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The Archduchy of Ostvinberg

NATIONAL
-Capital: Lorrhaven
-Government Type: Technocratic Meritocracy
-Currency: Ostvinberg Marks
-Population: 870,120
-Unique Trait #1: Mountain Keep - As much of Ostvinberg is underground and in a mountain, attempting to seige it is an absolutely monstrous task. The location is highly defendable and has many natural and constructed defenses. Additionally, there are an innumerable number of subertainian tunnels which can be used to ferry troops, supplies and lead ambushes from.

-Unique Trait #2: Epic Craftsmen - Ostvinberg boasts the best craftsmen around, not only able to create masterwork items, but an epic city. Intricate stoneworks, colorful jewels and legendary

-Unique Flaw #1:

-Unique Flaw #2 

GEOGRAPHICAL

Ostvinberg is a city built into the Valinitine Mountain on the Dragon Spine. The air is cold and the snow is heavy at the peaks and visitors note that for much of the year, its seems to be stuck in an endless winter. However, once you get to the foot of the mountains, there are boreal forests which provide the wood, wild game and crops for the city. As such, many farming villages are situated on these fertile lands (by Ostvinberg's standards anyways).

The largest and most important part of Ostvinberg, Ustungard's buildings are built by digging massive holes straight down into the earth and carving into the walls or constructing structures. Think of the center of a cruise ship where there are multiple balconies or levels with a massive opening in the middle. Made of stone and in a mountain of course. There are many large, impressive statues that line the walls, aspiring archeicts and engineers often try to make them to show their skill and gain fame.

Industrial areas are generally located in caverns (natural or otherwise), their smoke stacks reaching to the ceiling and going out.

-Major Towns/Colonies: 
Ostvinberg
Forgeworld
-Major Castles/Fortresses:
-Buildings of Interest:
-Geographic Features of Interest:
-Territory Description:

RACIAL
-Majority Race: Velfrites
-Majority Race Description:

A cousin to humans, Homo Fatorious, or "Velfrites" exhibit many traits atypical of that of a bipedal human despite looking similar. The most notable difference between between us and our Velfrite relatives is how sharply bowed back their lower legs are, often giving the appearance of the "spring feet". These feet combined with natural altitude training make the Velfrite incredible runners, some of which are able to out run wild animals.

The second notable difference is in the face of a Velfrite. They are often born with simple geometric markings on their faces, most often cheeks or temples, in various shades of black and grey that seem to get lighter with age. Their hair is another point to mention as "streaks" or "highlights" of certain, vivd colors are often present naturally with males favoring warmer colors and females the opposite. Ironically, the "base" hair color is black or some version of it. A smaller detail to note is that Velfrite facial structures seem to be skinnier and sharper, a trait shared with their ears and is contradicted by small, rounder noses.

While they are no natural masters at arcane arts and magic, they seem to posses a skill with it on level with humans if not slightly higher. While no sound reason has been found behind this gap, its often assumed that the barely noticeable sub-dermal patterns found on the rest of their body, more natural and intricate than the simple geometric marks found on their face, as some correlation. This theory is supported with notes of how these lines "glow" when magic is used in the vicinity of Velfite and how master Velfrite mages emit a halation of light around them.Extracted from "An Account of the Beings and Creatures of Avara" by Ririon Valenburg

-Minority Races:
Humans

-Minority Race Characteristics:
Average Homo Sapians. What do you expect? Humans with dragon blood?

RELIGION & MAGIC
-State Religion: Valinitism
-Religious Information:

Our divine lord take up no shape of mortal man nor otherworldly beast. Instead, Lord Valinitine is the heart and soul of the towering epic of golems, claiming the Blackiron Mountain as his majestic throne.

Some will say he is weak in comparison to the gods of the Old Way, the man-god Justinin or the Demons of the Red Pantheon, but his can not be further than the truth. He is our godly lord, and we are humble mortal before his power. His shell shields us, his words guide us, his very existence powers our great industry. It as been from his words which we have claimed the title of the most technological race of Avara!

Thus, we are in infinite debt to our Lord Valinitine and us, the Holy Machina Order works to slowly repay the debt as so one day we may join him one day in Raninthian Vale. It is our duty to to serve, protect and tend to Valinitism's needs. Our nation works to rebuild him to his former glory with each passing day, spreading the wealth of technology and advancement to other backwater lands. Valinitine desire nothing but the protection of this world's mortals which he loves and accepts as his own in preparation for the Great Plague. The Holy Machina Order has worked for generations in all levels of society, from charity to administration and from healing to researching; will you accept the blessed mantle of the Order and serve your lord and savior Valinitine as your forefathers have?Grand Architect Deckon Terahlineare's Speech to the masses in 197 YL

-Religion Demographics: 
Valinitism has almost a complete grasp over the nation, being deeply intertwined with the industrial strength of the Union. The heathens who do no follow the teachings of Valinitine are aggressively incited to convert but are otherwise left alone and often pay higher taxes. However, should a disaster occur, the nonbelievers are often scapegoats.

