Cambrius Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 This promises to stomp all over everything Mr. Bowen is already conceiving and/or writing even now. Hopefully not. It would be kind of awesome if this in any tiny way influences the future inked-in parts of the map where I'm scribbling in pencil here. The following national profiles are from an alternate Earth I was developing that never got used. With some bludgeoning, I've wedged it into a Malifaux-possible universe. Could this be a peek into the Alternate Earthside? I can definitely state with confidence...maybe. Possibly a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Control + Alt + Earth Atlantisia Thalassokratia para Byzantion History Lost deep in the mists of time, are the chronicles of an event that would forever end one of the greatest civilizations the world had never known. Atlantis. In Plato’s account, Atlantis, lying “beyond the pillars of Heracles”, was a naval power that conquered many parts of Western Europe and Africa in approximately 9500 BC. After a failed attempt to invade Athens, Atlantis sank into the ocean “in a single day and night of misfortune”. But setting aside the fact that Plato’s story comes more than nine thousand years after the supposed fact, the story came from…somewhere. It is that somewhere that forms the foundation of Byzantium. Atlantean Exodus (Æ), from the original Greek Atlantisia Exodos, is an ancient and powerful order, pervasive throughout the Thalassocracy. The origins of Æ are as duplicitous as the order itself. The Atlantean Exiles were expelled from the ancient nation for reasons lost with the civilization itself. It is thought by some scholars within the order that the reason was simple treason, that original Æ members went to Athens and sold the Athenians the invasion plans. Unable to retrieve them for justice, the Atlantean government subsequently exiled the Æ from their home. After the catastrophic event that sent Atlantis beneath the sea, and with no one left to refute their claim, the first Æ members rewrote their own history for posterity. Instead of being traitorous exiles, they were clairvoyants and prophets who foretold the doom of Atlantis. When their words went unheeded, they wrote, Atlantean Exodus (not Exiles) left Atlantis and its hubris behind for Athens, to preserve Atlantean history and culture for future generations. This version of the story is the one preserved by the order to this day and is the secret source of Plato’s story. The origins of Byzantium are also shrouded in legend. The traditional legend has it that Byzas from Megara (a town near Athens), founded Byzantium in 667 BC, when he sailed northeast across the Aegean Sea. Byzas had consulted the Oracle at Delphi to ask where to make his new city. The Oracle told him to found it “opposite the blind.” At the time, he did not know what this meant, but when he came upon the Bosporus he realized: on the Asiatic shore was a Greek city, Chalcedon. It was they who must have been blind because they had not seen that obviously superior land was just a half mile away on the other side of the Bosporus. Byzas founded his city here in this “superior” land and named it Byzantion after himself. It was mainly a trading city due to its strategic location at the Black Sea’s only entrance. Byzantion later conquered Chalcedon. What legend doesn’t tell is that Byzas was a prominent member of Æ, sent forth with an invaluable opportunity to provide the order with a new home, a city of their own design. The centuries and generations came and went, springing into brief and virulent life before fading to ashes and dust. Atlantean Exodus slowly and quietly grew in membership and influence in the city they founded, preferring to rule from the shadows and veiling themselves in ever-deepening layers of secrecy and deception. After siding with Pescennius Niger against the victorious Septimius Severus in a Roman civil war, Byzantium was besieged by Roman forces and suffered extensive damage in AD 196. The city was rebuilt by Septimius Severus, now emperor, and quickly regained its previous prosperity. In February 313, Constantine and Licinius, leaders of the western and eastern parts of the empire, respectively, discussed religious policy when they met at Mediolanum (now Milan). The two augusti were in Milan to celebrate the upcoming wedding of Constantine’s half-sister Flavia Julia Constantia to Lucinius. The text usually called the Edict of Milan would have restored confiscated properties to Semite practitioners and allowed Semitism to be practiced throughout the empire. Both toleration and restitution had already been granted by Constantine in Gaul, Spain and Britain in 306, and by Maxentius in Italy and Africa in 306 (toleration) and 310 (restitution). Galerius and Licinius had enacted toleration in the Balkans in 311, and Licinius might have extended restitution there in early 313. But Licinius was a high-ranking member of Atlantean Exodus. The order viewed Semitism as a hypocritical philosophy of magic that was constantly rewriting itself to suit its assertions. While the order could respect Semitism’s efforts to survive, Æ had already established a much more useful faith – “faith” being the common term for the belief and practice of a given magical philosophy – in the sciences called Alchemos. When whispering agents failed to convince Constantine of the merits of Alchemos, Atlantean Exodus devised a more sinister plot. A Semite slave was contracted (read: strong-armed) to attack and rape Constantia, an act that both garnered sympathy from her brother and allowed the condemnation of the Semite faith in the eastern empire. The slave was killed in the act, and in his “rage and grief”, Licinius outlawed the “clearly duplicitous” Semite philosophy in his city after marrying Constantia despite her shameful deflowering. Constantine hesitated, and in the following month, on April 30, Licinius inflicted a decisive defeat on Maximinus at the Battle of Tzirallum, after Maximinus had tried attacking him for his condemnation of Semitism. His “Plot at Mediolanum”, having succeeded, Licinius established himself master of the East, while his brother-in-law, Constantine, was supreme in the West. The way was paved, and Alchemos became the prime faith of Byzantium. The first great Byzantine Emperor was Justinian I (AD 482-565). His ambition was to restore the old Roman Empire and he nearly succeeded. His instrument was the greatest general of the age, Belisarius, who crisscrossed the empire defeating Persians to the East, Vandals in North Africa, Ostrogoths in Italy, and Bulgars and Slavs in the Balkans. In addition to military campaigns, Justinian laid the foundation for the future by establishing a strong legal and administrative system, and by defending Alchemos as the Byzantine faith. The Byzantine economy was the richest in Europe for many centuries because Byzantium was ideally sited on trade routes between Asia, Europe, the Black Sea, and the Aegean Sea. It was an important destination point for the Silk Road from China. The nomisma, the principal Byzantine gold coin, was the standard for money throughout the Mediterranean for 800 years and remains the currency of the nation to this day – though the name has changed to the nommis. Byzantium’s strategic position eventually attracted the envy and animosity of the Italian city-states. A key strength of the Byzantine Empire was its generally superior army that drew on the best elements of Roman, Greek, Gothic, and Middle Eastern experience in war. The core of the army was a shock force of heavy cavalry supported by both light infantry (archers) and heavy infantry (armored swordsmen). The army was organized into units and drilled in tactics and maneuvers. Officers received an education in military history and theory. Although outnumbered usually by masses of untrained warriors, it prevailed thanks to intelligent tactics and good discipline. The army was backed by a network of spies and secret agents, led by Atlantean Exodus, that provided information about enemy plans and could be used to bribe or otherwise deflect aggressors. The Byzantine navy kept the sea-lanes open for trade and kept supply lines free so the city could not be starved into submission when besieged. In the 8th Century, a land and sea attack by Arabians was defeated largely by a secret weapon, Greek Fire. This weapon, its composition now unknown to all but the highest ranking scholars in Æ, was a product of research in Alchemos and by its college of magic. Greek Fire was a sort of liquid napalm that could be sprayed from a hose, and the Arabian navy was devastated at sea by its incendiary might. In the 7th and 8th Centuries, the Arabians overran Ægypt, the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain, removing these areas permanently from Byzantine control. A Turkish victory at Manzikert in 1071 led to the devastation of Asia Minor, the empire’s most important source of grain, cattle, horses, and soldiers. In 1204, crusaders led by the Doge of Venice used treachery to sack Byzantium, but always the city survived and always the resurgence was led by Atlantean Exodus. In the 14th Century, the Turks invaded Europe, capturing Adrianople and bypassing Byzantium. They settled the Balkans in large numbers and defeated a large crusader army at Nicopolis in 1396. In May of 1453, Turkish Sultan Mehmet II was defeated at a Byzantium that appeared weakly defended, despite the aid of heavy cannon. The bold and deadly use of Æ’s assassins, with their blades and their poisons plaguing the Turkish camps at night, completely destroyed the invaders’ morale, as well as many of their officers. The Byzantines countered with an offensive of their own and, by October of 1454, Loukas Notaras had captured what is now Greece, Thrace and Anatolia, as well as Cyprus and Crete. Atlantean Exodus worked quickly and ruthlessly to secure what they now held. With their victory, Æ took a more prominent hold of the government. The army was replenished and very well trained, cavalry-heavy, though expected only to hold the borders. Atlantean Exodus placed top priority on the navy, building ships at a frantic pace and training top crews to man them. Finally, there would be a return to the wine-dark waters. Citizens of Byzantium called themselves Thalassians, from the Greek words meaning “people of the sea”. But for foreigners, Æ had had enough. The government dropped the Great Purple Veil over their nation. Trading posts were built at the borders of other nations, where foreign merchants could trade, the goods hauled deeper into Byzantium by Thalassian carts. Ports had special districts, walled off from the rest of the city, where merchant ships could dock and trade. The gates into the city were heavily guarded and any who tried to trespass were executed on the spot. As the 20th Century begins, the long tradition of secrecy has allowed Byzantium to prosper and grow behind the Veil, and lent the nation an aura of mystery and intrigue. Stories abound about what lies beyond the gates and walls and borders of Byzantium, but the Thalassian navy discourages anyone from learning anything that Atlantean Exodus does not want known, including the presence of any Lesser Breaches Geography Territories: Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Crete, Aegean Islands Total Area: 921,770 sq. km (910,800 sq. km land, 10,970 sq. km water) Coastline: 21,524 km Climate: Temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior. Elevation Extremes: Low – Mediterranean Sea (0m); High – Mount Ararat (5166m) Natural Resources: Coal, lignite, petroleum, iron ore, gold, copper, chromium, antimony, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, mercury, barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, salt, timber, hydropower, arable land. People Population: 17,094,000 (1900 or 113 Post Foris) Demonym: Thalassian, Thalassians, Byzantine, Byzantines Ethnic Groups: Greek, Turkish Magical Philosophies: Alchemos: 99%, Other: 1% Languages: Greek (official), Latin (administrative), Turkish Government Official Name: Atlantisia Thalassokratia para Byzantion (Atlantean Thalassocracy of Byzantium) Common Name: Byzantium Capital: Byzantium Major Cities: Athens, Thessalonika, Ankara, Nicosia National Holiday: Other Holidays: Political System: Imperial Oligarchy Legal System: Thalassian Imperial Law Suffrage: 16 years of age, male; 18 years of age, female Currency: (№) Nommis (pl. nommi), solidus (pl. solidi) 1/100 of a nommis. Flag: Gold symbol for alchemy represents the magical philosophy of Alchemos. The purple field represents the Great Purple Veil. Executive Branch Head of State: Archon Daeminon Fatih (Hegemon of Æ) Head of Government: Archon Daeminon Fatih Cabinet: Praesidium; The official duty of the Praesidium is to carry out the orders of the Archon and Synod, and their status as specialized advisors have made them highly valuable. Praetors are appointed from among the civilian ranks of the Æ, though no one would ever know. All Praetors are properly addressed with the honorific Choregos, meaning Chorus Leader. Legislative Branch Unicameral Synod: The legislative council, consisting of four