Tales of Two Horizons Alt-History OOC- Open

[Danceria]

*Fires warning shot with cheaply made musket*
Also, I'm gonna be working on my app. Could someone give me a sitrep on the Americas.

The West cost of America will be Russian ;3...

But basically the :Not SpanishUS: is the dominant rising power in the region and might want to expand further North maybe? Then there is the Chinese colonies in Cali and the UK still has territory along with Scandy in the far reaches of the North ask Col for more.

> Historical clusterfuck that is China
> Able to maintain colonies
Pick one and only one. As Colombia, I don't have much interest in North America outside of the US. You do you Ivan

[Danceria]

Application

Poster: The United Kingdoms of Danceria, otherwise known as "Danceria" "Dance" "Dancy" "Dancy-Pants" or "Dan"
Name: The Federal Consulate of Colombia Colombia, the Colombian Consulate, Colombian, Colombia, Italia, Repubblica Italiana, italiano, italiani")
Symbols: (Things such as flags, coats of arms, anthems, official animals/birds/plants/flowers/foods/sports, and just other abstracts associated with your state)
Territory: (A description or map, preferably a map, of your state's territorial occupation, ownership, influence, divisions, claims, etc.)

Government Structure: (A description of how your state's government runs; for example, answer questions such as, is it a republic, a monarchy, a theocracy? Is it democratic, autocratic, oligarchic, aristocratic? If there is voting, how does the voting system work? If there is hereditary power, how does inheritance work? What checks and balances exist, if any? Is it federal or unitary?)
Ideology/Policy: (What ideas and concepts does your government, and do your people endorse, and carry out? Mercantilism, interventionism, secularism, expansionism, communalism, racism?)
Leaders: (Put a name, title, and maybe even short description to the people who run the show in your country - or, maybe just the people who run the show slightly more than everyone else)
Foreign Relations: (How does your state interact with other nations and states? What does it think of them? What do they think of you? How does your state want to think of them, and to be thought of by them? How successful has it been at influencing and carrying out its goals with regards to those beyond its borders?)
Capital: (What is the seat of your state's government, if one exists? Where is it, and how is it? If necessary, elaborate on these fields, and the status of the capital; is there more than one, or maybe the capital is only capital in name?) Has the Casa de Nariño (residence of the Consul) and the Palacio Liévano (where the National Assembly meets)

Demographics: (How many people live in your country? How many are slaves, how many citizens, how many foreigners? Where do they live, generally? Are they urbanised much? Are they mostly old or young, male or female? Are there any significant trends in wealth distribution, gender, sexual orientation, and all of these against location? Are there any genetics useful to know with relation to your people? In general, describe the demographic makeup of the state)
Ethnicity: (What ethnic group, or groups are they part of? Are they perhaps a mix, a new group formed from a mix? Are they an isolate? Who are they related to? Are there any particular characteristics to this ethnicity, either physical or behavioural? How are the people divided in ethnic terms; are ethnic divisions particular prominent, or less so? Consider working with other RPers to answer: What larger ethnic group are the groups part of?)
Language: (What language is, or what languages are spoken? What language is written? Is there more than one, are there many dialects? What relations to other languages and dialects do these languages have? What legal or political status do various languages have?)
Religion: (What religion, rather, religions, do people follow, if any? Does the state have a view on it? How are adherents to different religions, cults or lack thereof distributed, geographically and demographically? Describe, also, the practices, traditions and rituals of relevant religions and cults)

Military Organisation: (How is the military organised? Is there conscription? Who can serve? How good is the pay? Is it standing, or mostly reserve? Who leads it, and how do they acquire that responsibility? Explain broadly how the military is organised)
Army: (How big are your land forces; how many soldiers, tanks, cavalry, horses, noncombatants who help? How is their technology, logistic, weaponry, armour? Who leads them? How do they fit into the military as a whole? How good are they? How do they recruit? How are they organised, in general?)
Navy: (How big are your seaborne forces; how many ships of each type, sailors, officers? How well built are the ships, how well-trained are the sailors? Who leads them? How do they fit into the military as a whole? How good are they? How do they recruit? How are they organised, in general? Does a navy exist?)

Development: (How well are things built, materially and immaterially? Consider roads, institutions, railways, wealth inequality, canals, airports, government buildings, architecture, building codes, urbanisation, building materials)
Economic policy: (How is the state's involvement in the economy? Describe the government's role, its ownership, its attitude, even the people's attitude, and everything else relevant)
Trade: (What are some imports, what are some exports? Who does the state tend to trade with? Does it have a trade surplus or trade deficit? What is the government's policy, taken actions, and effects on trade? How is all of this in relation to internal trade, or even trade between colonies and the homeland? How is trade conducted, in terms of business, transport, even culture; perhaps there is much corruption with regards to customs, duties, tariffs and the like? What trade routes are use?)
Currency: (What currency, if any, is the main method of transaction in your country? What is the money? Explain subdivisions and conversion rates if relevant. Also explain what type of money it is; bullion? Fiat? Pegged to a metal or another currency?)

History: (Tell the story of the nation, the state, the country, everything that has happened and is relevant to the above, whether resulting in it or despite it)
Miscellaneous: (Anything else that needs to be said that doesn't fit in an above field?)

429 (This is used to mark this as an official application. If this is not present, I can't search "429" and find this application)

[Elepis]

The West cost of America will be Russian ;3...

But basically the :Not SpanishUS: is the dominant rising power in the region and might want to expand further North maybe? Then there is the Chinese colonies in Cali and the UK still has territory along with Scandy in the far reaches of the North ask Col for more.

