House Name:(self-explanatory, just keep in mind these are generally last names)

Head of House:(This is the Arch Elector of the imperial province your House rules over, they manage the state as well as oversee family affairs often acting as that houses leader.)

House Specialty: (Each House has favors a certain skill, or possess some unique ability. For example, one House might breed superb horses, while another are expert traders/bankers or sailors, master armorsmiths/weaponsmiths or gifted in magic etc.)

House Ancestral Artifact: (These artifacts are ancient family heirlooms that grant a unique power onto its wielder. No one quite remembers their origin but it is rumoured that Kammeth himself forged them and gifted them to the generals who fought with Lalaifia. These can be magical weapons from a flaming sword to a bow that conjures arrows to even a stave of some power. Be mindful not to make these items broken or OP. I will be looking over these carefully but if in doubt hit me with a PM on any unorthodox ideas you might have. )

Important Members:
(You don't have to list every member of your house, those with great influence or positions of power should be here however or anyone else you deem important for your own plots.)

Nation/Realms Name: (This is the name of the province you control, and note this is separate from your Noble Houses name. )

Sigil: (Your house's sigil or crest oft used to identify them on the battlefield or while traveling.)

Flag: (This is different from your House's Sigil as it is the coat of arms for your province/county.)

House Motto:(Your house's famous saying, this is in fact optional, in case 'Winter Be Coming" is all you can think of.)

Region/color on map: (for map placement)

Race name: (self explanatory; think of them as what a cultural group would use to identify themselves.)

Racial appearance: (Should include height, weight, skin and hair color. The races of men are more like minor ethnic groups but can still vary vastly. Something like the races of Men in Elder Scrolls. There is no 'Human' race as it were.)

Racial traits: (Most known abilities associated with these people, these are often rather minor, such as one people being known for seamanship, another for their preference toward martial discipline, over brute force and maybe another for their love of crafting.)

Capital:(Your house's Seat of Power, this is the land your House has a De jure claim to)

Capital Population: (Keep it reasonable)

Other Major Settlements: (These will often be the capital of those Barons, or Dukes who answer to you. Or other major settlements of note or strategic value.)

Population: (Again keep it reasonable; if in doubt use medieval demographics to get an idea, the map has a mile ratio for this reason. )

Culture:(The Customs, Arts, Fashion, and beliefs unique to these people.)

Type of Government: (Succession Laws and form of Governing/Titles used)

Influence and relations: (Any alliances or military pacts with another family? Perhaps born of marriage ties? Any sworn enemies? Work with other players if you seek one ahead of the RP if you so desire.)

Military -
(Details on the amount and types of men available. Any war vessels from navies, go here as well, it would be important to note as this is a Middle age Setting that relies largely on levies, few have the funds for a standing army, aside from the Phoenix Throne.)

Unit demographics: (heavy infantry, marksman, etc and their equipment/training, remember no army in real life was ever able to field a fully rounded all capable army. Sometimes a lack of something makes it more interesting.)

Landscape:(What do your lands look like?)

Wildlife:(Optional)

Economy: (How well off is your county? Poor? Rich and prosperous? Somewhere in the middle?)

Religion: (As stated before Kammeth is the primary god of the Empire and will by default be what the majority of the people worship or follow *excluding special circumstances*. Worship of deities outside of the Sky pantheon is greatly discouraged IC. You can however, create a deity of your own making from within that Patheon, or if you feel ballsy, add in any minor cults that exist. Perhaps even your family secretly worships other gods not sectioned by the Empire? Be mindful that heresy is frowned upon by the Church and you might have the Inquisition breathing down your neck if they catch a whiff of heresy on you, but if you want to make a storyline in that direction go right ahead!) (Tip, don’t piss of whoever is the Arch Dawnbringer!!!)

History: (At least the past couple generations, include conflicts, major upheavals, wars, etc. You can overlook this part and fill it in as the Roleplay progresses in order to work with other players for maximum cohesion.)

Strengths: (Similar to House specialty, but often larger in scope, this could include an abundance of a resource, or the inability to field an army of much size. )

Weaknesses: (At least two, and they have to be real disadvantages, you can't really say you have a terrible navy if you're landlocked.)

Export: (Major goods that this region/nation provides, no more than five resource types to keep people from providing everything on their own)

Import: (No realm is totally self-sufficient, you surely need something ^^)

The Tribes of the North are a very different playstyle to the Houses and their sheet reflects this. They can gear toward war more easily but, can just as quickly falter and fall apart from fragmentation. Feed the warbands with plunder or watch them eat each other alive.

The main difference between the Houses of the Empire and the tribes of the north is their manner of rule. The Nordheim only recognize the strong and will never follow a man or women merely because of birthright. They do not recognize noble blood nor do they follow a tradition of voting for their ruler. Typically those who wish to rule most prove themselves in some manner of contest either a duel, wrestling and defeating all challengers, or other contest of skill that depends on the tribe. Even the most organized of the tribes of the north are limited to elective gavelkind succession in where their lands and holdings are split among their sons.

The tribes are also much more mobile than those of the south. Capable of migrating when the need arises. It is also not unheard of for sons to challenge their fathers for position if they believe they can win.

Jarl(ess): (The name of your ruler, and main character)

God: (The Nordheim follow a pantheon of gods much unlike their southern brethren, these gods play an active role in their lives, see the appeasement section under the god to know what acts will grant you unique blessings. The form these take depend on the god, but may include calm seas, or a sudden storm to cover a tribes retreat.)

Clan and Kin: The minor characters of your clan, such as your spouse, children, and vassals or housecarls. A Jarl typically has up to two Arls serving under him, as well as a number of Thanes, the Nordic version of Knights, and Thralls or slaves.)

Dynasty Bio: (A brief description of your tribes rule and history. Unlike other kingdoms, the strong rule in Nordheim rather than bloodlines, so it may be typical to see power being shared by many different families over the course of the generations.)

Tribe Bio: (A description of your tribe, their successes, defeats, or grudges.)

Military: (A generous word for the warbands that fight under a chosen Jarl, Tribes of the North are unique in that the more success they are met with the more Northmen will flock to their banner over time. Even once enemy tribes will join you if they believe loot is to be had. Win enough and perhaps you will become the next High King! Fail and...well come what may.)

PM me any questions you have or post it in chat.

House Name
House Cragmore

Head of House
Kenten Cragmore, King of Erayis and Keeper of The Highlands

House Specialty
Diregoat Shepherds and Handlers
House Cragmore gained their wealth, which in turn gave them their rule of Stormgully and later all of Erayis, by breeding goats. House Cragmore's ancestral seat Stonereach is just as much of a fortress as it is a goat farm, and is the sole remaining source of diregoats, which have been extinct in the wild for generations. Cragmores have a natural affinity for the beasts, and though they are tempermental creatures to most untrained laymen, diregoats naturally follow orders from those with Cragmore blood.

House Ancestral Artifact
The Mace and Shield of Craggan
Though they are only magical when wielded together, The Mace and Shield of Craggan have been in recorded texts for "calling down great storms of lightning". In reality, however, the two serve as little more than a farming tool, as they call forth great rainclouds. The Mace of Craggan is a steel flanged mice, decorated at the hilt with the gilded bones of Craggan's own diregoat, Stonebiter. Those outside of the Cragmore bloodline find it is uncomfortably heavy for a one-handed mace, though Cragmores are able to wield it as if it were hollow. The Shield of Craggan is similarly heavy to those outside of the bloodline and light to Cragmores, and is decorated around its circular rim with more of Stonegrinder's gilded bones. The inscription on the handle reads "We Will Withstand", the words of House Cragmore.

Important Members
₅₂ King Kenten Cragmore
₃₃ Prince Duncan Cragmore
₂₂ Princess Reliwen Cragmore
₂₀ Prince Benjamin Cragmore
₁₇ Prince Melvan Cragmore
₁₆ Princess Sofia Cragmore
₁₅ Prince Harper Cragmore

Nation/Realm Name
Erayis

Flag


House Motto
We Will Withstand

Region/color on map
Navy

Race name
Erayan

Racial appearance
Those from Erayis are usually somewhat short, with ruddy complexions, dark hair, and brown or green eyes. They tan rather than burn, though they are more likely to turn pink-brown in the sun than copper. They frequently have jagged or pointy teeth, though this has more to do with genetics than dental care.

Racial traits
Aside from their love of Harberry leaves, the people of Erayis simply aren't known for much. Though they are some of the best shepherds in Ethica, this is hardly a boastful statement. They are a very hardworking, if somewhat dry and humorless people.

Capital
Stormgully
Named for the frequent rainstorms as a result of Cragmores of the past dueling with their ancestral mace, Stormgully is one of Erayis's most wealthy provinces. While still a fairly small city, Stormgully boasts some of the region's most impressive glassware and stonemasonry.

Capital Population
7000

Other Major Settlements
Blackpool
The largest city in Erayis, Blackpool is a port for business and trading as much as it is a port for crime. Though Kenten's harsh laws have put thousands of smugglers into salt mines, Blackpool remains one of the most crime-laden cities in Erayis, with near-lawlessness in some parts of the city brought on by the corrupt rule of the region's lord, Harold Blackburn.

Tanshire
Tanshire is a small city by the edge of Erayis's mountainridge. It is home to many skilled tinsmiths, goldsmiths, and jewelers. Tanshire's largest mountain, Mount Glimdir, is home to more gemstones and precious metals than any other mountain in Erayis.

Fairfield
With a population just over one thousand, Fairfield is the largest village in Erayis. They supply a great deal of the country with cheese and meat, as well as fur, pelts, and other products of their local sheep and rams. They are ruled by the softspoken Lord Percival of House Godfrey.

Darrend
Darrend is a city carved into the mountains on Erayis's north-western border. It is ruled by the famously brutish House Darry, whose words are "Let Them Come", and whose sigil is a freely bleeding barbarian's head on a pike. Unsurprisingly, they manage a Erayis's few river-outposts to ward off the rare river-travelling northern barbarian, and supply a great deal of Erayis's guards and soldiers.

Population
100,000

Culture
Erayans are a hardy people who are as tough and simple as the lands they reside in. Aside from rarely getting sick, the countrymen of Erayis have few racial talents, and are a rustic sort who care for little of the world outside of their homeland. At best, they are viewed by outsiders as tight-knit and hardworking, and at worst they are seen as xenophobic and dim. Most are farmers, shepherds, or miners -- There is a dwindling "middle class" of merchants and artisans, though with Erayis's rise in crime and taxation, more and more move elsewhere every day.

Fensure
The village of Fensure has among the lowest populations in Erayis, having grown around House Conrad's now-abandoned coal mine. It is ruled by House Conrad, which has dwindled to a sole member, James Conrad -- Erayis' prime elector, a position granted to him by Kenten Cragmore several years ago after being bribed with the remaining Conrad fortune.
Type of Government
Monarchy

Influence and Relations
House Duvard
House Cragmore has a long-standing trade agreement with House Duvar, giving them salt and the majority of Erayis' mined precious gems and metals in exchange for large quantities of iron and fish. In an attempt to boost relations, Benjamin Cragmore recently sent Guillame Duvard a neutered diregoat kid for his sixteenth birthday.

House Valian
Benjamin Cragmore spent his youth in Ebonheart, becoming close friends with Elias, Lucius, and Imara Valian, who he is currently betrothed to. Valian and Cragmore have a very strong trade relationship, as Xandria now recieves more of Erayis's salt than any other country.

House Borvringska
Fifteen years ago, Kenten Cragmore drunkenly lost his family's ancestral mace to King Borvringska in a round of "Hen and chicks", a popular children's game involving eggs, played similarly to bocce. Angry about his loss, he later challenged Borvringska, wagering his disabled son Harper and intentionally losing, forcing King Borvringska to sire him until his youth.

House Tallurian
After House Tallurian took Kenten's offer to marry his son Melvan off to one of their daughters as an insult, relations have been fewer and colder.

House Gracieux
Elouan Gracieux is currently staying in Stonereach as ambassador between Violette and Erayis, though he was only granted this position in order to spend time with Sofia Cragmore, whom he is madly in love with.

Military
The military of the region is mostly devised between infantry and ram-based cavalry. Archers are well regarded given altitude and hunting culture, but are not as esteemed as those in Xandria. With that said, the region has a staunch history for using their environmental advantage for guerrilla combat, and it has been said that Erayis has won their wars "Not with swords and shields, but with very large rocks on very tall ledges". Aside from their guerrilla tactics, Erayis is known for The Black Herd, a contribution to their military from their ruling house.

The Black Herd is a specialized cavalry of diregoats, which are only bred by House Cragmore and not found anywhere in the wild -- Although not as swift or agile as horses, diregoats are capable of ramming through shield walls and barricades, as well as traversing hills and mountains without breaking much stride. The Black Herd is also used as a tool of psychological warfare, as historically, the infamous Dread Horns are sounded shortly before the cavalry’s deployment. Because Stonereach's diregoat population is kept low to create a demand for them, The Black Herd is only about 500 goats, though they are notoriously harder to kill than horses.

Landscape
The lands of Erayis are plentiful with timber as well as large depths of mountains, hills, and valleys. Due to Erayis being situated in the middle of The Highlands, the weather is also a bit colder than that of their southern and eastern neighbors. Within these mountains are swathes of metal ore, occasional gemstones, and increasingly rare gold. Moreso than the rest of the mountain's resources combined, however, is salt -- Salt mines make up about 60% of Erayis's mining efforts. The vast rolling hills are also well-known for massive capacities of animal herding (ranging from sheep, ram, cattle, and fowl), hunting (deer, bear, rabbit, duck, and wolf), and general farming; though the winter seasons are harsher than that in the south of Ethica, so harvest seasons are much more regarded.

Economy
Erayis is fairly wealthy, though the upper-class are disproportionately much more wealthy than their peasants, due to Kenten Cragmore's historically high taxes.

Religion
The majority of Highlanders worship Kammeth, though about a quarter of the population worships Gerna, the Goddess of Mining.

Strengths
Strong trade ties
From the frozen reaches of the north to the southernmost tip of Ethica, Erayan salt finds its way into ports and markets. Aside from the many trade ties, Benjamin Cragmore's frequent gift-giving has cemented several long-standing trade pacts with affluent merchants in major cities.