Tetrarchs that serve the Archon as chief advisors for a life term. Tetrarchs are appointed from among the senior members of Æ, and such knowledge is a very tightly guarded secret. Judicial Branch The Imperial Court of Byzantium stands at the apex of the Thalassian judicial system and consists of five High Magistrates, appointed for life by the Archon from among the superior courts – though High Magistrates may choose to retire. Candidates must be from civilian families and may not hold any other remunerative office during their term, though all High Magistrates are senior members of Æ. The duty of the judiciary is to advise the Archon in legal matters, to uphold Thalassian Imperial Law, and to adjudicate legal matters at all levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 (edited) Control + Alt + Earth Greater Britain History As the northern tribes of Angles, Saxons, Teutons, and others assaulted and settled a Brittania recently bereft of Roman garrisons, they found a stable and comfortable quality of life and so Roman influence never faded, but instead flourished in its own way. In the 15th Century, the popularity of Maria Tudoria Elizabeth was extremely high, but her Privy Council, her Parliament, and her subjects thought that the unmarried queen should take a husband; it was generally accepted that, once a queen regnant was married, the husband would relieve the woman of the burdens of state. Also, without an heir, the Cambrian Tudor dynasty would end; the risk of civil war between rival claimants was a possibility if Elizabeth died childless. The first and most ardent suitor was the late Mary’s widower, Philip II of Spain. However, numerous other suitors from nearly all European nations sent ambassadors to the English court to put forward their suit. Risk of death came dangerously close in 1564 when Elizabeth caught smallpox; Elizabeth survived but British destiny was forever altered. It is said that in her fever, she experienced a holy visitation from a source no one would ever have suspected, given her moderate yet adamant Reformist views. Elizabeth claimed that Danu, mother goddess to the Tuatha de Danaan – the forerunners of modern Celts – came to her in her hour of greatest peril and told her that the elder gods had returned from their long celestial journey to reclaim the hearts and spirits of their Briton children. Elizabeth quickly recovered and proclaimed the vision a miracle. What followed was a Second War of the Roses, with House York rising up with the support of all Semites and Reformists of the realm, many of them Lancastrian. But a return to the original gods and a renewal of ties to the land was popular among the laymen and more nobles than might have been thought joined the Tudor cause. The Reformist College of England reacted virulently, supporting the Yorkists and declaring Elizabeth and her revived magical philosophy of Druidism anathema. In response, Elizabeth decreed the College to be valid, but no longer the faith of the Crown and State. Popular revolts against the Reformists resulted in the College’s presence being reduced to Yorkist fortifications. In the end, the overwhelming popularity of Druidism resulted in the near-expunging of the Reformist College of England. The initial reaction from Rome was one of support for Elizabeth, seen as a scourge against the Reformist College. The Vatican Synaxis believed that Semitism could be reinvigourated in Britain. Too late, the Pontifex realised that the Druidic movement was strong enough to hold permanent sway over the nostalgic Britons. Having supported the movement at its inception, the Pontifex could not exactly call for a Crusade – especially given that Rome was greatly occupied with the Arcane Land, and that Britain held nothing of geographical or magical importance for Semitism. Indeed, the magical nexus Stonehenge became a leading symbol for the Druidic revival, something the Vatican Synaxis wanted no part of. As a result of the successful Druidic Movement, Elizabeth conformed readily to the idea that marriage and birth-giving were natural cycles of the gods-given Earth. She married Edwardius Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, in 1565. After much anticipation and anxiety, Elizabeth finally gave birth to Augustus Tudorius Taliesin I in 1575; Prince Taliesin succeeded his mother to the throne in 1603. The Welsh state solidified its identity of Roman influence when, in 1599, Prince Taliesin suggested for the kingdom the name Cambria, a Romanised version of Cymru, the Welsh name for Wales. The name was officially adopted November 3, 1601, and was declared the national holiday by Queen Elizabeth. Cambria and England formed the Kingdom of Great Britain until, after a similar popular Druidic Movements in Ireland in 1644 and Scotland a year later in 1645, the nation became the Kingdom of Greater Britain. Geography Territories: England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey, Orkney Islands, Shetlands Total Area: 329,232 sq. km (310,480 sq. km land, 4620 sq. km water) Coastline: 13,877 km Climate: Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atalantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; more than one-half of the days are overcast. Elevation Extremes: Low – The Fens (-4m); High – Ben Nevis (1343m) Natural Resources: Coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, copper, silver, tin, limestone, barite, limestone, dolomite, salt, peat, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land. People Population: 39,875,900 Cambria (1900 or 113 Post Foris) Demonym: Briton, British Ethnic Groups: Welsh, English, Irish, Scottish Magical Philosophies: Druidic: 84%, Reformist: 12%, Semite: 2%, Other: 2% Languages: English (official), Welsh, Latin (administrative), Irish, Scottish. Government Official Name: Kingdom of Greater Britain Common Name: Britain Capital: London Major Cities: Cardiff, Birmingham, Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, Belfast, Cork, Edinburgh. National Holiday: Feast of Elizabeth – November 3 Other Holidays: Candlemas, All Hallow’s Eve Political System: Constitutional Monarchy Legal System: Royal Law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Currency: (€) Crown Sterling (pl. crowns), penny (pl. pence) 1/100 of a crown. Flag: Red dragon represents the Cymric ancestors of the Cambrians. The white and green field represents the colours of the House of Tudor. Executive Branch Head of State: Queen Victoria, House of Tudor Head of Government: Prime Minister Christopher Fey Cabinet: Royal Ministries Legislative Branch Bicameral Circle of Archons: Peerage of the realm. Circle of Monitors: Constituent representatives elected by popular vote. Judicial Branch The Supreme Court of Greater Britain stands at the apex of the British judicial system and consists of nine Justiciars, appointed for life by the monarch from among the superior courts – though Justiciars may choose to retire. Candidates must be from civilian (non-noble) families and may not hold any other remunerative office during their term. The duty of the judiciary is to advise the monarch in legal matters, to uphold Royal Law, and to adjudicate legal matters at all levels. Edited October 17, 2011 by Cambrius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 (edited) Control + Alt + Earth United Kingdom of America History The United Kingdom of America began rather humbly, as a cluster of tiny colonies originally established by British proprietors looking for gold and riches in the New World in 1562. They did not find quick riches of gold deposits but rather a land which required hard work and farming just to sustain the colonists. But in 1565, just on the cusp of an exodus back to Greater Britain, many sails appeared on the horizon bringing a flood of fresh supplies and new arrivals, philosophical objectors who brought word of the Second War of the Roses and the rebirth of the magical philosophy of Druidism in Britain. The new colonists arrived to the fugacious original sites and breathed new life into them. Though it was widely believed that ships full of soldiers might soon arrive from across the ocean to enforce a British governance, it was the native tribes and nations with their powerful shamans that would prove to be the foe. The cluster of settlements grew larger and more populous with immigrants from all over Europe. Soon, the original sites had been merged into a single colony, incorporated in 1584 as Jamestown, named for Prince James Stuart of Scotland, a favoured cousin of the British queen, Elizabeth. The need to create new settlements and expand their land holdings brought them into conflict with the local natives. In 1585, after a small scouting expedition had returned with two Indigenas and many astonishing stories, British immigrant Sir Walter Raleigh tried to establish a colony called Roanoke in an area of land he named Virginia in honour of the Queen Elizabeth before her Druidic Movement, when she was known as the Virgin Queen. The site was actually an island on North America’s eastern seaboard protected by the outer banks of what is now North Carolina’s coast. Twice Roanoke was the site of massacres at the hands of local Algonquins. The next year was devastating for the colonists, with only thirty-two surviving the winter and only then because Indigenas living in the area came to their aid with food. After a supply ship arrived the next year they had additional provisions but many more colonists to feed as well. Once again, over the winter, most of the colonists died of starvation and from hostile encounters with their neighbors. As winter came to a close, ships once again arrived. But as these were preparing to sail back, Lord Thomas de la Warr (Delaware would be named after him) arrived from Britain with new supplies and more settlers; he refused to let the survivors return to Europe. Slowly, as they reached agreements with the local native tribes – Druidism and the native magical philosophies shared many tenets – and as they learned how to grow some of their own crops, the colonies began to prosper. More immigrants were arriving to the colonies all the time, establishing trade and industry and by 1624 the governors of Virginia had organized into a Royal Colony, petitioned to and granted by Charles I, son of King Taliesin I. The British crown sent a Governor General, but the post remained almost entirely a ceremonial one. In 1632, Charles I granted the Maryland Charter to George Calvert, governor of Baltimore. Over the next 120 years, the remaining eleven colonies would also be granted Royal Charters. Powerful Dutch merchant guilds strived to regain control of flourishing continental holdings. In an effort to disrupt the growing union of colonies, the Dutch funded and supplied local native nations to make war on the Americans. In 1775, George Washington was appointed general of the American Continental Army. After a decade-long campaign, Washington’s army was forcing the Indigenas west into the areas of Ohio and Upper Canada. The general faced a crisis with the Continental Army while it was encamped in New Amsterdam in 1783. There had not been a major battle for almost a year and the Dutch-supported natives were simply sitting in a stronghold on Lake Erie, and his Army was in danger of desertion. The soldiers had not been paid for many months and, due to inflation, the continental dollar was nearly worthless. Meeting with his officers, he heard their grievances and was pained. Conditions were indeed intolerable. Washington supported a move against Philadelphia and their coup against the Congress. Being the only real military presence on the continent, it was a swift and bloodless affair. In a matter of just a few weeks, the governance of the Continental Congress was over. What to replace Congress with was a point of much debate. A petition to the crown of Britain for annexation was being drawn up when Governor Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, suggested that America form its own united kingdom of states. The proposal was supported by the British governors general and in January, 1784 General George Washington was elected the first monarch of the United Kingdom of America. While many members of the Congress were arrested by Washington’s force, some were able to escape and fled south. Among the Congressmen who made their way to Charleston, South Carolina, was Thomas Jefferson. With the support of the General Assembly of South Carolina, Thomas Jefferson declared the seccession of South Carolina from the United Kingdom of America. Soon after, the states of Georgia, North Carolina, and – most distressing to the American king – Virginia followed the example of South Carolina and declared their secession. In February, 1784, delegates from the four independent states gathered at Richmond and agreed to resume the Articles of Confederation that gave the Continental Congress their authority and formed a new confederation: the Confederate States of America. King George could not bring himself to oppose the secession. He was no tyrant to declare the southern states as rebels. Instead, he initiated extensive talks with the South. But diplomatic relations between the UKA