Ultim
Map:
Government
Ultim's government is a true democracy. All citizens vote on a Dolori Remire (Trusted citizen) that can enact executive actions as he pleases for 10 years. This extraordinary power is kept in check by the Remirez Egatez Re Codon (Supreme Council of Citizenry Delegates). The council has the ability to impeach the Dolori Remire with a majority vote (The council is composed of 144 delegates and the Dolori Remire, who receives 1 vote.), there are no term limits. If any law is thought to be violating the Jedin Re Remirez (Literal translation is 'Grand Rights of Citizens', it is essentially a constitution and bill of rights mushed together), then the Codon Re Jediste (Supreme Council of Justice) may veto an act if the delegates vote that is violating. The act goes into effect during a delegate vote, but if it reaches the Codon Re Jediste, then the act is stopped until they vote. The Jediste Egate (Justice delegates) number 13 and are elected according to population every 6 years. The Citizens vote on their Egate Re Codon (Supreme Council Delegate) every 3 years. They are also elected per population.
Cities
•Jidon. Population: 633,300. A seaside port city with all types of wares. Resources pour in from Idona, and are shipped away to other nations. Jidon houses the Ultim embassies of nearly all nations. Not particularly large, but many people per km2.
•Idona. Population: 1,187,500. The resource producing heart of Ultim. They run a large canal to Jidon, where merchants sell the wares of the heartland. The largest city in Ultim as far as km2. The city is mostly farmland, but many inventors come to sell the latest farming tech.
•Thyon. Population: 783,000. Home of technological innovations throughout the world. Thousands of engineers flock to the city. The oil lamp, cotton gin, and firecrackers were all invented here. The city houses nearly all of the universities of the nation, most notably the prestigious Ryron Academy.
•Ilion. Population: 450,000. Home to the mansions of the wealthy and the dreams of the poor. Many wealthy aristocrats keep residences here assumer houses and villas. The ordinary folk live in the northern slums and work as servants for the rich.
Capital: Rejiste. Population: 1,662,500. Built around natural harbors and beaches, the city houses monuments on every corner. Luxurious townhouses line the streets, decorated with the banners and insignias of Ultim. Market Row houses over 1,000 shops selling various wares. The Ultim Garrison, the largest military naval fortification in the region, lies in the east. The Hero's Park houses the graves and statues of Ultim's heroic Revolutionaries and Leaders. In the center of the city, a testament to Ultim ingenuity and power, lies a 5dkm deep recessed fountain with a diameter of 3dkm. 4 1dkm wide and 5dkm on canals flow from the statues of the 4 founders down to the underwater mound, which houses the founder's swords, the blades used to build Ultim. Legend says an amulet containing a melted Yeron blade is buried beneath the mound. Regardless, the 3dkm statues of the founders and magnificent fountain leave visitors and natives alike awestruck.
Description
Language: Ultimi and Common/Tradetounge, which share a common writing system.
Population: Population: 4,716,300
Area: 18,210 km2.
Motto: Heroes are not alone.
Anthem:
Oh above the world, On the pedestal of hero We place the founders that whirled Away the blockade of justice and Yero For from tyrrany he imposed Heres from all Ultim came And thus our founders rose Of our oppressors, we made our hunting game Thus on this day and age I say we must combat Tyrrany and injustice In Founders name I pray.
Important Characters
Current
Remidion Dolori (Supreme Commander) Redin Jyning: A tall man with the dark hair and fair skin befitting a born Ultimian. Blue eyes glare from his his rather handsome face. He is said to win battles with charm rather than force. In truth, he manages to win some of the most challenging battles through logistics, strategy, and leadership. He is well liked among the upper spheres of Ultim, and seen as a people's hero. He has little drive to be a politician, but if he ran, he would be near unanimously elected. He deals very little with land campaigns, but has oversaw the revolution of naval warfare in Ultim.
Dolori Remire Jaminio Vyromo: The most brilliant man in Ultim. he was raised by intellectuals and attended the best schooling. He speaks 6 languages and has degrees in theorems of all sorts. He also has the approval of his friend and Remidion Dolori Redin Jyning (and thus most of Ultim). Why is he timid about leading the nation of Ultim? He is 25 years old, and was admitted to be Dolori Remire only by a special delegation vote. He leads expertly, but his confidence is low.
Rectarum Re (Supreme Secretary) Lyana Vix: A wise, if somewhat young, woman. She hails from Idona, and keeps the heart of the common folk. Jaminio would be driven mad without her. They work fairly well together, though they generally retreat to their respective wings of the Supreme House. She has midnight black hair and brown-black eyes. She is fairly short, but she commands a sense of authority when she walks into a room.
