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The Blood Hierarchy
Singular: Bloody, Bloodborne
Plural: The Bloodied
Insults: Vamps, Slavers, Bloodsuckers, etc
The Blood Hierarchy
Singular: Bloody, Bloodborne
Plural: The Bloodied
Insults: Vamps, Slavers, Bloodsuckers, etc
Description: The Blood Hierarchy is an often disparaged nation of vampires, forged for the sole purpose of providing a safe haven for those of the blood-drinking persuasion. Rarely if ever has it expanded its borders or attempted to subjugate another nation, preferring instead to defend itself when necessary. Considering its 'bloody' nature, the Hierarchy is surprisingly pacifistic. This has been a tenable situation because of the defensible nature of its terrain and the numerous bottlenecks and chokepoints present within its borders.
This pacifistic nature, combined with an essentially undying populace, has lent itself to breeding some of the most important forerunners of magic and technology, with recent pushes in technology being towards fusing magic and technology much the same way that the rumors say the Commonwealth is attempting. Indeed, the Blood College is one of the premier institutes of both science and magic, garnering students from across the world, students that often end up becoming Citizens of the Hierarchy.
Unfortunately, the Hierarchy's perennial refusal to push outward and attempt to influence, dominate, or otherwise unnecessarily interact with its neighbors has in recent times led to a shrinking economy, and an an ever-boring and malnutritious supply of food for the peasants, among other issues. Because of this, combined with the ever present feeling of oppression many peasants feel naturally as they essentially serve as a blood supply, the Hierarchy has been experiencing a growing segment of the population that are becoming louder about lacking many things in life. In the past, it was enough that the Blood Dream existed, where a peasant could rise and become a Citizen by proving themselves capable, but now, the Blood Dream seems to be less and less capable at satiating the non-vampiric species.
Government: The government is headed at its top by one of the oldest vampires and most powerful sorcerers in existence, referred to only as The Blood Lord, who holds all power in the realm. From them, their power trickles down into a carefully crafted bureaucracy of Ministries who have dominion over certain aspects of the realm, with beneath them being smaller local provincial governments, all of whom are given positions only by proving their capabilities in whatever field they choose to dedicate their eternity to.
Economy: The economy that isn't agrarian is centered primarily around textiles, ironworking, and woodworking, with the Hierarchy's centuries-old craftsmen making lavish works of art, fashion, or impressively fine weapons and armors. Indeed, it is said that a Bloody Sword or Bloody Cannon is among the best in the world to own, if the owner cares not for its source. Their economy is also deeply interwoven with science and magic, as their scientists and magicians continue to push the boundaries of what is possible.
Unfortunately, the lack of agrarian or animal products, as well as a few other simpler goods or even precious metals, requires the Hierarchy to allow its merchants to trade with the outside world for these goods.
Religion: The Blood Hierarchy's official stance on religion is simple: "God Is Dead." This conclusion is obvious given the existence of a nation of vampires who never die from old age.
Geography: TBD
Population: 2,300,000
Demographics
10% Vampiric Persons (Citizens): 230,000
Subdivided into various races
90% Other (Non-Citizens): 2,070,000
Exact composition TBD
Notable Locations
TBD
Personalities of Note
The Blood Lord, an enigmatic ruler whose name has been lost to time. Known to be an incredible sorcerer as well as one of the oldest vampires. Few people say they've met the person, even fewer aren't lying.
More TBD
Institutions:
The Blood College, a world-renowned institute of science and magic. Many students who come here never return, choosing instead to become a Citizen and grab hold of the opportunity to live forever, studying their field.
More TBD
Military:
Organization: A professional volunteer force composed essentially entirely of Citizens, besides some logistics people, which is most skilled in defending positions and reacting quickly to threats, though drills are conducted for offensive maneuvers. Many of the Citizens within the military have spent decades or centuries fighting, and are battle-hardened veterans. Their equipment is nearly always kept in superb order and reused or recycled, and the military as a whole is known for their professionalism and morale, as if they fall, the only known haven for vampirism falls.
Troop Total: 46,000 Citizens (2% of total population. It is mandated that every 1 in 5 Citizens serves in the military, and this service is seen by most as an incredible honor to preserve the Haven and the Hierarchy.)
Army: (Far more supported due to the Hierarchy's omnipresent threat from across the land. Most of the members of the military can use magic at some level or another. However, it is the Lordlings who wield magic with horrendous affect.)
Infantry: 37,000
Pikemen: 10,000
Arquebusiers: 2,000
Longbowmen: 20,000
Lordlings (mage soldiers, often higher ranked): 5,000
Cavalry: 3,000
Light Cavalry: 1,000
Heavy Cavalry: 2,000
Cannoneers: 6,000
Fieldsmen: 4,000
Siegemen: 2,000
Navy: (Typically neglected due to lack of interest in projecting naval power)
War Galleys: 50
Other:
2,000 Field Cannon designed for killing people mainly using hundreds of tiny iron balls as ammunition
700 Siege Cannon designed to break walls and/or kill nasty armored beasts.
Other:
Vampirism: The Hierarchy's primary defining feature is simple: the existence of its Vampire Citizens who make up 10% of the populace and 100% of the government and military. Various myths about Vampires have been perpetuated though, such as thinking they lack shadows, reflections, can change into bats, are evil cursed beings, die in sunlight, or are somehow allergic to garlic or any other nonsense. No, the reality is that vampires are simply faster, stronger, hardier versions of normal species who run on blood (or in the military's case, desiccated blood that is reconstituted with water when prepared for a meal) instead of regular food or water and who will never die of old age or even age beyond their prime. There are no special magical powers associated with vampirism. The unusually high precedence of magic among Citizens is simply down to their incredible average age.
The main price a vampire pays for being a vampire is that many people absolutely detest them, and they must deal with having to drink the blood of sentients, willingly or otherwise. Killing a vampire requires much the same as killing a non-vampire; beheading them, smashing their skull in, blowing off their limbs, or just draining them of blood. There is no special one-size-fits-all-and-nothing-else-works method. While they don't drown, they do starve if they go without blood for too long.