OKAY sorry to spam everyone but NPCs are finished :) IC coming thursday or friday!!!
๐rince ๐ฉhou ๐ei is the heir to the Liangii throne and Princess Lea's husband-to-be. He is the illegitimate son of Emperor Ming Mei (who, as hard to imagine as it may be, was once young and foolish), and he was raised by his mother's brother, the captain of an infamous group of pirates and outlaws. As such, Zhou grew up a rowdy and rambunctious child, and this certainly didn't magically go away during his teenage years.
๐ฉhou had just turned sixteen when he found a letter from his mother that brought his true heritage to light. Instead of waiting around for his uncle to find out, Zhou simply left him a note and slipped away to Xiajing, where he (quite literally) kicked down the palace doors and demanded an audience with the emperor.
๐ong story short, Emperor Ming confirmed Zhou's heritage and named him the heir to the Liangii throne, after some deliberation. The media has dubbed Zhou as the "long lost prince of Liang" or the "pirate prince", and Zhou has definitely lived up with his reputation-the dude has no idea how to be royal at all, despite his cousin Mai's best efforts. Zhou is now 23 years of age. He will be joining his cousin in Aciras two weeks before the wedding, as it is considered bad luck by the Liangii for the groom to see too much of the bride before the wedding.
๐hristina ๐i (who most people just call "Chrissy") is a nosy twenty-something-year-old who writes the daily gossip column in The Lynston Daily, AKA one of the most notorious tabloids within the entire kingdom. At a mere five feet and two inches Chrissy is certainly not the most formidable of people, but her cynical "fuck off" flippancy and acerbic tongue make up for her lack of height (as do her six-inch heels). Although she has not been "officially" invited to the celebrations, Chrissy is determined to somehow worm her way in and hopefully score herself the juiciest story of her entire career.
King Andreas (FC: Christoph Waltz) - The people of Argenyonne know King Andreas as a stern, no-nonsense figure. At age seventeen, after his father passed from a heart attack, the then Crown Prince Andreas Hugo Alwin became King. With the whole country depending on him, the young King had to grow up fast, and so, he did. One of the very first feats he accomplished as King was to clean up corruption in the cabinet; and after that, finalised an important trade deal with a formerly hostile territory. Three years after his coronation, King Andreas was married to his betrothed, Lady Juna Hammesfahr. Their marriage was one of convenience, but all the same, Queen Juna bore him four healthy children in the years to follow, and Argenyonne prospered. Shortly after the death of Queen Juna, he remarried Sofiya, who then became the new Queen.
Queen Sofiya (FC: Catherine Zeta-Jones) - The current Queen of Argenyonne hails from House Petrov of Borsa โ a coastal country that borders Argenyonne to the East. A shrewd, keenly intelligent woman, Queen Sofiya takes special care in maintaining an immaculate public persona. Following her marriage to the King, she has spent much time on philanthropy, mostly by overseeing the construction of affordable housing, more schools, and better healthcare facilities for the less fortunate. Of course, that does not mean she has forgotten about herself. For the past two decades, she has been accumulating as much personal power as she possibly can, as well as looking out for the best interests of her son.
Argenyonneโs official colors are Charcoal (#36384C) on Ivory (#F4E8C1). The countryโs flag depicts a stylised raven, wings and talons outstretched over a field of ivory โ the latter symbolising Argenyonneโs traditional crops of barley and wheat.
Argenyonne is known for two things โ beer and automobiles. Thanks to its large size and temperate weather, barley grows swiftly and strongly, which has in turn allowed the countryโs beer exports to make up a whopping 25% of the global trade. Of course, you canโt talk about Argenyonne without mentioning their annual festivals, the biggest of which takes place in Sรถltenstedt, the capital. During these celebrations, beer and wine flow freely, while entertainment is provided in the form of live music and amusement rides. Usually held on the last Thursday of July, many tourists find themselves flocking to Argenyonne to partake.
Automobiles make up a smaller, but nonetheless significant part of the countryโs exports. Argenyonne-made cars are known to be sleek, stylish, and top-of-the-line in terms of performance. Luxury brands such as Armsbrรผster, Falk, and Tanzer all originated from Argenyonne. In recent decades, these names have grown synonymous with automobiles of excellent quality, becoming fast favorites of anyone looking to acquire a status symbol or two.
The people of Argenyonne areโฆ boisterous, to say the least. They work hard, play hard, and as long as youโre not being an insufferable prick, are happy to treat you as one of their own. More conservative folk, however, may find themselves a little put off by their apparent disregard for boundaries. Nevertheless, the citizens of Argenyonne are fiercely loyal to their country. All able-bodied male citizens over the age of eighteen are required to serve in the military for a period of twelve months, be it the navy, airforce, or infantry. In addition to preparing for war, this mandatory service is something that instills a sense of duty and camaraderie in its citizens.
The country now known as Argenyonne was originally an alliance between two countries โ Tirol and Vรถlkerbrunn. Centuries ago, the two countries were embroiled in a years-long war. But when a larger, more immediate threat emerged from the South, they decided to put aside their differences, and unite against a common enemy. It was only after a long and bloody conflict that the two warring countries finally drove the invaders from their land. After their foe was defeated, neither state was in any shape to continue their war, and so, made a truce. This truce would last longer than either state anticipated โ allowing trade and diplomacy to flourish.
Somewhere in the late 14th century, the two countries merged, after Princess Mathilde of Tirol was wed to Leopold, the Crown Prince of Vรถlkerbrunn. And then, in a mutual show of respect and unity, the two countries abolished their original names, becoming instead the Kingdom of Argenyonne. The name was a tribute to the Argent, a supposedly mythical creature that lived high in the Northern Mountains. The Argent was known to possess the wings of a raven, the body of a snow leopard, and the head of an owl โ symbolising cunning, strength, and wisdom, respectively. Those were the virtues that the newly-founded Argenyonne wished to embody.
The male line of the royal family is not descended from the first King of Argenyonne, but his brother. King Leopold never had any children, and after his death, Crown Prince Melchior was next in the line of succession. Leopold and Melchior were thought to be two sides of the same coin. While Leopold excelled in the art of war, Melchior was a shrewd negotiator and diplomat. Even then, he understood the importance of keeping a good relationship with oneโs neighbours. This was a belief he passed onto his children, who then passed it onto theirs. Since then, Argenyonne has grown into a thriving, prosperous country.
In recent years, however, there has been some tension between the territories that used to be Tirol and Vรถlkerbrunn, largely owing to differences in ideology. King Andreas and his council have been attempting to remedy the situation, to some success.
King Andreas (FC: Christoph Waltz) - The people of Argenyonne know King Andreas as a stern, no-nonsense figure. At age seventeen, after his father passed from a heart attack, the then Crown Prince Andreas Hugo Alwin became King. With the whole country depending on him, the young King had to grow up fast, and so, he did. One of the very first feats he accomplished as King was to clean up corruption in the cabinet; and after that, finalised an important trade deal with a formerly hostile territory. Three years after his coronation, King Andreas was married to his betrothed, Lady Juna Hammesfahr. Their marriage was one of convenience, but all the same, Queen Juna bore him four healthy children in the years to follow, and Argenyonne prospered. Shortly after the death of Queen Juna, he remarried Sofiya, who then became the new Queen.
Queen Sofiya (FC: Catherine Zeta-Jones) - The current Queen of Argenyonne hails from House Petrov of Borsa โ a coastal country that borders Argenyonne to the East. A shrewd, keenly intelligent woman, Queen Sofiya takes special care in maintaining an immaculate public persona. Following her marriage to the King, she has spent much time on philanthropy, mostly by overseeing the construction of affordable housing, more schools, and better healthcare facilities for the less fortunate. Of course, that does not mean she has forgotten about herself. For the past two decades, she has been accumulating as much personal power as she possibly can, as well as looking out for the best interests of her son.
Argenyonneโs official colors are Charcoal (#36384C) on Ivory (#F4E8C1). The countryโs flag depicts a stylised raven, wings and talons outstretched over a field of ivory โ the latter symbolising Argenyonneโs traditional crops of barley and wheat.
Argenyonne is known for two things โ beer and automobiles. Thanks to its large size and temperate weather, barley grows swiftly and strongly, which has in turn allowed the countryโs beer exports to make up a whopping 25% of the global trade. Of course, you canโt talk about Argenyonne without mentioning their annual festivals, the biggest of which takes place in Sรถltenstedt, the capital. During these celebrations, beer and wine flow freely, while entertainment is provided in the form of live music and amusement rides. Usually held on the last Thursday of July, many tourists find themselves flocking to Argenyonne to partake.
Automobiles make up a smaller, but nonetheless significant part of the countryโs exports. Argenyonne-made cars are known to be sleek, stylish, and top-of-the-line in terms of performance. Luxury brands such as Armsbrรผster, Falk, and Tanzer all originated from Argenyonne. In recent decades, these names have grown synonymous with automobiles of excellent quality, becoming fast favorites of anyone looking to acquire a status symbol or two.
The people of Argenyonne areโฆ boisterous, to say the least. They work hard, play hard, and as long as youโre not being an insufferable prick, are happy to treat you as one of their own. More conservative folk, however, may find themselves a little put off by their apparent disregard for boundaries. Nevertheless, the citizens of Argenyonne are fiercely loyal to their country. All able-bodied male citizens over the age of eighteen are required to serve in the military for a period of twelve months, be it the navy, airforce, or infantry. In addition to preparing for war, this mandatory service is something that instills a sense of duty and camaraderie in its citizens.