Founders
Jader Gyrom: The inventor of the naval cannon was an extreme asset to the Righteous Revolution. His company, Daevor Krakid, donated over 1,000 fully armed vessels to the cause. They sailed to the capital of the Nomarian splinter kingdom, on the south shores of the mainland. The kingdom of Lidide and most specifically the autocrat, or Lidinvo Jirod. He blockaded the city for 5 weeks, forcing them to stop sending out troops. Without him, the war would have fallen to the simple brute force of the Kingdom of Yero.
Myditha Jezize: A passionate woman who would charge head on with her generals into battle. She is known to have given the mark on every single cannon shot made in her battles and to rally her troops as supreme commander on the front lines, waving banners of freedom to taunt the enemy. She was brilliant strategist, and knew that the heart of the people lied Idona, and as such set about surrounding it. The inner rebels were inspired, and pushed the military to the outskirts where Jezize ambushed them. This secured the resources that would prove vital in the war.
Ikano Orivio: The only Yeron founder, he felt sympathetic to the cause of Ultim and spied in the capital as well as Rejiste. He gave the revolution access to secret tunnels and open passages as so they could take the city. During the battle, he led a small diversion crew to the point where the Yeron Army was going to ambush. The diversion crew bravely surrendered as POWs, but because the revolutionaries had sunk in through one such tunnel, they avoided painful torture-interrogation. Without Rejiste, millions would have died due to a planned 'purge' of Ultimians.
Ithitha Ryreta: The boldest of the founders, she was a flame of justice. Her parents and older sister were tortured and killed by the Yeron, and she sought bloody revenge. When Ultim rebelled, she volunteered her life for the chance to kill every Yeron who got in the way of Ultim. Leading the charge on Jidon, Ryreta boldly lead the armies herself. When a diversion was needed to keep the army away from the main keep, Ryreta offered herself as a high-value target. Many said she should lead the charge, but she insisted she would be more valuable as a diversion. They finally agreed. She managed to kill 300 Yeron with assorted bombs, acrobatic stunts, and ambush, but she fell to the surging army. Jidon was taken, be so was she. She is the only founder to die in the war, and without her Jidon wad be turned to bloodbath and ruin.Traits
Army
11,000 Pikemen
2,500 Longbowmen
10,000 Crossbowmen
The actual land army is mostly for show, although they partake in police work and such.
Small Army: Your nation maintains a relatively small number of troops, when fielded in battle against another nation your forces are almost always outnumbered. +2
What is (Land) Gunpowder?: Your nation lacks land muskets, and is stuck using old crossbows and bows. +4
Never been out of the village: Your men have almost all never been outside their own borders. Other countries lands and environments are almost alien, especially those on another continent. They will suffer from not being able to deal with weather and being unable to forage as well. +1
Navy
5 Ships of Line
4 Frigates
8 Barques
5 Brigs
7 Galleys
New Age Ship Construction: New ways of shaping the wood and newly discovered types of wood has led to advances in how ships perform. However these come at a cost, making ships more expensive than usual. +/-0
Ships of Line: The largest ships to sail the sea’s are expensive and vast undertakings however your nation has viewed this as a needed expense. Your fleets have a number of these ships. -2
King of the Seas: Your nation has a glorious Maritime history and a navy that matches, many grand ships fill your docks and sailors are viewed as hero’s in the eye of the public. -3
Economy
GDP: †35,250,874,667 ($74,000,000,000) (Very Wealthy)
Hub of the World: Your nation overflows with gold in the coffers, goods from lands far and wide arriving through your ports. Every merchant will take large detours to even just be able to shortly dock in your ports, and you have many a merchant and trader. You control most of the local trade routes in your area, and are wealthy beyond measure for it. -6 (S)
Other
Stability: Slightly Stable
Government:
"The King should answer to none, so why does the Church expect me to answer to them?"
-King Kalle XII, "Behovet av Regeln"
The Holy Vanjanan Empire is an Absolute Monarchy, where the oldest remaining child of the monarch is heir to the throne. The monarch holds all power, and disobeying an order from them is the exact same thing as treason. Whether or not that charge of treason results in death is up to the monarch, as they can override any decision made by anyone else in the empire. The philosophy behind this is that by making the will of the Empire the will of its monarch, corruption and internal competition would be eliminated, thus creating a stronger nation. Whether or not this was correct can be debated, but the outcome of the Great Nordsjön War is usually referenced as proof of the government's effectiveness.
The monarch is also in complete control of the Empire's religion, a tradition that started with the current King Kalle XII Storen. Vanjana had long been entrenched in their religious beliefs, with the monarch always answering to the church. Kalle, however, refused to be crowned by the church. Instead, he claimed to answer to none other than God himself. After the Great Nordsjön War, the church found it hard to disagree.
