Kingdoms of Seyan

[babbysama]

@The Omnipotent Sphere Alright, sounds great! Gives me an excuse to expand on the lore a bit and fits nicely :) Will update with that info in a bit after I finish making this cheesecake lol

[KabenSaal]

@KabenSaal

Accepted.

@Thrashy

Yay. Third dark, chilly forest full of nutjobs with bows~

[Slamurai]

I have a question regarding terrain and the original map - Although a large swathe of land in my region is forested according to the image, would it be alright to revise that in the NS and write it as largely plains?

[The Omnipotent Sphere]

@Aristo I don't know if you'd consider moving, but there is nobody south of my territory and that bottom coastline is the largest continuous expanse of plains on the island. The distance between Ospa, Jura and Xiang wouldn't even change, really.

[Slamurai]

Hm, I'll wait around and see what input Thrashy offers. I'm just about done with my sheet; all's left is the locations and history. May throw in some additions to other sections as well.

[Thrashy]

I have a question regarding terrain and the original map - Although a large swathe of land in my region is forested according to the image, would it be alright to revise that in the NS and write it as largely plains?

@Aristo

Sure, that's ok :)

@The Omnipotent Sphere

Wait a bit longer with the IC actions. I'm currently writing the vassals and don't want to overload the system :P

[The Omnipotent Sphere]

@Thrashy Alright.

@Aristo Since Thrashy is okay with it, what if the Xiang harvested all the trees you're removing to make their Massive Ships?

[ASTA]

EDIT: Pfft, forget it.

[KabenSaal]

Sphere. The Men of the Woods can provide lumber for all the needs, in exchange for Iron. Since they don't have any mountians, and they don't like mining the forest floor, the rely on whatever sweeps through the forest rivers, and occasionally make Tamahagane, so they import iron through Bifrost.

[babbysama]

Skádi and Mjöla

In Öspaín shamanism, Skádi and Mjöla serve as the twin gondoliers of the sun and moon. In myth, each day they ferry the celestial bodies in their arcs, ensuring that the sun sets and the moon rises. Neither goddess has a particular affiliation with either body---oftentimes, they trade places, growing weary of their time in the light or rejecting the lunar darkness. In runic syllabary, they are represented as a circle broken through the center, one continuous entity, not two separate mythic figures. Each day at dawn in shamanistic communities, the shaman arises and presents "sunbones"---reindeer or fish bones inscribed with the runic sigil---to the east, whose rattling ensures that the goddesses wake at their oars.

@The Omnipotent Sphere Two sun goddesses hot off the presses for you

[The Omnipotent Sphere]

Sphere. The Men of the Woods can provide lumber for all the needs, in exchange for Iron. Since they don't have any mountians, and they don't like mining the forest floor, the rely on whatever sweeps through the forest rivers, and occasionally make Tamahagane, so they import iron through Bifrost.

@KabenSaal

Yes, but why would Xiang do that when they're sitting on a large forest that Aristo wants to remove anyways? Wood isn't exactly a high-demand commodity on Seyan.

[Sadko]

Fellows living in Brunydd give sacrifice to the fairies of the forest.

[Elitestpotato]

My NS

Kingdom of Lucrum

Location:
(not the whole circle obviously but all that area that is located in between the nations.)

Capital and Major Settlements: Capital- Cupiditas Major Settlements- Meratus, Trade Capital of Seyan. Dyno, city that is basically a huge market.

Ruler and Royal Family: King Giovanni Quaetus X, he is the newest leader in the long line of Quaetus kings. He is 44, wise in the ways of profit, sometimes narcissistic and greedy, but mostly a kind, polite man . His wife, Queen Jennifer Quaetus is as beautiful as they come. She has been by the king's side for a long time. . Their Son, Prince Giovanni Quaetus XI is 22 and learning all the quirks to being king.

People/s: The Lucrumites. The natives are human, but no race is turned away.
Kingdom Traits:
A web of whispers - Your master of spies is a genius. His contacts are numerous and you have many insiders in different courts. Your spies are good at seeking out and buying information, at spying, extorting, falsifying, and sabotaging. Although such a reputation doesn't make you popular.
A breaker of webs - Your agents are many, and as such they combat the spy network with great efficiency.
Developed infrastructure - Your roads are well-built, your villages have wells, watchtowers, and even walls sometimes. Armies and caravans pass rather quickly through your lands.

Military Traits:
Masters of ambush - Your armies have mastered the art of ambushing an enemy - taking them by surprise and slaughtering them. Indeed, a small squad can destroy an entire entourage of soldiers if they have prepared all the traps and tricks needed for the excellent ambush.
Light armor (Cannot take with Heavy armor.) - Your soldiers are lightly armored, leading to them being more faster and mobile.
Good archers - Your archers are extremely good, either at discipline and teamwork or at being good shots.

Trade Traits:
Filthy rich (COSTS 2 POINTS, REQUIRES IMPORTANT TRADE ROUTES TRAIT) - You live in mythical extravagance, for you are very rich and your coffers are full.
Important trade routes (COSTS 2 POINTS) - Many roads vital to international trade go through your country. Merchant guildmasters bow and pay tariffs to you, coin circulates through your demesne like blood.
Caravans - Not just caravans. Very well guarded ones, extraordinarily quick and big. Your merchants won't get robbed by some filthy brigands, and sometimes an army won't stop them, though that's unlikely.

