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Land of the Horse Lords is an alternate history Nation Roleplay set in the Americas. The point of divergence is survival of large domesticatable animals in the Americas and wider spread of agriculture, specifically the Horse (Equus Scotti) all across the two continents, Camelops in the Western part of North America, Oxen, and ect, as well as the adoption of Corn, Rice, Maygrass, and other grains as staple foods across the continents. The story takes place in the Americas around approximately 800 AD, in a Low Middle Ages type setting. For all intents and purposes, the Old World is mostly irrelevant, however, there is minor Norse influence and settlement in Greenland and the Far Northeast.

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• The playing area is limited to the Map. Nations are to focus on North and South America primarily, but I will allow for limited nations in Polynesia as well. Norse settlers and influences are allowed in Greenland and Northeastern Canada, however I am limiting the number of Norse influenced nations.
• Urban, Agricultural civilization dominates Mesoamerica, the Mississippi, The East Coast, The Great Lakes, The Pacific Coast, and the Andes. The Great Plains, much of Central Canada, and Patagonia is comparable to steppe type nomadic civilizations as was found later among the Plains Indians; The Amazon is mostly divided among Tribes, comparable to contemporary Central Africa in this timeline.
• Corn is the dominant grain in Mesoamerica, the West Coast, and has spread all across North America; Wild Rice is dominant in the Great Lakes, the Mississippi (where it is about equal with Corn) and parts of the East Coast, though Maygrass is also a popular grain in the East Coast. Oxen are common livestock across all parts of the continents, as are Horses. Camels are found in the West Coast, as well as Llamas in South America. Peccaries are commonly seen across all parts of continents, used for a food source.
• More dangerous animals exist in North America at this time; most of the larger predators have died off, as have the larger ancestors of much of the domesticated animals, however, some predators survive, or have descendants. Lions, Bears, Wolves, Cougars, Jaguars and others dot the land. Cat species are among the most dangerous in the Americas.
  
  Pad for Internal History:
  piratepad.net/2BBpXfS4Vb

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[b][u]Nation Name[/u][/b]

[b][u]Flag / Seal / Symbol[/u][/b] (optional)

[u][b]Territory [/b][/u]

[u][b]Government Description[/b][/u]

[b][u]History [/u][/b]

[b][u]Military [/u][/b]

[u][b]Economy [/b][/u]

[u][b]International Relations /Issues / Disputes[/b][/u]

Time to truly start on that character sheet

Very interested, muthsera. I've always wondered what it would be like had domestic animals evolved in the Americas---it's really fascinating how much it would have changed history.

Thinking of playing either a Mesoamerican or Canadian civ

I'm gonna put forward some interest in this, though I'm still gonna need to figure out who exactly I'll be. I have a couple of ideas, but nothing particularly concrete at the moment.

Very interested.

For Everyone showing interest, I've set up a PiratePad for discussing the shared history of our nations and the Americas in general
piratepad.net/2BBpXfS4Vb

For Everyone showing interest, I've set up a PiratePad for discussing the shared history of our nations and the Americas in general
piratepad.net/2BBpXfS4Vb

Cool, will use after I wake up.

Can I call Vinland?

Can I call Vinland?

Go right ahead

Alright, so this is an alternate history, in which Greenland and Vinland were settled about 150 years early (they didn't exist in 800 AD otherwise).

Grœnland & Vínland



(In teal)


Government Description
Grœnland & Vinland are governed by two Jarls, appointed by King Gøtrik Haraldsson of Greater Hålogaland. Although contact with 'The Homeland' is so rare, that these two essentially act as de facto co-rulers. They are, respectively, Jarl Ragnarr of Grœnland, and Jarl Sigurðr of Vinland. Both rule as dictators, but are advised by their councils of nobles and seers.

History
In the late 700's, the young King Gøtrik Haraldsson, having recently unified all neighbouring kingdoms under the banner of Greater Halogaland, decided it was better to expand his empire westward, rather than facing the great armies of Danmark, Sweden, and Novgorod. Using Halogaland's Northern Britannia colonies as a springboard, he launched a series of expeditions into the Atlantic Ocean. First they settled the island of Iceland, and built a stalwart harbour there. From Iceland, they sprung further west, eventually reaching the massive frozen territory of Greenland. The occasional traders and messengers from these new colonies traveled back to Halogaland, bringing tales of rolling fields of green, and of a land to the south filled with grapes and berries. This was enough to convince many struggling farmers and fishermen to leave their homes and bring their families to the New World. Eventually, by the year 798, a formal government was established in the two New World colonies. Confident that his trusted Jarls could govern his new territories by themselves, he began to cut off his shipments of supplies to the colonies, in order to stockpile more resources at home. When war broke out between Halogaland and Danmark, communications stopped completely, and the colonies of Greenland, Vinland, and Iceland were left isolated. By the year 800, even Iceland had ceased nearly all communication.

Now Greenland and Vinland hope to expand their ownership of the New World, in order to sustain their growing, but hungry, populations.

Military
The colonies of Vinland and Greenland maintain only a small standing force of professionally trained soldiers, who act specifically as a personal guard for the Jarls. They are known as the Huskarlar (literally "house-men"). In times of war, the Jarls look to their peasants and slaves to be the majority of their military force. As such, a standard Vinland/Greenland army is mostly unarmoured, and often armed with only spears and axes. Swords, ring-mail tunics, and proper shields are reserved for the Huskarlar only.

Horses are viewed superstitiously, as the only horses in 'The Homeland' were small Nordlandshest ponies. The massive horse-creatures of the New World are frightening to many Vinlanders and Greenlanders. Only a select few Huskarlar ride horses, and only the smallest ones.

Economy
The Greenlandic and Vinlandic economy is based on fishing, agriculture, and hunting. Citizens live off of their own production, with a small amount being collected for the Jarls and Huskarlar. Vinland has become a much wealthier colony than Greenland, due to the presence of grapes and excess lumber. Vinlanders trade wine with the local Skrælings ('barbarians'), in exchange for furs, tools, gems, information, and specialized foods (smoked meat for example).

International Relations /Issues / Disputes
The main points of contention are with certain local tribes. Violent conflicts that came when the colonies first formed, are still present in the minds of many locals, and raids are not uncommon on either side. Occasionally, a group of Vinland or Greenland peasants will gather and raid a local tribe, only to have the favour returned a few days later. Fortunately, most Vinlanders have learned to distinguish the Skraelings by their different tribes, so as to not pick a fight with the wrong opponant. Greenlanders aren't yet so nuanced.

Religion
Greenland and Vinland are pagan colonies, paying homage to the Norse pantheon of gods. Odin and Thor are always at the forefront of worship, but different towns are allowed to select a sub-deity to be their chosen protector. Greenland tends to favour Njord, god of the fishermen, while Vinland honours Bragi, god of poetry and wine. The Huskarlar often wear pendants in dedication to Tyr, the god of war, or Forseti, the god of justice.

@Jotunn Draugr Everything looks good, you're accepted