Kalle Storen himself is famous for his genius, both political and military, as he proved during the Great Nordsjön War. His is known to be cruel to anyone who opposes him, to the point that he has many executed for daring to question the simplest of decisions. He holds a firm belief that to oppose him is to oppose the Goddess. However, this also means that to follow his orders is to serve the Goddess, and thus he is known to greatly reward those that do not question him. Because of his belief that his will is that of the Goddess, he will almost never change his mind, and refuses to accept that anything he does could possibly be bad. However, there is more to him than his arrogance, and he has been known to change his mind if someone gives him an extremely good reason to. These people always earn his respect, as finding a reason good enough to make him change his mind is nigh impossible.
Economy:
"If a nation is a steamship, then the economy is the boiler that gives it the power to move forward."
-King Kalle XII, "En Arbetare är Värt"
The Holy Vanjanan Empire has a strong tradition of capitalism, going back to long before its rise to power. With the aristocracy eliminated during the absolutist reforms of King Gustav II Storen, the bourgeoisie quickly became the leaders of the Vanjanan economy, establishing themselves as the owner of all industry. The Holy Vanjanan Empire exports almost exclusively manufactured goods of all types, which they produce in great quantity. They do export raw materials, but even the most common export (Lumber) is an almost trivial percentage of total export profits.
The Vanjanan economy is unremarkable aside from its strong industry. A completely and absolutely average number of ships pass through, taking on an average amount of products, and paying an average amount of cash before finally leaving after paying an average tariff. Due to this, a major part of Vanjanan industry is dedicated to producing things that will be used by the nation itself. Among these products are weapons, the quality of which is considered unmatched within the Empire.
Leaders/Important People:
"The best of troops are useless without a general to command them, so how can anyone expect a nation to succeed without a King to lead it?"
-King Kalle XII, "Behovet av Regeln"
King Kalle XII Storen:
Now in his mid 30's, Kalle XII has reigned ever since he was fifteen. At that young age, he turned a defensive war into an offensive war and conquered two nations in the Great Nordsjön War. He is beloved by his followers, who believe him to be the voice of the Goddess' will. His arrogance is famous as is his cruelty to his enemies. If you follow him, he will love you. If you oppose him, he will hate you. There are very few, if any, things and people he is neutral towards. During the Great Nordsjön War, he took command of the Vanjanan armies and crushed the nations of Nordsted and Varmjord in a series of miraculous Vanjanan victories. This earned him the respect of the church and the love of his people, but he wasn't done yet. He cemented his rule in Nordsted through political maneuvering, making the people see him as a liberator instead of a conqueror. In Varmjord, he decimated any rebels that would dare rise up, keeping his rule safe simply out of fear that he was invincible. He currently has no heir, more than likely because nobody sane would marry such a man.
Marshal Mathias Holger:
Mathias Holger is the command of all Vanjanan forces, in an odd move by the King. Up until the end of Great Nordsjön War, he himself command the entire army (Inventing the rank of Marshal for himself). Mathias was just a general under his command, but when he took command of three separate armies and captured the entire northern coast of Varmland, the King took interest. After the war, the King ran him through a series of trials based off of his own strategies, all of them on a theater-wide level. When he managed to beat every single one, the King immediately declared him to be the Marshal of the Vanjanan Army, believing that he was chosen by the Goddess to assist him. He now commands the movement of the entire Vanjanan Army, assisted by a network of mounted messengers. He has become the pride of Vanjana, as this kind of widespread control of multiple armies at once is almost unheard of.
Captain Helmi Lisbet:
Helmi Lisbet was born in Nordsted, and is nothing more than a Captain in the Vanjanan Army. By "Nothing More", we mean "Nobody promotes her because she's too good of a Captain". Her force of 250 soldiers is under direct command of the King himself and serves as his royal guard, as well as his fist. Whenever a rebellion rises, her force is the first there, and the other forces to arrive often find that there is no longer a rebellion. She doesn't solve things like most of the Vanjanan army though, where others would execute as an example, she shows mercy.
She is unflinchingly loyal to the King, mainly due to her heritage. Being from Nordsted, she sees the King as the liberator of her people. Interestingly, she has little contact with him, and only receives orders from messengers he sends. She prefers this, as she would rather not confirm the rumors of his arrogance and cruelty by meeting him, instead choosing to live in ignorance of everything he did except for "liberating" Nordsted.
King Nikolaus I Keld:
Nikolaus I was the leader of the Varmland rebellion three years ago, and his uprising seemed promising until Helmi Lisbet arrived. He was the Prince of Varmland before the war, and this has earned him the support of the people, who supply his rebels with everything they can without getting caught. People often fake their own death in order to join his army, being brought to one of his hideouts through a complex series of safehouses and forgotten roads. There are other rebel groups, but his is the most well funded, with rumors saying that he even has a naval force. There is little known about the man himself, but it is a well known fact that he despises Kalle XII. He sees him as a manipulative and power-hungry tyrant who gains loyalty through word instead of action. His critics call him a useless idealist with his head in the clouds, thanks to his promises of democracy despite being a royal himself.