The country now known as Argenyonne was originally an alliance between two countries โ Tirol and Vรถlkerbrunn. Centuries ago, the two countries were embroiled in a years-long war. But when a larger, more immediate threat emerged from the South, they decided to put aside their differences, and unite against a common enemy. It was only after a long and bloody conflict that the two warring countries finally drove the invaders from their land. After their foe was defeated, neither state was in any shape to continue their war, and so, made a truce. This truce would last longer than either state anticipated โ allowing trade and diplomacy to flourish.
Somewhere in the late 14th century, the two countries merged, after Princess Mathilde of Tirol was wed to Leopold, the Crown Prince of Vรถlkerbrunn. And then, in a mutual show of respect and unity, the two countries abolished their original names, becoming instead the Kingdom of Argenyonne. The name was a tribute to the Argent, a supposedly mythical creature that lived high in the Northern Mountains. The Argent was known to possess the wings of a raven, the body of a snow leopard, and the head of an owl โ symbolising cunning, strength, and wisdom, respectively. Those were the virtues that the newly-founded Argenyonne wished to embody.
The male line of the royal family is not descended from the first King of Argenyonne, but his brother. King Leopold never had any children, and after his death, Crown Prince Melchior was next in the line of succession. Leopold and Melchior were thought to be two sides of the same coin. While Leopold excelled in the art of war, Melchior was a shrewd negotiator and diplomat. Even then, he understood the importance of keeping a good relationship with oneโs neighbours. This was a belief he passed onto his children, who then passed it onto theirs. Since then, Argenyonne has grown into a thriving, prosperous country.
In recent years, however, there has been some tension between the territories that used to be Tirol and Vรถlkerbrunn, largely owing to differences in ideology. King Andreas and his council have been attempting to remedy the situation, to some success.
Rhia will not start as betrothed to anyone, but she is indeed looking for potential spouses. It's a full third of her purpose in coming. Contact me for plotty fun.
We're also waiting on a couple people for CSes, and they know who they are (and they also should do char blurbs). If there's a reason you've not filled one out yet and don't expect to be able to sometime this week, let the gms know please!
haha, updated kingdom sheet and basically completed character sheet, kinda rushed it, but work is time consuming and adulting it the worst. the kingdom sheet is still hella long, but I'm gonna clean up both. just wanted yay or wtf are you doing feedback
I am not led, I lead
Top Row (left to right):Petrova Road (located in north eastern Rustavya), Rings made by Fabergรฉ, Voskresenskie Palace located in the capital city of Vokshod Middle Row (left to right):Another shot of Voskresenskie Palace, The Crown of lengendary Queen Consort Anya the Great, A ballerina (one of Rustavyaโs most treasured forms of art and dance) Third Row (left to right):Aesthetic of the average Rustavyan, City of the Tsars (where the Royals ruled from during the age of Imperial Rustavya), Lionโs pride (a decorative castle, seized during the annexation of Askold, formerly part of the kingdom of Rรถkstenne)
๐๐๐ฒ๐ท๐ฐ๐ญ๐ธ๐ถ ๐๐ช๐ถ๐ฎ โโโโโโโโโโ Rustavya (pronounced Rhoos-stahv-ya, not rush, basically pronounce it with a slavic accent, preferably Russian, but Romanian and Ukrainian works too. Also Belarusian.)
"Revolution sneaks up on you, one small step at a time. [We] don't take chances, even with the smallest of steps." - Viktor Petrov (House of Cards)
Rustavya is ruled by the Royal House of Vasaรคtten, the current Sovereign being King Nikolas III. His Queen Consort was Rhiannon of Rรถkstenne.
They wereโฆ not a happy couple, to say the least. Reportedly, they didnโt even sleep in the same bed after the birth of their one and only child. Rhiannon was the daughter of a neighbouring kingdom, and the marriage procured purely for alliance purposes, yet that did not make her a pliant nor silent Queen. Opinionated, intelligent, and headstrong, she did not come to Rustavya to simply wear a crown and look pretty. The royal couple differed on many a view, and despite being a foreigner, sheโs managed to get much of the Cabinet on her side, and disagreements between the monarchs didnโt end with the King always winning, however, given Rustavyaโs โcomplexโ political nature, it didnโt also end with some kind of legislation (more on that later).
Nikolas came into the throne young, just barely past the age of majority (18), and filled with ambition, vigour, and endless arrogance. He is the pure embodiment of the downsides of the Ancien Rรฉgime. Unlike Louis XIV, he is not golden. While he has ambition, he lacks the intelligence and patience of better dictator-kings. What Nikolas wants, Nikolas gets. Aka, every basic white man, essentially. Everything went his way, until he was married to Rhiannon, similar to him in nature, but she had the intelligence and patience he lacks. While the King of Rustayva is absolute, critically, he (or she) must not appear to be, as public riots and revolutions in the past have shown, which is why the cabinet exists, to provide the illusion of a cooperative government. Rhiannon, however, was also to sway about half of them to her will, resulting in increased corruption and political assassinations, including attempts on both the King and Queen (known to have been orchestrated by each other). Publically, they maintained a civil face, but did not keep their dislike of each other entirely private, which has also split the public in terms of which sovereign to love and obey.
Suspiciously, the Queen has been missing for about 5 years now, and no one can say with any certainty what has happened to her. Officially, itโs stated as foul play, assumed to have been a kidnapping, and the length of time since her disappearance makes it all the more likely that she is dead. However, this has also worked in her favour, as King Nikolasโs approval is at an all-time low of 46%, whereas the Queen, despite not being there, is at 97% approval. (Side note, the government reports his approval as 90%)
In theory, Rustavya practises absolute-primogeniture, meaning that the title (in this case the throne) passes to the eldest living trueborn child, regardless of gender. But historically, theyโve used a provision in the law to get around female Sovereigns (though, they couldnโt avoid them all). I explain it all more in depth in the page linked below.
Although the royal couple have only one child, Crown Princess Venera, the King has another child, an older son, Grand Duke Vasily, he is a prince du sang, prince of the blood, and born out of wedlock (illegitimate) and therefore unable to lay claim to the throne, except in extenuating circumstances (thatโs not to say he doesnโt want it though).
Overall, Rustavya, isnโt exactly conservative or liberal so much as it is simply subject to the will of the reigning Sovereign. Social progress goes back and forth depending on who's wearing the crown. What is constant, however, is the ironclad grip with which the crown bearer rules. The free press is non-existent in Rustavya, though there is a feeble attempt to pretend the state doesn't control the news and ALL media. And the internet is heavily watched and controlled, and at times banned. Accounts that belong to users from certain foreign nations are blocked in Rustavya. Dissent is not appreciated nor welcome in Rustayva. Though depending on the severity of the dissenters actions, and the mood of the monarch, they can get off scot free or be executed.
๐๐๐ฒ๐ท๐ฐ๐ญ๐ธ๐ถ ๐๐ธ๐ต๐ธ๐ป๐ผ โโโโโโโโโโ Blue and silver, with shades of red* *though, particularly when worn by government officials, red is considered offensive since it was the colour of the last civil war which was led by the Yusupov Family and members of the Cabinet
๐๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฝ ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ท๐ฐ๐ญ๐ธ๐ถ ๐ฒ๐ผ ๐๐ท๐ธ๐๐ท ๐๐ธ๐ป โโโโโโโโโโ (I know, I know, concise and short, but I love Russia okay? I canโt do short. I need some kind of outlet to spew off all these useless facts Iโve accumulated. Iโve embellished some of it, but most of those numbers and shit are fucking true, for Russia, Rustavyaโs not real. Only changed some rankings to reflect the political shifts in Rustavya.)
Alongside being the largest country by landmass (though a lot of it is uninhabitable due it being a frozen tundra, so their population ranks them as about the 9th largest country), Rustavya is oil and natural gas rich, and known for its extensive mineral and gemstone mining, particularly of diamonds, as well as its extensive military and arms industry.
The petroleum industry in Rustavya is one of the largest in the world, a contender for the largest, but authorities are in disagreement as some believe a few middle Eastern countries may win that crown. However, Rustavya, by far, has the largest reserves and is the largest exporter of natural gas. It has the fourth largest coal reserves, second highest oil reserves, and is a contender for the largest producer of oil. However, Rustavya itself is only the fourth highest fossil fuel energy user in the world (prior to the reign of Nikolas III, they were second). They produce 12% of the worldโs oil, and about 14% of global oil exports. Most of their oil goes west, particularly to Europe. In regards to natural gas, not only are they the world's largest exporter, but are the proven holder of the largest reserve. Itโs theorized, but not proven, that they are also likely home to the largest volume of still-undiscovered natural gas, with a mean probable volume of 6.7 trillion cubic meters of said fossil fuel that is absolutely horrendous for the environment (listen, my country ainโt all that liberal, but I sure as hell am). Undiscovered oil is estimated to be about 22 billion barrels (second to the estimated undiscovered oil in Iraq- I mean a middle eastern country). The petroleum industries revenues account for about 12% of Rustavyaโs GDP (14% for Russia, in 2005, and only as being responsible for the post-soviet GDP growth, slightly out of date statistic, so). They are considered an โenergy superpowerโ, and the world estimates their oil and gas reserves to be worth and estimated $75 Trillion US dollars (or I guess Acrian dollars? Also, yeah, thatโs the real estimate of the worth of Russiaโs oil and gas, they hella rich son).
The second most profitable industry in Rustavya is their mining of non-oil and gas minerals. One of the worldโs leading mineral industries, and accounting for a large percentage of Eastern Europe/Slavic State production of a range of minerals, Rustavya is ranked among the top 5 worldwide producers of a number of minerals, including; aluminion, arsenic, cement, copper, magnesium compounds and metals, nitrogen, palladium, silicon, nickel, and vanadium. Additionally, they lead the world in diamond mining by volume, and account for 27% of global diamond extraction.