Flaws:
Not a flawless family 2 - Something horrible had been once discovered about your family, and it's a sweet juice for rumors to be made by your foes.
Even your horses look weak - Yes, your cavalry deserves its' obscurity in the world. Many horses are lame, swaybacked, stubborn, and bad-tempered. Not to speak of your 'knights'.
Terrible boats - Your hulls are broken, there are holes in it and the sail is nearly ripped apart. Your fleet is a pitiful view.

Culture: The people of Lucrum tend to enjoy the finer things in life do to the booming economy. Many of the most talented musicians, artists, jesters and actors find themselves in Lucrum due to the sheer demand for entertainment in the Kingdom. Due to this, the culture of Lucrum is very rich, but mostly imported, which also causes a lot of cultural diffusion. Most citizens are atheist but some worship Chrysus, the god of gold.

Military: The military is small but crafty. Called the Phantoms of Lucrum, they are mostly defensive, using hit and run tactics, ambushes, traps, and archery, the Phantoms pick off enemy armies as they march through the land. By the time the enemy army reaches the walls of Cupiditas they aren't strong enough to even try a siege. They are trained in archery and ambush since birth, while also eventually learning the land very well. The Phantoms value mobility, stealth, and speed over all else, so they are not good in direct confrontations. There is little infantry or Calvary, any of them are made of up volunteers and mercs, and they mostly defend the cities. Along with the military there is an elite group of spies and anti-spies, they are called the Ghosts of Lucrum. The Ghosts are capable of slipping into even the most secure strongholds and withdrawing information. They are masters of stealth and disguise. Not much goes on in Seyan that King Quaetus does not know about. The anti-spies, called the Ghouls of Lucrum are experts at spotting, weeding out, and disposing of enemy spies.

Economy: Lucrum is surrounded by the other kingdoms, so obviously there are quite a few important trade routes contained within its borders. Lucrum gains much of its wealth from tariffs charged to other nation's merchants. Also, the Kingdom's grand Caravans often find themselves carrying goods all over, collecting a lot of revenue for the nation.

Reputation: Lucrum is known for its wealth and lavish lifestyle. The legendary merchants and markets located in Lucrum are often talked about.

History: It is said that once this land was conquered by a strong but not very bright barbarian nation. They say that King Quaetus I was able to come into control of it by bartering with the barbarian's chief and managing to give the barbarians only 2 horses and a string of twine. How much of this is true is unknown, but it is known that King Quaetus I was originally a master trader and did somehow purchase this land. He used his talents to grow the economy incredibly. Every Quaetus has added and grown on it. Any Quaetus that has any trouble with the economy is quickly banished and his son takes over. This has only happened once. Quaetus IX, the current king's father, killed his wife and dipped her in pure gold because "Chrysus told him to". The current King was going to end up the same way if he did not over power and kill his father. Many rumors circulate that King Quaetus X carries the same insanity as his father, however untrue that may be.

[Thrashy]

@The Omnipotent Sphere

They could have harvested the trees for the ships, yes. That and other things. It's really up to Aristo.

@Elitestpotato

Accepted!

[KabenSaal]

<Snipped quote by KabenSaal>

Yes, but why would Xiang do that when they're sitting on a large forest that Aristo wants to remove anyways? Wood isn't exactly a high-demand commodity on Seyan.

@The Omnipotent Sphere

Because they are nutjobs with bad money skills?

[Thrashy]

I will be inactive tomorrow and the day after. My class is going on a hike and I will not have access to my computer.

[babbysama]

@Elitestpotato It seems Öspa now has a rival in trade, this is going to be interesting

[The Omnipotent Sphere]

@babbysama They look pretty vulnerable though, I'm not sure they have enough territory to thin enemy ranks before they reach a city.

[Elitestpotato]

@The Omnipotent Sphere
Well, considering they will probably know about any incoming attacks because of the spies they'd probably already have multiple traps and ambushes set up on the border. Also, if a large enough army were to attack that it threatens the nation that bad, they'd Rusia-in-WW2 it. Destroying the enemies' food and supplies and destroying any villages they would pillage on the way to any main cities (or maybe just Cupiditas if the situation is that dire) so that by the time an army reaches the walls of Cupiditas or an important city, they are so weak that they cannot stage a proper siege. Also remember that these guys are masters at ambushing. Don't underestimate this style of warfare.

[babbysama]

@Elitestpotato Very true, it has the potential to cripple an invading force, but for a nation like the Xiang or Jura which has large reserves Lucrum has the potential to eventually succumb to enemy duress simply because of the numbers. But overall, a very potent style of waging war in the case that it should come to that.

What do you think Lucrum's stance will be on Öspa? Two big time trading nations located adjacent to each other would surely butt heads on occasion. Öspa has the upper hand in terms of maritime trade, while Lucrum is better connected to mainland Seyan due to the strategic trade routes which run through it. Do you think we would be friends? Enemies? Or frenemies?