Desired Map location:
"The Goddess smiles upon the north, for the north smiles back."
-Unknown Vanjanan Monk
Important Locations/Settlements:
"Our cities are thriving, our fortresses are impenetrable, and our monuments stand tall. Never before has the North seen such glory."
-King Kalle XII, "En Arbetare är Värt"
Heligastaden: The capital of Vanjana, this city is both a bustling port city and a center of industry. The classes are highly visible here, with the rich living right on the coast and the housing getting progressively worse as one journey's further inland. Since the houses of the rich are on the coast, the city looks quite nice from the ocean. However, venturing too far from the docks will land you in a smog-filled, gang-run hell.
Stadenavguld: The regional capital of Nordsted, this city was once known as "Byavgull", but the name was translated into Vanjanani after the war. It is a center of trade between Nordsted and Vanjana Proper, with nearly all of Vaanjana's goods and Nordsted's resources passing through it.
Stadenavbröd: The regional capital of Varmland, this city was constructed entirely by Vanjanan forces and is less of a city than it is a military outpost. Its people are policed by an army regiment stationed there, which outnumbers them greatly, and the city acts as a connecting point across the Lägre Nordsjön to Vanjana Proper. Its name comes from the fact that nearly all goods going from Varmland to Vanjana Proper are food products.
Oövervinnligafästning: The center of all Vanjanan military operations, this is a massive citadel on Vanjana's coast that contains facilities for both the Navy and the Army. It is connected with roads to all other military installations in Vanjana Proper, able to command any force, anywhere in the mainland. Its defenses are certainly not trivial, with a division of Vanjana's best troops stationed there at all times and many of Vanjana's Naval fleets calling it home. It is said that even if the cities of Vanjana are reduced to rubble, Oövervinnligafästning will still be standing.
Palatsavdenlord: The royal palace, located in the countryside near Heligastaden. It was built quite recently by King Kalle XII himself, as he had come to hate the city. It is famous for its extravagance, which the King has many times asserted is only to impress diplomats, insisting that he would have rather spent the money on something more practical. Whatever he claims, it is still true that the palace is a perfect example of badly allocated funds.
Vanjana: The central part of the nation situated in-between Varmland and Nordsted, this is the location of the capital, royal palace, and Oövervinnligafästning. It is the seat of the Empire, and its inhabitants are by far the most loyal. Industry is abundant here, as the Vanjanan Kingdom that became the Holy Vanjanan Empire was a major trade power in the North.
Nordsted: The northern part of the Empire, this is a territory conquered fifteen years ago in the Great Nordsjön War. It is a frozen and mountainous land with many deposits of natural resources. It is were the majority of the Empire's resources come from, and tends to be cooperative with the Imperial government thanks to Kalle XII's political maneuvering convincing them that he was liberating them from a corrupt government.
Varmland: The southern part of the Empire, which is across the Lägre Nordsjön. It is by far the most rebellious, though every attempt at freeing themselves from Vanjanan rule has been met with failure. They are kept in line only with fear, and most inhabitants of this land are simple farmers, with no way to get effective weapons. They provide most of the food to support Vanjana and Nordsted, but are nonetheless treated as second-class citizens due to their rebelliousness.
Description: The people of Vanjana Proper come in two types: The extremely rich and the extremely poor. Almost everyone lives in a city, and all cities have clear class separations. The rich live in the middle of the city, and as you go further out, the buildings get more rundown. Sadly, there is no sign of this changing, as even the poor workers are content with it. They have a "There's no point in trying" attitude towards change, and settle for their meager wages. While these poor men, women, and children slowly kill themselves in the hellhole of the outer city, the rich throw extravagant parties in the inner city, not caring at all whether their workers live or die so long as they get their profits. Even in the hell in which they live, the poor can find the time for fun, and it is not uncommon to see people of all ages playing various sports during off-hours.
In Nordsted, the same society as Vanjana proper continues until a point at which the hills end and the mountains begin. Past that point, there are no rich or poor, only people. They may be employed by the rich of Vanjana and the King himself, but the rich rarely come to the mines, and thus they live a much better life than the poor of Vanjana proper. Those in the mining towns are famous for their "Festival av Frihet", which is an annual festival celebrating the day Nordsted was conquered by Vanjana. They see that day as their day of liberation, as the mines were formerly harassed by bandits until the Vanjanan military wiped them out. Even the rich in the cities allow their workers to travel to the festival, as doing so gets them in well with the King, who obviously likes the fact that the festival exists.
In Varmland, there are few cities, and most of the land is dotted with farms. It holds the vast majority of Vanjanan food production, as Vanjana proper and Nordsted have little arable land. Even more so than Nordsted, its people are free from the tyranny of the rich, with each farm being independent of any larger organization. Despite their relative freedom, they are the most rebellious, still holding on to their nationality. However, very few will publicly display their ideas, as the freedom only extends to those who do not oppose the King. The Vanjanan military puts down any revolts, and the people of Varmland live not in fear of the rich, but in fear of the King.
