Of Iron and Fire (Ancient/City-State/Fantasy, OOC, OPEN)

[Nu-Amerika]

Location is updated. Let me know if that makes more sense. If I understood correctly, you said East Sidonia is more Telenian than West. However, I am fine with the odd raid by zealots, as this would make sense of why my military is focused primarily on defense of the city and our assets. I've also made some minor adjustments to culture/specializations.

In your new location, you'd be in pretty close contact with Propylea, which was founded to defend the other southern cities from the Sidonian tribes. As my IC post indicates, it still spends most of its time fighting the Sidonians, though it's also assimilated to them in certain ways. It's likely that Propylea has at least once come to the rescue of Gylead from Sidonian invasion, but it also probably doesn't like the Gyl very much: rumors of child sacrifice stay disturbing for longer if the city in question is a neighbor of yours.

I read through your app, so that's understandable. We employ a lot of war-engines in defense of the city, and it's possible Gylead may have thrown a few designs your way in exchange for a kind of mutually beneficial, if tenuous, relationship.

[The Imperial Reach]

On the one hand, we've generally kept a hard rule against allowing wholly non-Telenian city-states. We want to see at least some Telenian influence or heritage. On the other, this is an uncommonly creative and well-written concept. I'm going to defer judgment to the OP.

Oof. I'm with Norv on this one. It's a very good app. I am going to say ACCEPTED to this one, but I may put in a section in the guidelines saying that we've had a lot of non-Telenian or Telenian-minimal cities, so maybe less of those. All the same, I see a lot of potential for this one, so definitely glad to have you aboard.

Thanks!

I was influenced primarily by the Scytho-Sarmatians, the Persian Empire, Zoroastrianism, and the Amazons when it came to it's creation with some additional influences from Ancient Egypt and Sparta. As much as I am a Grecophile, I wanted to do something more Iranian-based because I was afraid I might end up just being a copy-cut of an actual Ancient Greek city-state and I wanted to avoid that. I also chose an inland location since everybody else was doing a coastal territory, just to make it a bit more unique (and also to discourage most potential attackers ).

Something I forgot to clarify is that they lack any semblance of heavy armor or heavy cavalry; relying on speed, mobility, and agility in combat.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

OF IRON AND FIRE APPLICATION

NS NAME: Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States
CITY NAME: Magna Gatae
POPULATION: 400.000
SYMBOL OF CITY:

LOCATION OF CITY:

MAJOR COLOURS OF CITY: Magna Gatae is the city of many colours, partially due to its rich textile industry
GOVERNMENT TYPE: Ochlocracy. Magna Gatae is literally led by an angry mob, voicing its displeasure whenever it sees fit to do so. In theory, the city calls itself a ‘pure democracy’, with the will of the people being a mouthpiece for the will of the gods. In practice, however, the most charismatic speaker of the day has control. The City Assembly, elected through elections by the land-owning classes, are constantly put under pressure by demagogues and pitch-fork wielding farmers to undertake a populist national agenda.
CULTURE OF CITY: The citizens of Magna Gatae believe the will of the gods is portrayed by the will of the people in general, as their strong emotions appear to be god-given. This has led to a system of governance in which the ruling assembly does not dare confront the angry populace, rather giving in to their demands at every point. In true democratic sense, the governing fear the governed.

CIVIC SPECIALISATIONS: The Gatae are excellent horse breeders and have booming textile industry.
MILITARY SPECIALISATIONS: The Gatae are horse-riders at heart. Heavy cavalry forms the core of Gatae army doctrine.
COMPOSITION OF ARMY: A relatively small core of heavy cavalry, assisted by a large ad-hoc levy of badly-armed, badly-organised farmer militia.
NUMBER OF SHIPS: None, Magna Gatae is entirely land-based.

