[@shylarah][@ayzrules][@HaleyTheRandom]
Done, complete with the summary for the history section! Hope it's all okay :)

[hider=Erik von Rothschild​]
[center][h2][color=skyblue]Erik von Rothschild of the Empire of Veredun[/color][/h2]
[img]https://fashionablymale.net/2017/07/19/benjamin-eidem-runs-new-ads-for-vilebrequin-summer-ads-2017/benjamin-eidem-for-vilebrequin-summer-2017-ads1/ [/img]

[color=skyblue][i]"Freedom is slavery. War is Peace. Ignorance is Strength"[/i] -[i]1984, [/i][b]George Orwell[/b][/color][/center] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎Name[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]Erik von Rothchild[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓣𝓲𝓽𝓵𝓮[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]Erzherzogin of the Empire of Veredun, Lieutenant Colonel of the Veredunian Armed Forces, Captain 1st rank of the Veredunian Naval Forces.[/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓐𝓰𝓮[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]23[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]Male[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓢𝓮𝔁𝓾𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]Heterosexual[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓐𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]Erik very much exemplifies the ideal Veredunian. Tall, athletic and lean, Erik has golden blonde hair and deep, sapphire-blue eyes. Like his older siblings, Erik inherited a great bone structure and has an exceedingly well-defined features. Having essentially grown up in a strict, military background, Erik is very well-built. And that's pretty much his saving grace because given the amount of beer Erik drinks, it's honestly surprising how he hasn't developed a full on beer-belly yet. Lucky for him, the Veredunian military taught him well and instilled his love for running. That and his naturally high metabolism. As a result of this, Erik does appear to look very "princely"- tall, charismatic and confident, Erik exemplifies the idea of a Veredunian noble. At least until he begins to drink anyway.

[hider=Body Stats]
Hair: Dark blonde, wavy
Eyes: Sapphire-blue
Height: 190 cm, 6 ft 2 inches
Weight: unknown
Body: Lean, athletic
Face Claim: Benjamin Eidem
[/hider]

[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓟𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]
[b]Traits:[/b]
perceptive, observant, strategic, disorganized, spontaneous, lively, daring, self-assured, ambitious, goal-oriented, resourceful, intelligent, independent, easy-gong, down to earth, humble, energized, optimistic, stubborn, debonair, approachable, fun, cultured, debonair, stubborn, hard-working, free-spirited, charismatic, proud, egalitarian, meritocratic, evasive, deceptive, ethical, low-key rebellious.

To put it simply, Erik is a lot like his father, which only serves to infuriate Empress Catherine even more. Being the youngest of his siblings, Erik was shielded from a lot of the violence and blood-shed that his older siblings were forced to live through. As a result of this, Erik is far less somber and appears to be almost a normal, young adult in many respects- he wants to travel the world and live life on his own terms. But that naturally doesn't go down to well with his grandmother or his older siblings, both of whom consider Erik to be immature and frivolous. He doesn't have the best relationship with either one of them to say the least.

But despite his youth, Erik actually can be very strategic and resourceful when he chooses to be. Having essentially grown up in a strict, military environment, Erik is very routine-oriented and disciplined in many aspects of his life. Additionally, Erik also is very perceptive and observant. Should he choose to, he could easily enter politics like the rest of his family but chooses not to do so- it's just not his speed. What he does enjoy however, is traveling. Traveling allows him to escape his problems and feeds his escapist nature. But also, it lets him experience new things and cultures, and meet people he's never met before. He enjoys living life to the fullest.

But even so, Erik has been scared by his past, even if he doesn't show it too openly. Over the years, Erik has become more and more emotionally distant. He's found it increasingly hard to trust people and build relationships with other individuals. Furthermore, Erik has also has developed a tendency of escapism- whenever things get too difficult or uncomfortable, he leaves. This leads the to the idea of Erik being unreliable in general. But those who do know him very well know that Erik is one of the most reliable people on the planet.
[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 + 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]
[b]Likes:[/b] freedom, his independence, beer, solid colors, tailored clothes, leather jackets, bikes, aviators, clean flavors, cheese, dark chocolate, the Veredunian navy, sailing, swimming, horses, his siblings (that is Ferdinand and Juliet specifically), living life on his own terms, travel, photography, animals, adventure sports, classic rock, cigarettes occasionally, linen suits, dark colors, baroque architecture, neoclassical art, the violin, ballet performances, champagne, red wine, berries, vintage and classic cars, green vegetables, being sustainable and environmentally conscious for the most part, living under the radar, an egalitarian society, Veredunian coffee culture, coffee, Veredunian pastries, macaroons, the multi-cultural and multi-ethnic aspect of Veredun, snow, winter.

[b]Dislikes:[/b] seafood, the scent of fish, red meat, white chocolate, white wine, sweet wines, not being in control of himself, condescending attitudes, petty gossip, social media, unwanted attention, bright colors, prints, synthetic materials, illegal poaching and hunting of animals, self-involved people, emotional commitment, commitment in general, theoretical subjects, being told what to do by his oldest siblings (Alexander and Evangeline), his grandmother, cream cheese, bagels, being in one place for too long, overly fried foods, overly sweet foods, black tea, coconut in deserts, gossip tabloids, a superficial lifestyle, empty idealism, overly happy people, modern rap, modern art, stand-up comedy, people who enforce their beliefs on others, toxic masculinity, heat, humidity, summer.

[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓑𝓲𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓱𝔂[/b]
 ――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]
Erik is the youngest child of Nicholas and Serafina von Rothschild, making him Empress Catherine's youngest grandson. Because of this, Erik was very young when his parents died and probably has the least memories of them among all his siblings. His memories of his parents are mostly inorganic and stem from either photographs, videos and films about them, or through the stories and memories of other people about his parents. Most of the time, these are his own siblings. As a result of this, Erik really doesn't have the same attachment to his parents as his older siblings do. Furthermore, being the youngest, Erik was really shielded from much of the blood-shed and violence that his siblings were forced to endure in the aftermath of their parents' death. This is why Erik appears to be so different from them- in many respects, he actually appears to be a normal teenager for the most part who just wants to live life on his own terms. Of course, pretty much every adult related to him (with the exceptions of his older siblings: Juliet and Ferdinand) interprets this to be immature, frivolous and unreliable.

As the youngest time, Nicholas and Serafina barely spent any time with Erik when he was a child. Unlike the childhood of his older siblings, Erik was mostly raised by a host of nannies and staff members whom he grew up to becoming exceedingly attached to. At the time of his birth things between his parents were also particularly tense. Preoccupied with the tension of his sister Juliet's rapidly failing heath, Serafina had decided to reconnect with Empress Catherine. Nicholas was opposed to this decision fearing that Empress Catherine would just end up using their children as political pawns for herself. His reservations would turn out to be true.

Nicholas and Serafina died in a plane crash when Erik was 5. Post the death of his parents, Erik was separated from his siblings for the first time. At the time, his oldest siblings, Alexander (19 at the time) and Arabella (16 at the time) had either started or were about to start their mandatory military service. Juliet was taken in by Empress Catherine and raised in the imperial palace in Vienna by their grandmother. Erik and his older brother Ferdinand were taken to be raised in a covert military base on the frontiers of Dacia by a trusted friend of their mother's. As a result of this, Erik really grew up primarily with Ferdinand and thus, was the closest to him out of all his siblings. He would really only see his older siblings on state celebrations and during the holidays.

At the military base in Dacia, there were no other children. With only themselves to play with, both brothers became incredibly close to one another. At the base, Erik and Ferdinand grew up with a strong sense of discipline and order. Prior to all their siblings, both of them were induced to the military life at a very early age. Along with their basic education, both brothers were extensively taught subjects like military ethics, battle strategy, philosophy, and military history. In addition to this, both brothers were exposed to grueling training regimes that tested them both mentally and physically on a daily basis.

While exceptionally close, Erik and Ferdinand were very different children. Unlike Ferdinand, Erik was a mischievous and playful child. He never meant any harm to anyone, but he disliked authority and all too often did exactly what he wanted. But even so, Erik always idolized Ferdinand and lived his life in fear of disappointing him. Ferdinand in comparison was strongly morally rooted, disciplined, rule-oriented and steadfast. As they grew older, these personality traits only became more and more pronounced. In their teenage years, Ferdinand already had started to exhibit traits that pointed towards the fact that he was a prodigy. And at the age of 14, Ferdinand had decided that he wanted to dedicate his life to Veredun, serving in the Veredunian military. Erik, who was approximately 6 years younger than him was still a child and just still preoccupied with having fun. Unlike Ferdinand, Erik found his lessons to be dull and boring, and was far more interested in action- he liked doing things, not reading about figures who had already done them.

There were other differences between the brothers too. Unlike Ferdinand, Erik could never form relationships with people- emotional relationships that is. Inherently suspicious, Erik was very emotionally distant and withdrawn. This was very surprising to most people given that Erik was exceedingly extroverted as a child (and still is). He never had any problems forging friendships and most people were instantly drawn to his charisma and optimistic nature. But even with friendships, it soon became apparent that Erik had a large circle of superficial friendships, primarily because Erik never allowed himself to be vulnerable enough to emotionally bond with anyone. Inherently, Erik associated vulnerability with weakness. In addition to this, Erik also found it incredibly hard to trust people, being inherently suspicious about them. When it came down to it, Erik found that he was unable to trust most people other than his brother (and eventually his sister Juliet) at all.

