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Name: The Hegemony of Eisenkreis

Territories: Austria

Government: Hegemony ruled over by the Queen of the ruling nation. Power remains solely in the hands of this nation, though other states under the Hegemony have their own rulers and forms of government.

Important Characters: Queen Marianna Von Eisenkern, The Red Queen, The Hegemon

Economy:

Built upon the engineering of the Parteienbündnisses Gezwungen, Eisenkreis has emerged from the ashes of Old Austria as a powerhouse of industrial and technological might. Pushing the field of Blue Coal power in any way they can, the nation has created a wide variety of machines based upon this substance. To those few the Hegemon considers her allies, Eisenkreis exports their more military-oriented technologies, such as the various models of the WandernPanzer and a wide array of infantry arms. Open to all nations are the civilian exports, those machines meant for the civilian populace such as steam-cars and more domestic items. No matter the purpose for the machine, Eisenkreis reaps a tidy profit from their stance as a technological leader in Europe, especially with the recent union with their neighbor Kzechverin and the massive reserves of Blue Coal beneath the nation.

While their industry and science may lead the field, what the nation does lack is available natural resources outside of metals and Blue Coal. Things such as grain and meat are largely imported from Kzechverin, but the nation seeks a greater supply from abroad to continue to fuel their rapid advancement. Another major import the nation has are in textiles, a field which has been largely neglected in favor of more refinement capabilities and ore-processing.

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[center]-Faust Die Eisen-[/center]

The stalwart protectors of the fatherland, and dedicated patriots, the soldiers of the Faust Die Eisen are the descendants of the traditional tribes of the mountains and valleys, albeit far more organized and well equipped than those of the ancient days. Divided into the Wehrmacht, Heer and the Stahl-männer, each division operates largely independently, though in support of the other two as a well oiled machine of war.

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First among the Faust Die Eisen is the Wehrmacht, or the Defense Force, the armored companies of the army. A more recent development as compared to the Heer and Stahl-männer, the Wehrmacht relies heavily on the manufacturing base of Eisenkreis and the three companies of Arctonen, Kellheim, and Ytterban. Though each of these companies produce differing components for the fighting vehicles of the army, they all share in common the basic designs of the Dampfturbinenmaschine, a steam turbine engine created twenty years ago and perfected over time into dozens of variations of size and shape. Foremost among these is the Arctonen-DTM 350bph, the engine which powers the Sd.Kfz4, better known as the WandernPanzer, or Mobile Armor. Though these engines are capable of putting out a large amount of power for their size, they do not come without drawbacks. Chief among these is the reliability issues out of some of the larger engines, as well as the complexity of the machinery often requiring a specialist engineer to accompany vehicles during operations. The biggest concern among tank crews of the Wehrmacht is the sheer amount of heat these engines put out during active operations, forcing the division to operate their crews on a rotational basis lest they die of heat stroke inside the armored confines of their vehicle.

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Forming the bulk of the Eisenkries military, the Heer stands as the infantry force that mans the defenses of the Fatherland, and if need be, march against the enemies of the state. These soldiers are the men and women of the people, many of them having served since joining the academy once their primary school has released them to begin job-training. Most soldiers are modestly equipped with a standard uniform that offers minimal protection against the elements, and a rifle of the Gewehr 98 designation, both more than sufficient for the basic infantryman to execute his or her duty effectively. Likely differing from most of the outside world, Eisenkreis makes no exemptions based upon gender in the selection of their fighting forces. Both men and women have equal opportunity to rise through the ranks, and are both held to the same standard. In a way, it is because of this that a larger degree of camaraderie is held between the members of Eisenkreis squads, since all are held responsible for their actions regardless of biology.

Though a full twenty divisions consist of standard infantry troops, there are also several specialist divisions within the Heer. Of particular note are the 20th through 25th infanteriedivisions, all of which man the emplacements that ring the border of Eisenkreis and form the iron circle for which the nation is named. These troops operate namely the 8.8cm autocannon for anti-air defense, though these emplacements are further supplemented with a selection of larger anti-infantry and anti-vehicle cannons of the 150mm and 250mm variety.

