In that case, here are mine-
Pro: State Inquisition- the Inquisition is a small panel of three judges tasked with maintaining the security of the homeland. Their size means they can deal with threats quickly and it doesn't take them long to establish a network of agents both at home and abroad to locate traitors.
Con: A Call for Reform- the abolition of the former privy council was one of the final steps in the gradual change from a strictly monarchistic state to an open commonwealth. However, many have voiced their doubt in the current leaders and have made sure their stance is known, adding only more to the growing political unrest.
Normally I don't enjoy roleplaying myself or a character that is based off of my own personality/traits/what have you. While that makes the character easy to write by allowing me to just ask "What would I do/say?", it usually ends up in me losing interest in the character quite quickly.
However, recently I've been implementing one or two traits I myself have into my characters- I've found it lets me relate to the character without over-saturating him with, well...me.
Description: An old and beautiful nation, steeped in its tradition and history. Largely located among three of the major rivers, Arman-Arhus can be described as the font of fertility- they have an extreme abundance of food to feed their citizens. Formed from the personal union of neighbors Arman and Arhus, and since before forming their unified geopolitical body they were in a personal union, the last several generations of rulers have ruled over both Arman and Arhus.
the Founding- Happened around 1800 years ago; The event that saw the political downfall of the previous and numerous Nuvian states and saw rise to new, though small, Human kingdoms, many of which saw Nuvians and Humans living in (relative) harmony.
the Bastion Era- The period in history seeped in conflict, during which several human kingdoms fell and others rose due to conflicts with the native nearby elvish population. The era is marked by a prominent quote made by King Canis Mede: "If there must be war, let it be in my day, that my children may find bastion and have peace."
the Gemnon Era- The period in history following the wars with the elves that involved a reformation of the economy and government which resulted in a golden age for those in the central plains. One prominent figure rose above all and drug his Kingdom out from the smoldering ruins brought by the elves: Gemnon Jardis, ruler of the small Kingdom of Arhus.
the Oathswearing- Event that saw the creation of a new Kingdom- When one King Jardis III, ruler of the Kingdom of Arhus, fell deeply in love, he promised this woman half his Kingdom. She passed before she received the message, but King Jardis honored his offer and extended the proposal to the woman's family. The woman's brother- Andromus- accepted, and so the nation-state of Arman was born, under the oath they would be forever loyal allies to Arhus- and so it was.
the Union War- Some 300 or 400 years ago the only son of the ruler of Arman had died before he could bear children, so the title of heir was to be rightfully given to one of his daughter's husbands, who was the ruler of a region in Azraca. Of course, the Armanians would rather have a more closely associated bloodline from Arhus take the throne, but the lord from Azraca pushed his claim forward with force; this resulted in armed conflict in which he invaded Arman. While the Armanians held them off, their allies in Arhus committed to a counterattack only to find themselves helpless against the unusual tactics of Terusite warriors. Their exhibition was lost, though back on the other front the Armanians found a Pyrrhic victory. This encounter allowed the Terusite military to gain a reputation as being devious; and to solidify a new heir for centuries to come, Arman and Arhus entered in a personal union, with the then ruler of Arhus, Ormos Zemuzil, now ruling over both Arhus and Arman.
Nowadays, neither side holds the conflict in bad taste, and many have long forgotten about it. Relations have improved greatly between the Commonwealth and the Dominion; both sides realize that a friendly demeanor between them is both more profitable and useful than holding bitter grudges.
the Noble Riots- About 100 years ago the Kingdoms of Arman and Arhus banded together to become the Commonwealth they are today; the change also ushered in a new governmental structure, as well: a Republic. This robbed the de jure nobility that was present of their power and sway, and the subsequent choice to not reform but abolish the privy council sent the upper caste into an uproar. Many refused to send their workers to work the fields, threatening torture if they did so, and some even took up arms.
The House of Not was hastily established to deal with nonviolent threats as a new coda of law was written; the one that still stands today. Orwarriors were sent to deal with the situations where violence was involved, and when things began to settle down only a few were dead. However, they were held as martyrs to a now bitter upper class that do what they can to sway the public to vote for their candidates- a political war that still rages today.