> Historical clusterfuck that is China
> Able to maintain colonies
Pick one and only one. As Colombia, I don't have much interest in North America outside of the US. You do you Ivan

china balkanized, which lead to competition and industrialization on a par with Europe

[NewLakotah]

Application

Poster: NewLakotah
Name: Sioux Confederation, Sioux Tribe, Lakota Sioux, Lakota Tribe
Symbols:
Territory: number 83 on the map

Government Structure: Tribal Chiefdom. Council of Elders work as the main "legislative" body and main advisers. Military command is through the chiefdom and appointed by the chief and tribal elders. Each of the tribes and clans send forth their top elders to the Council, where they remain either until the die or are recalled by the sending tribe. The chief cannot expel any of the Councilmembers
Ideology/Policy: Generally non-interventionist. Somewhat expansionist, as the need for more territory is somewhat imperative for survival as well as increasing the amount of tribes apart of their confederation. Generally warlike, aggressive should any nation encroach on their borders.
Leaders: Chief Red Cloud, supporting by the Council of Elders. Senior Elder: Black Hawk, medicine man.
Foreign Relations: Generally a state of non-involvement has been considered the norm for the Sioux. However, more and more as other nations encroach closer, the need for strong allies and the ability to defend against them has become important. Other Native Tribes are generally welcomed and considered allies, unless they betray their trust or ally with the enemy.
The mutual similarities between the Eastern and Native Cultures have also lead to good relations with the Chinese Deseret.
b]Capital:[/b]Dakota. Not a growing semblance of western influenced and tribal needs and abilities combined to make a small tribal town. A mixture of Indian and western style buildings. Not much to brag about. Also, with the inclusion of the many of the eastern traditions, many of building are also Chinese in design and build. Sioux is the main language, with Spanish and English also accepted. Chinese (Mandarin) is also spoken as well.

Demographics: Generally speaking, the majority of the Confederation are from Native American descent. A good small, but sizable, European minority also exist. Mostly established from trading outposts along the Confederation territory. As the confederation stabilized, many of the Europeans elected to stay, becoming apart of the Confederation. Many of the British settlers also fled after the resulting war between Spain and England, and chose to settle in their area. A second minority, much smaller, of Asian immigrants also inhabit the western edges of the Confederation. However, their numbers are much smaller, with only around 3% of the population Asian. In all, there are around 400,000 Natives in the Confederation, all hailing from different tribes, with the largest Demographic being Sioux, Lakota, and Dakota. Around 40,000 are of European Descent, mostly British, Spanish and Dutch. Around 20,000 are from various Asian descent, a massive majority of which are Chinese.
Ethnicity: Lakota Sioux, Dakota, Cheyenne, Plains Cree, make up the most of the Indian population which is over 85% of the population. Several other smaller tribes also are apart of the confederation. Spanish/French/British make up the rest of the 10%, with 5% left for Asian immigrants. Most of whom are either traders themselves, or descended from traders who have remained apart of the confederation. They provide much of the European influence on the tribes, including the establishment of Dakota as the capital and helping create a more Europeanesque society.
Language: Majority is Sioux, or dialects of Sioux is spoken as the mainstay. Other tribal languages are spoken amongst themselves. Spanish and English are the most spoken European languages, with Dutch being close behind. Most of the non-Natives that have grown up in the Confederation are generally bi-lingual, having learned Sioux and retained much of their native language. A smattering of Chinese can also be heard around, particularly in the Western edges of the Confederation in which most of the immigrants are Chinese and much of the trade is with Chinese.

Religion: Traditional Native American shamanistic traditions are generally continued and considered the norm. However, due to the European influence, Christianity has also grown at a large rate, becoming the main religion for 20% of the population, most are Europeans but more and more Natives are as well. This led to the establishment of the Catholic Church Building and Anglican Church Building in the main town of Dakota. The native traditional beliefs are highly based in shamanistic traditions, which a strong natural connection between man and nature, as well with strong connections with the ancestors.

Many of the Native traditions have also merged with the similar Buddhist culture influence that they received from the western territories of the Americas. This led to a large cross merging of many of the traditions, with many including the beliefs of Buddhism into their traditional shamanistic traditions.

Military Organisation: The military is led by the Chief, the main council is actually Lewis Adamsby, a European who arrived with British military experience, and was there to trade arms. He decided to stay and Red Cloud made him the main logistical officer, equipping the troops and readying them for combat. Nonetheless, the main structure is still not very organized, and generally set up by the tribes themselves.
Army: The max amount of warriors that could be called up is around 100,000. However, generally the warrior society is around 30,000 trained warriors who generally act as the main border patrol of the region. Most are generally mounted on horseback, making most of them Calvary. Most of the whites, Asians, with several troops of Natives make up the smaller infantry sections. Both non-Native and native warriors generally are equipped with muskets, bows and arrows and tomahawks, spears or other melee weapons. Particularly when on horseback, archery is generally much preferred leaving most of the infantry with the muskets. While still trained for European style combat, most of the infantry still fight "Indian-style". There is also one battery of artillery, small light, horse artillery which makes the backbone of the Sioux Army. Manned mostly by the white warriors with a few Indians there to assist as well.