and the CSA remained icy and civil war was imminent. King George formed a new congress through which to govern. One of the first acts of the Royal Congress was to create the American Constitution, which outlined the constitutional limitations of the crown and the structure of the government. The process of debate and ratification by all of the colonies began in 1787 with Delaware being the first to sign, and would last until for just over three years when Rhode Island signed in 1790. The Colonies became States. King George died in 1789, brokenhearted over Virginia’s secession, it was said. King George had no children of his own, only stepchildren by Queen Martha. His named successor was the son of his closest advisor, John Adams of Massachusetts. John Quincy Adams, crowned King John of the House of Washington, continued George’s negotiations with the South, but only to keep up the appearance of diplomacy. Talks ultimately failed in 1796, and the American Civil War began. Initially, the Civil War was exceedingly bloody and fierce. Attrition slowed the pace of the war to a sullen crawl, devolving the conflict into a series of raids and sieges. Events came to a head in 1836 when the Republic of Texas declared itself a nation and Sam Houston’s army marched into Spanish Mexico supported by the Confederate Army. Given a fresh excuse to punish the South, the royalists invaded Virginia. In the bloody four year surge that followed, Richmond and Petersburg burned as did Baltimore and Harrisburg. By 1840, the royalists had claimed large territories from the natives to the west and much of the state of Virginia. The grueling raid-and-siege pattern resumed until the Treaty of Richmond and the establishment of the Mason-Dixon Wall in 1896. The treaty established a de facto cold war in recent years. However, with the reconciliationist policies of current King George II, both Americas seem hopeful to put away past differences as the new century begins. Geography Territories: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachussetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indigenia, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa Total Area: 1,927,456 sq. km Coastline: 1541 km Climate: Mostly temperate, humid continental climate. Elevation Extremes: Low – Atalantic Ocean (0m); High – Mt. Washington (1917m) Natural Resources: Coal, petroleum, natural gas, copper, lead, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, silver, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, tungsten, zinc, timber, hydropower, arable land. People Population: 47,347,900 (1900 or 113 Post Foris) Demonym: American, Americans Ethnic Groups: Welsh, English, Irish, Scottish, German, Italian, Spanish, French Magical Philosophies: Reformist: 54%, Semite: 28%, Druidic: 11%, Other: 7% Languages: English (de facto) Government Official Name: United Kingdom of America Common Name: America, The Union Capital: Philadelphia Major Cities: New Amsterdam, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indigenapolis National Holiday: Other Holidays: Political System: Constitutional Monarchy Legal System: Royal American Law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Currency: ($) Dollar (pl. dollars), cent (pl. cents) 1/100 of a dollar. Flag: Twenty-one white stars represent each of the states in the kingdom in a canton of American Blue. The thirteen red and white stripes represent the original thirteen American colonies. Executive Branch Head of State: King George II, House of Washington Head of Government: President Cabinet: Royal Departments Legislative Branch Bicameral House of Lords: Peerage of the realm. House of Commons: Constituent representatives elected by popular vote. Judicial Branch The Supreme Court of America stands at the apex of the American judicial system and consists of nine Justices, appointed for life by the monarch from among the superior courts – though Justices may choose to retire. Candidates must be from civilian (non-noble) families and may not hold any other remunerative office during their term. The duty of the judiciary is to advise the monarch in legal matters, to uphold Royal American Law, and to adjudicate legal matters at all levels. Edited October 24, 2011 by Cambrius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Control + Alt + Earth Confederate States of America History In 1783, George Washington supported a move by the American Continental Army against Philadelphia and their coup against the Congress. In a matter of just a few weeks, the governance of the Continental Congress was over. The traitorous General Washington was elected the first monarch of the United Kingdom of America in January, 1784. But while many members of the Congress were arrested by Washington’s force, some were able to escape and fled south. Among the patriots who made their way to Charleston, South Carolina, was Thomas Jefferson. With the support of the General Assembly of South Carolina, Thomas Jefferson declared the seccession of South Carolina from the United Kingdom of America. Soon after, the states of Georgia, North Carolina, and – in a coup against the northern king – Virginia followed the example of South Carolina and declared their secession. In February 1784, delegates from the four independent states gathered at Richmond and agreed to resume the Articles of Confederation that gave the Continental Congress their authority and formed a new confederation: the Confederate States of America. King George initiated extensive talks with the South, but diplomatic relations between the UKA and the CSA remained icy at best and civil war was imminent. In 1789, King George died. John Quincy Adams, crowned King John of the House of Washington, continued George’s negotiations with the South, but only to keep up the appearance of diplomacy. Talks ultimately failed in 1796, and the American Civil War began. Other developing southern states joined the confederacy as they formed: Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. General Andrew Jackson led Confederate forces in the First Seminole War in 1817, ostensibly to protect burgeoning settlements on the peninsula. The Second Seminole War started with the Dade Massacre in 1835 and incited the former general and now President Jackson to take Florida decisively. The state was finally added to the confederacy in 1845. Attrition slowed the pace of the Civil War to a sullen crawl, devolving the conflict into a series of raids and sieges. It flared hot again in 1836 when the Republic of Texas declared itself a nation and Sam Houston’s army marched into Spanish Mexico supported by the Confederate Army, which included many veterans from the Seminole Wars. With this fresh excuse, the UKA invaded Virginia. Confederate armies pulled out of the Texan campaign and turned to the north. In the renewed conflict that followed, Richmond and Petersburg burned, but so too did Baltimore and Harrisburg. In the end the CSA was not able to field armies of the same size as the more populous royalists. The UKA had claimed large territories from the Indigenas to the west but, apparently unsatisfied, the kingdom acquired much of the state of Virginia. A truce with the CSA was eventually formalised with the Treaty of Richmond and the construction of the Mason-Dixon Wall in 1896. In the Caribbean, the Arcane Empire of Spain was gaining strength. Already in firm possession of Central America after the failed attempt by Texas to claim disputed Mexican territories, the Spanish hold on certain islands was growing. When a small rebellion rose in Cuba, both the UKA and CSA called for its resolution. Spain rejected the demand and asserted their sovereignty over the matters. The UKA continued to negotiate in vain, but the Confederacy declared war in 1898. The conflict began with the CSA gaining control of the Bahamanian islands, and ended very shortly thereafter with a decisive defeat at Havana. The war lasted only five months and was formally resolved with the Treaty of Paris; Spain maintained their holdings and the CSA was allowed to retain the Bahamanian islands, including the Turks and Caicos. The islands were organized into the State of Bahamas and added to the Confederacy late in 1899. The reconciliationist policies of both the current American crown and President Foster, the Americas seem hopeful to put away past differences as the new century begins. Geography Territories: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos Islands Total Area: 473,370 sq. km Coastline: 7205 km Climate: The coastal plain is influenced by the Atalantic Ocean which keeps temperatures mild in winter and moderate in the summer. In the south, a humid subtropical climate with long summers and short, mild winters. Elevation Extremes: Low – New Orleans (-2m); High – Mt. Mitchell (2038m) Natural Resources: Coal, petroleum, natural gas, copper, lead, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, silver, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, tungsten, zinc, timber, hydropower, arable land. People Population: 14,130,000 (1900 or 113 Post Foris) Demonym: Dixie, Dixies, American, Americans Ethnic Groups: Welsh, English, Irish, Scottish, German, Italian, Spanish, French Magical Philosophies: Reformist: 54%, Semite: 28%, Druidic: 11%, Other: 7% Languages: English (de facto) Government Official Name: Confederate States of America Common Name: Dixie Capital: Atalanta Major Cities: Birmingham, Charlotte, Miami, New Orleans, Memphis National Holiday: Other Holidays: Political System: Republic Legal System: Dixie Law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Currency: ($) Dollar (pl. dollars), cent (pl. cents) 1/100 of a dollar. Flag: Thirteen white stars represent the original thirteen American colonies. The field is a Reformist cross banner in the traditional American colours of red, white, and blue. The blue is a particular shade called American Blue. Executive Branch Head of State: President Murphy Foster Head of Government: President Murphy Foster Cabinet: Confederate Cabinet Legislative Branch Bicameral Senate: Upper House of Congress; elected to represent constituent states. House of Governors: Lower House of Congress; elected to represent constituent states. Judicial Branch The Supreme Court of the Confederacy stands at the apex of the Dixie judicial system and consists of nine Justices, nominated by the president from among the superior courts and confirmed by the senate. Justices serve for life though they may choose to retire. Candidates may not hold any other remunerative office during their term. The duty of the judiciary is to advise the president in legal matters, to uphold Dixie Law, and to adjudicate legal matters at all levels. 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Cambrius Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Control + Alt + Earth Republic of Texas History Texas is a new nation, born mainly of necessity less than a hundred years ago. Independent settlements in the Wild West, viewed as being lawless and chaotic, came to be pressured to join the Arcane Empire of Spain. Wary colonists in Texas began forming Committees of Correspondence and Safety. A central committee in San Felipe de Austin coordinated their activities. While a somewhat popular notion with the local Semites of Spanish decent, the pressure was vehemently rejected by stubborn, freedom-minded folks. As the cold war between the United Kingdom of America and the Confederacy heated up, the governors of major settlements in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona assembled the Convention of 1836. At the convention, it was decided to seek aid from the CSA and declare their own independence, most notably from Spain. On March 2, 1836, the Republic of Texas declared itself a nation and Sam Houston was elected the republic’s first president, with Stephen F. Austin as his vice president. A hastily assembled army of Texan civilians, magical practitioners, and professional rangers marched into Spanish Mexico. They were supported by the elements of the Confederate Army, which included many veterans from the Seminole Wars. When the UKA invaded Virginia, Confederate armies pulled out of the Texan campaign and turned to the north. Consequently, the Texan offensive stumbled to a halt and was easily rebuffed by Spanish forces. Peace was forged with the Alamo Treaty in 1837, the terms of which established the current borders between Spanish Mexico and the Republic of Texas. Internal politics of the Republic were based on the conflict between two factions. The nationalist faction, led by Mirabeau B. Lamar, advocated the continued independence of Texas, the expulsion of the Indigenas, and the expansion of Texas to the Pacific Ocean. Their opponents, led by President Sam Houston, advocated respecting the border claims of burgeoning western neighbour Cascadia and peaceful co-existence with Indigenas. The Comanche shamans were the main Indigena threat to the Texas Republic. In 1839, Sam Houston negotiated a peace between Texas and the Comanches, but Mirabeau B. Lamar replaced Houston as president the next year and reversed the Indigena policies. He launched a genocidal war against the Comanches and invaded