Empire of Steam (OOC) Always Open

[Tracian Empire]

I don't know how much inspiration it takes from the Imperium, but it is playing the role of the British Empire.

I'm not sure really. In Boreana, the main human continent, the Tetrarchy is a combination of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Imperial Russia, Achysia is a more Oriental Austria-Hungary, Holmstadt is sort of Scandinavian and Mercia is vaguely inspired by the US, while Hesperia is generally inspired by Spain.


On different continents, Qhin is well, China inspired, Cheongryeo is Korea-inspired. Benuty's nation is mostly India inspired I think, and GCCS's claim is also more Oriental inspired.

So it depends on what you want. There is a little space left in Boreana, while Ummhara is mostly free. Khmor, which was meant to be sort of an East India Company is currently an NPC since Union Princes changed his claim, and I believe it could still be claimed, though you'd have to discuss that with the OP and with Sedna's player.

Holmstadt is pretty much Norwegian. I might go for a country that is either French, Italian, Swedish or Japanese.

Generally yes, but it's using a combination of Danish and Old Norse terms like Konungr, hence my broad description as Scandinavian.

There isn't that much free space left in Boreana, so I'd recommend joining the Discord to discuss your borders or waiting until the OP posts the composite map. French, Italian or Swedish could fit but might require discussing borders. Asakara on the other hand would work well for something Japanese and is I believe unclaimed.

[Lunas Legion]

Holmstadt is pretty much Norwegian. I might go for a country that is either French, Italian, Swedish or Japanese.

Generally yes, but it's using a combination of Danish and Old Norse terms like Konungr, hence my broad description as Scandinavian.

There isn't that much free space left in Boreana, so I'd recommend joining the Discord to discuss your borders or waiting until the OP posts the composite map. French, Italian or Swedish could fit but might require discussing borders. Asakara on the other hand would work well for something Japanese and is I believe unclaimed.

A !France or !Italy could probably fit in the gap between Sedna, the Tetrarchy and Achysia I think?

[Tracian Empire]

Generally yes, but it's using a combination of Danish and Old Norse terms like Konungr, hence my broad description as Scandinavian.

There isn't that much free space left in Boreana, so I'd recommend joining the Discord to discuss your borders or waiting until the OP posts the composite map. French, Italian or Swedish could fit but might require discussing borders. Asakara on the other hand would work well for something Japanese and is I believe unclaimed.

A !France or !Italy could probably fit in the gap between Sedna, the Tetrarchy and Achysia I think?

I wasn't sure how the Tetrarchy's borders had evolved in the area, but yeah it could.

[Imperialisium]

Map update

Map so far. There is the central North of Boreana and the East-Central Seaboard bordering Sedna, Tetrarchy, and Achysia.

Edit: fixed Holmstadt colonies

[Guuj Xaat Kil]

Gigaweed you say?

[Benuty]

I haven't forgotten yet I've just been relatively busy.

[Imperialisium]

I haven't forgotten yet I've just been relatively busy.

All good

[Guuj Xaat Kil]

Polity Name: الْخِلَافَةُ الداتورة / al-Khilāfah al-Da'atura / The Da'atura Caliphate
Secondary/Informal/Outsider Names: The Caliphate / Da'atura Empire / Kaduri Caliphate / Kaduri Empire / The Theocrats
Flag(s):

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Population: 96,872,078

HUMAN

• Kaduri, 60.2%|56,931,387
• Hameziyya, 22.5%|20,858,782
• Shemnay, 11%|10,650,773
• Quraysh, 2.5%|2,439,276
• Umharaysh, 2.4%|2,329,457

• Xaadlaay, 1.1%|1,109,819
• Kiidaaw, 0.3%|332,946

HUMANOIDS

• Dwarven, 2.4%|2,219,638

Territory Claim:

RED IS THE COMPROMISED LAND OF THE UM'HARAH

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Government Structure: The Da'atura Caliphate is strange when compared to its preceding Caliphates, as whereas those were of a highly centralized sort when it came to the dynasty, the Da'atura Caliphate- though named after the al-Da'atura clan- can be more described as an absolute monarchy with elective and decentralized characteristics. This state of affairs can be primarily attributed to how the Caliphate was created, in which Khalīfah Zakariya ibn Hiram al-Da'atura unified the southwestern peninsula of Ummhara through a combination of diplomacy, conquest, guile, and common enmity against infidels. What resulted was a confederation of clans under the al-Da'atura banner, which politically, Zakariya successfully maneuvered into becoming the new Caliphate.

Now united, Zakariya quickly got to solving an issue that saw many of the Caliphal Dynasties of the past destroyed: the laws of succession. The reforms and additions to said laws of succession were written so with the intention of being a solution and prevention of the dynastic conflicts of the past, usually caused by succession conflicts resulting in either a transition or outright collapse of a Caliphate. Recognizing all of the clans, both within and outside the Caliphate's borders, as descendants of al-Zoroaste, it was made so that all clans would have the ability of potentially becoming the Caliph, but in honor of the al-Da'atura's unification of said clans, the Caliphate would remain named after them. A common ground- a capital- would then be chosen in the city of Kadur, in which the clans could congregate to either deliberate on issues or elect the next Caliph.

There are a whopping 107 recognized clans as of 1882 CE and as a result, the Caliphate is divided into 107 administrative divisions called imārah. Every member of a imārah, be it a clansman or a mere citizen has been given the right to elect amongst the members of the clan leading the imārah as their representative at the Balat al-Khilāfah or Caliph's Court, this relatively strange right was a demand of Zakariya to give power to even the lowest descendant of al-Zoroaste, and as of recent during Caliph Asher's rule, has been tentatively extended to non-members of al-Zoroaste. However, governance of an imārah is restricted to an election between members of the clan administrating that imārah, and in the case of disputes, the Caliph has the right to appoint a member from that imārah's clan to be the leader to resolve the dispute. Leaders of an imārah are called Amirs (ah-meer), and representatives to the Balat al-Khilāfah are called Vails (va-eel). The Caliph has been reserved the right to raise a 108th Vail from any citizen of the Caliphate after said Caliph has been chosen.

There are 107 Amirs and 108 Vails as a result. Both positions are lifelong with the exception of the 108th Vail, which comes and goes with the Caliph.

Election of the next Caliph is conducted amongst the Vails with the exception of the 108th (except in one circumstance). If a Vail is chosen amongst them with a clear majority, he becomes the next Caliph after the Ceremony of Fire. In the event of an unclear election, the 108th Vail is raised once again to prominence and given the right to throw in two votes for his chosen candidate. After the Ceremony of Fire, the Caliph then grants the title of Hakim or Sage to eight Vails, essentially making them the members of a cabinet. Each hakim leads a Hokmā or Wisdom.

These are:

• Abyad-Hokmā/White Wisdom, assigned with foreign affairs.
• Ashad-Hokmā/Black Wisdom, assigned with military affairs.
• Ahmar-Hokmā/Red Wisdom, assigned with religious affairs.
• Alsmar-Hokmā/Cyan Wisdom, assigned with judicial affairs.
• Akhdar-Hokmā/Green Wisdom, assigned with food affairs.
• Arjuar-Hokmā/Purple Wisdom, assigned with Caliphal affairs.
• Aqazar-Hokmā/Blue Wisdom, assigned with infrastructural affairs.
• Asafar-Hokmā/Yellow Wisdom, assigned with economic (includes taxation) affairs

The current Khalīfah is Asher ibn Malik al-Da'atura

Religious Information: "There is no God but ALHY/Allaanihayiya/Alahay/the Infinite/the Highest, Zoroaste is His Prophet, and the Zoroash are His People." This is the primary axiom upon which the al-Zoroaste faith revolves around. Highly insular towards other religions but very eager towards spreading the word of the Prophet, which they see as their way of overcoming the sinful world made by Amalek/AMLK. Human sacrifices by burning is also commonplace, the more sinful the person the better. Missionaries bearing the Eight-Sided Star ply the routes of the world as a result, to spread the bad news about this world and to tell those told that there is good news too. The more this sinful world is purified by fire, the closer everyone gets to transcendence towards a higher plane of thought and existence.

If al-Zoroaste is to be distilled into a single word, the most succinct and apt word would be "Overcoming" or "Struggle". And these are words baked into the core, the very essence of the al-Zoroaste religion, as unlike in most dualistic religions, the deity representing the darkness, which in this case is AMLK/Amalek is in fact the greater of the two. Al-Zoroaste posits that due to the fact that human nature- which is likened as the soul in general- is at its core, rotten; then by extension, the source of the soul is as rotten as it is, and thus Amalek was, is, but won't be. Amalek is the God of Evil, the Infinite Chaos Before and After Creation, the First Coldness. By overcoming Him, and what He has instilled in us through the denial of ourselves, we are brought to a higher plane of thinking and soon enough, a higher plane of existence after death, or if we do so but are unable to truly do so, we are reincarnated. But overcoming a God is impossible, is it not?

This is where the lesser deity, the God of Good, comes into play. Alahay/ALHY is posited in al-Zoroaste theology as the helper, He who came after Amalek, and He Who Overcomes. He is likened to a guiding fire and warmth compared to the tempestuous cold waters that is AMLK/Amalek. Compared to Amalek who simply is, Alahay came from nothingness, and through merely existing amidst the Chaos of Nothingness, nothing became something in itself as it was now opposed existence, or something. The smoke and ashes from the burning of Chaos as ALHY became would become the world we know today, and in His anger, Amalek imposed himself upon Creation, claiming it; and in return, Alahay blinded Him with fire, and thus AMLK was no longer omniscient and would have to rely on his agents of chaos, or Ishtam.

Chaos Amalek may be, but He too is also one of stagnation. Amalek is a welcoming God, for He wishes for you to be slovenly, to give in to your base desires, to follow instinct, and to idle yourself and your mind; He is the Wide Gate, He is welcoming but he will not pick you up. In contrast, orderly Alahay is a strict and jealous God, for He wishes you to deny yourself, for you to deny his enemies, and for you to deny the world; He is the Narrow Path, and he is unwelcoming but helpful to those who try.

