Nerevarine

Land of the Horse Lords (Alternate History NRP)

Dear Brother Sagoyewatha,
It's been a long while since I've last seen home. The plains are no kind land. How are things with you? I assume the farm is doing well, the cattle are well fed, the horses strong. I've seen many horses out here; reminds me of that story that mom used to read to us, the one about the plains. If only it could have been that mystical; the Horse Lords really do exist, I fear that we can only hold our own against them for so long. The plains breed strong men, and I can only hope to get the chance to see you again.

Have a good new year brother,
Anaktokon

Land of the Horse Lords

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Land of the Horse Lords is an alternate history Nation Roleplay set in the Americas. The point of divergence is survival of large domesticatable animals in the Americas and wider spread of agriculture, specifically the Horse (Equus Scotti) all across the two continents, Camelops in the Western part of North America, Oxen, and ect, as well as the adoption of Corn, Rice, Maygrass, and other grains as staple foods across the continents. The story takes place in the Americas around approximately 800 AD, in a Low Middle Ages type setting. For all intents and purposes, the Old World is mostly irrelevant, however, there is minor Norse influence and settlement in Greenland and the Far Northeast.

The Map

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Notes

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• Urban, Agricultural civilization dominates Mesoamerica, the Mississippi, The East Coast, The Great Lakes, The Pacific Coast, and the Andes. The Great Plains, much of Central Canada, and Patagonia is comparable to steppe type nomadic civilizations as was found later among the Plains Indians; The Amazon is mostly divided among Tribes, comparable to contemporary Central Africa in this timeline.
• Corn is the dominant grain in Mesoamerica, the West Coast, and has spread all across North America; Wild Rice is dominant in the Great Lakes, the Mississippi (where it is about equal with Corn) and parts of the East Coast, though Maygrass is also a popular grain in the East Coast. Oxen are common livestock across all parts of the continents, as are Horses. Camels are found in the West Coast, as well as Llamas in South America. Peccaries are commonly seen across all parts of continents, used for a food source.
• More dangerous animals exist in North America at this time; most of the larger predators have died off, as have the larger ancestors of much of the domesticated animals, however, some predators survive, or have descendants. Lions, Bears, Wolves, Cougars, Jaguars and others dot the land. Cat species are among the most dangerous in the Americas.

The Nation Sheet

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[b][u]Nation Name[/u][/b]

[b][u]Flag / Seal / Symbol[/u][/b] (optional)

[u][b]Territory [/b][/u]

[u][b]Government Description[/b][/u]

[b][u]History [/u][/b]

[b][u]Military [/u][/b]

[u][b]Economy [/b][/u]

[u][b]International Relations /Issues / Disputes[/b][/u]

Fabula Elysia - Medieval Fantasy Nationgame

@Nerevarine
Would you mind if my people often traded for basic metals like tin, copper and iron with yours. I'm not entirely sure what's in demand by your people though. So I don't know how to exactly return the favor.

@Legion02

I can see that working; if it's just very basic and abundant metals, trading for foodstuffs like wheat or meat as a supplement to their rather drab meals of Acorn Bread and Fish would work.

Fabula Elysia - Medieval Fantasy Nationgame

Republic of Vuts

Vutsian: Vutsvóhọ Ţá'ŕụ Tsìqxẹ
Trade Jargon: Vutsvôhrul Ho-Dâh'xǔ
Claim #10

Location/Geography

The islands are known for being mountainous, with low, fertile valleys scattered across the islands. They have a mild temperature, with cold, snowey winters and temperate yet humid summers. Sprawing trade cities dot the coastlines, while in the valleys, agricultural and fur hunting settlements can be found.

General Introduction

The Republic of Vuts, a prosperous nation, born of trade and warfare, the modern nation comprises the entirety of the Vutsian Islands, and has controlled various trade posts and occupied lands in the past. At the Current time, Vuts has returned to it's traditional method of control though trade and monopoly.

History

The people of Vuts are known to have migrated from an unspecified location millenia ago. Their migration was quick and violent, with historians noting just how short the timespan of their arrival was followed by the extinction of Humanity and Elves on the Vutsian Isles. Most will agree that they are not of any nearby areas, being total isolates in terms of their culture, language, gastronomy, social structure, religion and etcetra, and no solid proposal has been established as to where they came from before migrating into the Vutsian Isles. Establishing themselves in their new home, the winged people of Vuts naturally took to the mountains and forests of their new found homes. It was not long before the islands were split among various competing kingdoms and empires, each controlling pieces of the islands, or entire islands outright. Known as the Warring Times, This time was characterized by constant warfare.