Comancheria itself. In retaliation the Comanche attacked Texas in a series of raids. After peace talks in 1841 ended with the massacre of thirty-four Comanche leaders in San Antonio, the Comanches launched a major attack deep into Texas, known as the Great Raid of 1841. Under command of Potsanaquahip (Buffalo Hump), 500-700 Comanche cavalry warriors and shamans swept down the Guadalupe River valley, killing and plundering all the way to the shore of the Gulf of Mexico, where they sacked the towns of Victoria and Linnville. Houston’s former state secretary Anson Jones became president in 1844 and, with both Texans and Comanches exhausted by war, a new peace was established. With the neighbouring Pacific nation beginning to flourish, Texas trades a great deal with Cascadia via overland routes through the independent territory of Deseret and the native nations to the north; a prosperous endeavour for all involved thus far. A delicate balance of trade with the Confederacy and UKA also enriches Texas, though both Americas tend to see this as partisanship and strains relations between each. President Joseph Sayers’ diplomats – indeed those of all three nations – are certainly busy as the new century begins. Geography Territories: Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado Total Area: 1,757,722 sq. km Coastline: 590 km Climate: Arid in the south and Great Basin of the southwest. Elevation Extremes: Low – Gulf of Mexico (0m); High – Mount Elbert (4401m) Natural Resources: Coal, petroleum, natural gas, copper, lead, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, silver, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, tungsten, zinc, timber, hydropower, arable land. People Population: 4,733,000 (1900 or 113 Post Foris) Demonym: Texan, Texans Ethnic Groups: Spanish, French, Welsh, English, Irish, Scottish, German, Italian Magical Philosophies: Reformist: 54%, Semite: 28%, Druidic: 11%, Other: 7% Languages: English (de facto) Government Official Name: Republic of Texas Common Name: Texas Capital: Houston Major Cities: Dallas, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Albuquerque National Holiday: Other Holidays: Political System: Republic Legal System: Texas Code of Law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Currency: ($) Dollar (pl. dollars), cent (pl. cents) 1/100 of a dollar. Flag: Five white stars represent each of the states in the republic. The field is American Blue. Executive Branch Head of State: President Joseph Sayers Head of Government: President Joseph Sayers Cabinet: Federal Departments Legislative Branch Bicameral Senate: Upper House of Congress; elected to represent constituent states. House of Governors: Lower House of Congress; elected to represent constituent states. Judicial Branch The Supreme Court of Texas stands at the apex of the Texan judicial system and consists of nine Justices, nominated by the president from among the superior courts and confirmed by the senate. Justices serve for life though they may choose to retire. Candidates may not hold any other remunerative office during their term. The duty of the judiciary is to advise the president in legal matters, to uphold the Texas Code of Law, and to adjudicate legal matters at all levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 (edited) Control + Alt + Earth Republic of Cascadia History After Confederate president Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark into the Pacific Northwest in 1803, Jefferson envisioned the establishment of an independent nation in the western portion of North America which he dubbed the Republic of the Pacific. Jefferson’s original idea was embraced by a number of settlements on the west coast, and less than thirty years later, the Republic of Cascadia was formed. Elements among the region’s population sought to form their own country from the very beginning of Oregon’s settlement by pioneers. While the southern states seceded to form the Confederacy, some Oregonians saw it as a perfect opportunity to establish their own country. However, their movement failed when it became linked with the Knights of the Golden Circle, a pro-Confederate organization. Californians unsympathetic to the UKA also pushed for the establishment of the Republic of California as an independent entity – the leader of California’s militia at the time of secession was himself a supporter of the Confederate cause – but that movement proved weaker than its opposition. Royalist sympathizers separated themselves politically from those sympathetic to the CSA and established the Washington Territory from the northern expanse of the Oregon Territory. But the eastern American nations were far away on the other side of the continent and local concerns provided a much stronger common ground upon which was founded the Cascadian republic. In 1828, regional leaders convened the Cascadian Assembly – which would inspire the Convention of 1836 in Texas. The Assembly took place at the end of the Oregon Trail, in Oregon City, at the residence of local leader Dr. John McLoughlin. Though not initially invited, leaders from settlements in British Columbia, Rupert’s Land, and Aleutia petitioned to be included at the assembly, a petition that was readily granted. On October 19th, 1828, the Assembly declared the Republic of Cascadia a nation. All attending leaders signed the Charter of Cascadia, joining the nation, with the sole exception of Rupert’s Land, now called Alberta. For the first two years Cascadia had no central government, owing to the tremendous distances and a lengthy election process. In 1830, John McLoughlin was elected the first president of Cascadia. In what was dubbed “The Great Migration of 1843”, an estimated 700 to 1000 emigrants left for Oregon from the royal and confederate Americas. They were led initially by John Gantt, a former Royal American Army Captain and fur trader who was contracted to guide the train to Fort Hall for $1 per person. In January 1848, gold was discovered in California precipitating the California Gold Rush. Over the next decade, gold seekers from the UKA, the Confederacy, Texas, and the Arcane Spanish Empire in Mexico started rushing overland and dramatically increased traffic on the Oregon and California Trails. Overall it is estimated that over 400,000 pioneers used the Oregon Trail and its two primary off-shoots, the California and Mormonic Trails. Traffic declined after 1855 when the Panama Railroad across the Isthmus of Panama was completed. Paddle wheel steamships and sailing ships, often heavily subsidized to carry the mail, then provided rapid transport between the east and gulf coasts, Spanish Panama, and ports in California and Oregon. Trade has been Cascadia’s primary endeavour since the nation’s founding and, while not very populous, Cascadia remains a wealthy and influential nation on the Pacific. The native and independent Mormonic settlements survive on the trade flowing overland to and from the west coast. Over the decades, the capital has moved from Oregon City, to Portland in 1857, and finally to Seattle in 1890. While the other American nations contend for the plains territories, Cascadia looks for potential expansion into unincorporated Alberta and possibly the Yukon territory. Instead of marching armies, however, Cascadian policies rely heavily on economic incentives, particularly with the Indigena nations. The wealth and quality of life in Cascadia continues to attract a steady stream of immigrants, and President James Dunsmuir holds high expectations for Cascadia in the new century. Geography Territories: British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Aleutia Total Area: 3,526,412 sq. km Coastline: 39,693 km Climate: Low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Elevation Extremes: Low – Pacific Ocean (0m); High – Denali (6194m) Natural Resources: Coal, petroleum, natural gas, copper, lead, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, silver, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, tungsten, zinc, timber, hydropower, fish, arable land. People Population: 2,659,000 (1900 or 113 Post Foris) Demonym: Cascadian, Cascadians Ethnic Groups: Scottish, Spanish, German, French, Irish, Aleut, Nipponese, Cathayan Magical Philosophies: Reformist: 48%, Semite: 29%, Indigena: 10%, Druidic: 9%, Other: 4% Languages: English (de facto), Spanish, Russian, Salishan, Kwak’wala, Tlingit Government Official Name: Republic of Cascadia Common Name: Cascadia Capital: Seattle Major Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, Portland, Victoria, Juneau National Holiday: Other Holidays: Political System: Republic Legal System: Cascadian Law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Currency: ($) Dollar (pl. dollars), cent (pl. cents) 1/100 of a dollar. Flag: Douglas fir is a traditional symbol for the Pacific coast settlements. The colours of American Blue, white, and evergreen are strongly associated with the Pacific Ocean and regional flora. Executive Branch Head of State: President James Dunsmuir Head of Government: President James Dunsmuir Cabinet: Federal Ministries Legislative Branch Bicameral Senate: Upper House of Congress; elected to represent constituent states. House of Commons: Lower House of Congress; elected to represent constituent states. Judicial Branch The Supreme Court of Cascadia stands at the apex of the Cascadian judicial system and consists of nine Justices, nominated by the president from among the superior courts and confirmed by the senate. Justices serve for life though they may choose to retire. Candidates may not hold any other remunerative office during their term. The duty of the judiciary is to advise the president in legal matters, to uphold Cascadian Law, and to adjudicate legal matters at all levels. Edited October 15, 2011 by Cambrius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thechosenone Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Very amazing Cambrius. I write like this for all the dice and paper rpgs i do with friends. Super rewarding to craft a world. It gives you a really detailed setting to host your stories in. good work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_madhatter1 Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 don't have time to read through the whole thing, but all your work looks amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Thanks, guys! These are six of fifteen profiles I did for a forum-based roleplay set in 1900. I do love to build worlds. The hard, and I daresay awkward, part is the inelegant stretching of a four-year civil war into a hundred-year slugfest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2011 (edited) Control + Alt + Earth Konungariket Skandien History Following the end of the 11th Century, Denmark underwent a transition from a patchwork of jarls with a weak and semi-elected royal institution, into a realm which more reflected European feudalism – with a powerful king ruling through an influential nobility possessed of ancient and potent rune magic. The period is marked by internal strife and the generally weak geopolitical position of the realm, which for long stretches fell under German political and magical influence that firmly ended in the last decades of the 12th Century. This under the rule of King Valdemar the Great and his foster brother Absalon Hvide, Archmagus of Lund; through successful wars against Wend peoples of northeast Germany. Iceland’s internal struggles and civil strife of the Sturlung Era led to the signing of the Old Covenant, which brought the island under the Norwegian crown. During the reign of Valdemar IV and his daughter Margrethe I, the realm of the Danes was re-invigourated. Following the Battle of Falköping, Margrethe I had her sister’s son, Eric of Pomerania crowned King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden after the signing of the union charter of Kalmar in 1397. Possession of Iceland passed to Denmark-Norway. Swedish-speaking settlers arrived in the coastal regions of Finland where various Swedish kings established their rule in 1249. Swedish became the dominant language of the nobility, administration, Runic Magical College, and education; Finnish was chiefly a language for the peasantry, practitioners and local courts in predominantly Finnish-speaking areas. Sweden emerged as an independent and unified country during the Middle Ages and joined Denmark and Norway in the Kalmar Union. Much of the next 125 years of Scandian history revolves around this union, with Sweden breaking off and being re-conquered repeatedly. The issue was for practical purposes resolved on the 17 June 1523 as Swedish King Gustav of the House of Vasa conquered the nexus city of Stockholm and established a modern centralized administration. In the 17th Century the country expanded its territories to form the Swedish Empire. Denmark and Norway remained in a union – dominated by Denmark – until 1632. King Ragnar IV attacked Sweden in the 1611–13 First Kalmar War but failed to accomplish his main objective of forcing Sweden to return to the union with Denmark. The war led to no territorial changes, but Sweden was forced to pay a war indemnity. King Ragnar used this money