[b]Nation Name:[/b] Governorate of Aurelia ------------------------------------------------ [b]Flag:[/b] [hider=Aurelian pre-conquest standard, sun motif is still used today] [img]https://i.imgur.com/iSYCZBB.png[/img] [/hider] ------------------------------------------------ [b]Type of Government:[/b] Province of the Yllendir Empire, under elven government. ------------------------------------------------ [b]Head(s) of Government:[/b] Head of Council Vulre Pazana ------------------------------------------------ [b]Economy: (Main imports, exports, industries, technology level, etc.)[/b] [hider= Croleo, one of the many heavily industrialized towns of the Northern Range Mountains] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/736x/6d/3e/31/6d3e3142beff7169d0bab584d1da4bfb--fantasy-town-fantasy-artwork.jpg[/img] [/hider] Courtesy to the Northern Range, the mountains that make up almost half of the province, Aurelia has hundreds of industrial centers scattered around, mining precious metals, building materials and even pumping the relatively new wonder resource called "Petroleum". These sacred mountains offer iron, bronze, brass, stone, gold and diamonds. The aurelian people have longe since mastered the art of terrace farms, with many such farms forming the unique landscape of the Uplands, the base of the Northern Range mountains. These farms are one of the reasons such a mountainous province such as Aurelia manages to maintain closely to 52,000,000 people. Stable food is both consumed province-wide, aswell as exported to the Empire. [hider= Aurelian terrace farms] [img]https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/b4962e06-ab91-415c-92be-9ff99bcd2a3b/dax8ig9-bb697a3b-a7ec-4112-bc8b-4382da83e769.jpg/v1/fill/w_1024,h_640,q_70,strp/morrowind_saltrice_farms_by_meglosthegreat_dax8ig9-fullview.jpg[/img] [/hider] Another considerate resource is wood from the numerous forrests of the Midlands, some of the Empire's finest ships, furniture and buildings being made from the famous aurelian wood. And of course, Aurelia's southern coast, the Emerald Coast, is famed for it's sea food and cuisine, not to mention the numerous luxurious resources such as the purple color extracted from the squids and the pearls of the southern ocean or the more notorious gigantic Palmyra Mushrooms, whose hallucinating proprieties are used by the wealthy, especially during decadent parties. ------------------------------------------------ [b]Primary Species:[/b] Humans are the most populous, with a sizeable population of Dwarfs and Elfs. ------------------------------------------------ [b]Population:[/b] Around 52.000.000 of which 2,000,000 are Yllendir elves and 4,000,000 dwarves, with small pockets of other races here and there, but the bulk number of 46,000,000 is made of human aurelians. ------------------------------------------------ [b]Culture:[/b] The humans of Aurelia come in many diverse variations, from swarthier complexions in the south to more lighter ones in the North. Aurelia's human population has a long history of peasantry. They take pride in living simple lives, with the most sacred thing being the rigid family structure where man is the leader of the household. Many aurelian families have up to 6 children, especially in the rural parts of the province, for they require additional help on their fields of work. Aurelians have the privilege of bearing a rich culture, with traditions, poetry and a code of duty. The key word is "kinsmanship". Because of the imperial administration, most rural humans are segregated from the elven presence, but time has proven that humans are quick to adopt the elven culture, especially in urban centers. Their traditional art and motifs often include straight lines, elaborate curves. Among the traditional decorative art of aurelians, the sun motif is the most common one to be found, for they have long since worshipped Ayleris, their cheif deity. Aurelians take pride in their homeland, and even though scars of the Yllendirian conquest began to fade decades ago as new generations take the helm, there's still a strong disdain for elven presence, albeit secretive, passed down from parent to son among the human population. [hider= Typical