Universe Proposal (still unamed)

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TUFFGUY
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Universe Proposal (still unamed)

Post by TUFFGUY »

So here is the beginning of my current project, a steam punkish fantasy universe. Out first is a short descriptions of the nations of North and middle Arrant, which would equate roughly to our northern europe ;), followed by a more indept description of one of the northern most nations, the Union of Adolfstad

****

Baumeria
A region composed of the lands from northern Pelmerene up to the northern sea, historically dominated by a loose empire of many scattered noble lands with the only common denominator being the elected emperor. The emperors where usually choosen from the large Savoningian family line, whom took there worldly powers from there kingship over there own hereditary lands in western Baumeria. Today the empire exists only in name, with the imperial throne having stood unoccupied for the last fifty years due to grievances held by the electoral noble rulers, that have made the it impossible for the leading candidates for the throne to marshal the votes neccesary to asscend to the imperial title.

At the present Baumeria is divided into several more or less independent states and political unions which squable and war amongst themselves. Amongst the most influent is the newly created kingdom of Kammenwald, which have risen to power on the back of its highly effective army. Created to counter its growing ambitions is the Theim Confederation and League of Wassern, both collections of petty states which have grouped together mostly out of military neccesity.

Towards the east is the Grand Duchy of Milesia and the principality of Thuringia, whom form the dominant political bodies in the east through there hold on the lesser noble states in there respective sphere of influence. The grand dukes of Milesia have in addition several times in the last seventy years been able to gain hold of the kingship of Rinsanland, giving them a valuable counterpoint in the west with which to influence political events.

The Savoningians has not given up there imperial ambitions and have with the resolution of there interfamilial disputes once again begun to look east from there hereditary crown lands. Even without the complete empire under there command they can still raise considerable resources. Counted amongst these is the large class of imperial knights scattered over Baumeria, low nobility with old ties to the throne.

In the south-east coastlands the people of the revolutionary republic of Osprey has thrown over the traditional ruling class of the lands and established a new kind of democratic government by and for the people. The ghost of the revolutionary movement threatens to spread over the continent and in many of the surrounding noble lands its shadow is very real.

Finally there is the independent area of the Wulfwald, held by the fiercly independent clans of werewolves or loup-garrou. Gathered into chiefdoms, these creatures have for time memorial held dominion over the southern forests, only venturing out of there protected realm to hire out there services as warriors to whomever pays the most.

Pelmerene
An large empire in the central parts of continental Arrant, Pelmerena have long been the dominant power in the old world, but its political and military edge has slowly eroded by a period of famine, colonial conflicts and a disastrous civil war. While still is one of the largest empires in the world, it is in great need of civil reforms, but even minor attempts to affect change by the teoreticaly absolute emperor have been blocked by the staunchly conservative nobility.

With a crown that still sits uneasy on his head, Emperor Julien II have no choice but attempt to hold on to what he have with the traditional heavy handed methods of his ancestors, but there is still smouldering rebellious sentiments in many of the empire outer provinces. Affected by communalist ideas, revolutionary agitators from Osprey and age old issues like taxation and military service, many of the common people is only waiting for an spark to set alight the flames of insurection.

Ambria
An traditional sea power with many colonies across the world, Ambria is nation consisting of a collection of islands of the eastern Arrantian coast, ruled by the Ambrian parliament in the name of there undying queen. While the thrones of the different original kingdoms that made up the island is now unified in the royal house, there is still great division between the constituting peoples. The mostly cairnic highland people opposes the increasing economic influence of the southern ambrians, while the widely scattered tribes of the woad only sparringly acknowledges the crowns authority, the native Meredians struggle for political independence and on Dalbar the remnants of protectorate revolutionaries still cling to there religious ideals.

The greatest influence however is the age old realms of the fairies, whom have an unusally strong presence on the islands. Both a source of constenation and one of the kingdoms greatest sources of power, these fairies have long been beholden to the person of Mary II, or Mary the undying, whose mastery of the magical arts has long stood as a guaranty of amiable relations between mortals and fay.

Northern Arrant
The northern penninsula across the inland sea from Baumeria is divided between the large Union of Adolfstad and the smaller monarchies of Thumbria and Thule.

The union is a relatively new state formed by a personal union between three former kingdoms. While sparesly populated by the standards of continental Arrant, it has a strong martial tradition embodied in the excellently trained Allotment army created by Adolf Fredrick the Great, the national unifier of the Union. But having been effectively at war for most of its existance, fighting against both its neighbouring northern countries and the tsars of Kaumach, the Union is facing economical problems.

Much smaller than its closest neighbour, Thumbria instead holds a large colonial domain that gives it an considerable economic advantage. Its army numerically inferior and, excepting a few crack units, less ably trained than the union troops it most commonly faces, Thumbria has relied on its superior navy and marine infantry to protect itself. Still it has been forced to make territorial consesions to the union after the last war, resulting in a rescent coup that replaced the current regent (the king having been insanse for over a decade), dowager queen Dorothea Magdalene, with prince Willhelm af Ernstein and lord chamberlain Peter Axel von Wreinstrand.

Moderatly larger than Thumbria, Thule is a nation facing the waters of the polar oceans. Politically fractured by a weak government and internal disputes between the king and the leading high nobility, Thule still has been able to maintain its indepence from both Kaumach and the Union by relying on considerable magical resources and material support from the trolls inhabiting the kingdom.

