Nations Name: The Empire of Corustaria 

Flag: The Flag of the Empire of Corustaria is very different from the flags of it's individual territories, and this is very important to remember as regiments from the different area's of Corustaria often fly the banners of their countries in addition to the Corustarian banner. The Corustarian banner is composed of the Red of Alswell, the Blue of Vivia and the Lion of Morland. Traditionally, the dragon is not included due to Saxley having been conquered and thus not having been part of the union which made the flag. As such, the official flag does not include the Dragon of Saxley, however some unofficial contemporary variations do exist that incorporate the Dragon alongside the Lion, usually by moving the Lion so that it is against the Blue background and the Dragon so that it is against the red. These variants exist almost exclusively within Saxley. 

Corustaria[img=http://oi60.tinypic.com/2ailqhz.jpg]

Major Province Flags: 
Vivia[img=http://oi57.tinypic.com/2cmww8x.jpg]
Saxley[img=http://oi57.tinypic.com/au6rdy.jpg] 
Morland[img=http://oi58.tinypic.com/123b4mo.jpg]
Alswell[img=http://oi57.tinypic.com/5zi05t.jpg]

Form of Government: Constitutional Monarchy 

Describe the System: (Describe how your country is run in some more detail.} The Monarch of the Empire (Known as the Emperor or Empress) is a very important and powerful figure. Alongside the monarch there is a parliament with a range of powers which acts as a legislator. The monarch can dissolve parliament at their own discretion, and also has many administrative functions, working with parliament rather than independently of it. While Morland is the heart of the Empire, the remaining islands are mostly autonomous, with their own heads of state, for example Vivia having a king. All these are subservient to the Emperor/Empress and Morlands Parliament 

Location on Map Desired: A series of islands off the north of the Edoniras, with Morland in the center, Alswell to the North, Saxley to the west and Vivia to the South East. Approximately halfway Saxley and Vivia lies Huntingtons isle, a collection of three small islands that are separated by only a few hundred meters of water. A few miles off the east coast of Morland lies a large island approximately a Sixth of the size of Morland known as Lesser Morland. Above Alswell is a string of small, cold islands known for their large metal reserves and chilling winds, known as the Weyland islands. The Corustarian isles lies some 200 miles north of the Lance Empires homeland, one of the furthest points north of Edoniras
Aswell is the coldest of the isles, known for producing hardy miners. Some of the most infamous... and most famous... figures of the empire come from here. Brave warriors fighting for Emperor and Empire, and infamous assassins who could fill Morland with the blood they've spilt. Aswell is about 162 miles long and 400 miles wide at its furthest points 
Saxley is known for being the best weathered island, excellent for growing crops. It was the only island that was brought into the Empire by force, nearly four hundred years ago when Morland invaded. The unrest has mostly died down by now, but there are die hards who contest that Saxley should be independent. Their voice is drowned out by the majority. Saxley is the second largest island, being 700 miles long and 400 miles wide at its furthest points 
Vivia is known for being the warmest of the islands, and produces fine wines. It is 450 miles long and 225 miles wide at its furthest points 
Morland is known for being the wettest of the islands. It's often said that the people of Morland went out to conquer Saxley because they were sick of the torrential rain. Despite this, when it isn't raining the country is quite pleasing to look at. It is the largest island in the isles being 1300 miles long and 810 miles wide at its furthest points. 
Lesser Morland is 220 Miles long and 143 miles wide at its largest points, making it one of the smallest islands 
The Smallest of the Weyland islands is 10 miles long and 5 miles wide, while the largest is 60 miles long and 45 miles wide 
The smallest of Huntingtons islands is 7 miles long and 8 miles wide, while the largest is 40 miles long and 30 miles wide 
The smallest island is Jordans Island, being just 100 meters long and 80 meters wide and has no permenant residents, but had a watch tower with a beacon on top where two guardsmen are stationed for a month at a time, watching for signs of invasion from the rest of the powers. The watch tower doubles as a lighthouse for ships to avoid the jagged rocks surrounding it. If the beacon is lit in day, it means invaders have been spotted, if its doused at night, it means invaders have been spotted. 

Capital: Stavedon, a massive city built around the bay of Stavedon to the South of Morland, the River Thyme flowing through it into the ocean, making it a port-side city to house it's naval assets and one of the more important trade centers of the isles. 

Important Settlements: Pottershead (A large town in the center of Morland. It recently boomed to a massive side and became extremely important as the tree's surrounding it turned out to be excellent for ship building using the new methods) Albaport (Capital of Saxley, known for it's apples and strong coal industry, its located on the east coast of Saxley) Ivarford (A major mining town in the Weyland islands, notable for exporting large amounts of metals to the mainlands) Glassley (Capital of Alswell. Culturally significant, but it's economic value is relatively low compared to the other capitals, its situated on the northern coast of Alswell) Bastillia (Capital of Vivia that is located along the River Charles in the south east of Vivia. Known for it's fine wines and vineyards. Bastillia gets it's name from the Bastile lying near it's center, a twelve hundred (1200) year old castle that has been razed and rebuilt many times in the battle scarred history that came before unification) Kingswood (A major town in the northeast of Vivia, about 300 miles from the coast. It is renowned for the great forest surrounding it which has long since provided wood for ships) Newkeep (A Saxley city located near the center of Saxley, it has become one of the most prosperous in the isle after having struck a huge vein of gold and silver. Jewlers and Smiths dot its streets, and it provides a major source of income for the government.) Dunworth (The largest city in Lesser Morland, located in the north of lesser Morland, 50 miles from the coast.) 