Much like their older siblings, Ferdinand began his mandatory military service very early, at the age of 16. At this time, Erik was 10 and Ferdinand's departure devastated him. Close to pretty much only Ferdinand, Erik found himself to be exceedingly lonely. Post Ferdinand's departure, Erik really only saw his brother for a few months each year. Despite this, they made sure to maintain constant contact with one another. However, this did not help the fact that Erik was bored and lonely without his brother. And so, the rebellion began. Every now and then, Erik would escape from the military base to explore the areas around him- being pretty much the only child at the base made him exceedingly claustrophobic. Most of the time, Erik would escape in the nights, using the darkness of the night as his cover. Erik loved being outside the base- he met new people, ate different kinds of food and as he got older, began to consume alcohol as well. Soon enough, his absences from the base became more frequent and longer. Alarmed at his absence, Ferdinand was contacted and informed of his brother's recent change in behavior. And when Ferdinand tried to talk to Erik about it, Erik appeared to be deeply embarrassed- Ferdinand was never supposed to find out. But that was not even the worst of it. Soon enough, Erik's oldest siblings learned of his behavior, as did Empress Catherine. Without even realizing it, Erik was far too similar to his father- appearing to be fickle, frivolous, unreliable, and wrongfully indulgent. Naturally, Empress Catherine was not impressed, and neither were Erik's older siblings who simply could not understand how Erik was so unconcerned about the consequences of his behavior and increasingly grew to see him as immature.

Erik's relationship with his oldest siblings began to deteriorate as he grew older. Between Erik and his oldest brother, Alexander, there was more than a 10 year difference. It was almost a generational difference. Alexander had been forced to live through the violence and blood-shed that proceeded his parents' death, having been forced to assume the responsibility for for his younger siblings. While most of Erik's siblings had a pretty good relationship with Alexander, Erik did not. Increasingly, Erik felt that Alexander was attempting to control his life and give him far too much of unsolicited advice regarding his behavior. As the oldest, Alexander had felt the need to present himself as the parental figure of authority to Erik- Erik hated this. Often times, Erik's oldest siblings- Alexander and Evangeline- would forget Erik's age and expect him to be and behave mature beyond his years. Having not really been allowed to experience childhood and adolescence at all, Alexander and Evangeline often imposed the same expectations upon Erik, disregarding his age. Moreover, both of them end up presenting themselves as figures of parental authority to him, which only results in increased resentment from Erik towards his oldest siblings.

When Erik was 15, he was encouraged to take up his mandatory military service on the account that he had absolutely nothing better to do. The military base failed to provide Erik with the same discipline and structure as it provided Ferdinand. And thus, Erik was the earliest of his siblings to begin his military service. The youngest in his group, the military service was the most intense on Erik. And after the 4 long years, Erik's oldest siblings and Empress Catherine had hoped that Erik would be reformed. But this didn't happen. He was a lot less impulsive and rebellious, but he still longed to leave Veredun to travel the world and experience life on his own terms. And so, Erik was encouraged to join the Veredunian navy by Ferdinand who convinced Erik that by joining the navy, Erik would have greater opportunities for travel. Additionally, by joining the navy, Erik would have some much-needed distance from his oldest siblings and his grandmother, resulting in a comparatively increased sense of freedom.

And so, at the age of 19, Erik joined the Veredunian navy. As Ferdinand had suggested, Erik grew to enjoy his time with the navy exponentially. Though just as grueling and strict as the other aspects of the Veredunian military, the navy allowed Erik with a comparatively increased sense of freedom. None of his older siblings had been involved with the navy. Out of all his relatives, it was only his maternal aunt and uncle, Mattias and Theodora who were affiliated with the navy. And even then, they occupied top-tier ranks which meant that Erik could hide behind the hierarchy of the naval ranks and live the first instance of a normal life.

In the course of the next two years, Erik found himself rising through the naval ranks. There was something about the navy which interested Erik for once. Just as smart and strategic as his older siblings, Erik had a bad habit of never fully committing himself to causes that he was not interested in. This is also what usually led people to assume that Erik was just another pretty, rich, entitled noble. But the navy was different for him- he liked working with the navy. He liked sailing. He found naval law incredibly interesting. He enjoyed learning about great naval battles in history and studying naval strategies. But more than anything, he loved the freedom he received with the naval lifestyle. When deployed, Erik would be completely alone, disconnected from all of Veredun. Present only with his fleet, he was absolutely free from the controlling aspects of his life: his oldest siblings, and his grandmother. And Erik loved that. Soon enough, Erik rose through the ranks and was promoted to being a Captain 1st rank of the Veredunian Naval Forces.

And just when his life seemed to be getting better, everything seemed to fall apart. After returning from a deployment, Erik learned that Ferdinand had been killed in action. This devastated him. All his life, Erik had been closest to Ferdinand. Unlike his older siblings, he had no real recollection of his parents and thus, no real attachment to them at all. But he did to Ferdinand. For most his life, Ferdinand was the one family member Erik felt closest too- his brother never judged him or tried to control him the way Alexander and Evangeline did. Ferdinand simply accepted Erik for who he was. No judgement.

And in his grief, Erik began to reconnect with his older sister Juliet. In their childhood, Erik would often play with Ferdinand and Juliet, who were much closer to his age as compared to Alexander and Evangeline. However, after their separation in the wake of their parents' death. Erik and Juliet and grown apart significantly. They still met each other during the holidays and state functions, but their relationship was a lot more formal. But even so, Erik had always felt far more comfortable around her than he did around Alexander and Evangeline. And in the wake of Ferdinand's death, both Juliet and Erik reconnected, bonding over their shared mourning and the trauma of loosing one of the most important aspects of both their lives- their brother Ferdinand.

And just as Erik was starting to cope with the reality of Ferdinand's death, his suspicious were aroused. Almost 3 months after Ferdinand's death, Erik accidentally saw reports of the assassination of a lower noblewoman, Elenora de Medici. While Erik didn't know Elenora personally, he had heard Ferdinand talk about her once or twice (for Ferdinand to show any romantic interest in the opposite sex was rare to say the least), leading him to believe that Ferdinand and Elenora were involved with each other at some level. As he started to look into her assassination more (with the reduction in crime levels across Veredun, Erik knew that her death was not accidental, nor was it a crime), he began to suspect that somehow, the deaths of Ferdinand and Elenora were connected. Naturally, when he tried to talk to his oldest siblings (Evangeline at the time was very closely affiliated with the Veredunian police forces), his suspicions were promptly dismissed as delusions. But in Juliet he found a willing audience- she believed him.

As the year went by, both Juliet and Erik began to investigate the circumstances behind Ferdinand's death and found several inconsistencies. These ranged from the autopsy reports (which had been suspiciously concealed and no signs of struggle, disease, organ failure or poison) to the location of Ferdinand's death- according to the official press release, Ferdinand had died in action. However, reports of his death suggested that he died in a hotel room which had then been ransacked suggesting that Ferdinand's death was not natural and whoever had killed him had been looing for something that was on Ferdinand's person. When Juliet and Erik presented these findings to Empress Catherine, their grandmother promised them that she would personally oversee the investigations of Ferdinand's death to uncover the truth. However, this is not what happened. Despite an investigation being opened to discover the circumstances of Ferdinand's death, a few months later, it was ruled as a death in action once again. This once more aroused suspicions among Erik and Juliet regarding their brother's death. During the time of the official investigation, Juliet had launched her own official investigation during which, she had found that Ferdinand may have discovered the truth of Veredun's genetic research. Though hailed revolutionary, Veredun's genetic research relied on human experimentation. In particular, the human subjects were suspected to be prisoners and those who had been "removed" from society by the Veredunian Intelligence Police. Most of these subjects did not consent to medical experimentation and almost 90% of them died in the lab due to the experimentation. The 10% who did survive usually had no memories of the experimentation at all. If this truth was revealed, it could incriminate the highest ranked members of the Veredunian empire resulting in significant political unrest and resentment. Thus, Juliet suspected that Ferdinand might have been assassinated to prevent him from releasing this information to an external audience. If that was the case, Ferdinand's assassination would have been approved by the highest authorities of the Veredunian government, Empress Catherine herself.

When Erik learned of this from Juliet, his world was shattered once more. Needing to physically leave Veredun to collect himself, Erik chose to go to Aciras, despite having recently been promoted to the position of Lieutenant Colonel of the Veredunian Armed Forces. He sincerely hopes that the time away from Veredun allows him to collect himself. After all, Erik knows exactly what questioning Empress Catherine leads to- death. 


[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓕𝓒 + 𝓒𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓻 𝓒𝓸𝓭𝓮[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]Bejamin Ediem[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓶𝓮 𝓢𝓸𝓷𝓰[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Under Control- Hurts, Alesso and Calvin Harris
[url]https://youtu.be/yZqmarGShxg[/url]
[sub][i]I might be anyone
A lone fool out in the sun
Your heartbeat of solid gold
I love you, you'll never know
When the daylight comes you feel so cold,
You know

I'm too afraid of my heart to let you go
Waiting for the fire to light
Feeling like we could do right
Be the one that makes tonight
'Cause freedom is a lonely road
We're under control[/i][/sub][/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓑𝓮𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓭 𝓣𝓸[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]tbd[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓞𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]

[hider=External Links]
Biography & Aesthetic: [url]https://empireofgoldentears.tumblr.com/erik[/url]
Veredunian History: [url]https://empireofgoldentears.tumblr.com/history[/url]
Members: [url]https://empireofgoldentears.tumblr.com/members[/url]
Empire of Veredun: [url]https://empireofgoldentears.tumblr.com/[/url]
[/hider]

[/INDENT] 

[/hider]


[hider=Empire of Veredun][center][h2][color=skyblue]Empire of Veredun[/color][/h2]

[img]https://www.wien.info/media/images/schloss-schoenbrunn-neu-19to1.jpeg[/img]

[color=skyblue][i]Schloss Schönbrunn, the Imperial Palace in Vienna, Veredun. The Imperial Palace is the seat of power and the formal residence of Empress Catherine. [/i][/color][/center]

[color=skyblue][b]💎Empire of Veredun[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Also known as: Veredun, Báthorian Empire. (Pronunciation: V-iri-dan) [/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎Date of Establishment:[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] 1918 [/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎Capital City:[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Vienna[/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎Ruling Dynasty:[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Báthory[/INDENT] 
 
