[b]Nations/Characters 2[/b] [hider=The Sun Will Never Set] [b]Kingdom of Verendes[/b] Flag: [img]http://i.imgur.com/4iRB9ks.png[/img] [hider=Government and Economy] [b]Type of Government[/b]: While technically a hereditary monarchy Verendes has effectively been under the control of the noble parliament for the last eighty years. Represented by their respective heads each of the forty seven noble families all have the ability to propose legislature and debate it, with most issues being settled by a majority vote. While laws and government acts must be signed by the monarch in almost all circumstances the reigning head of state is powerless given the noble parliaments ability to vote no confidence and remove them from power entirely. That said, the monarch is still the face of the nation and often holds considerable respect and influence within the noble parliament itself. One notable exception to this is in times of war, wherein the monarch is placed in direct command of the armed forces and becomes able to enact changes far more rapidly than what the parliament would have been capable of. While many argue this policy is excessive in terms of empowering the reigning monarch it has nevertheless provided vast centralization in times of war allowing vital resources to be redistributed more easily. [b]Head(s) of Government[/b]: The technical head of the government is [url=http://i.imgur.com/145MXlL.jpg]Her Majesty Queen Sanvila the Sixth[/url], a woman of twenty four years. The youngest of monarchs in recent history Sanvila gained power when her father, a notable proponent of increased royal control, died overseeing an arms plant without leaving any other heirs seven years ago. Other notable individuals would include Belvon Harns, the head of his noble family and the current leader of the largest block of nobles in the parliament. A hard nosed man Belvon has long advocated expansion of the colonies and was largely responsible for the Jesah war which saw the acquisition of several oil rich northern territories. In direct opposition to Belvon stands Kenst Terou, a more idealistic family head who continues to advocate isolationism from the world and economic reform. A smaller black of nobles is in alignment with Kenst, though many highly influential families can be counted among them. [b]Economy[/b]: The Verenden economy operates off a gold standard, wherein the nation must maintain a supply of gold equivalent to the amount of paper currency issued. Under this system paper currency represents a technical debt owed by the government to the individual, and this debt may be traded for goods and services. Exempt from this are silver and copper coins which hold 'true' value based upon the materials in them. Thus a one dollar note represents an equivalent amount of gold, and a half dollar of silver is silver worth a half dollar. The mint and gold reserve is commanded by the specifically appointed National Treasury which acts to control inflation and recession and is generally tasked to intervene in the economy when such action becomes necessary. The Verenden economy however is mostly unregulated beyond the simple controls of the National Treasury and operates closely to what could be considered laissez faire. In this system manufacturing, particularly in the maritime sector, has taken an enormous role and heavy industry has become the staple of Verendes with mines and factories dominating the skyline. That said, agriculture has not been neglected entirely and enough is produced to limit the hassle of importing food though at times it has become necessary. Most oil is sourced from the many colonies of Verendes for domestic use though in times of surplus it is often sold. Taxes are set to a flat rate, greatly favouring the rich over the poor and as a result the working poor fill the streets or find refuge in the large housing facilities many companies provide after complaints about the homeless problem began to surface. [/hider] [hider=History, Demographics and Culture] [b]Primary Species[/b]: Human beings make up nearly the entirety of the Verenden population with white skin and black hair being the predominate traits of the population. Notable shorter than most other humans Verenden men stand at a height of 5'7 with women usually making 5'4. [b]Population[/b]: ~47,567,820 As of last national count. [b]Culture[/b]: Verenden culture is often said to be divined into two distinct sets of values and ideals, those of the working and that of the established elite. The truth however is nowhere near that clear cut, and the identity of both subcultures has intermixed greatly. The first of these subcultures is that of the working classes. It is best said that the working value community above all and place enormous emphasis on family usually forming large multi family communal groups in the belief that separation causes a weakening of the spirit. These large communal groups have a tendency to develop their own deviations from the larger national culture of the working, but nevertheless they all share many basic traits. One of these traits is the commonality that change is considered absolutely paramount with stagnation is seen as the nearest thing to death. As a result of their belied many of the working class try to reinvent themselves in whatever little ways they can afford. This has evolved into a sort of sub class system, where various members of the working class differentiate themselves through trinkets and clothing, with the more flamboyant being held in higher regard. A side effect of this is that it has brought about a sense of competition that has long caused minor conflicts as communities of different means clash, even if it has provided a unique flair of colour to Verenden cities many nations lack. Even more, regardless of the conflicts the sense of appearance being related to means has fostered an enormous sense of cleanliness among even the poorest citizens, resulting in new industries forming around bodily care and inevitably medicine. The second of the so called subcultures is that of the rich and established elite. The primary difference between these individuals and the working class is that rather than as a way to show status opulent clothing and ostentatious appearances are merely the norm. This results in the noble and rich classes generally being far more cohesive than than those below them and as such having far less value in family as opposed to solidarity as a tier of society. Still, one element spawning from family solidarity is true for both sides of the coin, there is little gender discrimination. It is not uncommon for women to lead families, nor is it rare for them to serve in any role traditionally reserved for men. In tight groups specific distinctions between gender become less important, and this has been the case in Verendes regardless of class. On the flip side, non humans are generally looked down upon, though those closer to Humans are seen with less disdain than more atheistically disparate species. [b]Religious and Other Beliefs[/b]: Verendes still holds a highly polytheistic system of religion with an ever expanding pantheon of gods whose values rarely align. Depending on the community the god of choice could be entirely separate, with many miners holding the god of the Earth in high esteem while others in the factories might hold the god of industry above all else. This system may seem divisive, but it rarely causes issue as the highest god in the pantheon, the god of time, is largely respected by all equally and acts as a single thread holding the religion together. The Verenden pantheon lacks a proper name but is generally spoken of as the Servants of Time, with the lord of history and the future having fathered all the other gods. This in part explains why the pantheon expands, the god of time merely has more children. [b]History[/b]: For uncounted ages a single empire dominated the land, and in its shadow the many city states of the world trembled. In fear of this empire a loose confederation was born among the five great port cities of the east in a vain attempt to dissuade that old empire from marching upon them. Yet in spite of this confederation the fear remained, and when the old empire began to falter and the world started to reek of war that fear drove the port cities to a single conclusion. They had to attack before whoever succeeded the failing empire did. Banding together under the name of their commonly inhabited land, Verendes, the city states made their move some fifteen hundred years ago. Taken off guard by the sudden attack of the peaceful cities and preoccupied by the barbarians and other states gnawing at it the empire was unable to respond, and soon Verendes became an empire of its own. Out of the ashes of the old empire only two great states remained, the Vereden Empire and the Kataylabinsk Imperium. The former represented the forces that brought the greatest era of stability in history to an end, and the latter held strong as an echo of those times and that lost empire. Ideology, religion, fate. Whatever it was these two remaining states could never reconcile their differences and not long after the old empire fell they once more moved to war, this time on each other. Centuries of fighting would solve little and it seemed to both states that nothing could be done. Yet it was stagnation that history could not abide. After a frost destroyed the Verenden Empires crops some seven hundred years ago the Imperim struck once more. Faced with a new player rising in the form of the Holy Moravian Empire and besieged on two sides in the face of natural disaster the Empire in the east fell, reduced to the territory it had held all those centuries ago. In hopes of quelling the riots and staving masses in the ruined empire the Verenden king declared its dissolution, and once more the five city states came to be. For five hundred years this would be the case, each city state becoming a nation and gorging itself upon the wealth of trade ignorant to the world passing by, until they could no longer ignore it. The Holy Moravian Empire that had once helped to ruin old Verendes collapsed, and once more it became clear the violent states that arose from its ashes would be the doom of the newly minted nations and their founding cities. So they made an old idea new, and as the first hints of industry began to show themselves in the world Verendes once more became a nation some two hundred years ago. Industrialism bled into colonialism and a new Verenden empire came into the world, establishing outposts and resource colonies throughout distant lands. In the year eighteen hundred the king of Verendes sought to protect the trade lanes to his new colonies from the ancient enemy of the maritime human city states, the Sacred Empire. Spanning the vast Ceres sea the beasts of the deep had once instilled fear into all who called the land home, yet now it was declared that they would be the ones hunted. Setting sail mere moments after declaring war Verendes would fight the monsters below the seas for nine years and with all the weapons that could be brought to bear nefore it emerged victorious. A once invisible enemy below its foot Verendes would establish a dominance of the Ceres sea that would last for seventy five years. Yet now that hold has been broken, and Verendes faces giants at every turn, beasts with which it cannot contend. [/hider] [hider=Geography, Agriculture and Industry] [b]Territories[/b]: [img]http://i.imgur.com/b8Y54IR.png[/img] [b]Cities, Bases, etc.