Government: Republican Dictatorship- the elected representatives show absolute power over the nation, and do so until death. In essence, an Absolute Monarchy with a leader too humble to be crowned king.
Economy: Largely dependent on food much like the population- though in Arman-Arhus' position, they have enough of an abundance to do both well. They also sell the linens and flax they don't use for themselves. The real bottleneck is the food exports- since many already grow their own food anyway, it provides a much smaller profit margin, not to mention shelf lives make some items difficult to ship. Having only recently become a Republic has also hindered them some, as a lot of the populace is coming to terms with free trade.
Arman-Arhus:Fulmen Nati -- food/small barter goods: metal
Religion: 64%- the Ternion- the major religion of Arman-Arhus, revolving around their small pantheon of one major goddess and two lesser gods; Edesu, Goddess of Fertility and Growth is the major Goddess; Nulo, God of the Sun is a minor god, and Cuomac, God of Rain and Storms, who is also a minor god. Worshipers belong to the "Triarchy", and are referred to as "Triarchates", regardless of rank inside the clergy, unless you are the Church's head, in which you are the "Grand Triarchate". Normally, one god/goddess is chosen as a "patron god", though the other two are still worshiped- Edesu is, by far, the most popular.
20%- Ruutism- Arguably older than the Ternion, Ruutism is the last remnants of the ancient religion instated in the indigenous populace before Arman or Arhus were formed. It emphasizes balance between all things and heralds a mythical figure named Ruut to which the clergy hold themselves to as they attempt to achieve perfect balance, like Ruut is said to have done. Pain must be held with euphoria, with sadness comes happiness, storm follows the calm; these are just some of the tenets followers of Ruutism uphold.
10%- Piology- An unfortunately too-popular "religion" that emphasizes giving up all material things in order to achieve a higher state of mind. The leader of this movement is unknown, but the powers that be do their best to warn the populace of its presence or of any institutions they control that are actually fronts.
6%- Other- The weird, the esoteric, the exotic, but the otherwise harmless and small religions, sects, and cults that can be found in Arman-Arhus, who uphold a freedom of religion despite some protest.
Geography: Largely consists of plains and hills, with some mountainous areas. Arman-Arhus hold two "major" cities, Kyk and Zanzeb, and the rest of the countryside is filled with small villages and farming/fishing communities that dot the landscape along the rivers.
Population: 5,300,000
Demographics and Language:
Among worker class- 50% Human -- 46% Female, 54% Male 20% Nuvian (Racial descendant of the indigenous population. Humanoid, but skin tones vary from red-toned to caramel brown) -- 56% Female, 44% Male 10% Other 15% Dwarf -- 40% Female, 60% Male 5% Elf -- 38% Female, 62% Male
Among citizen class 60% Human -- 54% Female, 46% Male 25% Nuvian -- 49% Female, 51% Male 5% Elf -- 53% Female, 47% Male 5% Dwarf -- 50% Female, 50% Male 5% Other
Among upper class 80% Human -- 42% Female, 58% Male 10% Nuvian -- 40% Female, 60% Male 5% Elf -- 60% Female, 40% Male 5% Dwarf -- 45% Female, 55% Male
Languages:
Armanian- 48% Arhusian- 50% (Citizens born in the Commonwealth learn both at a young age) Ruutian- 1% (Left over from the remnants of the indigenous peoples) Other- 1%
Architectural Style: Almost entirely brick-driven, featuring clay, stone, red, and adobe. Ziggurats commonly take the place of temples (And sometimes other functions, as well), and most hovels, or buildings general, are very square in shape, often times taller than they are wide. (Think ancient Mesopotamian mashed with an Aztec-like look.)
Apparel- Workers, Citizens, and the Upper-Class: Those who work and till the fields often wear very little clothing, due to both their chosen line of work as well as the warmer climate that Arman-Arhus has been blessed with. Workers tend to not follow trends and focus more on use; workers are often short-haired or bald and this goes for both men and women.
Citizens of the cities do follow trends, however, and often wear layers of loose linen robes pertinent of the Arman-Arhus style. Since many who actually live in the cities are merchants or otherwise small shop owners they often grow their hair and beards out to try and resemble the nobility.