HISTORY OF CITY: In the far past, at the beginning of the city, Magna Gatae was a monarchic timocracy, a monarchy where the real power was held by a few high officers who enforced their will on the mostly ceremonial monarch. The old advisory body, the city assembly, was mostly sidelined. However, while the officers were proper soldiers, the politicians were better orators. After the army lost a frightful battle against an unnamed foreign foe, from which only the cavalry returned, the city rose up in rebellion. The Assembly voted through various laws allowing all inhabitants of the city to be armed (even the slaves and servants), banning the army from the city limits, and empowering the Assembly above the monarch. Before long, the entire royal family had been hunted to extinction, the citizens manned the walls, and the returning remnants of the army decided not to press the issue.

However, this went well for roughly two weeks. After that time, the politicians of the Assembly started disagreeing with one another more than with the half-defunct army. As such, the rousing speechmakers of the revolution started inciting violence against one another. Through careful use of angry mobs by both sides, a new constitution was written, a rough patchwork of various different ideas. Some religious, some anti-religious, some military, some pacifist… It depended on the mood of the day. The rule of law was never really restored, since every politician who proposed opening the gates to the military was hung, drawn and quartered. This situation has now subsisted for a hundred years. In the past ten, the powerful orator Oneirophon has carefully crafted himself a position of power, loved by the people for his wisdom and his access to grain shipments. He is called the King of Bread, both derogatory and appraisingly, and rumour has it that he wants to lift himself to the position of monarch of the people. The question is if the people would allow for this.

#OIAF app - DO NOT DELETE

[Tasuirin]

Thanks!

I was influenced primarily by the Scytho-Sarmatians, the Persian Empire, Zoroastrianism, and the Amazons when it came to it's creation with some additional influences from Ancient Egypt and Sparta. As much as I am a Grecophile, I wanted to do something more Iranian-based because I was afraid I might end up just being a copy-cut of an actual Ancient Greek city-state and I wanted to avoid that. I also chose an inland location since everybody else was doing a coastal territory, just to make it a bit more unique (and also to discourage most potential attackers ).

Something I forgot to clarify is that they lack any semblance of heavy armor or heavy cavalry; relying on speed, mobility, and agility in combat.

I thought as much. It's a very well designed city you have there. And as you say, the position is advantageous despite not being necessarily coastal, thanks to the presence of two rivers, and all of the trade-ish advantages that brings.

And yeah, the lack of heavy armour in preference of speed is fine. Out of interest, will you have wicker shields? I love the idea of wicker used for armour...

OF IRON AND FIRE APPLICATION

NS NAME: Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States
CITY NAME: Magna Gatae

Interesting location and concept. I'd be tempted to rename it to something less Latin-sounding, as you're located basically in the middle of our Hellas-analog, but other than that, I see no issues here. ACCEPTED!
And well done for being the first person to have two cities other than me.

[Great Confederacy of Commonwealth States]

I'll look for something more Hellenic, yes! I always have a hard time dealing with names.

[Tasuirin]

I'll look for something more Hellenic, yes! I always have a hard time dealing with names.

It's okay. I find thinking in terms of the actual Greek alphabet helps. This tool is one which I use regularly to help with naming.

[Farahdeen]

And well done for being the first person to have two cities other than me.

We can have two cities?

[Tarsbera]

RON AND FIRE APPLICATION[/b][/align]

NS NAME: Tarsbera
CITY NAME: Tarsbera
POPULATION: 1,000,000
SYMBOL OF CITY:
LOCATION OF CITY:

MAJOR COLOURS OF CITY: Black, white, yellow.

GOVERNMENT TYPE: Tarsbera is a dictatorial monarchy in which the King has unlimited power and he is the representative and son of Thiosgad (the cities god). The King has a series of Advisors who are military commanders and important religious leaders. Anyone who opposes the King, its laws or the official religion is harshly repressed, using means that go from imprisonment to public executions or torture.

CULTURE OF CITY: Tarsbera's culture is heavily influenced by the official religion of the "Faith of Thiosgad". This monotheistic religion believes in one god, who has multiple and diverse appereances that are prayed for in different ocasions, according to the prayer's needs. The "Faith of Thiosgad" believes that good people when they die go to the "Waskal" which is an exact copy of the terrenal world, but without suffering and in full communion with Thiosgad, and bad people go to the "Invergdo", a place where they are enslaved and suffer for the rest of eternity. The "Faith of Thiosgad" is in favor of monogamic marriage and chastity, and against prostitution, homosexuals, bastardy, it holds slavery to be an abomination (except if it is imposed as punishment, and considers polygamy and incest as monstrous and vile sins.

