[CHAR] The Most Atrocious War [Interwar Period NRP]

[Ascendant]

1. Nation Name: The Unified Great Bands of Vivia

2. Head of State: Grand Chief Julian Pohwati, 52

3. Political Alignment during the Most Atrocious War: Pact Nation

4. Culture: Vivia is a land of a multitude of peoples and immigrants, whose roots begin centuries ago as a colony. Despite having first essentially purged most of the rebellious natives combined with the spread of smallpox, these natives were in fact integrated deeply into society in what became an overall rejection of those across the ocean to the East. More immigrants flooded into the individual colonies of Vivia, seeking wealth, prosperity, enlightenment, or reprieve from oppression. Blood eventually mixed with blood, ethnic groups with ethnic groups, resulting in the hodgepodge of peoples that is known as a "Vivian."

Of course, there are always those that are opposed to racial mixing, but the primary population is distinctly Vivian in culture, though there are of course different geographical flavors of Vivian. Easterners are often seen as enterprising, hard-working folk accustomed to factory labor and inventions, while Westerners are perhaps the artists of the nation, devising new songs, dances, and all other artwork. Midwestern and Southerners are renowned for their ability to grow crops and jury-rig solutions to problems.

Eventually though, Vivia decided to unify and break away from its mother country, deciding to adopt a moniker more befitting of the native blood that runs through it.

(In OOC terms, Vivia is essentially a blend of many Native American cultures with North European culture as well as some southern European culture, modeled on the United States of our world. Its government too should essentially be a Federal Republic.)

[LordZell]

1. Nation Name: The Kingdom of Retherfed (After the war forced Republic of Retherfed

2. Head of State & Age: King Lukas Gate(43) (Fled) (President Joseph Friver) (38)

3. Political Alignment during the Most Atrocious War: Defeated Nation

4. Culture: Before the Atrocious War, Ratherfed was a center of culture, finance and unity. Their unity which was all rooted in the idea that every Retheren was superior to that of their neighbors. The Kingdom of Ratherfed, which was once made up of multiple states that each vied for power eventually over the years through diplomacy and military campaigns became unified under the Gate’s family.

Unification was officially recognized in 1885 after the last minor country agreed to join the union, however due to the internal hostilities before the unification, the kingdom was never able to obtain colonies. What they instead focused on was a powerful military base and economy if sorely lacking in navy. Their centralization on the mainland continent was key and made is easy to become a large center of trade which was used to expand the ever growing military-industry complex that the Gate’s family had always longed for.

Eventually at the onset of the atrocious war the Kingdom had high hopes, their military was prepared, their command structure was key and their allies strong. However due to new technologies, and old tactics. As well as prior nobility taking point rather than on-field and competent officers leading, lead it into a long stalemate. Eventually, after years of fighting, the front seemed ready to push and win but due to internal conflicts and weakened allies the Kingdom fell and soon became a Republic, while many soldiers see this new government as weak and traitors and EVERY Retheren sees those apart of the pact as traitors, only time will tell how long this peace lasts.

[Murtox]

1. Nation Name: The Kingdom of Hermasia

2. Head of State & Age: King Alcides Narváez (Age 32)

3. Political Alignment during the Most Atrocious War: Neutral Nation.

4. Culture:

The Kingdom of Hermasia has a culture and history all of its own, being an independent and neutral nation for most of its history. During its history, there have been many threats to its sovereignty but those were fended off sometimes by military strength, sometimes thanks to diplomacy and sometimes by pure luck. This sovereignty has led to the existence of a very nationalistic society, that tends to remain somewhat isolated from outside currents, not totally of course because then Hermasia would no longer be a country. For the most part, the power in the country is retained by the King and the royal family, who are the symbols of unity in Hermasia, often making appearances on military parades or the like.

In culture, Hermasia is like a vault of old times with new times. One good example of this would be the mix between the traditional red and black dresses of the women, and the more modern white dresses. That ends up with a very traditionally adorned dress that the women dress daily, but that still is modern enough for use outside the country. Music is more of the same and while traditions and festivals are deeply rooted in Hermasia, modernity has also taken its toll as cars and factories, have changed the clean landscape of the kingdom.