Kaumach
Territorially the largest of the Arrantian nations, stretching from the shores of the northern sea to the plains of the western lands, Kaumach has long been considered a cultural and technological backwater. Only recently, under the firm guiding hand of Tsar Vladimir Anjiatoliev VII, has the nation begun a widespread campaign of reforms that has seen the modernisation of the army, civil administration and national industries. Still while the urban centres faces the advantages of modern science, much of the rural population of peasants and serfs still live there lives as they have for centuries. In the western and central Arrantian plains there is still large populations of various nomadic tribes as well as the Kozak alliance, a network of free-spirited descendants of Kaumachian serfs and peasants that settled in the region to escape from the oppresion of there homelands.

Rinsanland
A republic lead by a king, Rinsanland is a nation ruled by a proud and individualistic noble class. Effectivelly kings of there own domains, the nobles elect there king, whom serve more as a president for life than a true monarch. There is little national consensus, as any nobleman retain the ability to block descisions of the government by applying his veto. Making any kind of reform hard to impossible, this peculiar political system has slowly eroded Rinsanlands former strength and power.

Castanza
Formerly a great power, Castanza has slowly fallen from grace with the loss of much of its colonial empire to the Pelmereans, Zhabians and uprisings amongst the local populaces. Economic downturns within the country itself has lead to an erosion of its military capacity, with the army and navy falling behind the rest of Arrant in terms of tactics and weaponry. Its involvement in general Arrantian conflicts has mostly produced embaraccing defeats.

****

Adolfstad UnionThe Royal Union of Friesland, Willfrensten and Canutia-Pommarna, often simply known as the Adolfstad union after the city where the original treaty where signed, is a large nation in the northern parts of Arrant. Relatively young as a national entity, the union is struggling with internal squabbles between the brother peoples, which have historically fought several bloody wars. Several succesfull wars in Baumeria and against the Kaumach Empire have brought several new provinces on the mainland, but also threaten to overstretch the unions armies.

While amongst the largest states in terms of territory, the union is sparsly populated and thus have a smaller pool from which to draw labour and soldier from. This is made up with there superbly trained army maintained by the act of alottment, which also have the advantage of making the soldier a part of everyday life within the nations.

The populace of the three northern nations are legally divided into three broad civic classes, with each class having specific priviligies and obligations. The nobility is the leading civic class, being excempt for taxes and entitled to a seat in the house of knights. Union nobles are divided into counts or barons and untitled knights which make up the broad class. The majority of the noble class make up some half percent of the total population, but is highly overrepresent in the nations administration and government as many higher positions require noble status.

The clergy or learned class traditionally encompasses the religious state officials as well as the head of the four large learning insitutions and proficent mages. Official magicians are considered to be part of the state apparatous, serving both in military and civilian affairs as government officials.

The third and final class is the peasants and burgers of the commoners, representing free landowners, merchants and tradesmen. Finally there is the large mass of factory workers, sub-tenants, part or full-time agricultural workers, soldiers, lower administrationsl clerks and poor people whom hold no franchise and make up the growing majority of the population.

The union is bound together by the nordic language, a composite language evolved from a common administrational and military history. While there are several large regional dialects, people from across the union can makes themselves understood to each other with little difficulty. This also allows for a broadly unified cultural and educational atmosphere. A dominant national drive in the recent century has been to translate plays and philosophical works from the continent, mostly written in Pelmerean, into the nordic language, and monthly performances of the great classical works of theater can be seen in most larger cities.

The union have four universites of note, namely the Adolfstad city university, Willfrenstein national academy, Nysala university and Fredrika university. Nysala is the centre of magical studies in the union, with a dedicated department for such endeavours. The union is regarded as one of the most progressive nations in terms of education of its populace, with state funded primary schools in every commune. Nearly fifty percents of the population is literate to a degree.

Government
The Union is a personal union between the three kingdoms, each with separate governments but a shared hereditary king, currently Adolf IV Fredrick. By the accords of the Union act all three kingdoms have an three chamber parliment, known as a Riksdag, representing the hereditary nobility, clergy and commoners, which governs internal matters and national laws. Travel passes, trade, tolls and taxes are governed by the individual countries, but requires royal assent to be passed.

Linking the three countries and the various lesser union possesions are the privy council, consisting of four elected representatives from each country, one from every union provinces, the royal princes and the two dukes of Evander and Gothan. Each regular representative holds one vote on all matters. The king heads the council and holds a equivalent of a third of the total votes. He also has the right to veto all proposals passed by vote three times, afterwhich he required to give his royal assent.

The council is responcible for internal matters concearning the entire union, foreign affairs and military matters. The king hold the rights to declare and end wars and to pass alliances, but is required to ask for the representatives for advice. He is also the acting commander of the armed forces in times of war.

Territory and Possesions
The main union territories are the three countries of Friesland, Willfrenstein and Canutia-Pommarna, occupying most of the northern territory across the inland sea of Thumbria and up to the borderlands of Thule. These lands are mildly divided into the warmer, rainier southern areas and the northern areas which gradually goes from mainly temperate to dense subarctic pine forests. Most of the unions population lives in the three kingdoms and a majority of its natural resources and industry is situated here.

Canutia-Pommarna is the most eastern of the these kingdoms, having an enlongated territory that borders both on the kingdom of Thumbria and the kingdom of Thule in the north. While the northern part of the country is mostly pine forests, the southern area houses several large cities. Being relatively close to the colder northern oceans makes for a cold and damp enviroment, and the people subside to a large degree from hardier crops, vegetables and fish. It posses a strong domestic fine engineering industry, using ores and minerals from Friesland to produce steam engines and domestic clockword devices.