Many innovations came out of this time. The art of warfare produced a constant need to outdo their competitors, and attract outside nations to aid and trade with them. As such, this tumultuous period was marked by a massive surge in technological achievement, including an independent development of Gunpowder, roughly the same time as the mainlanders' gunpowder became more wide spread. The end of the Warring Times came with the conquest of all the Islands by the King Caqhá, who proclaimed a state that lasted for the next 2 centuries. The Kingdom of Vuts worked to mend relations with nearby kingdoms of man and elf in the region, even going as far to offer their services as mercenaries in the fights against imperial powers. The Kingdom came to an end following a call for reform. The Vutsians began to see their kings and queens as lazy, decadant and corrupt. The leaders of this were a movement calling for autononous law of the people, as system that they called Vutsvóhọ Tsìqxẹ (litterally, Rulership of the People in the Vutsian language). The Vutsvóhọ Tsìqxẹ Movement succeeded in dethroning the king and abolishing the monarchy, establishing an early democratic republic in its place. One of the first actions of this was to decide what to do with the old king and his family. Surprisingly, the government decided to allow them to stay in the country as normal citizens, marking this as a unique revolution in a way. Over time, however, many of the Vutsians began to take notice of their position in the world, and the many resources that they had access to. This was the beginning of the so-called, Merchant's Age, which still continues on to this day. Those who took advantage of the possibility of trade became rich, and were able to enter into government more easily. Through their new-found power, the rich traders of Vuts managed to secure their power through legislation and manipulation that only allowed the merchantile elite to seize power in the nation. Vuts became a functional plutocracy

Government & Society

Government of Vuts: Plutocratic Oligarchy
In the modern day and age, money is equal to power in all aspects. The Country is rich on the trade they make, however only a small fraction of the elite ever actually see that money. As well, the public are swayed into the illusion of control over their government through faux elections, though in practice no elected official really has power, no more power than his or her other merchant peers in the aristocracy. The entire government of Vuts is a series of plots and betrayals as the people vie for power. The important seats of government, those who have legal authority over the other aristocrats, are decided based on money, and who can buy their way into the seats, either by literally buying their way into power, or using their influence to pull the stings and eliminate any rivals and challenges in the way of securing power.

At a local level, each city and province is ruled by a governor of the Aristocracy, who hires local mayors to watch over his lands. For the most part, at the city level and below, the country acts as a true democracy.

Species and Society:
Given the nature of the Vutsians, it is not surprising that the islands are populated entirely by Vutsians, save for some expats of all species that have immigrated from nearby nations.

Vutsians

An adult male member of the species, dressed in typical clothing (also not my drawing)
Vutsians, Ţá'ŕụ in their own language, are a winged humanoid species who live primarily in the Islands of Vuts. Belived to be descended of avian species from the mainland, their ancestors migrated to the Vutsian Islands approximately 2,000 years ago, and largely displaced the Humans and Elves who were living on the Islands beforehand. The Vutsians differ little in terms of Sexual Dimorphism, all members of the species are known for their feminine, youthful looks; which lead to a myth that the Vutsian Isles were inhabited entirely by women. Owing to their avian origins, the males are known to display vibrant colors in their hair, such as bright greens, reds, blues and other colors. They are capable of limited gliding using their wings, however they can no longer fly.

As well, the society of Vuts is very unusual compared to their neighbors.

The Vutsian language is a language isolate, unique not only in its enviroment but indeed in the world. Vutsian is characterized by Subject Object Verb syntax, a lack of Bilabial sounds, vowel harmony, few voiced consonants, 4 tones, highly agglutinative nouns, and a complex isolating system of verbal grammar.
Example in Vutsian: Līgàvé tsụvọ'vót'ó nuqūr lạk'ī - The Stars have shown upon us; a very formal greeting
aveneca.com/cbb/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=54..
A simplified version of this language exists called Trade Jargon, that incorporates elements of other nearby languages for facilitating trade relations.

Vutsians are matrilineal; For the most part, their society is egalitarian in modern times, but it is noted that women are often left doing high level work, while men tend to often work in more dangerous aspects of their society, such as those that take them away from the Islands. And as such, it is often men that foreigners see most (though, it is said to be difficult to tell what sex a Vutsian is, as they all look very effeminate and youthful from a human perspective, if one cannot see hair). Understandably, Mothers hold a very high position in Vutsian society, and often extended families are controlled and organized by a martriarchy of the oldest mothers in the family.

Vutsians are known as the people of passions; indeed, they are well known for their romantic, firey, and expressive literature, as well as their ferocity in battle.