Strong defensive army
Though Erayans have no standing army other than the riders of The Black Herd, there is hardly need for any manner of trained army. Throughout the centuries, Erayans have managed to avoid being colonized despite their country's small size and wealth of natural resources through the use of guerrilla tactics. Nearly all Erayans are taught of their village's mountain's network of tunnels in adolescence -- Such secret tunnels are labyrinth-like structures that go deep into the earth, stockpiled with weapons left behind from forgotten wars. In addition, many Erayan sports and games are designed as practice for Erayan warfare.
_{Rollby, a traditional Erayan game similar to bowling, is played by rolling a polished spherical stone, usually weighing four to five hundred pounds, down a hillside at targets made out of wood.}

Weaknesses
Poor reputation
Kenten Cragmore is known for his infamously cruel taxes, interests in the wives of his smallfolk, hunting convicted criminals -- particularly poachers -- for sport, his shady and often suspect business dealings, and his generally bombastic and crude attitude. One of the Cragmores is crippled, another is retarded, and one is too ugly to ever be married. This, combined with their relatively new affluence stemming from Kenten's slave-labor in the salt mines, leaves many noble houses to believe that the Cragmores are somewhat nouveau riche.

Dependency on trade
All in all, Erayis requires the large amounts of food it receives from the neighboring Xandria to survive. Aside from their sheep, ram, goats, and cows, Erayis is only able to farm grain. As a result, nearly three-fourths of the fruits and vegetables they receive are from Xandria, who receives the bulk of Erayis's traded salt.

Exports
_{In descending order}
Salt
Meat
Cheese
Metalwork
Gemstones
Imports
_{In descending order}
Vegetables
Fruit
Wine
Spice
Harberry Leaves
Tea
Fine Goods

House Name:
House Borvringska

Head of House:
Eldrik Borvringska, Lord of Nordevar and Defender of the Realms of Man

House Specialty:
In accordance to their ancestor, King Borvir the Hammer, House Borvringska and the land that they rule over contain many of the greatest architects and engineers that can be found anywhere in Ethica. Their knowledge of expertise tends to be related to the building of military fortifications, especially those of forts, castles, and more. It's not entirely uncommon for Northern engineers to be commissioned by southern lords to build walls, bastions, and other constructions. In addition, Northerners remain possess soldiers especially skilled in the art of defensive warfare, based on generations of repelling Nordheim raids from the Webwood. As such, they are able to make the most out of their terrain, and it would be much more difficult to burst through a their heavy infantry when compared to armies of equal strength.

House Ancestral Artifact:
House Borvringska has existed as the ruling house of Nordevar since after the Age of Strife, predating the empire by thousands of years. Therefore, their artifact wasn't bequeathed to them as a gift due to their participation in those wars, but far before, during the building of all of these great fortifications that now exist throughout Ethica. This artifact is a warhorn called the Horn of Borvir, made from the bone of a giant and decorated with many sophisticated runes, and serves the purpose of lighting all the beacons within the many watchtowers scattered throughout the Gray Spine, as well as activating the magical wards woven into these constructions that aid in repelling the vilespawn. Finally, when used, it gifts all men who hear it with strength and vigor, enabling to fight far longer than they would have been able to do without. It lays within the possession of the Lord of Nordevar, only to be used when the Wall of the North is on the verge of being overrun, and as such, has only been used a few times within recorded history.

Important Characters:
Eldrik Bovringska, 42
Kresimir Borvringska, 15
Jahn Borvringska, 29

Nation/Realm Name:
Nordevar (Commonly referenced as The Northern Reaches, or The Far Reaches throughout southern Ethica)

Sigil:


Flag:
N/A

House Motto:
Vigilance

Region/Color on the Map:
Slategray

Race Name:
Northmen/Northerner

Racial Appearance:
Northmen tend be much more bulkier than other races, if only due to the environment that they live in, which tends to have long, harsh winters and short, cool summers. They also tend to be much fairer of skin and hair than their southern counterparts, and are on average, quite a bit taller, giving them a favorable physique to be soldiers, which is quite favorable in a region that is very harsh and constantly raided. Overall, imagine a Scandinavian appearance.

Racial Traits:
Northerners make excellent warriors due to their instilled societal values and the constant threat of raiding. Therefore, the men of the north have far real military experience then the southern provinces, though this is only against inexperienced raiding parties, though it still knowledge than many other realms aren't offered. Moreso, they remain excellent builders of fortifications, and are in demand quite frequently in other provinces when such constructions are necessary. Due to their general distrust of southern affairs, it's exceedingly rare to see Northerners live in the south of their own accord, especially if they're not working as a mercenary or engineer.

Capital"
Last Vigil
A great city built right into the Wall of the North, it was constructed as the seat of Borvringska kings as a continual reminder of their duty to guard the realm against all odds. Great towers make up it's architecture, as well as some of the most impressive defenses in all of Nordevar. It has become a fortress in it's own right, though it is unfortunately doomed to fall if the wall itself is compromised, it serves as a chilling reminder of what is at stake should the North fall in their ancient duty.

Capital Population:
25,000

Other Major Settlements:

Population:
513,350

Culture:
Due to a wide variety of different factors, the northern provinces of the empire has become greatly different than their counterparts in the south. A large part of this may stem from a lack of actual wealth, at least compared to the thriving economies of the south who generally have much more exploitable and profitable resources at hand. Therefore, this has created a society that places less emphasis on personal or societal wealth but more on character and family units. It's quite clear why Northmen value honor, duty, and trustworthiness as significant positive traits and greatly downplay greed, lying, and personal gain. Furthermore, the militant culture instilled into Northerners is hardly shocking either, due to prevalent raids upon them as well as an almost inner motivation to follow the example and vision of King Borvir. In terms of their favorability to the empire, they are partially reliant on imperial support to keep the garrisons at the northern border completely full, although such support has laxed over the recent years and put strain on the northern lords to do so themselves. It's of no question that northerners are committed to defending this northern border, but, at the same time, they do expect to have a reasonable amount of support from the south to do so, considering that the bulk of the military engagements on the continent are within this region.

Most live away from the few centers of population, and end up eking out a living as a farmer or hunter, all while under the protection of the noble lord who owns the land that hey live on. Though this certainly doesn't stop many from living from forming fortified village, especially along the coast, as a precaution to the raiders who choose to avoid the great wall and try the luck by sea. There is a series of beacons built along the coast for this very purpose, but they were built directly to contest with these raiders, long after the death of King Borvir. The greatest taboos consist of kinslaying and violating guest right, emphasizing the value that they put into honor.

Type of Government:
For thousands of years Nordevar has existed under the very common system of feudalism, with several major noble houses are subject to House Borvringska. They include House Estrav of Southgate, House Redvari of Reftall, House Heravasa of Estargard, House Jormungar of Nordenvka, and House Ald of Aldfjord, with House Borvringska controlling the territory surrounding Last Vigil. Beyond these capitals, these lords control a considerable amount of land within the area, not including minor lords that happent to be sworn to them. Ultimately, they all pay tribute to House Borvringska, who often has to spend far more time than they wish in settling disputes among these noble families.

Influence and Relationships:
Shoot me a PM for relationships

Military:
The military of Nordevar has always been geared towards defense and not conquest, something established by King Borvir the Hammer himself. Because of this, this makes these northern troops some of the best on the continent when if comes to defense, especially when it comes to holding fortifications and resisting sieges. Of course, the core amount of the army that Nordevar can raise consists of levies pulled from its many vassal lords, who are actually obligated to provide a sizable amount of men to man critical fortresses on the wall and throughout the rest of the northern territory. In terms of the general makeup of these troops, the majority of them tend to be heavy infantry, since they are greatly favored when it comes to manning the wall. This provides much fewer horsemen, but they do exist, when it comes to flanking and pursuing enemy raiding parties should they avoid the wall and make an effort around the Gray Spines. This makes hitting Nordevar from the north an unimaginable task, but it does leave them rather exposed in the south, where the years of peace has lowered defenses in that region. Also, many indepened military orders have formed themselves as a way to provide better protection in the north. Many of these remain independent, since they provide security for the numerous villages that tend to be fairly isolated from the far more protected centers of population. Others are supported by the Empire or the Borvringskas, and offer a way for soliders of fortune to essentially fill in the spaces that were left by the laxed effort on the border by the southern provinces, as well as a way for mercenaries to get much easier money than they would otherwise.

Unit Demographics:
Much of it's current strength is present on fortifications on the wall and along the coast, though ships are maintained to intercept the occasional long ship that tends to slip through during the spring. By no means does this mean Nordevar has the capability to make the claim that they are any kind of naval power, and it would be surprising if they possessed more than a dozen ships that can actually used for this purpose. Furthermore, these armies aren't strictly experienced in facing conventional forces, but is hardly an issue with the Empire still intact.

Landscape:
As one of the most northern of realms, this leaves much of the landscape cold and mountainous, but when spring comes around, it is suitable for a decent amount of farming. Of course, such crops planted are tough and grow quickly, to take the fullest advantage of the short springs and summers. Other notable features consist of forests, hills and the fertile valleys that run off of the mountains, that provide a source of considerably better farming, but the climate still poses the same problem. It is no doubt much colder than the rest of the continent, but it has been settled for thousands of years, which have given those who live there much better means of survival than other undeveloped northern realms.

Wildlife:
(Optional)

Economy:
Nordevar isn't poor, considering that their land is far more developed than other northern realms, but he output of their economy is dominated by common product, such as fish and grain. So, this limits them to being a middling economic power, since their economy tends to be overshadowed by the southern provinces.

Religion:
Nordevar doesn't possess the massive temples and shrines that can be found in the south, nor do they believe being a priest is a viable occupation for a man to have, so the limited centers of worship that exist in the north are generally small and simple. Otherwise, the same gods are worshipped as elsewhere in the Empire.

History:
The origins of House Borvringska can be traced back to its founder King Borvir the Hammer, a legendary northern king during the Age of Strife, as well as the years that followed. He is mentioned as a fearsome warrior and general during this war between the gods, but that wouldn't be the ultimate legacy that he would eventually leave behind. He's responsible for the many different fortifications that he was responsible for building that are scattered through Nordevar and even beyond. Of all these constructions, he would be most well known for the massive wall he built guarding the broad Gray Spines mountain pass that opened up to the Webwood. Now known as the Wall of the North, it is over 40 miles long, 150 feet tall, with many impressive fortresses built into it, all with ancient forgotten magic woven into the stones. Built in response to the end of the Age of Strife, and placed purely for the purpose of defending all of Ethica should the continent ever be threatened again, it now serves Nordevar mostly as a direct defense mechanism against Nordenheim raiders, far less of a threat that originally envisioned. At the base of the wall sits the great city and capital of Nordevar, Last Vigil, a fortress city in its own right, and built as a constant reminder of the duty that every king of Nordevar should be focused upon- the defense of Ethica. However, garrisoning all of the wall is a challenging feat, and a pact called Borvir's Promise was created among many of the kingdoms on the continent. Unfortunately, as the years went on, and no bigger threat then tribal raiders ended up present, fewer and fewer southern realms decided to give their support to the wall, and many of the ancient fortresses remain empty and abandoned, even today, under the Empire's watch.

Borvir's other wonders include the many watchtowers he built into the Gray Spines, serving as a last defense should the wall ever fall, and they all possess the ability to be lit with Borvir's Horn, but like the wall, they have been left abandoned and unused for many years. This includes the greatest of them all, built into the Lone Mountain, far into what is now the Heartlands of the Empire, and when lit, can be seen for hundreds of miles in every direction. Finally, there is the great tomb he built for himself just before his death, and is located on the island of Borvral, and rumors are that many treasures lie within, including his great warhammer from legend. The walls, like his other construction, are magically-infused and cannot be destroyed. There are many stories about how to open them, but many contradict themselves, and can hardly be considered reliable.

As for a true orgins of Nordevar, it essentially did begin with King Borvir, who remained ruler of the last northern kingdom after the onslaught that they faced during the Age of Strife. It was him while serving Kammeth (or Tifune by some accounts) who greatly contributed to the slim victory won by man against the vilespawn. At the end the fighting, before dedicated himself to the building of his great constructions, he carved himself out a kingdom whose sole purpose was to aid in the defense of Ethica, and even though there have times where Nordevar has briefly expanded, this core land has been under the rule of Borvir and his descendents, each with the immense responsibility to hold the northern border from any foreign excursions from beyond. And throughout history, despite a few times where the wall became compromised, they have done just that. This mission, is lived by every Northernman, noble lord, soldier, or not.

Strengths:
Strong Defensive Military
Nordevar possesses one of the most impressive defensive militaries in the world, when having the right amount of terrain or fortification, it becomes nearly impossible for them to be easily moved from a position, without a lengthy siege or war of attrition. As such, their army will probably not engage you head on head, but wait for you to engage them in a place of their choosing, which usually involves holding a fort or other fortification against siege. Their heavy infantry is very experienced, and nothing to openly scoff at.

Honorable
They see duty as a major value, and are unlikely to resort to underhanded methods to gain power or wealth. In fact, their duty of being a bastion of the north is reverred. With this in mind, gaining the trust of an average Northman can be a valuable asset, since it's highly unlikely that you're see any kind of betrayal from them.

Weaknesses:
Lack of Wealth
Despite having a large amount of different resources, none of it is such of that which produces any considerable wealth. And along, with the cold winters and low population, exploitation of the more valuable of it tends to be unviable.

Open Southern Border
For thousands of years, Nordevar has held the north against raiders and more sinister forces. The same was partially true for their southern border to hold against hungry southern neighbors. However, after the establishment of the Empire, any border skirmishes became nearly nonexistant, and now, there is only any major defenses active along this border, putting them at great risk should a civil war in the Empire ever break out.

Export:
Stone, Lumber, Fish, Grain, Coal, Iron, Other Metals, Fur

Import:
Salt, Spices, Fabrics, Fine Goods

Head of Tribe: Sivaas The Worldweaver

God: A myriad of gods and goddesses, as well as spirits, are revered by the Northkin, and Clan Rovaan is no exception. Their patron god is Arduin, otherwise known as Tihune, the god of nature. The Rovaani are largely animistic, believing the world is co-inhabited by spirits of the wild. In some Northkin clans, Tihune is worshiped in a stewardistic tradition; he rules over the land and the spirits, and the people serve them. Among the Rovaani Worldweavers, however, the tradition is more dominionistic.