[color=skyblue][b]💎Official Language:[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Veredunian. (essentially German) 
Veredunian is the language used in all official capacities. It is the language of instruction in all academic institutions. Having said this, spoken vernaculars do exist and are widely encouraged to promote cultural diversity.[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎Royal Anthem:[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser
[url]https://youtu.be/3p39ulIfnzc[/url][/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓠𝓾𝓮𝓮𝓷[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] [img]https://data.whicdn.com/images/476743/large.jpg[/img]
[quote]Empress Catherine Maria Erzbert Báthory, [i]Her Royal Majesty.[/i](FC: Meryl Streep)[/quote] [/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓭𝓸𝓶 𝓒𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓼[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Red, White, Gold, Black[/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎Coat of Arms:[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] [img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Wappen_%C3%96sterreichische_L%C3%A4nder_1915_%28Mittel%29.png[/img]
[quote]Coat of Arms of the Empire of Veredun[/quote][/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎Motto[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT][i]Imperii Caesosque.[/i] Bleed for your empire [/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓭𝓸𝓶 𝓲𝓼 𝓚𝓷𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓕𝓸𝓻[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] Culture, Cultural Diversity, Languages, Cultural Institutions, High Art, Classical Music, High Fashion, Films, Culinary Advancements & Trends, Gender Equality, Advanced Health Care, Genetic Medicine, Academics & Research, Technology, Military Strength & Superiority, Human Rights Abuse,  [/INDENT]

[hider=Things Veredun is known for]
Since the establishment of the Veredunian Empire in 1918, every aspect of culture, medicine and pericardial thought has greatly flourished. This is especially true under the reign of the Holy Roman Empress, Catherine Maria Erzbert Báthory. After the death of her husband, Fryderik XI at the young age of 37. After his death, Empress Catherine became the head of the state and ushered in a period of growth, stability and revival which is commonly refereed to as "the revival" period. She is most notable for the advancement of medicine in Veredun. Under her reign, Veredun became a global leader in genetic medicine. She is also renowned for the period of cultural growth and revival, during which Veredun became the foremost authority on classical music, art, fashion and food. This is also became some of the world's highest ranked universities and educational institutions reside in Veredun, churning out leaders in the fields of music, art, dance, medicine, humanities, linguistics, and culinary fields. As a result of this, Veredun is also home to some of the largest libraries and best museums, both of which contain artifacts dating back to Veredun's ancient history. 

However, Empress Catherine Báthory's reign has not been all good either. Her reign is also marked with increased press censorship, propaganda and state-sponsored violence. In 2018 alone, over 5,000 journalists and activists were brutally assassinated, leading many to speculate about the nature of free speech within Veredun. Additional scandals include the increased authority of the police and military- while the military have traditionally played an important role in the political structure of Dacia, the police have not. However, under Empress Catherine's reign, the authority of the police has also increased greatly. In particular, the police have been accused of violating individual privacy on many accounts- surveillance has increased exponentially. Records suggest that cameras and mikes are strategically placed across the Empire, constantly recording the thoughts of citizens. It is speculated that anyone who appears to oppose Empress Catherine is "removed"- their entire life is simply erased, right from their birth records. Children are also increasingly encouraged to spy on their family members, and are especially encouraged to turn any "potential threats" into the nearest police official.

In addition to this, Empress Catherine's reign is also has been heavily criticized for its medical advancements. Recent reports suggest that the genetic medical advancements were only possible due to the fact that researchers and doctors experimented on human subject to test their hypothesis. These subjects are widely believed to be prisoners, political opponents, activist, and really anyone who appears to be opposing the Crown in any manner. As a result of this, it is speculated that the experimentation took place without consent.

Furthermore, Empress Catherine's regime has also alarmed the international community due to their "rehabilitation programs." It is widely believed that prisoners are subject to intense physical and psychological trauma in order to force them into compliance and subjugation.

In regards to the cultural and ethnic diversity within Veredun, it is important to note that culture is often used as a synonym for ethnicity, and "cultural diversity" is an oxymoron. In essence, Veredun practices a great degree of cultural imperialism under which the grand and more luxurious aspects of Veredunian history are emphasized- the baroque culture in particular. Apart from this, high art and other forms of "high culture" are widely encouraged. And what ends up being heavily discouraged are various forms of rural culture and practices within Veredun which are deemed to be "backward" and "primitive" by the state. One of the ways this is done is through the imposition of Veredunian in all official contexts. What this means is that to survive within the empire, one must have a strong knowledge of Veredunian. Citizens can of course speak their own vernaculars, but these vernaculars can not be used in any official capacity. As a result of this, more and more citizens are turning to Veredunian for daily use as well, endangering the existence of Veredunian vernacular languages. All these policies point towards the fact that slowly, but surely Veredun is centralizing.

While there seem to be excessive amounts of negative factors concerning Empress Catherine's reign, she has never been formally reprimanded for them by the international community. This is primarily because often times, the non-governmental organizations making these claims have no real proof to back them up with- governmental records are often sealed off, curtailing all access to them. Furthermore, the empire is under heavy surveillance and censorship- even if the international community were to formally condemn Empress Catherine, it would not be displayed on the Verdunian media, which is closely monitored by the state.
[/hider]

[hider=Popular Veredunian Stereotypes]
1. [i]Coldness.[/i] Veredunains are renowned for their asocial nature. Brisk and inhospitable at first, this can be a bit jarring to many people and often leaves a bad impression about Veredunians. In fact, Veredunians are some of the warmest and most hospitable people you will ever meet. Its just that it is not customary for Veredunians to interact expressively with strangers and thus, they appear to be very reserved and stoic until they trust their guests. Moreover, Veredunians value and respect privacy greatly and do not like to impose on other people's personal spaces (ironically enough- see the function of the Veredunian Police Forces). 
2. [i]Efficency.[/i] Renowned for their efficiency, Veredunians are believed to be efficient to the fault. This is reflected in every aspect of their empire- from the governmental structure and functions, to the nature of Veredunians itself. This generates Veredunians are stereotyped to be exceedingly good at empirical and scientific subjects- math, science, that kind of thing. This is also why most technological advancements from Veredun are held in such high regard within the international community: Veredunians are renowned for their precision and efficiency. However, this obviously does not apply to all Veredunians. There are plenty of Veredunians who are just not good with math, science or their related subjects as well. 
3. [i]Punctuality.[/i] Technically a tangent of the efficiency trope, Veredunians are also renowned for their punctuality. Every single mode of public transport in Veredun runs approximately 5 minutes early. The reason for this is due to a common Veredunian saying: "the early bird gets the best worms." Being early to anything, be it casual or professional, is far better than being late. In fact, in Veredun, being early is considered to be on time, and being on time is considered to be late. It's the principle on which the entire empire runs- a very useful thing to know. 
4. [i]Straightforwardness.[/i] Some people think that the Veredunians are all straightforward and undiplomatic. The perceived inability of the Veredunians to engage in small talk and their unromantic nature are discussed by foreigners. As far as a Veredunian is concerned, "A yes is a yes and a no is a no." 
5. [i]Coldness of Veredunian Women. [/i]There are assumptions that Veredunian women are cold and unromantic. Some people even assume that Veredunian women are unable to cook. Again, obviously not true.
6. [i]Overly Assertive Veredunian Women.[/i] Veredunian women are regarded to be overly assertive and strong. Rather self-reliant, they are renowned for being "overbearing" in their ways: overly ambitious, demanding, and inhospitable towards men. This honestly just goes to show that Veredunian women know their rights and aren't afraid to stand up for themselves regardless of the situation. 
7. [i]Veredunians Love Rules.[/i] Veredunian society is governed by strictly enforced laws- there is a rule for pretty much everything in Veredun, and people observe it very closely. This really does explain the role and prestige of the Veredunian military and police forces within the empire. 
8. [i]Veredunians love beer.[/i] Veredun has over 13000 breweries and more than 5,000 different brands of beer. The empire even has a law about which ingredients may be used in the production of the beverage which dates back centuries. In fact, Veredun ranked first place for beer consumption per capita in the world. Beer after all is an integral part of Veredunian culture. After work, Veredunians often frequent their closest beirgartens for an evening drink. Moreover, beer is also served at certain fast-food chains as a part of a children's meal. Of course, those beers do not have as high of alcohol contents. Having said this, beer is not considered to be an "alcohol" by Veredunians at all- its entirely appropriate to see Veredunians walking around with beer mid-day. 
9. [i]Veredunians are military loving.[/i] The fact that the military is so culturally and politically important within the empire of Veredun appears to be a little strange for most people outside Veredun. As a result of this, Veredunians are considered to be extremely military-loving. And they're not wrong about it. The military is considered to be a source of national pride for many Veredunians. Veredunian history also tends to emphasize military battles and victories a lot more than other historical aspects such as culture. 
10.[i] Football-loving.[/i] By a wide margin, football is the number one most attended and practiced sport in Veredun. It is so popular that it could be considered a national pastime. The Veredunian Football Association consists of more than 260,000 clubs and 1,780,000 teams. There are more football fan clubs in Veredun than any other country in the world. In addition, the Veredunian football league, attracts international superstars and is followed by many players and interest outside of the Veredun. The country’s national team is strong in international contests and has won many international competitions and honors. 
11. [i]Veredunian food is bland.[/i] Veredunian food is widely considered to be only sausage, potatoes and sauerkraut. It is considered to be exceedingly bland, void of all spices and flavoring. This is obviously not true. Veredun in fact has one of the most vibrant culinary industries in the world and is renowned for their culinary diversity- each village in Veredun has its own specialty.
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[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓡𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓽/𝓡𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓿𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓭𝓸𝓶 𝓗𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]

The empire of Veredun was officially established in 1918 and thus, is a comparatively new one on the world state. The ruling dynasty was established to be the Báthory bloodline. After Dacia became a dual monarchy with Leidsig in 1899, the Rothschild bloodline was forced to forgo their claims to the throne in exchange for Dacian military aid. When the Leisdig-Dacian Empire conquered Cornouaille in 1917, the Valois were forced to forfeit their claims to the throne as well, establishing the Báthory bloodline as the Veredinian empire's ruling dynasty. Thus, Maximilian I became the first Báthory monarch of the Empire of Verdun in 1918. In recent years, the Empire of Veredun has become far more centralized and is renowned for its superior military prowess, advanced technological innovations, superior infrastructure, high quality of living, advanced medical care, genetic research and medicine, cultural diversity, ethnic diversity, classical music, fashion, high art, academics and research. It has also come under a lot of international criticism for its' increasingly authoritarian policies and human right abuse.

