Work in progress Empire, still thinking of where to be.

[hider=The Valkyrian Empire]
Nation Name: The Valkyrian Empire
Flag: WIP
Government: Constitutional Monarchy in theory, in practice the military hold majority of political sway and authority in the Empire.
Economy: Mixed Economy, the government exists to support and set economic policy just as it does diplomatic and military policy, and businesses are expected to coordinate long-term plans with the government. While largely hands-off during times of peace, provisions and bureaus are in place for large-scale war mobilization as needed.

Major Imports: Technology, advanced steam engines, inventions, expert specialists, 
Major Exports: Luxuries, bicycles, steel, high-grade anthracite coal, iron

Leader(s): 
Empress Presilla Dalones Corvo-Valkyron, nominal leader of the Empire but still a young teenager and not of age to rule due to the early death of her parents, but beloved by most of the country as a progressive leader regardless. Her neophilic mindset makes her very aware of the changing tides of technology and society, but still somewhat naive in political or military settings.
Supreme Commander Adrian Weiben, supreme commander of the Valkyrian Empire military and de facto leader of the country. Ruthless in action and thought, but extremely loyal to the Empire and Empress.
Tethys Zevos, Chief of Administration. The master of coin, policy, and bureaucracy, meaning he’s perpetually overworked and angry at everything. But for all his grousing he is also very good at what he does. Coups may happen, political tides may shake, technology can bring change, but Tethys will keep the Empire chugging along no matter what.
Important People: 
“The Tycoons” The five most powerful industrialists and businessmen in the Empire who built its foundations of economic and industrial power. While profit-seeking capitalists to the core, their interests presently align with that of the royalty and government in regards to the New World, and are pledging their assets for a cut of the take.

Desired Map location: (MS paint it on or in some way mark down where you want to be) 
Important Locations: WIP

Engines East: A former mining town that exploded in importance when deep veins of Elan and high-grade anthracite coal were discovered, quickly growing into 

Cultural Overview:(What do your people enjoy? What do they hate? Religions or festivals of note? The more in depth the merrier) 

The Valkyrian Empire can be equally described as a nation of militants and a nation of consumerist hedonists. Its army is large and prestigious, with every man required to serve five years in the military starting no later than the age of 20. Women may volunteer, unless they have families to maintain.

For all its high militarism and nationalism though, the Empire also practices rather hedonistic social customs. Public baths, legal same-sex or polyamorous relationships, public arena games, conspicuous production and consumption of luxuries from across the continent, and a very active night-life that often crosses over into day-life. 

In short, Valkyries Work Hard, Fight Hard, then Play Very Hard.

Technology Overview: 
The Valkyrian Empire isn’t on the cutting edge of technology for the times, being slower to adopt Elan, airships, and latest-iteration steam engines due to its size and lags in spreading new technology across the whole empire. But for what last-generation technology they have, they produce and use in bulk to try and compensate for their disadvantages. For what they can’t, they try and import foreign designs and inventors.

Railroads have been the focus of two kings and a succession of military administrators, resulting in lines upon lines of heavy-gauge railroads spanning the Empire’s major cities and connecting its industries. Enabling fast transit of cargo and troops when and where needed. Usage as a passenger system is a more recent addition, and something they are still working on.

While not a major innovator in technology or steam engines, the Empire is remarkably advanced in policymaking, administration, and communications technology, due to the need to administer a sizable empire prompting bureaucrats to capitalize upon any means possible to ease the colossal task. The Empire was one of the first to adopt telegraph at large to supplement its chains of courier riders and still offers sizable rewards for any inventor of any country to further improve distance communication technology.

In a curious quirk of technological development, bicycles are popular in the empire due to the Royal Family’s current preference for bicycles over horse-riding. Which in turn resulted in a sudden spree of bicycle advancement, from well-sprung cycles for nobility to pendle in comfort, to six-person chain-gang cycles for transit of labor crews, and more recently folding bicycles for mobile infantry. Bicycles are a major export of the Empire despite its last-gen industries.


Military Overview: (Now here's the stuff we really want to get to. Go as nuts as you see fit)

The Valkyrian Military strives to stay abreast of the times, but the sheer size of the empire and its conscript-heavy armies make equipping the entire army with top-line weaponry a financial and logistical impossibility. Thus it is forced to manage its priorities of funding and support carefully.

The Cavalry Corps are the vanguard force of the Army. Well-equipped, well-trained, and led by aggressive and highly able leaders. Generations of breeding has yielded strong warhorses and meritous leaders. But whether they can stand up to the changing mechanizing battlefields of the future is beginning to come into question even among conservative generals, and they are gradually being moved to a flanking role as the infantry grow in primacy.

The Infantry Corps compose the bulk of the Valkyrian Army. More than three-fourths conscripts, they are seen as second-line troops more for garrisons and line-of-communications work than frontline fighting. With recent technological advances and the implementation of the income tax, efforts are underway to modernize the Infantry with automatic weapons, mortars, newfangled rockets, and better training for standing force elements. But so far efforts are slow and piecemeal due to the large size of the infantry. 
[/hider]