CIVIC SPECIALISATIONS: Tarsbera is a very militaristic city who sees democratic ideals an abomination and complete failure and philosophy as a "drug" to weaken their power. The Tarsberan people are good craftsmen, miners warriors and architects, who constructed imposing palaces, temples and military fortresses.

MILITARY SPECIALISATIONS: Tarsbera possesses one of the biggest and most powerful armies in Telen. They both possess a powerful army and navy, but Tarsberan people prefer terrestrial warfare to marine one.

COMPOSITION OF ARMY: 200,000 conscripts in total (full mobilization).
ARMY
87,500 professional soldiers
- 50,000 infantry.
- 30,000 spearmen.
- 5,000 cavalry.
- 2,500 archers.
87,500 conscript soldiers (civilians)
- 70,000 infantry.
- 16,000 spearmen.
- 1,000 cavalry.
- 500 archers.

NAVY
25,000 marines.

NUMBER OF SHIPS: 250 Military ships and 400 merchant vessels.

HISTORY OF CITY: Tarsbera was founded some 500 years ago when, according to the Holy Scriptures, Thiosgad descended from the "Waskal" and appeared to a simple peasant known as Drubs. He told him that his mission was to unite all the local tribes that in that precise moment where fighting each other under the "Faith of Thiosgad". The god told Drubs that if he accomplished it, he would be proclaimed King and His son. After twenty years of battles and struggles, Drubs united all the tribes under his leadership and the same religion, and he was rewarded by Thiosgad by proclaiming him King by extracting a crown made out of pure gold and jewels from the sky. He also called the united tribes Tarsbera, meaning "swampy land" in reference to the territory in which they had settled. Drubs, now proclaimed King Drubs I Sangtmaks of Tarsbera, started the construction of the new city. During the last 500 years the Sangtmaks dynasty has been ruling over the city, and the current King is Drubs XIII Sangtmaks of Tarsbera, "the Tyrannical", who has been building a powerful military and is planning to create a powerful empire.

#OIAF app - DO NOT DELETE[/box]

[Tasuirin]

And well done for being the first person to have two cities other than me.

We can have two cities?

Like it says in the first post, have as many cities as you can handle. Of course, that means that they mustn't engage in unrealistic relations with each other (if the two cities are on opposite sides of the map, and for no reason decide to ally, I'll call BS), but yeah, as many as you can handle.

[Reverend Norv]

Tarsbera, on the basis of your lack of experience, your failure to include or reference any of the world's background, the fact that you named your city after your NS nation, and your decision to claim the maximum possible population without any justification in your app, I'm going to say that your application is DENIED.

[Tasuirin]

RON AND FIRE APPLICATION[/b][/align]

NS NAME: Tarsbera
CITY NAME: Tarsbera[/box]

Okay, I'm actually going to call this one out, as there are a few issues with this. 1, I don't really see any reason for such the large population in your history. I said that 1 million was the absolute highest. I'd consider lowering it. We do have cities that are fairly large, but I wouldn't allow this large unless there was a reason in the history for it being this large.

Secondly, and this is a subset of the population issue, that army is way too large, even in comparison to that very large population. Your city would have to have major resources to even think of being able to feed and arm that number of soldiers, especially that number of conscripts. Also, the ratio of conscripts to professionals is way off.

Thirdly, (and I really should put this in the OP), I really would prefer cities with a hellenic/in-universe Telenian culture over non-Telenian ones. I respect that you've made lore for your NS nation, and I think you've used that here, but I think that it's not particularly compatible here. The religion too, I think I would want to see put more in-line with the Telenian Pantheon. I could deal with a monolotry belief system, but this monotheism, I think, needs to stop here until we get more people.

Finally, the government. Absolutism as an ideal is not classically Hellenic, and I don't think it should seep into Telen either. Most Hellenic monarchs had some kind of respect for the rule of law, and that should extend to here.