The eight-pointed star is the symbol of the faith for a reason, for it represents both the dark (clockwise), and the light (counterclockwise). One must look at it from the center point, which is considered as either Obedience or Defiance (of the sinful status quo), you then look upwards towards pride (Obedience) or downwards towards humility (Defiance). For Obedience, it is as follows: Pride evokes Envy towards those greater, Envy evokes Wrath at the unfairness of it all, Wrath evokes Sloth as one wonders as to what can be done about it all, Sloth evokes Greed as want becomes wanton and unchecked, Greed evokes Gluttony as even basic needs become affected by the ceaseless hunger for more, and Gluttony evokes Lust as the basest of desires is tainted, and returning to the Point of Pride, it then becomes the Point of Surrender above it all as the person is consumed by the Ignoble Eightfold Path.

On the other side of the spectrum, going downwards towards Humility will lead to Gratitude for both great and small things that Alahay graciously grants you, and Gratitude will lead to Patience as one will inevitably strive towards these things through overcoming, Patience will lead to Diligence as one will begin to strive to overcome the world and deny the self more and harder, Diligence leads to Charity as one will begin to share the bounty of the fruit of their labor out of gratitude to their fellow brothers and sisters in Alahay, Charity will lead to Temperance as though you would then have materially less you would be spiritually more and thus be truly satisfied more, and Temperance leads to Chastity as one begins to master one's own base desires and instincts, and returning to the Point of Humility, it would then be changed into the Point of Victory above it all as the person is transfigured by the Noble Eightfold Path.

Socioeconomic Information: Several urban centers growing at varying speeds, society inundated in religiosity and tradition, traditionally absolutist in terms of authority, and relatively mild climate.

Relatively Mild Climate: The Peninsula of Kadur and its surrounding islands have always been surrounded by a mild, if stormy climate due to moderately moist airs from the Sunrise Ocean westerlies blowing and colliding with cold and dry airs blowing in from the easterlies of the Arctic Seas. This combined with a fertile land has given the people of these lands an opportunity for plentiful living conditions.
Culturally: Collectivist tendencies such as generosity and hospitality tend to be the trend in the harsher southern lands of the Caliphate, but in the more fertile if craggy plains of the north, individualist tendencies trending towards self-sufficiency and the like are observed more.
Socially: The two tendencies cancel each other out, and there seems to be an appreciation for both liberties and orderliness across the Caliphate as a whole, provided that these adhere to religious lines.
Economically: The fertile black soils of the Caliphate's northern areas allow for extensive cultivation and growth of crops, the surplus tends to be exported to other nations in Ummhara though as of recent, the Caliphate has been trading its food with non-Ummharan nations as well, such as Sedna.

Idyllic Geography: Rocks, rills, woods, tempered hills, and fjords for days. The Kaduri Peninsula and its surrounding islands are a idyllic smorgasbord of varying climes, sceneries, and vistas; swinging anywhere from violent and stormy, to serene and mild. The land is also wetter than the usual Ummhara dryness, being surrounded by water at varying levels.
Culturally: Ummhara is considered as the promised land given to Father Zoroaste and his descendants by Alahay, the lands just north of the peninsula may be the mainland of Zoroaste, but the peninsula is his Land of Milk and Honey. The inhabitants of the land hold it at a greater reverence than most, save Zoroaste's mainland; as a result, it is more conserved than most.
Socially: A deep connection to the land, a religion that reinforces it, and a government that stokes these tendencies even further? People will defend this land to the death with an awe-inspiring amount of zeal, to lose even a small amount of it can and will breed resentment in the al-Zoroaste populace here. Proof of this resentment would be how the Caliphate formed using the resentment after the Clan Confederation's loss against Sedna and the subsequent concessions of land as fuel.
Economically: A desire to keep the picturesqueness of the Caliphate's lands has more than often gotten in the way of industrialization efforts. Many areas that would've benefitted from industrialization have been set behind years due to this desire, and as a result, the industrial capacity of the Caliphate is somewhat more sluggish compared to most industrialized powers.

Strategic Geography: Keyword is fjords, and then add straits, inlets, river mouths, and bays on top of all that. The Caliphate's lands is harbor heaven, with multiple areas having natural harbors by the dozens; abundant fishing spots have not helped in the slightest against extreme development around these areas, and the Southern Straits are as a result dotted with numerous settlements, ranging from small fishing villages to sprawling cities, and everything in-between.
Culturally: These sprawling waterways that comprise the Southern Straits are a hotbed of interregional trade, exchange of ideas, and travel. The larger sections comprising of the straits, bays, and inlets surrounding the peninsula proper basically make up the main sociocultural backbone of the Caliphate.
Socially: Everyone wants a slice of this lucrative pie as a result, causing people to flock and congregate to these areas, they're also the areas most shielded from the autumn and winter storms. The lands surrounding the peninsula especially near the straits are prime real estate for both locals and settlers as a result.
Economically: This network of crisscrossing waterways turns it into the most strategic stretch of water when it comes to Caliphal geopolitics, the people that flock here have turned it into the industrial heart of the Da'atura Caliphate. Substantial investment to protecting this land has occurred as a result.

Multiple urban centers: Nevertheless, despite all that in the point prior to the one before this, the Industrial Revolution in the Caliphate still marches on. Multiple industrial urban centers have formed in the cities dotting the straits, as a result of geographical realities.
Culturally: Due to the recent pragmaticism of the Caliphs, the majority of the support has now come from the urban centers that have formed, with the flourishing of ideas within them being a fertile ground for whoever the current Caliph is and his ideas. In light of this, there is a push from above for further urbanization to occur in order to create a stronger support base; nevertheless, the traditional support base of the Caliphs remains the variably zealous loyal rural citizens.
Socially: A social divide is starting to form between rural and urban citizens of the Caliphate as a result. Something that some, but most importantly the current Caliph, has noticed and are now actively trying to prevent.
Economically: There's a lot of industrialization going on as a natural result in these aforementioned urban areas, which the Caliphate has been feeding as much as possible in order to grow it into becoming comparable to that of the Boreanan powers encroaching on the lands of Ummhara.

Belligerent and fundamentalist faith:
Culturally:
Socially:
Economically:

High levels of drug use:
Culturally:
Socially:
Economically:

Military Information: The Caliphate back in its glory days had always been more of a land-based power, with its desires of unifying the entirety of Ummhara into a singular state professing one faith. And to some extent, this military tradition has been retained. However, because of recent developments- especially in the geopolitical and cultural sense- this is unfortunately no longer the case. What is the case however, is the fact that said recent developments have turned a once weak Caliphal naval tradition into a burgeoning one, with the navy following closely with the recent rapid industrialization of the Caliphate and the wave of pragmatism washing over the land with the ascension of the Da'atura clan. Both army and navy are developed, but funding is more or less 60/40 in favor of the navy due to geopolitical realities and the close encroachment of infidels.

If ever the Caliphate decides to reunite the western sections of Ummhara, this trend of the navy being focused on may reverse into the army being at the forefront of military funding and technology again as it once was in the past. There is also the matter of Caliphal naval thinking being somewhat behind most, with a focus more on cruisers and raiding rather than a large surface fleet, if there is an insight that might justify such an approach, it hasn't been figured out yet.

Total
967,800 men

Army
857,800 total divided into 8 Kathra
8 Kathra/Host/field army of 107,000~
5 Rakaz/Focus/corps of 21,500~ in a Kathra
5 Qism/Division/divisions of 4,300~ in a Rakaz
4 Altaqsim/Subdivision/brigades of 1,000~ in a Qism
4 Alfasl/Chapter/battalions of 250~ in an Altaqsim
5 Safha/Page/companies of 50~ in a battalion

Navy
110,000 men
2 Khalifa-class dreadnought battleships in construction, 1000 complement
2 Sayyid-class predreadnought battleships, 750 complement
2 Mirza-class predreadnought battleships, 750 complement

4 Khalid-class coastal defense battleships, 400 complement
18 Zayd-class monitor ships, 200 complement

6 Rashidun-class armored cruisers, 500 complement
6 Faruq-class armored cruisers, 500 complement
6 Siddiq-class armored cruisers, 500 complement

8 Yazid-class protected cruisers, 450 complement
8 Hamza-class protected cruisers, 450 complement
8 Ubaydah-class protected cruisers, 450 complement

64 commerce raiders (primarily of the Saad-class)

Numerous logistics ships

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History:

It is widely agreed upon by contemporary scholars that humans first came to Ummhara in the early 4th millennium BCE, crossing in from both the Hesperian and Achysian land bridges, which nowadays has long since been sunk by risen sea levels.