[hider=Veredunian Historiography]
Since the territory understood by the term 'Veredun' underwent drastic changes over time, dealing with a History of Veredun raises a number of questions: whether it is confined to the current or former Empire of Veredun, or extends also to all lands formerly ruled by the rulers of Veredun and the three Kingdoms of Dacia, Leisdig and Cornouaille.
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[hider=Ancient History]
The Empire of Veredun's origins lie with a group of nomadic tribes. Prior to a series of foreign invasions, the region was overrun by various different nomadic tribes who were often in conflict and war with one another. Not much is known about this period with the exception that the foreign invaders established cities, which were later overrun by the nomadic tribes after their defeat. Once the cities were abandoned, the nomadic tribes would reclaim the cities, pillaging their wealth. Eventually, these nomadic tribes began to adopt a sedentary lifestyle and and occupied the remnants of the cities.
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[hider=Medieval Era]
For much of the medieval era, Veredun existed as 3 separate, neighboring kingdoms: the Kingdom of Leisdig ruled by the Rothschild dynasty, the Kingdom of Cornouaille ruled by the Valois dynasty, and finally the Kingdom of Dacia ruled by the Báthory Dynasty. Much of their early medieval history was defined by constant war and conflict between the three neighboring kingdoms. But during the High Middle Ages, the three kingdoms began to enter a series of diplomatic cooperation upheld by strategic marriage alliances. However, this would be short-lived. In 1333, the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdiannd II died heiress, resulting in the century-long war which broke out across the three kingdoms in order to claim the throne of Leisdig. The wife of the Cornouaillian King, Maria Catherina claimed the throne for her son, Louis III on account of being the sister of Ferdinand II, making Louis III his closest male relative, and thus, his rightful heir. However, the Dacian King, Harald I claimed the throne of Leidsig on account of being the second cousin of Emperor Ferdinand II as well. And within Leidsig, Ferdinand II's daughter, Erzherzogin Maria Elisabeth claimed the throne for herself. These conflicting claims resulted in a century-long war between the 3 kingdoms, This war would be known as the "War of the Golden Throne," and was resolved only in 1433, when Archduke Sigsigmund of Fürstentum ascended the throne as the next Rothschild Emperor as the King of Leidsig.

Archduke Sigsigmund was the illegitimate son of Archduchess Maria Carolina, the daughter of Erzherzogin Maria Elisabeth and was raised in Dacia as a noble. In Dacia, Archduke Sigsigmund became involved in many aspects of the Dacian military and nobility and was one of the founding members of the Order of the Dragon, a Christian chivalric order which comprised of many high-ranking members of various nobility across the continent. With their support, Archduke Sigsigmund was able to ascend the throne of Leidsig. When Archduke Signsigmnund ascended the throne as the next, undisputed king of Leidsig, the Order of the Dragon was legitimized and after centuries, the three kingdoms were at peace once more.

Known as the "golden era," the era of peace between the three kingdoms prompted significant cultural and scientific progress- artists, musicians and intellectuals were hosted at the three royal courts, allowing various forms of culture to flourish between the three kingdoms. Known as the "baroque" period, grand, Gothic-inspired architecture and religious art forms were painted across the three kingdoms. It was also around this time that scientific thought advanced greatly. Inspired by a thirst of knowledge, the human body was explored in greater detail. This not only led to the development of early modern medicine, but the human form also became a fixed motif in art and sculpture across the three kingdoms. During this period, increased diplomatic exchanges also prompted a period of extended stability across the three kingdoms, allowing them to develop close-knit and strong alliances with one another.
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[hider=Early Modern Era]
In 1789, a revolution tore the Kingdom of Cornouaille apart. The revolution was primarily prompted by increased taxation. The lower classes of Cornouaille had grown increasingly frustrated by their rigid social hierarchy over the course of the 17th century. And what began as a series of peaceful protests soon turned increasingly violent- the lavish castles and palaces of the nobility were seized. All those who appeared to support the Crown were either assassinated or escaped to the neighboring kingdoms of Leisdig and Dacia. King Louis VI and his wife Maria Aurore were brutally executed by rebels who demanded the formation of a classless, democratic state. And in this state of instability, the army eventually took over, leading to a decade-long military dictatorship, under which the "golden era" of peace and stability was broken. Under the leadership of General Renior de Arenberg, Cornouaille invaded Leidsig, resulting in Dacia attacking Cornouaille in an attempt to free Leisdig. This resulted in a series of wars over the course of 5 year war between the three kingdoms, called the Aremberg Wars.

The Aremberg Wars were resolved formally in 1811, in imperial capital of Vienna in Leisdig. The results of the war were the formation of a democratic state in Cornouaille. This meant that a significant amount of territory that was previously under the Kingdom of Cornouaille was awarded to Leisig and Dacia in order to pay the reparations. However, this democratic state proved to be more problematic for Leidsig than the previous Kingdom of Cornouaille. Inspired by the democratic freedom of Cornouaille, citizens of Leidsig began to protest against increasing taxation and a poor economy which was caused by poor harvests due to bad rainfall. Over the course of a year (1848), almost every city in Leisdig was ravished by violent protests. These protests formally came to an end only a year later, when the imperial family finally agreed to lower the taxes. In light of the protests in Leidsig, the ousted Valois heir, Philip XI, returned to Cornouaille at the age of 34 and formally dissolved the democratic state, establishing the Kingdom of Cornouaille once again in 1849.

Following 1848, the prestige and authority of the Rothschild dynasty in Leisdig diminished greatly. This was primarily because of the 3 Cornouaillan Wars during which, King Charles II of Cornouaille attacked Leidsig in order to win back the north-eastern provinces, which he argued were traditionally "Cornouaillan" and were stolen from Cornouaille during the Vienna Convention of 1811. In the third Cornouaillan War, Leidsig formally turned to Dacia for military aid and intervention. With the support of Dacia, Leidsig retained its north-eastern provinces and Cornouaille was defeated. However, this only made things worse for Leidsig. Internally, the people had grown increasingly frustrated by the backwardness of the military of Leisdsig. This, along with increased taxation, a poor economy, and lack of food resources resulted in increased protests across Leidsig, resulting in the formal dissolution of the Kingdom of Leidsig in 1899. From 1899 onward, the Kingdom of Lesidsig formed a dual monarchy with the Kingdom of Dacia, resulting in the Leisdig-Dacian Empire.

The Leisdig-Dacian Empire allowed Leidsig and its former provinces to maintain their cultural and administrative autonomy. The only difference was that the ruling dynasty would no longer be the Rothschild, but now would be the Báthory. But this would be short-lived. Under the Leisdig-Dacian Empire, the Dacian state-model of authoritarian and military dictatorship was slowly implemented across the Empire. Hereditary noble titles were removed, conscription were enforced uniformally across gender for all those above the age of 18. While the former Kingdom of Leidsig was allowed to retain it's administrative districts, the Dacian Emperors and Empresses began to impose their own language and administrative policies on the districts- noble families were given entire districts to govern, where they would be the absolute authority on day-to-day administration. The Leisdigian languages were replaced with Veredunian as well in order to create a cohesive, national identity.

In 1918, the Leisdig-Dacian Empire formally annexed Cornouaille, resulting in the establishment of the Empire of Veredun.
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[hider= Modern Veredunian History]
Since its inception in 1918, the empire has been relatively stable with the exception of a few revolts and protests here and there. Much of this is attributed to the unique, decentralized governmental structure of the empire that allows its citizens to express and practice their cultural traditions freely (with the exception of language as Veredunian is the official language). This structure allowed for the preservation of various forms of regional and folk culture, making the empire of Veredun one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world. However, the same decentralized structure also has its drawbacks. Governing over a large population size and area, the empire of Veredun was slow to modernize uniformly. This contrast was most notable between the former provinces of Dacia and those of the other two kingdoms. The latter were significantly more developed and progressive. However, in recent years the gap has started to close. This is attributed to Empress Catherine's reign during which technological innovation and modernization was highly encouraged.

Unlike the previous monarchs, Empress Catherine's reign has seen a significant rise in centralization- institutions such as the senate, supreme courts and the Veredunian police force have gained significant authority under her reign. This is also considered to be one of the reasons for a much more uniformed growth across the empire. However, not all aspects of Empress Catherine's reign have been this impressive. Married at a young age to her second cousin, Fryrik XI, Empress Catherine became the sovereign upon her husband's death at the age of 39. In addition to being the sovereign, she also was tasked with raising her 3 children- Theodora, Mattias and Serafina. It was often speculated that Serafina was the most favored out of Empress Catherine's children. Compared to her other two children, Empress Catherine made sure that Serafina was a lot more sheltered- Serafina did not enter the public sphere until the age of 18. Her older siblings in comparison entered the public sphere at the age of 14, when they began to attend training camps with the Veredunian military.

It was widely speculated that Empress Catherine and Serafina enjoyed a rather close relationship. This eventually changed as Serafina grew older. At the age of 18, Serafina met her future husband, Nicholas von Rothschild during their mandatory military service. it was here that both of them began their illicit romance. When Empress Catherine learned of this, she was furious. At the time, she highly disapproved of Nicholas, citing him to be unreliable and frivolous du to his lifestyle of constant partying and general excesses. This marked the decline of their relationship. As soon as their military conscription was complete, Serafina eloped with Nicholas and married him despite her mother's objections. This only made the relationship between Empress Catherine and her youngest daughter worse.

