[center][h1]Grand Kingdom of Ostvinberg[/h1]

[IMG]http://i57.tinypic.com/6til2c.png[/IMG]

[h2]Government[/h2]

The empire is unsurprisingly run by an absolute Kaiser (emperor) or Kaizerin (empress) who controls all major matters of state affairs. In typical fashion, heirs are chosen from a royal dynasty which happens to be the Schwarzhart Dynasty. However, heirs are chosen exclusively by age, meaning that girls can become queens who head the family. When this happens, heir are usually a brother of the queen unless she marries someone of suitable nobility.

In recent years, after protest and reforms, the Reich Administratum was formed as an administrative body to assist and limit the monarch's power. So far its been a good success, each area electing a representative to the court thus getting a somewhat even idea of the opinions of the land while also ensuring the monarch doesn't do anything to rash.

[h2]Economy[/h2]

The Ostvinberg economy is based on a stable but pragmatic industry of mining and metal. The high mountains of the empire are blessed with fruitful deposit of iron and coal, cliffs are adorned with sprinkles of gold and silver. Officials boast that Ostvinberg is the most technologically advanced nation in the world because of its metals and its processing abilities, wether these claims are true or not, ehh.

The nation exports just about anything made of metal or stone and its signature Ostvinberg steel is said to be of the best steel to be found anywhere. Outside of metal products, the kingdom also pumps out fine foodstuffs, exquisite stone and furs and hides. Perhaps one of the largest draw back to living in the mountains is farming. While there are programs and terrance faming techniques in place, Ostvinberg is still very heavily reliant on substance farming, producing only as they need or a tiny bit extra to feed themselves. Along with common foodstuffs, they also import lumber, fabric and occasionally timber.

[h2]Military[/h2]

The Ostvinberg Legion is not to go beat the shit out of someone else, but making sure Ostvinberg doesn't get its shit man handled. The Legion is famous for its fortifications, strong and sturdy as the mountains themselves some say. Supporting this is an excellent network of tunnels and caravans to supply the troops through. However, because of the extra care that is taken in ensuring the safety of these logistics, the Legion as a whole move slowly through territory which isn't controlled by them and lacks the roads and tunnels. But, once they stop somewhere to dig in, they plan to stay; you're going to need a hell of a lot of effort to displace them.

Actual professional army wise, the army is pretty small. Ostvinberg has a unique system where all males have to serve two years in the [i]Landwher[/i]. Should they pursue a career in the army, they are put through training and become part of the [i]Bergenwache[/i], a full time professional soldier.  Most common weapons to the army is not actually the musket. Because soldiers are expected to be on the defensive, the rifle is a much more common weapon, a slower fire rate is considered an acceptable trade for range and accuracy. The Landwher are expected to to provide sheer weight of fire through the use of carbines and blunderbusses. 

Supporting the footmen is an array of the finest artillery the Empire provides. This ranges from normal cannons, howitzers and mortars, to unothrodox and often exclusive rockets, repeating cannons and even mitriltrus guns

As one could expect, cavalry is not a heavy focus for Ostvinberg, but despite this, they field the elite Winged Lancers whose metal wings howl through the battlefield, sending fear into the even the bravest troops.

Ostvinberg has a small, put powerful fleet of steam powered, iron plated warships. Much of its naval power comes from its trade ships which isn't all to useful in a naval battle, but good to trade as one would expect.

[h2]Culture[/h2]

Ostvinberg is a nation of engineers, industrialists and architects, all of them striving to prove themselves in whatever way they can. This competitive nature and run for perfection combined with a refined education system leads to both an intelligent and literate population. While its education system has less philosophical and more pragmatic focus which generally leads to more technological advancements, its still gives enough thinkers to stir trouble up. For the most part, additional bells and whistles are sidelined in society in favor of simpler clothing but every family still has a set of very fancy, ornate clothing, often handed down the generations.

[h2]History[/h2]

In the old times, Ostvinberg was a land shrouded in misty mountain fog who rarely came out of their stone walls except to trade food for metals. Other tribes and hordes have attempted to attack and conquer the lands, only to either freeze to death in the siege or to be slaughtered with unconventional tactics of the people who zealously defended their homes. Even naval invasions where difficult as beaches were often protected and even had rudimentary sea walls in some cases. To this day, only the Norian Empire has ever truly breached the walls of the mountains and conquered Ostvinberg.

Once the Empire began to fall, the great walls of Ostvinberg once again rose, shutting out much of the world. Seeing their parent nation collapse greatly unerved the noblility and royality of Ostvinberg, who to this day looked to a new land which they could run too should the nation suffer the same fate as the Norians.

In modern times, they are much more open then they were previously, open trading and free (if not heavily guarded) borders. However, they still look to the horizon in their ancient goal of hoping to find a new promised land should, a realm reborn.

[h2]Territory[/h2]

The most defining feature of the empire is mountains.

[h2]Other[/h2]

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