[center] [b]Country Flag[/b] [img]http://t07.deviantart.net/oXbw5xsv0jTLt0jWcTX8kwqcUao=/300x200/filters:fixed_height(100,100):origin()/pre09/d859/th/pre/f/2009/179/b/4/breedon_commonwealth___flag_by_neethis.png[/img] [b]House Sigil[/b] [img]http://img09.deviantart.net/8d5a/i/2011/201/a/7/hydra_flag_by_1wyrmshadow1-d415gi6.png[/img] [b]House Name[/b] House Votigar [b]Head of House[/b] King Eluric Votigar 50 [b]House Specialty[/b] [b]Master Intrigues[/b] While the Votigar’s and the other lords of Cassereth are know as the ‘Luxury Lords’, they’re also known as silver-tongued serpents. Whether it be assassination, forgery, spying, or fabricating claims or treasonous acts. Or something small such as sowing dissent. If its cloak and dagger happening in the shadows, they have a hand in its doing. It is often said that nothing happens without the Votigars knowing about it first. [b]House Ancestral Artifact[/b] [b]Devil's Tounge[/b] - A foreign made artifact brought with House Votigar to Ethican shores. The blade it's is spell forged steel that is nearly transparent and exceptionally light for its size. As it is named though in combat it radiates ann immense heat, catching the blade itself on fire. To foes its unbearable and as legend says it can cook its wielder's foes in their armor, this theory hasn't been tested though. To allies it creates the warm of conviction and empowers them with minor strength to help them push through towards victory. [b]Important Members[/b] Queen Berthe Votigar (Matriarch) 45 Duke Mathias Votigar (Heir) 28 Lady Ambre Votigar (Eldest Daughter) 24 Lady Auriane Votigar 21 Lady Mareli Votigar 20 Sir Osgart Votigar 18 Evrad Votigar (Last Son) 16 Duke Renauld Politer (Marshal) 43 Duke Stephan Torigan (Spymaster) 37 Duchess Sibyl Azizan (Chancellor) 31 Duke Guy Siltross (Steward) 49 [b]Nation/Realms Name[/b] Cassereth [b]House Motto[/b] We are eternal. [b]Common Saying[/b] Sneaky as a Votigar [b]Region/color on map[/b] Purple/Burgundy [b]Race name[/b] Casseri/Casserethian [b]Racial appearance[/b] Cassereth is a melting pot of different cultures from across the realm and as of late there’s been an influx of many different peoples. So to see a darker skinned individual is as common as one of lighter skin. The most common is hair of brown, black and red is the most common, with a large variation of eye color’s. The ruling elite though are not of this realm, actually foreigners from a destroyed empire of the south. The ruling elite are blessed locks of silvery white hair with with luminescent jade like green eyes, but looking closely their pupils looks almost like a serpents. [b]Racial traits[/b] Casserethians on a whole are a quick people in all aspects of their, being able to do most of their day to day activities fairly quick. When banners are raised they tend to move quicker and engage quicker than the other kings. Not by much but whoever takes glory gains the favor. The highborn are the ones that play the intruige games the smallfolks themselves could careless honestly, but due to the amount of money poured back in to the populace make them a very loyal bunch to their overlords. [b]Capital[/b] Livonio [b]Capital Population[/b] 73,000 [b]Other Major Settlements[/b] Clepus Rurora Iahaver Istrario Amartras Yarvare Satorath [b]Population[/b] 964,000 [b]Culture[/b] Cassereth is a hodge-podge of many different cultures many that of southern Ethican, but with the influx of old Satrlid empire people migrating to the land, it's become more elegant and appealing to the eye. Men still control the majority of the household to a 60 to a females 40 percent of the household. In theory though at least according to law, each gender is considered equal. Females are not required to wear dresses, they're allowed to wear flowing trousers. They don't hold the genders to one specific set of guide, hence allowing females to wear such attire. [b]Type of Government[/b] Parliamentary Monarchy [b]Influence and relations[/b] (Open) [b]Military[/b] Frigates are not as great as its neighbors to the south however, they tend to prefer speed over durablity. Making them harder to track down. While the ships themselves aren't lacking much they don't vary, keeping to a specfic style of the old Satrlid dromon fash. However each ship carries a payload pitch they each captain will self destruct should the situation turn grim. Casserethians nobles still follow the old ways which still yield great results when they're used correctly. Lacking a light infantry and cavalry core but make up for it with an army of heavy infantry, pikemen and archers backed by a plethora of siege engines. Heavy infantry makes the core of the army as their backed by interlaced pikemen to brace for calvary charges. Long bowmen fill behind the infantry core. Movable scorpions, small and large ballista's bombard the army from behind [b]Unit demographics[/b] 50% Heavy infantry 25% Pikemen 20% Archers 5% Seige Engines [b]Landscape[/b] The climate is temperate