The staple of the Vutsian diet is the Acorn. Oak Trees were domesticated for mass growth and harvest by the Vutsians some time in their past, and as such, a special breed of domesticated Oak, bred and grown for large acorns, small size, and a short maturity time, managing to produce trees that mature and produce acorns after only 1 year, and reach peak production time after 5 years. The acorns are ground into flour and used for cereal grain. Acorn Bread, Acorn Porridge, and such are staple foods that all Vutsians are familiar with, often eaten with honey.

The Religion of the Vutsians is a bit of an oddity. They are a non-theistic society in refrence to what we think of as Gods. However, they do have a very complex religion based on concepts such as Animism, Katheniotheistoid Ancestor Worship, Necrophagy, and philosphical musings on social order and the natural way of things. The basic deities of the Vutsians are their ancestors, who are believed to walk upon the earth in a spiritual form, watching over and providing for their descendants. However, in this state they have lost their humanity in a way, and are more willing to retaliate in aggression towards what they perceive as disrespect towards them. As such, the Vutsians leave offerings for, ask request of, and keep shrines in remembrance of their dead ancestors. As these spirits are tied to a single family, no two Vutsian households worship the same spirits. The Vutsians take turns venerating one ancestor or group of ancestors over the others every day. As part of the funerary rites for dead relaltives, the Vutsians partake in Nercrophagy, that is, they consume the body of their dead relative. Necrophagy is extremely common among the Vutsians, and those who have gone to war with them will note that they are known to drag the bodies of slain ally and enemy alike to eat later. Due to their very fertility and family generational based religion, the Vutsians are known to look down upon members of their society that are seen as detrimental to producing future children (singleness, homosexuality, asexuality, mental illness, infertility, sex aversion/repulsion, asocial behavior, etc.). An outgrowth of their religion is the ancestral marker. When a person dies, the family goes out to fell a ceder tree, which will then be carved and decorated, and stood up, like a totem pole, in rembrance and worship of this ancestor. Shrines are built around the Ancestral Marker, and these are the sites of rituals. Families will buy entire fields of land to erect these totem poles on.

Vutsians are not permited to ask strangers of their names, and actually carry two names. Their birth name, and a "Courtesy Name" which is given out to strangers and used among loose acquaintances. Close friends will exchange their birth names once the feel a sense of mutual closeness to each other.

Economy & Industry

Vutsian Trade is vast and all reaching. The nation has almost no restrictions on how companies can be run, allowing for absolutely wildly powerful companies to rise up. Merchant's Guilds are commonplace throughout the country, often competing with one another and working to destroy their competitors. The mountains of Vuts are known for their high content in a few valuable metals, most noticeably, Tin, Copper, Sulfur and Lead, which are all major exports of the Vutsians. As well, Vuts is known for its local method of producing steel, using carbon made from the local cedar trees, and through secretive methods of welding to create strong steel weapons with distinctive wavy patterns. The many trees of the Dense Ceder forests that dominate the Islands are also sold to other nations for lumber. As well, many hunters have etched out a significant living in the fur trade, as many of the animals that inhabit the mountains of the Islands are quite valued by the rich and powerful of other nations. Fish and other seafood makes up an industry on the islands itself, as well as Acorn Farming. The Urban areas of the city are dense, and packed with competing businesses and guilds run wild upon themselves. Technology is very advanced due to the constant one-upsmanship of guilds and companies trying to fight amongst each other. Technology such as movable print type, Matchlock Rifles, early mechanical clockwork, and others are coming to light. The Richer families can afford central heating in the winters through a process of lighting a fire under the house and channing the heat out of the hearth into all rooms through the use of underfloor channels. It may be the exchange for violent and out of control capitalism seeping its way through society and creating the problems of an unstable aristocratic elite.

The Vutsians merchants have trading posts all over the world, and are known to use their military to secure deals and take areas that they want.

Military Overview

(To give an idea of what the Armor of the Vutsians looks like)

A military is of course an important aspect of a trade empire like Vuts. The Vutsian military is often deployed in their trade area to seize trade posts, take control of docks, protect and escort cargo, as well as good old fashioned conquest for conquest's sake. Vutsians have a reputation for their tendencies to switch to Guerrilla style warfare, something a bit unorthodox in their time. If facing a Vutsian army in a thick forest, or in the dead of night, be prepared for attacks comming from anywhere, and then dissappearing as soon as they showed up.