Over the course of the next few years, Serafina had 5 children with Nicholas and had stopped speaking to her mother entirely. Only her oldest son, Alexander ever met his grandmother in person at all. Instead, Empress Catherine and Serafina only communicated through formal and indirect channels- often either through her siblings, or through formal letters. They did not have a conversation in person for approximately 10 years. During this period, great heights were achieved in terms of technological innovation, genetic research and advanced health care. Along with her sister Theodora, Serafina was involved in the development of advanced health care and contributed greatly to the improvement of public health across the empire. It was also around this period that the empire began to offer greater academic and research opportunities in order to attract students and intellectuals from across the world. As a result of this, this period was characterized by a general increase in cultural exchange and technological innovation.

Empress Catherine and Serafina only began to speak after the birth of Serafina's youngest child, Erik. It was believed that they began to speak after Serafina learned that her youngest daughter, Juliet's failing health was due to an diagnosed genetic condition. After disclosing this to her mother, Empress Catherine increased the resources allocated to genetic research and genetic medicine. And when Juliet was 6, Serafina was finally able to develop medication in order to manage her daughter's symptoms, allowing her to live a normal life there onward. Once they started speaking, Serafina quickly regained her favor with her mother. Unfortunately, this would be short-lived as Nicholas and Serafina both died in a plane crash in 2004. The news of the death of her daughter devastated Empress Catherine. And to make things worse, a few months after Nicholas and Serafina's death, rumors began to circulate about the possibility of foul-play in the plane crash. It is believed that Serafina regaining favor with Empress Catherine might have motivated one of her siblings to have orchestrated the plane crash. However, this was never proven. Reports suggested that a lower noble bloodline, the Medicis were somehow involved in Nicholas and Serafina's death. 

In the wake of Serafina's death, the empire descended into wide-spread political instability. Revolts and protests were experienced in almost every major city in the empire. At the time of her death, Nicholas and Serafina were incredibly popular figures. Nicholas had gained a reputation for being a detail-oriented administrator. He was especially popular with people in rural Veredun due to his egalitarian and rather meritocratic nature. He was also very popular for encouraging folk and rural culture, which most members of the higher nobility did not do. Serafina also was very popular with the citizens of Veredun. Like her husband, she was very popular in rural Veredun due to her commitment to public health: she aimed to provide members of rural areas with advanced and affordable health care. In addition to this, like Empress Catherine, Serafina was a great orator with a charismatic personality who promised to represent the values and needs of rural Veredun in the imperial capital. Thus, rumors of foul-play in their death angered the Veredunian populous who took out their anger in a wide-spread purge that targeted members of the Medici bloodline and their allies specifically. For almost a week, the empire was embroiled in a series of chaotic revolts and protests that resulted in the deaths of several members of the Medici bloodline and saw a significant amount of their property vandalized. And what started as political instability spurred by the deaths of Nicholas and Serafina von Rothschild soon became a protest against Empress Catherine's centralist policies, particularly that of cultural repression and imperialism, and the imposition of Veredunian across the empire. 

In order to quell the political instability, the military was called in for reinforcements. This led to the deaths and injuries of thousands of Veredunian citizens, many of whom were cited to be peaceful protesters. Alexander, who at the time had just completed his mandatory military service was one of the thousands of soldiers deployed and tasked with repression. Orders were given to "repress the political instability, regardless of the situation." This would be the largest event of political instability ever experienced in Veredun under Empress Catherine's reign. Following this, the authority of the Veredunian police forces was increased significantly- wide-spread surveillance and censorship was implemented in order to prevent a revolt on such a scale from ever happening again. This took place by placing cameras and mikes in all public areas in order to record the conversations and actions of citizens, television screens doubled as spy cameras in order to watch citizens inside their homes and phone networks were tapped into in order to hear private conversations. In schools, children also were encouraged (some would argue that they were brainwashed) to denounce any "suspicious" individuals- anyone who appeared to criticize the Empress in any way. In terms of censorship, propaganda promoting the Empress and the empire's progress was released while any form of media that made the empire or Empress appear to look weak or presented it in a negative light was repressed. Governmental records became harder and harder to access and the few that could be accessed were likely to be altered and edited to present Veredun in an increasingly positive light (or target enemies of the Empress). This trend would persist for years to come- any journalists or activists who appeared to criticize the Empress or empire in any way appeared to "vanish"- their work entirely removed along with their very existence, right from their birth records.

In the wake of Seraina's death, Empress Catherine also made the controversial choice of not naming her heir apparent at all. This has led many to speculate that Serafina would have been Empress Catherine's heir apparent and in the wake of her death, the Empress needed more time to find a suitable candidate. However, she has denied this repeatedly and has asserted that she would like the heir apparent to be the most suitable for the role, as opposed to the oldest. Empress Catherine reached out to her grandchildren. Alexander at this point was an adult, having turned 19 recently. Evangeline was 16, Ferdinand was 12, Juliet was 11, and Erik was 8. Empress Catherine chose to allow Juliet to live with her, breaking the siblings up for the first time. Erik and Ferdinand were both sent to be raised by a trusted friend of Serafina's at a covert military base, while Evangeline was emancipated and began her mandatory military service 2 years earlier. The indirect adoption of Juliet was treated with suspicion and intrigue across the empire- Juliet was the only one of her siblings who received both titles pertaining to her Rothschild and Báthory bloodlines. This has also led many to speculate that Juliet was Empress Catherine's new favorite and thus, a strong contender for the position of the heir apparent.

Having not formally declared a heir apparent, Empress Catherine adopted a new practice of assigning certain individuals provinces to govern. She firmly believes that efficient administration is only possible if all voices are represented. Thus, she began the practice of assigning civil servants and ministers remote, rural provinces to govern and represent. This allowed for a much more cohesive development of the empire, and encouraged the creation of a much more unified national identity. Along with this, Empress Catherine was instrumental in establishing a modern police force which was distinctly separate from the military. This police force would be highly efficient and would be an integral part in the over all reduction of criminal activity across the empire.

In 2016, Juliet defied her grandmother. Unlike her other grandchildren, Empress Catherine was generally a lot more tolerant with Juliet, allowing her granddaughter to openly criticize her. This favoritism had already upset the delicate balance of power within the empire- Empress Catherine's oldest grandson, Konrad was often antagonized by this and would often take out his anger on Juliet in regular duels. Empress Catherine's granddaughter, Anastasia was often held in high regard by her grandmother for keeping constant tabs on Juliet's activity. Consequently, Anastasia would be one of the key figures in developing the controversial, surveillance branch of the Verdunian police force. But when Juliet went out of her way to elope and marry Antonio de Medici, Empress Catherine was furious. Though the Medici bloodline was technically a part of the lower nobility, they were just as prosperous as any of the higher noble bloodlines. Furthermore, the Medici bloodline had always been a traditional rival of the Rothschild, Valois and Báthory bloodlines, having been accused of contributing to political instability within the kingdoms of Leisdig and Cornouaille through instigating a series of violent protests and riots. Under Empress Catherine's reign, the power and influence of the Medici bloodline had been severely curtailed. However, they still remained a vocal critic of the Empress, and Juliet's marriage to Antonio was a personal betrayal to the Empress. This once more shifted the balance of power within the empire.

In 2016, Empress Catherine's grandson Ferdinand was killed during active duty. His death devastated Juliet and her siblings. A few months after his death, details began to emerge that Ferdinand's death was not accidental but instead, was an assassination. It was speculated that he might have bee assassinated for threatening to expose the exploitative nature of Veredun's genetic research. However, this was just speculation as absolutely no proof suggesting this was ever found. But this led to the greater conversation about the Veredunian Intelligence Police and their role in what seemed to be an increasing trend of political assassinations and "disappearances."

Following Ferdinand's death, it became apparent that the role of Empress Catherine's heir apparent had 3 candidates: Konrad, Anastasia and Juliet. Each one of them have their strengths and weaknesses, and each is greatly suited for the role. However, only one will be chosen and that will seemingly be revealed only after Empress Catherine's death. Thus, recent years have been marked with the growth of factions between the three potential successors- the debate has divided the entire empire. Despite this, Empress Catherine's control over the empire is as strong as ever. If anything, because of the progressive centralization, it's only growing stronger by the day. ⠀️
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[/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓞𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT] 
[hider=Government Structure]
Government Structure: Autocracy, Dynastic Monarchy, Decentralized
Administrative Districts: 120

Veredun's governmental structure is very unique, and confusing to be honest. Unlike other empires and kingdoms, Veredun is decentralized. This means that its administrative districts have a considerable amount of autonomy and power of their own. As each district is under the dominion of a specific noble family who oversees their day-to-day administration, the noble family also has a significant amount of influence in dictating cultural expressions- music, theater, art, dance, and language. The only thing that is pre-determined is the use of Veredunian in all official capacities (educational institutions, hospitals, governmental offices, military, etc.), and taxation, which is standard across the Empire. Of late, a standardized historical timeline of Veredun is also being imposed across the Empire by the center in order to foster a cohesive national identity.

[b]Senate & Supreme Courts[/b] 
Because of it's decentralized structure, Veredun's central institutions exist in a curious space. With little say over the day-to-day administration of the districts, the central institutions of the senate and supreme court handle problems and legislation affecting the entire empire as a whole. These include exceedingly controversial and high-profile cases, and mostly foreign affairs. When involved in domestic affairs, the supreme courts and legislation oversee the interpretation of Veredunian laws by different districts. Despite this, the supreme courts and the senate are exceedingly prestigious institutions whose judgement is treated with a considerable amount of respect from the citizens of Veredun. Having said this, the supreme courts and the senate are primarily advisory bodies to the Empress. The Senate President occupies the second highest administrative position within the Empire, after the Empress herself. Additionally, most members of the senate come from noble backgrounds, particularly the Higher Nobility. While there are a few notable members of the senate from the Lower nobility, or without noble background at all, these are very rare circumstances. Such members are usually elected into the senate upon their exceptional merit.