History wise, Hermasia has a long history of knights and lords, who valiantly fought off invaders and married ladies from other countries. This tradition has now devolved into an aristocracy that follows the king like their ancestors always did. Castles and other relics of the past, that would otherwise be forgotten and unused, are still in use in Hermasia with many aristocrats clinging to traditions of olds and forming their little retinues around themselves. Even if they no longer have any power.

When it became clear that war was coming to the continent, Hermasia made a clear decision to remain neutral in those foreign affairs. Even if it hurt the position of Hermasia, the king would not sacrifice the blood of his people for a war that he knew would cause great pain and change the world forever. After all, Hermasia had retained most of its custom and core values from long ago, there was no need to risk it for some foreign cause.

Now that the war is over, Hermasia continues to stands proudly on its area of the world has escaped from the brutality and cruelty that the war had brought to the countries that were part of it. But even as the world changes around them, Hermasia doesn't and while they take from outside what the seem necessary. The country is, after all, a relics on its own right.

[Lone Wanderer]

1. Nation Name: Socialist Union of Voskiya

2. Head of State: Chairman Dominik Luczynski, 44

3. Political Alignment during the Most Atrocious War: Entered the War a Pact Nation. Ended the War a Neutral Nation following the Winter Revolution of 1915.

4. Culture:
The great experiment, a nation of socialist principle and theory forged within the harsh anvil of war and winter. The butcher's bill of the Most Atrocious War stands tall, amidst the millions of lives claimed by the 6-year war can states and nations be counted, the Voskiyan Commonwealth was one such casualty. Faced with a buckling front and internal unrest, the blizzards of the 1915 winter oversaw more then just to near collapse of the Commonwealth's allies in the Pact of Unity but the utter collapse of the Voskiyan Commonwealth to discontent rebels and parties of the radical left during the Winter Revolution of 1915, and the subsequent formation of the Union of Voskiya from the ashes. Following it's ascension, the new worker's state was quick to end it's involvement in the Atrocious War and instead sought to centralize it's rule while the world continued to turn upon it's axis and tear itself to pieces for a further four years.

The Voskiyan Union has existed for a mere 4 years though in that time the Trade Union Congress has been swift with the implementation of Syndicalist and Socialist theory. The Union of Voskiya is a decentralized state ruled by directly elected regional councils under the jurisdiction of the national Trade Union Congress. Currently the economic ethos of the government is not one of an entirely state directed economy, but instead allows for some economic freedom at the local level backed up by strong workers' rights, welfare support and a democratization of the workplace in the form of co-operatives while the 'commanding heights' of the economy such as the coal industry are nationalized and run by their respective Trade Unions with supervision from the Congress. In 1916 it was also established that Voskiya was to be a secular state, with religion being incompatible with the spirit of scientific materialism following a decree that forbade the public teaching of religion though accepted that citizens may teach and may be taught religion privately.

Culturally the Socialist Union is distinct. A state of socialism and secularism in an age of monarchs and capitalists. The worker's state enjoys an age of relative freedom and experimentation as the new Union seeks to discover it's own unique culture and society. As encouraged by the central government, a variety of trends, be it in art or literature, in numerous schools, some traditional and others radically experimental have proliferated under the new government, with an extensive interest by the state in the burgeoning film industry as a means to communicate with the masses.

Such is life in the young Union of Voskiya as it seeks to forge it's own identity and power in the post-war world.

[Lauder]

Nation Application

1. Nation Name: The Empire of Vornheim

2. Head of State & Age: The High Emperor Henrich Von (74)

3. Political Alignment during the Most Atrocious War: Pact Nation

4. Culture:
In Vornheim, it would be normal to see men and women walking about in dull and distasteful, to other nations, outfits of gray, woolen clothing. It was a normal thing to be seen in such outfit, and also normal for the beards of men to be a symbol of honor and pride, especially amongst the eldest of the nation. Within this land of mixed blood though, there are a multitude of tradition and a slew of different faces to adorn this great land of serenity.

The nation eats a typical meal of potatoes, greens, and many different meats, the national cuisine in fact is roasted cow legs, grilled potatoes, and fresh lettuce, it is called “Königs Essen” and it is eaten nation wide by rich and pauper, if they can afford the ingredients, alike. Speaking of paupers, they make up a majority of the nation’s working force and is often the first to be conscripted from. Most of the time, they are not treated very well and still do not hold as many rights as the rich and privileged do. In fact, they barely have rights to protect them during work, yet they are expected the High Emperor’s word as law.