The Confederation still follows much of the Traditions of the Sioux and Lakota. Both very war-like. They still believed that many of the young men remain as warriors in the field of combat. Now that peace amongst them seemed to be lasting, and that division of labor and hunting/gathering for food wasn't really necessary anymore. The decision to keep a standing warrior army was given. Most of the young men of the tribes were sent to be trained and serve their terms as warriors. Most Natives deciding to stay, with the European and Asians continuing to provide their men into the warrior society as well. However, despite the large amounts of trained men for combat, the actual amount of active warriors was low. There was not really a strong need to keep a large force active, most could be easily called up from the tribal rolls should any attack come. The only warriors that were needed acted as a border patrol, recon teams and border guards at the main roads to keep bandits and outlaws from reeking havoc on the tradesmen, a vital source of income from most of the Confederation
Army:
750 Men
500 Cavalry (450 Native 50 European) - Border Patrol, Roadway patrol
200 Infantry (125 European, 50 Chinese and 25 Native) Border checkpoints, Guardsmen
50 Artillery for 5 6lbs. artillery cannons (43 European, 5 Chinese, 2 Native) Deployed at main encampment at Prophetstown.

Among the so-called warrior society, the numbers were much greater. These were basically the reserve and replacements for the frontline troops. They were called up if threats to the homeland were established, but overall they would meet once or twice a month to make sure they were fit and trained to fight properly.

Navy: Being landlocked their is no Navy. However, several trading ships along the river act as a riverine patrol.

Development: Urbanization and modernization is underway, while maintaining the traditions and cultures of the Natives. However, thanks to the European influence, blacksmithing, gunsmithing and general metalworks have began to be started. Urbanization and construction of large buildings are under way, but many of the tribes still remain nomadic along the borders of the Confederation. Growth, especially militarily, is extremely important so the ability to construct artillery, weapons and other goods for horses are particularly important. With a strong trade and some migration occurring along the Western borders, much of the Western outposts and villages are much less European in style. They instead are usually marked with Buddhist temples and prayer trees are often spotted. Their buildings are also much more of a Chinese design.
The European settlements along the east side is where much of the main development has started, with it steadily growing more and more along the whole Confederation.
Largest cities:
Dakota: 31,000 (23,000 Natives, 7,000 Europeans, 1,000 Asian)
Rio de la Paz: 16,000: 12,000 Europeans, 3,5000 natives, 5,000 Asian
Shān Shì: 10,000 Chinese, 11,000 Natives, 3,500 Europeans
Prophetstown: 21,000 Natives, 3,000 Europeans, 750 Asian

Thanks to both sides imputing their culture and combining it with the natives, it has allowed for the development of indigenous gunpowder and small shops for gunsmithing and crafting of metal arrows and spears and tomahawks.

Economic policy: The Chiefdom is generally not overly involved in economic affairs, instead it is handled by the elders, who in turn instruct each tribe as how to conduct their trade and business. Most trade to Europeans is conducted by the European tribesmen, in order to allow for the best price and translation. Similarly, the Western trade, with the Chinese are also conducted by the Chinese tribesmen, who do most of the trading in their outposts along the borders.
Trade: The biggest exports are fur, buffalo, and horses, as well as smaller items of trinkets and native made pottery, etc. These are the largest exports for the nation. Most imports are guns, metals, and other things that are as of yet unable to be constructed in the Confederation. Currency trading is also a growing sector of imports, particularly Spanish Gold from Spanish America. Gold exports from the Black Hills are also a large exporting industry for the Tribe.

Currency: Generally the bartering system is still in effect across most of the Confederation. There has been a large push, particularly from the Europeans to adhere to a method of a strict currency of Spanish Gold to be the standard and tie it directly to gold. Gold that was discovered in the Black Hills Region has also been pushed to become the main currency.

History: IT wasn't long after the arrival of the first Europeans to Americas and the first contact between the Sioux and the Spanish, that the need for unity among the tribes was important. After surviving the initial onslaught of smallpox and other diseases left the tribes in disorder, the first Sioux tribes decided to unite under one leader. After initial struggles, the Confederation was vindicated by the arrival of the related Lakota People. Their extremely large tribe merged with their own to create the Sioux Confederation, though Many Lakota still call it the Lakota-Sioux Confederation.
Around the turn of the century more and more European immigrants began to set up trading operations in the area. The stability and organization of the tribe, as well as the steady income of furs lured the Europeans to stay and set up their families in the area. This turned out to have the largest impact on the Confederation. These traders allowed for the growth of manufacturing to begin and the creation of a semi-modern army, with the abilities and tactics of the Natives. With this newfound power, the Confederation quickly absorbed all of the smaller tribes and finally, in 1824, the Large Dakota Tribes. Seeking safety in numbers, many of the smaller tribes continued to make their way North, also, incouraged by the finding of gold in 1834 in the Black Hills, more and more Europeans began to settle down in the region and brought their families with them. A mini gold rush to the region has starting bringing much wealth and more population growth to the region.
With the arrival of the new Eastern Chinese along the West Coast of the Americas, a mutual trade and outposts were set up. Much of the shared ethnic history and culture made for an easy cross culture match, and the similarities in religion also made for good relations.

The first wave of large scale European migration first occurred in the early part of the 1600's, when the Confederation was just beginning. The first wave the truly decided to stay and settle was small at first, but due to good relations, and a strong trading partner, this soon led to the Europeans, mainly Spanish at this time, to begin to become apart of the community. Dutch settlers soon followed, many of the frontier folk enjoyed the working freedom and large expanses of area to begin to settle down. Most of the Europeans remained on the East side, where the farming was much better. This lead to the first European majority town of Río de la paz, which still remains as the largest European settlement, where around 12,000 Europeans live, and 4,000 Natives also live. Most of the migration at this point was mostly Dutch, Spanish and Scandinavian.