[/b]: The capital of Verendes is Destun, a sprawling city of industry left curiously smog free by the constant sea breeze given it's coastal locale. The royal palace as well as the noble parliament are situated just beyond the cities limits and the main air, navy, and army bases for the nation all located within it. Another notable city would be Esten, a city with the distinction of being closest to the PKK border. It is for this fact the city is the home of three tank divisions and even more infantry, a force large enough to back up the forces on the border in a timely fashion should worst come to worst. [b]Climate[/b]: Just north of the Equator Verendes is a warm nation that gets the occasional snowfall in it's more northern regions. Much of the nation was home to large forests in times past but now few remain, with farms taking up whatever is not covered by cities and industry. Rain is a constant of Verendes with it expected in all seasons, though with extra fog on the coast during the fall and winter. Plant and animal life is abundant in the nation though most of what could be considered dangerous is long hunted to extinction, though in the private reserves of the nobles near the costs there is a snapshot into the vast and unrestricted amount of life that once called Verenes home. All together, Verendes is a mild climate with a proclivity towards rain. [b]Agriculture[/b]: Agriculture in Verendes is highly mechanized compared to most other nations, feeding off the manufacturing sector. This however has not lead to a massive increase in production given farmers have very little space to work with in comparison with other nations. Nevertheless Verendes rarely has to import food, though it does happen. This is usually the result of farming magnates exporting food at a favourable price and leaving the nation with a deficit, an issue which the government has been incapable of preventing due to the power and often in person representation of those responsible. Still, this competitive environment has brought about many innovations and some worry that increased regulation would cause a famine due to many of the current farmers no longer having to edge out any advantage they can and becoming complacent. [b]Industry[/b]: Verendes is built upon its naval heavy industry and its production of exemplary glass. Nearly every city is home to as many factories as houses, a state of affairs that owes itself to the free economic decree of the king many years ago. When all those years ago the economy was formally deregulated an industrial revolution followed that changed the very fabric of the nation. What once was an agrarian people operating a hub of sea trade changed overnight into a people bent on competition and profit. The nobility were the first to exploit the situation and quickly solidified their power by buying up vast swaths of land and clearing it of forests to build the foundations for future industrial empires, but they were not alone. Many formerly middle class merchants found themselves able to buy specific sites rich in resources to feed the new factories and joined the nobles as the new elite. Of course this all came at the expense of the common man. Industry forced the throng into the streets or cramped apartments, a trend that is only becoming less pronounced now that many factory owners are building on site housing for their workforce, if only because the streets look better free of piss and shit. Nowadays industry remains king and while Verenden factories cannot match the quantity of the other industrial great powers a large emphasis has been placed on quality and efficiency that few can match. [b]Main Imports[/b]: Grains, Lumber, Oil, Cotton, Dyes, Sand, Refined Chemicals, Beef, Zeolites, Feldspar, Rubber. [b]Main Exports[/b]: Large engines, Refined Metals, Large Machinery, Textiles, Electronics, Optical and other types of Glass, Mined Helium, Luxury Goods (Watches, Jewelry, Small manufactured items), Ships, Weapons, Maritime goods. [/hider] [hider=Military] [hider=Armoured Forces] Recently expanded as a response to the growing communist threat the armoured forces of Verendes have quickly grown due to the nations heavy industry and are now a match in quality for even the most advanced nations, though quantity remains an issue. [hider=R-56 General Tank] [img]http://i.imgur.com/SJwKz18.jpg[/img] The main tank of the Verenden armed forces the R-56 is a medium tank used to engage other armoured vehicles and support infantry in any number of roles. It is perhaps the most identifiable symbol of the Verendan military being utterly ubiquitous in nearly every branch. The R-56 sports a high velocity 82mm primary gun on an electrically driver turret as well as a 50mm howitzer on the hull and a rotating cupola equipped with a 7.6mm machine gun.[/hider] [hider=R-12 Assault Tank] [img]http://i.imgur.com/RWdzRdO.jpg[/img] Somewhat slower than the R-56 but sporting a faster firing gun and more armour the R-12 is the assault tank of the Verenden military, built to support advancing troops with its short yet powerful high explosive firing gun. The R-12 is equipped with a short 75mm gun designed to supress and eliminate enemy personnel on the front lines using its quick reload system. A 7.6mm machine gun is also mounted for dealing with ground forces that get too close. [/hider] [hider=R-19 Tank Destroyer] [img] http://orig02.deviantart.net/edd5/f/2012/049/b/f/hetzer_2_by_qu_ro_quro-d4q6lmm.jpg[/img] The newest addition to the Verenden military the R-19 is a low profile ambush tank prioritizing speed and firepower. Using its long 75mm gun the R-19 is meant to attack from the sides and rear immobilizing and destroying enemy vehicles while being well armoured enough to weather a limited few return shots as it makes its escape.[/hider] [hider=R-55 Light Tank] [img]http://pre08.deviantart.net/6108/th/pre/i/2013/342/4/6/the_convertible_tank_bt_sv_2_by_roen911-d6x16cx.jpg[/img] A fast and lightly armoured tank the R-55 is a mobile scout and flanking vehicle able to harass the enemy and distract them form its more dangerous allies. The R-55 uses a 45mm gun to engage targets and a frontally mounted 7.6mm machine gun to ward off infantry attack.[/hider] [hider=R-34 Mobile AA] [img]http://i.imgur.com/iSIvGXr.jpg[/img] Built from the chassis of the now phased out R-33 medium tank the R-34 is the main AA gun used by the armoured forces. Armed with four 20mm guns few aircraft are capable of standing up to a sustained attack by these tanks.[/hider] [hider=RA-15 Mortar] [img] http://orig00.deviantart.net/4ca9/f/2012/128/2/0/28cm_mortar__walross__by_qu_ro_quro-d4yxkao.jpg[/img] A field mortar used by infantry companies the RA-15 is a fast and mobile 180mm gun capable of pounding enemy positions at a moment’s notice.[/hider] [hider=RA-22 Artillery] [img]http://orig04.deviantart.net/fb46/f/2010/112/c/e/12e2_by_pyrosity.png[/img] The main field gun of the Verenden military the RA-22 is a 140mm mobile gun used to bombard enemy positions and move with the front line in a way no static weapon could.[/hider] [hider=RA-12 Artillery] [img]http://pre11.deviantart.net/5de6/th/pre/f/2011/234/9/0/__goliath___heavy_artillery_by_malaveldt-d47fff8.jpg[/img] An immense 240mm self-propelled gun the RA-12 is a fearsome weapon meant to bombard enemy fortifications and formations. [/hider] [/hider] [hider=Infantry] The core of the Verenden military the infantry serve as the fodder and the hammer necessary to win wars. Despite this, the infantry often finds themselves neglected in favour of the more specialized branches. [hider=Machine Gunner] [img]http://img05.deviantart.net/38bb/i/2015/113/5/f/the_gunner_by_dirtbiker715-d5srwz9.jpg[/img] The Verenden military has long espoused the benefits of automatic fire and mandates every platoon of six men have two machine guns. To ensure this policy isn't needlessly draining of manpower machine gunners are trained to operate the weapons by themselves, but the position of loader can always be filled in situations where there is an extra available man. Given the weight of their equipment most machine gunners only carry a bare minimum beyond their primary weapon and its ammunition, many foregoing such basics as handguns. These men often suffer higher casualty rates but nevertheless the position never has a lack of volunteers given it represents an elevation in rank. [hider=GMG-32] [img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b8/1a/86/b81a869ffaba2fda59cf8117083c19ea.jpg[/img] The GMG-32 is the latest service light machine gun in the Verenden Military, operating on an open bolt chambered for 7.6mm and built for simple and fast barrel change the 32 was designed for ease of operation and rugged durability in combat.