to found several towns and fortresses, most notably Glückstadt and Ragnarania (rebuilt later as Oslo following a fire destroying the original city). Inspired by the Dutch East India Company, he founded a similar Danish company and planned to claim Sri Lanka as a colony but the company only managed to acquire a trading post at Tranquebar on India’s Coromandel Coast. The mighty King Ragnar IV of Denmark and the great Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden were both giants in their day, and the fate of Scandia balanced on the edge of their respective swords. With the Germanies entrenched in their own Thirty Years War, the two Runic monarchs found themselves free to finally resolve the matter between their realms. In September 1632, Gustavus Adolphus attacked the stronghold of Alte Veste, which was under the command of Runic practitioner General Albrecht von Wallenstein, but was repulsed, marking the first defeat during the Thirty Years’ War of the previously invincible Swedes. This lead to defection of some mercenary elements in the Swedish army, many to King Ragnar’s massing Danish forces. Two months later Gustavus Adolphus was killed at the Battle of Lützen, when, at a crucial point in the battle, he became separated from his battlecasters and troops while leading a cavalry charge into a dense smog of mist and gunpowder smoke. With his greatest rival dead on the field, King Ragnar IV moved quickly but carefully to secure a chain of victories against the demoralised Swedish empire. After finally managing to conquer Stockholm, the Danish king arranged for his son and heir Frederick III to be wed to Gustavus’ daughter Anna. The move showed a genuine desire to unite the Nordic peoples and, indeed, formed the first and strongest bond to cement the Scandian union. Disunited and divided, Scandians would simply have been too few in numbers to play a major role in world affairs. It had been managed in the 17th Century due mainly to happenstance, but without the union the next century might very well have been a downward slide, where the Nordic nations would be fortunate to be merely ignored by the likes of France and Germany and Greater Britain. But since the decisive defeat of the Swedes, the Danish Rukh dynasty has ruled a unified Scandia and, to their credit, have made great strides in advancing the Runic Magical College, mending historical rivalries, and nurturing what has become known as “Scandianism”. This concept of a pan-Nordic nationality was readily adopted by its people and has kept the union strong for the last 250 years. Geography Territories: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Faroe Islands, Svalbard Total Area: 1,320,424 sq. km (1,227,912 sq. km land, 92,512 sq. km water) Coastline: 46,604 km Climate: Temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in the north. Elevation Extremes: Low – Lammefjord (-7m); High – Galdhopiggen (2469m) Natural Resources: Coal, petroleum, natural gas, fish, whales, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, chromite, nickel, uranium, arsenic, phosphate, feldspar, diatomite, timber, hydropower, geothermal power. People Population: 12,534,000 Scandia (1900 or 113 Post Foris) Demonym: Scandian, Scandians Ethnic Groups: Danish, Faeroese, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Sami, Swedish Magical Philosophies: Runic: 97%, Other: 3% Languages: Danish (official), Swedish (official), Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian Government Official Name: Konungariket Skandien (Kingdom of Scandia) Common Name: Scandia Capital: Copenhagen Major Cities: Stockholm, Oslo, Reykjavik, Helsinki, Bergen National Holiday: Other Holidays: Political System: Constitutional Monarchy Legal System: Scandian Law Suffrage: 16 years of age, males; 18 years of age, females. Currency: (Kr) Krona (pl. kronor), øre (pl. øre) 1/100 of a krona. Flag: White Nordic cross on a field of blue Executive Branch Head of State: King Eisenbjorn II, House of Rukh Head of Government: Chancellor Sturla Böðvarsson Cabinet: Royal Ministries Legislative Branch Unicameral Althing: Regional peerage (jarls) and constituent representatives elected by popular vote. Judicial Branch The Scandian Supreme Court stands at the apex of the Nordic judicial system and consists of thirteen Justices, one of whom is the President of the Supreme Court. Justices are appointed for life by the monarch at the advice of the chancellor from among the superior courts – though Justices may choose to retire. Candidates may not hold any other remunerative office during their term. The duty of the judiciary is to advise the monarch in legal matters, to uphold Scandian Law, and to adjudicate legal matters at all levels. Edited October 17, 2011 by Cambrius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edonil Posted October 17, 2011 Report Share Posted October 17, 2011 Man...I love this and want to hurt you at the same time. Thanks to you and Dan Abnett (Just read the Sabbat Worlds Crusade book) now I want to do out a full history of the war in my book...and I don't want to divert from the novel to it yet. Anyway, this is incredibly impressive, very well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 Thank you! More to come... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 Control + Alt + Earth União da Amazônia The initial discovery of the First New World had set the civilised world aflame with imperialist endeavours and the powers of Europe could not claim vast tracts of it fast enough to satisfy their greed. Arcane indoctrination – or wholesale slaughter – of the natives swiftly established the supremacy of European magical and political influence over the Americas. It wasn’t long, in terms of the accounting of history, before interest waned in the face of reduced revenue streams and increased rebellion so far from the capital cities of the Old World. In 1667, Habsburg Spain managed to rally Arcane Roman forces and reverse some of the Empire’s losses. In doing so, however, Spain was weakened enough that both Portugal and the Netherlands were able to negotiate the recognition of their independence. Immediately upon throwing off their imperial yokes, Portugal and the Netherlands went about the business of solidifying their trade empires. Portugal in particular was greatly concerned with their commerce with India and the Far East. Aside from the economic exploitation of brasilwood, valued for its treasured red dye, Portugal largely ignored the development of colonial Brasil in the first few years after independence. The Dutch, for their part, spent a great deal of effort in the development of their own colonies in the northeastern area of the continent, known collectively as Guiana. The Dutch planters relied heavily on African workers to cultivate the coffee, cocoa, sugar cane, and cotton plantations along the rivers. Treatment of the workers was notoriously bad, and many quit. With the help of the natives living in the adjoining rain forests, these unemployed Africans established a new and unique culture that was highly successful in its own right. Known collectively as the Maroons, they actually organised several independent settlements. The Maroons would often raid the plantations to recruit new members, and acquire women, weapons, food and supplies. These attacks were often deadly for the planters and their families, and after several unsuccessful campaigns against the Maroons, the European authorities signed several peace treaties with them, granting the Maroons sovereign status and trade rights. In the last part of the 17th Century, private interests from São Paulo, called Bandeirantes, explored and expanded Brasil’s borders, mainly while raiding the hinterland tribes to enslave native Brasilians. In 1702, the Bandeirantes discovered gold and diamond deposits in what would become the state of Minas Gerais. Profits from the development of these deposits were mostly used to finance Portuguese expenditures on the preservation of its global empire and the support of the luxurious lifestyles of Portugal’s leaders. The manner in which Portugal and powerful local elites exploited the deposits burdened colonial Brasil with excessive taxation, giving rise to popular independence movements. By 1789, gold production declined, and Portugal’s interest in South America waned with it. Fueled by word of the revolution in France, new and effective leadership in the form of Portuguese magus Dom Pedro, and the opportunity for real independence, the Bandeirantes made a concerted effort to unite the secessionist movements of local governors throughout Brasil. The sheer size of colony and the Amazon Forest itself made organisation and logistics difficult and the movement was slow to begin. In 1808, the Portuguese government, fleeing from Napoleon’s Grande Armée who were invading Portugal and most of central Europe, established themselves in Rio de Janeiro, making the Brasilian city the de facto capital of the Portuguese empire. With renewed inspiration from the French example, Dom Pedro’s Bandeirantes and their allies seized upon the unique opportunity provided by the Portuguese government’s presence in Brasil. In a lightning campaign that would become known simply as the Amazonian Revolution, the Brasilian colonials captured Rio de Janeiro from the Portuguese forces in three days. So it was, in 1808, that former Portuguese magus Dom Pedro negotiated the Treaty of Rio with the government of Portugal and established the Republic of Brasil. The local governors in Guiana, having witnessed the success of their neighbours to the south, took heart and attempted independence movements of their own. Their efforts failed for a number of reasons; the movements operated autonomously and separately, the Dutch were much more magically powerful and vigourous in the defense of their possession of Guiana, and the Maroons refused to join any of the movements. In the end, Guianan authorities asked Brasil for aid. By 1814, Brasil’s government had settled into a model based mainly the example of the American nations to the north. Representatives from each of the 26 states formed the National Congress, a bicameral legislature. During the assembly of the Spring of 1814, it was decided that Brasil would offer Guiana the chance to join the republic. The offer was initially refused, until the Maroons agreed to join on the condition that the mainly French-speaking eastern portion be granted as a home state. The Guianans reluctantly agreed, negotiating home states within the republic for themselves; these would be Guyana, the primarily English-speaking western portion and, the Dutch-speaking central portion, to be called Suriname. The Maroon homeland would be known as Guiane. A coalition of Brasilian republic forces, Guianan rebels, and Maroon guerillas systematically captured or destroyed Dutch defenses and liberated Guiana from the Netherlands. With the Treaty of Paramaribo in 1817, Guiana gained independence from the Netherlands; with the Treaty of Amazonia the following year, Brasil and Guiana formed the Union of Amazonia, a constitutional federal republic, making the three portions of Guiana full member states under the drafted Amazonian Constitution. Barring a few minor border clashes with the neighbouring nations of Argentina and Dorado, Amazonia has enjoyed a relatively peaceful and prosperous existence. The current president, Luiz da Silva, leads a nation with representation from all its constituent ethnicities, unified under a single Congress. As such, Amazonia is a strong and wealthy nation limited only by its modest population. Strong magics from Indigena populations in the deep forest, combined with the influx of soulstones from Malifaux, may provide some potency in the years to come. Concern over the territories of Paraguay and Bolivia, whose possession is disputed between the three South American powers, lies in the political arena for the moment. Whether the situation becomes a military matter or remains a political one is entirely in the hands of the diplomats. Geography Territories: Brasil, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana. Total Area: 8,973,879 sq. km (8,896,704 sq. km land, 77,175 sq. km water) Coastline: 8722 km Climate: Mostly tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds, but temperate in the south. Elevation Extremes: Low – Atalantic Ocean (0m); High – Pico da Nablina (3014m) Natural Resources: Bauxite, gold, diamonds, kaolin, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, copper, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber, shrimp, fish, arable land. People Population: 18,386,200 (1900 or 113 Post Foris) Demonym: Amazonian, Amazonians Ethnic Groups: Portuguese, Indigena, African Magical Philosophies: Semite: 79%, Reformist: 20%, Other: 1% Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, French, English, Indigena Government Official Name: União da Amazônia (Union of Amazonia, Amazonian Union) Common Name: Amazonia Capital: São Paulo Major Cities: Rio de Janeiro, Georgetown, Paramaribo, Cayenne. National Holiday: Other Holidays: Political System: Federal Republic Legal System: Amazonian Code Suffrage: 16 years of age with two years voluntary service in the military, or 18 years of age; universal. Currency: (R$) Real (pl.reais), centavo (pl.centavos) 1/100 of a real. Flag: A golden cross represents both wealth and the predominance of Semitism, fimbriated in black for endurance, on a field of green that represents the Amazon Forest. Executive Branch Head of State: President Luiz da Silva Head of Government: President Luiz da Silva Cabinet: Conselho de Ministros (Council of Ministers) Legislative Branch Bicameral Senado Federal: Constituent representatives elected by popular vote. Camara dos Deputados: Constituent representatives elected by popular vote. Judicial Branch The Supreme Federal Tribunal stands at the apex of the federal judicial system and consists of eleven Justice Ministers who are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Lower levels of the judiciary include the Higher Tribunal of Justice and the Regional Federal Tribunals, also with justices who are appointed for life – though life means mandatory retirement at the age of 70. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thechosenone Posted October 18, 2011 Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 Out of curiosity cambrius, i know these are things you've had in your pocket for a while, but are any of them newer creations by you or are you just catching up and making use of something you've been holding on to? I ask because i'm curious what your nation creation process is and if any of it's changed since you initially created these versus any new ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2011 (edited) A little of both, they're profiles of nations I created last winter and haven't had the chance to do anything with. I've also found that there are nations I wanted to do but haven't yet. Those too are forthcoming. The process is a bit of juggling. I begin by reading up on the actual history, and then figuring out where to change it, usually at some pivotal point. Then I write how I think that nation's future may play out. I also have to weave it with the other ones I've already written. I have a full timeline that I add to in order to keep track. Edited October 18, 2011 by Cambrius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 Control + Alt + Earth República Argentina History The original colonies that would eventually comprise the Argentine Republic were inspired by the reports of the great explorers Ferdinand Magellan and Vasco da Gama and motivated by the political strife of 16th Century Spain. The colonial spirit combined with a desire to leave tumultuous Europe led to the establishment of settlements on the South American continent. The first use of the term Argentina, by which the nation would come to be called, can be traced back to the first voyages made by Spanish and Portuguese explorers to the Rio de la Plata, which means Silver River, in the first years of the 16th Century. Alejo Garcia, one of the survivors of a shipwrecked expedition mounted by Juan Diaz de Solis in 1516, heard rumours about a powerful “white magus” in a country very rich in silver, at the mountains called Sierra de Plata. Garcia later organised an expedition to the area he believed the rumours spoke of, gaining several silver objects and gifts from natives who, for unknown reasons, later killed him. Rumours grew into legend and the river first sighted by Solis’ expedition was named Rio de la Plata. The legends concerning the region and the Sierra de Plata reached Portugal and Spain around 1524. In 1520, while attempting to circumnavigate the Earth, Magellan discovered the southern passage that would be named for him, the Strait of Magellan. The next Europeans to reach the western coast of South America were Spanish colonists, led by magus Diego de Almagro and retired Spanish officer Pedro de Valdivia, in search of Peruvian gold. The colonists established Santiago in 1541, named for the Semite Saint James, and soon came into close contact with hundreds of thousands of natives from various cultures of the region. Weary of war and conquest, the colonists initially struck treatises with the local natives and lived in peace. While they did not find the gold and silver they sought, they recognised the agricultural potential of the central valley. The colony of Buenos Aires was first established as Ciudad de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre, literally “City of Our Lady Saint Maria of the Fair Winds”, in February of 1536 by an expedition from Spain, led by minor nobleman Pedro de Mendoza, in search of the legendary riches of silver. The city founded by Mendoza was located in what would become the San Telmo district of modern Buenos Aires, south of the city center. But, due mainly to the adversarial relationship between the Spanish nobleman Mendoza and the indigenous peoples of the region, Buen Ayre was often attacked, forcing the abandonment of the settlement in 1541. Many established independent settlements on the plains region of the Pampas as gauchos, and also settled the city of Córdoba de la Nueva Andalucía, now called simply Cordoba. A second – and permanent – settlement was established in 1580 by Juan de Garay, another retired Spanish officer. Garay arrived by sailing down the Paraná River from the settlement at Asunción, now the largest city in the Paraguay Territory. He dubbed the settlement Santisíma Trinidad, and its port became Puerto de Santa María de los Buenos Aires. Spanish colonials continued to arrive in the southern portion of the continent, arriving in the region of Uruguay in 1516. The fierce resistance of the Indigenas of the area, combined with the near complete absence of any substantial gold or silver deposits, resulted in only limited settlement during the 16th and 17th Centuries. The first permanent colony was founded in 1624 at Soriano on the Rio Negro. Montevideo was founded early in 1626 as a military stronghold; its natural harbour soon developed into a commercial center for European trade, competing directly with Buenos Aires. The fortunes of both the Arcane Spanish Empire and Portugal afforded the colonies of the southern continent a tremendous amount of autonomy, with only a few exceptions. Spain made attempts to take possession of the colonies of Uruguay, Rio de la Plata, Patagonia, and Chile, each time rebuffed by combined colonial forces and native populations. Santiago possessed one of the largest standing armies in the Americas, being as centralised as the Chilean territory was. Supported by the large fertile tracts of the Pampas, Buenos Aires and Cordoba became powerful in their own right and when, in 1806, Spain attempted to seize Buenos Aires, the colonial navies at Montevideo aided in the defeat of the imperial invaders. It soon became apparent that the colonies would need to organise in order to continue to prosper. In 1810, Chile declared itself an autonomous nation and the United Provinces of South America formed in the northern region of Argentina. In 1815, the Liga Federal was organised, comprising the southern regions of Argentina and Uruguay. In 1821, Uruguay declared its independence from the Liga Federal. Initially successful, the organised regions soon became divided by conflicting interests. The entire region was in danger of complete destabilisation when, General Jose de San Martin, commander of the Patagonian military forces, led a campaign to forcibly unite the region in what would become known as the War of the Triple Alliance. San Martin captured Buenos Aires and Montevideo early in 1824 and resulted in a truce that emplaced two of San Martin’s officers, Juan Manuel de Rosas and Juan Antonio Lavelleja, as governors of the two cities. In 1825, San Martin crossed the Andes with Chilean-born Bernardo O’Higgins his second-in-command and defeated a force of imperialist that threatened to take possession of Chile. Firmly in control of the region, San Martin dissolved the divisive leagues and organisations and established the Republic of Argentina, a centralised and unified nation of Chilean, Argentinean, and Uruguayan territories. Since the latter part of 1825, the republic has maintained the peace and prosperity that seems to typify the South American nations. With their neighbours Amazonia to the west and Dorado to the north, Argentina currently enjoys cordial relations. Concern over the present and future disposition of the Paraguayan and Bolivian territories threaten to sunder those relations and spark a war between the three South American nations. Argentinean president Fernando de Jeria hopes to settle the matter peaceably, but the situation currently resides in the hands of the diplomats. Geography Territories: Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Falkland Islands Total Area: 3,712,235 sq. km (3,671,283 sq. km land, 40,950 sq. km water) Coastline: 13,372 km Climate: Mostly temperate; desert in the north; arid in the southeast; subantarctic in the southwest. Elevation Extremes: Low – Laguna del Carbón (-105m); High – Cerro Aconcagua (6960m) Natural Resources: Lead, zinc, gold, silver, tin, copper, iron ore, nitrates, manganese, petroleum, uranium, timber, hydropower, fish, arable land. People Population: 8,597,100 (1900 or 113 Post Foris) Demonym: Argentine, Argentines Ethnic Groups: Spanish, Italian, mestizo/Indigena, Welsh Magical Philosophies: Semite: 92%, Reformist: 2%, Indigena: 2%, Other: 4% Languages: Colonial Spanish (official), Italian, Welsh Government Official Name: República Argentina (Argentinean Republic, Republic of Argentina) Common Name: Argentina Capital: Buenos Aires Major Cities: Santiago, Montevideo, Cordoba. National Holiday: Other Holidays: Political System: Republic Legal System: Argentinean Law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Currency: (P$) Peso (pl. pesos), centavo (pl. centavos) 1/100 of a peso. Flag: A tricolor of light blue and white; the white band represents the Rio de la Plata, and the light blue bands for the sea and sky. Executive Branch Head of State: President Fernando de Jeria Head of Government: President Fernando de Jeria Cabinet: Consejo de Ministros (Council of Ministers) Legislative Branch Bicameral Senado: Constituent representatives elected by popular vote. Cámara de Diputados: Constituent representatives elected by popular vote. Judicial Branch The Corte Suprema, or Supreme Court, stands at the apex of the Argentine judicial system and consists of seven Justices, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The duty of the judiciary is to advise the president in legal matters, to uphold Argentine Law, and to adjudicate legal matters at all levels. 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Cambrius Posted October 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2011 Control + Alt + Earth Reino de Dorado History It was less than a hundred years before the arrival of Europeans that the Incas began conquering the region. In 1438, under the command of Sapa Inca (paramount leader) Pachacuti, much of modern Peru belonged to the Incan Empire. In 1463, Pachacuti’s son, Tupac Inca began conquest to the north and continued to do so after Pachacuti’s death in 1471. Tupac Inca’s own son, Huayna Capac, added significant territory to the south. At its height, the Incan Empire stretched from central Chile to the southwest of Colombia and included most of Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. Their destiny was forever changed by one man: Francisco Pizarro. The illigitimate son of a Spanish officer, Pizarro sought his fortunes in the First New World. Legends of El Dorado, along with the accounts of the successes of Hernan Cortes in Mexico years before, caught the immediate attention of Pizarro and in 1524 he formed a partnership with a Semite practitioner, Hernando de Luque, and a soldier to explore and conquer the south. As a point of interest, the soldier, Juan Gutierrez de Montenegro, was the younger brother of Diego de Almagro, the magus who helped establish Santiago in 1541. In September of 1524, the first expedition left from Panama for the conquest of Peru with about eighty soldiers and battlecasters, and forty horses. It turned out to be a failure as Pizarro’s conquistadors, sailing down the Pacific coast, reached no farther than Colombia before succumbing to such hardships as bad weather, lack of food, and skirmishes with hostile natives. A second expedition was undertaken two years later with two ships and 160 men. After crossing the equator, they found and captured a balsa of natives carrying a load of textiles, ceramic objects, pieces of gold, silver, and emeralds, and much-desired magic-focusing artefacts. Monetenegro returned to Panama where the governor outright rejected his application for a third expedition in 1527; furthermore, he sent two ships to bring Pizarro back to Panama. Pizarro had no intention of leaving and when the ships arrived at Isla de Gallo, he famously drew a line in the sand with his sword saying: “There lies Peru with its riches; here, Panama and its poverty. Choose, each man, what best becomes a brave Castilian.” Only thirteen men chose to stay with Pizarro, including Francisco de Orellana and Hernando de Soto, and later would become the original thirteen Golden Knights of