Army

A Vutsian Infantryman/Calvalryman (left) and a support troop, typical of Bowmen or Artillary (right)

The armor of the Vutsians is a lamellar type armor made of steel and ceramic mined in the mountains of their island homes. The Republic provides standard issue armor to each solider (though they are known to paint and decorate their armor, and are permmited to do so provided that it does not conflict with their functionality). One of the key features of Vutsian armor is their ceremonial helmets, made entirely of cast iron and padded on the inside. These helmets are ceremonial and functional, there for both psychological effect, and to provide protection. Often, the soliers will wear a cotton shirt underneath their cuirass to absorb blows from melee weapons and gunpowder weapons.

The Vutsians often show off their firearms, standard issue matchlock muskets, provided more for a psychological effect than actual functionality. Soldiers carry these weapons and will fire them off at their enemy at the start of a battle (reminicent of the roman use of the Pilum) before switching into their melee weapons.

Melee weapons typically consist of the sword, the mace, and the Pike. Pikemen make up the majority of the military. Cavalry usually follows behind. Longbowmen also fill out the ranks to provide ranged coverage.

Infantry: 25,000
Cavalry: 2,000
Longbowmen: 10,000
Artillery: 150

Navy

The Vutsian Navy acts primarily as a means to protect cargo and trade ships, and to transport soldiers around the sea. It is, compared to most, a rather mediocre Navy, existing purely for defensive purposes. The Vutsian Navy is not particularly large, and most of it is privately owned by the many Aristocrats of the country. The Republic itself puts little funding into it, expecting the maintenance of trade routes and the movement of Mercenaries to be the primary responsibility of the companies who run the routes and who hire out the soldiers. As such, the navy is far from impressive, comprising a minimal number of vessels. Do not be mislead, however, despite its size, the navy is more than capable of handling itself in battle, and must be to protect it's trade lines.

As well as serving as Vuts' personal military; Sections of the Vutsian military can be purchased for use as mercenaries by other nations.

Chronicles of Insanity (Future Nation Game)

WIP

The Antarctic Federation

Spanish: Federación Antártico
Russian: Антарктический Федерация
French: Fédération de l'Antarctique
Norwegian: Antarktis Føderasjon
Japanese: 南極大陸のフェデレーション (Nankyoku no federēshon)



Type of Government:
Socialist Technocracy

Capital City and Largest City
Capital: Amundsen
Largest City: Rothera


Antarctica is divided into 8 Sectors

1. Federal District - Captial City is Amundsen
2. Maudland - Capital is Valkyrie
3. New Australia - Capital is Casey
4. Adelie - Capital is Dumont d'Urville
5. Ross - Capital is McMurdo
6. Byrdland - Capital is La Plata
7. New Patagonia - Capital is Rothera
8. Halley - Capital is Halley

Other Important Cities
Vostok - Largest City in New Australia
Syowa - Center of the Japanese Community of Antarctica
Maltri-Novolazalrevskya - Largest City in Maudland

Demographics:

Ethno-Racial Demographics

25% American
10% Argentine
10% Chilean
10% Australian
9% Russian
8% Japanese
8% British
7% Italian
7% French
6% Norwegian
2% Other (mostly New Zealanders, Indians, Pakistanis, and other European Ethnic groups)

Religious Demographics

Roman Catholicism: 32%
Non-Religious/Atheist/Agnostic: 25%
Protestant Christianity: 15%
Russian Orthodox: 6%
Judaism: 5%
Islam: 3%
Buddhism: 3%
Hinduism: 1%
Other: 10%

Population number:
12,000

Country Leader(s):
The Council - The Council is a meritocratic organization, composed of the greatest minds that Antartica has to offer, who work in maintaining the necessary functions that keep the nation running. As a nation that selects its leaders among the top of the elite, and its elite out of the most knowledgable, the members of the Council are widely renowned as being a group of geniuses. There are 5 members at a time, and the leader is the one who is determined to be the most knoweldgable of all of them.

Doctor Calvin Taylor

Doctor Calvin Taylor is one of the few individuals to have experienced the horrors of not only World War 3, but of the Antarctic Wars as well. Dr Taylor was born in Australia during the catastrophic war. He grew up in the middle of the conflict as a child. Loosing his father to the war at the age of 8, and with Australia being so badly damaged as a result, Taylor and his mother joined a group making the risky voyage to seek refuge in Australian Antarctic bases. At 20, Taylor was forced to halt his schooling to fight in the Antarctic Wars. He returned with paralysis in one of his legs, and damaged eyes, but he was able to continue his reasearch, graduating with his PhD in physics later in life.