Description: (Describe an average city in your nation. Culture, language, currency etc.) Very Victorian esque in its architecture, the cities of the Empire of Corustaria range from beautiful manors and pretty cobble stone streets, to massive smoke stacks coughing out fumes into the sky far above. For better or for worse, Corustaria is in an industrial revolution. Culturally, this had led to many changes. Workers are suddenly less important, as machines which can do the jobs of five men are implemented into factories. New, revolutionary ideas spread like wild fire in the heat of summer, as great minds expand the fields of science. Some things never change however. They are still proud of their navy, and almost incessant are the chants of "Bigger, better, stronger" whenever someone so much as hears the word "Navy". There are four main islands. Morland, Vivia, Saxley, Alswell, and several smaller islands. Morland is the main island, where the capital is situated built around a bay with a small entrance. 
Internationally, they are on good terms with the Lance Empire, and relatively neutral terms with the other powers. They are known to be cunning on the world stage, forming alliances to make up for their weaknesses 
The Currency of Corustaria is the Vestibulum coin. Made out of gold, bronze and silver depending on worth, these coins have the head of the Empress stamped onto them, and on the other side bear the national symbol of whereever the coin was issued (Lion for Morland, Dragon for Saxley, Grapes for Vivia, Bear for Alswell etc) 
The Empire of Corustaria is known for being very cosmopolitan; Divisions aren't laid out by creed, colour or gender. In fact, it's known for having fierce women in the ranks of it's sailors, as well as minority groups and those viewed by others as 'savages' fighting among it's marines. This is partly down to their nature, being already made from several different peoples who have unified rather than being a single country to begin with. This will likely be unexpectedly helpful in Colonial situations, as their seemingly more benevolent nature will likely earn them more friends among natives than other, less cosmopolitan powers. This is not to say there isn't racism or sexism within their society. As will all colonial nations, they still have their own views on what's 'womanly' and 'savage' 
Although it's army is something of a joke due to underfunding and it's generals being perpetually at each others throats, the individual soldier is not actually terrible. Many are extremely loyal and committed, even if they are poorly trained and ill equipped. Unfortunately, this leads to soldiers having a poor reputation, when it is more down to the fault of their superiors than it is their own 
Something important to note is that Corustaria's Marines are considered much better fighters than it's actual army. They are feared opponents at sea, storming enemy vessels and firing on the swaying decks with shocking accuracy, partly down to skill and experience and partly down to their use of the more accurate 'Rifles' over the Muskets more commonly used by militaries. Rifles have their own set of disadvantages, such as the accumulation of powder in a rifle slowing reload times and eventually requiring cleaning before usage, thus making them less effective on colonial battlefields where both powder fills the air and obscures vision making the accuracy bonus irrelevant and when combat is more to do with filling the air with more shots than individual accuracy. This is very different from ship battles however. Men are not tightly packed together on ships, instead being more spread out and performing their individual tasks, making individual accuracy more important. Likewise, since the ships are moving the smoke moves away quicker, making the accuracy and range bonus more pronounced. There are also less men on ships, and more breaks in the combat for the marines, allowing them to quickly clean their rifles and their ship moves from engagement to engagement. Finally, muskets are made long due to their usage in firing lines, while Rifles are made shorter and thus more effective in the closer confines of ships should there be a boarding action. 

Important Characters: 
Emperor Thaddeus Burrows (41, DECEASED) 
Empress Emmeline Burrows (32) 
Princess Lillian Burrows (15) 
Prince Thaddeus Burrows (16) 
Royal Spymaster Richard White (42) 
Royal Bodyguard Severus Campbell (37, notable for being the First Non-White Royal Bodyguard) 
Royal Physician Marie Roseburrow (31, notable for being the second female Royal Physician) 
Prime Minister Custis Carnifex (61) 
Minister for War and Grand Admiral Esmond Thorne (51) 

Traits: 
King of the Seas: "Islands need strong navies, not strong armies..." -Unknown Sailor -3 
Ships of the line: "They call that an attack?"- Admiral Thorne as his ships of the line dwarfs the enemy attack craft -2 
Natural great men: "Corustaria boasts many great inventors and geniuses, which some put down to the educational welfare system that's in place"-A brief history of Corustaria -3 
Sealegs: "Corustaria's sailors and marines are used to the sea and boats, and they have been known to sail through storms and come out while their opponents sink behind them"-Exert from the book 'The Royal Navy Of Corustaria' -1 
New age ship construction: "One things for sure. The bastards know how to build good ships..." -A pirate after watching a small ship take a broadside and outrun him regardless +/- 0 
Empowered Company: "The Empire Trading Company plays a large part in keeping the economy afloat. In return, it receives special treatment from the Empire"- A brief history of Corustaria +/-0 
Outdated Army: "Admiral Thorne gets new diamonds to encrust his cannons with, meanwhile we get pikes!"- General White lamenting his ill equipped army +2 
Ambitious generals: "While the naval officers holds the record for cooperation, its not true to say the army has never won anything... they hold the record for 'most friendly fire instances'"-A joke among sailors +1 
Small army: "I thought I was commanding an army, not a brigade!"-Punchline from a joke +2 
Never been out of the village: "These berries look harmless..." -Infamous last words +1 
State controlled market: "With a few exceptions, most businesses are either directly or indirectly state owned, with very few true free businesses remaining. Growth is slow but stable as a result" -Government report, +1 
Basic points +2 

Army:
10,000 Regulars
25,000 Recruits

Navy:
4 Ships of Line
8 Frigates
10 Barques
3 Brigs
5 Galleys

GDP: 65,000,000,000 ($) 

Stability: Slightly Unstable