While the average Rovaani tribesman worships Arduin in the same way a man from Clan Vidor Lastren would, the Worldweavers - shamans with a magical connection to the spirit realm itself - believe the spirits and wild magics of the world are meant to serve Man. Not the other way around. As such, Worldweavers manipulate the world of spirits and magic, blending it with our own to manifest both terrible forbidden magics, and life-giving energy.

Clan Specialty: The Webwoods are saturated with ancient magic; the Black Forest, ever-shrouded in mist, comes alive with it. The mist shifts and glows, the trees bend, and the air screams. Forbidden magics run as free as the tribes that inhabit the forest. But the Worldweavers of Clan Rovaan have distinguished themselves from the common shamans of other tribes. The goat-skull-wearing, bone-rattling Worldweavers are especially gifted and attuned to the ways of primal magic. They weave our world and that of the gods together like one would a braid of hair.

Clan and Kin:

Sivaas The Worldweaver (30)

TBA

Region/color on map:
Roughly there.

Race Name: Northkin, Rovaani

Racial Appearance: TBA

Racial Traits: TBA

Tribe Size: 8,000~

Tribe Bio: TBA

Influence and relations: TBA

Military: TBA

Unit demographics: TBA

Landscape: TBA

Wildlife: TBA

Dynasty Bio: TBA

Strengths: TBA

Weaknesses: TBA

House Name:
Seval

Head of House:
Eretes II Seval

House Speciality:
Generations spent tracking the great whales of the western ocean have endowed the Seval family with an unparalleled skill in navigation on the open seas as well as an intimate knowledge of the denizens below the waves. So acclaimed has this skill become that it is said no ship run by a Seval has been lead off course in a hundred years.

House Ancestral Artifact:
A simple and functional suit of plate the sole artifact of house Seval is known as the Armour of the Drowned. While not used in generations the suit is said to permit breath to its wearer even at the deepest reaches of the sea, though unsurprisingly few have volunteered to verify this.

Important Members:
(53) King of Aeche, Eretes II Seval: The current ruler of Aeche, Eretes is considered gregarious by most and has long been a man known to engage in all the necessary social activities with eager readiness, but to entirely disregard those not specifically requiring his presence. In truth Eretes does little he is not required to, and while he engages in the affairs of court and state it has been silently noted by many an observer that often the king will simply choose the viewpoint of another and support it unwavering rather than forward any original ideas. This has lead many to dub Eretes the quintessential sycophant, a man who only speaks so that others might enjoy what he says.

Of course to those closer to the king such a label would be disingenuous. The truth being that while Eretes may not seem to be personally opinionated during his many public appearances, this is merely because he has no opinions concerning the governance of the the kingdom and the empire. Obsessed with the stars Eretes has long held a certain disdain for politics, and even against the will of his late father spent most of his youth in the study of mathematics and theology. It is in these pursuits that Eretes spends the majority of his waking hours, leaving all but the most basic of court work to his wife.

Indeed, much of what can be called the official policy of economic expansion in the Kingdom during the reign of Eretes can be traced directly to Mera Seval. Whether this is a result of an explicit arrangement or merely the kings eccentricities is anyone's guess, but few could deny it. Beyond such matters though the relationship between the king and his wife can be called nothing less than enigmatic, given the two are rarely ever seen together.

(48) Queen of Aeche, Mera Seval: The current queen of Aeche is a soft spoken and shy woman known to avoid most public appearances unless strictly necessary. As a result little is publicly know about her, though it is known that she and the king often share private discussions, leading many to wonder how many decisions in the kingdom can be traced to her rather than the king.

(26) Prince of Aeche, Neset Seval: The heir apparent of Aeche, Neset seems to most the polar opposite of his father. A man of few words with an apparent disregard for courtesy or politesse Neset is blunt and sceptical of anyone incapable of cutting to the point. Still, regardless of their apparent distance few can say there is enmity between Neset and his father, rather the two seem to share the same conviction and desire to create a more prosperous Aeche, though perhaps in different ways.

(18) Princess Helena Seval: The middle sibling of Eretes children and renown for her beauty Helena takes after her father in her sociable nature, but contrastingly holds strong (and often cynical) opinions with what many call an absurd stubbornness. This disposition while respected by most has often put her at odds with the religious authorities, nevertheless of her close family Helena is the most involved in happenings outside of the royal court. On any give day she can often be seen in the market with her personal guard or making public appearances at the courts of lesser nobles.

(16) Prince Cevest Seval: The second son of Eretes II, Cevest is the youngest of the kings children and compared to his siblings seems the very image of moderation. Not terribly headstrong but still opinionated, and friendly but hardly charismatic. In contrast to his siblings however Cevest is easily the most adventurous. Having trained with his cousin and brother Cevest is a capable navigator and sailor even at his age, and of all his family none have participated in more hunts on the open ocean. On his recent sixteenth birthday Cevest was granted a small vessel and crew by his father and now spends his time between court and touring Ethica.

(25) Duke Certes Seval: Son of the recently deceased Duke Rente Seval and the nephew of King Eretes II, Certes is nothing but ambitious. In the short three years since inheriting his fathers position Certes has led an effort to turn previously minor the port city of Ramoni into one of the largest centres of trade in the province, a venture that has managed to eliminate one of the largest smugglers guilds in Aeche and even attract merchants from across the sea. This sudden and seemingly inexplicable success has led many to question whether Certes exploits have been entirely legal, some even suggesting he orchestrated his fathers death.

(22) Kelae Seval: Daughter of Rente Seval and niece of King Eretes II Kelae was once known as an affectionate and loving individual with perhaps a worrying disregard for the lines of class. The days of her leading spontaneous efforts of charity in the slums with little or no guard however ended abruptly upon the death of her father. Exactly what she has occupied herself doing is unknown, but she has not been seen leaving the palace in years.

Nation/Realms Name:
Aeche

Flag:


House Motto:
We Endure

Region/color on map:
Lime Green

Race name:
Aecheian

Racial appearance:
Aecheian's tend to have a fair complexion and often stand between 5'6 and 5'8 regardless of gender. Black hair is almost ubiquitous, with a lighter brown being indicative of the southern regions. Eye colour is less homogenous, though green and blue tend to be the norms.

Racial traits:
The people of Aeche are known not for their affinity for the sea, though they do have one, but for their seemingly supernatural ability to increase the yield of their crops and render land fertile. Generations of innovation both magical and traditional precipitated by what was once constant scarcity have permitted the people of Aeche not only self sufficiency, but abundance.

Capital:
Vestera, the capital of Aeche is located at the base of Feste bay and on the Festen river that flows into it. The capital is built around the three great bridges spanning the river and the royal palace in turn is built upon the central and largest of this bridges. Renown for its colourful and bustling seaside markets Vestera is the most populous city in Aeche and the home of the provinces many glass blowers.

Capital Population: 16,300

Other Major Settlements:
(8,300) Caspen: The capital of the duchy of Caspe the city of Caspen is the surrounded by farms and often considered the breadbasket of the province. The city itself is said to be the oldest in Aeche, dating back to the era of unification when it was the capital of the local petty kings territory.

(3,900) Argosie: The capital of the duchy of Argoe the city of Argosie isn't particularly notable save for the fact it stands as the centre of the ever important whale hunts and houses most of the provinces hunting fleets.

(6,100) Eserote: The capital of the duchy of Esren the city of Eserote hugs the edge of the only mountain range in Aeche. Eserote is often called the ringing city, and fittingly as what little metal is produced in Aeche can all be traced here, to a city where the pounding of iron can be heard well into the night.

(3,600) Ramoni: The capital of the newly formed duchy of Ramoi the city of Ramoni was nothing but a minor port as little as three years ago. However under the guidance of Certes Seval the city has blossomed into the largest trade hub in the province.

(2,300) Velre, Castle of the Mist: Often called the greatest fortress in the west Velre was built on the lesser island of Verche with the duty of repelling any would be conquerors from the black continent. Grand in scale and built overlooking the precipitous cliffs of the island many have claimed that a direct siege of Velre would be all but impossible. Over time the castle has also become the central point of the islands settlement, and a city of its namesake has sprung up in its shadow

Internal Map:

(The smaller island is known as Verche, while the greater is Aeche proper.)

Population:
~102,100

Culture:
For generations the rulers of Aeche have been reluctant involving themselves in the affairs of the mainland, and this has bred a grand misconception among the people of Ethica that Aecheians are cold and insular. In truth the island province while not particularly outgoing prizes hospitality above all else, and many a traveller without a place to stay have found the locals more than willing to share a bed.

This courtesy is not merited only to strangers however; it is an inherent part of Aecheian culture. The common people of the province are more than inclined to share what they have if their neighbours need it, though they are not so gullible as to be tricked by dishonest scarcity. With such tight knit communities the people of Aeche have also become known for their lack of inhibition amongst each other during their yearly harvest celebration, events which many say predict the next generation with disturbing accuracy. Friendly, accommodating, and unconcerned with the needless boundaries between strangers Aecheians are perhaps the exact opposite off what many expect.

There are however, some parts of the culture that do fit the stereotype, namely the island people’s reliance upon the whale hunts and their love of the sea. Should one ever find themselves in Argosie upon the return of a successful hunt they would be witness to a spectacle of religious devotion wherein the local priest would preside over the vast beast give thanks to Kayo, and this is not without reason. Beyond the local crops there exist precious few sources of meat on the island, and while local fisherman provide for the coastal communities only the meat of such vast beasts as the whales of the western ocean lasts for it to be distributed throughout the island. This simple truth has been curiously unifying for the people of Aeche, and many say that the whale hunts are the back bone of the people’s culture.

Type of Government:
The law of succession is Aeche is that of Absolute Primogeniture, though this isn’t a constant among the lower nobility. Below the king all the various Dukes are granted the right to choose their own laws concerning inheritance, and some have deviated from the norm considerably.

Influence and relations:
(Any alliances or military pacts with another family? Perhaps born of marriage ties? Work with other players if you seek one ahead of the RP if you so desire.)

Military:
The kingdom of Aeche holds a large standing fleet, though usually these ships are at port and manned by skeleton crews of skilled sailors. In truth these sailors are the only standing forces in the kingdom of any real note and Aeche is well known for its lack of armoured knights, leading many to joke they always drown trying to get there.

The bulk of the Aecheian military is light infantry and in the case of Aeche these troops are usually equipped with light amour combined with buoyant but sturdy iron reinforced wooden coffin shields to make up for their deficiency in a sustained melee. These troops are armed with either a long spear and a short sword, or a short bow. Overall the men of Aeche have mastered war at sea and boarding actions but come up short against heavily armoured forces.

Landscape:
Both greater Aeche and lesser Verche are dominated by rolling grassy hills, though only greater Aeche peaks in a small set of mountains. The islands rise suddenly out of the ocean in most cases, but there are a number of locations where both islands level off to smooth beaches rather than precipitous drops.

Wildlife:
(Optional)

Economy:
Historically Aeche was a poorer province, but over time its people pulled themselves out of poverty and into a more moderate and comfortable position. In the last few decades the economy has improved markedly, though some are uncertain if such a disruption to peaceful life is worth its benefits.

Religion:
(As stated before Kammeth is the primary god of the Empire and will by default be what the majority of the people worship or follow *excluding special circumstances*. Worship of deities outside of the Sky pantheon is greatly discouraged IC. You can however, create a deity of your own making from within that Patheon, or if you feel ballsy, add in any minor cults that exist. Perhaps even your family secretly worships other gods not sectioned by the Empire? Be mindful that heresy is frowned upon by the Church and you might have the Inquisition breathing down your neck if they catch a whiff of heresy on you, but if you want to make a storyline in that direction go right ahead!) (Tip, don’t piss of whoever is the Arch Dawnbringer!!!)

History:
(At least the past couple generations, include conflicts, major upheavals, wars, etc. You can overlook this part and fill it in as the Roleplay progresses in order to work with other players for maximum cohesion.)

Strengths:
-The fleet of Aeche is a capable and sturdy one manned by well trained sailors, when it comes to war they will rarely back down from an engagement unless victory is utterly impossible.
-Surprisingly enough Aeche can export foods as the innovations used to increased the fertility of the land have become so efficient near any plant can grow plentiful on the island.

Weaknesses:
-Positioned as it is Aeche takes the brunt of most disasters from the west, ether they be storms, raiders, or enemies from across the sea.
-The lack of woodlands on the island makes it forever beholden to mainland imports of lumber, a weakness that would mean disaster should the province be blockaded.

Export:
-Whale Oil.
-Smoked, Salted, and Pickled Fish.
-Seagoing Vessels.
-Glass.

Import:
-Lumber.
-Refined Metals.
-Beasts of Burden.
-Spices.

House Name: House Swiftwave

Head of House: Viceroy (High Count) Ryan Swiftwave

House Specialty: Naval Combat and Naval Shipbuilding

House Ancestral Artifact: The Staff of House Swiftwave – An ancient, yet beautiful wood and iron staff as old as the house itself. Atop is fixed an azure and white gem, that looks like the crashing waves of the ocean itself. The gem glows brightly, as though it were bestowed upon House Swiftwave by the God themselves. It is said this staff imbues it's chosen users with mastery over the sea, with the ability to calm the waters of the endless tides, or to call great storms upon the foes of House Swiftwave. Only one Swiftwave may lay claim upon this herald artifact at any given time, and only those who are truly worthy, are able to wield it. Darker tales speak of the need for blood to power such a boon, making it both a blessing, and a curse. (Currently wielded by Ryan Swiftwave.)

Important Members:
Viceroy Ryan Swiftwave – 24 years old, sole surviving son of the late Viceroy William Swiftwave.


Viceroy William Swiftwave – 58 years old (Deceased, died with the late Emperor in his ship's sinking.)
Jace Swiftwave – 36 years old (Deceased, died with the late Emperor.)
Dererr Swiftwave – 33 years old (Deceased, died with the late Emperor.)
Alessi Swiftwave – 30 years old (Deceased, died with the late Emperor.)
Kimbely Swiftwave – 27 years old (Deceased, died with the late Emperor.)

