Jotunn Draugr

Dark Heresy (Looking for players and DM)

I'm very interested in getting into a Dark Heresy campaign! I'm not confident that I could DM, but I'm certain that I can contribute a passionately crafted character to enact the Emperor's will.

Time's a Changing - a Steampunk NRP set in a Psuedo-Earth

Ah crap, my mistake, it looked like to me that you were equal to Edoniras in terms of tech. Although something we should clarify is whether coal or blue coal is used more often. Coal still exists and is more common, but much weaker and does not allow for many of the amazing inventions that we have. Blue coal is stronger and far more powerful, and lets you use the amazing inventions.

@duck55223

Haha all good.
The split between the two is pretty even. Private companies in China rely on regular coal, and are only somewhat ahead of real life. Likewise, private individuals use it to heat their homes in all the cities, and day-to-day running of most machinery is done with regular coal. Blue coal is reserved for the largest of government factories, and military vessels. It burns far hotter (right?) so it's main use is in advanced welding and tempering, to get stronger, tighter shells on the Royal Navy's battleships, and stronger tools for mining.

But are you gonna post a bit more detail about this setting? I'd like to have a better idea about what the limits are. Are cars common? Do airships exist yet? How advanced are guns?

An Era of Devastation (NATO pls)

Ukraine, December 2nd

It's a gloomy, overcast evening in Kiev. Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk sits stiffly in his office. Russia's show of force, in claiming Crimea, has left a lasting impact on his nation's people. Across from him sits President Petro Poroshenko, looking unusually timid.

"I've just gotten off the phone with Yulia..."

"And?", Poroshenko inquired calmly.

"Damn it Petro!... Damn it all!"

"What is it?", Poroshenko again inquires.

"It's Putin. That bastard, that lunatic, will be the death of countless Ukrainian countrymen! He marches his men across our boarders, takes what he wants, and what does Europe do?"

Poroshenko gives no reply. He sits, waiting for this storm to blow over.

"Fucking nothing!", Yatsenyuk spits.

"Well, why should they?", Poroshenko responds calmly.

"Because Russia treads on their doorstep, gun in hand. This won't end till the Soviet states are reclaimed, till Putin has his empire."

"Well", Poroshenko contemplates, "It does us no good to contemplate our own mortality. What can a mouse do between two giants?"

"The mouse can pick one."

To Russia

Mister Prime Minister,

In simple terms, we the Ukrainian people understand your motivations and ambitions. We see the rapidly expanding influence of the European Union, and the belligerence of Germany at the head. Given that conflict, political or otherwise, is unavoidable, we would like to seek a compromise with your nation, that would grant us both security and leverage on the international state.

It is no news to you that Ukraine is a key political, strategic, and economic piece in gaining sway over Europe. The Union knows this, and will not respond well to shows of force. They know that Ukraine is too valuable to them, to be lost. This is why so much has been done on behalf of Britain and America to sway the leadership and citizenry of this country in favour of the West. If you want to occupy Ukraine, you'll be met with war, and endless internal rebellion.

We propose this instead;
Grant us ownership of Crimea again, and promise us independence as the People's Ukraine. In return, we offer a full military alliance, and rights to position troops and artillery within our boarders, granting a great strategic advantage over Europe. We will disassociate with the EU, and stand with our fellow Slavs, so long as our culture, laws, and lands are our own.

Regards,
-President Petro Poroshenko

To France, and all EU members

Mister President,

We, the Ukrainian people, feel abandoned by the rest of Europe, in the face of Russia's continued aggression. Our people remain oppressed by Putin's forces. World powers are standing idly by, as crimes are being committed against humanity itself. If you continue to appease Russia, you will soon see the rise of a new USSR, and a massive Soviet force will be knocking at your door.

For the safety and freedom of all of Europe, we propose a compromise. In keeping with the precedent set in 2014, with our co-signing of the Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement, we would like to move to become a full member of the European Union, and abide by all obligations that entails. This will provide a massive economic boost to the European economy, and further the cause of peace, diplomacy, and European leadership around the world. In return, we demand immediate deployment of EU forces along Ukraine's boarders with Russia, as well as significant funding toward fully militarizing Ukraine. We will act as the front line against Russian imperialism, and fully commit ourselves to fending off the enemies of Europe, but only if our independence is supported and protected by France and the rest of Europe.

Please take this into full consideration. The consequences are too grave to overlook.

