[@Nerevarine] So I decided to make something against my better judgement if you are still open.

[hider=Greater Kingdom of Gotham and Jersey]

[center][IMG]http://i63.tinypic.com/15g474p.png[/IMG]

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[b]Nation Name[/b]
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Greater Kingdom of Gotham and Jersey
(More commonly Kingdom of Gotham)

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[b]Flag[/b]
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[img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--CEpDUiXsfQ/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAUo/VPmwbsNRCVo/photo.jpg[/img]

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[b]Government[/b]
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Absolute Monarchy - The King holds all power and while land-owning vassals exist under him exist, they are strictly a bureaucratic division in most cases. Women inherit titles on equal terms with men meaning that there have been a few Queens of Gotham. The current monarch is one King Galahan; his wife, Queen Alianora. As is per tradition, the King always as the title of Gotham a while the Queen has the title of Jersey even if they are not actually from those places. Galahan himself is actually from the Duchy of Philadelphia but takes up the title King of Gotham. When referring to the Greater of Kingdom of Gotham and Jersey, typically just calling it the Kingdom of Gotham is acceptable (although some in Jersey will scorn you for it).

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[b]Culture:[/b]
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The people and ways of the Kingdom of Gotham and Jersey is a fairly unique blend of things, if not deceiving to the ignorant eye who often sees it as a bastardization of the knights of the crusade era of the Old World. This quirk is best exemplified by the language spoken known as "Anglolish" which, while using English as a base, mixes in Latin, German and Chinese which some astute listeners can pick up. You can converse with someone speaking Anglolish in English, although there would be some obvious awkwardness between them.

The four tenants of Gotham-Jersey culture are: Knowledge, Honor, Duty and Family. No matter how great one may be or how much wealth they possess, if they lack any one of those four tenants then they are nothing to the Kingdom. With a wealth of knowledge granted to them by the great archives of Philadelphia, New York and Washington DC, there has always been a quest for more information for the people of Gotham. This has lead to some going far and wide in their exploration and expeditions of the Old World to try and uncover whatever they get. Given that old world knowledge is near sacred to them, a common saying is that if you are ever attacked by the Kingdom of Gotham, the local archive or library is a far safer place to stay rather than a castle.

Honor has a core part is what sometimes dictates the actions of some. Guided by the Code of Javah, the interpretation is up to the individual but generally monk will have the final say in a case about honor although lords to have the power to do so as well. This has lead to some conflicts between some holy men and lords. Being scorned is the least of the worries of someone who is deemed to be dishonorable and death either by their own hands or that of the enemy’s is often the route those shamed choose. One should be careful to note that honor and morality aren’t the same thing; you could very well have an immoral person be seen in high regards as very honorable!

Duty translates not necessarily as service, but hard work. There is a very strong culture of “do it yourself” and that hard work will get you far. This mentality in part stems from an idealized version of the old “American Dream” so often talked about in many of the tomes of the great archives and while there’s limitations and other elements which can get in the way of one’s ascension by duty, it is quite helpful when trying to keep people focused and productive.

Family is something lifted from old Chinese cultures of “Shinsei”, old world Chinatowns that barricade themselves in and created impressive defenses and communities within them, as well as the need to stay close together and have large family born of these dark times. Men and women are expected to if not get outright married, but find a partner by the time they become 16 and have large families from there. Divorce is something heavily looked down upon but remarriage because your spouse passed away is tolerated.

Religiously, the nation follows variation of Christianity that blends in eastern thinkings as well as the previously mentioned “Four Tenants of Life” called Daxian. It follows a very Christian idea of God and Jesus but states that through enlightenment, normal men can be blessed by God’s chosen agents, the Celestine Saints, beautiful angelic men and women revered as saints by the populace, or even ascend into divinity and become Celestine Saints It is held that Jesus was in fact the first man to become enlightened and became a prophet to spread the good word of the lord. Ancestors who have accomplished great deeds are often praised as exemplars in the hopes that their souls can one day ascend to that of the Celestine Saints. There is no one fixed path which enlightenment requires, resulting in the formation of various schools of philosophical thought on how best to transcend, but it is required that everyone must be in balanced minds and follow the Four Tenants.

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[b]Nation History:[/b]
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Although the kingdom title itself is fairly new, its land are not. Form from the two realms of the Duchy of Greater Jersey and the Duchy of York. Several generations ago, the two kingdoms were at near constant competition and war with one another, both growing and expanding to new places only to fight each other. There never went a year when there wasn’t some raid or skirmish or battle between armies and levies. 

[center][img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/04/c3/f4/04c3f42f263aca1bd2999d0f2cce85ce.jpg[/img]
A village that once sat on the Jersey/York border, untouched by warring lords[/center]

But in a romance that is still told today as the greatest love story ever told, the heir to the throne of  York fell in love with the young duchess of Jersey. The two met incognito at a dance and fell in love but they were not to be. Regardless, the heir continued to pursue his love who dropped him as man hints and openings as she could manage while under her regency. The story has been told countless times and countless embellishments ranging from the plausible to utter fantasy but it is at this point where the story splits. 