-Holy Relics In Possession:

-Holy Sites Under Control:
Alalvion Arsenal 
Valinitine himself
Blackiron Mountain

-Magical Schools and Curriculum: (What forms of magic are common?)

MILITARY

Velfyre feilds an interesting if not unorthodox types of infantry. Melee and close range troops often wear a steel cuirass with a soft leather pad on the inside or a coat of plates over chainmail. Longer ranged units are given lighter armor ranging from hardened gambesons to a straight coat of plates.

The natural physic of Velfirites are not suited for horseback, at least not without extreme training and saddle modification. Thus, the idea of horse riding is an abandoned concept. In its place, various chariots and wagons are used in its place. While slower and less maneuverable, they provide even more explody firy bits to get shot at the enemy.

There is a huge stigma to use "only the most advance technology" in the army, even if older weapons work better. Their hybrid units aren't exceptional at either range or melee, range units are out of the question for anything that move too fast at them and what few true melee units they can have are either too lightly armored for extended fighting or are incredibly expensive and hard to get.

Mountainbreakers - Penal squads armed with the Mining Hammer, a dangerous weapon that is basically a two handed war hammer with a gnarly spike on the back and another gruesome looking spike on the end of the handle. Despite using what's basically the Velfrye version of a pickaxe, Mountainbreakers are incredible at charging into units and taking down armored enemies, even boasting a mild chance of success at counter-charging calvary. However, they had no shield and little if any armor to speak of, dealing most their damage on their charge, they lack the ability to sustain themselves in prolonged combat and are juicy targets for range units.

Inigo Swordsmen - A special unit in the Velfyre Army, it consists of brave young men who volentter and are trained in the art of swordsmanship and pistol marksmanship. Armed with well crafted steel swords, metal heater shields and pistols and wearing Cosmere vests, Inigo Swordsmen are an interesting hybrid of range an melee, firing off their pistols right before hitting the enemy with a charge, a devastatingly effective tactic as one might expect. They can also skirmish at range but will loose against any dedicated ranged unit, bow or powder.

Verteidiger Guards - Perhaps the most famous and elite unit in service who do the most danger duty, the Verteidiger are responsible for guarding the mountain tunnels from the dangers monsters within and are often referred to as "Tunnel Sentinels". They use both guns, polearms and swords all efficiently but the most famous weapon is their namesake gun, the Verteidiger, a combination of a blunderbuss and a flintlock musket. Patrolling dark tunnels and fighting monstrous mountin beasts make these men fearless and exprinced.

Volkeniers are the standard trained infantry of the Ostvinberg Legion, wearing what is considered "cheap" armor by Ostvinberg's standards: lamellar armor of iron, bronze or even stone with splinted greaves and guards. Trained and well drilled, they make up the core backbone of the Ostvinberg Legion, able to be surprisingly mobile to compensate a lack of cavalry.

Volkenier Uzunhandler - Carrying large Uzunhandler long swords, these men take great pride in their fearless charges and swordsmanship. While their anti-cavalry skills are less then impressive compared to spears, they have a huge charging ability and can break the tips of spears with their huge swords, letting them charge even spear walls.

Volkenier Heilbards - Armed with the part-Bardiche, part-really long sharp pointy stick, the Heilbards a perhaps some of the most important Volkenier units. They are the only real holding force the city-state as they're also the only units with tower sheilds. Sheild wall and spear wall are often crowd favoirte. Strangely, many of the Heilbards are also outstanding singers.

Volkenier Arquebus - The core ranged unit of Ostvinberg, they are armed with an ubiquitous matchlock arquebus, they are a danger at range, able to pierce all but the heaviest armors. However, they little in terms of melee defense and their guns unfortunately do not reload themselves. Once you get past their initial volleys, getting up close and personal is not a favorite past time of the Arquebuses.

Volkenier Kirballistae - Armed with the Kirballistarii meaning "Crank Crossbow", these men provide a rain of fire support for other units. Repeating crossbows which have a 6 round magazine, all the work of reloading done by a crank powered gear mechanism, they unleash a rain of bolts. Kirballistae units often mixed in with Arquebuses units to provide constant fire while they reload but are also used in their own units, hitting enemies with accurate fire.

The elite units of the Ostvingberg Legion, these men are exceptionally well trained and unlike their Volkenier counterparts, are capable of close quarters fighting. It should be noted that they actually wear less armor than the Volkenier, with coats of plates the heaviest armor they equipped and brigandes and reinforced gambesons their main stay armor.
Serican Jezails - An elite unit, Serican Jezail are considered the upgraded version of the Volkenier Arquebuses. Their muskets boast larger bores and much larger barrels, adding so much weight that a firing stand has to be used when firing. However, they are much more accurate the the rank and file Arquebuses and can shoot further. It is noted that Jezails can fire bullets or spikes that can pierce multiple unfortunate sods if the armor they're wearing is light enough and the enemy is lined up correctly.  

Serican Donderiliers - An elite anti cavalry unit, the Donderiliers are armed with blunderbusses meant to shoot at incoming horses. Essentially the Ovstinberg version of spearmen, they are deadly to just about anything at close range and can quickly fire multiple volleys in quick succession with extreme skill, able to rip apart units with powerful blasts. However, as they are ranged unit, they cannot fulfill the spear wall role, making them poor choices to hold down enemies.