The upper-class sets the trends, which more often than not tends to be the long hair and bushy-bearded "wildman-noble" look for the men and the tempered, beautiful, and modest look for women. Linen is, by far, the most used resource for clothing among common citizens and upper-class alike, though the upper-class tend towards blues, purples, and golds more so than the common citizenry. Golden headgear is also popular- whether it be a simple tiara or an exotic pattern-laden mitre.
Apparel- Military: The standing force tends to wear very little armor, since Arman-Arhus both does not have reliable amounts of metals to make both armor and weapons, and out of sheer tradition and "respect for the ancestry". One's civilian robes are often modified to be short-sleeved, and if any armor is to be worn it is leather or hides, or very thickly woven linens. Metal helmets are about the only strictly armor pieces Armanian warriors wear, as the smiths have crafted a technique to make a reliable head piece from a single sheet of bronze or iron.
To make up for the lack of armor a warrior must be trained in the use of a body-sized shield, and these are made of wood since such has been easier and relatively cheaper to import. Often times a small sheet of iron or bronze will be added as well, though only for the elite warriors.
Because of these large and cumbersome shields an Armanian warrior's selection of weapons is limited- spears, swords, tridents, axes; anything that relies more on thrusting or chopping rather than powerful slashes. This is where most of the metals used for warfare are pooled into.
Though they use it mainly as an export, Arman-Arhus' supply of flax has also allowed them to make reliable bowstrings for their archers.
Notable Locations:
One of the two major city-hubs in Arman-Arhus, featuring the Great Ziggurat of Edesu as its centerpiece. Though it mainly acts as a trading hub, training grounds, and clergy headquarters, it is also home to a sizable portion of the population; around 7,000 permanent homes can be found here, not counting temporary abodes.
The second of two major cities, featuring a unique circle-shaped layout while also engineered to allow the river to flow directly through it. Small canals are built alongside the roads for those seeking a more scenic view, though docks have also been erected along the main waterway to allow small merchant vessels carrying their goods inland to stop and do business. Zanzeb is more of a trading hub, and as such is smaller in population, numbering around 4,500.
Located in Kyk, the Great Ziggurat of Edesu is where one can find the upper echelons of Triarchal clergy. Shrines and statues line the numerous hallways, and for the most part the important priests and heads of the church make their home here.
Personalities of Note:
Ketua Falahad Setuin- Current acting Ketua, or ruler of Arman-Arhus.
Orketua Vaad Ur- A prominent and popular Orketua, or general in the Arman-Arhus military. Comes from the Ur family, who have served as prominent figures in the military for centuries.
Orketua Krag Pukos- A young but rising Orketua who is the recent addition from the Pukos family, an otherwise customary military bloodline.
Grand Triarchate Oluro- The current standing Grand Triarchate of the Church of the Ternion.
Institutions:
the Ur Family- One of the most respected and longest serving military bloodlines found among the Armanian ranks. Frequently presents generals of great promise and tact, though they also tend to be very egotistical and cunning.
the Pukos Family- Another military bloodline that is very large. Aside from size, they haven't done anything to set themselves apart from the other militant bloodlines.
Church of the Ternion- Organization that touts itself the leader of worship of the Ternion. Though they occasionally reform a bit here and there, they largely stay out of politics and prefer their position as a public conduit for peaceful worship.
Traveler's Guild- Responsible for the several dozens- if not hundreds- of "wayposts" that dot the roads in Arman-Arhus, who are so reliant on their road system that they allow the Guild to exist in the first place. Wayposts are set around a days trek from one other along roads, and act places where those travelling can stop to rest and eat.
House of Not- Exist to operate solely as a judiciary system to which the acting Ketua may sentence convicts.
House of Wealth and Service- Where most economists and analysts spend their time and do their best to provide factual and statistical reports on the state of the economy. Was actually controversial when it was established, as many saw it as the Ketua trying to re-establish the very privy council that was just abolished.
Combe Academy- the most prestigious military training institution, existing solely as the lone school to train and prepare Oathguards for Arman-Arhus. Though there are many different academies and yards for training common soldiers, Combe stands above them all in instructors and curriculum.