Willfrenstein lies towards the coast of the circadic inland sea and is surrounded by its two partners towards the inlands. A small mountain range known as the Falls (fallbergen) follows the border to the east, serving as break for the cold winds from the northern ocean, affording Willfrenstein a more tempereate climate than its eastern partner. The coastal section of the falls divide into an area of deep fjords and inlets with several large fisheries and whaling stations. The temperate climate afforded by the mountains makes Willfrenstein the bread basket of the union.

Friesland is the largest of the three kingdoms, taking up most the western lands of the penninsula up to the border to Thule and towards the western Kaumachian border. Most of the northern reaches are uninhabited except for small villages and mining sites, with most of the large cities being situated towards the coastal regions. Its large size means that it has the largest population and thus the most of the unions industries, with a large production of ores, coal and lumber for export.

Across the sea is the Baumarian provinces, several smaller territories gained during the unions involvement in the war of 1578. While possesing only a twelth of the total population, these provinces are highly important to the union, due both to there strategic importance as the gateway to continental Arrant and there contribution to the kings coffers. Much trade passes through the many port cities in the region. In recent years the provinces has stood for almost a fifth the unions annual income.

The two duchies of Evander and Gothan are considered distinct regional units of the Union, being located on the two large islands bearing the same names. They where originally subject territories of the kingdom of Canute, given the right of self-rule after a civil war in the tenth century CE, and this distinction where carried over when the union where formed in 1597CE. The islands population are excempt from the military acts, instead raising a yearly tax to support defences. This hasn’t stopped the dukes from raising there own regiments however. The regions produce mostly agricultural products, with barley for the unions cavalry being amongst the most important. Gothan stone is also in great demand in Baumeria due to its exotic blue hue.

The union also posses a number of smaller islands down the coast towards Pelmerene, most notably the island of Servien which have recently become economically viable as a freeport for ships from the rebellious colonies in Tauemer. The large island of Visingen in the northern ocean is also claimed as a personal possesion of the king, but it is relatively uninhabited and is of little economic or military interest as of yet.

Most of the Unions economy is based on the export of iron and copper ores, timber products like coal, tar and building materials, wool and barley. Especially oak and rough iron is exported in large quantities to the ship building industries in Pelmerene and Ambria.

There is a small but growing industrial sector, mostly founded by Mallonese half-elf entrepenours; the cannons forges and clockwork plants of Adolfstad and Nybroborg being highly regarded abroad. The unions provinces in Baumeria is large centres of commerce, containing several of the main ports of the Thumbrian sea, making them highly lucrative for the union.

Population and demographics
The union currently have some nine million inhabitants, mainly humans and halflings. Mallonese half-elfs make up a large minority in the southern cities, being highly represented in the industrial sector. In addition to the official population figures, the indiginous Kammene peoples inhabit parts of the northern lands of the Union. Being partially nomadic and independent minded, the Union have been unable to produce an accurate census of there numbers, but estimates range from fifthy-thousand to ove one-hundred thousand Kammene living within the Unions borders.
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Re: Universe Proposal (still unamed)

Post by Heretic »

It's interesting and all, but how 'bout some warmachines and a general info on the technology there? Any spiffing steampunk weapons we should know about?

I like it how. as in the Industrial Revolution, this steampunk world is seeing the sparks of communist ideas (or, communalist in this fantasy world). I wonder, will this Marx be a firebreathing drunken brawlmaster/sorcerer? Heck, what's the role of magic in this world?
Computers are like Old Testament gods; lots of rules and no mercy.
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TUFFGUY
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Re: Universe Proposal (still unamed)

Post by TUFFGUY »

Sorry about taking so long to answer... have been preparing for deployment to africa with the swedish navy, so will be posting very infrequently the comming month.

Now to some more description :) . I have yet to fully decide upon the full role and aplication of magic will play in this universe so, the description of the fairies may be somewhat out of date.

Steam Engine
While steam has been used in a undeveloped form in industry for a hundred years, it was the development of the modern steam enginge by Roger Hutchinson in 1696.CE that heralded a through revolution in the fields of industry, transportation and warfare. Further developed by a series of inventors and engineer, steam engines are now an ubiqitious fact of daily life.

Its most important usage is within the field of industry, powering a myriad range of devices like drills, pumps, mills, hammers and looms. A great many heavier industrial tasks are now handled by such devices, and while a number of workers have reacted with fear and violence aimed at these machines, most notably the Roberites in Pelmerene, the need for workers have actually steadily risen since there introduction.

Another field which have been changed by the steam is the field of transportation, the most notable being the introduction of widespread railways. While local rails using carriages dragged by horses or waterwheels have been in use for the last century, especially near mines and coal sites, it is only now that they are comming to there true potential. Most nations are slowly expanding there railway lines, with connecting lines reaching the largest of the continenal cities. Rarer but still common is the steam-propelled carriage, which is essentially vehicles able to move without draft animals, either through direct application of a steam enginge or a steam wound clockwork mechanism.

Steam powered Pneumatic tubes have come to be a usual sigth within many larger cities, propelling both goods and passengers through sealed stations by use of large pumping stations. The post office of Pelmer is for example connected to several of the larger department offices of the Pelmerean governments, and use a punch card sorting system to pass along messages quickly. Some attemps have been made to propell open air trains via a transmission system working by a similar princple, but problems maintaining the airthight seals between the car and pistons used for propulsion have made them improbable for widespread use.