[/hider][/hider] [hider=Rifleman] [img]http://orig06.deviantart.net/dc52/f/2010/221/e/4/belgian_soldier_by_jozsefsvab.jpg[/img] The core of the Verenden military riflemen are the front line soldiers in any war. Given a bolt action rifle, spare ammunition, grenades, and equipment to resist chemical weapons these soldiers are often the lowest members of society looking for an opportunity for advancement in the military. [hider=Gesten Model 1921] [img]http://orig03.deviantart.net/1977/f/2013/281/a/f/arghaven_royal_arsenal___nautilus_model_2__by_dervulf-d6ppk1m.png[/img] The latest of the many Gestun handguns adopted by the Verenden military the M1921 is a toggle locking semi-automatic handgun firing a 10mm round. The firearm is notable for its iconic status in the military.[/hider] [hider=Vense Rifle Type 1919] [img]http://orig09.deviantart.net/c4b5/f/2013/143/a/0/m1906_ve_eth_r_karabin_by_dervulf-d668yn4.png[/img] A logn serving firearm the T1919 is a straight pull bolt action rifle that remains the primary service arm of the Verenden military. Firing a 7.6mm round like most Verenden military weapons the T1919 is an ageing design that is being considered for replacement on concerns of reliability and continued competitive ability in the age of semi-automatic rifles.. Notable candidates for the rifles replacement are the Ventian Vz.32 carbine and the domesticity produced Vense Rifle T1939. [/hider] [hider=Argos FGF Gas Mask] [img]http://img05.deviantart.net/dfbd/i/2012/030/9/9/steampunk_helmet_final_by_dragonarmoury-d4o4ilt.jpg[/img] Built by the ARGOS company these general purpose gas masks can combat most chemical weapons that attack the body through inhalation. [/hider] [/hider] [hider=Specialized Infantry] [img]http://orig05.deviantart.net/f762/f/2010/240/2/8/special_operations_paratrooper_by_anderpeich-d2xg33p.jpg[/img] Plagued by the agents of other nations it eventually became apparent that a new division of the military was needed to counter this threat. Selected from the soldiers showing the least remorse and the most cool under combat the SI represents the elite core of the Verenden military. Little is standardized between the divisions disparate regiments and every soldier has some freedom in their loadout, save the mask that covers all their faces. [hider=Vense Rifle T1939] [img]http://img04.deviantart.net/45db/i/2014/081/0/8/7_92_zlw_m_49_by_semi_ii-d7b7gf0.png[/img] A newer design being considered for standard military adoption the 7.6mm T1939 is a popular gun among the SI and is known to be an excellent marksmans rifle, though its use is limited by its nascent state.[/hider] [hider=Vz.32 Carbine] [img]http://pre06.deviantart.net/7d89/th/pre/f/2013/299/9/6/m1_carbine_by_kn3chtruprecht-d6rvfwk.jpg[/img] A Ventian .32 carbine the Vz.32 represents the militaries renewed interest in small calibre firearms and is also being considered for standardization. Opinions are mixed but the potential of the weapon is well known.[/hider] [hider=G.SG-22] [img]http://pre02.deviantart.net/7373/th/pre/f/2015/302/7/f/orita_colour_by_semi_ii-d9esouj.png[/img] A 10mm SMG the Gestun Sub Gun 1922 was once submitted for military trials but accomplished only limited adoption given the prevailing bias against small calibre weapons. Used by tank crews and the SI the GMG is generally liked if not regarded with some suspicion by the higher echelons.[/hider][/hider] [hider=Under Sea Corps] [img]http://www.bjornhurri.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Stormtrooper_Hurri_Final.jpg[/img] A unit under personal command of the sovereign these men and women were the knife that kept the Sacred empire under the Kingdoms thumb. However, times change and now the USC are a small part of the infantry whose few duties are the protection of the remaining Verenden assets under the Ceresian Sea. The USC use modified versions of conventional Verenden arms built from stainless steels that firing needle like bullets.[/hider] [/hider] [hider=Air Forces] [i]Flag of the VAF[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/F6qUiQa.png[/img] The Verenden military has long lacked airships, largely due to the nations relative political isolation in the last hundred years. As such the air forces are a collection of attempts and experiments meant to level the playing field. In this role super props and push props have become the normal aircraft fielded by Verendes. While outmatched in firepower the airforce has always been a priority. [hider=TY-77] [img]http://i.imgur.com/fjSfxfO.jpg[/img] The primary interceptor aircraft of the Verenden military the TY-77 was designed as the antithesis to the idea that the bomber would always get through. A fast climber with a heavy armament of 30mm cannons the TY-77 is meant to climb above a bomber formation and destroy them on the way down, turrets fighting off persueing aircraft.[/hider] [hider=TY-76] [img]http://i.imgur.com/78wnynA.jpg[/img] A snub nose and highly manoeuvrable fighter with respectable firepower the TY-76 is the main craft of the air forces and can be found deployed in all locations Verendes has stationed forces.[/hider] [hider=TY-82] [img]http://i.imgur.com/aPuAapM.jpg[/img] A nation without airships or the know how to make them Verendes relies on the TY-83 to fight off the overgrown air whales of other nations. Armed with a copious number of defensive turrets the TY-83 is loaded with large unguided rockets to be fired at large airborne targets. [hider=Flying Spear Rocket] [img]http://i.imgur.com/0svugyo.jpg[/img] Designed concurrently with the TY-82 the 300mm Flying Spear rocket carries on the analogy of whale hunting in a spectacular way. Rather than arming aircraft with large calibre guns to breach airship armour it was decided that rockets, similar to those used by the navy, would be the order of the day. Thus the Flying Spear was born.[/hider][/hider] [hider=TY-80] [img]http://i.imgur.com/pQ9nJY3.jpg[/img] A response to the advent of larger bomber airships and aircraft the TY-80 can carry a respectable bombload over a long range to cripple the production facilities of enemies.[/hider] [hider=TY-64] [img]http://i.imgur.com/bkpVUmQ.jpg[/img] The TY-64 is an anti shipping float plane designed to sink enemy vessels with it's two large torpedoes and speed to safety with its overcharged engine[/hider] [hider=TY-12] [img]http://i.imgur.com/SoUJx1G.jpg[/img] Once the main fighter of Verendes this venerable plane is now relegated to scouting roles.[/hider] [hider=TY-3288] [img]http://orig15.deviantart.net/9985/f/2008/183/e/4/hyper_g_one___hangar_by_hideyoshi.jpg[/img] The TY-328 is a strange beast, skirting the lines between light cruiser and airplane. Commonly named the flying whale this seaplane is arguably one of the largest conventional aircraft to ever be built and is used as a means to respond to threats anywhere in the Ceres sea or closer far faster than a normal warship could. Using hatches to hide its weapons and maintain seaworthiness the flying whale possesses a 228mm gun on each side with a 45 degree arc of fire when deployed and three forward 100mm guns as well as two 100mm rear weapons. Machine gun nests dot the aircraft to an unprecedented degree and torpedo mounts are set alongside all its deployable weapons.[/hider] [/hider] [hider=Naval Forces] A coastal nation Verendes has long held it's navy to the highest standard, and even today boasts that it can rival the forces of far larger nations such as the Ceresian Empire. Something that seems less and less true every day in the face of the great powers of the day. [hider=Surface Vessels] Guns above the water and 7.6mm needle machine gun bubble turrets below it surface vessels make up the bulk of the navy. [hider=Retribution Class Dreadnought] [img]http://i.imgur.com/BYcxl29.jpg[/img] The largest ships Verendes has ever put to sea the two Retribution class battleships each sport three primary turrets of four 381mm guns under the belief that a battle is best ended in a single large broadside. Beyond that three main secondary turrets each hold three 175mm guns alongside a number of duel purpose 90mm x2 AA/Secondary guns. An enormous investment these ships are the symbol of Verenden naval power.[/hider] [hider=Glorious Class Battlecruiser] [img]http://i.imgur.com/ZETYZg8.jpg[/img] Designed to protect the Verenden colonies and exert force wherever it becomes needed the Glorious class cruiser has three turrets of three 330mm guns. These vessels are battleships in all but name and make up a sizable portion of the Verenden navies tonnage.[/hider] [hider=Incursion Class Cruiser] [img]http://img01.deviantart.net/7a33/i/2010/318/0/a/cuddleship_by_helgezone-d32udnh.jpg[/img] The Incursion class is a fast cruiser with big guns and a large AA/Secondary gun bank. The main guns in use 228mm and are mounted in pairs on three turrets.[/hider] [hider=Advantage Class Destroyer] [img]http://img00.deviantart.net/49ec/i/2012/068/a/3/ijn_desrroyer_hatsukaze_by_u_joe-d4s710a.jpg[/img] Armed with two turrets of two 120mm guns the Advantage prioritizes speed and the use of it's four tri torpedo mounts over larger guns. [/hider] [hider=Perilous Class Aircraft Carrier] [img]http://img05.deviantart.net/deb4/i/2012/363/1/d/hms_courageous_by_u_joe-d5pjm8h.png[/img] Without military airships or the desire to construct them while so far behind the rest of the world the Verenden military elected to create aircraft carriers to project the countries airpower. The Perilous class represents the latest technology possessed by Verendes.[/hider] [/hider] [hider=Submarines] Hunters of ships and defenders against all threats below the surface submarines are a vital part of the navy. [hider=Engagement Class Submarine] [img]http://img06.deviantart.net/a8b1/i/2012/247/a/e/uss_archer_fish_by_zulumike-d5dkpmo.jpg[/img] A tried and tested design the Engagement class is the main submarine in the Verenden arsenal. Specialized for hunting commerce vessels and warships these are, like any good submarine, the scourge of the sea.