Regards,
-President Petro Poroshenko

Time's a Changing - a Steampunk NRP set in a Psuedo-Earth

@Jotunn Draugr I'm entirely fine with this positioning, because as Japan, I need a China to fight. Also, the mention of the whole Beijing thing brings up a question I've had in my mind for some time now. Namely, did the Mongols exist? There would have to be some kind of entity that facilitated large-scale trade across Eurasia, because otherwise things would be really strange.

EDIT: If you want, I can easily give up Beijing and keep the Empire a bit closer to the actual borders it had in, you know, 1939. I won't give up Liaoning though, because I really really like the idea of having a port in Lüshunkou District.

@Keyguyperson

Awesome! And no, you're quite welcome to keep Beijing and Liaoning. I like the dynamic of having a capital city to retake. Although I'd quite like Taiwan if that's alright. I'm familiar with the Taiwanese, and would love to incorporate them into the story.

I suppose a version of the Mongols would have had to exist in some form, to help tie us to the West. What if we mix up the eras a bit, and make it so we're both claimants (Khanates, but let's call them Jinguo's), fighting for the totality of our dead Emperor's (Genghis Khan, but let's call him Taisho Jin) empire.

Depends on where you wanna go with your country's story. Do you have a name/origin for your country yet?

[@Jottun Draugr]

I have two major problems with this.

- They extremely heavy use of real world names. This is a Psuedo-Earth, and despite the fact that in the OOC I mentioned the names of a few of our Psuedo-places, you seemed to have used their IRL names. I am going to have to require you to change these.

-Having such massive industrialization already. Not entirely against having some, but it needs to be small and limited factories. Otherwise, if I allow you to have the same level of industrialization as other powers, you will already be outproducing everyone and be far ahead of everyone economically to make their manufacturing irrelevant.

Edit: I fucked up and misspelled your name.

@duck55223

Haha, no problem with the names. The names are largely placeholder. I figured I could wait till Japan was renamed, and our relationship was finalized.

Edit: For example, wherever you see "China", substitute it for "Great Han". Wherever you see "Shanghai", substitute it for "Diarjing". Wherever you see "Beijing", substitute it for "Wodejing". I've already substituted the names on the Character page.

As for the industrialization, here's my case. I didn't mention any mechs, tanks, vehicles, or aircraft. The model I'm going off of is that coal has been around for OVER A HUNDRED YEARS (1710-1860). In real life, steamboats have been crossing oceans since 1813. Fifty years ago! Oliver Twist was working in a factory (then common already) in the 1830's. Thirty years ago! Britain began industrializing WITHOUT Blue Coal around 1830, again 30 years ago.
The reason I chose to focus so heavily on coal-fired industry, was because I thought it would be a cool dynamic to have a land power with NO aircraft at any point. How can a land power match airships, if it doesn't have a little head start in productiveness? I'm not talking about big machines of any kind, or anything overly advanced. I'm just talking scale, as in, there are a LOT of Chinese people, meaning a lot of cheap/slave labour to put in newly built factories. Labour that still mines coal by hand, and shovels it into furnaces by hand. The image I'm painting of blackened skies is largely fueled by open-air coal fires that are fueled by hand. Peasants use it for heating as much as anything else.

That's me trying to clarify, if there's still any problems, let me know. If there's something specific that conflicts with the narrative (like iron-plated ships or something), I can change that without a problem. What exact level of technology are you expecting this to begin at? Do cars exist yet?

Time's a Changing - a Steampunk NRP set in a Psuedo-Earth

The Celestial Empire of Da Nanguo

Name of Nation:
The Celestial Empire of Da Nanguo

Territory: Light Brown


Description of Government:

A theocratic monarchy, under Supreme Emperor Jin Ji. Ji resides in the Palace of Heaven, in Diarjing (Shanghai), with all his advisers (composed of family members, close friends, military officials, and the Prime Ministers of Vietnam, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka). Bills are drafted by the advisers, and signed into law by the emperor.
Laws are mostly lax, although the government reserves the right to claim any corporation or piece of land as property of the state. The young emperor Ji has done this many times since inheriting the throne from his father, resulting in one massive industrial monopoly that stretches across the entire empire. Due to the relatively small number of skilled administrators, government programs run largely unregulated, leading to a great deal of corruption and abuse. Nonetheless, there is universal support for the government, because all state media, education, and literature enforces the notion that the government is divinely appointed, with Ji being a direct descendant of the God of the Heavens. All community organization is centered around local Temples of the Sky, and all legal documents require a prayer to Heaven to be legally binding.

