[hider=Kingdom of Kudrion] [center] [color=00aeef]Nation Name[/color]: Kingdom of Kudrion [color=00aeef]Government Form[/color]: Absolute Monarchy [color=00aeef]Demographics[/color]: 100% Human. Humans on Kudrion have been genetically modified to be stronger, tougher and to be taller than average human height pre-colonization, with an average height of about two meters. [color=00aeef]Population[/color]: 1.2 Billion --- [/center] [color=39b54a]Planet Name and Description[/color]: Kudrion is an earth-like world that orbits the star Ogeid. It is a very dangerous world, where nearly all forms of life are lethal to the average, unmodified human. The vast majority of native animal species also exhibit evolutionary rates far higher than creatures of Earth, requiring the planet’s inhabitants to constantly adapt in order to survive. Kudrion is also littered with ruins of an advanced alien civilization that was wiped out after humanity arrived in the Ogeid system. These ruins are filled with wonders and dangers alike, and many make their livelihoods exploring them. [color=39b54a]History[/color]: When Ghephion ripped out the heart of Tellus and hacked his body into pieces, Lady Ophine took the arms of Tellus through the Gate of Umos. Here, in the far lands of Ogeid, Ophine turned Tellus’ arms into us, the Kudrioni, and bade us to stay so that Tellus may live on. However, all was not well. In the deep pits of Ulmiri there dwelt the Serpent-Lord Wegarus and his army of Ogeidans, who hated all who were not themselves. Though the Ogeidan techno-sorcery far outclassed our own, they found us defiant. It was in the depths of Onzao where we sheltered, forging weapons made of captured starlight that could pierce the hides of the Ogeidan Crypt-machines. It was also during this time when Anath blessed us with her strength so that we might take what was rightfully ours by the will of the gods. And with the power of our will and the strength of our steel, we drove them back. For fifty years, battle raged from the cold depths of Ogeid to the jungles of Oglon and from the frozen steppes of Zutral to the Inner Gulf. We turned the techno-sorcery of the Ogeidans against themselves, and with it we smote the Whispering Ones and drove their Great Beasts back to the holes they had crawled from. It was Captain Ashok in his great chariot, together with his Ten-Thousand, who brought down the Greathammer of Tobol and crushed the Serpent-Lord before grinding the remains of his once-mighty army into the dust. Finally, after losing many of our brothers, we had taken the unspoken planet, and as mandated by the spirits we christened it Kudrion. We made Kudrion our home, taming the wildlife, building great cities and making its strength our own. Our warriors took up the sword and the spear to defend our home against the technic horrors of the Ogeidans and against the ever-changing enemy. But our peace and unity was soon broken by betrayal from within, and a thousand thousand wars erupted between the clans. For hundreds of years, many warriors died as brother turned against brother, and our greatest cities burned. It was after many years of struggle when a sign was received from the heavens. The Gate of Umos, which had brought us to our home, had reopened, and three brave warriors from the Kumar Clan, together with a wise scholar from the Order of Kroit, passed the threshold into the unknown. They were never heard from again, and shortly after Umos turned his back on us. But there were some who took this as an omen. Soon after the closing of the Gate a clan-warrior from the north, a descendant from Ashok who led our people against the Serpent-Lord so long ago, decided that our people would not be divided anymore. He took the hammer to the warring clans, reforging our people in the Months of a Thousand Battles, and so he was proclaimed the King of Kudrion. [color=39b54a]Culture and Society[/color]: Kudrioni society is centered around the clan. Though nominally a kinship group, in reality almost all who were born in a clan’s territory are seen as part of the clan. According to Kudrioni history, these clans were founded by legendary heroes from the great wars that the Kudrioni fought to claim their home system. The clan takes care of every need, raising children, producing food and weaponry, and many more things besides. However, everyone who isn’t old, sick, or a child is expected to pull their own weight and contribute to the general welfare of the clan, and those who are unable or unwilling to do so are often sent into exile. As these clans were founded independently after colonization, there are many cultural differences between clans. The Kudrioni are part of a proud warrior culture, with little to no distinction between civilians and soldiers. Everyone is a warrior, trained to fight against the planet’s native creatures and other clans when necessary. This ties into the survival-of-the-fittest mentality that is deeply ingrained in Kudrioni culture. Until very recently, anyone outside the clan that is weaker was seen as a target, while anyone stronger was seen as a threat. Though the wars are no longer as devastating as in Kudrion’s past, clans still regularly fight one another, not because of resources or ideologies, but because the Kudrioni believe it is the right thing to do. Battle is seen as a way to make both the individual and the clan stronger as a whole. Somewhat paradoxically, there is also a strong sense and code of honor. The honor of both the clan and the individual is paramount. Honorable actions include dueling to solve disputes, respect