[/hider] [hider=Pursuer Class Submarine] [img]http://pds21.egloos.com/pds/201206/22/60/c0001960_4fe4514b6a0b7.jpg[/img] Small midget submarines armed with compact rockets the Pursuer class was built to provide a close range defence against Ceresian attackers. First proposed by colonial officers who'd been exposed to Elfish minisubs these vessels are short range and usually dropped from larger ships to ward off incoming attackers. [/hider] [hider=Vanguard Class Submarine] [img]http://orig10.deviantart.net/cc35/f/2008/130/5/8/submarine_by_jimhatama.jpg[/img] The Vanguard is a design that while increasingly dated remains relevant to this day after dozens of refit programs and new production runs with better technology. These vessels are designed to engage smaller targets under water with their high velocity 100mm needle guns making them powerful sub hunters. Additionally the Vanguard is capable of diving far deeper than most submarines and while this means the vessel possesses thick armour it also implies a sacrifice to torpedo load, meaning it has far fewer anti ship weapons than its competitor attack subs. They exist largely as a response to the threat posed by the Sacred Empire of the Ceresian Sea.[/hider] [/hider][/hider][/hider][/hider] [hider=Brimstone][center][img]http://i.imgur.com/s4kRUQx.png[/img] [u][b]United Kingdoms of Aleria-Dicorden[/b][/u][/center] [i]Capital:[/i] [url=http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/167/4/c/Devon_the_Waterfall_City_by_orcbruto.jpg]Safall[/url] [hider=Government:] [i]Government type:[/i] Diarchy, shared supreme authority between two established monarchs their respective royal lines. [i]Succession type:[/i] Hereditary, both kingdoms maintain that the first born (regardless of gender) is to be crowned at the death of their ruling parent. [i]Head(s) of Government:[/i] His Majesty Escaen V Haret (30), Her Majesty Mardene Sesen (26) [i]Dynasty name:[/i] Haret Dynasty, Sesen Dynasty [i]Authority level:[/i] Near absolute, moderated by organized nobility.[/hider] [hider=Noteworthy persons:] [i]His Majesty Escaen V Haret (30):[/i] Born to the king of Dicorden five years prior to the war with the Shahdom Escaen was a cunning boy and has grown into a cunning man. Escaen ascended the throne young after his father fell fighting the Shahdom and under the guidance of his mother grew into a proud leader at times arrogant in his judgment. [i]Her Majesty Mardene Sesen (26):[/i] First daughter of Aleria Mardene was always promised the crown, yet she never grew conceited. From a young age Escean has been analogous to an older brother to her and much of his intellect has rubbed off, if not his vain nature. [i]Rense Sesen (67):[/i] Father of the current Alerian monarch Rense abdicated his throne seven years ago in the belief his daughter would provide a better co-leader for the newly merged nation. Spending his days as a confidant for his daughter and drinking away his later years Rense is often called the once-royal sloth of Aleria. The title perhaps describes the mans retirement as aptly as it did his reign. [i]Alco Merens (38):[/i] Arguably the most influential man beyond the royal families Alco is the head of a once small Dicorden noble family and was instrumental in the formation of the United Kingdom. Acting a mediator Alco was responsible for the initial negotiations and the proposal for unification itself after the nearly devastating invasion from the Shahdom. Since the unification the Merens family has married into many larger houses and is now a powerfully interconnected family, giving Alco not only reputation but tangible authority. [i]Serte Eocen (32):[/i] Second daughter of one of the most notable Alerian noble houses Serte has made a name for herself in diplomacy abroad, often going to placed most nobles would be loath to visit in order to further the interests of the United Kingdoms.[/hider] [hider=Geography] [i]Climate and noteworthy traits:[/i] Blessed with common rains and sunny conditions dampened only by mild winters the Horsoke Delta is second only to the Imperial heartland in the fertility of its soil. Dotted with numerous rivers and long flat plains leading to scenic cliffs and beaches the Delta is idyllic a location as any and this has on more than one occasion led to its invasion. [i]Internal map:[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/pvLu062.png[/img] [i]Cities, noteworthy settlements, and castles:[/i] [i]Noteworthy buildings, locations, structures, and landmarks:[/i] [i]Geographical bonus:[/i] An Imperial might claim the Delta to be a home away from home. The Delta enjoys rich harvests, warmer years and happy food supplies. The Delta can afford to hold levies longer than most, as well as feed the masses. [i]Geographical flaw:[/i] Rivers and Deltas come at a price. While the land is arable and rich with foodstuffs, it is almost lacking entirely in ores and buildings supplies. Sparse thin forests help with lumber, but it is not enough, this land is going to need to import some goods to maintain.[/hider] [hider=Culture and Demographics:] [i]National Culture:[/i] Almost counterintuitively given the two distinct nations the culture of the United Kingdoms is remarkably homogenous. With only moderate differences from region to region, and even nation to nation, the people of the Horsoke are among the most unified in will and purpose the world over. The paramount value of the people who compose the United Kingdoms is without a doubt the very land they live on. Of course where in other cultures such a statement might imply a spiritual connection to the land or a deep sense of responsibility to it in the United Kingdoms it means only that those who own and work the land both revere it for the simple reason that it can be exploited almost endlessly. Indeed the wealth that has come from the near endless vitality of the delta soil has made even the poorest serf better off than most of the common class from other nations. This value for the lands wealth has inspired perhaps predictably a strong work ethic applying to both men and women who are held in equal value. While serfs from the United Kingdoms may live better than those from other nations it cannot be said they work any less, indeed an almost religious value is placed on hard work. That is not however a value that ends at the low rungs of society, indeed from the vassals to the lords of the land it is expected that comfort takes second place to the job at hand with decadent behaviour being considered shameful up the royal families themselves. With such a prized worth ethic flamboyant fashions and opulent tastes are often considered the markings of indolent men and women meaning even the highest nobles dress in a humble manner, lest they be the subject of public mockery. All this taken together has created a society that while valuing the immeasurable worth of the land it lives on, does not let that worth go to waste in meaningless religious practice. Rather, it takes full advantage of it and works diligently to keep it. The dedication to the lands wealth leads inevitably to the martial tradition of the Horsoke delta people. It is considered a mark of honour that almost all people in the United Kingdoms possess some sort of quality weapon, whether it be longbow or sword. This militarization of the populace is inspired by the historical value of resisting invaders on all fronts and when a call for levies goes out all are expected to bring their own arms, if not armour. Given the local branch of Stormism almost all in the nation follow in combination with such a tradition of keeping arms it should be no surprise that those who shun proper maintenance of their weapons are often met with derision. The people of the United Kingdoms are homogenous, humble in their manner, and proud of the land they willingly defend. [i]Population demographics:[/i] The sum population of the delta is roughly 2,600,000 individuals. [i]Major Religion:[/i] The people of the United Kingdoms almost unanimously worship a branch religion of Stormism that has distinct differences beyond even its name, Angarism. Most obviously one will note that while the people of the Horsoke generally share the same ancestor worship they peculiarly go so far as to deify Angarus Horsoke, the first human settler of the region (and from whose name is sourced both the delta’s and religion’s name). The legend of Angarus is one that crosses national boundaries and while the deification of the man is not universal, it is widespread. Said to have led a grand voyage from some distant and ancient home and to have landed on the delta eons ago it is told that Angarus encountered a cowardly species of elf there. Those elves are said to have been angered by the coming of humans and the settlement of their land to the point that they began to kidnap and kill human settlers, thinking the humans would flee at the provocation. Angarus, as legend tells, took personal responsibility for the problem and led a meager force to decimate the elves army and in the coming years hunt down ten thousand elves for every one human who had died, ultimately forcing them far out of the delta and to lands unknown. For his great service to humanity the tale tells that Angarus was named the guardian of all men by all the ancestors and in their wisdom they granted him all so that he could ascend to become a god, leading all the spirits of warriors to aid his people in future battles. While the historical veracity of the tale is unknown it is one believed to some extent by almost all humans within the Horsoke delta and it is the reason that in any past battle, whether fought by Dicorden or Aleria, the ancient banner of Angarus has flown above the national flag. Even further the religion has taken on another tone beyond battle, furthering to a large degree the work ethic endemic to the culture of the Horsoke people. The idea that a man became a god has become a primary tenant of life in the United Kingdoms and with such an idea has come the assumption that any Human being capable of accomplishment can ascend to god hood given meritorious enough deeds. With that in mind the work ethic of the Horsoke people becomes very understandable, indeed in the delta little worth is placed on anything not originating from the will of living beings. [i]Other Religions:[/i] The penetration of other religions into the delta hasbeen, and continues to be, rare. However