Vicereine Deana Swiftwave – 52 years old, widow of the late Viceroy William Swiftwave.
Lee Swiftwave – 54 years old, brother of late Viceroy William Swiftwave.

Nation/Realms Name: Kawachian South Ethica

Sigil:

Flag:

House Motto: Eternity begins and ends with the ocean’s tides.

Region/color on map: Pinkish Red



Race name: Kawachian's

Racial appearance: The men tend to stand anywhere between 5'10” to 6'5” on average, with the women ranging from 5'8” to 6'1” in height. The vast majority of the Kawachian people share either grey-green eyes, or a hue of greenish-brown eyes. Their skin color is that of toasted tan color, due to the tropical sunlight and climate. Their weight averages no more than 215 lbs for the men, and 125 lbs for the women. Their hair colors range from hues of brown to dirty blonde, with the occasional rusty reddish brown showing up.

Racial traits: Most, if not all men of Kawachi are known for their rugged seamanship, skilled sailors who ply their god given gifts upon the waves of the endless oceans of their world. They are said to know when a sea storm approaches, when to sail, and when to batten down the hatches and tide over the storm. Their skill as sailors has lead to many a man of Kawachi to strike out and join as crewmen on not only their own ships, but those of neighboring realms as well.

Capital: The City of Point Break

Capital Population: 66,000 roughly.

Other Major Settlements:
City of Kongo – Seat of House Greenmane, currently ruled by Lord Beren Greenmane. 26,000 people.
City of Musashi – Seat of House Demetria, ruled by Lady Sally Demetria. 23,000 people.
City of Fuso – Seat of House Abbendis, ruled by Lord Alan Abbendis. 19,500 people.
City of Mikasa – Seat of House Marjhan, ruled by Lady Sabine Marjhan. 25,000 people.
City of Izumo – Seat of House Tolgraine, ruled by Lord Darrion Tolgraine. 22,500 people.

Population: 673,000

Culture: Kawachian South Ethica is best described as a seafaring and agrarian people. Their lives are devoted to the sea and tending to their crops. They praise feats of seamanship, and lavish farmers who grow bountiful crops that help feed the people. Men are looked at as the providers, the laborers and the defenders. They work the fields, defend the coasts, fish the oceans, and build the cities and houses. And yet, they have the easy task, so to speak.

Women, they are the true leaders behind the scenes. The manage the households, plan the crop rotations, when to plant, what to plant, where to build, what to build. They are the truly educated and gifted, for their skills in finance, economics, engineering, and so on, ensure that the sun never truly sets on Kawachi. Women are the heads of their households, working together with one another to ensure all the tasks of the home life are completed and finished to ensure peace and prosperity.

There is a saying on Kawachi, behind every great man, is a great woman. Here, men and women are equals, and use their talents in different things to work towards the singular goal of being successful, of doing what is needed to ensure continued sustainability.

Outside of the household, the people of Kawachi are very religious. They pray to Kammeth, and then to the other gods. Their folk lore is filled with tales of the Gods, coming down to Kawachi, and teaching them all that they know now. Kammeth is said to smile upon his sons and daughters of Kawachi, and that praise is due when its due, for Kammeth gave them all life and light, and his lights and life must never falter either.

Type of Government: Hereditary Monarchy, regional power residing with Viceroy Swiftwave, and all other families paying fealty to the ruling family in Point Break.

Influence and relations: The main influence that the people of Kawachi have over the realm is their ability to produce naval ships on a large scale, and at a rate that is enviable. They are known for taking orders from surrounding regions and building the ships they need, big and small, military and trade, at an affordable and quality level. They currently have standing orders for numerous ship building contracts with nearby regions, some just starting, others nearing completion.

The Vialiphate of Meletis is another story altogether. While from time to time, they have bought ships from Kawachia, their relationship is icy at best. Seen as overly zealous, hostile, and above all, heavy handed, the people of Kawachia and the Swiftwaves tread carefully when the Inquisition is near. They do as little as they can to be of help, and sometimes even impede visiting Inquisitors. Who knows how many innocent men and women have been whisked away, branded as heretics, to be cast out from their lands and homes. Blood has been spilled in the name of Kammeth, and in the name of Watatsumi, as the monks, priests/priestesses of Watatsumi have become more militarized in response to their continued harassment. House Swiftwave did what it could to stem the witch hunt, and for a while with the help of the late emperor, the Inquisition was held at bay.

Yet, not with the loss of the Emperor, and the loss of the late Viceroy, Kawachia and its people now must face the new wave of the Inquisition alone.

Military - The majority of Kawachian South Ethica's military is drafted from local levies and people who wish to serve in times of need. Levies who have already established themselves regularly train once a week, usually on a weekend, in order to keep their skills relatively decent, and to share in the camaraderie of being among friends. These training sessions usually turn into cook outs and feats of skill, where entire families come to enjoy being among friends and neighbors. Levies all know one another, and generally have a high moral based off of being drawn from close knit communities and continued practice with one another.

The standing military of Kawachi perhaps numbers no more than 5,500, with many of these men working rotations, so that only half are in the field at any given time. The ocean is a natural barrier to any would be enemies, and why waste precious financial reserves to have men who could be fishing and farming to stand around and look menacing. But, never consider the people of Kawachi unprepared, for at the behest of their ruler, a long chain of watch towers was constructed, and always manned. These watch towers provide a constant look out for any signs of aggression, and then light their beacons, signalling the levies, and the professional military who are not on duty.

Unit demographics: The military of Kawachi is broken down into three main pieces, the infantry, the archers, and the navy.

3,250 men - The navy is the single largest institution of the governing body of Kawachi. The comprise of sailors and marines who defend the shores of Kawachi, and her islands. The sail the oceans constantly, in both to help friendly ships to port, and to provide security to the shorelines. The navy also helps the people by fishing and providing escort to the shores.

1,250 men - The army, which is mainly comprised of lightly armored swordsmen, who wield a two handed sword meant for war, and war alone. Levies tend to be equipped with either swords, or spears, though generally spears as they are cheaper to produce and maintain. The army also helps tend to crops around their garrisons to provide food for themselves and the people around them.

1,000 men - The last piece of the puzzle, the archery corps. These men practice daily with their weapons, honing their skills to ensure that the home islands are never invaded. The archers ply their skills as hunters and showmen, providing a dual benefit to the people of Kawachi, security, and food/entertainment.

Landscape: A very tropical region, akin to Vietnam or Burma. Volcanic mountains long since dormant created a fertile region where growing crops is easy and a mainstay, though the climate precludes large crops of wheat and barley, which has the majority of crops being devoted towards rice, and other crops that can grow easily in the tropical climate. Numerous trees and forests dominate the islands, leading to the dominant industry of lumber and shipbuilding.

Wildlife: Like any other tropical region, bugs, bugs, and more bugs. Lots of birds, reptiles, large tigers, and oxen. Tropical forests, wavy grasslands, and jungles, along with dormant volcanic mountains.

Economy: The economy of Kawachi falls in the middle. There are those who are rich, like the noble families, and those that are extremely poor, criminals and beggars, and then the majority, who fall in the middle. Lucrative shipbuilding contracts help fund much of the region, while fishing, salt, and sugar exports also help keep the region relatively well off. Kawachian South Ethica retains enough wealth to live comfortably, but not in an excess to where they can afford massive standing armies, the newest fashions, and so on.

Religion: Kammeth is the Sun God, and warms the world. He is the primary god of Kawachi, with two others falling below him in importance. The first, is Kammeth's son, the Sea God Watatsumi. Depicted as a dragon, his temples dominate the coastlines of Kawachi, often being prayed to before a ship sets sail, the sailors very superstitious folk. These temples to Watatsumi house the wares of thousands of ocean voyages, gifts given up to the Dragon of the Seas, as tribute, and to stay his fierce desire to have have sailors for his vast undersea fleet. A darker cult, known as the Sea Dragons, believe that it is Watatsumi who is the one true rightful god to rule the Sky Pantheon. Thankfully, their sect is isolated only on the southern most island of Kawachi, known aptly as Furutaka, the large mountain that rises from the sea. Their temples dot the Southern coasts, with their largest and greatest built into the mountainside, grander and greater than any other temple on that islands.

The third god, or rather goddesses that are worshiped in Kawachi are the three sisters, daughters of Kammeth, known as Kim-Rae-Ali, the three sisters of the mountains. These goddesses are worshipped by farmers, hunters, and woodsmen, with their temples built into the mountains of Kawachi, and its outlying islands. The three goddesses are well regarded upon the islands, and tales of their beauty are traded among many a man and woman alike. Depicted within the temples as three loving sisters, they stand next to each other, holding hands and smiling, looking down at those who come to pray before them. Kammeth is usually painted onto the ceiling of these temples, looking down at his daughters with pride, and at his own loyal subjects as well.

Kammeth is paramount of all gods, but in Kawachi, he has only two temples, each larger than any of the other temples in all of Kawachi, excluding the Sea Dragon's monastery redoubt built in Furutaka. The temples of East and West, to mark the rise, and setting of the sun, built on opposite ends of the Kawachian realm, herald Kammeth and all his glory. The sun rises, and falls with Kammeth, and with him, the world awakens, and slumbers.

Secretly, last of all, is Ryan Swiftwave, who is a secret follower of Watatsumi and his cult of the Sea Dragon. He has never told anyone, nor plans on doing so. His private quarters hold a small shrine, a beautifully crafted dragon that he prays to and lights incense for, when he feels the need to.

History: WIP

Strengths:
Archers – If the enemy can never land on our shores, what need do we have of infantry? Kawachian's pride themselves on archery, using their skills in it to defend their ships and lands from any enemy who would dare attack them. Their bows are built from two types of wood, domestically grown Kuma wood, which grows in the mountains of Kawachi, and when there is spare wood, Webwood tree wood.
Naval experience – The sea is the lively hood of Kawachi. Why turn your back upon it when you can use such a great gift to your advantage? Kawachian sailors have an almost innate ability to tell the weather, when to sail, and when to put in. They have rudders that have mapped vast portions of the oceans and coasts of Ethica, all of which are fiercely guarded to the death.
Warships – With all their focus on the sea, they people of Kawachi have crafted some of the finest war vessels of the realm. These ships are used primarily by the Imperial navy, and themselves, for these war ships are closely guarded, and scarcely, if ever, sold to anyone else. A fine vessel that is a cut above everyone else, or at least in the eyes of the Kawachians.

Weaknesses:
Terrible Calvary – Kawachian South Ethica posses little to no true calvalry units, most if not all being only used as very light scouting units and dispatch runners. Horses are very scarce among the Southern Islands, only owned by nobility, and by Imperial Units.
No Heavy Infantry – Due to a lack of large reserves of mineral deposits to create Steel, let alone Iron is sufficient quantities, the military forces of Kawachi are almost completely devoid of any heavy infantry, save for the ceremonial guard unit stationed in the regional capital.
Shields... ha, we laugh at those things – The people of Kawachi never really developed the usage of shields, seeing it as a useless weight to hinder a man on the battlefield, and create the image of a coward who hides behind objects from his foe. The entire standing and levy military of Kawachian South Ethica is devoid of shield bearing units, preferring to use two handed weapons, duel wielding, or bow and arrow.

Export:
Ships – With the largest naval ports and shipbuilding yards in the realm, the pride and joy, along with the bread and butter of Kawachi, is the production and sale of seagoing vessels.
Sugar Cane – With a wonderful tropical climate, sugar is easy to produce and on a large scale. It would seem the rest of the realm likes sweet things.
Rice – A major foodstuff crop, the excess is exported to support the realm and feed those who need the extra sustenance.
Fish – With large ports come large fishing fleets, and the need to feed not only themselves, but to help out the Empire as a whole.
Salt – Well, you are surrounded by ocean on all sides, and salt is needed to preserve food, make it taste good, and so on. So, you collect, and sell it to the folks to the North of Kawachi.

Import:
Iron – As of now, iron is a hard item to come by in truly large quantities. This leads to the reason of Kawachi not having heavy infantry, heavy armor, shields, and so on. Iron is highly valued, though one day perhaps an iron mine of sufficient quantity will be discovered.
Wheat – Due to the hard nature of tropical climates, wheat is harder to grow in a sufficient number to create bread from the people of Kawachi. As such, wheat is imported, or its processed form, for food supplementation.
Horses – Horse are not naturally native to Kawachi. As such, they are imported from the mainland, but not for military use, but rather agrarian usages, and civil engineering.
Webwood lumber – Something is magical about this wood, its amazing to say the least. It is used in the largest of naval vessels, providing a large boost to the ships overall strength. Very costly, but well worth it for anyone who ply's the deep waters of the world.

Head of House: Duchess Victoria Gracieux, Elector of Violette.

House Speciality: Exotic Trade. Violette, House Gracieux's seat, is Ethica's primary destination for commerce with the Eastern Continent, 'Lointaine'. All trade between Lointaine and the imperial continent of Ethica flows through either Violette herself or her sister cities, giving Violette a reputation as the premiere destination for the finest goods in Ethica. The immense quantities of coin from these lucrative continental voyages have secured the place of Violette's noble houses and merchant guilds as considerably rich and influential players in Ethica's political and economic world, a force to be reckoned with in the empire at large.

House Ancestral Artefact: The ancestral artefact of House Gracieux is the 'gilded bouquet', a golden, gem-encrusted necklace said to have been gifted to the Gracieuxs by Kammeth in ancient days. The necklace is decorated with various gemstones inlaid to represent different flowers, and the largest of these flowers is a violet, made of amethysts, in the necklace's centre. The gilded bouquet is not imbued with any tangible magical power, and is said only to bring good fortune to its wearer, at the expense of their enemies.

Important Members

Lord Reynold Gracieux;

Aged 48. Admiral of the Veletian Marine. The younger brother of the deceased Duke Frank Gracieux, the former ruler of the Republic of Violette. An exceptionally talented sailor and leader of men, but (unusually for a Gracieux) something of an ascetic. His quarters on the flagship of the Veletian Marine are intentionally austere, and he does not share in—though does not necessarily loathe or even dislike—the vanity and gratuity of the rest of his house. He is merely dedicated to his role as Admiral, and has a certain level of distaste for anything which distracts him from his crucial duties. The one exception to this is his wife, Velhara Gracieux (née Tallurian), and their children, Xavier and Tsirine.

