[CHAR] Empire State

[Dinh AaronMk]

Name:

The Family of Albanie, Sheriffs of Albany, Counts of Greene, Saratoga, the Princes of Long Island. The Elector in the Empire State Building

Location:

History:

The house of Albanie was born out of the campaigns of Adam Covanney when he pacified and occupied Albany town and Albany county. Though at this time the family held no particular history, and they have expunged their old name from most of the records. But in the early years the founder of the house, Ross took umbrage with the governor that the house of Covanney had put in control of the area and in a fit of hot blooded anger challenged the governor to a fight. The governor accepted, and the two fought with knives at the grounds of the old State House where he was killed by Ross.

When Adam Covanney heard of the duel he personally left to inquire into what had gone wrong. Arriving in Albany he was greeted by the people of Albany town, who directed him to Ross; fearing he might kill them all in anger. Interrogating Ross as to why he killed the governor, Ross explained the man he had left behind was “a thief and a fucking bastard”, adding that since he took office he was failing to perform any sort of duty and had personally slighted him when he and his men stole much of his property one night, including his dogs. When asked if he would do it again Ross answered honestly: that he would without second thought.

In a display of mercy Adam let Ross live, but he would have to join his host in its military endeavors across southern New York. This was a task that he performed with esteem and notability and was eventually granted title to Albany as its count and sheriff, putting down the roots of a growing force in the region.

At the first Covanney's death, Ross, now styling himself as “Ross from Albany” took advantage of the lack of oversight and took the neighboring counties as his own inadvertently positioning himself as a significant player in the crisis of succession with Adam's sons. Though when the dust settled over New York Ross never remained a power player, he died secure in the knowledge that as things passed to his children that his legacy was secure as he was written down as “Ross of Albany” and his sons likewise. Overtime this would change to either “Of Albanie” or simply “Albanie”.

Imperial election occurred during the life of then fifty year old Micheal Albanie who rose as the favorite after the death of Duncan Bloom. The election was immediately contested by the Zeglar family which had assumed control over much of Long Island and their fated revolt was small and isolated. As punishment, Micheal had much of the family executed and the rest put into exile as he took Long Island for himself. However, this would be the only significant event in Micheal's reign as he would die after ten years of rule and his son Charles would inherit leadership of the clan and by political machinations succeed Micheal as the Elector in the Empire State Building; emperor.

Through his reign he would trade his family's electoral holdings in the New York metropolitan area – Jersey City, Newark, and various stakes to assume control of Queens and with the exception of Kennedy have total control over Long Island. Emperor Micheal boosted the family position, particularly in New York by organizing and funding the repair of the Eerie Canal for commercial shipping between New York and the far Western Great Lakes. The capital and commerce that flowed through and the declaring of Albany as a principle port created a consistent source of income to the dynasty, likewise the use of Albany as a required stopping point allowed the family direct control of river traffic to New York City along the Hudson and Eerie Canal where they met. This boom aided his internal politics within New York and would also be strengthened his position in the distribution of economic spoils, as well as distributing the spoils of smaller less significant territories to his electoral friends and allies gained in war, particularly in the south and northern frontiers. This distribution of spoils was also accompanied by a network of relationships which promised to elect his heir of choice as replacement.

But it would take years of effort for that to start. With thirteen different women he tried to produce a son but was rocked mostly with miscarriages, daughters, or deaths shortly after birth. It wasn't until his early fifties he was finally able to sire a son, but after thirty years of rule he was able to father a son who lived passed the age of five. However after the child turned seven he died, and the machinations established earlier into life clicked into action and defaulted to electing the young boy, the shy Hopkins.

With an emperor too young to be considered a man, and not even fully literate the empire went into a state of internal crisis as a regency council was assembled. Initially by Charles friends, though they'd see themselves removed or removing themselves as intrigue characterized the new court far more so than prior with an emperor too powerless or too unwise to notice.

[DELETED32084]

Name: Free City of Boston

Location: Boston; Massachusetts
Free City of Boston Territory Map

History:

The legions of Old America seized control of Boston two centuries ago, bringing the city under strict martial governance as a measure to deal with the scourge that had swept across the Old Empire. This period is characterized by Institute scholars as having been brutal though perhaps necessary to the survival of Boston. What had been at first an assignment became a permanent military state that maintained its power through force and executed those believed to carry the plague. It transformed eventually into a quasi-knightly order, splitting the city and the surrounding land into quadrants ruled by its officers on behalf of the Governor-General, or Lord Protector as it was later styled. Today, these quadrants are known as First Base, Second Base, Third Base and Home Base by the Red Clads, but otherwise by their civilian names. House Ressocks, the current ruling family of Boston, once served as Enseeos – a type of underling – for the knightly lords of First Base.