The dominant religion in the Holy Vanjanan Empire is "Aätt av Atjärnan Ljus", and its followers are known as "Soldater av Stjärnan Ljus". They believe that all the universe is in a constant struggle between good and evil, and that there are an infinite number of gods and goddesses constantly battling on each side in order to secure victory. They believe that the stars are worlds just like Adara, some of which are populated by mortals, and others which are wastelands created from the endless war. It is believed that all mortals were created by goddesses (and only goddesses) on both sides to do battle for them. As such, it is an incredibly violent religion, known for seeing anyone who refuses to convert as a mortal created by an evil goddess.
The Soldater av Stjärnan Ljus worship one goddess in particular, who they simply call "The Goddess". She is believed to be the goddess that created the good humans, and is said to grant her power to only the best of people. King Kalle XII claims to be one of these people, going so far as to say that he is the avatar of The Goddess' will. There are many Monks and Nuns who have spent their entire lives devoted to worshipping the Goddess, hoping to be chosen to gain her power in their next life.
There are multiple languages in the Holy Vanjanan Empire, but the most used is Vanjanani (Similar to Swedish). Ancient Vanjanani is used in the anthem, however, and most know at least those words. The currency is the Fyrapoängstjärnamynt (Often shortened to Frya). There are quarter Frya coins, half Frya coins, one Frya coins, two Frya coins, four Frya coins, eight Frya coins, and sixteen Frya coins. The coins below one Frya are made from silver, their thickness determining their value. Above one Frya, the coins are made from gold, with their width determining their value. All are stamped with the face of Kalle XII.
Traits:
Elite Army: Your nation’s army is a well oiled machine capable of easily wiping out the Veteran’s of other nations, it is hardened by years of battle and it’s Generals well versed in strategy. -6 (S)
Water is Hell: Your nation has become so afraid of naval affairs that they are even scared of getting near the coast, and going out on even just a small trip down river is considered a death sentence. Those not afraid of venturing out into the sea are often treated as abnormal and sometimes as witches. +6 (Adds Stability)
Rotting Hulls: Your nation views ship maintenance as an unneeded cost and so many of your ships have weak wood and the sails are torn and with holes in them. They will not perform well at sea. +2
Strong Industry: Your craftsmen and labourers are good quality and hardworking making some of your nations goods very reliable, sometimes fetching a high price from a market. -2
“I’m not a racist but…”: Your people look down on those from outside their own street, let alone those from another country. If you wish to attack another group of people you will be backed 100% of the way however foreigners are very loathe to come into your country. +/-0
Free market: Your economy is not controlled by the state, it can fluctuate completely freely. This means that it can rise incredibly quickly making you very rich, however you are vulnerable to recessions and collapses. -1
Large Army: Your nation maintains an army of many men that can dwarf many of the smaller nations. -2
Militias: Local town and cities employ militias meaning that during times of war they are able to provide a small garrison of men in their defence. -1
Army:
Navy:
GDP:
Population:
Stability:
Major Province Flags:
Vivia
Saxley
Morland
Alswell
Form of Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Describe the System: (Describe how your country is run in some more detail.} The Monarch of Corustaria (Known as the King or Queen) is a very important and powerful figure. Alongside the monarch there is a parliament with a range of powers which acts as a legislator. The monarch can dissolve parliament at their own discretion, and also has many administrative functions, working with parliament rather than independently of it. While Morland is the heart of the Kingdom, the remaining islands are mostly autonomous, with their own heads of state, for example Vivia having a Petty King. All these are subservient to the King/Queen and Morlands Parliament
Location on Map Desired: The largest of the Eastern Islands 
Capital: Stavedon, a massive city built around the bay of Stavedon to the South East of Morland, relatively close to the Morish-Vivian border, the River Thyme flowing through it into the ocean, making it a port-side city to house it's naval assets and one of the more important trade centers of the isles.
Important Settlements: Pottershead (A large town in the center of Morland. It recently boomed to a massive side and became extremely important as the tree's surrounding it turned out to be excellent for ship building using the new methods) Albaport (Capital of Saxley, known for it's apples and mining, its located on the east coast of Saxley) Ivarford (A major mining town in the Weyland islands, notable for exporting large amounts of metals to the mainlands) Glassley (Capital of Alswell. Culturally significant, but it's economic value is relatively low compared to the other capitals) Bastillia (Capital of Vivia that is located along the River Charles in the south east of Vivia. Known for it's fine wines and vineyards. Bastillia gets it's name from the Bastile lying near it's center, a twelve hundred (1200) year old castle that has been razed and rebuilt many times in the battle scarred history that came before unification) Kingswood (A major town in the northeast of Vivia. It is renowned for the great forest surrounding it which has long since provided wood for ships) Newkeep (A Saxley city located near the center of Saxley, it has become one of the most prosperous on the island after having struck a huge vein of gold and silver. Jewlers and Smiths dot its streets, and it provides a major source of income for the government.) Dunworth (The largest city in Lesser Morland, located in the north of lesser Morland.