I think there are some issues with this app, and they do need to be addressed before I'll consider accepting it.

EDIT: Heheh, thanks Norv. Just beat me to it. I'll keep this here, though, as I think we're both of one mind with this.

[Farahdeen]

We can have two cities?

Like it says in the first post, have as many cities as you can handle. Of course, that means that they mustn't engage in unrealistic relations with each other (if the two cities are on opposite sides of the map, and for no reason decide to ally, I'll call BS), but yeah, as many as you can handle.

Cool!

[Tarsbera]

RON AND FIRE APPLICATION[/b][/align]

NS NAME: Tarsbera
CITY NAME: Tarsbera[/box]

Okay, I'm actually going to call this one out, as there are a few issues with this. 1, I don't really see any reason for such the large population in your history. I said that 1 million was the absolute highest. I'd consider lowering it. We do have cities that are fairly large, but I wouldn't allow this large unless there was a reason in the history for it being this large.

Secondly, and this is a subset of the population issue, that army is way too large, even in comparison to that very large population. Your city would have to have major resources to even think of being able to feed and arm that number of soldiers, especially that number of conscripts. Also, the ratio of conscripts to professionals is way off.

Thirdly, (and I really should put this in the OP), I really would prefer cities with a hellenic/in-universe Telenian culture over non-Telenian ones. I respect that you've made lore for your NS nation, and I think you've used that here, but I think that it's not particularly compatible here. The religion too, I think I would want to see put more in-line with the Telenian Pantheon. I could deal with a monolotry belief system, but this monotheism, I think, needs to stop here until we get more people.

Finally, the government. Absolutism as an ideal is not classically Hellenic, and I don't think it should seep into Telen either. Most Hellenic monarchs had some kind of respect for the rule of law, and that should extend to here.

I think there are some issues with this app, and they do need to be addressed before I'll consider accepting it.

EDIT: Heheh, thanks Norv. Just beat me to it. I'll keep this here, though, as I think we're both of one mind with this.

Thank you for the advices. I will try to correct the mistakes and try to join this RP. Just one doubt, do I have to change entirely the religion and culture?

[Jade Confederacy]

Tarsbera, on the basis of your lack of experience, your failure to include or reference any of the world's background, the fact that you named your city after your NS nation, and your decision to claim the maximum possible population without any justification in your app, I'm going to say that your application is DENIED.

Yea but maybe if he provides some samples and makes some corrections he can be given another try? It does look like its his very first day here and that this is his first Role Play

[Farahdeen]

Tarsbera, on the basis of your lack of experience, your failure to include or reference any of the world's background, the fact that you named your city after your NS nation, and your decision to claim the maximum possible population without any justification in your app, I'm going to say that your application is DENIED.

Yea but maybe if he provides some samples and makes some corrections he can be given another try? It does look like its his very first day here and that this is his first Role Play

1 mil pop and like 160k troops not including the 25k marineers
I'm glad that was rejected, who needs Thassalos when you have this guy

No but seriously I think everyone has a chance to redo an app unless they were specifically banned by the OP

[Tasuirin]

Okay, I'm actually going to call this one out, as there are a few issues with this. 1, I don't really see any reason for such the large population in your history. I said that 1 million was the absolute highest. I'd consider lowering it. We do have cities that are fairly large, but I wouldn't allow this large unless there was a reason in the history for it being this large.

Secondly, and this is a subset of the population issue, that army is way too large, even in comparison to that very large population. Your city would have to have major resources to even think of being able to feed and arm that number of soldiers, especially that number of conscripts. Also, the ratio of conscripts to professionals is way off.

Thirdly, (and I really should put this in the OP), I really would prefer cities with a hellenic/in-universe Telenian culture over non-Telenian ones. I respect that you've made lore for your NS nation, and I think you've used that here, but I think that it's not particularly compatible here. The religion too, I think I would want to see put more in-line with the Telenian Pantheon. I could deal with a monolotry belief system, but this monotheism, I think, needs to stop here until we get more people.

Finally, the government. Absolutism as an ideal is not classically Hellenic, and I don't think it should seep into Telen either. Most Hellenic monarchs had some kind of respect for the rule of law, and that should extend to here.