The Empire is modeled after old feudal kingdoms, from where it originated, and the old land holds a strict hereditary model, lineage of princes’ and their fathers dating back ages upon ages ago. That said, little has changed over the years, a stubborn and ignorant people to change, arrogant that these things would help them in social structure. Even the paupers are besieging to change, testing things that their families had been in for centuries would be strange and dangerous for if they grew too powerful they would be seen as a threat to the Emperor’s rule, often they would never be heard from again.

[Oak7ree]

Nation Name: The Republic of Bretony

Head of State & Age: President Louis Martel of the Centralist Party, aged 52 and Chancellor Felix Bastille of the Centralist Party, aged 38 years.

Major figures in the Parliament: Arthur Melville, aged 54, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry (leader of SDP) and Charles de Fleur, aged 44, Minister of Industry and Economy (leader of RP).

Political Alignment during the Most Atrocious War: Defeated nation, and a military dictatorship, surrendered on December 24, 1917, after the Christmas Revolt, which put Chancellor Felix Bastille into power. Few troops loyal to the Bretonian State were holding out against by the republican forces, though they held out until the end the year. Leaders and officials of the State are arrested and given trials. Currently a capitalistic democracy.

Culture and recent history: A former kingdom, Bretony was turned into a republic about a century ago in a revolution of the masses after years of plummeting economy and skyrocketing food prices. A president is the head of state, but the chancellor holds the real power, acting as the prime minister. Bretony has a unicameral parliament composed of 350 MEPs (members of parliament), and about twenty ministries handling the matters of state. The parliament is led by the Speaker, who directs the parliamentary meetings. Parliament often holds session at least once a week, often more when a law is being prepared.

Laws are prepared in the parliament by committees, and reviewed both by the parliament and a ministry. For example, the Ministry of Defense reviews laws regarding the armed forces, it's spending and reforms. The parliament will vote on the law, and the law needs a simple majority vote to succeed in the parliament. Then it will be signed by the Chancellor and the President, but they have a veto option they use to postpone the initiative.

Bretony has been the home for many writers and philosophers, but it hasn’t been idle on the military front. It’s army has long and proud traditions and many famous campaigns under its belt, although it was defeated in the War. During the century of democracy, the Breton citizens have grown accustomed to both civil and political rights guaranteed by the constitution. Bretonic is spoken in Bretony, and the citizens are called Bretons.

The Breton culture stretches centuries into history, although the modern nation-state is quite recent. Centuries ago a unified state of Bretony was only a dream, as there were several Breton principalities, duchies and counties of differing sizes. The Kingdom of Bretony was born in the 1500s, when Prince Charles Ludovico of the Principality of Guillaume-Cotillion annexed most of the modern-day Breton lands under his rule either by conquest or by political marriages and was named as the king of Bretony. During the next century and half, the kings of Bretony centralized power into their own hands and their bureaucrats. In 1801, a revolution began, which led to the cessation of monarchy and the creation of democracy a few years later after a Revolutionary War. When Bretony became a republic, a wave of nationalism swept across the nation, and the national identity strengthened during the course of the century. The government sponsored many artists, authors and composers, and the arts and sciences boomed. Also, industrialization hit Bretony during the century, which led to economic growth, although a depression hit Bretony quite hard in 1902, lasting until 1906.

On 26th of February, 1904, a military coup d’état took place in the capital city of Guillaume, when a nationalistic cadre of officers and many soldiers, opposing the neutral stance of the country’s government on the continental politics and plummeting economy, Bretony was turned into a military dictatorship run by a council of generals. The generals were ousted from power on December 24th in the Christmas Revolt, 1917, as the population had grown tired of the losing war, dwindling resources and naval blockade. The same day, Chancellor Felix Bastille delivered a speech to the people and an unconditional surrender to the Pact of Unity.