Description: Very Victorian esque in its architecture, the cities of the Corustaria range from beautiful manors and pretty cobble stone streets, to less... Appealing slums. New, revolutionary ideas spread like wild fire in the heat of summer, as great minds expand the fields of science. Some things never change however. They are still proud of their navy, and almost incessant are the chants of "Bigger, better, stronger" whenever someone so much as hears the word "Navy". There are four main nations. Morland, Vivia, Saxley, Alswell, situated on mainland Corustaria, and there were formally smaller nation states on the minor islands that surround it, though they have long since been absorbed into their larger brothers and in turn unified into the Empire of Corustaria. Morland is the largest, richest and most powerful nation, where the capital is situated built around a bay with a small entrance.
Aside from pride in the nation of Corustaria, there is pride in the individual nations (and sometimes regions within these nations), flying their colours proudly alongside the other. In particular, Vivia believes the souls of the fallen cling to their regiments colours, and that to lose the colours would be an insult to their memory. Morland has a long running tradition, which has been transferred into a Corustarian tradition, of the Monarchs Colours. This flag, referred to as the King or Queens Colours, are "touched by the hand of the monarch themselves" and bestowed only upon the most worthy regiments or units. This unit must continue to perform to the highest standards, or the colours may be "usurped" by another regiment, upon which the monarch shall instead bestow the colours upon that regiment. Not only is their the added pressure of losing the colours to another regiment, but if the colours fell into enemy hands, then the mark would forever stain the regiments record. "To lose the Queens Colours is to lose the Queens favour", as they say.
Religion is a somewhat avoided topic on the island, as the Princess is an atheist, while the King was of a different religion to the Prince and the Queen. This is actually a running theme in Morlands royal family, with the monarchs often being of separate beliefs due to there being wildly varying religions around the parts of Corustaria in the old days, and is merely another trait Corustaria has inherited from Morland. Its considered impolite to speak of your own religion unless another inquires, a social construct that came to be in no small part because of a period in Morlands history where your religion could make you lose your head...
Given their interesting socialist esque system of providing free education up till age 10, and education past that being relatively cheap compared to other countries, their technological prowess is considerable. While this has supposedly devalued their degree's and honours in the eyes of the paying elite that fill the continent, it has resulted in a literacy rate nearing 70%... No small feat for the time period
On the subject of socialist esque systems, this is a running theme is several areas. Setting them apart from the mainland their government is responsible for free (This is actually a misconception, as it is supported through taxes) though limited healthcare for its citizens, along with child support money for widows or widowers (But not for single parents who have become single by any other means, or to families) small pensions for the old and (admittedly limited) support for those out of work. This has made a somewhat healthy and effective workforce, and their people are generally taller than the continental average. This puts a drain on the economy, and the economy has to be carefully regulated in order to avoid a crash. The national reserve is the emergency funding, and a small amount of money is set aside for it each year. This system has created several industry giants, whom the government owns large shares in, including the somewhat dreaded "Royal Trading Company."
The Royal Trading Company is an Empowered Company, backed by government forces and legitimacy. In return, the government recieves a share of the money. It is often said the RTC gets a great a deal, as the money they give the government funds the healthcare and education programs, which in turn creates a strong and capable workforce for the Company.
The Currency of Corustaria is the Vestibulum coin. Made out of gold, bronze and silver depending on worth, these coins have the head of the Queen stamped onto them, and on the other side bear the national symbol of wherever the coin was issued (Lion for Morland, Dragon for Saxley, Grapes for Vivia, Bear for Alswell etc) Bank notes are also used, exchangeable at the bank for coin.
Corustaria is known for being very cosmopolitan; Divisions aren't laid out by creed, colour or gender. In fact, it's known for having fierce women in the ranks of it's sailors, as well as minority groups and those viewed by others as 'savages' fighting among it's marines. This is partly down to their nature, being already made from several different peoples who have unified rather than being a single country to begin with. This is not to say there isn't racism or sexism within their society. As will all colonial nations, they still have their own views on what's 'womanly' and 'savage'. And their own way of ensuring people do not rise past their station...