Economically speaking, Rustayva has been very careful to ensure that while the world is dependent on them, their economy will survive if suddenly cut off. They have vast farming, health, and etc industries, though they may not rank as the highest in the world, they are profitable and self-sustaining enough, and if all trade was suddenly cut off, the country would survive. This is what allows it to keep enduring as it does as it pleases, since sanctions have little to no effect on their economy. The Rustayvan economy implements an odd mix of marxist-leninist communism, and oligarchy. Rustayva has an uneven distribution of wealth, yet has low poverty rates and general satisfaction amongst the people, as itโs largely abolished the bourgeoisie. The distinction in status is essentially that you are either of (proven) royal blood, or you are a commoner, and therefore equal to everyone else. The state, ie the Crown, owns most state assets, such as the aforementioned 3 major industries of oil/gas, diamonds, and arms, however, outside out of the immediate branch of the royal family, the wealthier you are, the higher your taxes. Offshore banking is considered treason within Rustavya, and the penalty for treason is, of course, death. Additionally, even if a company is NOT state owned, the Sovereign has the power to shut down or indefinitely and forcibly keep open any company they so choose. The country implements a living wage, as well as various social benefits, such as maternity and parental leave, as well as complete and free universal healthcare (includes dental). This system, however, breaks down during high periods of corruption, often resulting in civil and a near complete change of government. An easier way of understanding the Rustavyan economy is actually just to look at Amazonโs business model, the company is happy to bleed money in order to gain market share, and keep prices low to make sure the consumers are happy. With Rustavya, the Crown would be Jeff Bezos, they have all the money, and can save the world if they wanted to, Amazon is the government/whatever-remains-of-the-bourgeoisie (essentially, theyโre oligarchs, but it doesnโt matter how much money they have, if they piss off the King/Queen, they gonna die), theyโll lose money, in order to make sure the customers, the people, can keep affording to buy shit, and live in homes, so that they donโt riot.
However, despite all this definitely cool and necessary information about their wealth and economy, Rustavya is best known for its political turmoil and militarial endeavours. Civil war is just another tuesday in Rustavya. It goes through governments faster than Trump goes through wives. They also donโt keep that shit to themselves, and have been encroaching on neighbouring lands and necessarily getting involved in middle east conflicts. Internationally, theyโve also been accused of meddling in the elections of other nations, as well as committing assassinations on foreign soil. Most of which theyโve denied, or openly laughed off. Because of this, they have been subject to UN and other sanctions, but it hasnโt affected their economy.
Rustavya has its own rich and historic culture, and is heavily resistant to outsiders influence, particularly from the western half of the world. It heavily resents nations *cough* The US-I mean Aciras *cough* that constantly screams that they are โthe greatest nation on the Earthโ, like โfuck offโ, said the average Russian-I mean Rustavyan. Because of this, they loathe foreign culture, particularly western culture, and have their own celebrities. Most people recognized as international stars, ironically, would be either little or completely unknown in Rustavya.
Impervious to the cold Technically speaking, not true. Frostbite is real, and you will die. But they do have more tolerance for it than other nations, not uncommon to see a Rustavyan, usually a younger one, out and about in winter in like a fucking sweater.
Always drinking and cannot get drunk ... More true than they care to admit. Fun fact, there is no law regarding legal drinking age in Rustavya (also in itโs real life counterpart, Russia). However, it is illegal to SELL to minors. Alcohol tolerance depends on the person really, but you are, mostly jokingly, called a fake-Rustavyan if youโve got a low level of tolerance. They general prefer hard stuff, and consider beer to be a joke, and the term is synonymous with piss.
Theyโre all shady spies who will steal all your secrets obviously, not true.
Obsessed with Hockey, will riot Meh. Only if you love sports. Itโs not considered as nationally emblematic as Ballet is.
Are idiots being blindly led by corrupt fools Arguable, they have access to what the world thinks of many of their leaders, and their politics, but they think a lot of that is bullshit and/or jealousy.
Most Rustavyanโs have some criminal history and close ties to the Bratva (Rustavyan mafia) As true as every Italian being in the mafia. Of course itโs false, Bratva activity has been on the rise recently, but the average Rustavyan is generally living a crime free, and happy life.
All Rustavyanโs are under government surveillance No, not every single individual person, that would be impossible to maintain. Though it is a, secretly, policed state and heavily watched.
First man in Space During the 60โs, they were engaged in a space race, and while they did not manage to claim the first man on the moon, in 1961, they manned the first flight in space and put the first man in space, as well as bringing him back. Rustavyan astronauts are called cosmonauts, and Ruscosmos (the nickname of Rustavyan Cosmonautic Organziation) remains a heavily protected and invested in industry in Rustavya.
Cosmodrome More commonly known as a Spaceport, or Rocket Launch Site. Basically that big thing that rockets launch from.
Father of All Bombs Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power. Contested, but in large part accepted as the worldโs deadliest non-nuclear bomb. For comparison, the US/Acira MOAB (Mother of All Bombs, and their deadliest non-nuclear bomb), gives off the equivalent of 11 tons (22 000 lb) of a TNT explosion, where FOAB gives off the equivalent of 44 tons (88 000 lbs). FOABโs blast radius is also bigger (300m, double that of MOAB), and the temperature produced is also twice as high.
Fast-neutron reactor
Military Robots Can be remote controlled, or completely autonomous. Uses include; transport, search & rescue, and attack.
Military Robots Can be remote controlled, or completely autonomous. Uses include; transport, search & rescue, and attack.
Radiator
Periodic Table of Elements
First Nation to Practise State Atheism but no longer does.
Onion Dome Architectural term for those cool hersheyโs kisses shaped things on a bunch of their castles and palaces
Novichok series of Nerve Agents
Powdered Milk
RAR (file format) Mentioning this only because I HATE rar files, make it a zip or fuck off
Tetris
Tsar Bomba the most powerful nuclear weapon ever created. The mushroom cloud from itโs detonation could be seen from a distance of 161 km (100 mi). The only remaining picture of the cloud, measures itโs height at 56 km (35 mi), though itโs said to have gone higher. The test explosion had a yield of 50 megatons of TNT (210 PJ), however, it did not include a uranium-238 tamper, and with it, could, theoretically, achieve a max yield of 100 megatons of TNT. Officially, only one bomb was built and show cased as โfuck youโ to their enemies during the cold war. Unofficially, they still have all the plans and materials, and itโs possible they may have built more than one at the time.
Rustavya has a long and complex history. Itโs well over a thousand years old. Originally, it was known as Kievan Rusโ, and was founded by Varagians (the name given by the Rusโ, greeks, and others to Vikings). Itโs been through several major periods of extreme political upheaval, from basic feudalism to a somewhat functioning traditional democracy in around the 1300โs, to the outright Divine Rule of Kings to a traditional constitutional monarchy to a communist rebellion, to sudden royalist revolt, back to constitutional monarchy, and a few more civil wars before the current government was established, and remains unbroken (though challenged) since 1937.
The House of Yusupov is a cadet branch of the royal house, and they enjoyed a lot of power, but it wasn't enough and they came for the crown. The Yuspov's gained support of the majority of the government, but lacked the military and the people. However, the war lasted a decade, from the 80's to the late 90's, and resulted in numerous casualties. They lost in the end, and most Yusupov's were executed, including children and completely innocent family members. At the time, their executions resulted in international outcry, but ironically had the opposite effect on everyday Rustavyan's, who resented the concept of mercy for people who fucked up their lives for 10 years.
"Dead men don't claim vengeance, and neither do their dead sons." - Paraphrase of a paraphrase of a Tywin Lannister saying. (I think it was clash of kings? no dance of the dragons. either way, it was GRRM who wrote it)
The Yusupovโs, however, are not extinct. There exists one survivour, Nikita Yusupov, kept alive as a hostage, and a warning to others. He was raised alongside the royal children.
Previously part of Rรถkstenne, Askold was once part of Rustavyan (during the communist days), and when they last made moves indicating they wanted to take it back, Rรถkstenne swiftly arranged the marriage of Princess Rhiannon to then the boy king, 20 year old Nikolas. It was annexed by Rustavya a few months after her disappearance, sparking international outcry, yet little to no repercussions. They were hit with some sanctions, but they had no visible effect on the Rustavyan economy.
Following the success of getting away with annexing Askold, Rustavya has been more blatant, getting into scuffles in the Black Sea, and seizing numerous boats, as well as openly killing dissidents that had managed to escape to other countries. Despite their increasingly hostile and brazen behaviour, because of the worldโs (current) reliance on oil, theyโve basically been getting away scot free with everything. What do you want? Oil, diamonds, booze, tanks, drones, other weapons, secrets to blackmail your political opponents with? Weโve got it all.
The capital city is named Voskhod and is home to Voskresenskie Palace, seat of the Sovereign. Voskhod is a mix of old and new, with shiny, tall glass buildings, stunning skyscrappers (the top right image is of its business centre), yet at the cityโs heart lies Voskresenskie Palace, a masterpiece of Imperial Era architecture. It is a surrounded by a red wall with multiple towers, earning the palace the nickname โThe Fortress within a Cityโ. Voskhod is nicknamed โThe City of a Thousand Lightsโ, due to the amount of lights shining at night, and making the city glitter.