Europeans continued to trickle in, as well as other smaller tribes seeking the safety of the large Confederation. However, the next large migration occurred after the Spanish defeated the British and took control of their colonies. This made many of the English to flee. Many had heard of the European settlements along the Sioux frontier and made their way there. They established the town of Marshtown, where the English still compose the majority.

The wave of Asian immigrants was much slower, generally along the Western borders. Most established trading outposts and simply staying and settling down. Bringing their families and extended families to stay with them. No mass wave of migration took place, rather just a small steady stream. The final wave took place after Europeans found gold in the Black Hills. After much debate at the High Council of Elders, the Natives and Europeans and Asians were all allowed to mine, as long as all gold belonged to the Confederation. This marked a new wave of European and some Asian immigrants to make there way there.

This cooperation lead to the signing of the Treaty of the Black Hills in 1835. This marked the full integration of all non-Native migrants into the Confederation and making them members of the tribe. It also allowed for Europeans and Asians to be allowed to send a representative to the High Council from their newly designated tribes.
Miscellaneous: Full integration of the non-Natives has been generally accepted by most. There has also been a good amount of mixing of relations, with Europeans, Asians and Natives intermarrying. However, there is still large segments of both that don't and remain pure-lined on one side or the other.

429 (This is used to mark this as an official application. If this is not present, I can't search "429" and find this application)

[Elepis]

I will regig my app then in awhile

[The New Byzantine II]

Reserve me #89. Andean Confederation.

By the way, is it okay if I change the name to the Incan Empire who survived the failed invasion of the Spaniards? Or no?

[The New Byzantine II]

Reservation:
Location: 89
Nation Name: Andean Empire/Imperial Andes/Andes
635 - Do not remove. This is for tracking purposes.

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

Reserve me #89. Andean Confederation.

By the way, is it okay if I change the name to the Incan Empire who survived the failed invasion of the Spaniards? Or no?

Prolly not, to get gold and wealth Spain would have had to still take the andes ala real life

[The New Byzantine II]

Reserve me #89. Andean Confederation.

By the way, is it okay if I change the name to the Incan Empire who survived the failed invasion of the Spaniards? Or no?

Prolly not, to get gold and wealth Spain would have had to still take the andes ala real life

I guess youre right but is "Andean Empire" good?

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

Prolly not, to get gold and wealth Spain would have had to still take the andes ala real life

I guess youre right but is "Andean Empire" good?

should be fine, are you planning on playing an empire? Also, sending you a discord invite via tele

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

Application

I might advise to differ somewhat from you currently have for cultures and history. You probably would be decently eastern influenced as well as western, as Chinese !Buddhist Deseret is right next to you, and Wu in California just beyond that. Spain, Scandinavia, and Dutch New Batavia probably would be your primary sources of westron civilization, as France did not colonize like it did irl in North America. Also at first glance the military might be a bit large, though justification will be taken into consideration.

[NewLakotah]

Application

I might advise to differ somewhat from you currently have for cultures and history. You probably would be decently eastern influenced as well as western, as Chinese !Buddhist Deseret is right next to you, and Wu in California just beyond that. Spain, Scandinavia, and Dutch New Batavia probably would be your primary sources of westron civilization, as France did not colonize like it did irl in North America. Also at first glance the military might be a bit large, though justification will be taken into consideration.

Ok, I will edit.

[Elepis]

Application


Poster: Elepis
Name: The Wu, the Empire of the Wu, 帝國的吳
Symbols: dragon Wu symbol
Territory: See map


Government Structure: The Nanjing Constitution outlines a form of mixed constitutional and absolute monarchy. In theory, the Emperor of Wu is the supreme ruler, and the Cabinet, whose Prime Minister would be elected by a Privy Council, are his followers; in practice, the Emperor is head of state but the Prime Minister is the actual head of government. Under the Nanjing Constitution, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet are not necessarily chosen from the elected members of the Legislative Yuan.
something like this
Ideology/Policy: Imperialism, capitalism, nationalism
Foreign Relations:
Friendly:
-Korea
-Mori Clan
-Qi
-Britain
-Tai
-Toungoo
Dislike:
-The Estados Unios
-Russia
-Liheng
Rival:
-Fujian
-Yue
Leaders:
-His Radiance, Sun Lian, the Hongxi Emperor
-Prime Minister Liu Guanting
Capital: Nanjing: All central government institutions located here and is the largest port on the Yangtze. Stretching along the banks and islands of the river it is surrounded by walls and hills which enclose palaces, ministries and homes. However it is not the largest city in the Empire, that goes to near by Shanghai located at the mouth of the river. Shanghai is the country's largest port and the largest industrial center in all China with steel mills and warehouses numbering in the hundreds. Other major cities include Hangzhou, a major port for Dongshan gold and Suzhou, seen as the playground of the rich.


Demographics: The population of Wu is around 43 million, of which the vast majority are citizens due to Wu having less populous colonies than its rival Yue. Wu industrialized earlier and more rapidly than its Asian neighbours and thus has the highest rate of urbanization in China with numerous large, similarly sized cities along the Yangtze river with no single primate city. The population is concentrated along the Yangtze, but also with a farming population in the north along the Great China Plain. Wu also has the highest literacy rate in China at 72%, on a par with the UK and Scandinavia. Wealth inequality is low compared to feudal or autocratic states, but far higher than many other states, in part due to the great amount of wealth that comes from industry (rather than, say, subsistence) and accordingly tends to be unevenly.
Dongshan, the Wu colony in the americas has 2 million people. The various pacific island's hold less than 500,000.
Ethnicity: The Wu population are almost entirely ethnically Han Chinese with some migration from other areas of China with the onset of industrialisation. Despite being ethnically similar to other Han Chinese, the Wu are considered different by the northern Han due to the fact they speak mostly Wu Chinese rather than Mandarin. However Lower Yangtze Mandarin is also common in the north of the Empire.