One of the more notable recent developments in steam technology is the miniature steam engines developed by the Royal Steamwork factory of Trandenburg, a small nation in Baumeria, which have since spread to the rest of Arrant. In conjunction with a system of transmission lines within a steel or iron exoskeleton, this engine can mimick the movement of a human or other legged animals. While a few steam horses has been produced as extravagant toys for the rich, the primary usage for this technology have been for the production of steam powered suits for the heavy industry and military.

Common is also the idea to produce ships powered by steam, but these have as of yet not been able to compete with regular ships outside of river transportation and short range naval vessels. This is mostly due to economical expenses and the lack of coaling stations outside of the north-eastern coastlines. Most such designs currently use variations of the paddlewheel for propulsion, but the Ambrian engineer Orsson Plainfield where recently able to demonstrate his design for a screw propelled craft at the royal docks at Danton.

The Fair races
A broad collection of supernatural beings, originally native to the realms of Faerie but now often residing partially or fully on other planes. They are inately magical, but there power and provess in the arts are varied from being to being, and much of it emanates from there good relations with the spirita natura.

Fairies
The most common order of fay are the fairies, known also by a number of regional names and titles. They are the ruling race within Faerie, being the most organized and, to a degree, agressive of all the races. They apear mostly as a mirror of humanoid mortals, with some diffreing traits such as unaturaly fair skin, slanted eyes or odly colored hair. They live predominantly within the confines of Faerie but there roads and homes may often partially or fully coexist in other realms. Several regions of the mortal plane are or have been inhabited by local fairy populations, and these have tended to aquire cultural traits similar to that of the regions mortal inhabitants.

Most fairies are not very industrious, having little need or care for more worldly concerns. Most of there time goes to balls and many fairy lords have a great like for processions and other such ceremonies which serve to agrandise themselves. Fairies often also have a affinity for hunting, with the prey varying from ordinary forest animals to sapient beings. Much of there accomplishments are borrowed, copied or outright stolen from the mortal races.

Fairies, like all race of fey, are magical beings, with the most powerful of them rivaling mortal sorcerers in capacity and even surpassing them in some areas. All fairies are more or less accomplished in the art of beguilment, being naturally able to cast splendors and mirages.

The faries are divided into a number of smaller tribes or clans, each ruled by a chief or king. Within these clans there exist large extended families, which usually grows over time due to the prodigious lifespan of the average fairy. This arrangement tends to lead to a great deal of internal strife within the fairy community, since barring rare accidental deaths the only way for a fairy to advance in power is through the removal of the one above him. Since this in many cases are a parent, sibling or other such close relative, bitter rivalries ending in duels, assasinations and bloody civil wars are not uncommon.

Similarly relationships between fairies and mortals are often very unclear and fraught with danger for the later party. Fairies are notably capricious, prideful and selfish, with the typical fairy often having an overinflated belief in there own self-worth and lacking compasion or understanding of the needs and feelings of other beings. In older times, and still to some degree in the more rural areas, it was not uncommon for fairies to kidnap people they took a fancy too and imprison them in there otherwordly homes. Even in voluntary friendships they can be quick to anger and easy to insult.

There are however great benefits to be reaped from being able to befriend these beings or aquire one as a servant or ally. They are quite prepared to go to great lenghts to please, and thus stoke there own ego and sence of pride. One of the most prominent of these arrangements are that of the fairy kings of the Meredin islands and the royalty of Ambria, whom bases much of there power on there alliance with these beings.

Trolls
A rarer type of fay are the trolls, an older and generally more powerful race whom are said to have existed already when the faeries appeared. They have since been mostly driven into seclusion by there erstwile cousins, many leaving Faerie to live within the mortal realms. They are often found in the north of Arrant, living in a somewhat peaceful coexistance with the locals. They are renowned metalworkers and miners, often accumulating large stores of gold, silver and copper. While often considered greedy, there have been occasions where mortals have been allowed to share knowledge of the troll arts, gaining skills above that normally attainable by normal means. Similarly troll swords have been greatly coveted in the northern lands.

The typical troll is larger and stockier than a man or orc, with broad facial features, fleshy noses and tails. They typically live in small isolated families, inhabiting caves in mountains with the inside being modelled after older human dwellings.


Ogres
Supposedly a race related to trolls, but turned savage and wild, ogres are violent and predatory beings with an affinity for flesh. Large and grotescue, they look like hairy humanoids with broad bodies, large muscles and a slightly bent appearance. They rarely use anything more complex than simple stone clubs or spears and loosely stitched together furs, which they seem to not actually need since they appear to be untouched by variations in temperature. They are similarly quite hard to damage, with mortal weapons historically having a hard time piercing there flesh. Modern gunpowder weapons have been found to be more effective, but a large amount of lead is still needed to reliably take down one of these beings.

Found for a long time in the mortal realms as well as Faerie, they have been a constant threat to mortal settlements in the parts where they roam. While they seem to be mostly solitary in there habits, on some occasions confronting there own kin as violently as other, there have been acounts of ogres banding together under the leadership of a strong individual to attack more powerful prey, such as mortal towns or settlements. In some parts like Jiza there is still a living tradition of warriors stricking out to slay ogres in order to attain a name.