• 4000~ BCE - Patriarch Adonai lands upon the shores of Ummhara upon being called by ALHY | First human migrations into Ummhara
• 2000~ BCE - Adonai's descendants now occupy every acre of land | Humans now cover the entirety of Ummhara
• 1500~ BCE - Ummhara can now be cleanly subdivided into three geographic cultural groups: Western, covering much of the stormy temperate west and the future Kaduri Peninsula in the southwest; Central, covering much of the center-north coastline and central dry lands; and Eastern, covering the reminder which consists of a synthesis of the previous climes, temperate but dry.
• 1450~ BCE - Umjar city states arise on the coastlines of the west, while Haradi city states arise in more inland areas.
• 1387 BCE - Umoja becomes the first nation state to rise from the Umjar.
• 1382 BCE - Ashurhan becomes the first nation state to rise from the Haradi.
• 1371 BCE - Omar, Umjar nation.
• 1365 BCE - Harappa, Haradi nation.
• 1300~ BCE - Invasion of foreign tribes fleeing from decaying conditions from the central areas, mostly repulsed but they settle in the fertile lands of the area. They are dubbed the Smirnii by the Haradi nations they first menaced.
• 1250~ BCE - The northwest now fully dominated by nation-states. First expansions into the southwestern peninsulas begin. 2nd wave of Smirnii migrations occur, this time towards the peninsulas.
• 1237 BCE - Start of King Zoquihar of Harappa's reign. Conquests of King Zoquihar begin.
• 1234 BCE - The King of Omar dies without sons, leaving Omar to the rule of his eldest daughter Anisha.
• 1228 BCE - In a bid for peace with the conquering Harappans, Queen Anisha unites Omar with Harappa through marriage by marrying King Zoquihar.
• 1225 BCE - Zoquihar the Younger (son) born. Omar-Harappa finally subjugates the formidable Ashurhan.
• 1223 BCE - A daughter is born. Omar-Harappa enjoys a ten year peace after repelling a Smirnii incursion from the east.
• 1222 BCE - Twin sons are born. King Zoquihar manages to peacefully integrate a few city states but doesn't bother to war with those too stubborn.
• 1220 BCE - A son is born.
• 1218 BCE - A twin son and daughter are born.
• 1218 BCE - A daughter is born. Smirnii tribe settled after a negotiation, the Omar-Harappan Kingdom expands outwards peacefully.
• 1215 BCE - A son is born. Climate begins to slowly worsen around this time.
• 1213 BCE - Zoroaste is born. The ten year peace is ended with a large incursion of marauding Smirnii tribes from the dry east.
• 1211 BCE - Umoja along with its confederate city states, tributaries, and allied Smirnii tribes attack the Omharappan Kingdom in a bid to crush them while the iron was hot.
• 1203 BCE - After ten years of war, the Smirnii are repulsed and Umoja forcefully integrated into the Omharaan Empire. The land however, suffers from drought and famine, and the people are disgruntled. Zoroaste is raised as a religious scholar of the old pagan beliefs.
• 1202 BCE - Annus horriblis, the people revolt while at the same time, a combination of fleeing and marauding Smirnii from the east along with a strange new horde of horse riding people called the Atileagh begin to make devastating incursions into the land.
• 1200 BCE - Despite King Zoquihar I's efforts, he is killed trying to stem the eastern hordes. Zoquihar the Younger who was currently crushing the revolt, succeeds him. Zoroaste begins to have visions around this time of ALHY | Zoroaste is assigned to the Temple of Umoja.
• 1199 BCE - Zoroaste returns to the capital after being urged on by ALHY | Zoroaste recalled after Zoquihar II dies on the field of battle against the Atileagh along with the second eldest son of King Zoquihar I.
• 1198 BCE - AMLK reveals Himself to Zoroaste, revealing and displaying his power over the world by destroying the capital of Omharra | Omharran capital brutally sacked by victorious Atileagh forces. There are attempts to form a solid state which is disrupted into a war of succession following the death of the Atileagh leader.
• 1181 BCE - Atileagh forces reunited under a new leader ransack the corpse of the Omharran Empire along with roving bands of Smirnii tribes. Zoroaste begins his ministry regarding his observations, conclusions, and philosophy; evading capture by the Atileagh and Smirnii, and personally writing down his teachings.
• 1178 BCE - It is said in the Kalimaht that Zoroaste took eight women from various prominent Omharran clans as wives, which would result in the clans of (from first wife to eighth wife): Omhar, Abbas, Qasdaq, Zulaykh, Murabiyya, Almuhaddun, Iblisid, and Da'atura. Persecution of the al-Zoroaste begins to slowly increase.
• 1175 BCE - An attempt on Zoroaste's life causes him to slowly shift his teachings away from relatively peaceful into objectively violent.
• 1172 BCE - Zoroaste imprisoned, but let go after a trial. The Atileagh kingdom expands to cover much of western Ummhara with the exception of the southwest.
• 1170 BCE - Zoroaste flees into the southwest after yet another attempt at imprisoning him, spending time with the Smirnii natives there and preaching to them.
• 1168 BCE - Zoroaste braves the risk and returns north to preach once more, this time with a more radical approach. There was to be no peace with the Atileagh who had desecrated the land given to them so long ago by ALHY.
• 1165 BCE - Dry period causes famine, numerous revolts occur mostly unrelated to the al-Zoroaste, and a few succeed in breaking away. The Prophet proceeds to minister to these breakaways, gaining large followings in some.
• 1164 BCE - Zoroaste takes a military leadership position and decides to lead the faithful in revolt against the Atileagh this time instead of being on the sidelines. A decades long war ensues.
• 1149 BCE - Zoroaste captured and martyred by being burned to death. His last words are a promise of retribution being at hand. Reports of defeats begin to pile up along with increasing unrest when a tribal confederation on the outskirts of Omharra begins devastating incursions into the Atileagh and Smirnii states.
• 1146 BCE - After decades of fighting on part of the al-Zoroaste, a year of mourning and deliberation, and enflamed by the martyrdom of their Prophet, the al-Zoroaste finally succeed in revolt against the Atileagh and Smirnii rulers of Ummhara, pushing both out and establishing native rule for the first time under the Ummharan Caliphate, led by Zoroaste's son Zakariya ibn Zoroaste Omhar. Zoroaste's ashes are buried in the place where Patriarch Adonai said to have landed, where a settlement would promptly pop up and grow.

• 1147-1028 BCE - The Ummharan Caliphate period started by Caliph Zakariya ibn Zoroaste Omhar, and the only Caliphate to have the honor of being named after the land, which would soon be named after it. The southwest is finally pacified through a series of both peaceful and violent integrations; while the eastern plains and drylands are violently pacified and integrated into the new Caliphate. Al-Zoroaste, the Prophet's Faith, would be spread rapidly by word or sword in this period. It unfortunately ends when a succession crisis compounded by a drought and famine causes immense instability that results in the Caliphate's collapse (1st Fitna). Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh)
• 1027-933 BCE - The period of the 1st Fitna, or the Great Trial as it is sometimes called. Clans and other states war against each other in hopes of seating one of their own as Caliph, with invading tribals and horselords coming from the east. It ends when Zakariya ibn Tumart Abbas, whose clan- the Abbas- claimed descent from Zoroaste's 2nd wife, succeeds in reunifying the disparate al-Zoroaste states. Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh)
• 992-714 BCE - 1st Abbas Caliphate period started by Caliph Zakariya ibn Tumart Abbas. Territorial expansion through military conquests and diplomatic integrations causes the Caliphate to cover much of western Ummhara, and to this day, it was under the 1st Abbas Caliphate that the greatest territorial extent of the Caliphates was achieved. The administrative division and subdivision of the Caliphate is standardized in this period, with the eight clans borne out of Zoroaste's eight wives rising to ultimate prominence, displacing those unrelated to the Prophet. Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh), Zakariya's resting place/Abbas capital (Amghar).
• 713-659 BCE - The period of the 2nd Fitna; or as many in the al-Zoroaste faithful call it, Denouncement of Decadence. The Abbas Caliphs along with their blood oathed clans would slowly engage in increased debauchery as the empire stagnated; and upon word of a great palace scandal occurring in late 714 BCE, five of the eight clans, along with multiple other groups would rise up in anger at the disgrace to Zoroaste's legacy. But though this period ended in 699 BCE, conflict between the differing factions and clans would result in the second half of the 2nd Fitna. The relative peace caused by the coalescing of the al-Zoroaste polities into three disparate Caliphates would result in the end of the 2nd Fitna and the beginning of the Aliartibak, or the Confusion. Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh), Zakariya's resting place/Abbas capital (Amghar).
• 658-563 BCE - Three Caliphates rise from the 2nd Fitna's end: the 2nd Abbas located in the westernmost lands containing the heartland of the Ummharans, under Caliph Taus ibn Malek Abbas; the Zulaykh Caliphate controlling the eastern lands bordering the dry steppes, under Caliph Zaid ibn Zoquihar Zulaykh; and the Murabiyya Caliphate safe behind the Alturay Mountains in the southeast and controlling Kadur, under Caliph Tumart ibn Abdul Murabiyya. The separation of the al-Zoroaste faithful causes the faith to slowly but surely fragment, and by 560s BCE, the 2nd Abbas and the Zulakyh would have deviated so severely as to embrace these heterodox if outright heretical views. Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh), Zakariya's resting place/Abbas capital (Amghar).
• 565-562 BCE - Conquest of the 2nd Abbas and Zulaykh Caliphates by the Qideagh coming in from the east. Though the conquest was long relative to the Qideagh's speed of conquest in regards to elsewhere in Ummhara, it was perhaps their bloodiest, with entire cities being put to the torch and populations massacred wholesale by the marauding horselords. People fleeing from the devastation are welcomed by the Murabiyya in exchange for renouncement of their views, a largely political move meant to secure extra population for the Murabiyya Caliphate, now the sole surviving state. Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh), Zakariya's resting place/Abbas capital (Amghar), the main settlement of the survivors (Hamez).
• 561-560 BCE - The Qideagh try to wear down the Murabiyya in order to soften the Caliphate up for a future conquest. When they sense an opportunity late in 560 BCE, they prepare for an invasion and then begin pouring in full force into the Kaduri Peninsula in the southwest. But in a miraculous battle, they are soundly defeated on New Years in the Battle of the Pass, where their leader is slain along with a massive amount of their armies, causing discord in the Qideagh ranks. Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh), Zakariya's resting place/Abbas capital (Amghar), the main settlement of the survivors (Hamez), the site of the battle (Bloody Pass).
• 559-412 BCE - With legitimacy and religious authority gained from the Battle of the Pass, Caliph Isma'il ibn Sajjad Murabiyya begins the Murabiyya Caliphate period. Ever the warlike ruler but with a secured succession in place, he is free to die in victorious and glorious battle just eight years later after declaring the legitimacy of the Murabiyya. Battle and war defines this period as a burning need to reclaim the holy sites of al-Zoroaste grips the people and the leadership. A small inlet in western Ummhara's northernmost point becomes a new holy site as the Murabiyya settle upon creating a capital there to be closer to the fight. Unfortunately, too much fighting with Boreanan invaders causes the Caliphate to fragment in the 3rd Fitna. Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh), Zakariya's resting place/Abbas capital (Amghar), the main settlement of the survivors (Hamez), the site of the battle (Bloody Pass), Murabiyya capital (Bel'hanaaq).
• 411-351 BCE - Period of the 3rd Fitna, or the Disunity as it was called. With sixty years worth of non-stop conflict between statelets created from the fragmentation of the Murabiyya Caliphate, and a general transitioning of power away from the eight clans descended from the Prophet and towards clans started by military-oriented warlords, who usually attain legitimacy through marriages with the main eight clans. This, along with the rise of multiple non-eight clans into Caliphal States would cause much shift in the line of thinking for most al-Zoroaste, who begin to consider any kin of the Prophet, agnatic or enatic, as a valid candidate for the Caliphate. The 3rd Fitna largely ends with the stabilization of the Disunity, as the statelets slowly coalesce once more into larger and more stable states.
• 351-198 BCE - Octarchy period. Ummhara has now stabilized into multiple states, with eight of them being the premier powers of the region. These are the Qirtaji Caliphate with their capital in Hamez, and controlling a naval empire consisting of the surrounding islands and other islands far afield; the Selimiq Sultanate controlling half of the Kaduri peninsula and holding the site of Kadur; the Anushteyya Sultanate controlling the other half and bounded by the Alturay Mountains in their northern frontier; the Khanid just to the northeast of the Anushteyya and home of marauding horselords of the al-Zoroaste variety; the Chiraqi Caliphate consisting of much of the Ummharan west coast and whose capital was Amghar, the old home of the Abbas Caliphs; the separate but twin Qaraz Sultanates of the north, with the southern one controlling Quraysh and the northern one controlling lands in what would become Hesperia in the future; and finally, the Shansayabari Caliphate, trying to reclaim Bel'hanaaq and carrying the legacy of the Murabiyya. The central lands surrounding Harappa are mostly controlled by various warring states and back then, none of the eight had the will to claim that land.
• 197-189 BCE - Conquest of the southern Qaraz Sultanate by the Shansayabari, ending in 195 BCE. This ends the Octarchy, and not willing to give up their momentum, this resurgent Caliphate assimilates the central states and reclaims Harappa, finishing by 191 BCE. It isn't long before war breaks out between the Shansayabari and Chiraqi Caliphates, with the former triumphant in the latter days of 189 BCE. With legitimacy gained, holy sites regained, and the borders with the other states fortified and secured, the Shansayabari Caliphate is legitimized.
• 188-16 BCE - One of the bloodiest unified periods in Ummharan history, the Shansayabari Caliphate started by Caliph Muhammad ibn Mu'izz Shansayabari is one of outside conflict just like the Murabiyya. Wars with the Orthyalian Empire from Boreana is commonplace, heating up into a bloody rivalry as the Caliphate tries to expell the infidels from the lands of the Um'harah.