Culture: Wu is one of the homes of culture for all China, not just Wu speakers. Home to the old Imperial capital at Hangzhou and the cultural center of Suzhou with both theses cities being called the most beautiful in China, Wu culture is a mix of local and northern Chinese. Architecture in the empire is traditionally based around courtyard-houses with gardens, and canals also play a major role in urban planning due to the Empire’s position on the Yangtze delta. However with the onset of industrialisation, small, compact brick terraced housing became more common, especially around the outskirts of major industrial cities like Nanjing, Shanghai and Zhenjiang. Poetry is considered a high art form.
Language: Wu is by far the most common language. However in the north and far west around Anhui, Mandarin is also prominent.
Religion: Confucianism and Taoism are the most common philosophies in the Empire, with both official sanctioned by the Emperor. Buddhism was also very common, but had declined following Buddhist immigration to Yien Hu.
Military Organisation: The Empire (including colonies) is divided into separate military districts in peacetime which can be formed into corps with general mobilization. All men are conscripted at the age of 18, and serve for 2 years in the army before serving for 5 years in the reserve which can be rapidly mobilized to augment the standing army in the event of war. Military garrisons are based near cities, which supported the troops with arms and engineering. Flintlocks smoothbores are the most common small arms, however rifles are common among skirmishers and dragoons in Dongshan province (California).
Army: The army is the largest branch of the military with around 650,000 soldiers underarms. Wu military doctrine is primarily focused on rapid preemptive strikes to extend the frontiers away from the heartlands of the empire as soon as possible in the event of war. Thus cavalry and light infantry play an important role, as does light artillery. If needed, the army would evacuated to either the northern or southern side of the Yangtze. By far the majority of the army is stationed in China, if less fifty thousand in Dongshan and most islands garrisoned by marines rather than soldiers. It is generally considered the most effective land army in East Asia.
Navy:
The home base is split between Wenzhou and Shanghai, but the Empire also operates a naval bases in Dongshan Bay and Hawaii.
-6 paddle corvettes with one more under construction
-5 War Junks, 90+ guns
-10 Battle Junks 80+ guns
-15 Sea Junks: 60+ guns
-53 Frigates: 40+ guns
-22 light ships

Development: paved roads and railways link the major cities of the Empire, however the Yangtze itself is still a major artery of trade. In the flatlands of the north, away from the river, roads are more common than in the hilly south.
Economic policy: To promote industrialization, the government decided that, while it should help private business to allocate resources and to plan, the public sector was best equipped to stimulate economic growth. The greatest role of government was to help provide good economic conditions for business. In short, government was to be the guide and business the producer. This period, the government built factories and shipyards that were sold to entrepreneurs at a fraction of their value. Many of these businesses grew rapidly into the larger conglomerates. Government emerged as chief promoter of private enterprise, enacting a series of probusiness policies.


Trade: Treasure fleets are common coming from Dongshan, and Nanjing is a center of north-south trade from Yue moving north. Wu is 'the workshop of the world' and has fully embraced the ideals of the industrial revolution. Her goods are plentiful and powerful with the Yangtze at the heart of her Empire. Efficient administration and taxation systems provide great income from across her colonies and, in the case of Dongshan, allow for the upkeep of the Eastermost Army. Wu also imports vast amounts of coal from Manchuria, the Later Chu and the Qi whom Nanjing keep a close eye on to make sure the factories of Shanghai keep running.
Currency: Renminbi.


History:
-1368: the Yuan Dynasty collapses to rebels. The rebels try to form a government but when their leader Zhu Yuanzhang is killed, their regime collapses
-1369-1420: The Time of Sorrows, the lack of central authority leads to the emergence of local warlords across China who fight for control of different areas. Eventually this stabilizes with the Yue of the south emerging as China's most prominent state
-1448: The Yangtze Delta and Wu speaking lands are united by the Sūn of Nanjing. The last resistance in the south crumbles when Hangzhou falls to them in 1448 establishing the "Empire of the Wu" with the Sūn dynasty proclaimed son's of heaven.
-1450-1485: The Wu expand north into the southern North China Plain, taking the cities north of Nanjing, expanding the Empire more or less to its current borders
-1485-1590: The Wu consolidate their hold on Jiangnan and during a period of relative peace become rich off the back of the region's fertility and trade infrastructure.
-1592-1598: The Wu aid the Joseon of Korea against the Japanese invasion, financing them and sending a fleet to cut off Japanese supplies. This marks the beginning of the long alliance between the Koreans and the Wu of Nanjing
-1623-1632: The Wu attack Fujian to their south, hoping to seize the port of Fuzhou and the island of Formosa. Initially the northern armies take Fuzhou, massacring the population but the invasion of Formosa ends in disaster as the Wu fleet is destroyed. The Wu are pushed back from Fuzhou and the Fujian armies reach Nanjing, putting the Wu capital under siege in 1630 but are pushed back. Small scale fighting continues until a peace accord is signed in 1632. After this, Imperial authority is gradually replaced by the military nobility forming a constitutional monarchy.
-1681: the first exploration fleet sails east across the Pacific, annexing the islands of Hawaii
-1690: A second exploration fleet discovers the west coast of the Americans , establishing a colony in Dongshan (San Francisco) Bay. Overtime this expands to encompass most of the California region.
-1736-1740: The Wu expand west in the Anhui, seizing rich coal deposits and deposing the local dynasty, replacing them with Later Chu. In this period the Wu establish good relations with the Shu of Sichuan.
-1801-1812: The Northern Expeditions establishes Nanjing's authority in the northern kingdoms, bringing the Qi of Shandong and Liheng to heel.
-1834: Gold discovered in the Dongshan.