There are multiple languages within Corustaria; The most common is Moorish and is spoken by nearly everyone, Northtongue, Vinish, Paelalic and Saelic are also commonly spoke in their respective regions. There are numerous minor tongues that are sometimes spoken as well
Although it's army is something of a joke due to underfunding and it's generals being perpetually at each others throats, the individual soldier is not actually terrible. Many are loyal and committed, even if they are poorly trained and ill equipped. Unfortunately, this leads to soldiers having a poor reputation, when it is more down to the fault of their superiors than it is their own. This has led to a somewhat awful recruitment level, with would be soldiers flocking to join the navy or marines instead
Something important to note is that Corustaria's Marines are considered much better fighters than it's actual army. They are feared opponents at sea, storming enemy vessels and firing on the swaying decks with shocking accuracy, partly down to skill and experience and partly down to their use of the superior equipment to their land based counter parts
There are three major and common chivalrous orders in Corustaria, while others exist these are either the most common or the most notable:
The Order of the Rose:The highest of the chivalrous orders, it dates back to the 11th century and the reign of Queen Amelia of Morland. She would give a ceramic, personally made rose to her most loyal supporters during her reign. It was derived from the coat of arms of the Duchy of Elcia from whence she came, which had 5 roses on its coat of arms. She split the duchy onto 5 pieces, and receiving a Rose gave the recipient one fifth of the duchy as a result. Although the Duchy has long since passed from Morlands hands, first to the Norian Empire during the conquest's and then spread across the borders of three other states, the custom remains for there only to be 5 knights of the rose. Due to it no longer being a landed title in anything but paper, the order of the Rose can technically be granted to foreign nobles, however none have ever been given it.
The Order of the Talon: A chivalric order created in the 15th century at the height of the Morland-Saxley wars. It's original members are said to have been those who slaughtered the dragon of Saxley and presented it's head to the King of Morland. Originally knights of the order were given specially carved armour but with the advent of gunpowder they are instead given a carved flintlock pistol and sword. It carries no land or even the historical claims of land like the Order of the Rose and can have up to 42 recipient at any time, however it still carries a large amount of prestige and can be given to anyone regardless of birth
The Order of the Corustarian Crown: The most junior chivalric order and by far the most populous, this order is both civil and military and can be given to a limitless number of people regardless of nationality. It carries a certain prestige with it, especially with it's upper classes, but is viewed as a much less desirable award to the Talon or the Rose.
Important Characters:
King Heinrich Wight (41, DECEASED): The harsh but fair King Heinrich ruled over Corustaria for 24 years after ascending to the throne at 17. Born abroad, Heinrich married into the Corustarian throne and proved moderately popular with the people (although some were angered by his lineage). As per Corustarian custom, he took his wifes surname as she was of higher stature and power than he was, Tragically, he was lost during the Winter War some 4 years ago and was given the traditional royal burial as per his instructions. His death left his wife with a claim to the barony of Hanton in Lancia, however due to a law forbidding Queens they forbid her from being crowned its ruler. The law has since been repealed, and Corustaria has shown a keen influence in finding some way to enforce the claim...
Queen Emmeline Wight (32): Known as "Emmeline the Wise" to some, she is known for being publically kind and fair. Behind closed doors however, she is a very determined and sometimes dangerous woman, ambitious and with the intelligence and power to back it up, she is well aware how to play the game of politics, even if she does not always approve of it. It is rumoured that she has refused to take a new husband due to her wedding vows, which while commendable in personal terns is politically poor.
Princess Lillian Wight (15): The Princess has been described by continental suitors as being attractive; Not beautiful, but definitely a striking lady. Unfortunately, she's also been described as having an unwomanly interest in warfare, as well as having a tendency to correct everyone around her incessantly, which has annoyed suitors greatly. She has objected to her mother arranging any marriage and has said that she wants to at least like "Whatever posh twit I get married off to". She is notable in the isles for her charity work within the cities, often donating large portions of her royal allowance to the needy and has been a strong political activist, particularly in support of widening eligibility for the healthcare system to involve a wider portion of society as well as in favour of equality laws. Her strong stance on Gender and Racial issues is also famed, or perhaps infamous. All this has given her a reputation as being very kind and just, though she is also very stubborn. Some, including Grand Admiral Thorne (who privately tutored her in the art of naval warfare on her own request) believe her to be a better choice for the throne.
Prince Thaddeus Wight (16. Heir to the throne): In contrast to Lillian, he is less politically active. He seeks glory, wealth and prestige, in that order. He lacks the eloquence in his speeches that his mother and sister are notable for. Although he has a strong sense of justice, he I slow to grant pardons for any offence, preferring instead to carry out the law. In short, he certainly takes more after his father.
Royal Spymaster Richard Blank (42): A shifty man in a position that does not officially exist. Although Grand Admiral Thorne repeatedly calls Blanks loyalty into question, Blank insists that he is only ever loyal to Corustaria... Which is true, he certainly has a love for all things Corustarian, one needs only walk into his chambers to see that. He is officially the designated regent, however his position as Spymaster is kept from the public gaze.