Ulhans are clockwork golems that play a huge part of the Ostvinberg industrial backbone. They are constructed of a wide variety of metals, from iron to brass but the most capable ones are made of the metal Wroughwilder. They can be pumped out by skilled craftsmen and smiths at high rates but the true combat Ulhans take much longer.

Ulhans - Unarmored clockwork golems that often play a hand in most work around the city. However, they can be "taught" many things and the art of hitting people really, really hard with soemthing is a decent method of killing someone. While these Wroughwilder beasts can take all manner of swords and arrows, anything which can pierce their armor spells trouble for them and its game over if they loose their balance and fall.

Armored Ulhans - Larger, bulkier Ulhans with layers of steel and iron armor, taking down one of these constructs is deserving of an award in of itself. However, these armored ulhans require more finesse to create, taking even master metal workers weeks to perfectly fine tune these engineering marvels. However, they are incredible fight machines despite their lack of numbers, often used to defend high value areas or peoples. 

Nullenges - The grand daddy to the Ulhans, Nullenges are actually more like powered exosuits for man rather than an autonomous machine. They are crewed by men with heavy plate armor as they are quite exposed but unlike Ulhans are able to do much more complicated tactics as its human controlled. Soldiers who are often too wounded to be of use on the battlefield are stuck in one of these.

Seyyar-gorod - Large armored wagons, pulled by horses, that form a back bone of the army, they come in many variations like mobile guard posts, cannon platforms and transports. Able to carry 20 or so men like a transport, it has enough room for 8 gunners to fire their weapons from and platform versions can "fold out" to give artillery extra space to fire. Using a pulley system, the walls of the wagon can be dropped and pulled back in quickly.

Minie-gorod - A small two wheeled cart that can be pulled by a single man, theses are often used to mount swivel guns with a gun shield or a small mortar as "fire support", masses along walls or in lines to act like more mobile artillery. They can also mount a large metal barricade on a slightly bigger Minie-gorod (often called a Kailis-gorod) which is used as a mobile palisade to protect advancing troops or block off areas.

NATIONAL DRAMATIS PERSONAE
-Head of State/Monarch: Grandmaster Leonhard von Glücliche
-Military Chief (If applicable): Marshal Simone Laagier
-Religious Head (If Applicable): Grand Architect Deckon Baumeister
-Persons of interest:

CULTURAL
-History:

The conflict can be traced to to the Novisterm Cavern and surrounding network of  tunnels and caves. It started as a simple claim dispute between local miners but eventually became violent. The cave system is nestled high in the Teeth, but has several natural entrances, which fall on both sides of the border between the states.Survey groups and supply caravans were being sent by both sides with intent to begin full-scale mining operations. Eventually both sides attempted to send troops to make sure that their own respective sides wouldn't attack each other on sight but the plan backfired with the garassing troops attacking each other, due to percieved encroachments by the other. Shortly, an official state of war was declared by both sides.

In preperation (and fear) of an underground war, Ostvinberg reformed its Old Order Sentinals into the modern Veritidiger Guards, already an elite unit within the army and exprinced in tunnel warfare. To suppliment these units, the creation of Minie-gorods were used as towing traditionally heavy artillery was problematic to say the least and with consantly shifting lines, stone forications would be to immobile for practical use.

((I really wish I was allowed spiders....)) Being a largely mounted force, the Vidril Of War, was somewhat limited in it's moblization of troops to Novisterm, through the mountain passes and it's own tunnel system. Heavy horse bound cavalry were immediately discounted. However, the even larger Elken transport mounts proved an invaluable asset due to their ability to navigate through the mountain range with relative ease. The following conflict thus, was mostly fought by Vrentian infantry and Dhroktuurach (shock troop) units; a rare occurance for the cavalry heavy Vrentians.

Several particulary savage conflict occured six months into the stand-off, within Novisterm itself. Though buried deep beneath the mountain peak, the cavern is large and expansive, though segmented in several parts by towering calcile columns. Two Dhrocktuurach (20 soldiers) units leading a flank of standard infantry(40) directly confronted a unit of Volkenier Arqubuses and  Uzunhandlers. The actual battle was brief and bloody with both sides suffering near total loss. Only some of Vrent's younger footmen fled back through the caverns to report on the massaccre.

Several similar skirmishes within the cavern itself and the immediate tunnel system followed in the coming weeks, before a long period of relative quiet. Collectively, the main frays in Novisterm resulted in a combined loss of life of over three thousand, two hundred lives.

While the offical conflict only lasted short under two years nither side truely accomplished anything but waste time and manpower. However, both side embellished the conflict enough to thier people to make it look like they had won; Ostvinberg told how they had sucessfully defended their ancestral tunnel system and Vrent claiming new found bastite deposites. Even with the war over and peace brokered, the two cities are on shaky but "accepting" terms. Local miners from each side say differently, occasionally getting rowdy and threatening to start another war over the bloodied caverns.

-Historical Relations and Greivances

Vrent - Tensions/Uneasy

-Cultural Notes
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