Description of Economy:

Nanguo's economy was historically upheld by trade in spices, foods, exotic medicines and jewelry. However, with the discovery of blue coal, and its applications, the Emperor began massive, crown funded mining projects across the entire region, and recycled all profits back into further expansions of the industry. Now the economy is fueled overwhelmingly by coal, with great steam ships being built to carry unprecedented loads of cargo across the South China Sea, and even along the coast of Africa and the Middle East. The imperial factories have turned the sky black above Nandijing (Nanjing), Diarjing (Shanghai), Nanhaijing (Hong Kong), and the new industrial megacity of Heijing.
Although countless citizens suffer from what they call "Hei Fei Bing", the Black Lung Disease, the standard of living has otherwise improved. The country prospers under its advanced, new industry, and very few go hungry.

Description of Culture:

The culture of Da Nanguo, while still founded in the traditions of the Hanren (largest ethnic tribe), glamorizes many trends originating from the island peoples of the Dahan Sea (South China Sea). With trade, immigration, and interbreeding being so commonplace throughout the empire's subkingdoms and allies, Daoren (island people) music and food are staples of any major city. Seasonal festivals are observed regularly, celebrating the empire's ethnic diversity. This stands in stark contrast to the military parades that are also regularly held in every metropolitan region.
As the Nanguoren, as they call themselves, learn more about the empire's trading ambitions into the far west, and exploration into the far east, they feel a deep desire to spread their culture to the rest of the world. Missionaries and performers regularly accompany trading and military vessels, looking to bring more people into the empire's "loving" arms.
Citizens are free to practice cultural, even religious, traditions, so long as they don't bring the authority of the state into question. There is no ban on religious observance, but citizens are required to make weekly non-monetary offerings to their local Temple of the Sky, and pray a prayer of thanks to the Emperor. Legal documents and agreements are required to include a prayer to Heaven in order to binding. Following this, many people include state-sponsored prayers at the end of personal letters, and advertisements. It's believed to be good luck, and to make the Emperor smile upon you for your devoutness. To encourage this kind of behaviour, the Emperor regularly bestows gifts to individuals and charities, claiming to have seen their faithfulness. At this point, it is difficult to know how new or old this tradition is. It may have come about as a method of controlling the masses, once the Emperor saw the power of blue coal, or it may have been a natural evolution of the traditional folklore of East Asia. What's most important of all is that no one cares. Nanguoren are encouraged to live in the present, and forget the inferior ways of pre-industrial, pre-Nanguo Great Han (China) and Laguo (Vietnam).

Description of Military:

The Royal Army of Da Nanguo is as ancient as the dynasty itself. It may have changed names over time, as well as form, but what remains constant is its overwhelming size. Simply by number of heads, the Royal Army is an overwhelming force. Swords and spears are still used next to firearms, partially out of tradition by this point, but the hands that wield them are as skillful as they are numerous. When the empire is at peace, officers of the Royal Army serve alongside the Royal Police Force. Needless to say, crime rates range from catastrophic to nonexistent, depending on whether or not a war is underway.
The Royal Navy of Da Nanguo, once moderate and nonthreatening, is now brings great fear to neighbouring countries. While the sailors aren't well drilled yet, and the leadership isn't particularly experienced, again the force is saved by scale. The Emperor's greatest pride are his massive, coal burning warships. The fleet rests off the coasts of Diarjing and Nanhaijing, towering out of the ocean like floating fortresses. Clouds of smog drift across the waves around them. As the ships rock with the roar of their cannons, imposing waves roll from below their massive studded/plated hulls.
There is no Royal Airforce of Da Nanguo, nor does the leadership have any dreams of exploring the technology of sky travel. It's a pointless project, and a waste of money, when the empire already has the keys to endless wealth and power.

History:

Emperor Ji traces his family heritage through his father (known as the Dream-Killer Emperor, or the Third Prosperity Emperor), through his great grandfather the Qianlong Emperor (now known as the Great Coal-Bringer, or the First Prosperity Emperor), to the earliest members of the Jin (Qing) Dynasty, who united the Jurchen tribes and overthrew Xi (Ming) Great Han (China) in the 1600's.

In the 1700's, through Great Han's long-established land trade routs to the west, First Prosperity learned of the advancements that were being made there with new coal energy. He decided to expend the entire royal treasury on the establishments of mines all across Great Han. At the same time, he went to great lengths to promote and fund the expansion of the state religion. This would be a key social program carried on by his heirs.