Duchess Victoria Gracieux, Elector of Violette;

Aged 28. Duchess of Violette. Daughter of the deceased Duke Frank Gracieux and his wife, Corrine Gracieux (née Duvard). Imperious and shrewd, Victoria is a woman who places great emphasis on her image and reputation, both from the eyes of her people and her fellow nobles. The people of Violette know their Duchess as the essence of elegance and confidence, seeing her only in elaborate dresses, walking tall among her guards in fanciful processions and occasionally travelling across the republic and beyond, decked in the finest jewellery and carrying herself with the thoughtless confidence, arrogance even, that only a woman of her stature can possess. Her contemporaries know her as a lady not to be trifled with; she tolerates no slights against her or her family and is rumoured to have murdered her previous husband, an abusive drunk, after he struck their daughter. Today, the Duchess is married to Ralltene Valarien, a prominent member of the Imperial family in the running for the succession. Victoria has gone to great effort to establish popular support for Ralltene, orienting the economic might of Violette in his favour and applying great pressure on House Gracieux's allies to support his claim.

Duchess Zoé Gracieux;

Aged 29. Duchess of Ramoi, in Aeche. Zoé is the amicable sister of Victoria, the Duchess of Violette, and became a Duchess herself shortly after her marriage to Certes Seval, when her newly wed husband's father passed away under not at all suspicious circumstances. Zoé is a tall, olive skinned woman, who presents herself as friendly and courteous. Her place in House Gracieux affords her extensive connections to Ethica's largest merchant companies, which she has used to great effect to help turn her adopted home in northern Aeche into a city of commerce and class.

Lord Xavier Gracieux;

Aged 20. The son of Reynold and Velhara, and older brother of Tsirine. A boastful young man and a talented swordsman, Xavier has all of the good looks and magical abilities of the Tallurians, all of the coin and connections of the Gracieuxs, and a way with a blade that is all his own. He has won numerous dueling tournaments both within Violette and abroad, and is fond of using his family connections (especially those of his father, the Admiral of the Veletian Marine) to travel the world, having already visited the eastern continent of Lointaine once before, even at such a young age. As he carries the blood of House Tallurian, Xavier looks rather unlike the other members of his household of Gracieux; he is pale, rather than olive-skinned, and instead of black his hair is a bright, vibrant red. Xavier is fond of teasing his younger sister and her constant worrying, which contrasts greatly with his own overconfidence.

Lord Elouan Gracieux;

Aged 19. A somewhat effeminate young man, known among the commoners as a patron of the arts, and among the aristocracy as a soft fool. He is the youngest of three siblings, kid brother to Victoria and Zoé. Elouan is too preoccupied with his hobbies, chiefly poetry and the lyre, to have much of an involvement (or even interest) in the political affairs of Ethica. Lately, he has gone to live in Stormgully, as a 'diplomat' between House Gracieux and House Cragmore. In truth, he is in love with Sofia Cragmore, and seeks to marry the young lady and take her with him back to Violette.

Lady Tsirine Gracieux;

Aged 12. The younger of Velhara and Reynold's children, Tsirine takes after her mother in appearance if not in personality. Although Velhara is a lively and optimistic person, Tsirine is a pessimist, and a close friend of her younger cousin, Anice. She is pale with red hair, like her brother and the rest of those with close Tallurian ancestry. Tsirine possess a sharp wit and a love of strategy games such as chess, which she enjoys teaching to Anice.

Lady Anice Gracieux;

Aged 10. Heir of House Gracieux. The daughter of Duchess Victoria through her deceased first husband, Anice took her mother's name after the death of her father, and is the first in line to succeed as head of House Gracieux should her mother pass. She is an intensely shy, skittish child, suspicious and afraid of strangers and kept under close watch by her mother. It is rumoured across the republic in hushed whispers that Anice, then an even younger child, was once struck by her abusive, drunkard father. Her mother, willing to tolerate violence against herself, but not her daughter, grabbed a knife and slit the throat of her hated husband. Regardless of the validity of these rumours, Anice is incredibly close to her mother, and no one else. The only other person that Victoria feels comfortable allowing Anice to be alone with is Victoria's uncle, Lord Reynold, or his wife Velhara. When Reynold and Velhara aren't available, and Victoria needs to leave Violette, Anice must always come with her. Although Anice is extremely introverted, she does have one close friend. Her cousin, Tsirine, is very close to her, and Anice easily spends more time with Tsirine than anyone else. This friendship is sanctioned by Victoria, who hopes that Anice's friendship with Tsirine can help make the young Gracieux heir more ready to rule.



Regional Map



The Luzerne is the name given to the republic's countryside, a region largely left to its own devices by House Gracieux and the other nobles of the republic. The peasants here are farmers and lumberers, tending the region's fertile fields and harvesting her forests' plentiful wood. Unlike in most of the empire's realms, the majority of the inhabitants of Luzerne—who are themselves called 'the Luzerne'—are free, unbound to any count, duke or king, and subject only to imperial authority. Their towns and villages are in free association with the republic, however, for the reason of mutual benefit. Violette and her sister cities offer the Luzerne profitable markets for their produce, and the gendarmerie of the republic help to keep the Luzerne free of banditry, and out of the reach of neighbouring kingdoms who might seek to claim their lands.

The inhabitants of the Fleurs de Mer are not so fortunate. Each of the islands is personally owned in its entirety by House Gracieux, the city of Estporte in the northern Fleurs de Mer the only notable exception. The peasants of the Fleurs de Mer are not free, like in the Luzerne, and instead of selling the fruit of their labour on the open market, their produce is the possession of the head of House Gracieux, and they are given room and board for themselves and their families and paid a modest wage. Most of the habitants of the Fleurs de Mer are migrants from the Luzerne; although there is less opportunity in the Fleurs de Mer, there is greater certainty in a fixed wage than in the independent farming on the republic's mainland.

Cities and Populations

The total population of the Republic of Violette, including the city of Violette itself and her sister cities, as well as the Luzerne and the Fleurs de Mer, is 1,440,000.

Violette (126,000);

The eponymous capital of the republic and one of the largest cities in Ethica. Violette is a crucial port-city, serving as the empire's main eastern economic hub and its most important link to the eastern continent: Lointaine. Violette's ports and streets are constantly bustling with activity, day and night, included among their inhabitants traders and travellers from far off, foreign lands. Violette is considered a cultural centre in addition to an economic and financial one, home to a great many upscale restaurants and taverns, and hosting plentiful musicians and other artists. Violette is also home to the headquarters of each of the four most important organizations in the republic: House Gracieux, the Veletian Marine, the Veletian Gendarmerie and the Violette Senate.

The first and last of these organizations are located on the Fleur de Violette, a small island just off of the coast of the city, connected to the mainland by a bridge. The Fleur de Violette is home to the Palais du Peuple, a gargantuan construct resembling a cathedral, built in the Gothic style and housing the Violette Senate, both its chambers and the personal residences of the senators. The island also contains the private residence of House Gracieux, a servant's quarters for the attendants of both House Gracieux and the Palais de Peuple, and a barracks of the gendarmerie. Admittance onto the island is restricted: one must either be a Gracieux, a Senator, one of the resident servants or an invited guest for the gendarmerie to permit entrance.

Confluence (23,500);

The second largest city in the republic, located in its north-western region. Confluence sits astride the meeting point of two rivers, Jamais Sur and Jamais Nur, which combine at Confluence to form the River Jamais, which feeds into the Bay of Estporte. Confluence was founded ages past as a small fishing village and a way-point across the River Jamais. It was only two hundred years ago that a prominent merchant family bought the land of most of the peasants living around Confluence, and began expanding the town to encourage settlers from the northern Luzerne. The expansion of Confluence from a small village into a significant trading town coincided with the rise of the once modest merchant family who bought the town into the now fully fledged noble family of House Jamais, with Confluence as its seat.

Île Couronne (5,800);

The smallest of the Veletian sister-cities, but a major outpost of the Veletian Marine, and an important town for the mining industry due to the large gold mine for which the town was founded. Île Couronne is regarded as a possession of Violette's ruling Gracieux dynasty, who are the owners of aforementioned local gold mine (and most of the town's other business). Île Couronne is governed entirely from Violette; the only civic government on the island is limited to a single office-holder: 'Mayor of Île Couronne', a ceremonial title awarded in perpetuity to the head of House Gracieux.

Estporte (8,700);

This sister-city of Violette sits within Calm Bay, on an island mostly owned by House Gracieux. Located along the island's eastern shores, however, is Estporte herself, the seat of House Mercalme, a noble dynasty with history dating back as far as that of Ethica's great houses. In ancient days, the Fleur de Mer to the east of Estporte were over-run with pirates, and the name 'Calm Bay' was an ironic one. Estporte was a fortress-city, with thick, stone walls running to the shore, and a heavily defended coastline built to withstand attacks from the eastern marauders.

The fleet of House Mercalme, a substantial war-fleet, charged a fee to merchant vessels that needed to traverse the bay, escorting them to ensure their safety in exchange for coin. It was House Mercalme's main source of revenue, which is why the family went broke when, several generations ago, the Veletian Marine was deployed to rid the islands of their pirate menace. The Fleurs de Mer were annexed to House Gracieux, and within a generation, House Mercalme was entirely out of money. Over time, they were forced to sell more and more of the land on Estporte and more and more of their once famous fleet to the powers-that-be in Violette: House Gracieux. Nowadays, the Mercalmes are heavily indebted to the Gracieuxs, and are rumoured to maintain their exuberant lifestyles through various illegal enterprises.

Artran (19,300);

The eponymous seat of House Artran, a noble family originating from the Imperial City that relocated to the republic far into the past. Artran is home to a great number of expert craftsmen, especially jewellers, and House Artran itself possesses one of the empire's largest collections of fine jewellery, much of it crafted right there in the city.

Ethnic Name: Veletians.

Ethnic Appearance: Veletians tend towards the features of southern Europe, such as olive skin and darker hair colours. This tendency is most pronounced in the southern Fleurs de Mer, and least evident in the northern Luzerne and the riverside city of Confluence, where lighter tones are more common. Fair skin and hair are seen by the wealthier, urban Veletians as stereotypically Luzerne (and therefore lower-class) features.

Culture: The culture of the Republic of Violette is distinguished from the rest of Ethica foremost by its enlightened nature. Veletians, especially in the cities, are much more open to new ideas than the people of the western kingdoms, and are in particular less strict about the roles of women and the boundaries between the classes. Wealth, not blood, is the primary determiner of status in the republic, and all noble titles throughout the republic are (theoretically) bestowed by the Violette Senate. Although the common man in the republic is no significant degree richer than the common men of other realms, he is substantially freer. The republic's mainland countryside, the Luzerne, consists entirely of free men, unbound to service, holding no lords and no masters spare the Emperor, and governed only by their local community.

Type of Government: Crowned Republic. Violette is governed by a unicameral legislature, the Violette Senate, which consists of five hundred directly elected senators serving three year terms. The Violette Senate determines the entirety of Veletian civic policy, in both Violette itself and her sister cities. It is also the responsibility of the Senate to determine Veletian military policy, deciding when to deploy the Veletian Marine or Gendarmerie abroad. Legally, it is even the Senate which bestows the supposedly honorary title of Duke of Violette upon the noble of their choosing, in recognition of their service to the republic.

In practice, however, the Senate always selects the designated heir of House Gracieux as the next Duke, just as it always deploys the marine or genderarmerie at the Gracieux's behest. This arrangement is seen by most of the Veletians not as corruption, but merely something of an esoteric succession practice, and one of practical benefit: a strong royal house to handle important matters, and a democratic senate to forge less important day-to-day public policy. It is worth noting that House Gracieux is popular among the Luzerne, who do not vote to elect senators and are therefore contemptuous of the Senate. For that reason, and many others, the Senators are almost without question loyal and obedient servants of Duchess Victoria (lest they be deposed). If push came to shove and there was a discrepancy between what the Senate wanted and what House Gracieux wanted, House Gracieux would win.

Influence and Relations

Although House Gracieux's impressive wealth imbues a sort of a passive influence all throughout the empire and beyond, it is those houses and those nations with especially close trade ties to Violette, and whose families have married with the Gracieuxs, who are most susceptible to the family's influence.

House Cragmore: Lord Elouan Gracieux is residing in Stormgully, and courting Sofia Cragmore.

House Duvard: Duchess Victoria Gracieux's mother was born Corrine Duvard, and Victoria's Duvard ancestry has helped positively inform her opinion of House Duvard; a sensible, noble family, appreciative of all the finer things in life that Violette has to provide.

House Seval: Lady Zoé, sister of Duchess Victoria, married Certes Seval to eventually become Duchess of Ramoi. House Gracieux is using its merchant connections to help establish Ramoni as a major trade city, and generally regards House Seval (though especially Certes' line of the house) as an ally in the west.

House Tallurian: Lord Reynold Gracieux, Admiral of the Veletian Marine, is married to Velhara, the sister of the Queen of Tellaria. Houses Tallurian and Gracieux, and therefore Tellaria and Violette, have both a positive personal relationship and prosperous and growing trade ties.

Military

Veletian Gendarmerie

The Veletian Gendarmerie is the republic's combined army and police force, responsible for protecting Violette and her possessions from threats both external and internal. The force is extensively trained, highly disciplined and pays exceedingly well, ensuring that its uniformed men are skilled in both combat and manner; the only thing better than a gendarme's swordplay is his etiquette. The rigorous nature of the initiation requirements and the training process ensure that only the most capable men make it into the gendarmerie. For this reason the organization is famously impartial, baring no predisposition towards corruption or harassment of innocents, as might be found in other cities.

The second consequence of the gendarmerie's strict induction process is its small number of enlisted men. The gendarmerie numbers only 7,000, policing a country of nearly one and a half million. Therefore, they must be supplemented at times with local militia groups of substantially lower quality. In the settlements of the Luzerne and Fleur de Tulipe, for instance, it is not uncommon for a village to possess only one or two resident gendarmerie, aided in their efforts by a larger number of local militiamen who report to them. This situation can also occur during times of war; when the gendarmerie are believed to be too few to counter a threat, it is not uncommon for the gendarme in charge to recruit a temporary militia to fill in any gaps for which there are too few uniformed men to occupy.