Military
Troop Total: 79,500 (1.5% of pop.) Army: 74,500 in ground troops-- --61,000 in footsoldiers serving under 60 generals (General term for Soldier is Orwarrior ['Warrior of Light' in Armanian]) --6,000 cavalry --1,000 chariots --3,000 in engineer corps --4,500 other (Logistics-men, squires, advisors, etc.)
Navy: 5,000== the Armanian idea of a 'navy' is a bit skewed, being a largely landlocked nation. However, they do employ the rivers as waterways to transports goods and manpower, among other things, so they keep a small standing "navy" to protect them, which mostly consists of small crews on equally small galleys or war canoes- certainly nothing that would survive on open seas. The crew of these ships are amphibious fighters and could loosely be considered Marines. In fact, the only reason Arman-Arhus keeps this navy is due to their food surplus- were the army not so well fed as it is, these warriors would be the first to go.
Other: The Armanian military upholds their forefathers' traditions, and as such fight in a very traditional style- in a staggered line with spears normally in front and archers either behind or at the flanks. Non-spear wielding infantry is either behind the spears as well, or integrated into the line. Cavalry and chariots make the far flanks. The military has been able to operate fairly well largely because they are able to be kept very well fed and fight for a modest and reliable wage. The main detriments are the lack of technology, lack of innovative strategies, and the ambitious generals, who constantly seek to glorify themselves against one another.
Orwarrior- "Warrior of Light" in Armanian and Arhusian, the Orwarrior is your basic, trained footsoldier that makes up the backbone of the Arman-Arhus military. They are in superb physical shape: months of physical training takes place before any sort of weapon training begins, and combined with the generous and homegrown rations allowed by the food surplus, Orwarriors tend to be very brawny men and women. They generally are equipped very lightly: cloth or linen robes with the occasional leather chestpiece or pauldron. Helmets are standard issue, made of iron or copper, and are simple in design. Most Orwarriors use spears or axes alongside their large, wooden shields. They carry swords or daggers, as well, though only resort to using them if they are separated from their aegis. "Orwarrior" is also the term given to archers, though they receive slightly different training.
Ketwarrior- "Warrior of Horse" in Armanian and Arhusian, the Ketwarrior is your standard light cavalry unit. Arman-Arhus tends to not field many Ketwarriors, due to their domestic horse breed taking a long period of time to mature, but their horses are strong and fast. Ketwarriors receive all the training of Orwarriors and more. Their attire is similar to Orwarriors' as well, though a Ketwarrior forgoes a large shield in favor of a smaller, lighter shield that is easier to use on horseback. Their choice of weapons is similar, as well, though longspears seem to be the go-to for most.
Oathguard- The elite that are handpicked either by the Ketua or an Orketua and are commonly used as personal guards for both. They are, however, a standalone unit, and one that will often only be employed in the most dire of situations. An Oathguard is often picked for exemplary service; upon being picked, they are subjected to an incredibly rigorous and physically straining training regimen- what emerges is a strong, disciplined, loyal, and valuable military asset.
Aside from appearing physically stronger than most Orwarriors, Oathguards are made to look more intimidating by the iron masks they don in battle. Oathguards are also allowed some metal armor, though since Arman-Arhus is always lacking in metals, it is still fairly little. Instead, Oathguards are requisitioned metal-reinforced shields similar to that of an Orwarrior's. An Oathguard's sheer strength allows them to carry the heavy shield with ease and still use a long and sturdy spear or axe.
Curwarrior- "Warrior of Wind" in Armanian that was also adopted early on by Arhusian generals, the Curwarriors have double roles as both front skirmishers and assault men. They are even more lightly armored than Orwarriors, if they wear armor at all, and many forgo the helmets, as well. The only armor commonly donned by Curwarriors are leather boots or sandals to protect their feet, for the coda of these troops is speed and momentum.
Their first role, skirmisher, is accomplished by them being trained in the use of small and light, though still lethal, javelins, of which they carry a bag of on their backs. They are often thrown from a short range and are often meant as a form of return fire against enemy skirmishers.
Their second role, assault, comes from their large swords and axes that often require the use of two hands. The size of these weapons carried with the momentum and speed of the unarmored fighters allows Curwarriors to also function as an on-the-fly shock force, following up a javelin volley with a hefty charge. These large blades are less useful in close quarters and make it difficult to maneuver, so Curwarriors have very little staying power.