[b]Military[/b]

The one centralized institution that does have a significant influence across the empire is the military. Broken down into four distinctive branches: air force, army, navy, and intelligence; the military is perhaps the most powerful institution that exists in Veredun. Almost autonomous, the military has its own courts of justice which it uses to uphold its values and rules. Furthermore, the military is also one of the largest employers in Veredun- it is estimated that approximately 45% of all Veredunian citizens are affiliated with their military in some way or the other. That is an exorbitantly high percentage and can be attributed to many reasons, the two most prevalent ones being the Veredunian constitution and the cultural legacies of Dacia.

At the age of 18, every Veredunian citizen is conscripted into the military to serve for at least 4 years. This rule is applied to all citizens regardless of their gender. As a result of this, the Veredunian military is constantly supplied with an influx of young citizens who are then trained rigorously over the course of the next 4 years. It is estimated that nearly half of these new recruits end up working with the army in various capacities ranging from active duty to military intelligence (spies, surveillance and technological developments). This trend is especially true for Empress Catherine's reign under which the centralized institutions of the military, police, senate, and supreme courts have gained a considerable amount of influence as compared to earlier monarchs. This is attributed to the increased nationalistic sentiment under her regime.

Having said this, the military has always wielded considerable influence over the politics of the state. This is especially true of Dacia, where the Kingdom itself functioned on the basis of a dynastic, military dictatorship. These legacies are extremely prominent within Veredun, where high-ranking members of the military are regarded with a significant amount of prestige and honor. In many cases, high-ranking military officials have often seen to wield more influence than Veredunian politicians and members of the senate, which makes it hard to gauge the true extent of the senate's powers. However, it is important to note that high-ranking positions of the Veredunian military are often awarded by the Empress herself. These positions are mostly reserved for her immediate family or other members of the higher nobility.

[b]Veredunian Police Force[/b]

The Veredunian Police Force is a relatively new institution as compared to the other centralized institutions. Many speculate that the emergence of a modern police force is what defines modern Veredunian history. This is primarily because there was no institution similar to the police force that existed in the entirety of Veredunian history, including that of the three Kingdoms. The closest institution to police force that did exist in Veredunian history is the military. However, the military has always been focused on external affairs as compared to internal. When required to monitor internal affairs, it was usually in the capacity of breaking up protests and riots, and to maintain peace and stability. Thus, even the military did not perform the same functions of the police force historically.

The existence of the Veredunian police force goes back decades to approximately 1930. However, it was no where nearly as strong and centralized as it is today. This can be attributed entirely to Empress Catherine, who believed that the police force needed to be modernized and centralized in order to provide maximum protection to Veredunian citizens. As a result of this, the police force is divided into three rough categories: judiciary, executive, and the intelligence. The executive branch of the police force comprises of officers on active duty- these range from narcotics to traffic control officers. It is estimated that a police officer serves approximately every 30 Veredunian citizens. Significantly lower crime rates are attributed to this high response ratio.

The judiciary branch of the police force comprises of local courts, judges and state-appointed lawyers. These courts are charged with overseeing the interpretation of the Veredunian constitution on a day-to-day basis. What this means is that most problems are resolved within these local courts. The highest court under the police force is the high courts. Each district has a high court in its capital city. These high courts pass judgement on cases that could not be resolved successfully by the local or primary courts of justice. If these high courts fail to do so as well, the case is sent over to the supreme court. However, this is a fairly rare occurrence. Approximately 1 case is sent to the supreme court by the high courts a year.

The third and final branch of the police force is perhaps the most controversial one- the intelligence. No one really knows how this branch is defined, making their actions often questionable. The intelligence branch is further broken up into two rough branches again- the VIP (Veredunian Intelligence Police) and the intelligence officers. The intelligence officers have multiple duties and functions. They monitor media and propaganda in the districts, making sure that all content is allied with the values of the Empress. In addition to this, the intelligence officers also are involved in keeping an eye on Veredunian citizens, making sure that they comply to the values of the Empress. Now this is the ambiguous part. The way the intelligence officers seem to achieve this is through surveillance, often infringing on individual rights to privacy. Cameras and mikes exist in every public area, constantly picking up the thoughts and actions of individual citizens. What is more alarming however, is that in recent years this surveillance has also branched into the private sphere of individuals- telephone lines and networks are often tapped into, television screens are used to monitor individuals inside their homes, and the list really does go on. Based on the assessment of the intelligence officers, the VIP is dispatched to "minimize risks." Problematic individuals, that is individuals who are suspected of being threats to the state of Veredun and the Empress in any capacity at all are instantly arrested. However, it is important to note that the arrests of the VIP and the regular Veredunian police officers differ in many ways. Arrests made by the VIP do not do not require to be tried in front of the judges in the primary courts. Instead, arrested citizens instantly "disappear"- entire existences are erased, right from their birth records. This makes the Veredunian Police Force one of the most controversial aspects of the Empire of Veredun.

While the Veredunian Police Force does have significant drawbacks, it is also exceedingly efficient. A complete lack of protests and riots is attributed entirely to the Veredunan Police Force, along with an overall reduction in criminal activity across the empire.
[/hider]

[hider=Culture]
While Veredun is an empire, the three kingdoms of Leidsig, Dacia and Cornouaille are very much present. While all three have similar cultural and historical trajectories, all three kingdoms still maintained their autonomy and were distinctly different from one another. Till date, the imperial palaces of all three kingdoms do exist within the empire.

[b]Cornouaille[/b]

[img]https://pmcvariety.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/vue-du-chateau_copyright-p_crapet.jpg?w=1000&h=563&crop=1[/img]
[quote]The former Cornouaillan imperial palace, Château de Fontainebleau is now used as the central residence of the Valois bloodline.[/quote]

Veredun's western most provinces were one the kingdom of Cornouaille. The Cornouaillan imperial palace, Château de Fontainebleau still stands in Cornouaille's former capital city. While no longer an imperial palace, the Chateau still remains one of Veredun's most beautiful and extravagant buildings and is used as the capital residence of the Valois bloodline.

The Kingdom of Cornouaille was renowned for it's extravagant culture- expressions of these still exist in Veredun's eastern provinces. Cornouaille was renowned for its extravagant architecture, art, literature, music and dance traditions. Some of the world's greatest artists were from Cornouaille and their work has been well preserved in museums and galleries across the region. In terms of architecture, Cornouaillan architecture has been influenced by a number of different styles: Early Gothic, High Gothic, Rayonnant, Late Gothic or Flamboyant, Romanesque, Pre-Romanesque, Gallo-Roman, Baroque,Rococo, Neoclassicial, Beaux Arts, Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. Architectureal structures in these styles complete with extravagant carvings both internally and externally still do exist and have been preserved exceptionally. The most notable of these structures of course are the Cornouaillan Châteaux. Similar influences can also be seen in Cornouaillan art and music. Especially in the early modern and modern era, Cornouaillan art and music emerged as "high culture" and defined artistic expressions across the region there after.

In addition to this, Cornouaille also emerged as an early leader in cinema. Many regard Cornouaille to be the birthplace of modern cinema. The region has also produced many notable cinematic trends that have helped define modern movies and movie-going culture. The region is renowned for it's "small" cinemas and has the highest density of cinemas per capita in the world. The region also holds the world's largest film archive. Many prestigious film awards take place in Cornouaillan cities even today.

Cornouaillan wine was considered to be some of the finest in the world- till date, wine and champagne from the region is highly valued both within the empire and the international community. In addition to alcohol, Cornouaille was also renowned for its food: clean flavors, simple ingredients, impeccable presentation. Considered one of more extravagant cuisines across the world, Cornouaillan food established the idea of "haute cuisine." The region is especially famous for its abundant varieties of cheeses, and deserts.

Cornouaille also has is renowned for its fashion industry. From the early modern era onward, Cornouaille was regarded to be the arbiter of taste and style across the world. Catering to the world's wealthiest members, Cornouaille was renowned for its booming luxury industry. In the modern era, Cornouaille was accredited with creating the culture of "high fashion" also known as couture or haute couture. Some of the world's largest luxury brands, designers and magazines are Cornouaillan. Every season, Cornouaille hosts some of the largest fashion shows during which designers and models from across the world attend and participate. These shows are believed to "make or break" the careers of designers and models in the fashion industry. Furthermore, these shows also influence global fashion trends from season to season. A common belief is that Cornouaillan women are the most extravagant and fashionable in the world.

In addition to this, Cornouaille also produced some of the world's foremost intellectuals and thinkers. Cornouaillan thinkers have historically made ground-breaking contributions to the fields of math, science and humanities. This trend continues to persist today as well- the Valois bloodline is heavily involved in the Veredunian medical industry and have emerged as world leaders for their research on genetic medicine and advanced healthcare. It is also widely believed that the idea of the mdoern nation-state developed from Cornouaille and its revolutions.

[b]Leidsig[/b]

[img]http://www.pstours.cz/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/vienna.jpg[/img]
[quote]The former imperial palace of Leisdig in Vienna. Now, it is used as a central residence for the Medici bloodline.[/quote]

The Kingdom of Leidsig comprised of Veredun's central provinces. As with Cornouaille, Leidsig's imperial palace, Shloss Hofburg still stands in its former capital city- Vienna. While the imperial palace no longer houses the monarchy of Leidsig, it is used as a central residence for the members of the Rothschild bloodline and is regarded to be one of the most beautiful structures in Veredun today.

The Kingdom of Leidsig was renowned for their extravagant culture. In particular, Leidsig has been credited with making significant contributions to classical music. Some of the world's most important composers were from Leidsig. Additionally, Vienna has long been an important centre of musical innovation. Composers of the 18th and 19th centuries were drawn to the city by the patronage of the Rothschilds, and made Vienna the capital of classical music. The Musikverein in Vienna is considered to be one of the three finest concert halls in the world and since 1939, the famous Vienna New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic is broadcast from its Golden Hall to an audience of one billion across the world. The members of the Vienna Philharmonic, which is regularly considered one of the finest orchestras in the world, are chosen from the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera.The Vienna State Opera, in Veredunian called Staatsoper, is one of the most important opera companies in the world today and has one of the largest operating budgets. The Staatsoper is also venue for the Vienna Opera Ball, an event that takes place on the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday. The tradition of the Opera Ball goes back decades and regularly receives thousands of attendees.