• PLACEHOLDER
• 1750-1753 CE - War with Sedna, two islands ceded after a great loss and indignation in the al-Zoroaste faithful of the Kaduri peninsula grows significantly.
• 1754-1785 CE - Capitalizing on this, the Confederated Emirates is formed by the Da'atura clan and their confederate clans as a pact of self-defense and greater cooperation.
• 1785-1799 CE - Wars with Ummharan states on the border, the Great Blood Pact established in August, 1799. 1st Dwarven Immigration Wave.
• 1800 CE - New Years Declaration, a caliphate is declared for the first time with sufficient legitimacy and political maneuvering, the Da'aturan Caliphate. The Great Fitna largely ended for the southwest.
• 1800-1868 CE - The Great Restoration, Caliphate undertakes a nearly 7 decade period of reform and industrialization under the idea of "Ummharan Thinking, Boreanan Technology."
• 1869-1875 CE - Period of rapid military reformation and improvement with the progress gained with the Great Restoration.
• 1876-1878 CE - War for the Xaadlaay-Kiidaaw Islands results in the annexation of these frigid islands and the establishment of the first Caliphal colonies in history. 2nd Dwarven Immigration Wave.
• 1879-Present - Contemporary period, economic buildup leads into military buildup which then leads into increased control over the Great Blood Pact.

---

RP Reference/Links/Sample: [1] [2]

[Ovstylap]

Polity Name: The Kingdom of Holmstadt

Secondary/Informal Names: Holmstadt, the Northern Kingdom, The Land of Black and White.

Flag and Territory Claim: https://imgur.com/gallery/ZEVjvSU

Population: 55.5 million of all races.
47.3 million in the Homeland. 8.2 million in the colonies.
In the Homeland are 44 million humans, 3.1 million Dwarves, and the remainder a mixture of other races, predominantly Satyrs and Fairies.
In the colonies are over 5.95 million humans, 550k Kobolds, 480k Fairies, 470k Satyrs, 390k Greenskins, 355k Dwarves, and very small minorities of others.

Government Structure:
The Kingdom of Holmstadt is a Constitutional Monarchy with autocratic leanings, with Konungr Torgeir Arneson the monarch. The monarchs of Holmstadt rule by decree, but such decrees must be approved by the Kongeligt Råd, or Royal Council. The Ruling Council consists of the Ministers of State appointed by the Government, three royally-appointed advisors, three advisors appointed by the National Guilds, a representative of the National Labour Union, and a representative of the faith.

National Politics:
There is a unicameral House of Delegates with 410 of the 480 seats being voted for by Party List Weighted Representation. Men and women may vote, provided that they register every five years, with this typically costing the equivalent of three months wages for an unskilled labourer, as well as the cost of party membership to be able to vote for a party, and be direct tax-payers, which rules out a majority of the population. Voting at the national level is only for parties, which select their own Delegates. Of the remaining 70 seats, 10 are assigned to the National Guilds, 10 to the National Labour Union, 10 to the Church, and 40 to the Colonial Delegates- which are typically appointed via less democratic means. These 70 seats align themselves with parties according to the Delegate’s choice, with different rules and expectations depending on the background of their appointment. This has to occur between four and twelve weeks before the election, which delegates having to resign and another stood up if they change their minds on alignment.

180 seats must be secured to form a government, but more are required if there is an Opposition Coalition within 5 seats of the government size. If a majority is 255 seats or more is achieved, the Royal Council gains the right to veto a Royal veto.

This Parliament is currently heavily contested, as the Grand Coalition has recently broken, and there are major calls for a re-election, not due to occur for another three years, occurring. The coalition originally consisted of the Tillidsmand Parti (TP, Steward Party), Kongelig Parti (KP, Royal Party), and Det Konservative Parti i Holmstadt (DKPH, Conservative Party of Holmstadt), and Store Kejserlige Parti i Holmstadt (SKPH, Grand Imperial Party of Holmstadt).
However, the leader of the Tillidsmand Parti recently resigned in the wake of a scandal, and several members defected, leading to a leadership vacuum at the annual conference, whereby a rebellious proposal to dissolve the party ended up being passed, leading to more defections and resignations. In turn, the Royal Party left the Coalition, refusing to have the king associated with these scandals, leaving the Grand Coalition without a majority.

The Opposition Coalition includes the Frihedspartiet (FP, Party of Liberties), Den Pacifistiske Blok (DPB, The Pacifist Bloc), and the Landbofesten (LB, The Rural Party). Other Opposition Parties include the Nationalpartiet (NP, Nationalist Party), Det Liberale Parti i Holmstadt (DLPH, The Liberal Party of Holmstadt), Det Socialistiske Arbejderparti (DSAP, The Socialist Worker’s Party), and a number of minor and independent parties.

Current breakdown:
Government: 159 Seats (DKPH- 107 Seats, SKPH- 52 seats)
Former Coalition Parties: 104 Seats: TP- 49 Seats (of which 21 are now vacant), KP- 55 Seats
Opposition Coalition: 154 Seats (FP- 112 Seats, DPB- 24 Seats, LB- 18 Seats
Other Opposition Parties: DLPH- 32 Seats, DSAP- 13 Seats, NP- 2 Seats, Independents and Minor Parties: 9 Seats

The Parties

Political parties are a relatively recent phenomenon, with the first two forming in 1853, and a raft of newer parties forming in 1870.
Det Konservative Parti i Holmstadt (DKPH, Conservative Party of Holmstadt): Founded in 1853, the Conservative Party of Holmstadt finds some considerable backing from the nobility, senior officers, and domestic merchants, as well as a plethora of those who are in patronage networks with their supporters, or benefit from the protectionist policies advocated by the party. They favour a balanced budget, protectionist trade policy, and a primarily defensive posture, they also favour giving the colonies more autonomy in order to reduce their administration costs.

Det Liberale Parti i Holmstadt (DLPH, The Liberal Party of Holmstadt): Founded in 1853, the Liberal Party is more representative of the upper middle classes, as well as exporters and capitalists who seek foreign markets and cheap foreign goods. The Liberal Party has deep connections with the various colonial ventures, in order to bolster access to these. It favors government support of shipping and the navy, as well as free trade, and making the most out of the colonies, and as such favours a larger government and less defensive policy compared to the Conservative Party.

Kongelig Parti (KP, Royal Party): Founded in 1857, with support from various pro-monarchist elements in society, KP has long been quite an anti-democratic party, aiming to give more power to the Royal Council, and ultimately, back to the monarchy, in the belief that in the long run, party politics will lead to a divided society more focused on political differences than national unity. As such, they have surged in popularity in recent years.

Tillidsmand Parti (TP, Steward Party): Founded in 1865 from a number of independents and defectors, the Steward Party began to raise concerns such as long term food security, and the increasing amount of pollution, especially after outbreaks of Water Sickness in 1860, 1862, and 1863-4. The Steward Party favours a slower, more controlled system of urbanisation and industrialization, and advocates a mixed trade policy, protecting some industries whilst opening up others. It is overall quite moderate, and veers towards advocating a defensive policy. It has recently been racked by scandal and defection, and it some say it won't survive to the 1885 elections.

Frihedspartiet (FP, Party of Liberties): Founded in 1871, FP emerged from a major electoral defeat for the Liberal Party causing defections, and has harnessed great support amongst new members of the electorate- controversially arguing for reductions on the barriers to voting, and advocating increased rights and liberties for people- reading, the middle classes, as they become more and more prosperous. It essentially argues otherwise for similar economic policies to the Liberal Party.

Den Pacifistiske Blok (DPB, The Pacifist Bloc): Founded in 1872, this party has taken many by surprise, as it advocates for a much closer alignment with the Empire of Sedna, including a customs union and a defensive military alliance, and the dismantling of the coastal forts which are close to it. It ultimately argues for a major reduction in military expenditure, and a subsequent tax relief, as well as an expansion of the welfare state, and argues for a heavily peaceful approach, believing that economic integration, and no more war, is the most important thing for a better future.

Landbofesten (LB, The Rural Party): Founded in 1872 also, the Rural Party has primarily been a very focused party, primarily arguing for reduced voting restrictions for the peasantry, and extra votes for rural landowners, saying that their interests are greatly underrepresented due to the influence of the cities, yet these cities depend on the coal and the food from the rural areas. Rich landowners, and members of the nobility, as well as the burghers of some coal towns, have been known to give people grants in order to vote for the rural party. It favours protection of Holmstadt's argriculture, and is relatively pro-military due to its ties to the nobility, though is anti-conscription for the peasantry and coal miners.