At the current moment, the Doctor serves as the head of the Council in Antarctica

Dr. Anastasia Hasegawa

Dr. Hasegawa is a half-Russian, Half-Japanese native of Vostok. At 32 years old, Dr. Hasegawa is the 2nd youngest of the Council members, and an expert in the field of medicine, serving as the Council's authority on life support, and health; serving as the Minister of Internal Affairs.

Gen. Aaron Tasmin

Aaron Tasmin is the Minister of Defense in the Council. He is well known for his skill and knowledge of military planning and is charged with keeping enemies out of Antarctica.

Dr. Santiago Hernandez

Dr. Hernandez is the Minister of the Treasury, and is incharge of the distirbution of government services, keeping track of, and making income for the government, funding research, and establishing trade and economic agreements with other nations. Needless to say, Dr. Hernandez is very educated in Economics

Dr.Catalina Ivarsson

Catalina Ivarsson is the newest member of the council. Comming from an Argentine and Norwegian background, Dr. Ivarsson holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and works as the Minister of Urban Affairs, and aids in the construction and maintenance of the infrastructure of the nation.

Culture:
Antarctica is a unique blend of many cultures; particularly American, Patagonian, Russian, Australian, Japanese and Norwegian. The country has 6 official languages, with English and Spanish being the most widely spoken. The people are very much defined by their reliance of technology, and this shows very much in their culture and how they go about their lives. While climate change has made Antarctica a much more habitable place, its is by no means a less dangerous land. As one moves closer to the center of the country, they will find that the cities become more subterranean, and further out, domed settlements become the norm. Near the coast, there are traditional open cities. As well, the country relies on the Trans-Antarctic Railway; a mass transit system that can take passengers anywhere across the country by way of subterranean railways, centered around the Capital of Admunsen, located directly on the South Pole.


Lingustic Map

Red - English
Blue - Spanish
Green - Russian
Yellow - Norwegian
Light Blue - Japanese
Purple - French

The Antarctic people are very tech savy, and Antarctica is one place always on the vanguard of technology. Being so reliant on technology for daily survival, many Antarcticans are knowledgeable of technology on some level. Much of the youth culture is very centered around the ideas of tech integration, and the assimilation of the self into technology at some level. The Cities of Antarctica are often neon saturated metropoli beneath the ground, or in a climate controlled environment, characterized by their vibrant displays and nightlife.

The Majority Religion of Antarctica is Roman Catholicism, with Protestant Christianity not too far away at second in terms of adherents. Irreligion comes in between Catholicism and Protestantism. Other Religions exist, however, they have little impact. Antarctica is officially a secular nation, with freedom of Religion guaranteed.

History:

Other:

How Many People Can You Piss Off In One Sentence?

I feel so...Korean

Fabula Elysia - Medieval Fantasy Nationgame

@Willy Vereb
My Nation Sheet is finally ready

New Dawn Rising

Finally got a post up!

The epic tales of record keeping, economics and accountancy

New Dawn Rising

Shanghai

It was for good reason that Shanghai was known as the "Capital of the Pacific". Since the Han Zisunguo first reclaimed Shanghai Island, it's position facing outward across the vast canvas of ocean only worked to solidify Han domination over the nations across the sea. It was a daily occourance to see the navy running drills in the waters 20 km due north of the Island. The crucial position of Shanghai worked not only to bring out ships, but to take them in as well. The Capital of the Pacific must have a glorious palace, and what better palace could there be than the technological wonder that was Shanghai Harbor. Truly, the harbor captured the zeitgeist of the Great Han. A massive structure, designed and assembled by the greatest engineers of the Han State. Beyond the docks was an impressive steel structure, truly a modern building, but as with all things in the Han, calling back to the glorious days that the people tried to rebuild in this tattered world. Within the building was the standard fare for foreign processing, customs officers, processing departments to make sure the cargo met the stringent standards of the Han State.

Zhao Rongshi was, in all but his ethnicity as a White Hui, a Christian Han, a normal government official. Today he had been slated for overtime work, dealing with clerical error that resulted in a shipment of oats originating in the neighboring republic of Fuso arriving without the proper documentation. Rongshi was to stay and work to on contacting the company of origin and obtaining the lost information. It was lucky that the freight company did in fact have documentation of the source, and Rongshi got set to work requesting their assistance in recovering the lost documents to direct the shipment to it's destination. Until then, Rongshi would be assigned to this case until it was solved. Seemingly doing all he could do today, he as met with a surprise visitor.