The Vienna Boys' Choir is also one of the best known boys' choirs in the world. Known for its exceedingly high vocal standard, the choir has worked with some of the world's greatest composers and musicians. The choir is also one of the oldest in the world, established by Maximilian I in 1498.

In addition to classical music, Leidsig is also home to various unique folk musical and dance traditions as well. These are also highly encouraged and preserved with Leidsig's classical music traditions.

Like Cornouaille, Leidsig was also famous for its architecture. Often regarded to be the "kingdom of fairy-tales," Leidsig was famous for its abundance of palaces, castles, and other dramatic buildings. However, as compared to Cornouaille, many of the structures are relatively new, the earliest of which was constructed only in the 13-14th centuries. As a result of this, these structures were influenced primarily by the Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical and Art Nouveau styles. Art Nouveau however, pertains only to the newer structures, built in the 20th century. Almost all these structures have been preserved and excellently. And while some are still used as private residences for noble families, others are open to the public.

Leidsig also made significant contributions to silent films. Many of the world's finest directors, actors, authors and cinematographers were from Leidsig. Today, many important film festivals are held in Leidsigian cities.

Like with Cornouaille, Leidsig also has a long tradition of wine-making and beer production that dates back centuries. As compared to Cornouaille, the cuisine of Leidsig is heavily meat based. However, the deserts of Leidsig were regarded to be some of the most indulgent in the world. This trend continues today as well. chocolatiers and bakeries established in the 17th and 18th century still operate today, serving some of the most delicious deserts and pastries in the world. These were a hot favorite with the Rothschild monarchs of Leidsig, and still continue to be with citizens across Veredun and the world.

While Leidsigan wine is excellent, Leidsig is primarily renowned for its beer. In medieval Leidsig, it was often safer to consume beer than it was to consume water. In 1516, Rothschild monarchs passed the "Purity Law" establishing that beer should only be brewed from barley, hops and water. Today, this is considered to be the oldest food regulation in the world and still exists today unchanged from the original. Today, Veredun has over 13000 breweries and more than 5,000 different brands of beer. A large majority of these breweries and brands of beer operate from the former lands of the Kingdom of Leidsig. Leidisg was also known as the "Kingdom of Festivals." People in Leidsig were almost always celebrating one thing or the other. Exceedingly proud of their culinary trends, many festivals showcase regional cuisines and beer and wine from local producers.

Leidsig was also famous for inventing the "coffee house" culture. However, Leidsigian coffee houses differ greatly from the commercial coffee-selling brands like Starbucks. This tradition remains strong in the region even today. Leidsigian coffee houses are defined by their marble tabletops, Thonet chairs, newspaper tables and interior design details in the style of Historicism. In many classic cafés piano music is played in the evening and social events like literary readings are held. In warmer months, customers can often sit outside in a Schanigarten. Almost all coffee houses provide small food dishes like sausages as well as Leidsigian desserts, cakes and tarts. Unlike some other café traditions around the world, it is completely normal for a customer to linger alone for hours and study the omnipresent newspaper. This specific coffee-house culture and atmosphere attracted leading writers of the late 19th and early 20th century. Writers would often meet at coffee houses to exchange ideas. Some would even write at coffee houses giving rise to the literary genre of "coffee house literature" and the idea of "coffee house poets" (in reference of poets who would read their work out loud to an audience at these coffee houses).

Leidsig was also home to some of the finest educational institutions in the world and continues to do so. Universities and educational institutions in the region are among the best in the world due to their large archives and excellent facilities. Despite not ruling over Leidsig anymore, the Rothschild bloodline still oversees many of the cultural, academic and research programs in the region.

[b]Dacia[/b]

[img]http://www.orangesmile.com/extreme/img/main/castelul-peles_1.jpg[/img]
[quote]Peleș Castle, the former imperial Dacian castle. Former residence of the Báthory Bloodline.[/quote]

The Kingdom of Dacia comprised of Veredun's eastern most provinces. Like with the other two kingdoms, Dacia's former imperial palace, the Peleș Castle, still remains standing. While no longer housing the Báthory bloodline, it is still one of the most impressive buildings in Veredun.

Of the three kingdoms, Dacian culture would most likely be the most distinctive. Unlike Cornouaille and Leidsig, Dacia was founded by military factions. Many of Dacia's former provinces rose to prominence because they were located on trading routes. This is one of the main reasons as to why Dacian culture is so distinct compared to that of the other two kingdoms. Quickly rising to prominence as independent states, the Transylvanian Báthorians defeated their neighboring states and established the Kingdom of Dacia. Much of Dacia's history consists of war and excessive violence. This is reflected in every aspect of Dacian culture, but primarily in its architecture.

Dacia has a large number of churches, castles and fortresses. Unlike Leisdig and Cornouaille, Dacia has an abundance of wooden churches. The earliest dating back to medieval Dacia, these churces are abundant in the Dacaian countryside and have been preserved till today. In addition to this, Dacia also had an abundance of monastries and princely seats or boyar mansions. Especially in the early modern and modern era, Dacian monastries were often elaborate and beautiful structures that blended various different architectural styles together, most notably the Gothic style. In the 17th century, baroque nad oriental features were blended together to create large, elaborate boyar mansions and monastries. These structures were usually carved in geometric motifs, coloured in lapis lazuli and golden foil, all over the facades. Furthermore, the interiors were also often lavishly decorated, with beautiful stone carvings, stucco work and paintings. From the 19th century onward, elements of neoclassical and romanticism began to influence Dacian architectural styles. In the 20th and 21st centuries, this Dacian architecture was influenced by symbolism, and the art deco and art nouveau styles as well.

A kingdom shaped by war, Dacian towns are also distinctly different from those of the other two kingdoms. Extensively fortified, the towns usually feature a central market place with a church, narrow streets with sides linked here and there by archways. This design was constructed to protect the towns from sieges in times of war. Despite this, many Dacian towns were destroyed and were required to be constructed over and over. In a modern context, many of the Dacian towns keep this organizational structure. However, this pattern has its drawbacks as it restricts urban growth. As a result of this, Dacian towns tend to be significantly smaller than those of Leisdig and Cornouaille.

Dacia also has a rich variety of regional and folk traditions pertaining to music, dance, folklore, wood carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery of costumes, household decorations, and cuisine. Like Leidsig, Dacian cuisine is heavily meat-based given the severity and length of the Dacian winters.

In terms of the Dacian language, it varies significantly from Veredunian. Unlike Veredunian, the Dacian language is based on the Cyrillic script. This further emphasizes the cultural differences between Dacia and Leisdig and Cornouaille.

Dacians also tend to be a lot more religious as compared to the other two kingdoms and practice Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Their strict observance and the largely rural nature of Dacian society makes Dacia one of the less economically developed and technologically advanced regions of Veredun. Having said this, Dacians tend to be a lot more athletic and strictly disciplined than most Veredunians, making them the largest group in the Veredunian military and police forces.
[/hider]

[hider=Titles & Ranks]
[u][b]HEAD OF STATE [/b][/u]
As a dynastic empire, the ruling monarch is almost always from the Báthory bloodline. Furthermore, Veredun practices absolute primogeniture (for the most part), according to which the first-born inherits the main estate, regardless of their sex and gender. However, in recent years this is becoming more and more of a suggestion as opposed to an enforced law or principle. Empress Catherine in particular is also notable for not declaring an heir at all (not openly anyway). Not wanting her successor to be the first-born, she wishes her successor to be the right fit for the office of the head of state. As a result of this, she has chosen not to disclose her choice for the heir apparent, wanting her grandchildren to impress her instead. Each day is assessment where they are closely watched. One false move, and the further they are from the Crown.

[i]Titles[/i]
Holy Roman Emperor/Empress 
Empress and Autocrat of Veredun 
Queen of Leisdig, Cornouaille and Dacia 
Commander-in-chief of the Veredunian Armed Forces 
Grand Master of the Order of the Dragon 
Grand Master of the Order of the Golden Fleece

[i]Styles[/i]
Her Royal Majesty (HRM) 
Her Divine Majesty (HDM) 
Her Royal Highness (HRH)

[i]Epithet[/i]
"The Great" 
"The Wise"

[b][u]THE HIGHER NOBILITY [/u][/b]
As an dynastic empire and autocracy, only one bloodline has the privilage of inheriting the throne. Other bloodlines are demoted to occupy other governmental structures and posts such as those of the army, senate, courts of justice, and other administrative posts across the empire. In order to show the heirarchy of bloodlines, certain noble titles are awarded to specific bloodlines, further emphasizing their status within the empire.

[b]Báthory Bloodline [/b]
[i]Grand Duke/Duchess, Grand Prince/Princess[/i] styled as Royal Highness (HRH). The titles are hereditary but do not reward land or castles. Instead, the Empress distributes territories and administrative regions to their subjects.

[b]Rothschild Bloodline [/b]
[i]Archduke/ Archduchess, Erzherzog/Erzherzogin[/i] styled as Imperial Highness (HIH). The titles are hereditary but do not reward land or castles. Instead, the Empress distributes territories and administrative regions to her subjects.

Valois Bloodline 
Duc/Duchesse styled as Imperial Highness (HIH).The titles are hereditary but do not reward land or castles. Instead, the Empress distributes territories and administrative regions to her subjects.

[u][b]THE LOWER NOBILITY [/b][/u]
Comprised of several Veredunian noble families, each bloodline is given one administrative region and is overseen by members of the Higher Nobility and the Royal Family. The following hereditary titles are applicable, and are styled as Serene Highness (HSH):

[i]Count/Countess 
Baron/Baroness 
Marquis/Marquessa 
Comte/Comtesse 
Fürst/Fürstin, Graf/Gräfin 
Freiherr/Freifrau and Freiin 
Reichsfürst/Reichsfürstin[/i]

The titles are hereditary but do not reward land or castles.

