Kheshat
Kheshat is a Sikthan country, located at the northern tip of the continent. It spans from the east to west coasts, bordering _ to the south. Kheshat has one of the oldest histories of any modern nation, with the first records of civilization appearing close to five millennia ago. It has notoriously been ruled by dynasties of sorcerer-kings. It boasts a rich cultural heritage, owing to a strong national identity combined with foreign influences.Geography
Central Kheshat rests on an elevated plateau, laden with rolling hills and valleys. It is intersected by mountain ranges, which stretch along the fringes of the country and snake inland. The land is rugged and steep, with some peaks reaching 2,000 meters above sea level. The northern coast is lined with rocky cliffsides, unsuitable for ports. Oceanic traffic must come and go through the southeast coast, where the land is level. Several island clusters rest off Kheshat’s northwest coast. These are largely uninhabited, save for wild animals. The largest is called Phyrga, and it has a sizeable population, known for their seamanship and skill at archery.
Kheshat enjoys large swathes of fertile soil, thanks to the many rivers that snake through its valleys. The banks of these rivers contain large deposits of black silt, deposited after flooding. This is where Kheshat grows its crops and concentrates its population. The rivers are used like highways; boats carry goods and people up and down the waterways.
The climate of the region is a mixture of continental and mediterranean. Temperatures in winter average 30℉, while the summers see high 60s-70s℉. Precipitation is light, with only two-dozen inches annually. The mountainous territories see harsher winters, and cold northerly winds occasionally sweep through the ranges.
The mountains are home to large swathes of deciduous woodland. Conifers are present at high altitudes. The forests sustain a range of wildlife: wild pigs and boar are common, as are deer, squirrels, foxes, goats, wolves and bears. They are also home to very elusive lynxes, which are seen only rarely. To catch sight of a lynx is considered a good omen. Several species of forest birds live in Kheshat, such as owls, grouse and eagles. Different species of fish and aquatic life dwell in its lakes and rivers, some hardly different in form than they were millions of years ago.
History
This should be more generally informative of the country's past and how it has affected their culture than a list of dead kings and globally inconsequential events. I encourage players to collaborate and create shared history.
Culture
Hoo boy. This section should be the largest, and cover as many facets of their culture you can think of. I don't just wanna know their clothes and religion, I want to know what their food is like, how other countries view them, what their view of death is, and so on. Do they use beds or rollout futons to conserve space? Do they bathe normally, or is regularly being submerged in water considered unhealthy? Are there foods associated with a holiday? Do they duel over honor or legal matters? You get the picture.
Military
Organization: Kheshat’s military is a flexible, formidable machine. Reforms over the last decade have made soldiering a professional occupation. Prior to this, the army was raised from free citizens who could afford weapons and armor, probably no more than half of the country’s able-bodied men. They were not often versed in military training. The most prolific change wrought by the reforms was the ability to drill and train on a regular basis, thereby increasing the cohesiveness of its fighting men.
In addition, several improvements were made to the equipment and fighting style of the army. The traditional phalanx formation gained offensive might by replacing spears with long the sarissa, and reducing the size of the shield. With the six-meter-long sarissa, a dense formation of men could keep enemy ranks at bay, and kill them from afar.
The army gradually developed a combined-arms approach to war; the heavy phalanxes were supplemented by cavalry, skirmishers, light infantry and elite hoplites, each filling in gaps in each others’ weaknesses, and adding versatility to the force as a whole. Where the phalanx holds enemies in place, the cavalry exploits their flanks. Hoplites guard the vulnerable sizes of the pikemen, and skirmishers harry unarmored foes from afar.
Equipment: A soldier wears little more than a conical helmet and a cloak on a rapid march, but in combat, he would be protected by armor of bronze, worn over a loose-fitting tunic. These take the form of a chestguard, vambraces, and greaves. A pikeman carries the eighteen-foot sarissa, and a round shield, and has a kopis on his belt for close-quarters. The hoplites are equipped similarly, with a larger shield and a spear short enough to jab with one hand.
Skirmishers carry bows and slings, and are lightly armored for fleet of foot. Phyrgian archers sometimes carry small shields and swords, but are highly famed for their accuracy at range. Other peltasts might hurl javelins from behind light shields, arranged in open order.
Cavalry is armored heavily or lighty, depending on their role. Shock cavalrymen are armed with a lance and a sword, and hammer home charges at vulnerable points in the enemy line. Light cavalrymen might carry similar weapons and abandon armor for speed of movement. A few may carry bows and harass the enemy while riding swiftly out of reach.
Economy
In the simplest terms,
what do you import and export? Do you make a lot of things, or just one thing? Is your country in debt to another? Geography and culture will play a role here. Also, no country is self sufficient.
Relations
Don't just give me your trade relations you god damn minmaxer. Tell me what your peoples get called by racists, what your country's relation to the rest of the world is, what the popular image of your country is as a whole, etc.
That, and y'know, those trade relations.
Ruling House Name
I'm not doing the important crest thing from ASOIAF. If you want a picture here, Make it a fancy font or their castle or something.
House History
This can start with some dude so long ago people don't think he's real, or it can start with your current monarch's birth. All I really wanna know is the recent history.
House Members
A list of the people in your country's royal family, starting with the king and ending with the youngest heir.
House Specialty
If you were waiting for a section to put a weirdly specific strength, this is it. Houses can have military traditions and thus focus on making their heirs study tactics, or have artistic traditions, or have their strength not be related to a tradition at all. Maybe they have a really cool boat. Maybe they breed weird animals. Anyway, feel free to lean on the fantasy tagline here a little and use your imagination.
Member
AP Ottovan