Some say that the heir forced his way into the castle of the duchess when he found out that she was to be married off to someone else, fighting all the guards who came after him, and proposed to her all bloodied and wounded in her throne room. Some say that when the regent of Jersey died and the duchess was able to rule by herself, she declared immediate peace and married her lover. Others claim that the two were forced to meet on the field of battle but refused to kill each other so they committed suicide, only to be brought back by God.

Regardless, the two lovers were wed and brought an end to the year's old conflict; their tale forever remembered as the Romance of the Two Kingdoms. As such rose the Greater Kingdom of Gotham and Jersey. The two ruled the realm together by day and retired to their private chambers together at night. It is said that the two of them died together in their bed chamber upon old age in each other’s arms. To this day their mausoleum is something of a sacred site with the two being ascended into Celestines under the names of King Ithyron and Queen Vesyani.

[center][img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d2/e4/c1/d2e4c197c68fe2cb4d2e7de5f4143e2b.jpg[/img]
A statue erected to Celestine-Queen Vesyani in one of the larger cathedrals.[/center]

Since then their inheritors have expanded the realm and towards the horizon and waged new wars for knowledge and glory. Although new threats have arisen as a new wave of marauders, raiders and pirates attack coastal and river settlements. Only after establishment of new militia and several invasions of more local pirate strongholds have the attacks subsided but even then, the waters aren’t free from the grips of the pillagers.

With the more modern times, there is an increasingly growing divide between the knightly orders and the Shinsei monks, especially over the use of gunpowder. Whereas some see the use of gunpowder to be a dishonorable and scornful thing, others just see it as a means to an end citing that there is nothing in any of the holy text which explicitly prevents the use of anything to gain an advantage on the enemy..

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[b]Economy[/b]
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No nation can survive without a backbone to support it and while the economy of the Greater Kingdom is simple with few luxuries, it is robust and capable of fulfilling the nation’s needs. Farming, mining and metalworking are the largest industries, taking advantage of the former reserves and soil of the states of old. There exists a small market for more luxury items such as furs and honey, but they make up a tiny amount of the economy.

Interestingly enough, the most valuable thing that is exported from the kingdom is knowledge and education. Copies of old tomes and books as well as monks and mentors are sought after by those who wish to gain ancient knowledge or simply want to learn more. Some foreign nobles even send their children to study at one of the prestigious universities of the Kingdom of Gotham. Most of the revenue generated comes directly from this trade of knowledge.

The Shinsei are a very unique organizational division within the kingdom as they are given some sense of autonomy and are free of some of the regulations put in place. As such some of them have gained a reputation for either specializing in exotic wares or shaddier goods. The most controversial of which is gun powder, produced only by specialized artisans and alchemists within the Shinsei. However, this dislike of gunpowder does not translate into a dislike for modernization as the smiths of the realm are known to utilize many creative ways of doing their work faster and better such as water-powered hammers and coke-fuelled blast furnaces for producing the steel needed for arms and armor and tools.

[center][img]https://images4.alphacoders.com/947/94716.jpg[/img]
A canal running through the slums of a Shinsei

[img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/87/13/99/8713997c9dab6c6ec06898382149d6ce.jpg[/img]
A section of harbor of the rebuilt city of Yorrick (New York)[/center]

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[b]Military[/b]
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The Kingdom of Gotham is renowned for its knights, very well being the face of not just the army but the nation as a whole.Only nobles can become knights, partly due to tradition, partly due to the costs involved. Both men and women can become knights although there is a social preference for males; not that anyone with sense will deny a capable female fighter. For many, training to become a knight is something they start in childhood until they become squires in their younger teenaged years before becoming actual knights. However, knights aren’t just expected to be proficient in the arts of war,but i the arts of learning in general. The idea of a “scholarly warrior” and “learned soldier” is very present and knights are expected to be well versed and educated. Clad in chain and plate, knowledge and faith, the knights of Gotham ride upon magnificent steeds with blade and shield in the name of the king and kingdom!

All knights start out as Knights Errant, young bloods full of piss and vigor with more energy than skill and enthusiasm than experience. They only wear chainmail and proudly display icons of victory on their armor with pride if not but to themselves and each others. They have the most varied appearances as they try to out do each other. A number of them fight on foot with spears and swords despite being having access to mounts. Eager to prove themselves to their seniors, they can often be seen either charging into battle or the failed aftermath of such recklessness.

One step up are the Knight Paladins, veteran Knight Errants who have grown with age and experience. They are far more mature and level headed than their younger counterparts and form the backbone of knights for the kingdom. Dependable and brave, their lances and are the heralds of doom for their enemies and they ride them down atop their barded warhorses.

Paladins stirred on by religious frenzy may take a Crusader Oath and going a military order, becoming Knights Crusaders. They are fierce fighters who slay without mercy and drive by zeal. By far the most religiously inclined, their every act is towards their faith. Armed with holy mace, blade and  lance, they certainly live up to the reputation of their ancient counterparts.