In the late 1700's and early 1800's, Second Prosperity began to confiscate Great Han trade companies, merging them into one massive crown corporation. He established land and sea trade routs across all of Eurasia, and the eastern coast of Africa, and constructed massive trade fleets to transport Great Han's goods. Around this time, Akitsukuni (Japan) began its expansion onto the mainland, capturing Shendong and Wodejing (Beijing), among other key areas. Shortly later, the emperor died of suspicious causes, and the country was thrown into chaos. Third Prosperity had all his siblings assassinated, leaving him as the only legitimate heir to the throne. He took command of the Royal Army, and reunited what remained of the country (minus Akitsukuni's expansions). He then refitted all of his father's trade ships as military vessels, and requested that a number of Great Han's weaker (but more strategically important) trading allies declare themselves sub-kingdoms of the larger Great Han empire. This resulted in Laguo (Vietnam), Malaysia, and Sri Lanka becoming subjects of the Emperor, with their state leaders now acting as the Emperor's advisers. He declared this to be the Celestial Empire of "Da Nanguo" (literally "Big Southern Kingdom"). Third Prosperity then set his sights on "Japan", and made great shows of force with his military. The national anthem of Nanguo was changed to a ballad about the thunder of the Empire's cannons. It described the Emperor's fleet as a "merciless storm that kills dreams", and the Royal Army as a "rushing tide of spears and bullets".

Finally, only a couple years ago, Third Prosperity died, leaving his son as the new Emperor. At his own request, the son wasn't crowned "Prosperity", but was instead crowned "Ji", or "Machine". Under him, the mining city where blue coal was first extracted in Great Han, Heijing (in the North-West of China), was declared the second capital of Da Nanguo. Now massive relocation and housing projects are underway, to turn Heijing into the population and industrial capital of the world. Trade networks are being spread, with the goal of reaching every corner of the globe, and a modern military is being assembled and enforced, with the goal of taking back all that was lost to Akitsukuni.

Time's a Changing - a Steampunk NRP set in a Psuedo-Earth

This looks like a fascinating scenario. I'd love to join in if I may.



Name of Nation:
The Celestial Empire of Da Nanguo

Territory:


Description of Government:
A theocratic monarchy, under Supreme Emperor Qing Ji. Ji resides in the Palace of Heaven, in Shanghai, with all his advisers (composed of family members, close friends, military officials, and the Prime Ministers of Vietnam, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka). Bills are drafted by the advisers, and signed into law by the emperor.
Laws are mostly lax, although the government reserves the right to claim any corporation or piece of land as property of the state. The young emperor Ji has done this many times since inheriting the throne from his father, resulting in one massive industrial monopoly that stretches across the entire empire. Due to the relatively small number of skilled administrators, government programs run largely unregulated, leading to a great deal of corruption and abuse. Nonetheless, there is universal support for the government, because all state media, education, and literature enforces the notion that the government is divinely appointed, with Ji being a direct descendant of the God of the Heavens. All community organization is centered around local Temples of the Sky, and all legal documents require a prayer to Heaven to be legally binding.

Description of Economy:
Nanguo's economy was historically upheld by trade in spices, foods, exotic medicines and jewelry. However, with the discovery of blue coal, and its applications, the Emperor began massive, crown funded mining projects across the entire region, and recycled all profits back into further expansions of the industry. Now the economy is fueled overwhelmingly by coal, with great steam ships being built to carry unprecedented loads of cargo across the South China Sea, and even along the coast of Africa and the Middle East. The imperial factories have turned the sky black above Nanjing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and the new industrial megacity of Heijing.
Although countless citizens suffer from what they call "Hei Fei Bing", the Black Lung Disease, the standard of living has otherwise improved. The country prospers under its advanced, new industry, and very few go hungry.

Description of Culture:
The culture of Da Nanguo, while still founded in the traditions of the Hanren (largest ethnic tribe in China), glamorizes many trends originating from the island peoples of the South China Sea. With trade, immigration, and interbreeding being so commonplace throughout the empire's subkingdoms and allies, Daoren (island people) music and food are staples of any major city. Seasonal festivals are observed regularly, celebrating the empire's ethnic diversity. This stands in stark contrast to the military parades that are also regularly held in every metropolitan region.
As the Nanguoren, as they call themselves, learn more about the empire's trading ambitions into the far west, and exploration into the far east, they feel a deep desire to spread their culture to the rest of the world. Missionaries and performers regularly accompany trading and military vessels, looking to bring more people into the empire's "loving" arms.
Citizens are free to practice cultural, even religious, traditions, so long as they don't bring the authority of the state into question. There is no ban on religious observance, but citizens are required to make weekly non-monetary offerings to their local Temple of the Sky, and pray a prayer of thanks to the Emperor. Legal documents and agreements are required to include a prayer to Heaven in order to binding. Following this, many people include state-sponsored prayers at the end of personal letters, and advertisements. It's believed to be good luck, and to make the Emperor smile upon you for your devoutness. To encourage this kind of behaviour, the Emperor regularly bestows gifts to individuals and charities, claiming to have seen their faithfulness. At this point, it is difficult to know how new or old this tradition is. It may have come about as a method of controlling the masses, once the Emperor saw the power of blue coal, or it may have been a natural evolution of the traditional folklore of East Asia. What's most important of all is that no one cares. Nanguoren are encouraged to live in the present, and forget the inferior ways of pre-industrial, pre-Nanguo China and Vietnam.