Det Socialistiske Arbejderparti (DSAP, The Socialist Worker’s Party): Founded officially in 1876, after various smaller parties failed in the 1875 elections, DSAP merges a number of parties with extensive ties to trade and labour unions. Often, these raise funds in order to give grants to trusted members to vote when they can't otherwise afford this. DSAP has been building connections in the military amongst the enlisted ranks, and draws upon the support of many smaller businesses which struggle in the face of much larger conglomerates and foreign traders. It is thus a strange mixture of pro-civil liberties, pro-voting reform, wants a larger government, but is staunchly against the current government, despite having some ideological overlap.

Nationalpartiet (NP, Nationalist Party): Founded in 1878, and gaining two seats in the 1880 election, Nationalist Party is the youngest significant party (in terms of influence). Many members come from defectors, and exiles from other parties. It is staunchly anti-democratic, and relies on street politics to a significant extent. Where-ever the dissatisfied are, and whatever they are dissatisfied with, the Nationalist Party attempts to get them on side. They blame a combination of greed, selfishness, divisive party politics, decadence, a loss of moral values, and incompetency to be leading to a situation which will lead to national decline, and the loss of future wars and the colonies. They argue, in impolite terms, that power should be in the hands of a civil service loyal to a king with a backbone, and that government needs to confiscate a great amount of wealth from those who have stolen it from the nation. Ironically, despite some of the anti-capitalist leanings they share with the Socialist Party, since the Socialist Party is the other major street party expressing distress with the status quo, yet want to resolve this through greater democratization, their members increasingly clash.

Influential factions, bodies, and organizations which are of note in effecting domestic politics include:

De Nationale Laug- The National Guilds: These represent the capitalist, corporate, and business interests of the moneyed classes, and often have a significant influence over the interests of the urban middle classes. Major guilds include the Steelworkers, Coal Mining, Shipbuilding, Armaments, Grain, Carpentry, Gold, Bankers, Insurance, and Railway Guilds.

Den Nasjonale Fagforeningen- The National Labour Union: Created in the wake of the 1867-1870 years of unrest, this body in theory represents the working classes, but is more a means of preventing violent disturbance or economic damage, though it does advocate for better working conditions.

Kirken- The Church: At once the church argues for better and more equitable distribution of wealth, social justice, and the upholding of the rights of the people at large, but also condemns and criticises their vices, their greed, and their focus on worldly matters. The Church is particularly popular amongst the nobility, and the lower middle classes, but is often seen as a false ally by the impoverished, or as an inconvenience by the capitalist classes.

Militæret- The Military: Heavily influenced by the ideology of nationalism, and often leaning towards more protectionist and pro-colonial measures, the military resents the amount of democratic control over it, and is quite pro-monarchy, especially amongst the more senior ranks. It tends to push for a more independence-focused strategy.

Det Kongelige Universitet i Vesterhus- The Royal University of Vesterhus: A centre of both innovation, brilliant ideas, and dangerous ones, the Royal University of Vesterhus is renowned as being the only place in Holmstadt where speech is truly free, and advocates of everything can be found. They run frequent debates, and to be given a platform here is seen as a mark of legitimacy.

Adelen- The Nobility: Though the nobility has very little in terms of political power, they have a great amount of social currency, and often, economic power through their systems of patronage and owning of scarce arable land, and as such, tend to make sure what they do have, isn’t taken from them, and that their own personal missions, interests, and passions are pursued.

Embetsverket- The Civil Service: The professional civil servants, bureacrats, and state workers have their interests often aligned with the middle classes, stability, and long term economic growth with accompanying higher state revenues. Without their support, no policy will achieve its aims.

***
Område Politics- Regional politics, and local politics, are much more individual than party based, and have varying levels of democracy, typically never being less democratic than at the national level.

Religious Information: The Holmstadt Kirken, or Church of Holmstadt, is relatively unique in that it is more of a moral code which enables a peaceful and ordered society, and minimises social friction, with a limited theology other than this very teaching of right or wrong. There is a belief that there is an afterlife, where one’s actions influence how long it might be, and how good, before eventually that too peters out, unless one has lived very well, and thus might be born again. It is believed that in the afterlife, you can offer spiritual support to people, and even forgive them, and so it is common that good people of the community, as well as loved ones, are revered in death, with some even exonerated as Saints to be looked up to. It is believed that Saints have been granted an eternity in the afterlife, whilst the Blessed are those given another chance to live again.

Children are believed to be reborn if they die before puberty, or before they are brought into the world. Overall, the values and way of life the church encourages are:
Being dutiful, loyal, honest, kind, forgiving, compassionate, responsible, wise, moderate, and patient. It is against the vices of greed, idleness, lust, drunkenness, irresponsibility, ingratitude, cruelty, and arrogance.

The church at the national level has some political representation, with a representative at the Royal Council, and ten seats in the Parliament. It is organised into cantons, which are essentially areas of responsibility for local church officials, known as Canton Stewards. Individual churches have members, elders, and pastors. These churches have parishes, where they serve the local community.

Socioeconomic Information:

Polar Climate: For many centuries have the people of Holmstadt endured a cold climate, with arctic conditions often descending. This effects many things, but has meant that living with plenty was not often experienced by most of the people, and that both food and fuel have taken up most of the concerns of most people.
Culturally: There is a significant culture of generosity and hospitality, and likewise, gratitude and gift-giving.
Socially: Due to many experiences of shortages, there is quite a tendency towards authoritarian methods of organisation and keeping order.
Economically: As the land can be unreliable for food, or the weather can be reliable, food is often brought from the sea, and there it is common to store food for the long term.
Military Information:

Compassionate, peaceful faith: The church has gained some official political influence during the gradual shift away from absolutism. It is seen as a bastion of gradual reform and adjustment to the status quo, whether politically or economically, as it rarely advocates severe changes, but instead encourages responsibility from individuals, families, and in local areas; to act in an upright and fair manner.
Culturally: Many people are involved with the faith, but without much theological consideration, it is more about living a moral, amicable, ordered life.
Socially: The ruling and most powerful have been able to sometimes suppress dissent since they can criticise how people attempt to bring about changes, rather than address their concerns.
Economically: The church provides a localised system of welfare, and also contributes towards health and education. This alleviates some of the necessity for the state to do this, but also exacerbates regional inequalities, as a poorer parish can provide less for those in the parish who are not as well off.

Historic tradition of keeping the peace, and upholding order: The nature of Holmstadt means that many people have primarily been concerned by everyday needs, but urbanisation and industrialisation have placed this under tension. This means that when violence does come about, it either leads to a major backlash, or significant changes, as seen with the unrest of 1867-1870.
Culturally: The new creation of political parties, increases in civil liberties, and the rise of unions mean that people are using these as outlets, rather than remaining silent, but frictions are also being exposed.
Socially: There is a risk that these new ways of airing grievances, are undermining social cohesion, and this also has the effect of making those with nationalistic sentiment, less democratic, undermining patriotism at large.
Economically: If riots, looting, and disorder occurs, there is a very strong backlash, as this is rare, and hard to afford.

Relatively limited number of urban centres: Much of Holmstadt is sparsely inhabited, with cities and towns predominantly along the coast, or at junctions of rivers, roads, railroads, or by coal deposits- several towns have arisen predominantly due to newly established coalmines.
Culturally: The coastal towns and cities are the centres of commerce and exchange, and the spread of ideas. There are many jobs here, or at least people think so, and so they are expanding considerably.
Socially: As the towns grow, problems of squalor, pollution, petty crime, disease, and vice rise, and inequalities grow.
Economically: Most of the tax revenue comes in from the ports, or the towns where resources are extracted, and as such, the rural areas tend to be left more to do their own thing.

Economic Points:
Staple foods, crops, and livestock: Wheat, Barley, Potatoes, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Turnips, Parsnips, Carrots, Onions, Beets (including Sugarbeets), goats, hardy sheep, mountain ponies.
Resources produced and available for export: Fur, Lumber, Coal, Coke, Charcoal, Sulfur, Salt, Seafood, Ink, Products from Seals and Whales
Resources produced for domestic use: Copper, Gold, Iron
Resources produced in the Colonies: Sugarcane, Rum, Tea, Coffee, Gold, White Leaf Tabac, Tobacco.
Import Demands: Flour, Grain, Luxury Goods, Cloth, Paper, Clothing, Wine, Tea, Coffee, Liquor, Tropical Fruits

Notable Economic Points:
Coffee is prohibited for domestic consumption due to a law passed in 1805 following the death of Prince Jon Williamsen, who’s heart stopped working after he drank a lot, and his father was distraught.
Opium and Cannabis are illegal as of the laws of 1831 and 1837.

Military Organisation

Overview
De Kongelige Væbnede Styrker i Holmstadt, or the Royal Armed Forces of Holmstadt, are divided between the following:
1) Den Kongelige Flåde af Holmstadt, or the Royal Fleet of Holmstadt;
2) Den Kongelige Hær af Holmstadt, or the Royal Army of Holmstadt;
3) De Koloniale Selvforsvarsstyrker, or Colonial Self Defence Forces.

The Royal Fleet of Holmstadt currently possesses:
1 Protected Cruiser launched in 1869, Skib af den Kongelige Flåde Bestemt (Ship of the Royal Fleet Determined)
2 Scout Cruisers, launched in 1877 and 1879, SKFs Hurtig and Snu (Swift and Cunning)
7 Unprotected Cruisers, 1881 (Mod- Courage), 1880 (Tapper- Valiant), 1878 (Rasende- Furious), 1871 (Præcis- Precise), 1870 (Modig- Stalwart), 1868 (Spærreild- Bombardment), and 1867 (Rejesende- Traveller) and 1860, (Opdager- Discoverer).
Several frigates of various ages, and around three dozen smaller or auxiliary vessels are also owned.

A Naval Academy, School of Gunnery, Two Arsenals, a Drydock, and four Forts are also owned. A total of 24000 Officers and Sailors are owned, as well as some 8500 other personnel, mostly in shipbuilding and procurement, are also employed.