Venera Nikolayevna of Rustavya
"She burned as bright as any man, and so shall I." - Arianne Martell from "A Feast for Crows" by George R. R. Martin
Nicknames: ยป โVeraโ - used only by her mother, chief bodyguard, her forbidden love interest (Nika, moya lyubov') and very occasionally, her father. Also only the closest of friends. ยป โSolnyshkoโ - means โlittle sunโ, used only by her mother ยป โZvezda moyaโ - means โmy starโ, and another nickname given to her by Mama ยป "mladshaya sestra" - means "little sister", used largely mockingly by her half-brother, and resentfully ยป "Winterโs Sun/Sun of Winter" - the moniker given to her by the media following her birth
{Full Title} Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Venera of Rustavya, Duchess of Knyaz {Introduced/Announced as} Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Venera of Rustavya {Styles of Address} Her/Your Royal Highness, followed by Maโamthereafter
{Additional Titles}
Tsesarevna discontinued historic title, but used in some towns and local villages, and informally by the media
Chairwoman of the Government power slightly above that of the Prime Minister
Co-chairwoman of the Security Council position held jointly with her half-brother
Chancellor of the Order of Vasaรคtten One of the three major Orders of Chivalry in Rustavya, and the highest of them all, royalty cannot receive it. Vera's in charge of deciding who does.
{Honours}
Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Alrosa the second highest order of chivalry in Rustavya, awarded to both civilians and military personnel
Knight 1st Class of the Order of Rigel the third highest order of chivalry in Rustavya, awarded for excellence in civil duty or scientific endeavours. Venera got hers for getting her Masters degree in Law. (Most people don't, but that's that royal privilege for you)
Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Rรถkstenne the highest civil order, and second highest State decoration, in Rรถkstenne
Hot af. Okay, properly this time. She is... yeah Iโm stuck at super hot. Okay, stunningly beautiful too. Sheโs very much embodies of the beauty tropes of her kingdom; she has average height, though her heels make her appear much taller, long magical golden hair, though she does sometimes dye it lighter blondes aka platinum/silver, she doesnโt publicly admit why, sheโll only say she โliked the suggestion [her] stylist madeโ, but do know that it 1000000000% is because she loves Valyria and dragonlords. Certified nerd, anyway, her eyes are mostly grey, with some flecks of blue and green. Sheโs slim, and lacks muscular definition, but is not as fragile as she looks, having done some ballet when she was younger, and received basic defense training from her guards.
She gives off a rather cold and stoic vibe, particularly if youโre with her in a private setting, and sheโs not maintaining the โpretty princess who loves you allโ image for the public. Sheโs introverted and generally prefers to keep to herself and her circle of friends, giving off rather unapproachable airs, but sheโs really just a massive nerd with a crown. She even still plays Pokemon Go (and don't tell me it's not a thing in-world, there are infinite universes, and in every single one of those Pokemon exists. Back me up here ghost Stephen Hawking. Also, Team Mystic).
Intelligent, observant, and cautious; sheโs a rather restrained individual and never explodes in rage in public. On the flip side, sheโs also warm, encouraging, and incredibly passionate, particularly in charitable and social justice and change endeavours. The public face, and often direct opposing force of the governmentโs stance, of things like Womenโs and LGBTA+ Rights in Rustavya.
Sheโs pragmatic, rational, persistent, occasionally a tiny bit arrogant (sheโs a princess, okay, sometimes very arrogant), holds grudges (to the fucking end of time, she doesnโt forget, and very rarely forgives), patriotic, and protective. Despite being the youngest of the children her father raised, sheโs more a big sister type. She likes looking after people; wrapping them in warm blankets, serving them some great sweets, a spot of tea, and fixing all their problems and slapping a pretty bow on top of it.
Other than all that cool stuff, Vera does display shades of tyranny, much like her father, sheโs just better at it. All that stuff her country is accused of; being a police state, political assassinations, etc, etc, sheโs not really against any of that. She has liberal views, but is not the liberal reformist of western-nation dreams. Nothing wrong with a dictatorship, so long as youโre the dictator, sheโs 100% on board for killing people, as long as itโs not one of her people. Sheโs kind of like an oreo, in a way. Cold on top, warm in the middle, even colder beneath that.
Likes Space, A Song of Ice and Fire, Dragons, Tolkien, Greco-Roman mythology (leans towards roman), history, politics, slavic mythology, winter, snow, Euro-Pop, classical music, lilies, orchids, ballet, ice skating, cats (collects them, the palace is filled with strays), tolstoy, eurovision, fast cars (not allowed to drive them freely though โcause of her security), vermouth.
Dislikes Beer, corduroy, overreaching upstarts, โfeelings matter as much as factsโ type idiots, dismissal of hard and evidence-supported science, the fucking patriarchy, her father, her half-brother, about 25% of the cabinet, politics (itโs a complicated interest to have, โcause itโs interesting, but also full of assholes), sand, summer, heat.
The one and only heir to the kingdom of Rustavya, she was born not long after the end of the Yusupov Rebellion, leading to it being overly publicized and dramatized as the beginning of a new age by the media and the government, mostly to reaffirm their hold over the Kingdom.
The only daughter of Queen Rhiannon, sheโs actually the second child of the King, being four years younger than her illegitimate half-brother, Grand Duke Vasily โVasyaโ Nikolayevich. Apart from him, she was also directly raised alongside Nikita Yuspov, about 3 at the time of her birth, and the only survivour of the Yusupov rebellion. Vera has a complicated relationship with her family. The person sheโs closet to was her mother, who protected her position as heir to the throne (because patriarchy), and managed to prevent any betrothal that, if followed through with, would result in Veraโs being disqualified from inheriting the throne. Vera idolized her mother, who was a strong, take no shit, boss ass bitch of a Queen. Meanwhile, her relationship with her father is much more strained. Itโs not that he hates her, itโs just that Vasily is his favourite, also heโs sexist and sucks, but thatโs just basic bad dad stuff. Vera doesnโt exactly hate him back either. She certainly hates his politics, she doesnโt think heโs very good at being tyrant, or a leader in general, but blatant tyranny is essentially his preferred method of governance, and finds his methods gaudy and, frankly, stupid. However, they donโt particularly have a parental relationship at all really, itโs more business, than family with them, the only thing uniting them is the crown. She very rarely calls him โfatherโ to his face, usually addressing him as โYour Majestyโ, and he reciprocates with โYour Royal Highnessโ. The lack of anything familial is probably why she doesnโt really hate him, he may be her blood, but heโs not her family, theyโre strangers living in the same palace, co-workers in essence. Their relationship does take a sharp right turn at anything related to her mother though, huge minefield, topic should be avoided at all costs, both suddenly become super angry and shouty, a complete 180 of their personalities of laidback king and ice princess.
As for her half-brother, Vera very much actively hates him. At a very young age, he quite literally spelled out his interest in taking what is hers (aka the throne), and theyโve been at odds ever since (she was 10, he was 14, it was over breakfast, Nikolas found it funny, Rhiannon was not there). When they were younger they would constantly compete (grades, sports, everything), initially for their fatherโs attention, but soon switched to gaining attention and adoration from the cabinet. Vera was better at winning them over, she also always won the games, but Nikolas was always more impressed with Vasya. Their childish competitions didnโt really โcause any political factions when they were children, afterall, one is the trueborn, as the constitution dictates that it must be her, also Queen Rhiannon kept killing people who even jokingly suggested that perhaps Vasya should be heir, so just follow the law. However, once Queen Rhiannon disappeared, the factions began forming. Itโs not really a faction, itโs an idea, just a thought being thrown around and floated, equivalent to how some people say the Earth isnโt flat, itโs a stupid thought, but the problem is that thereโs quite a few people who believe it, both in and out of government, and as Rustavyanโs very well know, revolts have a way of sneaking up on you.
Vera was privately tutored at the palace by renowned professors and teachers, but following the completion of her basic education, she chose to attend Ulyanov University (originally named the Imperial Voskhod University), where she studied law, and obtained a masters in the subject. After completing her education, she was made Chairwoman of the Cabinet, and holds an active role in the government, being more interest in politics than her father.
ยป Vera rarely posts on social media herself, she has an official twitter and instagram account, managed for her by a team of professionals or whatever. When she directly posts she signs it as "- Tsesarevna Venera", โ- HRHโ on twitter โcause of the character limit. She doesn't bother with a facebook profile, but there is an official page for the royal family. However, she does post somewhat regularly on a private instagram account accessible only to her friends.
Venera would be House Targaryen, because yes, shut up, dragons forever, dracarys bitch. Her story is also a little Daeron II v Daemon Blackfyre, so yo.
Still making this one, stuck between luthien and ewoywn, Iโll update that later, need to get the main shit done.
Alexandra Joi Bonnisseau: Call her an eccentric if you will, but artistic genius always comes with a price. Once the apple of her parent's eyes, now caught in her brother's shadow and a drifter in a world that she doesn't quite accept, surrounded by people who don't understand her.
here is Lea's relations sheet as it stands so far. also i'm head canoning that Lea went and stalked everyone's social media before Aciras :P
โ
Ayleanna "Lea" Lynton of Aciras
{"Kale them with kindness, and let that shiitake go."}
Mai Mei " I've never met anyone with a better taste in shoes, honestly. And she is the QUEEN of the smokey-eye look!!!" Relation Details
Alejandro Aguรญla de Agustรญn "Oh, Alejandro! I love everything that he wears; I'll never get bored of florals!" Lea and Alejandro have met on occasion (mostly for official state functions), and they get along very well. Lea adores his taste in fashion.
Isabella del Reyes "Her eyes are so pretty! As is the rest of her, of course. I wonder if she'll let me visit the mountains her kingdom, one day. The glaciers look amazing." Relation Details
Talya Burnley "Oh no, I remember hearing about her brother! Wow, that sucks. But it's so cool that she likes horses! I wonder if she'd ever want to check out the ones we have in the stables???" Relation Details
Edelessa/Valentine Blanchefleur "Awww, I heard about all the stuff with Luxiรจme a couple years ago. She seems REALLY quiet, like, quieter than it's even physically possible for me to be...hope she's doing alright!" Relation Details
Rhia Cadfael "Rhia!!!! I love that girl. Wish I owned as many headbands as she does, honestly." Lea and Rhia are second cousins-the current queen of Wales is the first cousin of Lea's mother. The two have known each other for basically their entire lives, and have definitely visited back and forth.