Miscellaneous:
Goals:
-Maintain the balance of power in East Asia and monitor Russia
-Prevent Japan reuniting
-Project/expand colonies

Characters:
Liu Guanting: the fifty eight year old Prime Minister of Wu, he has worked his way up from minor nobility to the Premiership and has been in office for eight years. Having been born in Suzhou, the unofficial summer capital of Wu, Liu joined the Imperial bureaucracy early on in life and by the age of forty five held the position of Minister of Revenue. He was then elected to the Legislative Yuan as a representative for his adoptive home of Nanjing. As Prime Minister he has served to further modernize the Empire, building the state's first railways and reconstructing the southerly section of the Grand Canal. He is seen as a reformist, and does not get on well with the Emperor but has built a powerbase in the Nanjing and Shanghai capitalist class.
Long Xuefeng: A close friend of the Emperor, he is the head of the Imperial Censorate, the secret police of the Empire. Like the Prime Minister he despises the Emperor and believes that Wu should not focus on China instead extending its outlooks abroad to the Americas and Japan while preserving the status quo in the Middle Kingdom. He is a skilled leader, but, having been born into a middle class accent in Shanghai, he is looked down on by the court.
The Hongxi Emperor: Born Sūn Liàn and still holding the traditional title of "Son of Heaven", the Emperor spends much of his time in the harem with his concubines and favourites, having been known to stalk the decadent back streets of Shanghai at night in search of sex and drugs. Despite the Emperor having no political power, the bohemian attitude of the young Emperor still shocks the court as he has abandoned many of his traditional duties in favour of lechery. In spite of this, or perhaps because of this, he is loved by large sections of the common people. His most notable conquest was Belgin Sultan, the daughter of the Ottoman Sultan when she lived in Nanjing, know one knows it yet but she is carrying the Emperor's only child.
Shen Zexian: Shen has been the governor of Dongshan province for three years, having been given the title as a temporary measure after the death of the previous governor in a skirmish. He is a competent if not inspired administrator and has overseen the expansion of the gold industry in Dongshan.
Stewart Baker: Late of the East Indies Company, Mr Baker is British by birth but has been awarded citizenship of the Empire. He was born in Bristol, the second son of a wealth investor and worked for a number of decades as a Company administrator in Java, overseeing the spice trade to Britain. Ten years ago when Baker was in his late thirties Baker was sent to Nanjing to represent the Company and by extension Britain in the Empire. He did the so well that he became close friends with Censor Xufeng, married a Chinese woman, converted to Taoism and resigned from the Company. He now holds a position at the Imperial court and has a Chinese wife, living with two chinese daughters and an english son from a previous marriage. He is the head of the Censorate's European Office.

429 (This is used to mark this as an official application. If this is not present, I can't search "429" and find this application)

[NewLakotah]

Edited my post. Is that a bit better?

[Elepis]

i'm don't really know enough about US history to comment on sioux app but it does look good. However I can say the army is too large, I'm not sure how the Sioux military worked but for any standing army the limit is usually 2% of population so in your case 9,200. If no one has seen, there is a map update if no one has seen

[NewLakotah]

i'm don't really know enough about US history to comment on sioux app but it does look good. However I can say the army is too large, I'm not sure how the Sioux military worked but for any standing army the limit is usually 2% of population so in your case 9,200. If no one has seen, there is a map update if no one has seen

Sorry probably should have phrased it better. Its not a standing army. Its the amount of people in the warrior society so to speak. Basically the amount of trained warriors. I can do lower it if you want, but it's not like they are constantly armed and ready. Not to mention most lakota and sioux tribes are very war like and train almost all young men to fight, but obviously didn't have a normal standing army situation. If the confederation did have a real standing army it's probably like around 1,000 or so to patrol and stuff. I can still edit though to just include active warriors if you want.

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

i'm don't really know enough about US history to comment on sioux app but it does look good. However I can say the army is too large, I'm not sure how the Sioux military worked but for any standing army the limit is usually 2% of population so in your case 9,200. If no one has seen, there is a map update if no one has seen

Sorry probably should have phrased it better. Its not a standing army. Its the amount of people in the warrior society so to speak. Basically the amount of trained warriors. I can do lower it if you want, but it's not like they are constantly armed and ready. Not to mention most lakota and sioux tribes are very war like and train almost all young men to fight, but obviously didn't have a normal standing army situation. If the confederation did have a real standing army it's probably like around 1,000 or so to patrol and stuff. I can still edit though to just include active warriors if you want.

Understandable, and for the purposes of the app that would most liably be preferred

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

accepted liec, I will update le roster

if anyone else has completed apps I will browse through them.

[NewLakotah]

Sorry probably should have phrased it better. Its not a standing army. Its the amount of people in the warrior society so to speak. Basically the amount of trained warriors. I can do lower it if you want, but it's not like they are constantly armed and ready. Not to mention most lakota and sioux tribes are very war like and train almost all young men to fight, but obviously didn't have a normal standing army situation. If the confederation did have a real standing army it's probably like around 1,000 or so to patrol and stuff. I can still edit though to just include active warriors if you want.

Understandable, and for the purposes of the app that would most liably be preferred

Sure thing, just edited.