very small minorities of almost all religions do exist and for the most part are tolerated. [i]Religious structure:[/i] Angarism follows no formal structure per se but it does support a priesthood who all hold roughly equal rank and reside in temples which they manage, usually propping one of them up as temple advocate through consensus. [i]Religious Heads:[/i] None [i]Artifacts, and noteworthy objects:[/i] What is supposed to be the sword of Angarus himself is kept for public display under guard in the capital of the United Kingdoms. There is considerable controversy concerning the authenticity of the sword. [i]Magic colleges practiced, common magics:[/i] All magic users are discovered at a young age in the United Kingdoms and along with their families are sent to live in relative luxury in the city of Hugustra. Predating unification and once a symbol of unity among the delta people the city built around an enormous magic college. It is at this college that the distinct magic of the United Kingdoms is taught and refined. Inspired by Stormist thought and in line with Angarism the magic learned is almost entirely about increasing the mental and physical potential of men. [i]Relationship between magic and citizens(Accepted, feared, ostracized):[/i] Magic is seen as powerful tool to be wielded with great care. For this reason the usage of magic is regulated by the state through the Hugustra city and college. [i]Relationship between citizens and government (unrest, content, etc):[/i] With the abundance of wealth in the delta and the fierce patriotism of the people the government and the people have never been closer with most public announcements drawing crowds in the tens of thousands. [i]Relationship between Religious heads and government (unrest, content, impartial, etc):[/i] None [i]Government Internal Relationship(corruption, decentralization, civil strife between politicians or what have you):[/i] Generally positive and most internal decisions are met with little dissent, though there are factions that doubt the two young monarchs are truly capable of running the nation. [i]Renown characteristics(what your nation is known internationally for):[/i] Abundance and beauty are what the delta has always been known for and it this reputation that has inspired many foreign nobles and even monarchs to have scenic manors in the United Kingdoms. [i]Agriculture(poor, rich, what do you produce):[/i] Incredibly rich, near any crop will grow for all but two months of the year in the delta and even in those months colder weather crops can survive without issue. The main food crops of the delta tend to be rice, potatoes, cassava, soybean, and to a lesser extent corn. Other crops are apples, oranges, and the grapes that have made delta wine a famous export to the richer classes of society. [i]Industry(poor, rich, what do you craft):[/i] Despite its agricultural wealth the delta lacks industry for mining, but still possesses enormous manufacturing potential harnessing water power and wind. This has made what little ore is extracted from the north and south bank valuable in the delta and is similarly responsible for making the United Kingdoms fairly dependant on the import of ore. Still being able to refine so much helps offset the cost of ore with ingots and finished goods often being traded back or away for small gain. [i]Trade (who do you trade with, and for):[/i] A major, if not the largest, trade partner of the delta is the Imperial province itself. Goods of all sorts are traded freely and it is the Imperials who provide the much needed ore to the delta fuelling its industry and keeping its economy diversified enough that trade with other nations is nearly always possible. To the north some trade has resumed with the Shahdom post war in the neutral city of Duno and while many merchants and nobles are bitter about the conflict a few would prefer to put the past behind them, and line their pockets in the process. On the open seas trade has grown plentiful with Gattannia where food goes out and the much needed lumber and metal the delta lacks comes in. While the Imperial province provides more in that area Gattannia is considered a vital source of material. Also by sea, trade Xoskea in the south continues to be fruitful with all sorts of goods flowing back and forth between the nations. [i]Economy(How is it? What kind of currency do you use):[/i] The economy of the delta thrives as both land and sea trade are easy. Being centrally located as well as connected to one of the largest rivers in the land don't hurt either. The delta uses coinage of various purity and metal to trade, with gold, silver, and copper coins all being distributed. [i]International Relations:[/i] Relations with the Shahdom and the Chalessian Realm given the war 25 years ago remain cool and at times uncertain but by and large the neutral city of Duno has provided an avenue of mediation and to some extent the United Kingdoms has sought to repair relations and expand trade. In support of the empire Xoskea and the United Kingdoms are of one mind and as a result have maintained amicable relations for some time. In recent years trade has increased and relations with Xoskea have become more and more important to the United Kingdoms. [i]Imperial Relations:[/i](you and the Imperial Province and throne) Despite the doubts over the current kings sanity relations remain cordial with the Imperial province and indeed many state that the long history between the Imperials and the delta is something that no singular king could ever sour. For the moment the United Kingdoms are steadfast in their support of the throne, even while most of the nation's elite seek Josephine as the empires monarch to protect their trade interests and ensure a strong leader to bring about the empires resurgence. [i]National Flaw:[/i] With most of the national spirit and the peoples knowledge residing in the unique land of the delta any foreign deployment of military force is likely to be greatly unpopular among the nobility and common folk. [i]National Strength:[/i] Stable and economically prosperous for the moment the United Kingdoms are as close to unaffected by the empires degrading authority as they could possibly be. [/hider] [hider=Military:] [i]Type of Military recruitment:[/i](caste, levies) [i]Possible military manpower:[/i] 29400 Maintainable, 29400 Reinforcement [i]Unit Demographics and Equipment:[/i] (please give me realistic numbers of each type of troops your country produces, and describe them) (keep in mind I will ask you to tweak things if I find them unfit and unrealistic, I.E. standing armies are going to be smaller than levies) Alerian Levy: 12000 Maintainable, 12000 Reinforcement [img]http://pre01.deviantart.net/7a90/th/pre/i/2013/264/6/a/guardian_by_afrocream-d6n66cj.jpg[/img] Dicorden Levy: 11000 Maintainable, 11000 Reinforcement [img]http://pre08.deviantart.net/a28c/th/pre/i/2014/242/7/9/swordsman_by_afrocream-d7x8h4e.jpg[/img] Levy Archer: 5000 Maintainable, 5000 Reinforcement [img]http://img10.deviantart.net/84ce/i/2012/243/7/7/archer_by_goshun-d5d2kqp.jpg[/img] The Kingdoms Guards: 1000 Maintainable, 1000 Reinforcement [img]http://pre15.deviantart.net/4504/th/pre/f/2010/310/0/7/07d06c58cceed623bde268ae2769c906-d1uh4yp.jpg[/img] Order of the River: 400 Maintainable, 400 Reinforcement [img]http://orig08.deviantart.net/6cc7/f/2014/302/b/9/sulla_by_nathanparkart-d84mvho.jpg[/img] [i]Tactics(optional):[/i] [i]Strengths:[/i] [i]Weaknesses:[/i] [i]Generals, Tacticians, heads of Military:[/i] [/hider] [hider=History:] [i]Past conflicts with other players:[/i] [i]Grievances and Victories:[/i] [i]Notable History:[/i] Once known as lords of the southern isle the people of the delta have come a very long way. Once long ago it is known they hailed form an island in the south and that said island met with some unknown calamity. However it happened the people of the modern delta came to it in boats begging for some home and whether the religious texts speak true and they came to have it by force is uncertain, but likely. However they came to possess the delta the people of that sundered isle soon made it their home. A great many years after the fabled settlement of the delta a split occurred naturally as people in the delta began to inhabit separate islands. From this split the near mirror nations of Aleria and Dicorden would form. That basic state of affairs would persist for untold ages until the invasion of the Shahdom. While initially devastating a combination of civil resistance and knowledge of the land led to the disastrous failure of the Shahdom invasion of Dicorden. However the precedent set by the humiliating state of the early war was enough that the mirror kingdoms decided to unify so that a greater resistance could be brought against any invader in the tumultuous modern day. [/hider][/hider] [hider=True Vacuum][hider=Sheet] [center][b][u]Sevromahi Aggregate[/u][/b][/center] [img]http://i.imgur.com/dz2eSDL.png[/img] (Best visual approximation, actual flag based on chemicals and relief.) [hider=General Overview] A strange and reclusive nation the Aggregate has long found the differences between itself and other species insurmountable. This has fostered a policy of isolationism and military build up, a policy that has only ever been broken in the face of crises. Much like the very one that has befallen the nation.