I think there are some issues with this app, and they do need to be addressed before I'll consider accepting it.

EDIT: Heheh, thanks Norv. Just beat me to it. I'll keep this here, though, as I think we're both of one mind with this.

Thank you for the advices. I will try to correct the mistakes and try to join this RP. Just one doubt, do I have to change entirely the religion and culture?

The culture, unless you could find a way to make it a hybrid culture of Telenian and something else, yes. For the religion, you could have this figure as a patron deity, but not as the only god of your religion.

[Tarsbera]

Thank you for the advices. I will try to correct the mistakes and try to join this RP. Just one doubt, do I have to change entirely the religion and culture?

The culture, unless you could find a way to make it a hybrid culture of Telenian and something else, yes. For the religion, you could have this figure as a patron deity, but not as the only god of your religion.

Thank you for your time, but as it seems that my presence is not glad in here, I will be leaving this roleplay.

[Farahdeen]

The culture, unless you could find a way to make it a hybrid culture of Telenian and something else, yes. For the religion, you could have this figure as a patron deity, but not as the only god of your religion.

Thank you for your time, but as it seems that my presence is not glad in here, I will be leaving this roleplay.

No dude you got it all wrong, you can stay! All you gotta do is patch up your application and you can participate in the RP.

[Former Citizens of the Nimbus System]

So, I was going to try to persuade you all to let me play as a Sidonian tribe of a few hundred people, riffing off the lore established by Reverend Norv, but then I looked at the trade route map that St George Territory constructed.

Hmm. You mean to say that there's a defensible island located within the single strait through which all North-South trade passes and it hasn't been claimed yet‽ YES, PLEASE!

Working on a profile now.

[Jade Confederacy]

So, I was going to try to persuade you all to let me play as a Sidonian tribe of a few hundred people, riffing off the lore established by Reverend Norv, but then I looked at the trade route map that St George Territory constructed.

Hmm. You mean to say that there's a defensible island located within the single strait through which all North-South trade passes and it hasn't been claimed yet‽ YES, PLEASE!

Working on a profile now.

The North-South trade axis is definitely the silk road of this RP. The major trade hubs situated along it and those that are able to control the flow of goods will profit immensely. However, the map is a bit dated. I think there are 5-10 additional cities that have been accepted but has not yet been added. You best to look over the past few pages to make sure the position your shooting for hasn't already been taken.

[Tasuirin]

So, I was going to try to persuade you all to let me play as a Sidonian tribe of a few hundred people, riffing off the lore established by Reverend Norv, but then I looked at the trade route map that St George Territory constructed.

Hmm. You mean to say that there's a defensible island located within the single strait through which all North-South trade passes and it hasn't been claimed yet‽ YES, PLEASE!

Working on a profile now.

Ach. Was thinking of that as a Thassalian territory... It's alright, I should have anticipated this.

[Former Citizens of the Nimbus System]

Bonus points, incidentally, to any students of history who can identify the actual ancient military formation on which Propylea's innovative keirones are based.

120-man medium infantry formations focused on mobility, forged in the crucible of mountainous terrain? I call maniples!

[Reverend Norv]

120-man medium infantry formations focused on mobility, forged in the crucible of mountainous terrain? I call maniples!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

[Former Citizens of the Nimbus System]

120-man medium infantry formations focused on mobility, forged in the crucible of mountainous terrain? I call maniples!

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

Hurrah! (I've been fascinated by the military evolution of the Roman Republic for several years now and am currently aiming to make studying it [among related things] my career, so... Mmm!)

[Reverend Norv]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

Hurrah! (I've been fascinated by the military evolution of the Roman Republic for several years now and am currently aiming to make studying it [among related things] my career, so... Mmm!)

Well, given that fact, if you still wanted to play as a Sidonian tribe, I'd be more than happy to try to accommodate you. The risk of breaking the mold of the application is always that people will use it as a power-grab. I don't think that would be an issue for you, and your actual historical knowledge is really valuable, so I'm willing to make an exception if the OP is.