Goblins
Goblins are a collection of faerie races, lesser in power an ability to the fairy or trolls. They are dimutive in size to there cousin races, varying in form an appearance but most often possesing greyish or green skin, large eyes and small horns or antlers. Goblins are organized into clans, many of which serve the fairies as soldiers and attendants. Wild goblins are not very powerful but those in alliance with an fairy often gain magical knowledge, especially those whom serve as close personal servants.

Cusith
Cusith are dog or wolf like creatures most often kept as pets and warhounds by the fairies. Resembling canines in general built, but immense in size with redish eyes and dark green fur, cusith are agressive and temperamental even while under the control of there fairy keepers, but also exhibit compareatively advanced mental faculties, being able to act on spoken instructions and commands with relative ease. The few examples found in the wild, both in faerie and the other realms, appear to prefer moors, bogs and marchlands as there habitat and act as solitary hunters, attacking only lone prey most of the time. They are unaturaly quiet when stalking a prey, unleashing a shrilling cry only at the moment of attack.

Individual fairies seems to take immense pride in there private specimens, often going to great lenghts in braiding, curling and even tatooing the great beasts. Cusith warhounds are a regular part of all fairy warbands, being used as trackers, wathchounds and beasts of burden for individual fairy warriors. Occasionally they are also set against each other for sport, which the noble makes great affairs. One noteworthy match resulted in a kingdom changing hands after a particularly heated betting session.

Pixies
The smallest and least powerful of the race of fay, pixie is a catch all term for multiple racial lines. They are all characterised by there small size, limited intelligence and lack of any real magical power. Pixies are at best tollerated as pets or household animals by the fairies, while more aggresive examples are often regarded as pests.
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Re: Universe Proposal (still unamed)

Post by TUFFGUY »

Republic of Osprey
Osprey is a newly formed nation, created from the principality of Naeubrecht after the 1678 revolution and joined by the departments of Erithen and Naussenbach after the Wars of the First Alliance in 1686.

The Naubrecht revolution of 1678 where originally a reaction, amongst other things, to the rising price of grain, which escaleted with the confrontation of government troops and protesters outside of the princly palace in Frunden. Riots ran throughout most of the capital, eventually leading to the formation of the first convention in a building complex known as the chapterhouses. This assembly, composed mostly of the middle and lower class, declared the prince as unfit to rule and called for the creation of a government of the people.

Some days later a mob lead by some of these ideologists stormed the palace, initially intent on capturing the prince and his family. In the ensuing fighting the prince where however beaten to death while trying to guard the escape of his family and his head stuck on a pike outside of the palace. While his wife and children where initially able to escape by coach to one of there country estates, the spreading riots and violence caught up with them some weeks later when ideologists of the new republic seized the palace and hanged the entire family after a summary trial.

A series of brutal cleansings of the leading nobility and government officials ensued, while news of the revolt and murder of the princly family sent shockwaves through Arrant. A series of wars known as the wars of the First Alliance ensued, with a coalition formed by Ambria, Pelmerene and several of the Baumerian states arrayed against the revolutionary armies. Renamed Osprey after one of the early revolutionary symbols the new republic, mostly due to its Levée National and the brewing civil war in Pelmerene, where able to come out as victors, having absorbed the rich farmlands of the Touson, Erithen, Naussenbach and a costal stretch in the peace at Vitriena.

Today the republic is generally stable, but small scale loyalist rebellions are still fought in the outlying regions, seeking to restore the princely family represented by the prince in exile Victor II von Frunden, nephew to the killed prince. The example set by the revolution have lead to several more or less succesfull political revolutionary movements, best represented by the Commune of La Baronal.

The main spoken language is Baumerian, but sizeble minorities speaks Pelmerean. The current social climate is one of anti-intellectualism and pragmatism, as some of the most adamant prince loyalists where found amongst the students of the Frunden college, whom where suppresed with little regard for life. There is however a blossoming alternative arts and literary culture in the revolutionary hotseat of Frunden, which have grown over the past few years of comperable peace and many of Arrants current avant garde writers, poets and painters have gravitated to the capital.

Government and politics
The republic is based on a government of the people, with every man over 23 years of age being eligeble to vote for reprensentatives to the Senate of Four-hundred, which acts as the judicial and legislative body for the republic. The senators are then responcible for electing three conculs, whom shares the executive power and have fixed terms of three years, with one being elected every year.

Senatorial sessitions are held in the refurbished palace of Frunden, renamed the Palace Republic, typically in the large hall that dominates its southern wing. Often present at these sessetions are large throngs of non-voting tribunes chosen from the common people, whom are allowed to voice there concern or concent to all matters handled by the senate but is barred from interfering directly with the governments descisions. Above this right, tribunes are often utilized as tax-commisioners and magistrates within there precincts.

The senate is loosely affiliated into several political parties grouped around a philosophical club, with the currently dominant grouping being the liberal Nationalists lead by Savoud de Crienees.

While the senate is supposed to be the main governing body, the last decade has seen much power gathered into the so called national committee of public safety. Given extensive rights to detain, trie and execute those deemed as enemies of the state, this government body only answers to the consular seats.

The republic army also holds great informal power through the troops allegiance to leading generals like Claude Nieu and Robert Tiernman. Such men often act as de facto governors of the outlying military districts, especially the so called contested areas towards the ambrian continental holdings and the Baumerian states, having the power to dictate terms to the national government in Frunden.