[/hider] [hider=Territory] The home system of the Sevromahi is Sesas, a system dominated by a faint red dwarf star. Within the system the species homeworld of Resa sits as a vast ice planet of surprisingly low density. Resa represents the only planet in the system and its surface has a blueish green colour when seen from space. The world sports an eight kilometre metallic and rocky crust over a subsurface ocean one hundred kilometres deep with the core composed mostly of water ice. The crust of the planet has been considerably thinned in some areas by heavy industry in the past and these are often the same areas spaceports have been built in. The planet supports an enormous infrastructure of both commercial and defensive stations in it's orbit and serves as the focal point for the entire nation. Even if it is just a lonely ball of rock and ice around a cold star. Fifteen other systems make up the territory of the Aggregate, and within them a total of twenty planets and moons are colonized. Of considerable importance among these are the systems of Srecs, Juses, and Kosens. The yellow dwarf system of Srecs represents what could be said to be the military core of the Aggregate and is the closest system to Resa. Filled with countless asteroid belts constantly disturbed by a vast ruddy gas giant the system is the foundry that permitted the once burgeoning Aggregate to fend off other opportunistic species in times of expansion. The main colony in the system is known as Gsuars, a moon of the giant gas world of Gsu. An ice world with a sub surface ocean much like the homeworld, Gsuars differs in that the world holds a rocky core and a liquid layer far deeper than that on Resa. It is on Gsuars the personnel which man the ubiquitous shipyards of the system reside. Truly a poster child of industry and the military it sustains the Srecs system is a major symbol for the people of the Aggregate. Juses, also a yellow dwarf system, is remarkable in that it contains three life bearing worlds. While a boon to most, this system proved an enormous point of contention between the Aggregate and other interstellar powers in the old universe. This was because of three life bearing worlds in the system, only one was of interest to the Aggregate. Having been the first to colonize the relatively distant system the Aggregate developed the enormously ecologically diverse ice world of Kosa into what amounted to a paradise for the Sevromahi and entirely neglected the remaining two planets. These two other worlds were perfect for most other life forms, one a veritable paradise of its own and the other an arid but livable place with thriving subterranean life. Multiple incursions into the system by other species looking to settle the two worlds useless to the Aggregate consistently led to skirmishes and eventually to the fortification of every planet in the system, habitable or not. Kosens is a red dwarf system much like Sesas, in fact it is so similar that many have dubbed the system a sister to the home system. Kosens initially lacked any worlds habitable by Sevromahi standards, however it possessed a single candidate for a new type of terraforming being developed. The world of Kisk orbiting Kosens possessed sub surface ice likely the remnant of a long frozen ocean and proved the perfect testbed for a new technology dubbed planetary revival. After a century of using enormous generators to produce heat throughout the layer of frozen water a sub surface ocean was eventually created. While scarcely inhabited Kisk is an ongoing experiment in reviving dead ice worlds. [/hider] [hider=Governance] The Aggregate is governed by three distinct bodies. The first of these is the house of achievement, a body made up of those members of society that have been recognized as distinguished individuals. There is no specific definition as to what distinguished means, nor is there a criteria that must be met to be considered so. Rather, those in the house of achievement are chosen by the second house: the house of age. The second house is exactly what it sounds like, it is made up of the most senior members of the first house. Finally the third house, the house of assent, elected by the first house. The house of achievement is always composed of one hundred and one individuals and is technically responsible for all governmental decisions. However the real role of the house is almost always one of legislation, with many decisions such as the application of law being left to approved sub houses created by the greater first house. The second house, the house of age, holds no official power save the appointment of those in the first house. The second house is a distinct body and is always made up of the oldest eleven who served in the first house. The oldest individuals from the first house ascend to the second house upon the death of one in second house, and there they select their replacement in the first house with the rest of the second house. The third and final house, the house of assent, is made up of three individuals elected from the first house. These individuals still serve in the first house but have a secondary duty to the third. This secondary duty is the final say on all issues; laws may be passed by the first house but they must be approved by the third house. If the third house rejects the law it must be arbitrated by the first house once more and then resubmitted. Another duty of the third house is that of international relations and military command. The third house is without question the most powerful of the three.[/hider] [hider=Species] The only species represented within the Aggregate are the long lived aquatic Sevro. With a lifespan of some three hundred years the Sevro are colonial organisms made up of Zooids. Given this colonial existence, the intelligence of the Sevro species can best be described as the Mahi; the Zooid most closely resembling something recognizable as a brain. Of note is the fact that the Mahi is not a conventional centralized brain, it takes a form closer to an immense nervous system with millions of localized functions and connections. This specialized intelligent Zooid has led the species to colloquially and often officially refer to itself as the Sevromahi, even if the scientific name of Sevro has not changed. Once existing as predators in the sub-surface ocean on their icy home world the Sevro appear somewhat similar to a cross between a squid and eel. An elongated tail forms the propulsive part of their bodies with some two dozen elastic and muscular tentacles protruding from it. At the head of this tail he gaping maw of the Sevro can be found, an opening filled with things more resembling circular saw blades than teeth. The unique colonial structure of the Sevro brings about several strange physiological phenomenon. Perhaps the most notable of these is the act of reproduction, which for the Sevro is done entirely outside of the body. A single Zooid responsible for replication of all the others is gorged with nutrients and detached from the body into a sort of breeding pit, where it exchanges genetics with a great many others like it. Eventually it takes that information and begins the process of producing all the various Zooids that make up a Sevro, a process it repeats until it runs out of resources. This style of reproduction allows enormous genetic variety in offspring, however it also results in extremely slow population growth. A single reproductive Zooid has never been known to produce more then three offspring, and even then is nearly always capable of just one. Needless to say, this type of reproduction has made inherited positions, or clear parentage, impossible Another of these phenomenon is the ability of the Sevro to eject and reattach parts of their bodies with minimal effort. This is largely focused on the tentacles which serve as the primary manipulators of the Sevro and are highly capable of independent function. Alone they act on primitive senses and as animals lacking only the ability to feed themselves, this means a detached tentacle can be left that way for close to a month before it expires. While the ability to detach these body parts was a great boon to escape predation by larger creatures in the past, in the modern day it is done almost always in medicine. As colonial organisms this shifting or exchange of parts isn't terrible strange when applied to the smaller Zooids, and theoretically even large Zooid sections can be replaced—such as the main digestive or eel like Zooid. This digestive Zooid is fully capable of survival without any other Zooids and could be said to represent the core body of a Sevro. While it is technically possible for a Mahi to be transplanted from one digestive Zooid to another in an excessive akin to body swapping the physical, if not religious, deterrent to this is the fragility of an exposed Mahi and its profoundly short isolated life. Such Mahi transplant attempts have almost always resulted in severe neurological damage and are banned. As deep sea creatures the Sevro posses a wide array of senses, with the notable exception of vision. In place of what may well be the universes most common sense the Sevro have come to rely on electroreception, chemoreception, hearing, and a combined sense of pressure and current in the surrounding water that reaches an accuracy nearly analogous to what vision would have provided. With this array of senses and an inability to make meaningful sounds almost all communication among the Sevro is through chemical secretion and body motion. [/hider] [hider=Culture] The most basic level of Sevromahi society is almost always said to be the underlying system of care designed for youth. From the moment an individual is born from the breeding pits they are assigned to a class of peers and in that class are raised from infant to adult over the span of some twenty years. This system of classes often creates groups of life long contacts and groups of friends similar to family groups in other species. Upon the completion of their education these pseudo families are injected into the highly competitive society of the Aggregate. With the Aggregate's ideal of fairness sustained by laws that permit only one of a 'family' to enter the house of achievement it is not uncommon for groups of peers to work together in order to elevate one among their ranks to house. This not only ensures a level of status for the whole group, but almost guarantees them all high ranking positions in various sub houses and corporations. The groups with a member in one of the houses make up a sort of elite in Sevromahi society, and given a position in the first house is life long, some have questioned if this constitutes a generational oligarchy. While this somewhat meritocratic system has proved largely successful and is publicly recognized as fair, it is not without fault. Due to the highly competitive nature of society and the legal framework surrounding peer groups it is not uncommon for under or even over achievers to commit suicide if it seems to them they are either a drain on their group, or their group is preventing them from success. Though the competitive nature of Sevromahi society is inescapable, it is still a society obsessed with refined entertainment. Theatre is as close to a shared interest for the entire species as could be considered possible and many actors are represented in the house of achievement. This focus on live theatre is largely due to the issue of transmitting any meaningful sensory data in a cost efficient manner being nearly impossible, though chemical 'radios' are popular. Art is also exceedingly popular, though it would be unrecognizable as such by most creatures. Taken together live displays and in person viewing is almost a constant feature of Sevromahi culture. Driven by competition but in love with art there is a dissonance within the Sevromahi society, one that has ironically been the subject of dozens of plays.