Dorado. Pizarro decided to journey back to Spain with his Thirteen, to appeal to the emperor directly, and gained an audience with Charles V at Toledo. The emperor heard his account of his expeditions in South America, but was unimpressed and unconvinced by the conquistador’s tale. Pizarro was incensed, and considered the emperor’s decision not to support him shortsighted and uninspired. Pizarro went to his native Trujillo and convinced his family that the Pizarros could establish a realm of their own. The Pizarro family marshalled its entire wealth together and financed the expedition, numbering three ships, one hundred eighty men, and twenty-seven horses. In 1532, Pizarro once again landed on the coast of Ecuador. He decided to lead an excursion into the interior and established the first Spanish settlement in Peru, calling it San Miguel de Piura. De Soto was dispatched to explore the new lands; he later returned with gifts and an envoy from the Sapa Inca himself, and an invitation for a meeting with the Spaniards. Some time between 1525 and 1527, a smallpox epidemic struck the Incan Empire. When the emperor Huayna Capac contracted the diesease, he divided the empire between his two sons. After Huayna Capac died, the brothers lived in peace for only a few years before civil war broke out. After a final battle at Quipaipan, Huascar was captured and his army disbanded by Atahualpa. On his way south to Cuzco, Atahualpa stopped in the city of Cajamarca in the Andes with his army of 80,000 shamans and troops. It was during his rest in Cajamarca that Atahualpa heard of the party of strangers advancing through the empire and sent his envoy. The envoy stayed for two days in the Spanish camp studying the weapons and horses, and, of course, the Europeans’ magic. In turn, Pizarro learned of the civil war between Huascar and Atahualpa. He sent the envoy back with an agreement to meet in Cajamarca. The city was mostly empty and the Spanish occupied the long buildings on the main plaza. Atahualpa and his army camped on a nearby hill. Pizarro sent an embassy led by de Soto, inviting Atahualpa to visit the Spanish camp. The following day, Atahualpa arrived with six thousand men but found the plaza empty. Cavalry, muskets, battlecasters, and four artillery pieces ambushed the Incas, killing most in only a few moments. In a daring charge, Pizarro and his Thirteen captured Atahualpa himself. The effect on the Incan emperor was profound and he offered to marry his daughter to Pizarro, making the conquistador heir to the Incan Empire. Pizarro agreed. In 1535, he founded his capital, the Ciudad de los Reyes, which would come to be known as Lima. As he promised, the Pizarros became the royal family of his kingdom, which he named Dorado and comprised nearly all of Peru and Ecuador. Pizarro’s Thirteen founded the chivalric order called the Golden Knights of Dorado; to this day, the Golden Knights serve and defend the realm under the direct command of the monarch. The Kingdom of Dorado, strong and wealthy from its founding, attracted many settlers from Europe and North America which served only to augment the realm’s prosperity and growth. The neighbouring territories of Colombia and Venezuela emerged from the colonial period as the Republic of New Granada in 1807, but the republic was largely disorganised and collapsed as a political entity a year later. In an effort to keep the region out of the hands of the Arcane Spanish Empire, local patriots Simon Bolivar and Francisco de Miranda rallied militias, captured Caracas and Bogota, and established a government briefly known as Gran Colombia. The movement was a popular one, but a determined Spanish invasion could have prevailed without much difficulty, so Bolivar and Miranda appealed to King Hernando II for aid. An agreement was reached whereby Colombia and Venezuela joined the kingdom in 1810 and in return the king vigourously defended his new subjects. Bolivar was invested as Duke of Venezuela, and Miranda as Duke of Colombia and both are regarded as heroes in their home regions. Dorado has live in relative peace with its neighbours, though the current monarch, King Francisco III, keeps a wary eye on the Spanish colonial holdings to the north. Tensions over the dispositions of the territories of Bolivia (so named by its inhabitants for the popular first Duke of Venezuela) and Paraguay strain the heretofore cordial relations with Amazonia and Argentina, and threaten to explode into war. King Francisco III has advised his diplomats to settle the matter peacefully. Whether that is possible remains to be seen. Geography Territories: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Lesser Antilles (Windward Islands, Leeward Islands, and Netherlands Antilles) Total Area: 3,619,740 sq. km (3,477,590 sq. km land, 142,150 sq. km water) Coastline: 10,659 km Climate: Tropical and humid along the coast, on the eastern plains, and in the Amazon Jungle lowlands; cooler in the highlands; arid in western desert; temperate to frigid in the Andes. Elevation Extremes: Low – Pacific Ocean (0m); High – Nevado Huascaran (6768m) Natural Resources: Coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, silver, copper, bauxite, phosphates, potash, diamonds, emeralds, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower, timber, fish, arable land. People Population: 10,620,900 (1900 or 113 Post Foris) Demonym: Doradan, Doradans Ethnic Groups: Mestizo/Indigena, mullato, Spanish, African, Italian, Portuguese, Nipponese, Cathayan. Magical Philosophies: Semite: 90%, Reformist: 6%, Indigena: 4% Languages: Colonial Spanish (official), Quechua (administrative), Aymara Government Official Name: Reino de Dorado (Kingdom of Dorado) Common Name: Dorado Capital: Lima Major Cities: Bogota, Caracas, Quito, Maracaibo, Medellin, Port-of-Spain. National Holiday: Other Holidays: Political System: Absolute Monarchy Legal System: Dorado Criminal Code Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal Currency: (§) Sol (pl. soles), centimo (pl. centimos) 1/100 of a sol. Flag: Golden Sun of May represents the Incan sun god Inti and wealth of gold. The field of sanguine represents the blood Doradans have shed for the realm. Executive Branch Head of State: King Francisco III, House of Pizarro Head of Government: Prime Minister Rafael Correa Delgado Cabinet: Ministros Real (Royal Ministers) Legislative Branch Bicameral Senado: Peerage of the realm. Cámara de Representantes: Constituent representatives elected by popular vote. Judicial Branch The Corte Suprema de Justicia, or Supreme Court of Justice, stands at the apex of the Doradan judicial system and consists of nine Justices, appointed for life by the monarch from among the superior courts, though Justices may choose to retire. The duty of the judiciary is to advise the monarch in legal matters, to uphold the Dorado Criminal Code, and to adjudicate legal matters at all levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2011 (edited) Control + Alt + Earth Arcano Imperio de España History Spanish history is as long as it is tumultuous. During the Second Punic War, an expanding Roman Empire captured Carthaginian trading colonies along the Mediterranean coast from roughly 210 BC to 205 BC, leading to eventual Roman control of nearly the entire Iberian Peninsula; this lasted over 500 years, bound together by law, language, and the Roman road. Hispania served as a granary for the Roman market, and its harbours exported gold, wool, olive oil, and wine. Semite magical philosophy was introduced into Hispania in the 1st Century and it became popular in the cities in the 2nd Century. Most of Spain’s present languages and faith, and the basis of its laws, originate from this period. Rome’s loss of jurisdiction in Hispania began in 409, when the Germanic Vandals, together with Sarmatians crossed the Rhine and ravaged Gaul until the Visigoths drove them into Iberia that same year. The Vandals occupied the region that still bears a form of their name – Vandalusia, modern Andalusia. In the 8th Century, nearly all of the Iberian Peninsula was conquered (711-718) by Moorish armies from North Africa. These conquests were part of the expansion of the Umayyad Islamic Empire. A number of areas in the north of the Iberian Peninsula managed to resist the initial invasion and were the starters of the Reconquista. The arrival of the North African ruling sects of the Almoravids and the Almohads restored unity upon Muslim holdings, with a stricter, less tolerant application of Islamic magical philosophy, but ultimately, after some successes in invading the north, proved unable to resist the increasing military strength of the Semite states. The Reconquista (“Reconquest”) was a centuries-long period of expansion of Spain’s Semite kingdoms, viewed as beginning with the battle of Covadonga in 722. As early as 739 Muslim forces were driven from Galicia, which was host to medieval Europe’s most powerful magic nexus, Santiago de Compostela. Capture of the central city of Toledo in 1085 largely completed the reconquest of the northern half of Spain. After a Muslim resurgence in the 12th Century, the great Moorish strongholds in the south halted the advance of the Semite armies. In 1236 the Treaty of Cordoba was signed, ending hostilities between Spain and Andalusia. The unification of the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile laid the basis for modern Spain and the Spanish Empire. Spain was one of Europe’s leading powers throughout the 16th and 17th Centuries, a position reinforced both by the nexus at Galicia and by trade and wealth from colonial possessions. The Spanish Empire expanded to include most parts of Central America and Mexico, and southern and western portions of today’s Confederate States of America. Spain was confronted by unrelenting challenges from all sides. Barbary pirates under the aegis of the rapidly growing Byzantine empire, disrupted life in many coastal areas through their slave raids and renewed the threat of an Islamic invasion. Later the Reformist schism from the Semite College of Magic dragged the kingdom ever more deeply into the mire of magically charged wars. By the middle decades of a war- and plague-ridden 17th Century Europe, the effects of the strain began to show. The Spanish Habsburgs had enmeshed the country in the continent wide magical-political conflicts that drained it of resources and undermined the European economy generally. Spain managed to hold on to most of the scattered Habsburg empire, and help the imperial forces of the Arcane Roman Empire reverse a large part of the advances made by Reformist forces, but it was finally forced to recognise the separation of Portugal and the Netherlands during the immensely destructive Europe-wide Thirty Years War. In the latter half of the 17th Century, Spain went into a gradual relative decline, though it maintained and enlarged its vast overseas empire. The decline culminated in a controversy over succession to the Habsburg throne which consumed the first years of the 18th Century, the ruinous Succession War. During this war, a new dynasty – the French Bourbons – was installed. In 1780, Empress Maria Theresia abdicated a weakening throne in Germany to renew the arcane empire in Spain. She died two years later, but her son and heir, Joseph II, wrested control of the Spanish throne from “the Bourbon usurpers” and established the Arcane Spanish Empire. Spain managed to avoid further conflict for over a century until the rising American nations challenged Spanish claims in the First New World. An assault on Mexican territories by the newborn Republic of Texas was easily rebuffed, due mainly to the American Civil War, where Texas’ allies in the CSA were called away to fight the UKA. Peace was forged with the Alamo Treaty in 1837. The Spanish-Dixie War began in early 1898 after Confederate demand for the resolution of a small Cuban fight for independence was rejected by Spain. Strong expansionist sentiment in the Confederate States of America motivated the government to develop a plan for annexation of Spain’s Caribbean territories. The Empire held onto Cuba and central America, due largely to the Confederacy’s ongoing conflicts with the United Kingdom of America and a resurgence in magic facilitated by soulstones from Malifaux. The war was ended after only five months with the Treaty of Paris. Emperor Francisco José reigns over an empire tired of war, one that looks to the new century with hope for renewed peace and prosperity. Geography Territories: Spain without Andalusia, Mexico, Cuba, Central America Total Area: 3,111,972 sq. km (3,044,198 sq. km land, 67,780 sq. km water) Coastline: 24,632 km Climate: Temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast. Colonial climate varies from tropical to desert. Elevation Extremes: Low – Laguna Salada (-10m); High – Volcan Pico de Orizaba (5700m) Natural Resources: Coal, lignite, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, silver, gold, copper, lead, zinc, cobalt, nickel, antimony, uranium, tungsten, chromium, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, silica, potash, salt, fish, timber, rare woods, hydropower, geothermal power, arable land. People