Nation Name: Suehania, (autonym, Svithyod)
Flag: No such thing.
Region: WIP, but for the purposes of claims, the region north of Crayven and east of the Lorenvolk
Capital: Stadsholmen
Capital population: 10,000
Other major settlements: Venedia, Thorinja, Denain
Population: 2,525,000
Racial Demographics: 84% Suehan, 16% Craven. As well, 25,000 wildlings.
Social Dynamics: There are two ways to advance in society. Either accomplish some great martial feat, or have large material wealth. Nobility is very much in flux until old age, at such point one is too old for combat and thus exempted from any shame in staying home; maintaining one’s status until old age requires currying the favor of the king so that he places you in a position of command or bodyguard, or being fabulously wealthy. This leads to a very bellicose society, which rapidly tends to grow restless without an external foe, as martial feats in war are the fastest ways to advance. Due to being hemmed in on two sides by massive and domineering empires, the people have turned war into their lives. Martial activities, such as stick-fighting, sprinting, wrestling, and riding displays have gradually supplanted nearly all other forms of diversion. Wildlings raised from birth are Valkyries, where those who are taken over the age of six work in the mines.
Fashion: Martial and utilitarian. Nearly everyone wears some form of leather armor perpetually, and the rich men will wear their iron helmets. Nearly everyone has a weapon and carries it around, the most common type being a sahsom, a heavy, long knife.
Calendar: WIP, as this is fluff.
Art: Rudimentary, cave paintings and carving
Law: Very progressive and modern, especially considering the location. A system of due process exists, protection from unreasonable search and seizure exists, inadmissible evidence exists, trial by jury exists, a system of compensation replaces imprisonment and death most of the time, professional lawyers exist, etc. simply because the population is too small and too prone to war to allow frequent miscarriages of justice.
Education: The University of Hard Knocks
Type of Government: Despotic Monarchy heavily restricted by the people’s backbone and oral law traditions. New laws are created by a congress convened once a decade to review the law, composed of delegates elected by smaller congresses.
Trading and Tax: Taxes exist, major industries and exports are fishing, furs, and iron ore.
Major industries: Agriculture of course, fishing, fur hunting and trapping, raiding, horse breeding and smithing.
Currency: Does not exist. The economy exists on a barter system but gold, silver, etc. are accepted.
Military:
A national navy does not exist, as the Kunungr has never seen fit to transport a significant force by sea, however, many privately operated longships exist, only mentioned due to their frequent raids they conduct, but as they universally avoid naval confrontation unless they have vastly superior numbers (itself being rare as they are often on raids individually). And number at 500, enough to transport 15,000 men, however only 50 are at home at any moment generally.
Gaisovulk Frijod (Free Spear-Folk)-variable numbers. Singular “Gaisovulken”
Every able-bodied man is able to join the Gaisovulk, however, few are called up by the Kunungr (king) unless the need is dire, and even then only in locales immediately around. Armed with leather breastplates, large wooden shields, 6-8 foot spears, two light javelins, and leather or metal helmets. Quality of this militia diminishes the further away from coastlines, rivers or borders one goes, as borders and sea-access give training in the form of raids and raid-defense, but it is in general a very effective force as far as militias go. Their loyalty is unquestionable as is their morale, but discipline is shaky.
Dughundis (Trusted Ones), singular “Dughundaz” (perpetually fluctuating but around 40,000 at a given time)
Former Gaisovulk, who have been called into service by their Gothi (lord) or the Kunungr enough times and fought well enough to be considered in his esteem as proven warriors. Elevation to this status is a massive prestige bonus but carries heavy obligations. A Dughundaz is expected to provide himself, or if he is too poor, be provided by his lord, a mail brunjo (short sleeved hauberk) and a metal helmet in addition to the spear, shield, and long knife he already owns. A Dughundaz is entitled to a servant or slave paid for by his lord so he is freed up to train with others often, returning to his farm only during the most labor intensive parts of the season.