Holdings
The republic of Osprey currently consists of the territories constituting the former Principality of Naubrecht which it replaced, the semi-incorporated departments of Erithen and Naussenbach gained after the peace with Ambria and the Touson farmlands seeded to the Republic by the Baumerian Confederation.

Most of these territories are rich in population, but the wars and social upheaval have been hard on the civic infrastructure. Several cities have been partially abandoned and much farmlands lies unused. A large series of governmental works have been launched to stimulate the economy, with various industries like the large salt factories in Toun-Marchen or the steam production plants around Frunden receiving government stipends based on there anual production and employment of workers. Likewise the construction of new roads and bridges as well as the refurbishment of several older ones serves an important economical function.

Touson, having been left mostly untouched by the campaigns, are an important part of the republics holdings, acting both as the main supplier of grain and other foodstuffs and serving as an important source of taxes. Still the republican government is not well liked amongst the rural halfling population, and several grassroot resistance movements plague the military occupation forces and disturb the internal communications through banditry and raids.

Erithen and Naussenbach are two regions formerly constituting the southern territory of the Rhinesland Markgraf, with a mostly Baumerian speaking population and a marked agricultural basis for its economy. The territories are currently administrated by a series of military governors, technically under the control of the republican government.

Osprey currently have some eleven million inhabitants, counting those living in the occupied territories. Most of these are a mix of humans, dwarves and Baumerian orcs. Toulon is mostly inhabited by halflings, composing a population of estimated six-hundred thousand people.
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Re: Universe Proposal (still unamed)

Post by TUFFGUY »

Woadkin
A dispersed tribal people inhabiting lands on the leeward islands of Ambria, often involved in disputes and feuds with the government in Wintergate. They are mostly descendants of the native Caer-Ambrians living in the islands before the arrival of the Pelmerean conquerors, continuing to live there lives according to there own ways even after the formation of the Ambrian kingdom. During the last centuries they have often come in conflict with the landed gentry whom with parliaments bleesing keeps integrating there lands with there own, reducing them to tenants at best. With little cohesion between the different woad tribes, there has been little oportunity for any kind of organized resistance to these moves and many have been forced into a rowing lifestyle, turning to banditry or seeking service as merceneries in the armies on the continent.

Socially the woads consists of many small tribes usually consiting of between twenty and fifty families lead by one chieftan. They are mostly settled in villages with surrounding farmlands and grazing areas held in communal care by the entire tribe. Food and other supplies are shared according to the need of the individuals, but the headmen of the tribe often have comparatively better lives than the common man. The chieftan is the head of the tribe, but his authority is checked by a series of social customs, with descisions requiring the chief to listen to a communal council of all freemen. There total population is now estimated as some one-hundred thousand.

Most of the holds are alligned into larger kingdoms lead by local high chieftans, most of whom which have sworn loyalty to the king of the great hold of Glenmoran. This title is not hereditary, with each king being elected upon the death of the previous holder by representatives from the most influential holds. The king is chiefly responcible for keeping the peace during the gatherings and markets held at Glenmoran, leading and casting the deciding vote at the great council and act as caretaker for the religious objects kept in Glenmoran Castle. While holding the title of king in the old Caeran language, he is not recognised as such by the Ambrian Parliament, being merely invested as a sort of ceremonial governor over the woads

Most of these people keep to the old Ambrian religion, worshiping the tripple pantheon of Amran, Moirenan and Toenand, respectively gods of warfare, fertility and death. Woad priests are however of a separate order than the druids of the Ambrian main, serving closer to the populace as wise men and magicians than the reclusive druidic orders. They are often highly respected individuals, possesing knowledge of thaumaturgical magic, healing arts and white necromancy that can aid the people. It is these priests that know the secret behind the symbols of the body paint that the woads take there name from, weaving magic into normaly inert patterns of paint to give fortune, protection from diseases and succes in battle.
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TUFFGUY
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Re: Universe Proposal (still unamed)

Post by TUFFGUY »

And now because firepower is fun :D

Volley guns and Crank guns
One of the most widespread type of volley gun is the Mouban gun, first manufactured by the Mouban Castle Arsenal for the Pelmerean army and later adopted by numerous other armies. The weapon consists of a number of barrels, the most common versions having either thirty-two or sixteen barrels, and a preloaded magazine containing chambers with balls and gunpowder. The magazine is slotted into a housing with a central flintlock mechanism and pistol grip trigger assembly. When fired the lock ignites a central priming charge connected to the individual ball chambers, producing a nearly simultanious volley. After each firing the operators simply replace the magazine and fire again, with skilled operators managing up to seven volleys a minute. One problem is typically the availability of ammunition for the guns, with most variants utilizing factory produced magazines that can become scarse over time if the army is not well supplied.

Vernia developed a type of crank gun which utilizes a sliding magazine, typically containg between eight and twelve rounds. The weapon is fired by a manually operated lever, which by a simple gear action loads and fires one round for every turn of the lever. While able to fire several rounds in rapid succesion, the Vernia crank cannon never became popular due to problems getting the sliding magazine to align properly with the barrel of the weapon, causing both leaks of heated gas and barrel explosions.

The Marsten revolving lever gun is another type of crank gun, designed by Arnold Marsten and adopted widely by the Ambrian military. It is a tripod mounted flintlock weapon, built with a fifteen shot cylinder and operated by a hand-crank that recocks the mechanism and revolve the chamber. Skilled gunners can achive a rate of fire of nearly thirty rounds a minute, almost ten times faster than the common muzzle loaded musket. Its commonly deployed by grenadier teams of three men, allowing the weapon to function as a infantry support weapon.

