Mesulus” (Notable for having numerous extra heads in the form of snake hair) ethnic ruling class from the Mesulus and Terralids (Land-dwellers). The Lamia Mesulus are (usually) the only caste that may achieve the highest political and religious offices of the Empire. Terralids are considered the lowest caste and include both Mesulids and non-Mesulids (humans, etc). The Terralid caste is forbidden from such things as recreational swimming (Learning to swim and military training is not included), laying eyes on the Lamia Mesulus (They must avert their eyes in their presence) and observing certain religious ceremonies. Interestingly, the Lamia Mesulus ruling class is also forbidden from certain activities usually associated with the surface, such as farming.

The Ceresian Terralid caste is indoctrinated from early childhood into the faith to compensate for their lack of religious observation due to it being forbidden. While the Lamia Mesulus mostly rule the faith and theological schools, the Terralid caste comprise most of the religious warriors and most zealous members of the faith, willing to kill and die for their goddess.

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Religious and Other Beliefs: Abyssiasism
The Ceresian Empire is one of the most religious nations in the world, being the heart of the Abyssiasist faith. Abyssiasism is the worship of the Serpent Goddess Aepes of the deep ocean trenches, the creator deity of the Mesulids and patron goddess of life, the ocean, war, darkness and order. Like other faiths, Abyssiasism venerates the sun as a life-giving force, however it is believed that the sun has been stolen from the Goddess Aepes and that she will regain dominion over the sun and light after the defeat of her antithesis, her treacherous brother-consort the god of death.

The Siren-Empress is considered a mortal avatar of Aepes and as such considered a living goddess and representation of their goddess in the physical realm. This caesaropapist belief is supported by the theocratic government and society, which has continued this imperial cult for millennia.

Abyssiasism is a faith prone to syncretism, having absorbed and modified many local religious practices and traditions as the Ceresian colonial empire stretched out across the globe. Among Abyssiasism’s syncretic adopitions includes baptism (Which is only observed on the surface) and polygamous marriage.
Like the Ceresian Empire, the Abyssiasist faith is matriarchal and dominated by priestesses. Religious-military orders do however allow men to join and even become commanding figures, as Aepes is a war goddess and is associated with the male-dominated army and marine forces.

There is a belief that Aepes is forever stuck in a cosmic battle with an evil and treacherous god of the sky, her former brother-consort turned usurper, who stole away the sky from her dominion and doomed mortality and failure upon all life. Any deity associated with the sky is likely to be considered particularly vile by the Ceresian populace. It is believed that the mortal world is in a transitional phase between the paradise-that-once-was (Before the betrayal of the consort sky god) and its eventual return, and that through serving the ever reincarnating avatar of Aepes, the Goddess will one day gain enough strength to reconquer the sky and in doing so create an eternal paradise among the living.

Abyssiasism is spread across the world by the Ceresian empires Siren-Maidens (Priestess-Singer missionaries) and religious colonial imperialism.


The Serpent Goddess Aepes battles her dragon-riding treacherous consort

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History:
WIP

WIP

Territories:
http://i.imgur.com/N1Gxsg6.png
Nation Geography:
Submerged: The Ceresian Empire is mostly built across the Ceres sea floor, typically in area’s closer to sea level and as such more stable to build on and gather light and abundance of resources and food. The Ceresian Empire also has built into sea trenches as well as light reefs and small islands. The more heavily developed infrastructure built underwater must be built in the higher areas due to the difficulty of bringing materials down and then building under the ocean.

Land: The Ceresian Empire’s land-based colonial territories are mostly based around their accessibility to the sea via the coastline, the empire avoiding inland colonization in favour of covering more of the valuable coast. The Ceresian’s northern most islands are relatively barren military sites due to the freezing cold making it a very undesirable location for the warmth-seeking Mesulids, of the settlers there, the vast majority are humans. Most of the human population of the empire is located in the various land-based colonies. The eastern colonies are mostly forests and rocky hills and mountains with some grassland regions. The eastern coastline is dotted with colonial cities teeming with harbours and cargo ships.