Population: 15,031,200 Spain; 33,468,500 w/colonies (1900 or 113 Post Foris) Demonym: Spanish Ethnic Groups: Spanish, Mayan, Incan, Aztec Magical Philosophies: Semite: 96%, Reformist: 2%, Muslim: 1% Indigena: 1% Languages: Castilian Spanish (official), Latin (administrative), Colonial Spanish, Mayan, Nahuatl. Government Official Name: Arcano Imperio de España (Arcane Empire of Spain) Common Name: Spain, Arcane Spanish Empire Capital: Madrid Major Cities: Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza, Mexico City, Havana National Holiday: Other Holidays: Political System: Absolute Monarchy Legal System: Arcane Imperial Code Suffrage: 16 years of age, males; 18 years of age, females Currency: (Pt) Peseta (pl. pesetas), céntimo (pl. céntimos) 1/100 of a peseta. Flag: Black eagle represents the imperial House of Habsburg. The field of red and gold represents traditional colours of Aragon and Castile. Executive Branch Head of State: Emperor Francisco José, House of Habsburg Head of Government: Prime Minister Julio Cervera Baviera Cabinet: Consejo de Ministros (Council of Ministers) Legislative Branch Unicameral Senado: Peerage and magi of the realm. Judicial Branch The Tribunal Supremo, or Supreme Court, stands at the apex of the imperial judicial system and consists of thirteen Justices, appointed by the prime minister. The duty of the judiciary is to advise the emperor in legal matters, to uphold the Arcane Imperial Code, and to adjudicate legal matters at all levels. Edited October 20, 2011 by Cambrius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Coming soon: a brand new write up, this one of a balkanised Italy. And maps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nerdelemental Posted October 22, 2011 Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 You just made my head explode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 You just made my head explode. Dang... I consider that high praise. Thank you, sir! The balkanised Italy will be one that never unified and while I will present it as the Lega Itailana (Italian League), I'm also considering smaller profiles for each of the constituent parts, including the Vatican Synaxis, headed by the Pontifex of the Semite College of Magic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 Edit: It occurred to me that if the natives are called Indigenas - presumably because in this universe there was no mistaking the First New World for India - that there would be no state of Indiana or city of Indianapolis. Hence the change to the state of Indigenia and the city of Indigenapolis. What Cleveland will call its baseball team in the decades to come remains to be seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cambrius Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 Control + Alt + Earth Lega Italiana History The balkanised Italies combine to form the Italian League, consisting of the independent duchies of: Milan, Genoa, Venetia, Florence, Rome, Napoli, Sicily, Sardinia, the county of San Marino, and the Vatican Synaxis. Italian history is long and complicated, central to the rise and fall of great civilisations. Between the 17th to the 11th Century BC, Mycenaean Greeks forged trade contacts with Italian settlements. In the 8th and 7th Centuries BC, Greek and Phoenician colonies were established all along the coast of Sicily and the southern part of the Italian Peninsula became known as Magna Graecia. Ancient Rome was at first a small agricultural community founded around the 8th Century BC, that grew over the course of the centuries into a colossal empire encompassing the whole Mediterranean Sea, in which Ancient Greek and Roman cultures merged into one civilisation. This civilisation was so influential that parts of it survive in modern law, administration, magical philosophy and arts, forming the bedrock upon which Western civilisation is based. In a slow decline since the late 4th century AD, the empire finally broke into two parts in 395 AD: the western Roman Empire and the eastern Byzantine Empire. The western part, under the pressure of the Franks, the Vandals, the Huns, the Goths and other populations from eastern Europe, finally dissolved, leaving the Italian peninsula divided into small independent kingdoms and feuding city states for the next 1,300 years. Byzantium became to sole heir to the Ancient Roman legacy. Rome was for centuries the political and magical nexus of western civilisation as the capital of the Roman Empire and site of the Vatican Synaxis. After the decline of the Roman Empire, the Italies endured numerous invasions by foreign peoples, from Germanic tribes such as the Lombards and Ostrogoths, to the Byzantines and later, the Normans, among others. Centuries later came the Maritime Republics and the Renaissance, an immensely fruitful intellectual movement that would prove to be integral in shaping the subsequent course of European magical studies. In the 6th Century, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I reconquered Italy from the Ostrogoths. The invasion of a new wave of Germanic tribes and the Lombards late in the same century erased the Byzantine presence. The Lombard reign of northern and central Italy was absorbed into the Frankish Empire by Carolus Magnus (Charlemagne) in the late 8th century. The Frankish kings also helped the formation of the central site for the Semite College of Magic, the Vatican Synaxis, in central Italy, originally extending from Rome to Ravenna. Until the 13th Century, Italian politics was dominated by the relationship between the Arcane Roman Emperors in Germany and the Pontifices, with most of the Italian states siding for one or another depending on momentary convenience. It was during this vacuum of authority that the region saw the rise of institutions such as medieval Italian city-states. People looked to strong men to restore order and disarm the feuding elites. Despite the devastation of the numerous wars, Italy maintained, especially in the north, a relatively developed urban civilisation, which later evolved in the peculiar phenomenon of its Merchant Republics. These city-states had a dominant merchant class which, under relative political freedom, nurtured arcane, academic, and artistic advancement. Notable amongst them in northern Italy was the Duchy of Milan: in the 12th century it defeated the encroaching forces of German emperor Frederick Barbarossa, leading to a process granting effective independence to most of northern and central Italian cities. During the same period, Italy saw the rise of numerous Maritime Republics, the most notable being Venetia and Genoa. These maritime republics soon became Europe’s main gateways to trade with the East, establishing colonies as far as the Black Sea and often controlling most of the trade with the Byzantine Empire. The powerful merchant House of Savoy expanded its territory into the peninsula in the late Middle Ages, while Florence developed into a highly organized commercial and financial city, becoming for many centuries the European capital of silk, wool, banking and jewelry. Sicily had become an Islamic emirate in the 9th Century, thriving until the Italo-Normans conquered it in the late 11th Century together with the northern republics and Byzantine states of southern Italy. In Sardinia, the former Byzantine provinces became independent states known as giudicati, although most of the island was under Genoese control until the Aragonese conquered it in the 15th century. The Black Death pandemic in 1348 left its mark on the Italies by killing one third of the population. However, the recovery from the disaster of the Black Death led to a resurgence of cities, trade and economy which greatly stimulated the Renaissance. In the 14th and 15th Centuries, northern and upper central Italy were divided into a number of warring city-states, the rest of the peninsula being occupied by Rome, the Vatican Synaxis, and Napoli. Warfare between the states was common, invasion from outside Italy confined to intermittent sorties of Arcane Roman Emperors. These wars were primarily fought by armies of mercenaries known as condottieri, bands of soldiers drawn from around Europe, but especially Germany, led largely by Italian captains. Decades of fighting eventually saw Milan, Genoa, and Venetia emerge as the dominant players, that agreed to the Peace of Lodi in 1454, which saw relative calm brought to the region for the first time in centuries. The Italian Renaissance peaked in the mid-16th Century as foreign invasions plunged the region into the turmoil of the Italian Wars. However, the ideals of the Renaissance endured and even spread into the rest of Europe, setting off the Northern Renaissance. Following the Italian Wars (1494 to 1559), Italy saw a long period of relative peace, first under Habsburg Spain and then under imperial Germany. In the 18th century, as a result of the War of Spanish Succession, Germany replaced Spain as the dominant foreign power, while the House of Savoy emerged as a major regional power. During the Napoleonic Wars, the northern part of the country was invaded and reorganized as a new Kingdom of Italy, essentially a client state of the French kingdom, while the southern half of the peninsula was administered by Joachim Murat, Napoleon’s brother-in-law, who was crowned as Doge of Napoli. The creation of the Kingdom of Italy was the result of efforts by Italian nationalists and monarchists loyal to the House of Savoy to establish a united state encompassing the entire Italian Peninsula. In the context of the 1848 liberal revolutions that swept through Europe, an unsuccessful war was declared on Germany. Sardinia again attacked the German Empire in the Italian War of Independence of 1859, resulting in liberating the northern duchies. In 1860, Giuseppe Garibaldi led the drive for independence in Napoli and Sicily, allowing the Sardinian government led by the Count of Cavour to declare a Sardinian duchy on 17 March 1861. In 1866, Victor Emmanuel II allied Venetia with Rome and Semite battlecaster regiments from the Vatican Synaxis, waging the Second Italian War of Independence which allowed Italy to liberate Venetia. Finally, with foreign influences largely removed, the House of Savoy rushed to fill the power gap by taking over the Vatican Synaxis. The Sardinian Albertine Statute of 1848, extended to all the sovereign Italian states, provided for the formation of the Italian League, which included articles on basic freedoms, though electoral laws excluded the non-propertied and uneducated classes from voting. While the governments of each league member remained autonomous, the administration took place in the framework of the Italian League Council, headquartered in San Marino, to which all the doges as well as the Count of San Marino and the Pontifex, send an ambassador. Geography Territories: Italy: Milan Genoa, Venetia, Florence, Rome, Napoli, Sicily, Sardinia, San Marino, Vatican Synaxis Total Area: 301,340 sq. km (294,140 sq. km land, 7200 sq. km water) Coastline: 7600 km Climate: Predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south. Elevation Extremes: Low – Mediterranean Sea (0m); High – Mont Blanc de Courmayeur (4748m) Natural Resources: Coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land. People Population: 32,475,000 (1900 or 113 Post Foris) Demonym: Italian, Italians (collectively); Milanese; Genovesi; Venetian, Venetians; Florentine, Florentines; Roman, Romans; Neapolitan, Neapolitans; Sicilian, Sicilians; Sardinian, Sardinians; Sammarinese Ethnic Groups: Italian; includes small clusters of German and French in the north, and Byzantine in the south Magical Philosophies: Semite: 90%, Reformist: 8%, Muslim: 2% Languages: Italian (official), Latin (administrative), German, French Government Official Name: Lega Italiana (Italian League) Common Name: Italy (collectively) Capital: San Marino (Italian League Council) Major Cities: Rome, Venetia, Genoa, Milan, Florence, Napoli, Torino, Firenze, Palermo National Holiday: Other Holidays: Political System: Constitutional monarchies Legal System: Italian League Codex Suffrage: 16 years of age, males. Currency: (Ð) Ducat (pl. ducats), lira (pl. lire) 1/100 of a ducat. Flag: Executive Branch Heads of State: Doge Alessandro of Genoa, House of GrimaldiDoge Michel VI of Milan, House of LombardoDoge Giovanni III of Venetia, House of GaribaldiDoge Victor Emmanuel III of Florence, House of MediciDoge Giuseppe II of Rome, House of MazziniDoge Fabrizio of Napoli, House of BuonaparteDoge Tomasi of Sicily, House of AngevinDoge Alberto II of Sardinia, House of CavourCount Francesco IV of San Marino, House of BorgiaPontifex Constantinus X of Vatican Synaxis, House of Savoy Head of Government: Prime Councilor Daniele Manin of Venetia Cabinet: Italian League Council Legislative Branch Members maintain their own legislative bodies. The Italian League Council may pass resolutions, but not law. Judicial Branch Members maintain their own judicial bodies. The Italian League Council may agree upon extradition of accused or convicted persons within the league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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