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Perhaps the most iconic of the Faust Die Eisen, the Stahl-Männer are the armored infantry that serves as the main-line troops of Eisenkreis. Clad in the armor which gives them their name, these troops march forth bolstered by their unwavering faith in their god and the steel of their plate. Who actually developed the Stahlkörper Rüstung is still unknown, with most sources pointing to a submission by an anonymous inventor of the Arctonen region. Designed as a replacement to earlier quilted doublets, and the plate armor of older days, the Stahlkörper Rüstung consists of a multi-piece uniform of thick linen with heavy steel plates placed to protect the vital areas of the body, as well as supplementary plates on the arms and legs. Not unlike the plate armor of older ages, this armor differs in the thickness of the plates and how they are forged, utilizing modern techniques to forge 5mm thick steel plates which can withstand most small arms on direct impact. The main drawback to the armor is one which directly correlates to the source of inspiration for it, plate armor. Due to utilizing multiple solid steel plates, the armor weighs nearly three times that of standard kit for the Heer, and as such requires additional training and far tighter physical fitness standards in order for one to be part of the Stahl-Männer. Though they are an important part of the Eisenkreis military, the Stahl-Männer consists only of ten divisions of a thousand men and women each.
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Technology:

Benefiting most of the powerful industry of the Arctonen and Arisovian states is the heart of the technological might of Eisenkries, Ytterban. It is here where the revolutionary Blue Coal-turbine engine was first conceived as a new way to power machines, and it was here where the Iron-Core first roared into being. Continuously striving for the next technological wonder, the scientists of Ytterban are taught that no subject is taboo, that nothing is too sacred for science, and that there is only progress. The only concepts the technomancers of Ytterban are allowed to hold to is their faith in the Hegemon, and the belief that the Akashic Records will one day be in the hands of an Eisenkries ruler.

Perhaps most well known, and the most widespread technological wonder is the AEbct80 Blue Coal-turbine engine, the powerplant in the vast majority of vehicles in the nation, and forms the backbone of the military's armoured divisions. A twin turbine design pioneered by the late Alena Zahradnik of Ytterban, the engine is capable of putting out up to 4,250 bhp at drive-thrust, and capable doubling that under high-speed thrust for very short durations as well as being exceptionally lightweight even using standard materials. Despite the widespread adoption of the turbine engine by Eisenkries, thereby reducing costs of production significantly, most Blue Coal-turbine engines are still costly to replace, frustratingly complex to repair, and while the external casings can be fortified to resist jarring and damage, should any internal part be broken, it will spell disaster for the entire block.
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Name: The Principality of Kzechverin

Territories: Hungary

Government: The Noble Republic of Kzechverin

Important Characters: Princess Csilla Kzechverin

Economy:

A far cry from the industrialized might of Eisenkreis, what Kzechverin lacks in engineering prowess and capabilities, they more than make up for with the massive deposit of Blue Coal beneath the surface of their lands. Primarily centered around the "Pokolgödör", or better known as The Pit of Hell for the sheer number of lives lost to the mine, the nation produces a staggering amount of Blue Coal, almost matching the East and their resources. Not only does the mine produce Blue Coal, but it is also a large source of other minerals including tungsten and rarer metals, most of which are shipped to Eisenkreis for refinement. Most of the nation's exports to other nations rely upon their source of Blue Coal, bolstering their economy with much needed income, and allowing them to further fuel the combined military of the Hegemony. Though not an export to nations beyond the borders of the Hegemony, Kzechverin does maintain a sizable agricultural base, providing much needed relief to the urban centres of Eisenkreis and allowing a degree of leeway in the event of cessation of food imports. Imports for Kzechverin lie largely in the vein of metals and labor, though they still share the issue of grain and meat that their neighbor has.

Military:

Built upon the strong traditions of their Polish and Czech heritage, Kzechverin has long held their cavalry regiments in high regard, even affording those who serve luxuries normally given to the officer cadre of other nations. Most prominent is their reliance on the traditional Winged Hussars of Polish origin, heavily armored horsemen armed with a lance and sword. Despite the advancements in military technology, the horsemen of Kzechverin remain firmly rooted in their ways, standing true with the principles of noble combat astride their horses and taking the battle to their enemy. It was only with the strong recommendations of Eisenkreis that the Winged Hussars began carrying repeating rifles, and even then they still insist upon carrying the lance as their main weapon. Though they may seem outdated in a world rapidly advancing past them, the Hussars of Kzechverin should not be underestimated, for while they may not have the greatest of weapons, they have hundreds of years of tradition and cultural pride to bolster strong military leadership within their nation.
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Though the union between the nations of Kzechverin and Eisenkreis is a relatively recent event, the two nations have historically been close, even despite the rivalry between their predecessors. Beginning with the shattering of the Austrian succession for the Holy Roman Empire in mid 1600, the Von Eisenkern family began to push for the removal of the Von Habsburgs from the ruling dynasty of the nation. Support was high due to concerns over the Habsburgs handling of the Thirty-Years War, and the loss thousands of German lives. Though they fought on the side of Austria, Bohemia was able to sway the electors to elect Argus Kzechverin of the Kzechverin family, a prince who had managed to make his way into the ruling family of Bohemia. This movement lasted only a decade however, for it was shortly afterward that imperial integrity began to dissolve under the pressure of religious turmoil lingering from the great war. Without wide support for Bohemia's re-election, and without a Von Habsburg in power in Austria, the Empire was ruled by a council of the Electors until 1670. It was at that time that the Von Eisenkern family had finally seized support of the other noble families, and was able to make a claim for emperorship, installing Baldur Von Eisenkern as Holy Roman Emperor and archduke of Austria.