"Excuse me," the man spoke, "I'm here about an appointment my employers arranged"

Rongshi perked himself up, shaking off any traces of frustration in his previous pursuits as he met the guest. "Yes sir, I am able to help with that." Fingering through the scheduling book before coming across an appropriate name, "Ah, Mr. Tao, you're with the human freight group, yes?"

"That is correct, I was sent to talk about organizing a dual shipment with your company using this and two other locations; Xi'an and Chengdu. I was told that you could handle it here at the main office?"

"Of course, of course," I just need to know the origin of your shipment and where their destinations."

"We will be coming from the railway out of Da Kulun in Mongolia. We'll undergo processing at the Xi'an office before splitting into the two groups, one going to Chengdu, out through Tibet and to Lahore,Punjab; the other will come here and be shipped by sea to Hawaii."

"Are their any special requests?"

"My employers recommend that extra security be placed with the shipment; we're dealing with captured enemy soldiers."

Rongshi felt a slight chill, knowing immediately who these men were. Not a week ago, the Mongol coalition lead an attack on the outpost of Ka La Kulun. It was obvious who had come out with the upper hand, as the walls of Ka La Kulun stand tall as her would be destroyers find their way to exile or worse.

"As well, we are told that, whatever cargo does not sell in Hawaii, to dump on any unclaimed Polynesian Island for disposal"

"Very well, sir. I've put in the order for your shipment."

New Dawn Rising

So we have a major independent (playable) nation in almost every large area.
All we need is someone in Persia, Upper India, and Russia.

@AltRightHero

I was actually going to allude to a merchant state based in Punjab in my next post

Fabula Elysia - Medieval Fantasy Nationgame

Merchant Republic of Vuts

Repulbic of Vuts

Vutsian: Vutsvóhọ Ţá'ŕụ Tsìqxẹ
Trade Jargon: Vutsvôhrul Ho-Dâh'xǔ
Claim #10

Location/Geography

The islands are known for being mountainous, with low, fertile valleys scattered across the islands. They have a mild temperature, with cold, snowey winters and temperate yet humid summers. Sprawing trade cities dot the coastlines, while in the valleys, agricultural and fur hunting settlements can be found.

General Introduction

The Republic of Vuts, a prosperous nation, born of trade and warfare, the modern nation comprises the entirety of the Vutsian Islands, and has controlled various trade posts and occupied lands in the past. At the Current time, Vuts has returned to it's traditional method of control though trade and monopoly.

History

The people of Vuts are known to have migrated from an unspecified location millenia ago. Their migration was quick and violent, with historians noting just how short the timespan of their arrival was followed by the extinction of Humanity and Elves on the Vutsian Isles. Most will agree that they are not of any nearby areas, being total isolates in terms of their culture, language, gastronomy, social structure, religion and etcetra, and no solid proposal has been established as to where they came from before migrating into the Vutsian Isles. Establishing themselves in their new home, the winged people of Vuts naturally took to the mountains and forests of their new found homes. It was not long before the islands were split among various competing kingdoms and empires, each controlling pieces of the islands, or entire islands outright. Known as the Warring Times, This time was characterized by constant warfare.

Many innovations came out of this time. The art of warfare produced a constant need to outdo their competitors, and attract outside nations to aid and trade with them. As such, this tumultuous period was marked by a massive surge in technological achievement, including an independent development of Gunpowder, roughly the same time as the mainlanders' gunpowder became more wide spread. The end of the Warring Times came with the conquest of all the Islands by the King Caqhá, who proclaimed a state that lasted for the next 2 centuries. The Kingdom of Vuts worked to mend relations with nearby kingdoms of man and elf in the region, even going as far to offer their services as mercenaries in the fights against imperial powers. The Kingdom came to an end following a call for reform. The Vutsians began to see their kings and queens as lazy, decadant and corrupt. The leaders of this were a movement calling for autononous law of the people, as system that they called Vutsvóhọ Tsìqxẹ (litterally, Rulership of the People in the Vutsian language). The Vutsvóhọ Tsìqxẹ Movement succeeded in dethroning the king and abolishing the monarchy, establishing an early democratic republic in its place. One of the first actions of this was to decide what to do with the old king and his family. Surprisingly, the government decided to allow them to stay in the country as normal citizens, marking this as a unique revolution in a way. Over time, however, many of the Vutsians began to take notice of their position in the world, and the many resources that they had access to. This was the beginning of the so-called, Merchant's Age, which still continues on to this day. Those who took advantage of the possibility of trade became rich, and were able to enter into government more easily. Through their new-found power, the rich traders of Vuts managed to secure their power through legislation and manipulation that only allowed the merchantile elite to seize power in the nation. Vuts became a functional plutocracy

Government & Society

Government of Vuts: Plutocratic Oligarchy
In the modern day and age, money is equal to power in all aspects. The Country is rich on the trade they make, however only a small fraction of the elite ever actually see that money. As well, the public are swayed into the illusion of control over their government through faux elections, though in practice no elected official really has power, no more power than his or her other merchant peers in the aristocracy. The entire government of Vuts is a series of plots and betrayals as the people vie for power. The important seats of government, those who have legal authority over the other aristocrats, are decided based on money, and who can buy their way into the seats, either by literally buying their way into power, or using their influence to pull the stings and eliminate any rivals and challenges in the way of securing power.