for the most part winters tend to be cold but never yield anything than a light snow because of it’s borders to the more tropical climate. Most of the landscape is rolling hills and plains perfect for crops and the production of food. While there are forests in Cassereth is small. Mountains are abound in the southern part of the lands but yield an ample amount of resources but not enough. This area is also warmer than the rest of their realm with more of humid tropical climate [b]Wildlife[/b] Wild game is smaller all around, from wild game to work beasts. Adapting to its environment most of the game is smaller and quicker to survive closer as large bulkiness is a liability in the rolling hills and flat lands of Cassereth; however Casserethian hawks are all the rage if they're caught. These birds of prey are often sought after by the hierarchy for hunting purposes. [b]Economy[/b] Rich/Prosperous. Due to the silk trade and their dominance over the luxury trade has tremendously bolstered the economy. Along with minor taxes on foreign religion has further built coffers. Gambling and prostitution also run rampant the shoots the coffers tremendously. [b]Religion[/b] The people of Cassereth are a devoted lot of people to the pantheon of gods. Kammeth holds important for the most of peasantry and common folk. Several foriegn gods that have taken hold in the eastern coastal cities. The ruling Votigar’s are not devoted to any faith due to the tragic death of their youngest child/sibling have made them unfaithful but allow any retainers to keep their faith. As of late there has been a rising in the old pantheon of the Satrlid gods. As there has been an infulx of the old empire migrating to Casserethian lands. [b]History: [/b] -Lady Carlyi Votigar and her husband brother Toralas flee from ensuing civil with ten thousand of their most loyal vassal’s to the north. -The Satrlid Empire’s capital is destroyed by the fist of the heavens. (Metor) -The Voltigar’s stake claim on Cassereth and claim the pensuila as their own, establishing a power house. -Lalifia Valarien meets with the Satrlid remnants, but they refuse to bend the knee to yet another tyrant. -War is declared and first engagements are a stand off for the first three years. Satrlid remnants wage a war in the shadows. Causing morale to plummet and desertion becomes rampant. Dealing with a foreign aggressors is a taxing process -The day Lady Caryli gives birth, her husband Toralas leads a vanguard to crash into the queen's forces and dying in his valiant attempt to keep their independence. -Queen Lalifia Valarien gets her victory but does so as Pyhric victory. As the Satrlid’s are forced to bend the knee, but out of charity allows the Satrlid’s to stay and given their current lands. [b]Strengths[/b] The essence of the once great Satrlid empire is still about Cassereth, in its towns and infrastructure. Buildings are not only pieces of art but fully functioning pieces of the city that provide more than ample services to the people. Bath’s and public facilities also cut down on disease providing a more comfortable way of living. Being a coastal region and with access to other corners of the realm they’re a cultural blending pot so to speak. With several different languages, gods and technologies all blending together, benefiting in society in such a way as not seen in other places. Providing a much-needed edge against the other kingdoms of the realms. Due in part to the large amount of luxuries resources that come from Cassereth it has been quite prosperous. Money is never in short supply. Thanks in part to the silk trade that is more extensive as they're the realms only major supplier of the fabric owning the monopoly on the highly sought after and luxurious fabric. Surviving documents from the old empire has giving the lords of Cassereth the know-how on how to build seige-engines to great effect. Scorpion's, ballista's and trebuchets are are geuninely much better when the built by the Casserethians. Another trade secret that they don't let out. [b]Weaknesses[/b] Those reigning from the greater house and the knight houses that serve them are a proud lot, boasting of the ancestors and were their ancestors previously come from. Giving them a knack of thinking and acting like they are better than most everyone else. Inbreeding is a common thing among the Casserethian elite because they keep their bloodlines pure and out of the hands of others. They do marry out of thier lands, while it isn’t often it does happen. Those that don’t though can have several side effects from the brother/sister marriages. Such as madness and frailty. While Cassereth is prosperous and has the necessary requirements to feed and arm its population. The land itself lacks the resources for major operation to build fleets and create a larger standing army. [b]Export[/b] Silk Precious Gems Incense Perfume Glassware Tapestries Stained Glass [b]Import[/b] Fruits Iron Marble Stone Rice Timber[/center]