One of the first actions of Emperor Baldur was to remove the legacy of the Habsburgs from Austria and the HRE by officially proclaiming the state of Eisenkreis from the holdings of Austria. While reformation swept through the new nation, Hungary and Bohemia had been locked in a rivalry, the feuding rulers of both nations engaging in multiple small wars between 1630 and 1670. In the end, the Kzechverin bloodline ended in Bohemia, continuing in Hungary and Bosnia with the princes of the family coming together in common blood to support growing resentment against the power of the monarch, and the rights taken from the princes of the lands. Knowing that Hungary's allies were occupied elsewhere in Europe, the nobles gathered against the monarchy and rebelled against their rule in the name of restoring their old rights. The revolt was short, as thirteen princes from noble families across Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Dalmatia rallied against the remnants of state troops from the wars against Bohemia. Despite their intentions, the revolt was more successful than the princes had intended, leaving the ruling family of the nation broken and unable to claim the throne. Faced with an emboldened peasantry in the aftermath of their revolt, the nobles came together to enact a temporary government until one of them could prove their legitimacy over the others. Without a way to assert one noble's claim over another, they created the Principality of Kzechverin, deciding that each noble family would have the chance to rule the collective based upon a vote by the majority.

For the next hundred years the two nations consolidated their power and participated minimally in the global scene, Eisenkreis holding on to the title of Emperor through their advancements in military tactics the stability of the nation. Kzechverin similarly remained stable, though became more involved with conflicts against the Ottomans to their south, as well as the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth. While conflict with the Ottomans ended in numerous truces with the Turks, the nation was able to gain concessions from the PLC, taking hold of the Galicia region and Krakow from the Polish. This lead to tense relations between the Principality and their neighbors, leaving them to look to the last ally possible for them. Both Eisenkreis and Kzechverin entered into the alliance with the understanding that it would be temporary, and a purely defensive alliance, with the former Austrian nation swearing to come to their aid in the case of war. In the absence of Hungary to war with, and the rise of stronger germanic and prussian nations on their borders, Bohemia began to feel pressure from all sides as the powers of Europe looked to the nation as a weak state ripe for conquest. War threatened the nation as Poland began to seek a way to reclaim their lost prestige from the Kzechverin conquests. Looking to their south, Bohemia joined into the alliance between Eisenkreis and Kzechverin, forming the Alliance of the Three Crowns which would continue until the peaceful annexation of Bohemia by Eisenkreis.

In modern times, both nations have seen a great deal of change in the way they involve themselves in the greater world's politics. On the one hand, Kzechverin remains steadfast in their hold to dying traditions of the nobility and of the great houses, refusing to modernize their military for fear of losing their identity. This has not stopped them from remaining a major player on the world scene, however, for when Blue Coal was discovered scientists went out across all of Europe to discover if they too had this resource. While many nations found traces of the substance, it was a farmer's well deep in the mountains of Szepes that lead to the largest concentration of Blue Coal in the European region, and one which rivaled some of the larger mines in Asia. Operations to mine the substance began immediately, with Eisenkreis engineers entering the region to undertake the largest engineering project the region has ever seen. In eight years the Pokolgödör mine has reached a depth of four kilometers, branching tunnels out at fifteen points along the main shaft, and creating a network of tunnels deep below the nation that extend for kilometers. Taking advantage of the major cache of resources in their backyard, Eisenkreis has made leaps and bounds with Blue Coal, catching up with the powers of Asia and making their own gains in the field through aggressive advances that have lead to some questioning their restraint.

The modern day alliance between the two nations has become stronger with the very recent union between the ruling families of Eisenkern and Kzechverin, a move that while the two historically tolerant nations saw as a way to bind their cultures together, has left a mark upon their relations with the more traditional world. Despite what some would portray as a move by the Eisenkerns to take more power for themselves, it was actually the Princess Csilla Kzechverin who proposed the union to Eisenkreis, one which some in Kzechverin had seen in the making for several years as the noble became more interested in the queen of the neighboring nation. What came as a surprise for the people of Eisenkreis, was that the typically cold and distant Queen Marianna Von Eisenkreis took to the princess and accepted her offer, binding the two together as rulers of both nations. With the union just a few short months ago, the two monarchs stand together in the face of a changing world, looking only to ensure the stability and survival of their countries.
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