for one’s clan and ancestors, and dying an honorable death, while dishonorable actions consist of such things as fighting weaker opponents or violating clan laws. These ideas of honor keep the clans in check, resulting in less damage than is necessary. While battle is a core part of the Kudrioni way of life, it is not the only thing they do. Art and craftsmanship is highly appreciated in Kudrioni culture, with popular forms of art including poetry and oral literature, carpet weaving, metalworking and architecture. The average Kudrioni also loves to compete in other ways than combat, whether it be athletic competitions, contests of wit, or drinking games. Kudrioni religion is an odd mixture of the worship of a number of gods, ancestor worship, hero cults, shamanism, animism, and sects focused on weaponry and martial arts. Many Kudrioni are highly superstitious, praying, sacrificing and acquiring the advice of priests or oracles before battle or important decisions. [center] --- [/center] [color=f7941d]Governance and Politics[/color]: The Kingdom of Kudrion is, as the name suggests, a monarchy, although a very young one. Its king has nearly unlimited power, although abuse of this power will quickly get both the people as well as the most powerful clans riled up against them. The Kudrioni king is a warrior, general and king in one, and is expected to personally lead the troops in battle to be regarded as worthy of the title. With the Kingdom only having existed for such a short time, it is unclear how a successor for the current King will be chosen. What is clear, however, is that there are others who would gladly challenge the King for their kingship, in accordance with the traditions of Kudrioni culture. While Kudrion may be a monarchy, it is the Kudrioni clans that are the real power in the kingdom. These clans are almost completely independent, with their own territory, leaders, warriors and culture. The most powerful of these clans, called the High Clans, convene in the Clan Council, which serves an advisory role to the king. In order to promote their own interests, many smaller clans ally themselves to these High Clans, making sure the king knows what the population wants. The members of state institutions like Kudrion’s military are recruited from all of the clans, ensuring that none get any real advantage over the other. [color=f7941d]Technology Overview[/color]: Kudrioni technology is a strange mixture of technology brought from Earth, scavenged alien technology and original Kudrioni inventions. Alien technology is dangerous, unpredictable and next to impossible to be reproduced, but is also a powerful boon for those who are able to acquire it. Much of Kudrion’s native technological development has focused on military technologies with many other areas of research falling behind as a result of the constant internecine warfare on Kudrion. Most of these technologies are incredibly diverse, owing to the fact that clans try to optimize for warfare in their environment, but general examples include power armor, cybernetics and nanomachines. A recently recovered Kudrioni technology is hardlight. It is a form of solidified light, used in the creation of weaponry and hand-held shields. There are even rumors of blades made out of pure energy, able to rend through almost any material, though little to no evidence has been found for their existence. [color=f7941d]Military Overview[/color]: With a culture almost entirely based on martial prowess and battle, the military is at the core of Kudrioni society. Overall, Kudrioni soldiers do not have standardized equipment, each clan warrior choosing their preferred weaponry and wargear. Some clans have their own styles of weaponry and armor that the clan warriors use. Because of this, one can observe a great variety of wargear on a Kudrioni battlefield, from the hardlight swords and axes to armor-mounted flamethrowers to energy shields, each Kudrioni warrior mixing and matching weaponry to their liking. In some clans, the right to use certain weapons is reserved for those who undergo a rite of passage, often killing some beast of Kudrion with no help Kudrioni have a broad selection of vehicles available, like mechs, tanks and others, each made by different clans and maintained by the warriors themselves. Like their regular equipment, these often incorporate scavenged alien technology, making them dangerous and unpredictable. In addition, the Clans also incorporate a number of domesticated animals native to Kudrion into their forces, using them as combat mounts, weapon platforms, and transport. It is not an uncommon sight to see dragon-like animals accompany Kudrioni forces while in warfare, for example. In tactics, strategy and military doctrine, there exists almost as much variety as in the Kudrioni weaponry. Usually, each warrior fights the way they want to, and larger strategy is based on combining the abilities of these individual warriors to maximum effect. There is however, one exception to the lack of standardized equipment and training inherent in the Kudrioni military. This exception is the organization known as the Kudrioni Royal Guard. The Royal Guard is an elite unit, recruited by the King, that supersedes tribal loyalty. In the Royal Guard all troops are equipped with the same power armour and weaponry, like the fearsome energy-bladed spear, capable of rending through flesh and metal alike. The Royal Guard gets the finest equipment available, and is charged with fighting alongside and protecting the Kudrioni king in battle. [center] --- [/center] [/hider]