Num-u-Ket: Basically means "charioteer". They can be considered, to some degree, the Oathguards of cavalry. With a larger chariot with the wheels located at the middle, rather than the back (as earlier chariots had done), and being drawn with two horses rather than one, a Num-u-Ket is able to hold three warriors in a single chariot: one dedicated driver, often moderately armored; one spear, shield, and sword wielding warrior; and one bow or javelin wielding warrior. Since combat from chariot is entirely different from that of a horse or foot, an entirely new school had to be erected to train charioteers, and thusly they field only a small amount of them, if they field them at all. Much like the Oathguards, they are an expensive but effective war asset that is often only employed in the most dire of situations.
Rorwarrior- "Warrior of Water", the Rorwarrior is an amphibious marine-like unit that is often stationed on the war canoes or small galleys that Arman-Arhus can barley call a navy. Apart from the environment they fight in, there is little to distinguish a Rorwarrior from a common Orwarrior.
Other:
Lament of the Dead- The Armanian nation’s people are a people rich in culture, and the dead are often revered and this is a song of regret and vengeance. The morale all who sing such a song is nearly unbreakable, and they will fight beyond the limits of exhaustion under its thrall.
Inbred- The leadership has a history of family being a little too close. Closer than most morally upright are comfortable with, fuck closer than many evil things are comfortable with. This has several issues, one: the leadership is about as intelligent as a bag of especially stupid potatoes. Two: leaders tend to use ‘Mum’, ‘Sister’, ‘Daughter’ etc rather interchangeably.
Contagious Culture- Armanian culture is, for lack of a better word, contagious. Whether it be due to the old and famous writers and painters or out of respect for the nation's long history, bits of Armanian or Arhusian culture can be found on nearly all corners of the continent, if only in the smallest degree.
A Call for Reform- the abolition of the former privy council and the de jure nobility were some of the final steps in the gradual change from a strictly monarchistic state to an open commonwealth. However, many have voiced their doubt in the current leaders and have made sure their stance is known, adding only more to the growing political unrest.
ESSENTIALS Population Density (Population - 5,300,000) - Regionally Dense; A small amount of manpower for the military and economic purposes, with social infrastructure strained more at a regional basis. Civic projects are expensive, since most of your citizens till the soil.
Economy - Slow Growth - The economy is performing adequately, though there is room for improvement. There are certain limitations on the economy that are bottlenecking real growth, such as a restriction in investment capital, amount of labour or insufficient demand.
Urbanisation - slightly urbanised: There are several towns and but only a handful of cities present, communities generally range from a few hundred to a thousand individuals.
Technology - Slowly Modernizing: The industrial infrastructure is in the process of improvement, and this is a teething process. But the economy is seeing increased activity because of this investment. New technologies are slowly becoming domestically available. However, there is a degree of dependence on imports, including in terms of the expertise to modernize the economy. Metallurgy is limited to bronze and some iron products.
Domestic Political Stability - Quite stable
GEOGRAPHY Largely consists of plains and hills, with some mountainous areas
RESOURCES Mineral Deposits - Moderate deposits of metals and minerals.
Valuable Mineral Deposits - None.
Unique Materials - flax and linen --> textiles
Agriculture - crop and small livestock based, extensive food surplus
MILITARY Military Focus - Decent army, decent infantry and cavalry ratio (7:1)
Military Recruitment - Hereditary, with certain blood lines born to serve, levies in wartime
Reliability - Levies are of decent quality, decentralised units
Military Size - small core of professional units: requires some upkeep, easy to equip/supply quickly, seasonal levies
Military Technology - Slow Modernization, your nation does somewhat lags behind the rest of the world, instead holding to traditions and conventions.
Military Training and Morale - Highly Trained; High Morale, levies are of good quality but low morale
Military Leadership - Competent; Competitive; Corrupt
Military Reputation - Popular domestically; considered impetuous but capable by foreigners
Siege Equipment - antiquated, seasoned corps of engineers and sappers; Loyal and capable
“Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.”
-Louisa May Alcott