Currently, there are many political parties, ranging from right to left. The Centralist Party occupies most of the seat in the parliament (117 seats) and politically it leans in the middle of the spectrum, but it has formed a coalition government with the left-leaning Social Democratic Party (SDP. 65 seats) and the right-leaning Reformist Party (RP, 37 seats). The three parties hold 219 seats out of 350, a clear majority, although they don't see eye to eye on every matter. Parliamentary elections are currently held every four years, presidential elections every six years and provincial elections every four years.

Next presidential elections will be held in 1924, the provincial elections in 1923 and the parliamentary elections in 1922.

SDP is socially active party, trying to improve the situation of the common man, who work in the industry and other fields of manual labour, centering on creating equal opportunities for all to improve their quality of life by education and welfare. RP is more conservative party, gaining much of its support from the "old money" - former noble families, industrial leaders and others. The Centralists are between them, walking a line between them. SDP was formed in the 1860s, during the height of the industrialization to help the industrial workers and others in the lower classes. The RP is a newcomer on the political stage, having been formed in 1900 by Charles de Fleur, a member of de Fleur industrial family. De Fleur family owns a major industrial concern Chaumont Metalworks, that produces high quality steel and construction materials. The concern provided a lot of materiel to the war effort, although it has gone near bankruptcy in the aftermath of the war. The Centralists were founded during the 1880s, and has acquired a large and loyal voting basis as the "everyman's choice". Every citizen has the right to vote in the elections, if they are at least twenty years of age.

The current Chancellor, Felix Bastille, is a former lawyer and political activist, who was imprisoned during the military dictatorship for political dissent and held captive until the autumn of 1917, when mutinous troops and revolting citizens liberated several prisons and other facilities. The Christmas Revolt on 24th of December, 1917, occurred in Guillaume, the capital city. After the Generals were ousted, Felix was put into the command of an emergency council, which in turn started to put in place a civil government. Parliamentary elections were held in the end of March, 1918, gaining a landslide victory for the Centralist Party and cementing Bastille's political authority. The Generals' time in office, though, left the nation in financial ruin, and they are trying to revigoriate the markets.

The Centralist Party, as other parties, were terrorized by the army and the secret police not to assemble during the dictatorship, although they continued their activities underground and secretly during the war. As bad news from the front continued to come in, the parties came more and more to the forefront, attending protests and peace rallies.

The country is divided into provinces, the most important being, politically speaking, the province of Guillaume-Cotillion, where the capital city is located. Guillaume holds the governmental buildings, many culturally important buildings, like the Royal Palace and gardens, the romance-era Musée National, Le Chevalier Noir hotel and the baroque-styled Concorde Opera Hall. The provincial borders roughly equates to the old borders of feudal lands, with few adjustments. They have provincial councils, which take responsibility of controlling the province on day-to-day basis. Every four years, provincial elections are held, and new councils are formed based on the results.

Bretony is a traditional wine, cognac, brandy and cider country, exporting a great selection of alcohol. Labels include the dark and red wine Comte Rouge, the white and fruity wine Angouleme Blanc and the cheap and bitter cider Harlequin.

[Commodore]

1. Nation Name: The Empire of Grenaza

2. Head of State & Age: Emperor Matenosen Brezaran de Naza (First of that Name, 31 years of age.)

3. Political Alignment during the Most Atrocious War: Defeated Power

4. Culture: Grenaza is a not a unified ethnic bloc by any means or stretch of the imagination, although those of Grenaza would argue that this is a benefit more than any detriment to their state. Formed in days past of political marriages and conquests of local nobilities and of the myriad of cultures, the Empire has a culture all its own, one of a union of the disparate cultures but also of the connections with the still very much alive progenitor cultures.

Only relatively recently throwing off the shackles of the Empire's feudal past the high culture is still dominated by the Elite, even if now they are without large estates and personal power. This means that most trends are set through those noblemen and women; from the Imperial Family in Empire-wide means to the lowliest noble family in their traditional lands. Generally, the Imperial family has maintained their power although some of it has fallen out with the times.

Food tends to focus on meats with additional fruits and vegetables to compliment the central meat of the dish. As well the traditional large meal has been the midday meal although this has shifted in recent times to a later meal. Local variations are myriad on the many national dishes, each region adding or removing various pieces to the dishes as is to their cultural tastes.