aurelian peasants] [img]https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/8bf2cc20-5630-42c3-9ae1-a1186220f134/d8i51rr-4c2cb04b-8103-4a86-b610-4f18fa35c9d7.jpg/v1/fill/w_1394,h_573,q_70,strp/peasant_lads_by_skvor_d8i51rr-pre.jpg[/img] [img]https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/8bf2cc20-5630-42c3-9ae1-a1186220f134/d81ae0v-181cfba0-f44a-4c25-a7b5-bc341bf3d4a6.jpg/v1/fill/w_1393,h_574,q_70,strp/peasant_girls_by_skvor_d81ae0v-pre.jpg[/img] [/hider] Aurelia's dwarven population had lived for generations together with mankind in the Northern Range, but ever since the imperial conquest, most of the dwarven population has been cast away from their cave holdings nestled in the mountains, with many of their cities and outposts having been collapsed due to imperial orders. Only a handful of them remain nowdays to remind the glory of old times, some converted to mining slums, and even fewer managing to remain hidden from the elven knowledge, forever bound to retain the dwarven secrets and treasures. Since their exodus, many have chosen to settle in cities, towns and villages across the entire province, either as local blacksmits, industrial slaves or same field of work as their human neighbours. Of interest is the fact that the human and dwarven relationship was good even before the Empire, the conquest serving only to solidify it. [hider= Typical dwarven folk] [img]https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/6d177423-613c-43b0-87eb-c146da9a3aa3/d8pf2y3-3499e356-47ea-4055-b75b-9b781981b1eb.jpg/v1/fill/w_731,h_1093,q_70,strp/innkeepers_daughter_by_lkivihall_d8pf2y3-pre.jpg[/img] [img]https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/dccd5a50-ef4b-4e4f-b4da-6d2202b1f568/d6grxrg-efe974a5-6d4e-4ad2-bbd8-67321c3d257b.jpg/v1/fill/w_751,h_1063,q_70,strp/dwarf_portrait_by_oakks_d6grxrg-pre.jpg[/img] [/hider] ------------------------------------------------ [b]Religious and Other Beliefs:[/b] The primary religion is the cult of Ayleris, who is often associated with the sun, however, many regions have their own unique way of worshipping him. Along with him, there's a small secondary pantheon of gods. ------------------------------------------------ [b]Location/Territories:[/b] [img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/489313974047735810/519585105514332161/Aurelia.png[/img] Aurelia is split in three main territories, as follow: [hider= THE NORTHERN RANGE MOUNTAINS] [img]https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/000/454/405/large/noah-bradley-noah-bradley-the-birth-of-eden.jpg?1443928637[/img] [/hider] The ancestral homeland of aurelian mankind. The Northern Range Mountains dot the upper half of the province, providing both the Empire and the people resources such as iron, stone, gold and other metals. Tousands of villages and towns dot the Range's peaks and plateaus on the mountains, with a railway network spanning from Aurelia all the way towards Qubus. Important cities/towns: [hider= Aurelia] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/564x/64/45/b8/6445b86abb9042f8b869fa12c88549fc.jpg[/img] [/hider] [hider= Qubus] [img]https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/000/193/250/large/jonas-de-ro-whiterose.jpg?1443931815[/img] [/hider] [hider= Onitol] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3e/e2/32/3ee232b4ff6cb589154c5f6b2be1af16.jpg[/img] [/hider] [hider= THE MIDLANDS] [img]https://images.alphacoders.com/260/thumb-1920-260561.jpg[/img][/hider] A great vast of hills and pastures, full of civilization. The forrests and the terrace farms engulf much of the territory. Great industrial towns and villages flourish due to the wood and food commerce and production, and a great deal of dark elven barons and lords rule over petty settlements from their castles and mansions. Important cities/towns: [hider=Vatra] [img]https://cdna.