The dress, weaponry and even the behaviour of the gendarmerie is highly regimented. Their violet-coloured uniforms are tight-fitting, made of breathable, stretchable fabrics, designed to mimic the dress of the upper classes without limiting combat capability. Underneath this uniform is worn a padded cuirass, for purposes of defence, and over top is worn a helmet, as well as light armour for the shoulders, thighs, calves and forearms. The standard gendarmer in the field will be armed with a basket-hilted sword and a small crossbow, but the equipment of the gendarmerie deployed on the battlefield is more modular, ranging from pikemen to longbowmen.

As to a gendarme's behaviour, a strict code of conduct is followed, called the 'manière charmant'. It has three basic tenets: a gendarmer must act without personal advantage or favour, must conduct themselves with nobility and grace when treating with all classes of persons regardless of status, and is to exemplify courage in all their dealings within and without the call of duty. A gendarme's oath to obey the manière charmant is a serious one, taken on the final day of their training to finalize their place within the gendarmerie. If a gendarme is found to be in violation of the manière charmant, he can be subjected to severe punishment, up to and including execution by guillotine.

Veletian Marine

The pride of Violette and the mistress of the Eastern Seas, the Veletian Marine is one of the largest and most skilled naval forces in the world. Its purple-sailed vessels patrol the seas from Violette herself to the farthest reaches of the Fleurs de Mer, keeping the republic's coast-lands free of pirates and secure of foreign aggressors. The territorial breadth of Violette's empire does not represent the full extent of the reach of the Veletian Marine, however. Veletian merchant ships carrying cargo of exceptional value will often by accompanied by war-vessels of the marine, deterring all but the most foolish pirates and other enemies of commerce. These commissioned trade outings, alongside the constancy of piracy threats, ensure that the sailors of the Veletian Marine are experienced and capable of reacting quickly and appropriately to crises as they occur. While in many foreign lands, formal military vessels are often in duty only in times of war, most ships under the command of the Veletian Marine are kept in action at all times (excluding regular repairs and inspections), leaving their captains and crew seasoned on the high seas and ready for battle.

Although the Veletian Marine is a more than sufficient force for both defending the republic and projecting its power abroad, Violette also possesses a large merchant navy. Rather than for defence, they exist for the purpose of conducting overseas trade, the primary engine of the Veletian economy. Owned primarily by independent merchant outfits, the vessels of the Veletian Merchant Navy tend to focus on speed and cargo space over defensibility, and in times of conflict (either with pirates or foreign navies) are dependent on the Marine to ensure they reach their destination.

Landscape: The republic's coast-lands, including Violette itself, are Mediterranean in climate, and relatively flat and featureless. Further inland, into the western Luzerne, the climate becomes more temperate and the landscape more varied, and large stretches of forest interspersed with gently rolling hills can be found.

Economy: The Republic of Violette's economy is strongly dominated by international trade. Most crafts centre around this fact, and by far the most common tradesmen in Violette are sailors. The republic's economy is neither entirely dominated by foreign trade nor consisted entirely of seamen, however. The immense quantity of luxury goods moving through Violette and her sister cities have given rise to many speciality trades, such as gem cutters, and the wealth produced from this flow of commodities has in turn given rise to careers catering to the rich, such as artistry.

Religion: Veletians are primarily followers of Kammeth and Lyriel, the father and mother of the world. The lesser gods are not without worship in the republic, however, and foremost among them is Kayo, the God of the Sea, who is revered by Violette's plentiful seafarers.

History: The republic has existed since before the rise of the Phoenix Empire, and the story of the formation of the Violette Senate has long been lost to the sands of time. The rise of the republic to greatness, however, is relatively recent, and was largely caused by the empire's formation. Imperial authority brought order to Ethica, allowing for an environment more conductive to trade and mercantile enterprises, which Violette has always specialized in. As the empire grew, so too did Violette's base of customers. House Gracieux's immense wealth has allowed the family to become incredibly influential in the years of peace that the empire has brought on, and permitted her influence to be felt in all four corners of the continent. Separatist sentiment is almost non-existent in Violette; the empire is coin, and coin is all that matters.

Strengths

Bottomless Coffers- House Gracieux is fabulously wealthy. The family makes a fortune off of trade with Lointaine, owns extensive tracts of land in the republic, and is the primary investor of a great number of merchant companies and other businesses all across the empire. There is not a province in Ethica that isn't home to something owned by House Gracieux.

Manière Charmant- The Veletian Gendarmerie's exceptionally qualified men and the force's rigorous organizational process ensures that the Republic of Violette's lands are some of the best policed in the Empire. Violette and her sister cities in particular are kept safe and clean by the gendarmerie, and the organization's impartiality prevents corruption within the republic's government, preventing societal decay even in a society as laissez-faire as Violette's.

Weaknesses

No Masters, No Slaves- There is a reason that lords like to keep their peasants in bondage to them. A serf may be less happy than a free man, but you can use him harder, and for more than just tilling the land, such as fighting your wars for you. The unbounded nature of the farmers in the Luzerne means that they have no obligation to fight for the Duke of Violette, and thus that the vast majority of the republic's otherwise perfect levy candidates are ineligible to be called forth. This forces the republic to rely on the the Veletian Gendarmerie and its extremely limited numbers as its land force in times of war, severely restricting the republic's combat abilities on land.

Exports

Luxury Goods- Violette's trade with the eastern continent allows the city to serve as Ethica's primary (re)exporter of various exotic and luxury goods, ranging from silk, to gemstones, to rare herbs, to coffee beans and cocoa, and all the way to caged beasts from foreign lands.

Gold- Île Couronne, one of Violette's sister cities, is built around a large gold mine, which supplies a portion of its bounty to the republic's jewellers and exports the rest as solid bars, for refinement elsewhere.

Financial Services- The various merchant families in Violette, and especially the noble House Gracieux itself, are known for using their established wealth to supply the coin needed to start up business ventures elsewhere in the empire. The financial district in Violette, just across the bridge from the Fleur de Violette that serves as House Gracieux's seat, is home to a number of banks and loaning institutions, which can store or supply coin from or for various clients throughout Ethica.

Imports

Metals- Although Violette's Île Couronne is a literal gold mine, the rest of the republic's land area is sadly bereft of significant ore deposits. Both common ores, like iron and tin, as well as rarer ones such as silver for use in Artran's jewellery, needed to be imported from other kingdoms. Even stone, an extremely common material elsewhere in Ethica, needs to be imported into the republic.

Animals- There are almost no livestock farmers to be found in Violette, and everything from cows for milk and beef, chickens for poultry and eggs, and horses for both overland trade and personal transportation need to be brought into Veletian lands from abroad. This need also applies to other products derived from animals, such as fur, wool and oils.

House Name: House Shieldbearer

Head of House: King Elector Dorias Shieldbearer

House Specialty: Strong Generals. Men born into this house have always been exceptional generals and have been always knwon to sntach victory from the jaws of defeat in most of their battles.

House Ancestral Artifact: The Shield of the Protector - Morgas, the general that led Queen's Lalaifia's bodyguard had been able to protect her for so long for a reason. Kammeth handed Morgas for his service, the Shield of the Protector, a shield capable of forming a small magical shield around the wielder and some of the people around him. The Shield is usually handed to the Leader of the Emperor's personal bodyguard

Important Members:

Dorias Shieldbearer(Age 24)- Current head of the house and a very promising general as the people in his house usually are. However, unlike most of the previous heads, he has chosen to be rather isolationist, only making contact with other houses if necessary. Despite this, he has kept trade relations with the other house, mostly to supply his rather barren province. He is currently unmarried, however, he does try to get himself married, if it's in the interest of his nation it's even better.

Mardanis Shieldbearer(Age 32)- Older brother to Dorias, Mardanis carries on the tradition of his house in leading the personal bodyguard of the one he sees as true Emperor. However, his loyalty lies not to the head of his house, but to the Emperor himself, taking orders only from him. And as tradition has it, he can no longer claim the seat of house Shieldbearer.

Princess Remis Shieldbearer(Age 23)- Youngest member of the house and a charming young woman. While she chooses not to play any direct role in the house, she has established a rather expansive network of spies throughout the Empire, so more often than not, she knows what's happening to the realm, if the head of a house is in financial trouble, or if the member of a house is secretly ill. These secrets, will help make her house, one of the more important houses of the Empire.

Mertenis Steelskin(Age 25): While not officialy married to princess Remis, mostly thanks to King Dorias, the young Mertenis is very much considered part of the family, only to a point however, as the king does not trust this young man to become regent of Khomeria while he is gone. Like most Khomeri people, he has silver-like hair and light blue eyes, however, unlike the honest working people of Khomeria, he is very cunning. He is the brother of the current head of house Steelskin.

Vermias Stone(Age 30)- This young man is the bastard son of Regios Shieldbearer, brother to the previous king, King Karmius Shieldbearer. Like so many of the bastards in the empire, he has no legal claim of the khomeri throne and does not seek it either. As he was placed in the Iron Guard mere weeks before the start of the Purple Plague at the age of 18. Not only has he survived the plague, but he has advanced to become the leader of the Iron Guard, now accompanying his brother and king everywhere he goes.

Marianna Stormborn(Age 24)- Sister to the current head of house Stormborn, has joined the Royal Guard and is now serving under Mardanis Shieldbearer, rumored love interest of Mardanis Shieldbearer and Laikar Steelskin

Laikar Steelskin(Age 29)- Second in Command to Mardanis in the Royal Guard, and younger brother to the current head of house Steelskin.

Morgon Shattershield(Age 30) - A massive brute of a man, standing a head taller than most men and with incomparable strength. In the Royal guard along with Marianna Stormborn, Laikar Steelskin and Morgon Shattershield.

Armonia Stone(Age 29) - A strong and cunning woman, illegitimate daughter of the deceased Veritan Stormborn, previous head of the Stormborn family. Currently the Grandmaster of the Wyvern Knights

Nation/Realms Name: Khomeria

Sigil:



Flag:



House Motto: "Raise your shields!"

Region/color on map: Orange(Above the red and northwest of the brown)

Race name: Khomeri

Racial appearance: The people of this province are rather tanned, despite having lived in the mountains for such a long time. It is common for a Khomeri to have silver colored hair and light blue eyes. The average Khomeri adult has about 80kg, while in height he would be about 1.9 meters tall. Most of the men of this nation are well built, even if they haven't trained, whilst most women have a natural beauty to them that makes them very desired by the men of other nations.

Racial traits: These people have a natural skill in smithing, and it evolved from all the mountains around the nation being rich in all sorts of minerals. This made the weapons and armors of this nation to be of top quality. However, the smiths of this nation also make the most beautiful lockets, bracelets and other pieces of jewelry.

Capital: Meraton

A very heavily fortified city with massive and thick fortifications. The city in itself is rather colourless, the city is filled with smiths to produce weapons for the ever increasing demands of weapons, armors and jewelry. The town is mostly made up of residential quarters, the military quarters, and the trading quarters and the manufacturing quarters where all the smiths and other smillar professions reside.

Capital Population: 60.000

Other Major Settlements:

Vermilias- The fortress standing at the only entrance into this province. This fortress has been improved over the generations to be able to whitstand invasions from other provinces and is now a massive fortress complex rivaling the capital in it's size. The population of this fortress-city is of about 50.000. The Lords usually in charge of this fortress are given the title Lord Protector of Vermilias. The current head is Lord Protector of Vermilias, Fokas Stormborn

Drahmis- Situated right next to the mountains, this is where all the riches and metals of this nation come from and is one of the most important cities in the realm. It has a population of about 45.000 people, of which 5.000 are either miners or smiths. The Lords in charge of this fortress are ussually among the richest in the province and maybe sometimes the Empire. The current head is Lord Maridan Steelskin

Dertamis- This place is both the cultural and religious hub of Khomeria, the city having many towering structures and temples. This is also the place that Morgas, the head of this house was born and as such, the Khomeri consider it their most important city. The city has a population of around 45.000 people, many of which are dedicated to the temples. The current head is Lord Leimar Shattershield

Population: 312.000

Culture: Many people of the outside see the people of Khomeria as hard working smiths and proud warriors, but some see them as just xenophobic primitives sealing themselves in their own little world. In truth, they are artisans, smiths, merhcants, architects and even strong warriors when the need arises, alas, since the population has lived only with itself, it has grown rather suspicious of other peoples.

Type of Government: Feudal Monarchy with the leader of the nation taking the title of King of Khomeria and Protector of the Realm

Influence and relations: Other than being on good terms with the Phoenix Throne(after all, the head and a lot of the Emperor's bodyguard is made of Khomerians), it only has friendly relations with the only nation they consider true friends, the Kingdom of Ignis and House Duvard.

They have maintained strong relations with them, partly from necessity, as Khomeria imports much of it's food from Ignis, as such, the occasional man may whisper that House Duvard has a leverage over House Shieldbearer, however, they are quickly hushed by a proud Khomerian who consider the people of Ignis true friends.

Military -
(Details on the amount and types of men available. Any war vessels from navies, go here as well, it would be important to note as this is a Middle age Setting that relies largely one levies, few have the funds for a standing army, aside from the Phoenix Throne.)

Garrisons:

Meraton: 850 guardsmen

Vermilias: 650 guardsmen

Drahmis: 600 guardsmen

Dertamis 600 guardsmen

Voldigar: 400 guardsmen

Morkias: 350 guardsmen

Armais: 300 guardsmen

Standing Army:

500 triarii- Heavy Defensive Spearmen

200 Shieldbrothers- Heavy Defensive Sword Infantry

100 Longbowmen- Medium Archer Infantry

50 Snipers- Heavy Crossbow Infantry

15 War magi

50 Reavers- Light Shock Cavalry.

50 Lancers- Light Spear Cavalry

50 Iron Guards: Heavy Defensive Spear Infantry

Unit demographics: (heavy infantry, marksman, etc and their equipment/training, remember no army in real life was ever able to field a fully rounded all capable army. Sometimes a lack of something makes it more interesting.)