Liv Viriatus "Everything about her seems so cute! I love love LOVE her entire Instagram aesthetic...it's so pink!" Relation Details
Dom Viriatus "Wasn't there some HUGE scandal about her or her brother a long time ago??? Anyway, she seems cool. I like her eyes!" Relation Details
Anton Telesphorides "He comes off as a lot taller in pictures, for some reason. Poor guy-he's shorter than I am!" Relation Details
Ivy Burnley "Holy shit, her hair is SO pretty!!!! She seems really fun!" Relation Details
Alexandra Bonnisseau "She seems like the COOLEST person ever. Like, she just gives off cool. Is it possible to be intimidated by how cool someone seems? Because if so, that is totally me right now." Relation Details
Leon Ford "He seems nice enough! I'm not sure if we have much in common, but sometimes it just be like that." Relation Details
Elijah Rothchester "He seems like he's REALLY edgy. Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course. I guess I just don't get it-I'm like the opposite of edgy!" Relation Details
Yu Song "Oh wow, I LOVE his hair...he seems super chill! I can't wait to meet him!" Relation Details
Gen Anders ["She seems really sweet! And ahhhh! Her hair is such a pretty color!" Relation Details
Erik Rothschild "His grandma seems like a total badass, honestly. Didn't one of his brothers pass away a couple years ago, or something? Man, that SUCKS." Relation Details
Han Hyeri "Oh wow, she's seems really sweet and down-to-earth!!!" Relation Details
Dirk Isidor "He seems pretty fun! Can't wait to get to know him better." Relation Details โ
btw, @ayzrules under "relation details", I assume that everyone's would need to be in sync as to how they know one another? And...if they dont really know the person, then leave it blank?
haha, updated kingdom sheet and basically completed character sheet, kinda rushed it, but work is time consuming and adulting it the worst. the kingdom sheet is still hella long, but I'm gonna clean up both. just wanted yay or wtf are you doing feedback
I am not led, I lead
Top Row (left to right):Petrova Road (located in north eastern Rustavya), Rings made by Fabergรฉ, Voskresenskie Palace located in the capital city of Vokshod Middle Row (left to right):Another shot of Voskresenskie Palace, The Crown of lengendary Queen Consort Anya the Great, A ballerina (one of Rustavyaโs most treasured forms of art and dance) Third Row (left to right):Aesthetic of the average Rustavyan, City of the Tsars (where the Royals ruled from during the age of Imperial Rustavya), Lionโs pride (a decorative castle, seized during the annexation of Askold, formerly part of the kingdom of Rรถkstenne)
๐๐๐ฒ๐ท๐ฐ๐ญ๐ธ๐ถ ๐๐ช๐ถ๐ฎ โโโโโโโโโโ Rustavya (pronounced Rhoos-stahv-ya, not rush, basically pronounce it with a slavic accent, preferably Russian, but Romanian and Ukrainian works too. Also Belarusian.)
"Revolution sneaks up on you, one small step at a time. [We] don't take chances, even with the smallest of steps." - Viktor Petrov (House of Cards)
Rustavya is ruled by the Royal House of Vasaรคtten, the current Sovereign being King Nikolas III. His Queen Consort was Rhiannon of Rรถkstenne.
They wereโฆ not a happy couple, to say the least. Reportedly, they didnโt even sleep in the same bed after the birth of their one and only child. Rhiannon was the daughter of a neighbouring kingdom, and the marriage procured purely for alliance purposes, yet that did not make her a pliant nor silent Queen. Opinionated, intelligent, and headstrong, she did not come to Rustavya to simply wear a crown and look pretty. The royal couple differed on many a view, and despite being a foreigner, sheโs managed to get much of the Cabinet on her side, and disagreements between the monarchs didnโt end with the King always winning, however, given Rustavyaโs โcomplexโ political nature, it didnโt also end with some kind of legislation (more on that later).
Nikolas came into the throne young, just barely past the age of majority (18), and filled with ambition, vigour, and endless arrogance. He is the pure embodiment of the downsides of the Ancien Rรฉgime. Unlike Louis XIV, he is not golden. While he has ambition, he lacks the intelligence and patience of better dictator-kings. What Nikolas wants, Nikolas gets. Aka, every basic white man, essentially. Everything went his way, until he was married to Rhiannon, similar to him in nature, but she had the intelligence and patience he lacks. While the King of Rustayva is absolute, critically, he (or she) must not appear to be, as public riots and revolutions in the past have shown, which is why the cabinet exists, to provide the illusion of a cooperative government. Rhiannon, however, was also to sway about half of them to her will, resulting in increased corruption and political assassinations, including attempts on both the King and Queen (known to have been orchestrated by each other). Publically, they maintained a civil face, but did not keep their dislike of each other entirely private, which has also split the public in terms of which sovereign to love and obey.
Suspiciously, the Queen has been missing for about 5 years now, and no one can say with any certainty what has happened to her. Officially, itโs stated as foul play, assumed to have been a kidnapping, and the length of time since her disappearance makes it all the more likely that she is dead. However, this has also worked in her favour, as King Nikolasโs approval is at an all-time low of 46%, whereas the Queen, despite not being there, is at 97% approval. (Side note, the government reports his approval as 90%)
In theory, Rustavya practises absolute-primogeniture, meaning that the title (in this case the throne) passes to the eldest living trueborn child, regardless of gender. But historically, theyโve used a provision in the law to get around female Sovereigns (though, they couldnโt avoid them all). I explain it all more in depth in the page linked below.
Although the royal couple have only one child, Crown Princess Venera, the King has another child, an older son, Grand Duke Vasily, he is a prince du sang, prince of the blood, and born out of wedlock (illegitimate) and therefore unable to lay claim to the throne, except in extenuating circumstances (thatโs not to say he doesnโt want it though).
Overall, Rustavya, isnโt exactly conservative or liberal so much as it is simply subject to the will of the reigning Sovereign. Social progress goes back and forth depending on who's wearing the crown. What is constant, however, is the ironclad grip with which the crown bearer rules. The free press is non-existent in Rustavya, though there is a feeble attempt to pretend the state doesn't control the news and ALL media. And the internet is heavily watched and controlled, and at times banned. Accounts that belong to users from certain foreign nations are blocked in Rustavya. Dissent is not appreciated nor welcome in Rustayva. Though depending on the severity of the dissenters actions, and the mood of the monarch, they can get off scot free or be executed.
๐๐๐ฒ๐ท๐ฐ๐ญ๐ธ๐ถ ๐๐ธ๐ต๐ธ๐ป๐ผ โโโโโโโโโโ Blue and silver, with shades of red* *though, particularly when worn by government officials, red is considered offensive since it was the colour of the last civil war which was led by the Yusupov Family and members of the Cabinet
๐๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฝ ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ท๐ฐ๐ญ๐ธ๐ถ ๐ฒ๐ผ ๐๐ท๐ธ๐๐ท ๐๐ธ๐ป โโโโโโโโโโ (I know, I know, concise and short, but I love Russia okay? I canโt do short. I need some kind of outlet to spew off all these useless facts Iโve accumulated. Iโve embellished some of it, but most of those numbers and shit are fucking true, for Russia, Rustavyaโs not real. Only changed some rankings to reflect the political shifts in Rustavya.)
Alongside being the largest country by landmass (though a lot of it is uninhabitable due it being a frozen tundra, so their population ranks them as about the 9th largest country), Rustavya is oil and natural gas rich, and known for its extensive mineral and gemstone mining, particularly of diamonds, as well as its extensive military and arms industry.
The petroleum industry in Rustavya is one of the largest in the world, a contender for the largest, but authorities are in disagreement as some believe a few middle Eastern countries may win that crown. However, Rustavya, by far, has the largest reserves and is the largest exporter of natural gas. It has the fourth largest coal reserves, second highest oil reserves, and is a contender for the largest producer of oil. However, Rustavya itself is only the fourth highest fossil fuel energy user in the world (prior to the reign of Nikolas III, they were second). They produce 12% of the worldโs oil, and about 14% of global oil exports. Most of their oil goes west, particularly to Europe. In regards to natural gas, not only are they the world's largest exporter, but are the proven holder of the largest reserve. Itโs theorized, but not proven, that they are also likely home to the largest volume of still-undiscovered natural gas, with a mean probable volume of 6.7 trillion cubic meters of said fossil fuel that is absolutely horrendous for the environment (listen, my country ainโt all that liberal, but I sure as hell am). Undiscovered oil is estimated to be about 22 billion barrels (second to the estimated undiscovered oil in Iraq- I mean a middle eastern country). The petroleum industries revenues account for about 12% of Rustavyaโs GDP (14% for Russia, in 2005, and only as being responsible for the post-soviet GDP growth, slightly out of date statistic, so). They are considered an โenergy superpowerโ, and the world estimates their oil and gas reserves to be worth and estimated $75 Trillion US dollars (or I guess Acrian dollars? Also, yeah, thatโs the real estimate of the worth of Russiaโs oil and gas, they hella rich son).
The second most profitable industry in Rustavya is their mining of non-oil and gas minerals. One of the worldโs leading mineral industries, and accounting for a large percentage of Eastern Europe/Slavic State production of a range of minerals, Rustavya is ranked among the top 5 worldwide producers of a number of minerals, including; aluminion, arsenic, cement, copper, magnesium compounds and metals, nitrogen, palladium, silicon, nickel, and vanadium. Additionally, they lead the world in diamond mining by volume, and account for 27% of global diamond extraction.