[/hider] [hider=Dominant Religion] By any reasonable measure it can be said there is only one dominant religion within the Aggregate: Juksi Hus, or Unity of Spirit. Juksi Hus has a history dating back to the most primitive of recorded eras, and has long shaped the cultural norms of the entire Sevromahi species. What is prioritized is the idea of a spirit existing within all the Zooids of the Sevromahi. According to Juksi Hus the personality is centred in the Mahi, the capacity kindness and creation in the tentacles, the capacity for good or evil in secretion glads or 'speaking mouths', and so on. The religion has made preservation of the body a prized thing; but has also made the exchange of smaller Zooids like tentacles a spiritual experience akin to taking in a part of another and coming to share their inner soul. This combined spirit is believed to unite and descend to the endless heaven below all worlds upon death. Transplanted tentacles or other Zooids from the dead are believed to be empty and innocent as the newborn are for this reason. This had made donation of Zooids extremely common with those receiving a major transplant being seen as born anew and given another chance at life by those that preceded them. While this transplantation or exchange of Zooids is considered either deeply intimate or highly spiritual and redeeming, modifications to any Zooid is seen as defiling the home of the spirit. For this reason cybernetic or genetic augmentation is rare.[/hider] [hider=Organizations] There are a number of organizations within the Aggregate that promote a change of foreign policy and believe an end to the constant tension between other nations and the Aggregate can be achieved. These groups are known for illegally attempting contact with other species.[/hider] [hider=History] Discord, strife, isolation. These are the best terms to describe the history of the Aggregate, a nation forged in turmoil. The Aggregate itself goes back roughly seven hundred years, to the first contact war. Before the war the Sevromachi were divided among national lines, and their only interstellar colony on Srecs carried over those same divisions. When prospective miners from a species still unknown entered that colonial system and finally showed the Sevromahi that they were not alone it should have been a joyous event. It was anything but. After nearly a day of translation efforts on both sides proving utterly impossible the frustrated would be prospectors decided to go about their work and ignore the seemingly unintelligent natives. Misinterpreting this as a sign of aggression more than a few colonial defence ships elected to fire on the prospectors ship and in the end the sheer scale of fire directed at the more advanced vessel reduced it to little more then slag. This incident escalated into a species wide paranoia and before long nearly every Sevromahi nation had allied and gone into a war footing. By the time other ships came searching for the missing prospectors the military build up in the Srecs system was more than sufficient to repel them. What followed was a 'defensive' war that would carve out the first real territory for the Sevromahi, and forge the Aggregate. That first war, while an extreme example, has more or less been repeated throughout the history of the Aggregate. Communication fails, war ensues, territory is gained or lost. Every once in a while, during rare periods of prolonged peace, scouting vessels have been sent out to find others like the Sevromahi, any species that might be able to meaningfully communicate and co exist with the Aggreate. To date, none have been found. This has led to a profound sense of isolation that has fuelled a strong enmity for the conventional forms of life in the universe, and many have concluded that peaceful co-existence between the Aggregate and more 'barbaric' lifeforms is impossible.[/hider] [hider=Outlook] The realization that something cataclysmic had occurred across the entire universe was one that came slowly to the aggregate, but after two weeks of study and debate, eventually hit hard. Nearly the entire civilian population ground to a halt for days as massive unrest abounded and apprehension gripped the populace. Now, after a series of hard hitting measures and police mobilizations, the government is working with the military to formulate a plan and innumerable sensor arrays are searching the skies for any signs of other life. [/hider] [b]Technology:[/b] Give a brief summary of the state of your nation's technological advancement and standards. [hider=Important/Noteworthy Tech] [b]Local Absorption Shield:[/b] The Absorption Shield is an Aggregate innovation and the primary defence on all their vessels. Acting as an energy sponge the shield absorbs all the kinetic or direct energy put into it until it reaches full capacity and falls in a powerful discharge of energy. The energy discharge would be a catastrophic explosion if not for limiters making it a slower process of constant discharge. The Shield can be brought back up after this, but not until a suitable time has passed for the energy banks to entirely discharge. Local shields work by the shield being a multi-layered construct, with one large general shield over the ship’s hull and one to two shields above this that only activate after an incoming threat is detected, minimizing strain on the main shield and providing a sort of means to maintain the main shield’s integrity through extended battle by the first and second layers discharging and covering for each other if there are two outer layers. If the incoming fire is not concentrated this means of taking the damage and discharging while the other shield takes the hits can be maintained indefinitely so long as the shield has local outer layers. As a result volume of fire and concentrated fire are the most effective means of countering absorption shields of two local layers. Single local layer shields are more vulnerable to large singular hit weapons that can drop the local shield and leave the general layer exposed, however if the volume of fire is too low from even a large weapon the general shield and the local shield can swap out similarly to the two local shield system. This however leaves the ship proper exposed to fire for a split second. Currently three shield layers, two local and one general, is the effective maximum before energy discharges of the first layers begin to influence the general layer and cause a drop of all shields. [b]Neutron Cannon:[/b] The Neutron Cannon is a powerful energy weapon that works though a simple means. Stripping neutrons from high atomic number elements through the use of a powerful Neutron generator and forcing those highly concentrated neutrons as well as the associated products into an accelerator that fires them at relativistic speeds. The Neutrons in this state are free and as a result they are undergoing neutron decay further increasing the impact energy of the weapon. Despite its already fearsome potential the Neutron Cannon has another secret, by pumping the gamma rays created during the stripping process into a Graser and focusing them into a containment beam the Neutron Cannon gains increased focus and coherence as well as a secondary beam. Needless to say this increases the precision and destructive potential of the weapon significantly. [b]Liquid Composite[/b] Taking the form of a blackish blue liquid capable of rapid shape and phase change Liquid Composite is a sort of programmable material. Tiny 1mm squared nodes interspersed throughout the liquid deliver electric currents to modulate the shape of the liquid and are capable of vibrating in such a manner that the liquid displays solid qualities. Various types are capable of variable strengths and are optimized for specific applications. The main construction materials used by the Aggregate for anything from ships to housing are all variations of this immensely useful innovation.[/hider] [b]Military Structure:[/b] Give a brief summary of your Military hierarchy's structure/arrangement. [hider=Military Organization] The Military of the Aggregate is a separate entity from the government, and is technically only inferior to the house of assent. As a result the military holds a uniquely strict hierarchy in the Aggregate with a single high commander holding authority over the entire organization. (Expand)[/hider][/hider][/hider] [hider=Fires of Anuria][b]Species Name[/b] [i]Unguon[/i] [b]Species Description[/b] [hider]IMAGE[img]http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/326/d/4/alien_scout_concept_by_tlishman-d33eg8q.jpg[/img][/hider] Despite their humanoid shape the Unguon are descended from swamp predators and still carry many rather unique physiological traits as a result. Among these traits the first and perhaps most visually distinct are the gills situated on either side of an Unguon's head which are used to assist in breathing underwater. While decidedly not efficient enough to allow the Unguon to permanently exist underwater they allow one to remain submerged for up to nine hours before having to surface. The second obvious trait comes in the form of the two peripheral almost wing like protrusions on either side of an Unguon's neck. While serving little real purpose on land these webbed extremities are used to locate disturbances in water with a high degree of accuracy. Beyond those two there are a plethora of other small adaptations, but most are of little note other than the considerable weight of the Unguon, often three to four times that of a human of comparable height. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nation Name[/b] Imperial Protectorate of Kavaye [b]Nation Size[/b] Five stars and near two hundred billion individuals. [b]Nation Description[/b] Merely one hundred and forty years past the Unguon were an autonomous and prideful people bound under the fledgling Kavaye Republic. Fast to reproduce and perhaps arrogant in their own recent successes against minor aggressors the Unguon fell prey to their hubris when in search of more planets to support their ever growing population they declared war on the vast Tormkorate Empire. Predictably the war, if it can be called that, was brutally short. The Tormkorate had, unbeknownst to the Unguon, been preparing to invade the Kavaye republic itself and when the republic launched an assault it was merely a convenient casus belli. Under imperial rule Kavaye became a protectorate and forty years post defeat was permitted to re-militarize as regional tensions grew. It was not long before that new military was sent to war on imperial edict and the Unguon became the front line forces of the entire empire, ubiquitous on all fronts where imperial banners flew. [b]Nation Involvement[/b] Kavaye entered the conflict on order from the Tormkorate empire as part of the empires nearly constant expansionist efforts on any number of fronts. The war, for however horrible it has been, became popular among the Unguon simply due to the fact that their ever growing reputation among the Imperial military has served to ingratiate the species as a whole to the imperial command. This has not only raised the quality of life on most protectorate planets, but among the Unguon populace has brought up the question of political autonomy if the war is won. It is not a question shared by Imperial command, though for higher moral it isn't one that's denied. - [b]Technology[/b] Almost always armed with obsolete Imperial weaponry Kavaye forces often find themselves technically outmatched but it is a rare day indeed they have less than a 2:1 numerical advantage. [hider=Navy Description] [i]Argos Missile Cruiser[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/Y4q8pQC.jpg[/img] Using utterly enormous quantities of missiles these cruisers are at the forefront of any attack overwhelming enemy defences. [i]Moju Troop Ship[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/3LLyiX9.jpg[/img] Moderately armed but with enormous capacity these landing ships are the means by which all reinforcements arrive to theatres of war. [i]Juyi Frigate[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/2X6YU1P.jpg[/img] Composing most of the space forces these frigates are work horses with excellent mobility. [i]Huil Destroyer[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/9zlxm1z.jpg[/img] Used to support frigates with more firepower these destroyers are ubiquitous in the space forces. [i]Gingi battleship[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/ymNgSbY.jpg[/img] Uncommon but devastating these are modern Imperial capitals and were only recently entrusted to the increasingly popular protectorate forces. [i]Usu Scout Frigate[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/0PUNrfy.jpg[/img] Used for recon these ships are fast but lightly armed due to their size.[/hider] [hider=Air Force Description] [i]AA-5 Combat Drone[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/0MXprdw.jpg[/img] Designed to be stupidly simple these drones are capable of low supersonic speeds and hovering alike to support ground troops. [i]Mesu Drop Ship[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/dbnFbLh.jpg[/img] Used in mass formations with fighter cover these dropships are fast, but lightly armed. [i]Kuku Fighter Gunship[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/X5nKPkX.jpg[/img] Stealthy despite its size these ships are deceptively agile and used for both air superiority and group support. [i]Karah Air Superiority Fighter[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/IqjxiUn.jpg[/img] Prizing speed and stealth these hit and run fighters are the bane of drop ships and low speed drones. Able to reach hypersonic speeds in low angle decent but normally set at high supersonic these fighters are ready to engage any threat in moments. [i]Iosu Mass Transport[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/uWUpppw.jpg[/img] Used to transport the largest hardware and the most soldiers these vast but outdated transports are common in large deployments. [/hider] [hider=Ground Force Description] [i]Combat Armour[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/I0JEhYl.jpg[/img] The standard armour of the protectorate is utterly simplistic. Unpowered and using several exotic composites it can allow a soldier to take a hit or two from most modern weapons, if the armoured areas are what's attacked. [i]Combat Medic/Engineer Armour[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/s1aSezt.jpg[/img] Lightly armed and armoured these suits are given to the medical and engineering forces to improve mobility. [i]Fosara Commando[/i] [img]http://th05.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2010/023/5/c/TARANTULA_by_zhegesha.jpg[/img] The most deadly troops deployed with connection to protectorate command these soldiers are Unguon chosen from the most elite to personally serve Tormkorate royals. Power armour, energy weapons, with a full loadout nothing is beyond these soldiers reach. [i]Jakhs Main Battle Tank[/i] [img]http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/037/6/7/Heavy_Gear_by_Talros.jpg[/img] Armed with two 150mm advanced propellant guns the Jakhs is one of the few domestic Kavaye designs in use and has repeatedly proven itself a powerful force on the battlefield capable of both direct and indirect fire. [i]Ujsui Mech[/i] [img]http://i.imgur.com/BwGcDlw.jpg[/img] Used to provide infantry with some extra muscle these mechs are used in a mostly anti armour role. [i]Giki Armoured Infantry Vehicle[/i] [img]http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs31/f/2008/197/3/5/Light_Armored_Scout_and_Patrol_by_YoitisI.jpg[/img] Common for patrols and troop movements this simple amphibious car is used for any number of tasks. With a single remote controlled 50mm gun it is capable of fire suppression and combat action against light targets. [/hider] [hider=Common Armaments] [i]Advanced Infantry Weapon 'Decapitator'[/i] [img]http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2013/024/e/2/weapon_concept__1_by_talros-d5sk4i7.jpg[/img] Omnipresent among all infantry units these weapons are noted for their immense rate of fire at 1200RPM. Each one is chambered in 13mm advanced propellant but with a recoil reduction system added to the bulk of the Unguon the weapons are deceptively controllable. Used in five round burst, single shot, and fully automatic with a cyclic magazine of 200 rounds. [i]Anti Armour Rocket Rifle 'Suicide Man'[/i] [img]http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/026/a/2/weapon_concept__2_by_talros-d5stram.jpg[/img] An adaptation of the AIW frame but firing a single shot advanced propellant 60mm two stage rocket assisted round these weapons are powerful enough to destroy most light vehicles but are so bright and loud the person firing it is nearly always the first to die. This has earn its rather sardonic nickname. [/hider] [hider=Deployables and Emplacements] [i]TOKI Ground to Space Cannon[/i] [img]http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs33/f/2008/239/c/5/Orbital_Cannon_by_BlueRogueVyse.jpg[/img] Rare but formidable these cannons are occasionally used to attack spacecraft coming in, too small to detect before they fire more than once a craft has regretted entering a war zone because of these cannons. [i]Jshus AA Gun[/i] [img]http://th01.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2012/267/5/e/5edaf407b79a068441e78215720191d4-d5frxaq.jpg[/img] These rapid fire weapons are a mixture between SAMs and conventional anti aircraft weapons as every bullet has a secondary rocket stage that can be guided to the target. Kinetic energy is still the primary kill vector. [i]Kilis AP Gun[/i] [img]http://th03.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2013/330/1/c/turret_by_vombavr-d6vqpqu.jpg[/img] Kavaye troops have become infamous for leaving these monsters scattered all around their lines meaning even an immensely successful attack by the enemy will be met with resistance for weeks to come as Kilis guns are slowly fished out or run out of ammo. [i]Mikosi AT Gun[/i] [img]http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs32/f/2008/218/3/9/Rail_turret_concept_by_Dbreak.jpg[/img] Used almost religiously these heavy guns are the main defence any base has against armour. Even further these weapons are often used to provide indirect fire support. [i]Osoinu Artillery[/i] [img]http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs28/f/2008/165/2/9/Long_Range_Artillery___GRO_by_Zaidovs.jpg[/img] Semi mobile but usually airlifted these artillery pieces are the only ones used by the protectorate however the sheer number they are deployed in often accounts for the lack of variety.[/hider] [hider=Headquarters] The location of the protectorate headquarters has long eluded most other factions on the planet, in truth this is hardly surprising. Buried in the most hostile jungle and mountain range in one of the planets hot yet lush regions the base is entirely invisible from the air and all activity to and from it is done through vast tunnels leading to several bases many hundreds of kilometres away. The base itself is roughly 80% dug into the mountains with entrances and training grounds all left under the vast jungle canopy.[/hider] [hider=Persons of Importance] WIP[/hider][/hider]