A newer development is the revolving cannon designed by Erich von Haubst, utilizing an arrangement of five short, medium caliber barrels internaly fitted with the newly developed spark ignition system. When fired the weapon is automatically revolved by an external clockwork lever, which cocks the lock and discharges it at each revolution allowing all balls to be discharged in between fifteen an twenty seconds. Considered as anti-infantry weapons these guns are often used at close range with special canister rounds that allows for rapid reloading of the gun.
Blackwing
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Re: Universe Proposal (still unamed)

Post by Blackwing »

Did some Frisian bribe you to make Friesland the biggest kingdom? :P F-ing seperatists.

Just kidding. I rather like this.

Pelmerene reminds me of Victorian Russia. A reformist emperor blocked by his own nobility.

And of course the Union is a sort of 'Benelux meets Scandinavia' type deal, which is interesting.
So Einstein was wrong when he said "God does not play dice". Consideration of black holes suggests, not only that God does play dice, but that He sometimes confuses us by throwing them where they can't be seen. ~ Stephen Hawking
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TUFFGUY
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Re: Universe Proposal (still unamed)

Post by TUFFGUY »

Kingdom of Thule
The northern most of the Arrantian nations, Thule is a currious mix of old and new with a strong feudal warrior tradition competing with newer philosophical and economic ideals steming from the continent. It has a close connection with the trolls of the north, which supplies magical arms and arts that has allowed the nation to retain its independence against its much larger neighbours, Kaumach and the Adolfstad Union.

Thule is dominated by an small clique of aristocratic land magnates that competes with the crown for political power. While most of the peasantry are nominally freemen, they for the most part beholden to the ruling aristocracy through a complex systen of tribal allegiances, pacts of service and personal debt. The high nobility have extensive legal rights within there domains and retain the right to raise personal troops, with the most powerful and influential having the equivelent of small armies under there command.

Below the high nobility is the larger class of landless aristocractic officers and civil servants that derive there status and livelyhood from there services to the crown. While it depends on the peronal strenght of the monarch, these nobles are usually loyal directly to the crown rather than any one magnate, allowing the king to use them as a political counterbalance in the grand assembly.

There is a strong tradition of magic within the kingdom, much of it originating in the tutelage of the trolls. Magic is practised by several magic orders, with the most notable being the Order of the North Star, the knightly Order of the Sword and the martial warrior societies of the Ulfserkr and Bärserkr. Knowledge of the arts are highly respected and many aristocrats have at least some magical training.

Religously the nation is mostly traditionally pantheistic, worshiping the older gods native to the area. The midwinter and midsummer festivals are almost universally attended, with most of the populace participating in the sacrificial rituals (known as blot) and following feasts in honour of the gods.

There language is part of the nordic language family, being similar in vocabulary to the languages of both Thumbria and the Union. Unlike them however, Thule retain the usage of the older Rune alphabet alongside the recently adopted Pelmerean script. To many the runes are the only form of writing they know.

Government and Politics
Thule is a constitutional monarchy, currently ruled by Erik VII. The constitution of Thule places most political authority within the hands of Stortinget (Grand Assembly), which in the letters of law is composed of all good men of the realm, in effect meaning the high and low aristocracy and rich members of the landowning gentry. Stortinget convenese regularly every six months in the grand hall of the royal palace. All matters are descided by vote, with all members present holding one vote. Recent legislation has seen that the votes of non-attending members are automatically suspended, in order to curtail the previously common practise of one member giving another member the right to his vote. Bribery and strongarming is still common however, with the magnates effectively controling large blocks of votes.

The king acts as chairman, holding extensive but still limited authority in the descsion making process. He is allowed the right to propose motions and laws, which is to be heard first of all matters in any given session, holds the right to veto all matters which have been carried with less than three fourths of all votes, can expel any presiding member from the hall for the duration of the session if he gives a clear reason. He can however not pass an act or motion, declere or end wars or form alliances without the blessing of Stortinget.

Territory and Possesions
Located on the north-western edge of the northern peninsula, Thule borders on the Union to the east and south and Kaumach to the south-west. To the north and north-east it posseses a relatively long coastline towards the arctic seas, but since the waters are frozen over for most of the year there is little commerce except for the brief but hectic summer periods which sees a boom in shipping. While the regions bordering towards Kaumach is resonably fertile, most of the remaining lands are hard to farm due to the relatively harsh conditions and short summers.

Much of its national economy is based on the production and export of high quality iron and steel products, with tack iron and blades especially being considered of exceptional quality. Lumber products are also exported to a lesser degree, especially to Kaumach in the periods of peace. Still the lands population is mostly agrarian. There is only a few larger cities and most people live in scattered town, villages and hamlets centered around the large mannorial residences of the nobles. Even the capital and largest city Ulricksberg have only some forty-thousand inhabitants.

A small range of mountains in the southern forests are the traditional lands claimed by the trolls. While it is not directly forbidden for people to travel on and use the mountains and surrounding lands, indeed many blacksmiths and craftsmen journey there in search of apprenticeship, it is not advisable to cause to much disruption of the natural order within this realm. Bandits, thieves and other troublemakers often find themselves bewitched, some being forced to dance until there is only bloody stumpts left of the feet while others are taken into the mountains never to be seen again.