Economically speaking, Rustayva has been very careful to ensure that while the world is dependent on them, their economy will survive if suddenly cut off. They have vast farming, health, and etc industries, though they may not rank as the highest in the world, they are profitable and self-sustaining enough, and if all trade was suddenly cut off, the country would survive. This is what allows it to keep enduring as it does as it pleases, since sanctions have little to no effect on their economy. The Rustayvan economy implements an odd mix of marxist-leninist communism, and oligarchy. Rustayva has an uneven distribution of wealth, yet has low poverty rates and general satisfaction amongst the people, as itโs largely abolished the bourgeoisie. The distinction in status is essentially that you are either of (proven) royal blood, or you are a commoner, and therefore equal to everyone else. The state, ie the Crown, owns most state assets, such as the aforementioned 3 major industries of oil/gas, diamonds, and arms, however, outside out of the immediate branch of the royal family, the wealthier you are, the higher your taxes. Offshore banking is considered treason within Rustavya, and the penalty for treason is, of course, death. Additionally, even if a company is NOT state owned, the Sovereign has the power to shut down or indefinitely and forcibly keep open any company they so choose. The country implements a living wage, as well as various social benefits, such as maternity and parental leave, as well as complete and free universal healthcare (includes dental). This system, however, breaks down during high periods of corruption, often resulting in civil and a near complete change of government. An easier way of understanding the Rustavyan economy is actually just to look at Amazonโs business model, the company is happy to bleed money in order to gain market share, and keep prices low to make sure the consumers are happy. With Rustavya, the Crown would be Jeff Bezos, they have all the money, and can save the world if they wanted to, Amazon is the government/whatever-remains-of-the-bourgeoisie (essentially, theyโre oligarchs, but it doesnโt matter how much money they have, if they piss off the King/Queen, they gonna die), theyโll lose money, in order to make sure the customers, the people, can keep affording to buy shit, and live in homes, so that they donโt riot.
However, despite all this definitely cool and necessary information about their wealth and economy, Rustavya is best known for its political turmoil and militarial endeavours. Civil war is just another tuesday in Rustavya. It goes through governments faster than Trump goes through wives. They also donโt keep that shit to themselves, and have been encroaching on neighbouring lands and necessarily getting involved in middle east conflicts. Internationally, theyโve also been accused of meddling in the elections of other nations, as well as committing assassinations on foreign soil. Most of which theyโve denied, or openly laughed off. Because of this, they have been subject to UN and other sanctions, but it hasnโt affected their economy.
Rustavya has its own rich and historic culture, and is heavily resistant to outsiders influence, particularly from the western half of the world. It heavily resents nations *cough* The US-I mean Aciras *cough* that constantly screams that they are โthe greatest nation on the Earthโ, like โfuck offโ, said the average Russian-I mean Rustavyan. Because of this, they loathe foreign culture, particularly western culture, and have their own celebrities. Most people recognized as international stars, ironically, would be either little or completely unknown in Rustavya.
Impervious to the cold Technically speaking, not true. Frostbite is real, and you will die. But they do have more tolerance for it than other nations, not uncommon to see a Rustavyan, usually a younger one, out and about in winter in like a fucking sweater.
Always drinking and cannot get drunk ... More true than they care to admit. Fun fact, there is no law regarding legal drinking age in Rustavya (also in itโs real life counterpart, Russia). However, it is illegal to SELL to minors. Alcohol tolerance depends on the person really, but you are, mostly jokingly, called a fake-Rustavyan if youโve got a low level of tolerance. They general prefer hard stuff, and consider beer to be a joke, and the term is synonymous with piss.
Theyโre all shady spies who will steal all your secrets obviously, not true.
Obsessed with Hockey, will riot Meh. Only if you love sports. Itโs not considered as nationally emblematic as Ballet is.
Are idiots being blindly led by corrupt fools Arguable, they have access to what the world thinks of many of their leaders, and their politics, but they think a lot of that is bullshit and/or jealousy.
Most Rustavyanโs have some criminal history and close ties to the Bratva (Rustavyan mafia) As true as every Italian being in the mafia. Of course itโs false, Bratva activity has been on the rise recently, but the average Rustavyan is generally living a crime free, and happy life.
All Rustavyanโs are under government surveillance No, not every single individual person, that would be impossible to maintain. Though it is a, secretly, policed state and heavily watched.
First man in Space During the 60โs, they were engaged in a space race, and while they did not manage to claim the first man on the moon, in 1961, they manned the first flight in space and put the first man in space, as well as bringing him back. Rustavyan astronauts are called cosmonauts, and Ruscosmos (the nickname of Rustavyan Cosmonautic Organziation) remains a heavily protected and invested in industry in Rustavya.
Cosmodrome More commonly known as a Spaceport, or Rocket Launch Site. Basically that big thing that rockets launch from.
Father of All Bombs Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power. Contested, but in large part accepted as the worldโs deadliest non-nuclear bomb. For comparison, the US/Acira MOAB (Mother of All Bombs, and their deadliest non-nuclear bomb), gives off the equivalent of 11 tons (22 000 lb) of a TNT explosion, where FOAB gives off the equivalent of 44 tons (88 000 lbs). FOABโs blast radius is also bigger (300m, double that of MOAB), and the temperature produced is also twice as high.
Fast-neutron reactor
Military Robots Can be remote controlled, or completely autonomous. Uses include; transport, search & rescue, and attack.
Military Robots Can be remote controlled, or completely autonomous. Uses include; transport, search & rescue, and attack.
Radiator
Periodic Table of Elements
First Nation to Practise State Atheism but no longer does.
Onion Dome Architectural term for those cool hersheyโs kisses shaped things on a bunch of their castles and palaces
Novichok series of Nerve Agents
Powdered Milk
RAR (file format) Mentioning this only because I HATE rar files, make it a zip or fuck off
Tetris
Tsar Bomba the most powerful nuclear weapon ever created. The mushroom cloud from itโs detonation could be seen from a distance of 161 km (100 mi). The only remaining picture of the cloud, measures itโs height at 56 km (35 mi), though itโs said to have gone higher. The test explosion had a yield of 50 megatons of TNT (210 PJ), however, it did not include a uranium-238 tamper, and with it, could, theoretically, achieve a max yield of 100 megatons of TNT. Officially, only one bomb was built and show cased as โfuck youโ to their enemies during the cold war. Unofficially, they still have all the plans and materials, and itโs possible they may have built more than one at the time.
Rustavya has a long and complex history. Itโs well over a thousand years old. Originally, it was known as Kievan Rusโ, and was founded by Varagians (the name given by the Rusโ, greeks, and others to Vikings). Itโs been through several major periods of extreme political upheaval, from basic feudalism to a somewhat functioning traditional democracy in around the 1300โs, to the outright Divine Rule of Kings to a traditional constitutional monarchy to a communist rebellion, to sudden royalist revolt, back to constitutional monarchy, and a few more civil wars before the current government was established, and remains unbroken (though challenged) since 1937.
The House of Yusupov is a cadet branch of the royal house, and they enjoyed a lot of power, but it wasn't enough and they came for the crown. The Yuspov's gained support of the majority of the government, but lacked the military and the people. However, the war lasted a decade, from the 80's to the late 90's, and resulted in numerous casualties. They lost in the end, and most Yusupov's were executed, including children and completely innocent family members. At the time, their executions resulted in international outcry, but ironically had the opposite effect on everyday Rustavyan's, who resented the concept of mercy for people who fucked up their lives for 10 years.
<Snipped quote>
The Yusupovโs, however, are not extinct. There exists one survivour, Nikita Yusupov, kept alive as a hostage, and a warning to others. He was raised alongside the royal children.
Previously part of Rรถkstenne, Askold was once part of Rustavyan (during the communist days), and when they last made moves indicating they wanted to take it back, Rรถkstenne swiftly arranged the marriage of Princess Rhiannon to then the boy king, 20 year old Nikolas. It was annexed by Rustavya a few months after her disappearance, sparking international outcry, yet little to no repercussions. They were hit with some sanctions, but they had no visible effect on the Rustavyan economy.
Following the success of getting away with annexing Askold, Rustavya has been more blatant, getting into scuffles in the Black Sea, and seizing numerous boats, as well as openly killing dissidents that had managed to escape to other countries. Despite their increasingly hostile and brazen behaviour, because of the worldโs (current) reliance on oil, theyโve basically been getting away scot free with everything. What do you want? Oil, diamonds, booze, tanks, drones, other weapons, secrets to blackmail your political opponents with? Weโve got it all.
The capital city is named Voskhod and is home to Voskresenskie Palace, seat of the Sovereign. Voskhod is a mix of old and new, with shiny, tall glass buildings, stunning skyscrappers (the top right image is of its business centre), yet at the cityโs heart lies Voskresenskie Palace, a masterpiece of Imperial Era architecture. It is a surrounded by a red wall with multiple towers, earning the palace the nickname โThe Fortress within a Cityโ. Voskhod is nicknamed โThe City of a Thousand Lightsโ, due to the amount of lights shining at night, and making the city glitter.