The Royal Army of Holmstadt consists of:
3 Regiments of two battalions, of Konungrs Musketerer, or King's Musketeers, which are primarily for organisational purposes, as they operate in companies, in addition to the Krone Battalion (Crown Battalion). 4670.
18 Regiments of the Guard. 2 are Artillery, 5 Cavalry, 11 Infantry. 27,000.
7 Regiments of Frontiersmen. 10,200.
8 Regiments of Borderers. 8800.
9 Regiments of 3 Battalions. 2 Cuirassier Regiments, 3 of Lancers, 3 of Dragoons, 2 of Hussars. 9900.
41 Regiments the Line, each of 2 Line Battalions, 1 Reserve, and 1 Depot. 98,400
4 Battalions of Rocket Artillery. 2000.
8 Independent Logistic Regiments, of which 3 have 3 Battalions, the rest 2, and a further 5 independent battalions. 16200.
2 Armoured trains. 800.
3 Siege Trains. 5000.
15 Independent Fortress Battalions. 9750.
7 Independent Medical Battalions. 4130.
2 Military Hospices, 4 Hospitals, 3 Convalescent, and 5 Retirement Homes. 3000.

The following are other military institutions run by the Army. 1500.
Det Kongelige Militærakademiet Binderhus (1747, The Royal Military Academy Binderhus)
Skolen for Skydning og Rifler (1809, The School for Marksmanship and Rifles);
Den Kongelige Skole til Perfektion af Brugen af Kanoner (1689, the Royal School for the Perfection of the Use of Cannon);
Konungrs eget Akademi for Militær Arkitektur (1715, the Kings Own Academy for Military Architecture);
Det Kongelige Akademi for Krigshistorie, Studier og Fremtidsudsigter (1837, The Royal Academy for War History, Study, and Prospects);
and Kongelige Grunde til Forberedelse af Krigsheste (1743, the Royal Grounds for the Preparation of Warhorses)

There are a total of 201,350 personnel.

Konungrs Musketerer or King's Musketeers, were founded by decree of Konungr Christoffer I, in 1653, originally as bodyguards and agents of the crown, but overtime, they have gradually expanded to their present strength of seven battalions. Typically, they are based and act as companies, as the ultimate executors of the Konungr's will. They are the most loyal, and steadfast of persons, and often are entrusted with various important or secretive tasks. A Musketeer is often recruited from the Guard, or by recommendation by various officers, nobles, or fellow musketeers. Often, candidates failing officer selection, often due to academic reasons, are offered the chance at training to become Musketerer. Indeed, many who serve as couriers, guards to ambassadors and dignitaries, or other servants of the state, or who act as agents of the state and crown, are indeed of the Konungrs Musketerer.

Each battalion consists of five line companies of 93 enlisted and 7 officers. Each battalion also has four further detachments of 2 officers and 18 other ranks, for Musketerer training, specialist training, armoury, and supply, as well as a further headquarters detachment of 12 officers and 28 other ranks, making a battalion have a strength of 55 officers and 565 other ranks, a total of 620 men, which is a higher proportion of officers than seen in most units. There are thus 385 officers and 3,955 other ranks, in addition to the various additional regimental units and wider parts of the Musketeers, adding an additional 34 officers and 296 other ranks. This makes a total of 419 officers, and 4251 men, for a total of 4670 Musketeers.

The Guard The Holmstadt Guard consists of 18 regiments, of which there are two artillery, five cavalry, and eleven infantry regiments. They are organised in the 1878 style, akin to the rest of the Army, though the Artillery and Infantry regiments have a higher number of gatling guns than is commonly seen, and there are additional supporting elements. The cavalry regiments consist of two regiments of cuirassiers, one of lancers, one of dragoons, and one of hussars.

To be a Guardsman, one must have an unblemished military record, though exceptions are granted, references and recommendations, and have served either for five years, or at least one campaign season with major contact, or two seasons without. Often, the finest elements of annual recruits and conscripts are highlighted for possible guard training, and typically end up being arranged in the oldest of the Line Regiments or respective units, often in their own companies or detachments, ready to meet the criteria for joining the Guard.

Frontiersmen and Borderers
These troops tend to be either light infantry or light cavalry respectively, and have their primary use in border security, raids, operations outside of open battle, skirmishing, and the like. Their equipment, uniform, and organisation, are much more diverse than the Regular Army.

The Martinsen rifle, designed by Ebbe Martinsen (1833-) was adopted in 1868 as the new service rifle of Holmstadt's forces, and all regular units have either been equipped with the model 1868, or the bolt-action modification known as the Martinsen-Bach, or Embach as it is colloquially called, with was adopted in 1875. It fires a 11x59mm cartridge, with a muzzle velocity of 470m/s.

Mass 4.2 kg (9.3 lb)
3.6 kg (7.9 lb) (cavalry)
3.2 kg (7.1 lb) (Artillery)
Length 1,310 mm (52 in)
1,175 mm (46.3 in) (cavalry)
995 mm (39.2 in) (Artillery)
Barrel length 795 mm (31.3 in)
680 mm (27 in) (cavalry)
490 mm (19 in) (Artillery)

De Koloniale Selvforsvarsstyrker, or Colonial Self Defence Forces.
These forces are controlled by the respective colonies, and typically include a cavalry half-battalion, an infantry regiment, a fortress battalion, and a handful of vessels. In total they number around 35000 men, in addition to any additional local or auxiliary forces that can be raised.

This is for app acceptance, I am happy to expand on things or add new bits following discussions with others if necessary


5000BCE- Humans begin to move slowly into the areas now comprising Holmstadt from the South-West, but only in small numbers, as the climate cools.
3000BCE- Human settlements of a handful of families now exist as people begin to settle, primarily in hunting-based communities.
1000BCE- Agriculture begins to take hold, travelling from the South and South-West
500BCE- A mixture of types of human inhabitation occur- there are semi-nomadic groups, hunter-gatherers, permanent agricultural settlements. Seal-hunting and other forms still sustain many settlements.
300BCE- The language of Holmi (pronounced Whole-My), sees its writing proliferate
200BCE- The technology of boat-building increases in pace, as trade and expansion grow
50BCE- By now, the vast majority of people in the area use iron instead of other tools
200- Population growth accelerates during a warming period, as well as the spread of agricultural techniques, and access to iron.
450- Several settlements exist primarily by raiding others to sustain themselves.
589- The first raids along the coast of what is now Sedna occur.
600-953- A period of raids, wars, and political consolidation, as jarls rise and fall. Finally, as a dominant polity from Sedna defeats a great invasion, a period of civil war begins.
1100- The great infighting has led into a dark age, and it is only be 1100CE that peace begins to rise.
1200- The heartland of Holmstadt is united under a decentralised realm led by a Konungr.
1250-72- The Anarchy.
1273-1278- The Consolidation
1279-1357- Gradual expansionism north and north-east, occupying new islands and the like.
1459- A majority of what is now Holmstadt is now owned under a single ruler.
1524- The first of many colonies is established.
1600-1604- A series of short and decisive wars against neighbouring powers, bar Sedna.
1500-1770- A period of economic expansion, continued expansion into cooler climes, and gradual colonisation.

The Rittermann Expeditions, courtesy of OP:
1818-1821CE: The Rittermann Expeditions into Arctorea. The Holmstadter explorer Heinrich von Rittermann carries out an expedition into Arctorea in 1818 and returns the same year with success in mapping up to the 'Western Bite,' which is a large set of fjords that now correspond to the North-Eastern terminus of Holmstadt territory. This is followed by a second expedition due north which leaves and returns in 1819 with success in mapping out a five hundred and eighty-three kilometer route into Arctorea. But notes it is just 'The Endless White.' A third expedition, this time more heavily financed, is launched in 1820 to North-by-North-West and reportedly, on the return of the Expedition, reports about a possible artificial structure over seven hundred kilometers North of where Boreana ends and Arctorea begins. Supposedly, some members of the expedition ventured 'inside' but never returned and the details of Rittermann's journal are sparse. With harsher weather setting in and a need to head back South. The fourth expedition, with a fifth already planned, was to traverse the coast and round the 'Western Bite' is viable. The expedition heads out, like the previous ones, in March and is due to return in late December. Their route mirrored by a pair of Holmstadt ships carrying extra supplies following along. Here, it was reported that the Western Bite had been rounded and the Expedition heading along a gradual bend in the coast till they reached a second, smaller, 'Eastern Bite'. But a harsh fog blew up and obscured the land which forced the ships to break for open water or risk running aground or become damaged in ice-flows. When the fog cleared the ships moved up the coast in the expected route Rittermann was to take, with periodic forays by boat teams, but all they found was doused firepits every days worth of travel until on the fourth day they found circles of objects sticking out from the snow. To the sailors horror it was the bodies of the expedition.

They had been buried as to be planted upside down, de-clothed, with their muskets, harpoons, and poles for sleighs, and so forth shoved into their rectal cavities like makeshift grave markers. The camp itself was located nearby and seemed to have been deliberately abandoned in a hurry. But no evidence of who attacked them and why was learned. The sailors tried to recover the bodies but a since of unease and feeling of being watched had settled over the men and so they abandoned their efforts and returned to their vessels which swiftly departed back to Holmestadt.

1789-the Present, approved by Sedna

1789-1828 is something of a golden generation, with advances in education, flourishing of culture, and touches of industrialisation and increases in food production. 1833 sees however a brutal polar storm in May, which leaves great frosts, and cripples the harvests of that year.
In 1834 swine flu comes through the country, and great amounts of livestock are killed. 1835 sees temperatures plummet again, leading to increases in coal mining, and reduced harvests. This leaves limited seed grain for 1836, and there is a greater focus on food imports and growing potatoes. It's a hard farming couple of years, when in 1839 potato blight spreads. 1833-1842 is thus a very hard decade, leading to all sorts of social issues, rises in food prices, emigration to the colonies and Sedna.

In 1845 there is an economic crisis, and though the colonies are maintained, they have to have less government support, and Sednan business interests start investing, by which I mean buying up, companies.
In 1848, resistance to budget cuts and the like sees a mutiny, and military support for the growing constitutional movement. Unrest spreads, and in 1849 the Konungr, refusing to step down, takes his own life for the good of the country. A constitution which had been drafted in 1846, is amended, and rapidly passed by the new king. 1850, Holmstadt becomes a Constitutional Monarchy, with increasing economic reliance on Sedna.