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

Understandable, and for the purposes of the app that would most liably be preferred

Sure thing, just edited.

And read, I will send you an invite to the discord

[Trotza]

Soooo no treasure fleets?

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

Soooo no treasure fleets?

which fleets do you speak of?

Zheng He's or something else?

[Trotza]

Soooo no treasure fleets?

which fleets do you speak of?

Well I just saw that the Time of Sorrows happened right about when the Ming would have come in, so I assumed the big foreign diplomatic expeditions didn't end up happening.

[The Industrial States of Columbia]

which fleets do you speak of?

Well I just saw that the Time of Sorrows happened right about when the Ming would have come in, so I assumed the big foreign diplomatic expeditions didn't end up happening.

There might have been some smaller scale stuffs, rogue Yue I think set up Zhunzu in the Zanzibar area, certainly stuff later, but prolly not anything on the level of the rl fleets for a good long time

[Trotza]

Application

Poster: Trotza
Name: Brunei, Bruneian Sultanate, امبراطورية بروني, Empire of Brunei, 渤泥 (Bó ní), Bruneians, Barunai, Borneo, Bornei, Barune, Baru nah (according to legend, what the founder called it when he discovered it, loosely translates to "that's it!" or "there")
Symbols:

tropical beaches, floating villages, Asiatic mosques and Islamic symbolism, Malay architecture, untamed inland jungle, busy ports and shipping
Territory:

Government Structure: The King, or Sultan, has ultimate say in the policy of the domain as the rightful Potentate, and is particularly involved in matters of the state such as foreign relations and trade, internal business of the royalty, and overall overt rule over the whole realm. While the religious establishment is well preserved, it does not wield much power in national affairs, nor do large noble estates for that matter. His majesty has been almost exclusively from the House of Bolkiah since the monarchy's founding in 1368, while the typical eldest son arrangement has prevailed, although succession disputes are not totally unknown, and actually have become more of an issue as the Sultanate entered its decline, turning the attentions of those in power inward, who jealously guarded their shrinking inheritance.
Ideology/Policy: Monarchism, Social Conservatism, Mercantilism, Sufism, Cultural Diffusion, Navalism
Leaders: Omar Ali Saifuddin II (عمر علي سيف الدين), 23rd Sultan of the Empire of Brunei and Blessed Sovereign of the Imperial Mandate of Sarawak
Foreign Relations: In general, the King prefers to personally deal with foreign leaders and build relationships with those at the head of neighboring kingdoms, and acts as the representative of his lands directly. They are also keenly aware that they are they last sovereign state in the Southeast Asian locality that has not been culturally and literally assimilated into a larger empire, greatly limiting their options as a minor nation.
Yue: While they do somewhat resent the loss of former influence in the Philippines and Borneo, including lost territories like Maynila, Palawan, and Sabah, they feel far too threatened to act hostile towards them, fearing any kind of overwhelming retaliation, most worryingly the prospect of annexation. It makes them far more predisposed to acquiesce in deal making, simply to ensure survival.
Rest of China: Since expansion in Brunei's direction seems much less likely from these nations, they see them more as a hopeful trade opportunity than anything else.
Toungoo: Again they are acutely aware of their influence in Southeast Asia, and are predisposed to not upset them, but wouldn't mind dealing with the nation that has absorbed their former friend of Malacca.
England: They actually find them to be perhaps the most hostile faction to be advancing in the Indies, and don't expect any mercy from the imperialists who have rapidly expanded to the south. They might not have reached Borneo, yet, but it is likely to be only a matter of time...
France: A bit to far from them to be in the for front of their mind at the moment, whether they have any relations with them and what they'd be like if they did has yet to be seen...
India: It's been hard to maintain relationships with the collapse of the Muslim presence around Brunei in all directions, but they could see the possibility of rekindling connections as a positive.
Capital: Kampong Ayer (Kampung Air, or the Water Village), which became the capital in the 17th century during a civil war, replacing Kota Batu. It has been called the "Venice of the East" by Antonio Pigafetta, who arrived with Magellan's fleet. He named it that due to the fact that most of the town was then built into the salt water bay, with light wooden homes that could be moved up and down the river with changing water levels. Mosques are built with higher roofs to been seen from farther away (sometimes 5 stories tall and still floating), and to indicate their importance to society.

Demographics: The population is about 132,143. Urban populations are mostly limited to the coast, where port cities sit slightly up river. There's also a good amount of those in rural areas, up in the hills further inland and confined to small village life. Due to lower levels of sunlight, they have noticeably fairer skin tones, which was first observed by European outsiders who visited it in 1550. Besides that they're pretty typical in terms of age and gender makeup.
Ethnicity: The upper class elites are made up of the ethnically more pure Barunay, who form a strong minority. Most others are more general Brunei Malays, native to Sarawak, the last stronghold of the Sultanate. There are many types of indigenous peoples in Borneo, called the Dayak, with the largest of these groups in the Empire being the Iban, or Sea Dayak. Besides that there are many ethnic minorities (and the cultural blending and social influences that goes along with being a melting pot of a society), noticeably the Chinese.
Language: Brunei Malay, Old Malay, Arabic and various Bornean languages and dialects as numerous as the ethnic groups and cultures. Chinese has also increasingly become a lingua franca of the region, a process that began long ago but was expediated by the deterioration of Arabic and Persian influences in the Eastern Isles.
Religion: The Sultanate, as its name would suggest, is almost wholly Muslim. Religious establishments hold a sacred spot in the ordinary person's life, and in the nation's halls of justice (which are fairly capable at maintaining the rule of law in the country), but again, do not wield that much political power. It was spread in the 15th century, largely by Sufi influenced missionaries, a more mystical sect that was less political and all encompassing, and more peaceful.