The Cambridge Institute came under the service of the military government almost immediately, as did the Harvard Academy, for the purposes of finding a cure to the Great Sickness, though no real progress was ever made. Military rule over the city began to decline upon the discovery of an Old World specter still haunting the city. Institute scholars put the date of the discovery at over one-hundred years ago, when excavations and demolitions by the military order – presumably for the purpose of reinforcement or land-clearing – were halted by an invisible force thought long-dead. Though not much is known about this phenomenon today, records made by the military order in the earliest days of their rule speak of an intelligence said to have been in control of much of the city before being destroyed – presumably – for unknown reasons. The reemergence of this phantom proved problematic, and marked the decline of the order's grasp on the city.

The Ghost of Boston is long gone now, but before its disappearance it wrecked havoc. For reasons unknown, by means unknown, it swept through the city, bringing things to life and forever ruining others. The mayhem it created for the ruling class then allowed for the rise of the House of Ressocks and House Moore, and for the academics of the city to free themselves from what had become indentured servitude.

Spurred by the Professors of the Cambridge Institute and the Harvard Academy, Preston Ressocks, then head of the minor House of Ressocks, mounted a people's rebellion. Ressocks found unlikely support in Commodore Ryan Moore, the Naval commandant in charge of the cities port defence. The Commodore led his sailors to mutiny in support of Ressocks, culminating in the dissolution of the military order and the establishment of a Republic. For a short time, the specter lingered and aided the recovery of the city, but vanished violently shortly after, leaving an unfollowable trail of destruction. This post-military period of Boston proved difficult at first, but the city would ultimately blossom into a relatively prosperous society encouraging scientific pursuits and trade through its innumerable guilds, becoming a hub in the northeast.

The arrival of the Empire State on Boston's borders was unwelcome indeed and caused sever panic among the leadership at the time. Imperial officials made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that Boston had two choices, join the Empire through violence or surrender peacefully.

Bostonians had not been idle however and impressive fortresses guarded approaches to a city that was, in itself, a fortress. The old city had long been torn down or dismantled and the far smaller population brought within a mighty wall built in the style of ancient Lucca.

Emboldened by their impressive defences, but well aware they could not win a war with the Empire State, the Bostonians entered into negotiations with Imperial envoy. Boston was eventually guaranteed its existence, and Electoral positions, in exchange for swearing fealty to the Emperor. Many in Boston believe it was shrewd negotiating but those who personally sat through the long talks knew that it had eventually come down to Boston threatening to destroy everything it had. The Empire could either have a strong addition to its existence, or more burnt wasteland.

As the modern age dawns and a young emperor sits on the throne, Boston sits magnificent and powerful on the edge of the Atlantic. House Ressock and House Moore still maintain their control over the city, alternating leadership of the city-state every four years. It is indeed politics within politics.

To be added:
House Ressocks info @Pepperm1nts
House Moore info [@TheWyrm]

[Chairman Stein]

The Atlantic Commodores Guild

The Atlantic Commodores Guild

Flag

Location

History

Since time immemorable the city of Atlantica, or AC as it was known before the fall, has been run by men of enterprise. Records show that in ancient times Atlantica was ruled by a mighty man only known as "Commodore", who utilized suavey business sense and ruthless political tact to turn the small village into a mighty city-state in the old world. After his passing Atlantica fell into the hands of his heirs, and Atlantica prospered as a beacon of commerce and luxury. However, with the fall of the old guard the city would begin to decline, and fall into relative obscurity as the grand cities of New York, Chicago, Boston, and the fabled western "City of Angels" became dominant centers of trade and industry. However, with the great sickness and the fall came opportunity.

In the aftermath of the great collapse, local city constables moved to establish order regionally around Atlantica, utilizing support from what modern scholars can only assume was once a grand "air port" to centralize their regional control. However, no amount of military organization or martial law could prepare the new military government for what would come after the collapse. The Sickness as it is now known spread like wildfire among the poor of Atlantica, and soon not even the richest of merchants or highest ranking constable was safe from the dreaded death. However time heals all wounds, and within the decade the population of sick began to die, and with their bodies burned Atlantica would fall into a silent mourning for the world now lost.

In the region's darkest moment came the Commodores Guild. The few surviving 'old guard' of Atlantica's past came forward to the ailing populace with a plan. The solution to the presents problem was a return to the old, and with their help the grandeur of the past could be gained once more, with only a small fee of course. With little hope remaining, those left from the decades of chaos and sickness put their last prayers in the Guild, and the newly 'elected' Martin Bouwman established himself as Atlantica's first 'Grand Commodore'.