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/000/122/848/large/dmitry-zaviyalov-blighttown.jpg?1404336826[/img] [/hider] [hider= Ibranta] [img]https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/50ab2386-0310-4c7c-b297-2a935a79768d/d8vmzvf-e9760494-6f7a-4ce8-8a3e-5005bd7f852a.jpg/v1/fill/w_1206,h_663,q_70,strp/warsaw_by_bogdan_mrk_d8vmzvf-pre.jpg[/img] [/hider] [hider=Solis] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/564x/6f/c1/3d/6fc13dfd9d6e7dc962c243edd97a3c08.jpg[/img] [/hider] [hider= Pravine] [img]https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/hd/95e58e47663025.56081233ecd69.jpg[/img] [/hider] [hider= Ilaton] [img]https://assets.vg247.com/current/2014/02/blackmore.jpg[/img] [/hider] [hider= Yolnio] [img]https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/000/388/947/large/felicien-nourry-rue-pauvre.jpg?1420518293[/img] [/hider] [hider= Tralo] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f0/6c/b3/f06cb36659b6415ab0ac0562652995a0.jpg[/img] [/hider] [hider= THE EMERALD COAST] [img]https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/d97b348d-51a6-4b6d-9a74-a13a0a782583/d3e7og2-3399f40f-9ec2-4808-89a0-d8925cb3901b.jpg/v1/fill/w_1024,h_475,q_70,strp/to_the_lighthouse_by_syntetyc_d3e7og2-fullview.jpg[/img] [/hider] Also known as The Southern Coast, this region marks the end of the Trans-Aurelian Railway. Exotic in appearance, this region developed a healthy and serious tourism industry, with high officials from the Empire choosing to spend their vacations on the numerous resorts on the coast. The sea provides resources such as corals and it's vital for trade, exports and imports. The Emerald Coast has a rich history of piracy and naval warfare. Important cities/towns: [hider= Rago] [img]https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/c02c961e-fe6f-4e3c-b98e-b9b529b88c76/d8lioj0-1b339900-71d1-4b10-b17c-0225905f701d.jpg/v1/fill/w_1024,h_440,q_70,strp/the_order_1886_sydney_by_atomhawk_d8lioj0-fullview.jpg[/img] [/hider] [hider= Amrona] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8d/9e/57/8d9e578071d2608d51f2b4a5e360b046.jpg[/img] [/hider] ------------------------------------------------ [b]Climate:[/b] Colder temperate climate in the Northern Range, with warmer temperate climate in the Midlands and a dry summer climate on the Emerald Coast, a location favourite for the rich on vacations. ------------------------------------------------ [b]Military:[/b] Being a province of Yllendir, the same principles apply here. ------------------------------------------------ [b]Magic Prevalence/Usage and Elemental Alignment:[/b] Magic prevalence is very low, as Aurelians shun it, but certain underground organisations actively practice what is called by the inhabitants "Black Magic". ------------------------------------------------ [b]History/Background Info:[/b] Since a good portion of the population of Aurelia are peasants, written documents are scarce, especially after the imperial conquest of Aurelia. The general consensus regarding the earliest Aurelian history, as imperial historians put it, is that the region of Aurelia has been a battle ground between western and eastern forces at many points in time, but as one Yllendirian scholar puts it: "Mankind of Aurelia is both an enigma and a miracle." referencing the fact that despite incursions from the outside, the human population has succesfuly maintained identity integrity and cultural cohesion. It is, however, known that aurelian cultural presence has definately been a part of the barbarian invasions into Yllendir, 1000 years ago. The surviving records show the feudal foundation of the Aurelian province at the start of the Moonrise War, 288 years ago. There were dozen of petty states ruled by different lords. Out of all these lords, the most famous person of Aurelian history will rise. Aurelian the Great, the man who would come to conquer all the human states of Aurelia, founding the Aurelian Dynasty. Scholars have been unable to properly find the old name of the current province, lost in time, probably erased by force from the scribes of Aurelian. The Aurelian Dynasty would last only a bit more than 200 years. Around 70 years ago, Yllendrian armies began their conquest of Aurelia, known as the Great Patriotic War in aurelian culture. The Northern Range campaign proved to be a bloody one, and because of this, it took the Empire just a bit more than five years to conquer the entire province, as once the Mountain Ranges fell, the Midlands and the Emerald Cosat were no match for the superiority of the elves.