Gradual recovery, growth of economy, coal production increases, and in 1863-4 major loans are taken out from various Sednan interests, and the government, and a defensive alliance is signed.

In 1866 when the war begins, even though it's offensive, Sedna has ambitious plans and calls for aid and offers extensions/annullments of the loans, and Holmstadt enters the war. To enable Sednan expeditions, Holmstadt increasingly takes on the burden of the land war, but is pushed out of Sednan mainland territories.

A period of unrest between 1868-1870 is followed by a counter-attach seeing Holmstadt forces prepared to launch an offensive to regain Sednan territories, but this is ultimately unecessary and only sees a limited start before negotations are included. Significant military reorganization and reform occurs, as well as economic recovery, and a closer formalisation of ties with Sedna.

RP Sample

"Get your filthy hands off of me you f-" the man's shouts and cries were suddenly silenced as the man attempting to rob him suddenly let go and fell, limp, to the ground. For a few seconds his body moved slightly, before he gradually began to regain control of himself, and slowly attempted to get to his feet. By that time, there was a man wearing a slightly dirty white uniform, with KSOMPO displayed on the dark stab-proof vest the man wore. Kingfisher Security Officer for the Maintenance of Public Order. The man had a myriad of equipment with him. He wore a tactical belt, which one might almost consider a shooter's belt, if they were familiar with such from their conscription time in the Sud Afrikan military. Attached were a holster with a sidearm, a taser, a first aid kit, and a number of other items. A baton hung from his belt too. He turned a small dial on part of his vest, and magnetically attached the CPT08, or Chemical Pacification Tool, Model 2108, made in KICKK's Perth Manufactory Complex, to himself. He assisted the previously limp man to his feet, and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

"You were tranquilised in order to prevent further harm coming to either of you, and I have reason to believe that you were caught in an act of armed robbery. The near-victim picked up the shank that had fallen to the side as the attacker, now looking fearfully at the ground by the KSOMPO's feet, and handed it to the officer. A Sud Afrikan policeman who had been alerted to the incident by a communications device the KSOMPO had used helpfully arrived within a few moments, having used an electric squad car to come along. He took the shank, and placed it into an evidence bag, and handed the KSOMPO another set of plasticuffs as he took hold of the arrested man. The KSOMPO used his body camera to take a quick interview with the victim, and then wished him a good day before continuing with his patrol. The white uniform reflected the intense heat, but he was still sweating due to the weight of the equipment he carried. He had opted not to go for some of the heavier kit some of his colleagues carried, but also didn't go for what he called the 'soft touch' loadout which the occaisonal new Australian personnel often used with their focus on 'community relations,' that was until they saw how messed up things could get in East Africa.

That said, things were seeming to get better. Food remained, as always, a consistent problem, but now there were the forces in place to isolate violent disturbances to order, and Kingfisher Security had been taking less and less casualties. It was strange- on the one hand it was good for the people of East Africa that there was now an organised system of governance in place, and he and his colleagues had more hopeful, successful days, but at the same time, he wasn't getting that same rush of adrenaline one got, suppressing a riot here, breaking an organised criminal ring there, intercepting a drugs boat over there, or running down violent criminals through the slums of any number of urban sprawls which had once been distinct towns and locations. Still, at some point the conscripts would have to go home he thought, so at least the income should remain steady.

Like a number of his other KSOMPO colleagues, he wondered what the actual payment from Sud Afrika to KICKK would be, and was looking forward to his bonus later this month.

App is finally finished!

[Intermountain States]

Too many words

Should be finished with my app.

[Imperialisium]

Polity Name: Great Cheongryeo State (대청려국)
Secondary/Informal Names: Daecheongryeo (대청려), Cheongryeo (청려), United Kingdom (연합국), Empire of Cheongryeo (청려제국), United Kingdom of Cheongryeo (청려 연합국)
Flag(s):

(Image)

Population: 47.5 million.
Territory Claim: Map
Government Structure: Parliamentary constitutional monarchy

The Emperor rules for life and all Emperors of Cheongryeo claim descendants from the ancestral throne of the first Holy King Taejo Dangun. The powers of Cheongryeoan monarchs have changed throughout centuries, with some being absolute monarchs while others leaving power to royal and imperial ministers. It should be noted that although the official title of Cheongryeoan sovereigns includes the word "King" (Wang), the title of King is often used in conjecture with the title of "Emperor" (Hwangje) as part of the full title being Grand King or Supreme King (Taewang). Prior to the the establishment of the Cheonju Church as the country's state religion, monarchs would claim divine ancestry and would include the style "Son of Heaven" (Cheonja)" according to the doctrines of the Daejonggyo. As the terms "Heavenly Sovereign," "Heavenly King," and "Son of Heaven" would imply deification of a mortal, such titles became taboo for early rulers after the establishment of the Church. Rulers would instead adopt secular titles of Grand King/Greatest King and "Regent of Heaven" (Cheon Seopjung) as the most supreme title equivalent to the titles of Emperor/Heavenly Sovereign and Son of Heaven in Qhin traditions. Cheongryeoan linguists would argue that "Taewang" can directly be translated to "Emperor" and more contemporary rulers would use the title of "Emperor" in translations. Some monarchs would posthumously be elevated to "Holy King" (Seongwang) if their reigns were seen as being in line with the Church. Modern rulers would also use the title of "Heavenly Sovereign" in addition to "Grand King" or simply "King" while ruling, no longer burdened by the taboo of the words. The full style of the sovereign of Cheongryeo as officially proclaimed:

"X By the Mandate of Heaven and the laws of the Constitution, the Emperor of the Bear Throne, Supreme King of the Great Cheongryeo State, King of Storms, and Defender of the Faith."

As part of constitutional reforms in the 1840s, powers of governmental functions were standardized with the Grand King having considerable executive powers comparable to that of the First Minister of the Central Assembly as the Grand King is the one who is able to form his cabinet. The bureaucratic element of the government has undergone major changes since the reforms of Grand King Jang Seon in 1848. The national bureaucracy is held through civil service exams that focus on general knowledge of administration and specific knowledge and experience related to an office or position. With the rise of public education, governmental positions are also open to everyone, allowing women and low-born folks to study for the opportunity of working for government.

In 1835, a national legislative body was established called the Central Assembly, divided into the House of Peers and the House of Delegates. The House of Peers consisted of the aristocracy while the House of Delegates was made up of elected officials throughout the country. The House of Delegates is led by the Prime Minister who also serves in the Emperor's cabinet and holds considerable powers. The House of Delegates is the chamber responsible for the passing of laws while the House of Peers scrutinizes the legislations passed by the House of Delegates. Universal male suffrage was a recent addition, established in 1874.

Religious Information: Cheongryeo guaranteed freedom of religion in 1846 but had adopted many state religions before based on the royal and imperial dynasties whom ruled the country.

- Cheondogyo - The Religion of the Heavenly Way
The Cheondogyo faith is monotheistic in its tenant. While the religion does acknowledge the existence of many spirits akin to angels or mortals who ascended to sainthood, these aren't deities but holy individuals whom serve the Sky God, Haneunim (Heavenly Lord). The Haneunim is the ultimate principle of good and justice. However, the term "Haneul" represents not just the sky but also the whole universe and divinity can be found in all living and non-living things. The faith also places emphasis on self-cultivation and improving one's nature. For one to attain enlightenment, it is by improving one's nature as the heaven is within the mind. It is a rather recent arrival in the religious scene of Cheongryeo with the intention of trying to unify the religions (without much success), drawing influence from the maligned shamanistic faith of mugyo with the philosophies of Sohak and Seonryanghak, and the religion of Daejonggyo. Instead, it flourished as a progressive political movement as the religion does place emphasis on national unity and the intrinsic worth of all people, including those of the lower class.

- Cheonjugyo - The Church of the Heavenly Lord
Cheonjugyo is the largest religion in terms of membership and enjoys a rich history in Cheongryeo for centuries. The religion of Cheonjugyo originated from Lazei missionaries from Qhin arriving to the Six Kingdoms period in the 9th century, although the religion gained little attention from both the elites and commoners among the Six Kingdoms. Lazei missionaries were seen as heathens and that Azura is simply what the Qhin called Haneunim (or Hwanin), the only true God of the universe and that there were no other god like Ahruman. It is believed instead that Ahruman is simply one of the spirits who saw himself as being greater than Haneunim and seduced man astray into the material world. Mani was another spirit who followed Ahruman as his lieutenant and both would rule over Hell torturing souls who refused to receive love from the Lord of Heaven. However, the heretical form of the Lazei Dogma, the Shenist cult saw some interest among the elites in the late 10th century despite being suppressed by the elites as a heretical form of the already heathenish Laizei Dogma due to the arrival of some of Shen Luoyang's disciples. During the latter years of the Six Kingdoms and the beginning years of the United Kingdom period, an extremely localized variation of the Shenist cult gained mainstream acceptance as scholars saw the teachings of Shin Nakyang (Shen Luoyang) as answering holes left behind in the Goodness School and the Daejonggyo (to the point that Shenist in Qhin considered the Cheonjugyo faith as being heretical). It is believed that Shin Nakyang, the son of Haneunim, would return back to the material world to bring the war between Haneunim and Ahruman where humanity would choose their side, ultimately saving the believers and the virtuous heathens. The Cheonju Church would also attempt to syncretize with other faiths for smoother acceptance, including the Daejonggyo, the Goodness Schools, and the Mugyo. The Cheonjugyo has its own religious hierarchies in Cheongryeo, including its own Patriarchs and bishops. During the Songak Wang Dynasty, the Patriarch would send representative to the Royal Court as spiritual advisors. Although nowadays, the established power of the Cheonju Church waned due to the guarantee of freedom of religion, its influence still plays a major role in Cheongryeoan society.