The Medici Bloodline is involved in the daily administration of Magna Graecia. 
The Catargiu Family is involved in the daily administration of Wallachia . 
The Vacarescu Family is involved in the daily administration of Transylvania 
The Lahovary Family is involved in the daily administration of the Valcea county 
The Cantacuzino Family is involved in the daily administration of Caliacra 
The Badeni Family is involved in the daily administrations of Greater Polskya. 
The Bobrowski Family is involved in the daily administration of Kuyavia-Pomerania. 
The Cieszkowski Family is involved in the daily administration of Lesser Polyskia 
The Chodkiewicz de Młynów Family is involved in the daily administration of Łódź 
The Dąmbski Family is involved in the daily administration of Lublin. 
The Dzieduszycki Family is involved in the daily administration of Lubusz. 
The Flemming Family is involved in the daily administration of Masovia. 
The Fredro Family is involved in the daily administration of Opole. 
The Grabowski Family is involved in the daily administration of Podlaskie. 
The Jezierski Family is involved in the daily administration of Pomerania. 
The Moszyński Family is involved in the daily administration of Subcarpathia. 
The Sobolewski Family is involved in the daily administration of Warmia-Masuria.
[/hider]

[hider=Imperial Orders]
[b]Order of the Dragon [/b]
The Order of the Dragon (Societas Draconistarum in High Veredunian, literally translating “Society of the Dragonists”) was a monarchical chivalric order for selected nobility, founded in 1408 by Sigismund who was the Archduke of Fürstentum (r. 1387–1437) at the time and later became the Leisdigian Emperor (r. 1433–1437). It was fashioned after the military orders of the the middle ages, requiring its initiates to defend the cross and fight the enemies of Christianity, in particular the Ottoman Empire.

[b]Order of the Golden Fleece [/b]
Historically, the Order of the Golden Fleece was a Roman Catholic order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It received further privileges unusual to any order of knighthood: the sovereign undertook to consult the order before going to war; all disputes between the knights were to be settled by the order; at each chapter the deeds of each knight were held in review, and punishments and admonitions were dealt out to offenders, and to this the sovereign was expressly subject; the knights could claim as of right to be tried by their fellows on charges of rebellion, heresy and treason, and Charles V conferred on the order exclusive jurisdiction over all crimes committed by the knights; the arrest of the offender had to be by warrant signed by at least six knights, and during the process of charge and trial he remained not in prison but in the gentle custody of his fellow knights. The order, conceived in an ecclesiastical spirit in which mass and obsequies were prominent and the knights were seated in choirstalls like canons, was explicitly denied to heretics, and so became an exclusively Catholic award during the Reformation. The officers of the order were the chancellor, the treasurer, the registrar, and the King of Arms, or herald, “Toison d'Or”.

[b]Ordre des Arts et des Lettres [/b]
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) is an Order of Veredun. Its purpose is the recognition of significant contributions to the arts, literature, or the propagation of these fields. Previously known to be the Order of Saint Michel, the Order has 3 grades: Commandeur, Officier and Chevalier.
[/hider]

I also have links to more information regarding the Empire of Veredun if you're interested:
History: [url]https://empireofgoldentears.tumblr.com/history[/url]
Notable Members: [url]https://empireofgoldentears.tumblr.com/members[/url]
General Page & Aesthetic: [url]https://empireofgoldentears.tumblr.com/[/url]

[/INDENT] 
[/hider]


[hider=NPC: Anatole Koltovsky]

[center][h2][color=skyblue]Anatole Koltovsky of Rustavya[/color][/h2]
[img]http://blog.sight-management.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Vincent_Lacrocq_for_Mango_Men_Spring_2015_001.jpg[/img]

[color=skyblue][i]"The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him."[/i] -[b]Niccolò Machiavelli[/b][/color][/center] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎Anatole Koltovsky[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]None[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓣𝓲𝓽𝓵𝓮[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]Grand Duke of Rustavya[/INDENT]

[color=skyblue][b]💎Age[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]24[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]Male[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓢𝓮𝔁𝓾𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]Heterosexual[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓐𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]Anatole is has a tall, lean stature. Well-built, Anatole is far stronger than he looks. He has strong, well-defined features: his face is incredibly photogenic and he's renowned for his chiseled featured. In addition to this, Anatole also has luscious, thick dark blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes. Standing tall at 6.1 ft, Anatole commands regality, strength and power. Effortlessly debonair, Anatole is always seen in sharply tailored suits and is renowned for his polished looks. [/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓟𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]calm, composed, relaxed, aloof, regal, perceptive, quiet, scheming, secretive, confident, elitist, a tad bit arrogant, debonair, cultured, strategic, charismatic, great public speaker, manipulative, controlled, intelligent, effortless, loyal, efficient[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓑𝓲𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓱𝔂[/b]
 ――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]
Anatole is the second son of the prominent Rustavyan figure Kazimir Koltovsky and his wife, Elisabeth who is the minister of Public Health in Rustavya. Because of this, Anatole grew up living a life of grand excess, growing up with among the Rustavyan noble families. His older brother, Sergei was especially closed to Vasya Nikolayveich, the illegitimate son of the Rustavyan King Nicholas III. As a result of this, Anatole grew up in close company with the Rustayvan heir to the throne, Tsesarevna Verena. A part of her circle of friends, Anatole was particularly notable for being involved with Yelena Fabergé- a Rustavyan Grand Duchess and one of Tsesarevna Verena's closest friends. 

In Rustavya, Anatole is a prominent businessman and entrepreneur. Anatole developed his first software at the age of 16, which he later sold a year later for a considerably (undisclosed ofc, this is Rustavya) sum of money. Using the profits as capital, Anatole was able to start his first company at the age of 18. A technology company, Anatole works closely in the Rustavyan medical sector and works with the ISB, though it's not disclosed in what capacity. At the age of 23, Anatole was inducted into the cabinet as an auxiliary officer. 

[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓕𝓒 + 𝓒𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓻 𝓒𝓸𝓭𝓮[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]Vincent lacrocq[/INDENT] 


[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓑𝓮𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓭 𝓣𝓸[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]TBD[/INDENT] 

[color=skyblue][b]💎𝓞𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻[/b] 
――――――――――[/color] [INDENT]Secretly a Veredunian prince. Son of one of Catherine's daughters (Elisabeth) who was sent to Rustavya at a very young age to spy on Nicholas. Her position became more prominent after Rhiannon's disappearance. While in Rustavya, Elisabeth does not use her royal Veredunian titles, which is why neither one of her children have official Veredunian titles either.


[hider=Family Members:]

[img]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DpKUICNXUAEVsKT.jpg[/img]
[quote]1. Maria Elisabeth Koltovsky, Charlize Theron, Mother.[/quote]

[img]https://www.londonsockcompany.com/dashboard/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/London-Sock-Company0893-720x720.jpg[/img]
[quote]2. Khazmir Koltovsky, David Gandy, Father.[/quote]

[img]https://res.cloudinary.com/next-management/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,g_north,h_720,q_auto:best,w_540/v1/photos/550279[/img]
[quote]3. Sergei Koltovsky, Arthur kulkov, Older Brother.[/quote]
[/hider]


[/INDENT] 

[/hider]


[hider=Character Dynamics for Erik]
[center][h2][color=skyblue]Erik von Rothschild[/color][/h2]
[img]https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3X9ntsDinc/WNndbojOBuI/AAAAAAAAhew/F1VoNfJV6-8HaWNeVuYKO9fyMBopPp8ugCLcB/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/benjamineidem_thefashionisto.jpg[/img][/center]


[color=skyblue][i]"Carve your name into those shinning stars"[/i][/color]


[color=palevioletred][b]Ayleanna Lynton[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=df0808][b]Mai Mei[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=ff8c00][b]Alejandro Aguíla de Agustín[/b][/color]
[i]"Flamoyant and loud. Defines life of the party. Great to be around"[/i]
Party squad.

[color=skyblue][b]Isabella del Reyes[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=6bb8cf][b]Talya Burnley[/b][/color]
[i]"Very reliable friend. Makes for great company"[/i]
Party Squad & fake fiance

[color=royalblue][b]Edelessa/Valentine Blanchefleur[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=tomato][b]Rhia Cadfael[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=f2aed3][b]Liv Viriatus[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=c2e2a7][b]Dom Viriatus[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=F2e9ac][b]Anton Telesphorides[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=white][b]Ivy Burnley[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=skyblue][b]Alexandra Bonnisseau[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=royalblue][b]Leon Ford[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=440e62][b]Elijah Rothchester[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=799c82][b]Yu Song[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=48B8B5][b]Gen Anders[/b][/color]
[i]"A little too introverted & weird. Very innocent & sheltered. Good intentions though"[/i]
Very close friends with her older brother, Philip. Met her through him. Philip asked him to keep an eye out for Gen and Erik agreed. 

[color=fa2600][b]Han Hyeri[/b][/color]
[i]"Great listener. Very reliable friend."[/i]
Party squad, very close friend. 

[color=C1D6C8][b]Dirk Isidor[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[b]Venera Nikolayevna[/b]
[i]"Breakfast"[/i]
No more description required. Erik lives to tease the crap out of Vera. 

[color=B0C4DE][b]Anastasiy Romanova[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=DAA520][b]Elias Kokinos[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=662d91][b]Amaranthine Loveridge[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=FFA500][b]Mila Ford[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=A982B4][b]Aito Bai[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=008B8B][b]Akio Bai[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=salmon][b]Fareeha Amari[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=burlywood][b]Quentin Houston[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=6bb8cf][b]Raven Willow[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=skyblue][b]Hui-Bawa[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details

[color=red][b]Edwin Drakewine[/b][/color]
[i]"Thoughts on person"[/i]
Relation Details
[/hider]