Jungundr (Youth), singular “Jungun”-variable numbers, as more can be called but with greater economic impact.
Generally between ages 14 and 17, these warriors have had little combat experience or training, yet they are still full-blooded Suehans. They therefore fill many less-glorious roles, such as carrying weapons for other, more heavily armed soldiers, and in battle, screening ahead of the army as skirmishers with no armor, a bundle of javelins, a sling, a pilum, a longer spear for melee, and a stout shield.
Ridonjar (“Riders” singular, Ridonr) (13,000)
Excellent light cavalry, born of a fusion between Crayven lack of cavalry and the raiding culture. These men right medium sized horses and due to the expense of operating a horse, often coalesce into established groups and bands that work with others to prevent loss of the animal, making unit cooperation good even before integration into an army. They are armed with strong bows, as the kind of prey they take, normally caribou, requires it, and are quality mounted archers. They also carry swords but wear only leather armor.
Skjutonar (“Marksmen” singular, Skjutonr)-variable, I.E. may compose some of the emergency troops, however 7,000 are of exceptional quality and are treated as Dughundis.
Professional infantry warbowmen do not exist. Purely military weapons in Suehania are expensive and rare, so these men use their low-draw weight hunting bows as best they can on the battlefield. While they are consistently outranged, they were selected because of their accuracy gained from hunting. They are also excellent night ambushers, putting their stealthy stalking techniques to use to fire a shaft from the darkness and silently fade into the forest from which they came. Only the 7,000 Dughundis are given warbows.
Valkyries: Wildlings raised from birth and commanded by female officers. Equipped with slings, spears, shields and chain mail byrnies with winged helmets. Only 1,000 in number.
Herubrukonez (“Sword-Companions” singular, Herubrukonaz)-8,000
The crème-de-la-crème of the infantry force, heavily armored with hauberks, helmets Suehan iron swords and stout tower shields. A marked departure from the normal Suehan fighting style, these men are selected from the already highly selective Dughundis and trained to use the ultimate status weapon, the sword. They are year-round professional soldiers with unwavering loyalty to the Konungr but are divided into groups of a thousand and placed under the charge of the 8 largest Gothis. As well, they are typically the largest men in society, universally over six feet tall.
Huskarlar (“Free Men of the House”, singular Huskarl)-3,500
However valiant, brave, and strong the Herubrukonez are, the Huskarlar who are drawn from their ranks are better. To be appointed to this role and be under the direct command of the Kunungur is an honor one man in a thousand gets, a feat surely to be marked by his descendants. The Huskarlar are outfitted similarly to the Herubrukonez but with the incredible Suehanian steel sword. 25 such swords are considered gifts worthy of an emperor due to the weeks they require to make. They are extremely heavily armored by their iron full-face mail coifs suspended from their iron helmets, and their Suehanian steel lamellar cuirass over their iron hauberks. There is hardly an inch on their whole surface not protected by metal, from iron splints on their wrists to their intimidating coifs.
Herumaranez (“Horse Companions”) – 8,000
Armored similarly to the Herubrukonez, but additionally with war spears and octagonal shields. Riding the finest heavy horses, these men compose the Suehanian heavy cavalry and are split up among the Gothis. Professional soldiers.
Marahuskarlar (“Free Horsemen of the House”)-3,000
A similar role as the Huskarlar, with identical armor, octagonal shields, and war spears. Drawn from the ranks of the Herumaranez and serve the Konungr directly as his bodyguard.
Landscape: Very little is plains, mostly forest and tundra with a very fertile section in the east, where the capital is.
Wildlife: See Scandinavian wildlife
Notable places:
Summary:
History: WIP
Strengths:
Strong, but small army
Masters of ambush, arctic and guerilla war
Raiding culture provides income at others’ expense and keeps the populace in fighting form.
Suehanian horses and steel are both excellent.
Defensible landscape
Weaknesses:
Seen as uncivilized barbarians.
Raiding culture leads to hostile relations with neighbors
Small, diffuse population. Notably outnumbered by southern neighbors by
five to one