In fashion, while national trends are followed they rarely are very specific, with each region adding its own local flare, as a matter of cultural pride but also in what is more appropriate for the region. Generally, dress in Grenaza is very colorful and bright, something followed in general Grenazan optimistic attitudes, often with local flares of various styles and adornments of great variance.

Art is mostly focused on the visual, in fact, fashion and visual arts are often viewed as primary artistic pursuits while others like music are often considered secondary or best left only to compliment the primary pursuits. This varies amongst regions, as do most things in the Empire, however, most regions have a lower opinion of music over visual arts. This does contribute somewhat from the still prevalent social elites to cause music to be viewed as more common and lower class if not accompanying another medium.

When it became clear that war was coming, the Grenazan people and their young Emperor was not just hopeful, they were sure of a quick victorious war. While realities may have been different, and the cost had been high in the six-year grind that was the war, Grenazan optimism has dimmed but it is not extinguished in the injured realm.

[CypherRahl]

1. Nation Name: The Tilerian Federation

2. Head of State & Age: High Chancellor Richard Alistair

3. Political Alignment during the Most Atrocious War: Defeated Nation

4. Culture: The Tilerian Federation is a land of mixed races, peoples, and identities. The original Tilerian race were a tall, fair skinned war driven people, who conquered those around them, and bent them to their wills. The ancient texts call this the 'Golden Age' of the Tilerian people. Modern history simply refers to it as a mistake. The Tilerian ancestors of old expanded without question or regard for others, assimilating cultures and people as nothing more than trinkets. This expansion came to an end when civil war and slave revolts wracked the ancient empire. A new generation of Tilerians, feeling sympathy for those their people had conquered, rallied with them and fought against their own government. The war was long and costly, with much of the Empires territory being lost.

Only 200 years before the start of the Most Atrocious War did the civil war come to an end. The old guard were dead, and the new generation of Tilerian's rose to power. Made up of both ethnic Tilerian's and other races, the new Tilerian Federation rapidly set about rebuilding itself. Rather than specificity one culture or religion as dominant, the Federation instead declared that all religions were welcome, as long as they did not harm other citizens. This freedom of choice can be seen in the streets of Tilerian cities. Hundreds of different dress styles, colors, and languages can be heard. This has often led to some issues, but it is largely preferred over the past.

The long term wars of their past have spawned new generations of pacifists, preferring peaceful negotiations to solve their problems. New alliances were formed with neighboring nations, and even the annexation of an ancient Imperial holding was secured, nearly doubling the size of the Federation. They were trusting of outsiders, and always willing to give them a chance. This mind set came back to haunt them when the war began. The Federation was quick to declare neutrality in the war, preferring to not get involved. They provided aid to both sides in the war, sending humanitarian convoys to war ravaged areas. The pacifistic ways of the Federation came to an end the same day their neutrality did. One of the Pact Nations launched an attack against the Federation, in an attempt to end their aid to their opponents.

The Federation lost many lives before they rallied and fought back against their invaders. The ancient warlike ways and tactics of their ancestors were brought to bear against their enemies. Within a year, the entire invading army had been butchered to the last, with no survivors left. The Federation soon joined the other nations against the Pact Forces, not out of any connection or love for them, but simply because they were fighting the same foes. The Federation held their ground at great cost, but were eventually defeated in the war.

The atrocities the Federation experienced during the war has led to a more militaristic mind set for their people. Eyes turn outwards to avenging their dead, and rebuilding the ancient Empire of old.

[W3rde]

1. Nation Name: Empire of The Sunny States

2. Head of State & Age: Emperor Hideshi, Age 58

3. Political Alignment during the Most Atrocious War: Entered the war as a Pact Nation, Ended the war as a Pact Nation

4. Culture: The Empire is an Northern Island State with an culture of its own. 98% of the inhabitants are of the original Sunny States culture and the remaining 2% of some southern cultures. The food is related to in real life Japanese and Chinese food while many of the inhabitants are of the Buddhist Religion. Ever since the creation of the first States, the inhabitants had been used to military control until recent when unification brought an end to the military rule and started an royal rule.

The remaining 2% is an special region in the south of the state which had been given special status after unification. During military rule, it was heavily oppressed but resisted trough Guerilla warfare. Their food and clothing are related to Southeast Asian culture.