Description of Military:
The Royal Army of Da Nanguo is as ancient as the dynasty itself. It may have changed names over time, as well as form, but what remains constant is its overwhelming size. Simply by number of heads, the Royal Army is an overwhelming force. Swords and spears are still used next to firearms, partially out of tradition by this point, but the hands that wield them are as skillful as they are numerous. When the empire is at peace, officers of the Royal Army serve alongside the Royal Police Force. Needless to say, crime rates range from catastrophic to nonexistent, depending on whether or not a war is underway.
The Royal Navy of Da Nanguo, once moderate and nonthreatening, is now brings great fear to neighbouring countries. While the sailors aren't well drilled yet, and the leadership isn't particularly experienced, again the force is saved by scale. The Emperor's greatest pride are his massive, coal burning warships. The fleet rests off the coasts of Shanghai and Hong Kong, towering out of the ocean like floating fortresses. Clouds of smog drift across the waves around them. As the ships rock with the roar of their cannons, imposing waves roll from below their massive studded/plated hulls.
There is no Royal Airforce of Da Nanguo, nor does the leadership have any dreams of exploring the technology of sky travel. It's a pointless project, and a waste of money, when the empire already has the keys to endless wealth and power.

History:
Emperor Ji traces his family heritage through his father (known as the Dream-Killer Emperor, or the Third Prosperity Emperor), through his great grandfather the Qianlong Emperor (now known as the Great Coal-Bringer, or the First Prosperity Emperor), to the earliest members of the Jin (Qing) Dynasty, who united the Jurchen tribes and overthrew Ming China in the 1600's.

In the 1700's, First Prosperity learned of the advancements that were being made in the west, with this new coal energy. He decided to expend the entire royal treasury on the establishments of mines all across China. At the same time, he went to great lengths to promote and fund the expansion of the state religion. This would be a key social program carried on by his heirs.

In the late 1700's and early 1800's, Second Prosperity began to confiscate Chinese trade companies, merging them into one massive crown corporation. He established land and sea trade routs across all of Eurasia, and the eastern coast of Africa, and constructed massive trade fleets to transport China's goods. Around this time, "Japan" began its expansion onto the mainland, capturing Shendong and Beijing, among other key areas. Shortly later, the emperor died of suspicious causes, and the country was thrown into chaos. Third Prosperity had all his siblings assassinated, leaving him as the only legitimate heir to the throne. He took command of the Royal Army, and reunited what remained of the country (minus Japan's expansions). He then refitted all of his father's trade ships as military vessels, and requested that a number of China's weaker (but more strategically important) trading allies declare themselves sub-kingdoms of the larger Chinese empire. This resulted in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka becoming subjects of the Emperor, with their state leaders now acting as the Emperor's advisers. He declared this to be the Celestial Empire of "Da Nanguo" (literally "Big Southern Kingdom"). Third Prosperity then set his sights on "Japan", and made great shows of force with his military. The national anthem of Nanguo was changed to a ballad about the thunder of the Empire's cannons. It described the Emperor's fleet as a "merciless storm that kills dreams", and the Royal Army as a "rushing tide of spears and bullets".

Finally, only a couple years ago, Third Prosperity died, leaving his son as the new Emperor. At his own request, the son wasn't crowned "Prosperity", but was instead crowned "Ji", or "Machine". Under him, the mining city where blue coal was first extracted in China, Heijing (in the North-West of China), was declared the second capital of Da Nanguo. Now massive relocation and housing projects are underway, to turn Heijing into the population and industrial capital of the world.

Other:

Obviously, I hope Japan is alright with this positioning. I'm not looking to start anything crazy. I just thought China would be a fascinating player in this universe, and noticed that Japan had Beijing, so I ran with it! Hope this is sufficient for everyone.

What makes my country super relevant to this scenario is it's plans to go around Africa, and through the Middle East, to become a global trade power. Think of it as the inverse of England going around the Cape of Good Hope. Besides, what if China and Japan colonize the western side of North America, or something unique like that.

An Era of Devastation (NATO pls)

Hey guys! Could I hop into this diplomatic marsh as Ukraine? I'd say she's quite relevant right now.