Nicknames: ยป โVeraโ - used only by her mother, chief bodyguard, her forbidden love interest (Nika, moya lyubov') and very occasionally, her father. Also only the closest of friends. ยป โSolnyshkoโ - means โlittle sunโ, used only by her mother ยป โZvezda moyaโ - means โmy starโ, and another nickname given to her by Mama ยป "mladshaya sestra" - means "little sister", used largely mockingly by her half-brother, and resentfully ยป "Winterโs Sun/Sun of Winter" - the moniker given to her by the media following her birth
{Full Title} Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Venera of Rustavya, Duchess of Knyaz {Introduced/Announced as} Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Venera of Rustavya {Styles of Address} Her/Your Royal Highness, followed by Maโamthereafter
{Additional Titles}
Tsesarevna discontinued historic title, but used in some towns and local villages, and informally by the media
Chairwoman of the Government power slightly above that of the Prime Minister
Co-chairwoman of the Security Council position held jointly with her half-brother
Chancellor of the Order of Vasaรคtten One of the three major Orders of Chivalry in Rustavya, and the highest of them all, royalty cannot receive it. Vera's in charge of deciding who does.
{Honours}
Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Alrosa the second highest order of chivalry in Rustavya, awarded to both civilians and military personnel
Knight 1st Class of the Order of Rigel the third highest order of chivalry in Rustavya, awarded for excellence in civil duty or scientific endeavours. Venera got hers for getting her Masters degree in Law. (Most people don't, but that's that royal privilege for you)
Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Rรถkstenne the highest civil order, and second highest State decoration, in Rรถkstenne
Hot af. Okay, properly this time. She is... yeah Iโm stuck at super hot. Okay, stunningly beautiful too. Sheโs very much embodies of the beauty tropes of her kingdom; she has average height, though her heels make her appear much taller, long magical golden hair, though she does sometimes dye it lighter blondes aka platinum/silver, she doesnโt publicly admit why, sheโll only say she โliked the suggestion [her] stylist madeโ, but do know that it 1000000000% is because she loves Valyria and dragonlords. Certified nerd, anyway, her eyes are mostly grey, with some flecks of blue and green. Sheโs slim, and lacks muscular definition, but is not as fragile as she looks, having done some ballet when she was younger, and received basic defense training from her guards.
She gives off a rather cold and stoic vibe, particularly if youโre with her in a private setting, and sheโs not maintaining the โpretty princess who loves you allโ image for the public. Sheโs introverted and generally prefers to keep to herself and her circle of friends, giving off rather unapproachable airs, but sheโs really just a massive nerd with a crown. She even still plays Pokemon Go (and don't tell me it's not a thing in-world, there are infinite universes, and in every single one of those Pokemon exists. Back me up here ghost Stephen Hawking. Also, Team Mystic).
Intelligent, observant, and cautious; sheโs a rather restrained individual and never explodes in rage in public. On the flip side, sheโs also warm, encouraging, and incredibly passionate, particularly in charitable and social justice and change endeavours. The public face, and often direct opposing force of the governmentโs stance, of things like Womenโs and LGBTA+ Rights in Rustavya.
Sheโs pragmatic, rational, persistent, occasionally a tiny bit arrogant (sheโs a princess, okay, sometimes very arrogant), holds grudges (to the fucking end of time, she doesnโt forget, and very rarely forgives), patriotic, and protective. Despite being the youngest of the children her father raised, sheโs more a big sister type. She likes looking after people; wrapping them in warm blankets, serving them some great sweets, a spot of tea, and fixing all their problems and slapping a pretty bow on top of it.
Other than all that cool stuff, Vera does display shades of tyranny, much like her father, sheโs just better at it. All that stuff her country is accused of; being a police state, political assassinations, etc, etc, sheโs not really against any of that. She has liberal views, but is not the liberal reformist of western-nation dreams. Nothing wrong with a dictatorship, so long as youโre the dictator, sheโs 100% on board for killing people, as long as itโs not one of her people. Sheโs kind of like an oreo, in a way. Cold on top, warm in the middle, even colder beneath that.
Likes Space, A Song of Ice and Fire, Dragons, Tolkien, Greco-Roman mythology (leans towards roman), history, politics, slavic mythology, winter, snow, Euro-Pop, classical music, lilies, orchids, ballet, ice skating, cats (collects them, the palace is filled with strays), tolstoy, eurovision, fast cars (not allowed to drive them freely though โcause of her security), vermouth.
Dislikes Beer, corduroy, overreaching upstarts, โfeelings matter as much as factsโ type idiots, dismissal of hard and evidence-supported science, the fucking patriarchy, her father, her half-brother, about 25% of the cabinet, politics (itโs a complicated interest to have, โcause itโs interesting, but also full of assholes), sand, summer, heat.
The one and only heir to the kingdom of Rustavya, she was born not long after the end of the Yusupov Rebellion, leading to it being overly publicized and dramatized as the beginning of a new age by the media and the government, mostly to reaffirm their hold over the Kingdom.
The only daughter of Queen Rhiannon, sheโs actually the second child of the King, being four years younger than her illegitimate half-brother, Grand Duke Vasily โVasyaโ Nikolayevich. Apart from him, she was also directly raised alongside Nikita Yuspov, about 3 at the time of her birth, and the only survivour of the Yusupov rebellion. Vera has a complicated relationship with her family. The person sheโs closet to was her mother, who protected her position as heir to the throne (because patriarchy), and managed to prevent any betrothal that, if followed through with, would result in Veraโs being disqualified from inheriting the throne. Vera idolized her mother, who was a strong, take no shit, boss ass bitch of a Queen. Meanwhile, her relationship with her father is much more strained. Itโs not that he hates her, itโs just that Vasily is his favourite, also heโs sexist and sucks, but thatโs just basic bad dad stuff. Vera doesnโt exactly hate him back either. She certainly hates his politics, she doesnโt think heโs very good at being tyrant, or a leader in general, but blatant tyranny is essentially his preferred method of governance, and finds his methods gaudy and, frankly, stupid. However, they donโt particularly have a parental relationship at all really, itโs more business, than family with them, the only thing uniting them is the crown. She very rarely calls him โfatherโ to his face, usually addressing him as โYour Majestyโ, and he reciprocates with โYour Royal Highnessโ. The lack of anything familial is probably why she doesnโt really hate him, he may be her blood, but heโs not her family, theyโre strangers living in the same palace, co-workers in essence. Their relationship does take a sharp right turn at anything related to her mother though, huge minefield, topic should be avoided at all costs, both suddenly become super angry and shouty, a complete 180 of their personalities of laidback king and ice princess.
As for her half-brother, Vera very much actively hates him. At a very young age, he quite literally spelled out his interest in taking what is hers (aka the throne), and theyโve been at odds ever since (she was 10, he was 14, it was over breakfast, Nikolas found it funny, Rhiannon was not there). When they were younger they would constantly compete (grades, sports, everything), initially for their fatherโs attention, but soon switched to gaining attention and adoration from the cabinet. Vera was better at winning them over, she also always won the games, but Nikolas was always more impressed with Vasya. Their childish competitions didnโt really โcause any political factions when they were children, afterall, one is the trueborn, as the constitution dictates that it must be her, also Queen Rhiannon kept killing people who even jokingly suggested that perhaps Vasya should be heir, so just follow the law. However, once Queen Rhiannon disappeared, the factions began forming. Itโs not really a faction, itโs an idea, just a thought being thrown around and floated, equivalent to how some people say the Earth isnโt flat, itโs a stupid thought, but the problem is that thereโs quite a few people who believe it, both in and out of government, and as Rustavyanโs very well know, revolts have a way of sneaking up on you.
Vera was privately tutored at the palace by renowned professors and teachers, but following the completion of her basic education, she chose to attend Ulyanov University (originally named the Imperial Voskhod University), where she studied law, and obtained a masters in the subject. After completing her education, she was made Chairwoman of the Cabinet, and holds an active role in the government, being more interest in politics than her father.
ยป Vera rarely posts on social media herself, she has an official twitter and instagram account, managed for her by a team of professionals or whatever. When she directly posts she signs it as "- Tsesarevna Venera", โ- HRHโ on twitter โcause of the character limit. She doesn't bother with a facebook profile, but there is an official page for the royal family. However, she does post somewhat regularly on a private instagram account accessible only to her friends.
Venera would be House Targaryen, because yes, shut up, dragons forever, dracarys bitch. Her story is also a little Daeron II v Daemon Blackfyre, so yo.
Still making this one, stuck between luthien and ewoywn, Iโll update that later, need to get the main shit done.
@murdoc first off I never commented on the name. MacGuyver fan?
Secondly, while I know Dirk is the family black sheep, and not widely liked by the public, would his image change if he found himself crown prince of another country by way of marriage, and bringing the favor of a large and lucrative empire with that?
Anastasiy Dima Aleksei Romanova pron. an-na-STAH-see DEE-mah ahl-LEHK-see ROH-mahn-oh-va || HRH, YH, other titles, Anastasiy, Adar (pron. with long a, so A-dahr), the Sad-Eyed Prince, the Kind-Eyed Prince
HEIGHT: 6โ2โ BUILD: like that of a ballet dancer: defined musculature that isnโt the most impressive under most clothing, but between expert posture HAIR: Long, curly, dark brown EYES: blue, startlingly so STYLE: formal, professional, on the preppy side, but does sometimes venture into the โartisticโ side in private; also dabbles in androgyny and femininity NOTES:
soft-spoken, graceful, gracious, polite, courteous, reserved, good listener, prefers to listen and watch to speaking, melancholy, poor self image, self-sacrificing, slow to anger, trustworthy, slow to act, hesitant, lonely, kind, generous, is prone to crying when he is alone, romantic, second-guesses himself all too much, loving, tender, gentle, rarely raises his voice, considered somewhat effeminate, anxious
+ playing piano & cello + dance, esp. ballet + drinking (is quite partial to whiskey (especially scotch), bourbon, cognac, white wine, champagne, rosรฉ) + music + poetry + reading + dressing well + looking his best + menโs and womenโs fashion (and is quite partial to dressing androgynously or more femininely) + tea + rainy days + sunny days + clean uniforms + walks outside (especially with his dogs) + opera + his tutor
- disappointing his mother - the fact that he has to become king - red wine, beer, vodka, tequila - ruining his clothes - messing up his appearance - mathematics - being lied to/cheated/played - feeling manipulated - the dark - thunderstorms - pressure - coffee (he thinks itโs too bitter) - the idea that all relationships must result in sex, or that all attraction must be sex-based
Being the second-born son of a line that only recently regained its status as reigning royalty should mean an uneventful life. And for Anastasiy Romanova, that was the case. He had time outside his royal education to study ballet, learn to sail, and fly planes. It was a charmed life.
