Kind of a WIP, but mostly done [hider=My Hider] [center][h2]Voivodeship of Lukesaraj[/h2] [img]http://media.moddb.com/images/groups/1/12/11243/Bosnian_Kingdom_-_flag.png[/img][/center] [h3]Nation Overview[/h3] The Voivodeship of Lukesaraj is a decently sized Dutchy ruled by a leader known as the Voivod. Named for its origins with the city of Lukesaraj, nestled between a pass in the Braničevo mountain range, Lukesaraj is a nation recovering from a violent history. Recently, the nation has been victimized by an ongoing Ambrusian crusade against its indigenous form of the Church, which has been condemned as Heretical and its followers slated for purging. With such recent incidents such as the declaration of the previous Voivode as a sympathizer with the Chuch of the Valley, and his execution as a heretic, as foreign fighters ravage the people and countryside, the future looks grim for the mountainous nation, especially as they wane while the impending Timluk Hordes grow ever stronger and closer. [h3]Geography[/h3][hider=Map Claim][IMG]http://i63.tinypic.com/oqgd9w.jpg[/IMG] The area in Blue in the East[/hider] [img]http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/150716103025-bosnia-nature-photo-by-jennifer-walker-super-169.jpg[/img] The area of Lukesaraj is known for being very mountainous, with the heart of the nation dominated by the range of Braničevo and smaller clusters of mountains across the nation. Dotting the area are thick forests, as well as regions of grassland between them. The climate of the country is relatively dry, with a warm climate with hot summers and mild winters. [h3]History[/h3] The Voivodeship was first founded as a collection of tribes that had migrated to the area in the distant past. According to legends, they were united by a powerful warlord named Bogdan Lukaski, based out of the mountain pass between the Braničevo mountains. Bogdan, born of the tribe known as the Dugavites. Following his uniting of the land, Bogdan is said to have laid the foundation of a vast temple, named Vosana, to his tribal gods in the center of his people's lands. This temple would grow and become the modern city of Lukesaraj. For most of its history, Lukesaraj existed as a moderate local power in eastern Antova. Rather early in its history, the people of Lukesaraj began to fall under the influence of the Fiorentinan Religion, and about 100 years after the arrival of the first missionaries, and indigenous branch of the religion, known as the Church of Vosana. The Voivode at the time, Dragoljub III, sanctioned the repurposing of the old temple to its use for the worship of God and Saint Fiorentino. However, the variant of the religion that had come into existence in Lukesaraj soon came under attack due to its incorporation of old polytheistic practices, and what were assumed to be ancient gods assimilated as Saints. In particular, the cult of Saint Ladislava, a saint associated with the sun and crop growth, who had been identified as the old Solar god Svar. As well, with it's heterodox theology and tolerance of ideas and behaviors not supported by the main Ambrusian Church, it gained the antipathy of those in the religious elite. Now, the Ambrusian Church, no longer fit to tolerate the syncretic church, launched the Vosanian Crusade, with a coalition of warriors who invaded the land, and occupied the city of Lukesaraj. The leader of the crusade, General Adelbert, had the Voivode Miroslav IV burned at the stake and placed his son, Miroslav V, a boy of 16 years, nominally on the throne, while the crusaders took functional control, and devoted themselves to purging the country of heresy. As an example, the crusaders burned down the Temple of Vosana and its followers with it. At the current moment, the country is divided, with areas under Ambrusian Crusader control, and those under the control of rebels loyal to the Vosanian Church. [h3]Society[/h3] [img]http://www.oocities.org/athens/troy/9892/stecak3.jpg[/img] The culture of Lukesaraj exists in a land that is largely agricultural, lagging technologically in many ways behind the world to its west, in no doubt due to the long conflict existing within its own borders for the last two decades. With a population that is 60% rural, it is little surprise that the more advanced fighters of the church make little work of rebels, though the untamed wilderness of much of the country makes it impossible for the crusaders to track the rebel forces down. [h3]Economy/Industry[/h3]What resources do you import and export? How is your industrial capacity? Are you more agricultural? Do you make anything especially coveted or unique? Geography will play a role here. No Fiorentian state is wholly self-sufficient. [h3]Military[/h3] The Country's military can be divided into two main camps, the Crusaders who officially control the country, and the rebels loyal to the Vosanian Church fighting in the southern areas. [img]http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/30/3033/S8MBF00Z/posters/swedish-soldier-in-colonial-delaware-1600s.jpg[/img] The Crusader government has access to very advanced technology, being largely funded by the Church itself, and its ranks filled with volunteers from the more advanced western nations, as well as conscripts pulled from the local people, and victims of a rather ghastly practice, in which the Crusaders would kidnap the children of those executed members of the Vosanian Church, forcibly convert and raise the children as Loyal Ambrusians, and raise them for war as soldiers. The main problem with the crusader government is its size and remoteness, largely operating out of a mountainous region, with supply lines that need to come through areas controlled by the Vosanian Rebels. [img]http://www.zaslike.com/files/kwsw93zt9z71i2pvyvd4.jpg[/img] The rebels operating in the south, while much more numerous, suffer from a severe lag in technology. Without access to gunpowder and ranks of well-funded pikemen, the rebels make due with outdated technology and a spirit of religious zeal. As well, they often can scrounge up supplies in raids on Crusader supply lines, meaning that their civil war can go out indefinitely if all stays as it is now. The main weapon of the rebels is the sword, and armors crafted by themselves. [/hider]