At a local level, each city and province is ruled by a governor of the Aristocracy, who hires local mayors to watch over his lands. For the most part, at the city level and below, the country acts as a true democracy.

Species and Society:
Given the nature of the Vutsians, it is not surprising that the islands are populated entirely by Vutsians, save for some expats of all species that have immigrated from nearby nations.

Vutsians

An adult male member of the species, dressed in typical clothing (also not my drawing)
Vutsians, Ţá'ŕụ in their own language, are a winged humanoid species who live primarily in the Islands of Vuts. Belived to be descended of avian species from the mainland, their ancestors migrated to the Vutsian Islands approximately 2,000 years ago, and largely displaced the Humans and Elves who were living on the Islands beforehand. The Vutsians differ little in terms of Sexual Dimorphism, all members of the species are known for their feminine, youthful looks. Owing to their avian origins, the males are known to display vibrant colors in their hair, such as bright greens, reds, blues and other colors. They are capable of limited gliding using their wings, however they can no longer fly.

As well, the society of Vuts is very unusual compared to their neighbors.

The Vutsian language is a language isolate, unique not only in its enviroment but indeed in the world. Vutsian is characterized by Subject Object Verb syntax, a lack of Bilabial sounds, vowel harmony, few voiced consonants, 4 tones, highly agglutinative nouns, and a complex isolating system of verbal grammar.
Example in Vutsian: Līgàvé tsụvọ'vót'ó nuqūr lạk'ī - The Stars have shown upon us; a very formal greeting
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A simplified version of this language exists called Trade Jargon, that incorporates elements of other nearby languages for facilitating trade relations.

Vutsians are matrilineal; For the most part, their society is egalitarian in modern times, but it is noted that women are often left doing high level work, while men tend to often work in more dangerous aspects of their society, such as those that take them away from the Islands. And as such, it is often men that foreigners see most (though, it is said to be difficult to tell what sex a Vutsian is, as they all look very effeminate and youthful from a human perspective, if one cannot see hair). Understandably, Mothers hold a very high position in Vutsian society, and often extended families are controlled and organized by a martriarchy of the oldest mothers in the family.

Vutsians are known as the people of passions; indeed, they are well known for their romantic, firey, and expressive literature, as well as their ferocity in battle.

The staple of the Vutsian diet is the Acorn. Oak Trees were domesticated for mass growth and harvest by the Vutsians some time in their past, and as such, a special breed of domesticated Oak, bred and grown for large acorns, small size, and a short maturity time, managing to produce trees that mature and produce acorns after only 1 year, and reach peak production time after 5 years. The acorns are ground into flour and used for cereal grain. Acorn Bread, Acorn Porridge, and such are staple foods that all Vutsians are familiar with, often eaten with honey.

The Religion of the Vutsians is a bit of an oddity. They are a non-theistic society in refrence to what we think of as Gods. However, they do have a very complex religion based on concepts such as Animism, Katheniotheistoid Ancestor Worship, Necrophagy, and philosphical musings on social order and the natural way of things. The basic deities of the Vutsians are their ancestors, who are believed to walk upon the earth in a spiritual form, watching over and providing for their descendants. However, in this state they have lost their humanity in a way, and are more willing to retaliate in aggression towards what they perceive as disrespect towards them. As such, the Vutsians leave offerings for, ask request of, and keep shrines in remembrance of their dead ancestors. As these spirits are tied to a single family, no two Vutsian households worship the same spirits. The Vutsians take turns venerating one ancestor or group of ancestors over the others every day. As part of the funerary rites for dead relaltives, the Vutsians partake in Nercrophagy, that is, they consume the body of their dead relative. Necrophagy is extremely common among the Vutsians, and those who have gone to war with them will note that they are known to drag the bodies of slain ally and enemy alike to eat later. Due to their very fertility and family generational based religion, the Vutsians are known to look down upon members of their society that are seen as detrimental to producing future children (singleness, homosexuality, asexuality, mental illness, infertility, sex aversion/repulsion, asocial behavior, etc.). An outgrowth of their religion is the ancestral marker. When a person dies, the family goes out to fell a ceder tree, which will then be carved and decorated, and stood up, like a totem pole, in rembrance and worship of this ancestor. Shrines are built around the Ancestral Marker, and these are the sites of rituals. Families will buy entire fields of land to erect these totem poles on.