The current Standing Army of Khomeria is a highly trained military force. The Hoplites and Shieldbrothers are heavy and slow-moving units and as such have been armed to defend themselves rather than attack, and as such, they have learned to become a impenetrable wall of swords and spears. They are equipped with high quality steel weapons and armors. The Longbowmen and Snipers are strong ranged units, however, what they make up in high quality weapons, the lack in extensive training using them. The cavalry it's this nation's weakest link, having little to no horses, the nation focused little on the training of it's cavalry, resulting it's cavalry to be more bark than bite. The Iron Guard are the personal bodyguard of the Khomerian King and are formed of the best trained soldiers in the Khomerian army.

This nation has made one of the oddest choices a nation could do, it chose to stop conscripting troops into levies and rather maintain a small but professional standing army.

Landscape: Heavily Mountainous with forests and little to no arrable land.

Economy: Financially speaking, Khomeria is a rich nation as it is the exporter of most of the Empire's precious metals, jewelry and other metals, however, agriculturally, the nation is poor, having to import large amounts of food from other more fertile nations.

Religion:

While a large portion of the people worship Gerna to aid them in their efforts in the mine, the people of Khomeria worship a little known god that has been almost forgotten by everyone except the Church and Khomerians. This god has been in the past attributed as the patron god of Khomeria. While his name has been all but forgotten, his title still stands and resonates in the hearts of the people of Khomeria. He is called the Protector and people pray to him that he shield this nation from the threats of nature and man. The Standing army of the nation worships this little known god of the Sky Pantheon and prays that the Protector shield them so that they may see the next day again.

History: It will be built up in the RP...

Strengths:

Minerally Rich- This country, being mostly settled in the mountains, it has a massive flow of precious metals and jewelry, making it a rich nation.

Standing Army- Thanks to these riches, the nation is one of the few capable of sustaining a standing army, a small one, but a standing army neverthenless.

Nation of the Fortresses- In this nation, even the smallest castle has complex fortifications, making it all that harder to conquer by any possible invading force.

Weaknesses:

Infertile lands- Again, since this is a mountain nation, most of it's lands are infertile and uncapable of producing many crops for it's population.

Isolated- This nation has had almost no contact with the other nations for the past two generations(except the Phoenix Throne itself) and as such, it's relations with many of major and minor houses are rather poor.

No Navy- This nation, despite having a sea opening, they have chosen to not make any ships as they believe the Protector despises sailors. The only measure they take against a possible invasion is having any towns near the coast heavily fortified.

Export:

Gold

Iron

Weapons

Armors

Luxury Goods

Import: This realm heavily imports any sort of food it can to sustain it's growing population.

House Specialty: The Starborns are known to be pragmatic merchants, able to look past moral qualms in pursuit of profits. This may have made them unpopular with some houses but the Starborns are quick to excuse their actions with their common saying; gold has no conscience. Their ability to see profits above all other considerations has given them a certain focus in their mercantile dealings, and their rich coffers are evident of this fact.

House Ancestral Artifact: The Tri-Star Crown - In a time since before the Empire, a sailor was hopelessly lost at sea. His crew dead, his provisions spent, the man was on the brink of death when a vision came to him of angelic beings singing of prophecy. They said that he was destined to found a great city and a dynasty to last the ages. The angels cast a blinding light across the sky, a trail to lead him to his destiny, which erupted three stars in a radiant glow. Following his new path, the sailor made landfall at long last. Setting foot in the realm of Mivaen, which at the time was a fueding realm of divided clans. The sailor, born anew, took the name Starborn, united the clans under his rule and laid the foundation for the city to come of his name. For his efforts, Kammeth smiled upon him and sent him a gift from the heavens, his kingly crown. The Tri-Star Crown, adorned with three shimmering jewels representing the the Sisters' Stars that led the first Starborn home, remains within the same lineage to this day.

Important Members:




















Nation/Realms Name: Mivean and Starborn interchangeably. (While technically a kingdom, the concentration of power in Starborn City renders it a city-state.)

Sigil: A battlement before a blue sea, crowned with three stars.

Flag:
The traditional Mivaen Flag, depicting the Tri-Star Crown, bordered by the Sisters' Star and the North Star, all of which that play a vital role in navigation for the kingdom's sailors.

House Motto: We Light The Way

Region/color on map: Grey

Race name: Miveans (human)

Racial appearance: Due to intermingling between different ethnic groups, a result of the busy port city of Starborn, it is sometimes hard to discern the native attributes of Miveans. In the border regions of the kingdom, however, there are some who endeavor to keep the Mivean bloodlines pure. These people tend to have reddish to black hair, and radiant amber eyes.

Racial traits: Mivaens hold a special reverence for the sea, and the starry sky for the role it plays in navigation. The people of Mivaen are known for their mastery of ship and sea.

Capital: Starborn City - Largely considered the jewel of the south, admittedly by Mivaens themselves, Starborn City is a bustling merchant port and one of the largest cities in the empire. Central to the city is the Starry Palace, seat of the Starborn Dynasty. The palace is known for it's three towers, representing the three stars, the Sister Stars prevalent in the houses origin.



Capital Population: 100,000

Other Major Settlements: Buntry (6,500) - The only other major settlement in Mivaen, surrounded by short stone walls, a town and harbour, dominated by an obsidian stone tower.

Hardrow Hall (800)- Once the proud seat of kings before the rise of the Starborns, Hardrow Hall's glory is long past. It now stands as a decrepit hall surrounded by a village and neglected port.

Westport (500)- the westward most settlement in the kingdom and the gateway to the lawless Farwyn badlands. Westport is the site of a small harbour and a hall for the local baron, with a disorderly village surrounding the hill.

Seastone Tower - An ancient fortess raised up from the ocean rocks from beneath the sea. Legends say it was built by the infamous wizard Flarnax. An affront to the Gods, Flarnax was vanquished by the Sea God Tritus but his tower still stands. Now it is occupied by Starborn troops and guards the southern coast as well as a way station for Starborn fleet. In times of peace, it is populated by shipwrights exercising their craft, but in times of war it can be garrisoned by as much as one thousand troops and provide a defended harbour.

Population: 400,000

Culture: The Mivaens are a proud seafaring people. They mainly worship the Sea-God Tritus and hold the sea in a deep reverence. For the most part, the peasants of the land work on the merchant and fishing vessels, followed by foresters and farmers. The nobility busy themselves trading, most owning their own vessels from which they use to trade across the empire, and most reside within Starborn City. There is a rising merchant class within the city that have reaped the fruits of trade within the city, some of the more affluent have gathered enough wealth to rival the richest of the nobility.

Along with the reverence of the sea, the captains of ships are held in high honour in Mivaen society. Such men are highly regarded for having the strength to tame the power of Tritus, that is the sea. Such show of respect is often evident when Mivaens go into a naval battle, often taking risks to ensure an enemy captain is captured alive, and treated with the respect given to his station.

In the rural lands of Mivaen, beyond the walls of Starborn City, many stay to their clan culture that was prevalent since before the rise of the Starborns. Along the borderlands, Mivaens endeavour to keep their bloodlines pure, are led by clan elders, and lead an isolated existence. In Starborn, on the other hand, the city is a lively mix of many different cultures and races. While the nobility is made up of Miveans exclusively, the influential merchant class is highly diverse.

As a result of this diversity, the art and fashion of the city takes on a more worldy flavour, with elements from across the continent woven into music, paint, and dress. There is also a large degree of tolerance for other races and cultures unlike in the Mivaen countryside. Starborn City is a city of the world, but beyond the walls Mivaen culture is fiercely protected from outsiders.

Type of Government: Mivaean is an Elective Monarchy, with the vassals and nobility able to wield a vote for who among the Starborn Dynasty will rule. Mivaen is divided into baronies, who rule over elders and chieftains respectively. Starborn City is divided into wards, each ruled by a warden, a hereditary title akin to a baron. Apart from these rulers is the House of Nobles that offer collective guidance to the king and vote on the succession.

Mivaen and Starborn City are ruled by a king who also holds the title Grand-Mayor of Starborn City.

Influence and relations: (Any alliances or military pacts with another family? Perhaps born of marriage ties? Work with other players if you seek one ahead of the RP if you so desire.)

Military - The Mivaen lack any kind of standing army, save for the City Watch of Starborn City. This force, mainly occupied with internal disputes within the city walls, are lightly armoured and typically carry maces or other blunt weapons. There purpose is to keep the peace within the city, though in times of war they are called up to defend the city walls.

The bulk of Mivaens fighting forces are made up of peasant levies. A force of about one thousand may be rallied to defend the city and surrounding baronies. As one might expect from such a force, they are ill equipped fishermen and farmers, and not much good at fighting.

The noble families of Starborn City and Mivaen are the kingdom's greatest strength insofar as land forces. Mounted and with heavy armour, typically forged outside the kingdom, this force is generally well organized and equipped.

It is at sea that Mivaen's pride themselves, however. The Starborn Fleet, under direct control of the king, numbers some ten war dromonds. While the wardens and barons hold a combined fleet of fifteen. The king has also been known to press the merchant navy into war, should the need arise, further complimenting their navy, though these ships are ill suited for battle.

Unit demographics:
2000 Peasant Militia
1000 Vassal Army (Mostly Militia and Ligth Infantry)
500 Noble Knights (Heavy Cavalry)
500 Light Infantry (City Watch)
10 War Dromonds (Starborn Fleet)
15 War Galleys (Baron/Warden Fleet)
25-50 Merchant Ships (Merchant Navy)

Landscape: Mivaen is dominated by a large central forest, known as the Amber Wood. Deposits of amber have been mined to exhaustion generations ago, but it still stands as a reliable source of lumber, hides and food. Beyond the wood, grasslands, rolling hills and farmlands extend out to the shorelines and land borders. A single source of stone was quarried long ago to build the oldest parts of the city, mainly the palace, and inner wall. Expansions generations later are mostly made from wood, any stone having to be transported in for surrounding areas. What remains of the quarry is known as Gnarled Redoubt, and is a known haven for brigands.

In the western reaches of the kingdom an expansive badland is prevalent. There are scattered forests of ashwood and some fishing villages sprung up along the coast and along the rivers and lakes. These villages largely live outside Starborn's sphere of influence, though in times of need, stewards are sent to extort taxes or raise troops. The prominent group in the badlands is a nomadic peoples, the Farwyn, who travel the harsh landscape, never settling in one place for too long.



Wildlife: The Amber Wood is heavily populated with deer, rabbits, wolves and bears. It can be a dangerous place for the unwary, but the experienced Mivaen foresters have a deep understanding of the local flora and fauna. In the waters that surround the south and east of the kingdom, teems with bite-fish, tuna, and salmon. There are also sharks that stalk the waters and deeper out to see, are the mammoth whales that are a prize hunt for Mivaen whalers, who use the great animals fat to make whale-oil.

Economy: Starborn City is a trading hub of the south. Merchant vessels trading their goods across the southern shores routinely pass through Starborn City before continuing up the eastern coast to the north. As a result, Starborn City has reaped much profits from port landing fees, and taxes, making the city very prosperous.

Religion: Mivaens primarily worship Kayo, the God of the Sea and Atonement. Their reliance and reverence on the sea for sustenance have created a strong affinity for the god. That their god is blind and deaf plays into their innate caution of the sea, and the dangers of becoming lost. To the Mivaens, the aspect of atonement plays more into navigation, and appeasing the God in order to find their way home.

The Mivaen people abhor Lohennir, none refer to him as the Fisherman, as such is a common and respectable occupation among the kingdom's people. He is believed to dwell under the sea, who is able to churn the waters of the sea to draw out ships, and beset sailors with the fog of his foul breath, whereupon becoming hopelessly lost, he ensnares them.

History: Before the rise of the Starborns and the Empire, Mivaen was considered a petty kingdom of feuding clans. Times in which clans were untied was seldom, usually when faced with an outside threat. In these times the Hardrow Clan wielded the greatest power and influence, and were one of the few that could manage to unite the clans under their banner.

When the First Starborn landed, the Hardrows and Farwyns were his rivals. They attempted to unite the clans once more against Starborn, but the Mivaens were divided. Some had chosen to follow Starborns banner, and after a series of battles and crushing defeats, Hardrow Clan was forced to surrender and swear fealty to Starborn. The Farwyns never bent the knee, however, even after Starborn razed their hold-fast to the ground. Their ancestors now live a nomadic existence in the wastes to the west.

During the conquest of Lalaifia Valarien, Grand-Mayor Gilles Starborn ruled the city of his namesake, which had grown into a prosperous center of trade, but the surrounding clan lands were strife with unrest and rebellion. The Hardrows had grown in power once more, and threatened the city. Seeing the power of the Phoenix Queen, and believing in her cause, Gilles swore fealty, and with her help, vanquished the Hardrows and restored his rule across Mivaen, reclaiming the kingship.

After his victory, King Gilles Starborn led a fleet in Valarien's name, sailing west and winning a great victory against the Bastard King, though Gilles perished from wounds a fortnight later. Gilles son and heir, Tybolt, finished out the conquest, but suffered a grave defeat that smashed his fleet and forced him to take refuge in the Seastone Tower. Besieged by enemy forces, Tybolt was facing starvation. Luckily, just before the possibility of surrender seemed assured, the Veletian Marine broke through the enemy blockade and broke the siege. In the aftermath the houses of Starborn and Gracieux formed a friendship, but soon soured as competition between the houses grew.

In 657 AU, during the Great Drathii War, the western fleets were smashed by the Drathii. In response, the Emperor Durrus VI gathered the eastern fleets to combat the invasion, including the Starborn Fleet. Unfortunately this compelled the Starborns to work closely with the Gracieuxs of Violette. Starborn City had been diminishing Violette economic dominance in Ethica over the centuries and a rivalry had formed between the two high houses. Both competed for the position of admiral, the infighting further slowing the navy's ability to mobilize. Before the matter could be resolved, the Drathii armada arrived in the south, and scattered the Starborn Fleet, making landfall in Mivean.