However, when the Grand Prince Anatoly Romanova and his wife, Tsarina Karina Romanova nee Valushenka, were killed a year agoโฆthat changed things.
The people believe Anatoly and Karina died in a car accident, but the truth is the two were assassinated. Headshots. A terrorist group called the Niet claimed responsibility for it, but the royal family managed to keep the story from airing.
Anastasiy was forced to end his ballet career in order to prepare as the new heir.
โMovementโ - Hozier โYou are the rite of movement Its reasonin' made lucid and cool I know it's no improvement When you move, I move You're less Polunin leapin' Or Fred Astaire in sequins Honey, you, you're Atlas in his sleepin' And when you move, I'm movedโ
aesthetic: anastasiy romanova { M: It takes you to the tag โaesthetic: anastasiy romanovaโ on my tumblr, so you donโt have to scroll through 40+ more images on this page. }
Velikiy Tsarevich Anatoly Demyan Nazariy Romanova pron. ah-NA-tol-lee DAY-mahn NAH-zahr-ee ROH-mahn-oh-va, brother, deceased {FC: Henry Cavill} Age: 30 years (he would be 31 now) Notes: --- was beloved and incredibly charismatic, the perfect definition of a โprince charmingโ --- had been married to his wife, Karina Romanova nee Valushenka, for five years with no children --- his wife was pregnant when they were assassinated (shot in the head while driving) Tsarevich Arseniy Vadim Terenti Romanova pron. AHR-sen-ee vah-DEEM tehr-EN-tee ROH-mahn-oh-va, brother {FC: Timothรฉe Chalamet} Age: 20 years Notes: --- Tsarevna Galya Mariya Asya Romanova pron. GAHL-ya mah-REE-ah AH-sya ROH-mahn-oh-va, sister {FC: Mackenzie Foy} Age: 17 years Notes: --- is weak from chronic illness in her early youth
โ miniature Australian shepherd, female, named Dunyasha โ cockapoo, male, blue/green heterochromia, named Ilya (often called Ilyusha) โ Russian blue cat, male, named Lyov โ Egyptian mau, female, named Lera
KOROLEVSTVO GLAVNYA
The Glavnyan Flag, which was readopted upon the Romanova reclamation in 1948
Tsar Oleksander Nikita Grigory Romanova, King of Glavnya pron. ohl-lehk-SAHN-der nih-KEE-tah GRIH-gohr-ee ROH-mahn-oh-va {FC: Mads Mikkelsen} Age: 53 years Notes: --- benevolent and loved --- is a little intimidated by the hate his family had endured in the past and tries to do his best to make sure the people like him Tsarina Zinovia Agnessa Serafina Romanova, Queen of Glavnya pron. ZEE-noh-vya ag-NES-sah sehr-rah-FEE-nah ROH-mahn-oh-va{FC: Jennifer Ehle (circa The Kingโs Speech)} Age: 50 years Notes: --- married Oleksander when she was 18 --- soft-spoken --- loves her children and husband more than anything in the world
โ 1848: the people revolted in order to save themselves and their country, but still had some respect for their royals (namely the queen and her children), so they let them live and proposed a treaty with their renouncement of the throne for 100 years โ โ past kings had used excessive military power to rule, but the last had been far too relaxed in comparison, letting things fall into ruin and slowly draining the treasury โ between 1848 and 1948, there were three attempts at new governments, from direct democracy to oligarchy to communism, but due to economic failures (and twice rebellion in conjunction with economic failure) each attempt collapsed โ 1948: Romanova reclamation of throne after former government collapsed and the agreement expired โ โ the royal familyโs reclamation went smoothly and Glavnya has seen great economic improvements; it seems the Romanovas have learned from their past mistakes โ 2017: true heir, Velikiy Tsarevich (Grand Prince) Anatoly Romanova, died in an assassination along with wife; public believes it to have been a car accident โ there have been terrorist groups making reappearances, and one, the Niet, that has claimed responsibility for the assassination of the grand prince; this information is being kept as quiet as possible while being dealt with as rationally and peacefully as possible
It is said that the Du-Wassi harbors giants. For Hui-Bawa, that myth runs as true as giants can be. Standing at an even 2 metres, Hui-Bawa dwarfs near any man he stands next to. Yet, in his homeland, he is actually of almost perfectly average height. In the fight against northern imperialism, it has become common for the Hui-Eehi (the native peoples of Du-Wassi) to shave their heads, as a love of hair is seen as northern. However, Hui-Bawa has broken with that practice, and keeps a short fuzz on his scalp, leading to minor controversy in his homeland. Despite the syndicalist dogma adopted by the Du-Wassi state, he is a well-fed man, raised on the native beef, and as a result is covered in massive globs of muscle.
The grim face he puts on for the public is not the person Hui-Bawa is beneath. There is a reason he was given the nickname "Du-Butha", the Great Heart. He is a giver, through and through, always putting the needs of others before his own. He is courteous and kind, and always has time for children. However, years of travel and diplomacy has changed him. He is not so eager to make friends with the people he meets, knowing that in scant days, he will never see them again. Thus, he puts on an air of formality and occupies himself with his work at all times, to keep his mind off his loneliness.
Likes his people, his brother, his country, animals, plants, peaceful environments, syndicalist philosophy, the war effort, and having a general feel-good time.
Hates imperialism, northern oppression, war on home soil, the practices of syndicalist philosophy, the practices in the war, and scary stories.
Hui-Bawa was never meant to amount to much. His brother was Du-Bawa, general and Hui-Basada of the country. His youth he lived in baseless luxury, feasting near every night while the rest of the nation starved. While his body was nourished on stuffed cow and chicken, his mind was raised on propaganda, fed to him by his parents and brother. He believed that Du-Wassi was the wealthiest land in the entire world, and all people lived as wealthy as he did. His brother's motto, "Every Man a Lord", was his own.
Hui-Bawa only left the capitol building, which was repurposed from a northern estate, in his early teens. What he saw was a horror. His people, the supposed lords, were living in squalor. They had not returned to the peaceful and plentiful lives of the tribal Du-Wassi, but instead fight with each other for the few scraps the government may hand out. He realized, as he returned to his home, that he has lived his life in a bubble, and now more than ever must break out.
The rest of his formative years were spent in study. He familiarized himself with the philosophy of the earliest syndicalists, such as Liu Cheng Han and Kerlow ap Gwythyng, and spoke with the most gifted economists he could find both within the nation and without. In an amazing amount of time, he transformed his entire self, from the airheaded child he once was to a real thinker, one who could perhaps save his people.
Armed with conviction, he left Du-Wassi to travel the world, seeking support for his people. He has endorsed and founded numerous charity organizations, and spoken before countless national coalitions. He works day and night for the dream of a truly syndicalist Du-Wassi, where every man may live a lord, as he had once known it to be.
Before the age of colonialism, the Du-Wassi was a purely geographical term, for the great jungle that dominated the central parts of the continent. To its north was the Du-Sasaa, a previously unexplored desert considered by most to be the end of the world. Within it lived a countless many tribes, such as the Du-Hooseng and the Hui-Argu, both of which have been lost to time. Tribal life was often centered around the farming of various grains that grew plenty around the jungles, supplanted by the hunting of animals and the digging of nutrient-rich roots within the jungle itself. Conflicts were frequent between the tribes, which were often fought with spears and throwing stones. Ironically, in this culture of war, a religion grew that worshipped the spirits of harmony, and gave emphasis to the connection that all peoples had with themselves and their homeland.
The first encounter with the northern "pale men" changed the way Du-Wassi society functioned forever. The northerners wielded weapons beyond the imagination of the Hui-Eehi, guns and explosives that slaughtered even the ablest of stone-throwers. Soon, all of the tribes were conquered, split between northern hands and effectively enslaved. Their jungle was plundered for its natural resources, extracted upon Hui-Eehi backs pushed by northern whips. Racial theory was introduced to the Du-Wassi, and any man born a son of the Hui-Eehi were denied rights given to pale citizens of the empire.
It was the perfect place for syndicalism to fester and grow. Progress oriented philosophers, often laughed out of university halls in the north, would escape into the colonies. The Hui-Eehi were much more receptive to the syndicalist ideology, which favored rebellion from an oppressive system and equality among all people. To the Hui-Eehi, this meant a return to their own rule, free from the northerners, and rose up in a bloody revolution. A young Hui-Eehi philosopher was declared the "Hui-Basada" (Hui-Eehi for "president"), and given powers by the people that reflects in all respects but name a king.
Today, the rebellion is still ongoing, but has simmered down to a frightful cold war. The northern empire still considers itself the suzerain of Du-Wassi, and the Hui-Eehi live in fear that at any moment the war could reactivate. Proxy wars, fought between the Du-Wassi philosophy of syndicalism and the capitalist northerners still flare up in the surrounding recently decolonized nations. The current Hui-Basada, Du-Bawa, is the son of the previous, and his extremist rhetoric is broadcast as propaganda throughout the entire nation. The uneducated public, the majority of the population, are incredibly racist towards pale people, and are generally unwelcome to foreigners everywhere except the capital city of Du-Tunka.