But above the Crusaders are the enigmatic Dark Knights, draped in all black and fighting only on foot. They are the sworn shadows that protect the king and his realm. Few have ever seen them and fewer have lived to tell the tale. Their training is esoteric and alien to many, guided under the teachings of the legendary hero of the old world, Saint Wayne.

[hider=Knight Crusader]
[img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d5/04/d8/d504d8896bd4b6e4fd6aea678a259ed0.jpg[/img]
[/hider][hider=Knight Paladin]
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[img]http://pre07.deviantart.net/551b/th/pre/i/2012/156/1/3/solamnic_knight_by_joelwho-d52fh1a.jpg[/img]
[img]https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/8o/88vwlilcgvd8.png[/img]
[/hider][hider=Knight Errant]
[img]https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/004/931/561/large/guillaume-menuel-knightcaptaindok.jpg?1487283956[/img]
[img]http://pre14.deviantart.net/c0ac/th/pre/f/2014/364/b/b/elite_knight_by_nigelemack-d6odakx.png[/img]
[/hider][hider=Knight Errant]
[img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/30/80/14/3080142181f3fbfd61cab91b6394017a.jpg[/img][/hider]

Marine-at-Arms are the less glamorous side to the army but crucial to the defense of the realm. Given whatever they can find, these militia are raised with axes, swords, spears, bow and all manner of shields to the service of their liege or for the defense. Born to combat pirates and raiders, they are well verse in various naval skills and as their name suggests, can fight aboard ships and perform landing operations. Most of the time on land, they are used to anchor down flanks and screen for the knights while the nobles do their work.

Their equipment can vary wildly depending on where they are from. Rich levies from major cities and towns are well equipped and drilled with uniform armors and weapons while those on the border or rural towns are more akin to a mish-mosh peasant mob.

[hider=Marine-at-Arms levies][img]http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7900/490412033011080/1600/224925/peasants.jpg[/img]
(Marine-at-Armies levies of a poor rural hamlet being called to arms)

[img]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/for-honor/images/6/67/Knight.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170219173013[/img]
(Levies emblazoned with orange shields, the traditional color of the Duchy of New York)

[img]http://media.moddb.com/images/articles/1/198/197727/auto/t0upfEF.jpg][/img]
(The dark grey and black colors of a Marine-at-Arms raised by a military order as seen with their crosses)

[img]http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/age-of-chivalry/images/2/29/Archer.png/revision/latest?cb=20130123170952[/img]
(An archer of a well-off levy; crossbows are also a popular choice and even more so in some places where strong and trained bowmen are a rarity)
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Not quite commoner, not quite noble, the Explorers are what many will actually see of the Greater Kingdom beyond its borders. Their ranks are as diverse as are the results of their expeditions, bored nobles, ambitious peasants, militant historians or glory-hungry adventurers all flock to the banner of the explorer in a quest for old world knowledge and goods. When called upon for war, they stand out having rough shields which few others, even Marine-at-Arms have and bring with them knowledge and experiences of fighting and adventuring that even Knight Crusaders lack.

[hider=Explorers][img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7c/d0/e7/7cd0e7ffcb93ab83bed2241e06afbbdd.jpg[/img][/hider]

The Shinsei monks of the “China Citadels” are often the spiritual guides of the armies and have on more than one occasion taken control over a large group of peasants. They are armed with the most exotic weapons such as claws, double bladed staffs and repeating crossbows; even the most wealthy noble would have trouble attempting to obtain weapons such as these. A gender split is implemented in the field of battle (although not in normal worship) with the male Fraternises being well versed in the art of close quarters combat and the female Sororitas being trained in the use of the repeating crossbow. Shinsei Abbots are the ones who lead monks in both their day to day activities and into battle; some are so respected that they have effectively become generals.

[hider=Shinsei Abbot]
[img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/0d/b9/2b/0db92b429bc948dac106c2feb367adc4.jpg[/img]
[/hider][hider=Shinsei Fraternises]
[img]https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zZiPRo-e464/maxresdefault.jpg[/img]
[/hider][hider=Shinsei Sororitas]
[img]http://orig09.deviantart.net/0aaf/f/2012/135/4/2/42fbee2322a5e16b8415497339afe1a3-d4zure1.jpg[/img]
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Engines of war are restricted to two main constructs: the field trebuchet and ballista. Field trebuchets are fairly self explanatory as is the ballista, a giant crossbow on wheels. Both have found commonly place given the disdain of gunpowder weaponry within the Kingdom. Variations of the ballista known as the Shinsei Repeating Ballista have been created by the Shinsei who use it for the exclusive protection of their own holdings. 

War wagons are also fairly common, running along the iron roads of that crisscross the old lands or on rough roads. The have roofs that can be put up and have openings to create a section of wall from which to fire from. Common practice is to use these wagons as either supply trucks or patrol vehicles and have them form up into a fort or defense upon danger

[hider=War Wagon]
[img]https://www.museumminiatures.co.uk/images/Hussite-WW03.jpg[/img]
[img]https://www.museumminiatures.co.uk/images/ww03a.jpg[/img]
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