Population
There is roughly one million one-hundred fifty thousand people living in Thule, the majority being humans. Some of the peoples in the Kaumachian borderlands hail from Kaumachian orcs, while a large population of Kammene have there traditional lands in the eastern forestlands
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Re: Universe Proposal (still unamed)

Post by TUFFGUY »

Kingdom of Thumbria
Thumbria is a smaller kingdom in the north of Arrant, bordering the larger union of Adolfstad along the border of Canutia-Pommarna. It posses a large coastline and have for a long time been one of the major maritime powers in Arrant. It is this, together with clever diplomatic manouvring, which have kept it from being goobled up by its more populus neighbour to the west, as the Thumbrian navy have consistently been able to outfight the less capable union navy. Still it has had to make stinging territorial consecions during the Great Nordic War, where its alliance with Kaumach almost lead to its fall.

Thumbria is a more classical society than the Union, with a small clique of nobles possesing most of the political power while strong merchant houses compete for economic and commercial dominance. Much of the common populace are serfs belonging to the estates of the aristocracy or landless tenants renting land in return for work and taxes. While there is a strong urge for political reforms amongst both the growing middle class of city tradesmen, gentry and artisans and more progressive elements of the low aristocracy, it is consistently blocked by the conservative high nobility and royal house.

Worship of the Goddess of the Heart is prevalent in Thumbria, serving as the official religion of the royal house and with state funded temples found in most major cities. All states occasions are done under the ritual blessings of the clergy and sacrifical services marking most major events and dates. Other religions like the Baumerian Pantheon are not officially forbidden, but most followers find that they are often excluded from polite company if found to be to open in there religious views.

Most people in Thumbria speaks an distinct form of the nordic languages, separated from the more uniform language of the Union and containing many more archaic traits in its grammatical structure and vocabulary. A Thumbrian is typically able to adequatly understand the common form nordic language, but a speaker of the later often find it difficult to follow the Thumbrian language.

Government and Politics
Thumbria is an absolute monarchy with the king, currently Sebastian IV of the house Mariaborg, holding the final judicial and executive power within the nation. Assisting and advising him is the state cabinet, which consists of the ministers of the governmental departments of war, commerce, state, colonial affairs and foreign services as well those men currently holding the offices of General-admiral of the navy, Marshal of the army, Royal Treasurer and Lord Chamberlain.

While supposedly the sole ruler of the nation Sebastian IV have had a long history of periods of mental illness, during which he have been unable to excersice his royal mandate. The actual power where for a long time held by his mother, Dorothea Magdalene, but an internal coup have passed the reign to a council of regents headed jointly by Peter Axel von Wreinstrand, the current acting Lord Chamberlain, and the kings brother in law prince Willhelm af Ernstein. There is great opposition to there rule, with popular support still favoring the dowager queen, currently held in house arrest at the royal palace in Mariaborg.

Territory and Possesions
Thumbria is a small oblong nation lying on the southmost coastal region of northern Arrant. It share its entire land border with the union, but the chain of mountains known as the Rand blocks easy travel along almost half of the border but opening up into pine woodlands in the northern parts of the country. Cold winds from the northern ocean and a lack of good soils makes it slightly unproductive agriculturally, requiring it to import grains. This means that much of the peoples diet comes from the sea or the hardy local stock of sheep that grases along the mountain sides. The woods in the north serves to allow both a steady export of timbre and other lumber products and to fuel the local ship building industry-

A fair deal of the countries northern territory consists of several large island chains forming the northern archipelago. Until recently only inhabited by small local villages and the crews of fisheries and commercial whaling stations, the discovery of high grade coals on several of the islands have caused a small economic boom in the area, with the several of the local communities trippling in size with the arrival of miners and there families.

A large part of the nations income comes from its overseas possesions, aquired during the previous century and a half by intrepid Thumbrian sailors, often at the expense of the union nations. They are grouped into two administrational zones administrated by a military governor.

The Taumeran district is centrered on the large island of Dorothea, with its main city Kungshamn functioning as the main port for Thumbrian Taumeer. Other than the main island Thumbria holds seven other small islands in the region, there economies mostly based on sugar production. Dorothea also relies heavily on the sugar trade, but also produces tobaco and local spices.

The Thumbrian settlements on the Emerald coast consists mostly of small trading stations under the protection of three major forts, Fort Sebastianborg, Fort Kungsten and Fort Magdalenborg. The forts and major trading stations are all effectivelly small towns at this point and function mainly as end points for the trade with inner Denkura, the export of slaves, ivory and rare woods serving as the base of there economies. With the Pelmerean ban on slavery and increasing economic troubles due to inner political turmoil amongst there traditional trading partners, these colonies are slowly losing there economic viability.

Population
Thumbria currently have about two and a half million inhabitants living in Thumbria proper, with around forty-thousand more in the colonies. Most of the population in Thumbria are either Arrantian humans or halflings, but there are a large minority of Baumerian orcs living in the coastal cities. In the colonies a large majority of the inhabitants are Denkaran slaves brought from the Emerald coast or native Taumeerans with few legal rights, with comparatively few Arrantians serving as a ruling elite.

Like in the Union, the northern parts of the country is home to the Kammene people, an etnically distinct halfling population. The Kammene living in Thumbria is more settled than the nomadic villages in most of the Union, and have adapted better to the increasing settlement of the native lands. Many have been engaged as workers in the Thumbrian logging industry, often abandonding the semi-nomadic reindeer husbandry traditional to there culture.
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