Vutsians are not permited to ask strangers of their names, and actually carry two names. Their birth name, and a "Courtesy Name" which is given out to strangers and used among loose acquaintances. Close friends will exchange their birth names once the feel a sense of mutual closeness to each other.

Economy & Industry

Vutsian Trade is vast and all reaching. The nation has almost no restrictions on how companies can be run, allowing for absolutely wildly powerful companies to rise up. Merchant's Guilds are commonplace throughout the country, often competing with one another and working to destroy their competitors. The mountains of Vuts are known for their high content in a few valuable metals, most noticeably, Tin, Copper, Sulfur and Lead, which are all major exports of the Vutsians. As well, Vuts is known for its local method of producing steel, using carbon made from the local cedar trees, and through secretive methods of welding to create strong steel weapons with distinctive wavy patterns. The many trees of the Dense Ceder forests that dominate the Islands are also sold to other nations for lumber. As well, many hunters have etched out a significant living in the fur trade, as many of the animals that inhabit the mountains of the Islands are quite valued by the rich and powerful of other nations. Fish and other seafood makes up an industry on the islands itself, as well as Acorn Farming. The Urban areas of the city are dense, and packed with competing businesses and guilds run wild upon themselves. Technology is very advanced due to the constant one-upsmanship of guilds and companies trying to fight amongst each other. Technology such as movable print type, Matchlock Rifles, early mechanical clockwork, and others are coming to light. The Richer families can afford central heating in the winters through a process of lighting a fire under the house and channing the heat out of the hearth into all rooms through the use of underfloor channels. It may be the exchange for violent and out of control capitalism seeping its way through society and creating the problems of an unstable aristocratic elite.

The Vutsians merchants have trading posts all over the world, and are known to use their military to secure deals and take areas that they want.

Military Overview

(To give an idea of what the Armor of the Vutsians looks like)

A military is of course an important aspect of a trade empire like Vuts. The Vutsian military is often deployed in their trade area to seize trade posts, take control of docks, protect and escort cargo, as well as good old fashioned conquest for conquest's sake. Vutsians have a reputation for their tendencies to switch to Guerrilla style warfare, something a bit unorthodox in their time. If facing a Vutsian army in a thick forest, or in the dead of night, be prepared for attacks comming from anywhere, and then dissappearing as soon as they showed up.

Army

A Vutsian Infantryman/Calvalryman (left) and a support troop, typical of Bowmen or Artillary (right)

The armor of the Vutsians is primarily scale type armor made of steel and ceramic mined in the mountains of their island homes. The Republic provides standard issue armor to each solider (though they are known to paint and decorate their armor, and are permmited to do so provided that it does not conflict with their functionality). One of the key features of Vutsian armor is their ceremonial helmets, made entirely of cast iron and padded on the inside. These helmets are ceremonial and functional, there for both psychological effect, and to provide protection. Often, the soliers will wear a cotton shirt underneath their cuirass to absorb blows from melee weapons and gunpowder weapons.

The Vutsians often show off their firearms, standard issue matchlock muskets, provided more for a psychological effect than actual functionality. Soldiers carry these weapons and will fire them off at their enemy at the start of a battle (reminicent of the roman use of the Pilum) before switching into their melee weapons.

Melee weapons typically consist of the sword, the mace, and the Pike. Pikemen make up the majority of the military. Cavalry usually follows behind. Longbowmen also fill out the ranks to provide ranged coverage.

Infantry: 25,000
Cavalry: 2,000
Longbowmen: 10,000
Artillery: 150

Navy

The Vutsian Navy acts primarily as a means to protect cargo and trade ships, and to transport soldiers around the sea. It is, compared to most, a rather mediocre Navy, existing purely for defensive purposes. The Vutsian Navy is not particularly large, and most of it is privately owned by the many Aristocrats of the country. The Republic itself puts little funding into it, expecting the maintenance of trade routes and the movement of Mercenaries to be the primary responsibility of the companies who run the routes and who hire out the soldiers. As such, the navy is far from impressive, comprising a minimal number of vessels.

As well as serving as Vuts' personal military; Sections of the Vutsian military can be purchased for use as mercenaries by other nations.