Over the course of the next year, the Drathii were able to lay siege to the major hold-fasts of the kingdom and surround Starborn City. At Seastone Tower, the Starborns struggled to repair their fleet, but frequent raids by the Drathii made it impossible. By 658, when the Battle of Kawachian Straits would see the tide of naval supremacy turn for the Empire, Mivaen was exhausted from the siege. Though the Veletian Marine was able to scatter the Drathii raiding ships, causing the Drathii besiegers to strike camp, the Mivaen navy was unable to recover until after the war.

With the Veletian Marine robbing the besieging Drathii of their method of resupply, the invaders strike their camp, their siege of Starborn City now in doubt. King Garrus Starborn, marred by defeats throughout the war, and humiliated by the Violette Republic, eagerly pursues the Drathii as they march inland, making for the Ignesian capital to join their fallen brethren's siege.

King Garrus assaulted the rear flanks of the enemy, and along with Ignes sorties and Xandrian charges, the Drathii invaders crumbled, and Garrus could save face, finally being part of a great victory in the war.

Strengths: House Starborn has unfettered access to the strong red oaks of the Amber Wood. The lumber cut from the Red Oaks is preciously sought by shipwrights and carpenters alike. Under the care of a discerning craftsmen, red oak can be forged into some of the finest woodworks in the world, and there are none like the craftsmen of Mivaen.

Weaknesses: While Mivaens are known for their craft of lumber and their mastery of ships, they have proven to fare far less in matters regarding land warfare. The peasant militias are a mere rabble of small folk armed with pitchforks and hunting bows. Knights of the kingdom are more concerned with their status and tourneys then actually fighting, and the City Watch of Starborn City are gifted with clubbing a cutpurse over a swordsmen.

Export: Red Oak Lumber and crafts, Whale Oil, and Hides.

Import: Iron and iron works, precious metals and baubles, fashion finery and other luxuries.

House Name: House Amrothan

Head of House: Bannerlord Lothar Amrothan

House Speciality: House Amrothan has always styled itself first amongst the banner lords, greatest of the "horse lords", since such a notion could hold weight. It has thus found its purpose in rearing, training and charging their vast troop, team, harras and herd's of varied horse breeds across the eponymous "triangle plain". From the faithful farmyard helper to the rare Adelpferd prized highly in equestrian circles, all can be found or purchased from the Amrothan.

House Ancestral Artifact: The "Einhorn" is a "lance" that is often coupled with a kite shield, though no uncommon qualities are ascribed to the latter. The Einhorn is a seemingly traditional, older style wooden lance inlaid with silver strands that has been passed down by the Bannerlord from generation to generation, rumoured to be able split any shield, topple any creature and, consequently, assure the success of any charge, it is always carried into battle by the Bannerlord. Largely unwieldy on foot, the lance also seemingly looses some of its lustre when wielded upon the ground.

Important Members:

Bannerlord Lothar Amrothan, Age 41 - One of the Bannerlord's whom has not seen the saddle as a necessary duty to rule, Lothar has maintained a rugged handsomeness that comes about from a life spent half in the saddle and half in the intrigues of court. Regarded as a just ruler, if sometimes harsh, but fair, in judgement, Lothar has maintained a realm in a manner that even detractors would be hard pressed to describe as anything other than competent, if at times uninspired.

Prince Reimar Amrothan, Age 20 - The heir apparent to the Bannerlord, Prince Reimar has come into his own as an accomplished rider and near equal of his father. While, at the very least, having an aptitude for leadership, his concerns seem to be about getting as far away from the affairs of life at court as possible for as long as possible.

Princess Adelheid Valian (née Amrothan), Age 18 - he most recent scion to fully come of age, Adelheid is the eldest daughter of Lothar and by far the most beautiful, though none of the Bannerlord's daughters could be called any less than pleasant. Adelheid, unlike her brother Reimar, revels in the affairs of court and matters of intrigue. Somewhat headstrong but not brash, Lothar was inclined to defer to his daughters wishes regarding her future, but marriage waited for no noblewoman of high standing.

Princess Charlotte Amrothan, Age 16 - Charlotte is the second daughter of the Bannerlord and is described as "pretty but plain" by most. She has come to be known as an amateur scholar in the halls of Reiterburg, perusing the collections of Amrothan history and snippets of genealogy and other facets of world history with a great curiosity. Nevertheless, like all Amrothan, she is at worst a competent rider.

Leopold, Elise, Rosaline (6) - The triplets that were born to Lothar and --- were the final, and arguably greatest gift bestowed by Lyriel to the next growing generation of the direct line of Amrothan nobles. Although a testing and dangerous birth, all were ultimately born without difficulty, and although still young and defining themselves, all three share a great bond with each other and an almost greater curiosity.



Nation/Realms Name:The Kingdom of Dreiben

Flag:

House Motto:"Forever Onward"

Region on map: Sea Green (East)

Race name: Dreibene

Racial appearance: The Dreibene are generally a light-skinned people, predominantly light in hair colour with a distinct section of the western population known for red and blonde hair predominantly, while lighter shades of brown prevail elsewhere. While a varied people, both in height and build, Green eyes are dominant amongst the Dreibene.

Racial traits: The Dreibene are known for their strong bonds with their horses, and to own any beast of burden or companionship is almost a primal obsession among many circles. Dreibene who show an aptitude will consequently often take the Druidic path, while by and large most Dreibene can be considered somewhat wild by other standards, they are immensely loyal to those with whom bonds are forged.

Capital: The Capital of Dreiben rests in the riverside Reiterburg, nestled in the foothills of western Dreiben. The largest city in western Dreiben and the second largest Dreibene city after Flusstadt, Reiterburg is a city of wood and stone seemingly built with its streets more concerned with horse-drawn traffic than any other. Reiterburg consequently radiates outwards in wide open streets around the central stables, Spire of Rhiannon and Einhorn Castle, seat of the Amrothan House, before its walls meet the floodplains and more difficult hilly terrain.

Capital Population: 70,000

Other Major Settlements:
Flusstadt: 94,000
Nordstrom: 22,000
Halb: 6,000
Talveldt: 16,000
Öffnungberg: 5,000
Seeburg: 7,000
Prachtvoll: 52,000
Messanhöhe: 35,000
Wasserstelle: 6,000
Nordreiten: 7,000
Sudreiten: 14,000
Kreuzung: 9,000
Wassergrad: 8,000
Sudmarsch: 4,000

Population: 1,250,000

Culture: The Triangle Plain has birthed and preserved an equestrian culture since before the time of the Empire, though surely never one as unified as the present. It has been a place of veneration of the working beast, as well as the noble steed, and its various historical nations where predicated on a love of the horse and a respect for the druidic arts. Consequently, the Driebene have been at times nomadic, but always returning to the safe places that have now become the stalwart cities of modern Dreiben.

Bonds are important to Dreibene culture, promised by agreement long negotiated, forged from marriage or created between horse and rider over time, all carry significant weight in society. While Dreibene may sometimes abrogate agreements - particularly where they feel they have been mislead, Dreibene will judicially adhere to the word of an agreement, and can always be relied upon to satisfy the demands of blood bonds no matter how inconsequential. Dreibene consider bonds as they see them as different to oaths and simple loyalty, though a bond will cement both. This is a subtlety that is sometimes lost elsewhere.

Sometimes wild, yet decidedly loyal, the Dreibene are not simply horse-folk, with a seasoned history of study and institutions based upon such knowledge in as many fields as one would find elsewhere in the Empire, though the true heart of the Dreibene lay in livestock, the food to feed them and themselves, and the horse.

Type of Government: Drieben was once a myriad of realms ruled by the Bannerlords, brought to heel under a electoral system by the Bannerlord of House Amrothan many a time ago. While the electoral system for the purpose of ruling Drieben was largely abolished under the Imperial System - and the realm is ruled as a typical feudal system - elements of the electoral systems persist in village life and in general dealings between the nobility and associations that represent the cities, guilds and grand stables.

Influence and relations:

WIP

Military
The Dreiben military is, as most, based on the raising of levies and marshalling of nobility as needed. Nonetheless, a strong equestrian tradition dominates and a reasonable standing retinue of Bannerguard, primarily cavalry, is maintained by House Amrothan and paid for by the personal profits of Amrothan stables.

Unit demographics:
Totals
Heavy Cavalry: 2,000
Light Cavalry: 4,000
Heavy Infantry: 1,000
Light Infantry: 1,250
Ranged Infantry: 1,500

Standing
Heavy Cavalry: 425
Light Cavalry: 515
Varied Infantrymen including archers, but predominantly light infantry: 290

Landscape: Dreiben is dominated by the vast plains that make up the dominant terrain of the realm. Dotted with small villages, the occasional rolling hills and ever graced by herds of livestock and horses, the plains make up the majority of Dreiben and are sheltered by a number of rivers that ensure the land remains suitable for small scale farming and grazing.

In the west, the mountains and foothills give way to some of Dreiben's great settlements and its major interior river system, whilst in the east, the largest city and greatest area of agricultural activity is found amongst the Ostenmarz and its two river systems and its small forests and hill ranges.

Wildlife: Dreiben is home to largely domesticated animals or wild breeding stock, with the occasional migratory herd's or unique visiting wildlife. Of note is the Adelpferd, a horse breed unique to the western foothills of Dreiben that is generally stronger, a degree smarter and more suited to greater bonds with its riders than even the most valued traditional breeds.

Economy: The Dreiben economy is based on three aspects, the extraction of mineral wealth from the west, to varying degrees of success, on agricultural produce, largely serving to meet domestic need for food and animal feed, and primarily upon its husbandry. Dreiben consequently invests much of its economic activity in the other aspects internally, providing large quantities of edible livestock, animals suited to work such as draught horses and oxen, and luxury and military needs such as with its varied horse breeds.

Religion: The various traditions of times long past were decidedly of the primal path in Dreibene, there was, and always has been, a respect and tradition of veneration of the deity that would became known as Lyriel, though despite no direct attachment to the beasts upon which so much rested, that which was necessary for them to survive was very much in her influence. The presence of Rhiannon, a uniquely Dreibene deity, is largely presented as a white horse under the guidance of Lyriel, though in times past Rhiannon was a very much individual and dominant theistic presence.

With a recognised tradition that was not too much of an unknown and somewhat recognised, if not particularly codified religious sphere centred around Lyriel, the various conflicts and theistic re-evaluations that ordered most of the faith around Kemmeth caused only minor issues in Dreiben. Nevertheless, The people of Dreiben were, after all, "wild" even in their adherence to faith, but had forged a bond common enough in trying times to forego any such issues ever becoming a pressing problem. Nonetheless, the common folk of Dreibene take a relaxed approach to their faith and put a greater emphasis on their interpretation of Lyriel than any other of the gods and consequently tend to be far more lenient to minor theological transgressions. A history of live and let live pervades, and it is rare to see "heresy" that does not border on the overt, politically damaging or murderous attract too much undue attention.

As such, the adherence to matters of religion is largely an individual decision, primarily centring around Lyriel and , Kemmeth, and in the east, a small subset of primarily Allurian orientated religious groups. The importance of bonds put some emphasis on Helistar upon his more widespread introduction from Xandrian origins, but has always remained somewhat of minor importance comparatively.

History:

• Prior to "Unification", the plains were home to several varying Dreibene realms of varying degrees of centralization, having ended nomadic traditions some time before. House Amrothan would ultimately win several military and diplomatic successes and unite Dreiben under an electoral monarchy. House Amrothan will ultimately fall out of rulership several times, particularly as unification approaches and differing ideals present themselves.

• Dreiben, despite the great odds, resists unification for some time, but is ultimately defeated. House Amrothan remains one of the few viable houses in Dreiben and ultimately comes to rule Dreiben once more. With a weak nobility the electoral system is disestablished, and House Amrothan become vassals of the growing Empire.

• Dreiben did things and stuff happened. This was The Great Drathii War.

Strengths:

Equestrian Tradition: With a strong equestrian tradition, it is easy and somewhat more economical, particularly with widespread training and lesser, but noticeable horse ownership, to recruit cavalry, particularly of the light variety, from the populace at large. Such traditions also feed a greater availability of heavy cavalry and skill amongst the nobility.

Another Beastial Bond: Maintaining a tradition of raising working animals and livestock has endeared the stalwart dog in the hearts of the Amrothan and Dreibene at large. Many families will have at least one canine companion, whether it is utilized in herding or other working capacities or as a simple companion. Dogs also form a component of Dreibene cavalry formations both military and luxry, making up part of a shock element or standard hunt, while Shepherds have come to breed some of the most loyal and hard working dogs to be found anywhere.

Weaknesses:

Everyone A Cavalryman: With its predisposition towards preparing for a life on horseback, it can be difficult to find men of good quality who are willing to serve out of the saddle. Consequently, recruitment suffers in other fields.

A Demand for Animal Feed: While possessing a not inconsequential agricultural sector and exporting some agricultural goods not suited for it, the vast livestock and husbandry sector demands a great deal of base animal feed. A tradition of not skimping on such matters further drives demand for good quality feed.

Export:

Tin & Copper: Tin and Copper are the predominant ores extracted from Dreiben's mines, and as such, are far more than could ever be used at home.

Silver: Silver is extracted in reasonable quantities from the western foothills and mountains, and much finds itself exported to satisfy demand elsewhere in the empire.

Horses & Working Animals: Working animals and horses are always in demand from many different avenues of society, Dreiben has these in abundance, and some of its prized horses go for a small fortune abroad.

Livestock: For purposes of breeding or consumption, Dreiben exports a great number of livestock to other realms, particularly those without any large livestock sector or husbandry tradition of their own.

Import:

Iron: While Dreiben produces a reasonable quantity of ores, it does not satisfy demand for iron. As such, the smithies and armourers and other industries that make use of such ores must import.

Luxury Goods: While the Bannerlord's and assorted nobility traditionally abstain from ostentatious dining and decoration, there is still an appetite for such things and in particular a growing one amongst the growing merchant and other middle elements of society reinforced by Imperial cultural standards. The best luxuries that are not equine, of course, are ones from abroad.

Agricultural Goods: A demand for varied foods and in particular, a need to satisfy the demands for animal feed continue to grow, as such, Dreiben imports far more of these than it exports.

Lumber: Dreiben lacks any area of vast forest, largely reserved to a few small areas or copses built to break up the plains and provide windbreaks, as such, it must import a reasonable quantity of lumber from elsewhere.