Royal Lifeguard Severus Gadge (37): The name is misleading as obviously there is more than one bodyguard. "Royal" in these contexts usually means the head of a group, there is obviously more than one bodyguard, the others are officially reffered to as "Petty Lifeguards", though informally many simply call them the Lifeguards or the Queens Guard (Even they sometimes introduce themselves or announce their presence as the Queens Guard, and it has become semi-formal) Gadge is a veteran of the Royal Marines and now serves as the commander of the Lifeguards. A member of the chivalrous Order of the Rose, he serves his monarch proudly.
Royal Physician Marie Roseburrow (31): Marie is one of the most promising young minds in Corustaria, having studied at the Royal University of Natural Philosophy in Stavedon and gone on to write a thesis about the possibility of metal ships within the future, although it has been deemed "outrageous" by many sections of the scientific community and simply expelled completely by several prominent members of the navy. After all, everyone knows that metal does not float. She has done extensive work into the human body and is responsible for curing one of the most dreaded diseases on Corustaria, the infamous "brain rot" that was passed by a parasite which fed of animals and would often end up transferring to owners or those with close proximity to the infected animals.
Prime Minister Arnold Carnifex (61): The elected Prime Minister Carnifex has had a colourful life, to be sure. Serving in the Royal Marines, he fought in several wars and became highly decorated, until he was crippled in combat. Rather than retire, however, Arnold Carnifex decided he still needed to serve his country and so decided to become a politician. Founding the Right Wing "Crown Party", he was brought to power on a platform that consisted mainly of bringing up the army up to date and expanding the countries industry, both of which he has yet to achieve. As a member of the Order of the Corustarian Crown, his service has been recognised and he has written an autobiography that achieved some success within Morland and Vivia, though he proves unpopular in Alswell and Saxley
Minister for War and Grand Admiral Esmond Thorne (51): Like the Royal Bodyguard, Grand Admiral Thorne belongs to the Order of the Rose and is highly respected among the Corustarian people, and indeed is a respected Admiral across Edorinas it's self, known for his military cunning and his scholarly ways. It was Esmond Thorne who has ensured the ships of the line were constructed by Corustaria, ships which would otherwise have been scrapped due to expenses, when he demonstrated their effectiveness personally in battle. Thorne has used his position as Minister for War to ensure that funding is delivered to the navy and used to equip the marines and ships with top of the line equipment
Petty King Julius of Vivia (44): Julius Adhelm serves as the leader of the Petty Kingdom of Vivia, though swears his allegiance to the Wight Dynasty. He is a loyal supporter of the Wight family, being a distant relative the Adhelm family was installed on the Vivian throne by Emmeline's ancestors in order to secure a loyal powerbase in Vivia and solidify the overall grasp of the family on the isles, as they slowly acquired hegemony of the isles to form Corustaria. Julius is a hedonistic man more concerned with personal pleasure and interests than with any long term goals for his people, and as such has outsourced many affairs to Governor Generals from Morland who enact the will of the Corustarian Parliament and Royal Family. His hedonism has been passed down to his two daughters. Despite this attitude, he has done little to incur the wrath of his people, and the Corustarian government is careful to respond to any problems in his realm swiftly to ensure the people are placid.
Traits:
Base points (4): ----
Outdated Army (2): Corustaria has seen modern army equipment as a worthless investment, forgoing it in favour of superior naval vessels
Small Army (2): The Corustarian army is, for various reasons, a relatively small contender in Edorinastic terms
Off the beaten track (2): Due to the isles less than lucrative position and relative political isolation, trade routes have been slow to form
State Controlled (1):
Poseidon (-6): Corustaria has one of, if not the, most glorious and colourful maritime histories of the continent. There is a seemingly never ending love for the navy in the isles and finding a Corustarian who can't swim is like trying to find a man who cannot breath air. Perhaps this stems from them outlasting the Norian Empire by sea, indeed they consider their navy beloved of the divine for its successes in that period and it was due to this that the nations of Corustaria had to swear hegemony rather than to face occupation. Corustarian law, although unrealistic, states that Corustaria must have more naval power than the next two powers combined; A law which their economy is struggling to keep up with
Ships of the Line (-2): Admiral Thorne is a vocal advocate for these massive behemoths. They are viewed as a necessity by the Corustarian government and are symbols of national wealth and power. Again, although unrealistic, Corustarian law says the navy must have at least 1.5 times the ships of the line of any other nation. Just another law they're having trouble following through on
Sealegs (-1)
Multicultural (-2)
New Age Ship Construction (0)
Empowered Company (0)
Army:
15,000 Arurbusiers
5,000 Pikemen
2,000 Crossbowmen
Navy:
4 Ships of Line
9 Frigates
6 Barques
11 Brigs
2 Galleys
GDP: 49,000,000,000 ($) (Below Average Wealth but Empowered Companies mean opportunities will arise)
Population: 5,500,000
Stability: Stable