Military Organisation: The navy only really organizes in a wartime setting by mobilizing trade fleet elements, in whic they will be headed by advisers of the Royal Bruneian Naval Command. The main land force, the Royal Guard, is kept at size through enlistment and job inheritance by member's children, who are often groomed for the position to foster martial tradition. They are paid with funds from the royal treasury, which doesn't have a hard time maintaining the fairly small force.
Army: The main professional component of their limited land force is the Royal Guard, personal soldiers of the Sultan and protectors of his Palace. They number around 2,000, and are armed both with more ceremonial melee weapons and decorative yet functional matchlock muskets. They're often housed in a triangular earthen fort lined with cannons built into a hillside above the floating capital similar to the one that used to reside in Kinarut, Sabah. If the palace were to be overtaken, this is where the king would be retreated to.
Navy: While they might not have the funds or naval infrastructure to support large warships, the nation has a strong maritime tradition and pool of potential reserve sailors. Even one of their earliest names for Brunei (Barunei) was likely influenced by the Sanskrit word "varuṇ" (वरुण), meaning "seafarers". Merchant ships are armed with Lantaka, swivel cannons to protect against pirates, but can also serve a military use. All together including these vessels, they have about 100 light ships at their command, manned by roughly 700 men. If a conflict were to break out, these would be put under the command of a royal naval officer corp, and repaid for their wartime service.

Development: It has a reputation as being the seat of Sultans, but many foreigners (especially Europeans) are underwhelmed when they realize it is no longer very powerful or wealthy at all, especially not compared to it's glory days. The most developed areas are port cities along the expansive tropical coastlines, and deteriorates as you head inward on the island into dense rainforests and growing hills. Borneo's mountainous interior is hardly accessible logistically, and is the home of the least developed tribal people. Buildings mostly remain simplistic and practical, but artistic and luxurious structures do exist in the forms of palaces and mosques. Much work has gone into maritime infrastructure primarily, as it is the driver of much of the nation economically, militarily, and modernization wise.
Economic policy: The Empire has a long history of being a trade empire, in the thalassocratic legacy of nations like the Majapahit and Srivijaya. But since the decline of the spice trade their economy has taken quite a hit, and they've had to shift. Also their inability to resist the economic influence of larger nations and exert trade power in the region has made it much harder for their market to compete, especially with a mindset determined to maintain tactics associated with mercantilism. Those policies are likely to not survive, and if change does come it will likely be in the form of the Sultan negotiating new trade agreements with their neighbors. But they have managed, and continue to focus on their mercantile relationship with the sea and coastal areas. Besides continued spices, they also export commodities like tropical lumber, other shipbuilding materials, tea, gilded crafts, and coffee. Fishing is also a major product that employs many villagers, but it's mostly for domestic consumption.
Trade: More of the specifics can be seen above, but trade is the central economic activity of the kingdom. Being by far the smallest state in the region, it portion of total trade activity has also shrunken, therefore negatively affecting the profitability of this national focus. Most trade is external, as it takes fairly little to maintain the local population's needs. Far from being globalized, they have only the ability at this point to operate effectively in the Indonesian Isles, South China Sea, and occasionally in the bay of Bengal, if they're lucky. So, essentially, they can take care of themselves and their own needs, but are not nearly able to wield enough trade power proportional to their size to be more than a minor player in the sphere, putting them at the mercy of the larger Empires that surround them if hostile trade actions were to be taken.
Currency: Earlier forms of payment included cowrie shells, bronze teapots, iron ingots, and miniature cannons (about 6 inches long). The official currency now is the Brunei pitis, which is exchanged through pieces of a tin-lead alloy pressed into coins that grow more elaborate as the years go by. Foreign Chinese and European coinage is also commonly circulated.

History: The history of the kingdom turned Sultanate turned Empire turned minor nations largely begins in the 15th century, with their conversions to Islam and the establishment of the monarchy. Since then the ruling dynasty has been remarkably stable, being in power almost continually and without major internal conflict (besides a civil war started over a cockfight in 1660). Their history with China goes back to even before the modern states now old founding, the oldest diplomatic recording between the two being in the Taiping Huanyu Ji (太平環宇記) in 978. They go on to comment in 1225 that the place had grown to be fairly prosperous and sported a well off fleet for their size.

After that during the 14th century, during the height of the Majapahit Empire, it was noted by the Chinese that Brunei had become both their vassal and extremely poor (a condition that was made even worse by an unsuccessful yet still damaging invasion by the Sulu Sultanate from the Southern Philippines). Once that chapter ended and they pushed on into the 15th century, they continued to be drawn more into the Chinese cultural and economic sphere. Their own empire began to lose territory and influence as the centuries went by, despite being able to maintain stability at home. By now they have fallen back in terms of both development and technology, at this point being little more than an antiquated monarchy hanging onto their small coastal state. But they are not totally incapable, and opening up to the outside world could help modernize them into a nation that could at least manage above the level of their relatively small population. Of course that would require playing the dangerous game of exchanging local progress in the country for foreign influence.
Miscellaneous: Sarawak (their remaining territory) is divided into three ecoregions. The coastal region is rather low-lying and flat with large areas of swamp and other wet environments. The hill region accounts for most of the inhabited land and is where most of the cities and towns are found. The ports of Kuching and Sibu are built some distance from the coast on rivers. The third region is the mountainous region along the Kalimantan–Borneo border.

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