A modern interpretation of Grand Commodore Bouwman 'The Builder'

Commodore Bouwman envisioned an Atlantica restored to the greatness of the old world. A city of lights that shone like a grand lighthouse, a city for all sailors to come to port. Under the Guild's, and thus van Alden's, guidance the city's famous boardwalk was converted into a grand harbor, and small coastal vessels constructed from wooden rubble began short voyages up and down the Jersey coast looking for survivors beyond Atlantica. Over time the small city began to repair itself and, as more surviving communities were found south on the Delmarva peninsula, Atlantica became a peninsular trade hub where necessities could be traded between communities as needed. With no standardized currency like in the old world, Atlantica became home to a new form of barter economy with merchants taking sometimes vessels as small as rowboats to port in order to barter with local producers.

As the years past, and the Grand Commodore was succeeded by a series of less notable merchant lords and upstart diplomats, Atlantica plateaued as a middling merchant town with a larger than average port. However, this all changed with the rise of the Empire State.

During the reign of Harold van Zijl the city came into contact with the growing realm of House Covanney, which by this time had grown to hold much of New York and was expanding southward. Initial contact was quiet affairs, mostly probes from merchants under the new Empire standard making small deals, testing the waters for future profits. However it wouldn't be until House Covanney had secured her holdings north that eyes turned towards the lands of Jersey, and the regional power that was Atlantica. Like the many realms before, the Imperials knew that Atlantica would be a pushover. Economically middling and enough manpower to host no more than five hundred militiamen, the idea of truly resisting any attempts to just take the city were laughable; but the Emperor, in all his mercy and wit, chose to spare Atlantica from conflict. Instead the offer was a simple one, in return for swearing fealty to the House of Covanney, joining the realm, and paying a 25% tax to the Crown, Harold van Zijl and his heirs would become lordlings of their own and be given their own titles in southern Jersey. In addition, Atlantica would retain her relative autonomy. In what lesser merchant lords called a move of greed and cowardice, Harold accepted the Emperor's offer quickly; thus, the House of Van Zijl was born, and Harold became Harold van Zijl I, but was forever known in Atlantica as 'Harold Open Palm'.

Harold Open Palm, 'the Craven of Jersey' as he was known in some circles.

In the years following Atlantica's joining the Empire; the lands given to Harold I and his heirs were ultimately short lived, as was likely expected by Emperor Adam, and with Harold's sudden death of illness his sons went to work claiming all they could. The victor in this scramble for power was Franklin 'the Quick'. However, Franklin's victory came at a cost, and the only holding worth it's weight became the van Zijl court, a township known as Collingswood. During the succession wars of the van Zijls, Atlantica continued to expand her horizons economically under Commodore Anthony Sagese. Commodore Sagese saw to it that the Guild, and thus the Atlantican electorate, become more than a mere local council of vendors and captains, and moved for the Atlantica Merchant's Guild, or 'Commodore's Guild' become an official trade guild within the Empire with the same economic and political rights that such an entity would hold. Needless to say, with Atlantican vessels regularly coming to port in the grand boroughs of New York and Atlantican cargo ships selling supplies to Imperial forces at half the cost, the request was accepted quickly by the Crown. Despite the Guild being predominantly made up of sailors and vendors, with the ascention to proper Guild status within the Empire State, new voters were brought into the Guild. Among these voters were men of noble birth, an action that drew much ire from the growing 'middle class' of the city, who saw these men as thieves coming to plunder the profits won by the businesses and shipping companies.

In the modern times, the holy year of 2390, Atlantica controls the whole of southern Jersey. At the helm of the ever expanding trade empire is Commodore Theodore Lange, a gaunt man of two worlds. The House Lange has existed since the wars of Jersey succession some hundred years ago. In the aftermath of Franklin the Quick's duel with his older brother, his younger successfully bargained away the title 'Count of Brigantine'. The holding of Brigantine was a small bombed out ruin within eye sight of Atlantica's harbor; yet within twenty years the new Lord of Brigantine, William, was able to restore the Brigantine lighthouse and build a small keep around the old world relic. Thus, with control of a precious holding as a lighthouse within sight of the harbor, William began politically venturing into the Commodore's Guild, and indeed established his own small venture along the harbor selling salted poultry to sailors and vendors. Through divine blessing William's legacy survived, and what would become the Brigantine Longhouse birthed House Lange. Thus, in keeping with the tradition of his ancestors, Theodore holds the balance as a Merchant-Noble and Commodore of Atlantica. It is his duty, ordained unto him by divine providence and blessed winds, to steer the vessel of Atlantica to greater profits and glories for itself, and the greater fleet of the Empire.

All hail to the Empire! All hail to Atlantica!

[LordZell]

Name: Richmond Republic
Location: gyazo.com/8243752755befc30adaa3d63716…
History: The republic was created nearly 60 years ago. Starting out as a humble trading city, it grew into a trading hub and bustling city within the post-apocalypse world. Richmond itself is known as the flower of the south as it’s almost like a pre-war city at this point however it hasn’t grown through peace. In fact their military is very disipline and efficient. Comprised of legions that when their tour of duty is up provided land owned by the state.