Capital City: Aepesopolis (Submerged: Holy City)
Majority Cities:
-Syliviapolis (Submerged)
-Aedeamotos (Submerged)
-Sylivacunum (Submerged)
-Zammamopolis (Submerged)
-Empyreanopolis (Submerged: Tourist City)
-Myrmidarium (Surface: Considered colonial capital)
-Sirencoast (Surface: Trade Hub)
-New Syliviapolis (Surface)
-New Arda (Surface)
-New Empryeanpolis (Surface)

EMPYREANOPOLIS: The public face of the Empire

Empyreanopolis is the sole submerged city open to non-business related foreigners (That is to say, tourists) and was built with the intention of being a tourist trap. Empyreanopolis is tailored to be PR-friendly, presenting familiar niceties of foreigners own cultures as well as various foreigner-friendly aspects of Ceresian culture. The more severe religious laws of the Empire are watered down here to give more incentive for foreigners to come, return and of course spend. These relaxed laws and general cultural uniqueness has made Empyreanopolis one of the most liberal cities in the entire empire.

Population
1,600,000 Active personnel
3,600,000 reserve personnel
200,000 paramilitary religious military order personnel
16-24 million in total war full mobilization conditions

Army Overview:
In comparison to the navy and its marines, the army can be considered lacking. The army while acceptably trained and a sizable force is outdated and in need of modernization. The Mesulids use of older tank models and horses is notable. Recently the new administration desires to modernize the army and air force properly; however this is a work in progress. On the other hand, the army is notable for one exceptional thing: Most army personnel are "Terralid" caste members. These lower caste members are indoctrinated since early childhood to compensate for their lack of ability to observe the sacred rituals. This indoctrination for those destined for military service is extreme, and as such many religious fanatics inhabit the army. Backed by fanatical zeal and hatred of heathens, Ceresian soldiers have a tendency to suicide bomb enemies and fight to the death.

Mesulid Infantry

Human Stormtroopers

Human Conscripts

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-Navy Overview-
The Ceresian Empire is the exemplar of the pursuit of naval supremacy. For millennia the Mesulids have ruled the ocean waves as they have its bedrock, however recently with the age of industrialization this rule has come into doubt. No longer can sea monsters ridden by armies of trident wielding Mesulids conquer the waves, not against cannons, torpedo’s, depth charges and machine guns. So the Mesulids did the only thing they can do, adapt and modernize. The slowest of the Great Powers to industrialize, the Mesulids put great effort into its indomitable navy, now once again restored to its former glory. Dreadnoughts, floating fortresses and colossal submarine-carriers supported by heavily armoured Myrmidon marine elite, the Mesulids continue to strive to be the ultimate masters of the waves.



Argus-Class Super-monitor Floating Fortress/Dreadnought

Hecate-Class Battleship

Argent-Class Carrier

Vela-Class Battlecarrier

Eos-Class Battlecruiser

Vesta-Class Cruiser

Gladius-Class Destroyer

Helot-Class Corvette

Submersible Navy
Argonautilus-Class Imperial Dreadnought Battlesub

Scylla-Class Carrier Submarine

Chimera-Class Hunter Hybridsub

Enyo-Class Attack Submarine

Deimos-Class Midget Submarine

Model 33B Submersible Tank-Walker

Ceresian Marine Corps

Ceresian Marines

Ceresian Myrmidon Heavy Marines

Landing Craft Assault Landship-Walker

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Air Force Overview
The supremacy of the Mesulid navy and its zealous well-trained but outdated army is finally completed by its lacklustre air force. Most in need of a serious overhaul and modernization, the Mesulid air force consists of mostly purchased foreign airships and biplanes. The sections of the Air force that are actually well equipped and trained are almost exclusively naval support. The administration needs to seriously modernize and reform the air force, which is a work in progress.

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