- Daejonggyo - Great Ancestral Religion
The Daejonggyo is among the oldest lasting religion in Cheongryeo and is in essence an imperial cult. The faith proclaims that the Sky God, Haneunim is separated into three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons. God the Father is the one based in heaven who created the universe. God the Teacher is the mentor of universal nature and morality for the universe to follow. God the King is the ruler of all creation. It is believed that Haneunim is found in a particularly holy mortal who would rule the nation as the God-King but his descendants would soon lose the blood of the heavens as generations pass. The Heavens would show if a royal family lost divine blood through natural disasters and revolts, thus paving the way for another progenitor to take the place to rule as God the King and the cycle continues forth. Every royal and imperial dynasties have claimed descendants from the first God the King of Dangun even in the modern period. Modern historians believe that the daejonggyo faith was first used by Hae Mosu to justify overthrowing King Wang Bu in Baedal, claiming that the Holy Royal Family of the Yongju Wang lost its divine blood. Aspects of the religion would be secularized into the political philosophy of the Mandate of Heaven by humanists of more contemporary dynasties as it lost favor with the government in favor of Cheonju Church in 1236, changing divine blood to heavenly favors. That being said, many successive dynasties would attempt to continue the Divine bloodline by marrying off the male heir of the throne to a princess of the prior dynasty. Even Taejo Hae Mosu set the tradition by marrying his successor, Hae Geum to Princess Wang Yu-ri, the daughter of Wang Bu. Although the religion is no longer embraced by the imperial government, it still has adherents to this day, including observance by the imperial government in the form of ancestral rites of past rulers along with the aforementioned practice of continuing the royal and imperial bloodline by successive dynasties, in essence creating a royal family lasting for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

- Mugyo - Cheongryeoan Shamanism
Mugyo is a polytheist folk religion promoting belief in a range of deities and ancestral spirits. It is an indigenous religion thought to be around in ancient humans before civilization took hold with creation stories and legends. The folk religion was quite common in rural villages and tribal areas and has no centralized religious hierarchies. This had lead to easy synchronization with other religions like Cheondogyo and Daejonggyo but also some suppression by religions like Cheonjugyo. It was seen as a low-class, superstitious religion of rural and uneducated peasants by the government for much of its existence. Since the 1846 code guaranteeing freedom of religion, mainstream acceptance of the religion, while still low, is growing as people consider the faith as representing and preserving primordial Cheongryeoan traditions and legends.

- Seonryanghak and Sohak - The Goodness School and Su Xiuying Learning
Seonryanghak and Sohak are the localizations of the Goodness School and the teachings of Soh Suyeong (Su Xiuying) from Qhin. While not so much of a religion in Cheongryeo, the two teachings were adopted into Cheongryeoan local and imperial literary exams for students hoping to get into government positions prior to the 1848 government reforms. Currently, it is observed by many as philosophies pertaining to lifestyle and secular humanist teachings.

Social Information: The advent of industrialization has lead to an increase of urbanization and overall standard of living, especially among large cities and the Three Capitals of Cheongryeo. However, much of the heartland is still dominated by agriculture while the coastlines and small islands are home to large scale fishing, ship manufacturing, and trade as their major sources of income. Residents in urban areas can expect access to public education funded by taxation although wealthy members of society are often willing to send their children to more prestigious private schools and academies. Universities for secondary educations are also making appearances as byproducts of Mercian influences. Most students of universities are from families of wealth and power but lowborn students can also attend based on scholarships from government officials. In rural areas, education is largely provided by local schoolmasters or by monks and nuns of monasteries.

The country is relatively a free and equal society with contemporary laws abolishing slavery and legal class distinction. Anyone from the nobility to the commoners to even the poorest of society can supposedly address their grievances to local and national governments. Cheongryeo society is still relatively patriarchal with suffrage being limited to men of age and with women generally expecting to subservient to the males in the family, a byproduct of adapting the doctrines of the Goodness School from medieval times. That being said, women do enjoy some legal rights of their own such as being to inherent property or to remarry as a widow. Women also play a large role in the Cheonju Church as nuns, missionaries, teachers, religious sisters, scientists, community organizers, hospital administrators, nurses, etc. A large number of saints venerated by the church are women and the Church places great values on family and motherhood, even exalting Sa Hwan, the mother of the Son of Heaven Shin Nakyang as the Mother of Heaven. However, women are often excluded from the Church hierarchy and outside of a few heretical faiths, no women have ever been ordained as priests, deacons, and bishops.

The vast majority, if not the entire population of Cheongryeo are humans. Most of the human population belongs to the Saram ethnic group, although other minority groups do exist in large numbers such as the Girin people residing in the border between Cheongryeo and Qhin and the Jin people that make up the majority of Nabido. The nonhuman sentients whom reside in Cheongryeo are from legations of foreign missions such as Sedna and Mercia.

All levels of Cheongryeoan society enjoy many forms of recreation and leisurely activities. Calligraphy, poetry, and literature are written in both the Qhin script and the Cheongryeogul script. Leisure is enjoyed by all strata of society, from painting to theatre, from hunting to reading. Archery was declared as the national sport due to its prominence in pre-gunpowder warfare. Many forms of traditional martial arts were also practiced, some being indigenous forms while others being influenced from Qhin and Asakara.

Military Information: The Great Cheongryeo Armed Forces (대청려군) is divided into two branches, the Army and the Navy. Due to a long history of warfare, efforts were placed on the military due to fears of Cheongryeo being vulnerable to a foreign invasion, especially in recent years of a possibly resurgent Qhin marching across the border with its massive size. This had lead to a creation of a professional army. The adoption of contemporary artillery, rifles, and squad support weapons of both indigenous and imported designs allows the Great Cheongryeo Army to be one of the, if not the most advanced professional ground force in East Osia. Thanks to industrialization, Cheongryeo mass produces equipment for their military and the expansion of railroads allows them to transport troops quickly through the use of railroad. The Army also enjoys the backing of powerful artillery and rocketry made to decimate enemy lines. The Cheongyreoan Army stands at the size of 340,000 active professional personnel stationed across the country with more being able to be called up during wartime. Provincial governments can also raise their own forces to assist the national military in defensive campaigns. However, a large number of provincial forces are often equipped with more outdated weapons in contrast to the national military.

The Navy of Cheongryeo is the pride of the nation, large, modern, and well equipped. The Cheongryeoan Navy has been used to project Cheongryeo's prowess on the international stage. The Navy stands at a size of 61,000 men, including 23,000 marines. Improving the Navy has been one of the major priorities of Cheongryeo for centuries, believing that a strong navy is an absolute necessity in the nation's defense. The Navy has undergone several reforms since 1865 under the Blue Fleet Program, both in part to create a strong modern navy against a possible foreign maritime fleet but also for Cheongryeo to stand as equals alongside Borenean naval powers. The composition of the Cheongryeo Navy as follows: 7 contemporary battleships, 12 armored cruisers, 8 protected cruisers, 20 light cruisers, 7 coastal defense ships, 36 destroyers, 12 monitors, 75 torpedo boats, and 97 auxiliary vessels. 4 submarines are currently undergoing testing in the Navy due to their potential, however, submarines are considered to be secondhand to surface fleets. Naval doctrine has been aimed at utilizing the capabilities of its surface fleet to ensure naval supremacy in the region. Each ship in a fleet has specific roles to play when engaging in naval combat. In addition, naval mines are a popular weapon to use in coastal defense and in offensive capability in order to deny areas from enemy fleets and to maintain naval supremacy.

Militias known as the Righteous Army have appeared several times throughout the history of Cheongryeo when the national armies were in need of assistance against foreign invaders ever since the many ground wars between Qhin and Cheongryeo throughout history. Peasants, scholars, former government officials, religious monks, merchants, anyone regardless of background made up such militias. While most of these righteous armies are equipped with hunting equipment and farming tools rather than state-of-the-art weapons employed by both the national and Army, the irregular militias make up for their equipment shortcomings with patriotic fervor and knowledge of home terrain.

History:

Prehistory and the Holy Kingdom of Baedal Period (??? ~ 108 BCE)

The Holy Kingdom of Baedal was the first centralized state in mainland Cheongryeo and was considered to have territories of both the Cheongryeoan peninsula, the Haedongdo, and parts of modern day Qhin. Creation mythology stated that eons ago, the God of Heaven and Creation, Haneunim (or Hwanin) created the first man in his image to rule over the flora and fauna as man's domain in a lost ancient city of Sinsi. The first man was given the name of Cheongun (Heavenly Prince) and was also given thousands of dragons from heaven to serve under him. Most of the dragons would descend into humans, losing their scales and reptilian features overtime. One day, a bear visited Cheongun and asked to be made human. Cheongun gave the bear 20 cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort and ordered the bear to stay out of the sunlight for 100 days and eat nothing but the garlic and the mugwort. The bear lived in a cave and and struggled to live off of the plants, almost abandoning the wish to become human. However, the bear persisted and 21 days after the assignment, Cheongun rewarded the bear by transforming it into a beautiful human woman, giving her the name Ungnyeo. Ungnyeo was grateful and made offerings to Cheongun and the Lord of Heaven. However, she fell under depression and prayed for a companion and a child. Moved by her prayers, Cheongun took her as his wife and Ungnyeo gave birth to Dangun, who would soon leave Sinsi when he became of age with thousands of his followers and form the Holy Kingdom of Baedal whom reign lasted for over a thousand years and which all emperors of Baedal claimed divine ancestry from. The importance of the bear named Ungnyeo would play significance in the culture of Cheongryeo as alternative name for Cheongryeoan royalty being the Bear Throne.

Modern scholars believe that tens of thousands of years ago, ancient humans crossed from Boreana to Osia and then passed Qhin to the peninsula of Cheongryeo during the last Ice Age and the Stone Age, some of the people in the Cheongryeo peninsula may moved south to colonize parts of Asakara. These people are considered primordial ancestors to the Saram ethnic group that are now natives to Cheongryeo. Tribal societies would form and grow into villages and then city-states and tribal confederacies. It is believed that the Holy Kingdom of Baedal was formed by a merger of multiple city-states and tribal confederacies with a dominant priestly class through both peaceful and violent means during the Bronze Age. The ancient city of Sinsi was thought to have been a major ancient settlement that lost its significance over time bythe formation of Baedal. While historians are unsure of the validity of the Dangun, prominent aristocratic houses such as the Yonju Wang clan and the Gija Yi clan claim descendance. It is believed that Dangun may have been a real ruler who claimed divine ancestry and whose name became an imperial title for many successors to use, hence the longevity of the name Dangun in records.

The Holy Kingdom of Baedal was said to have lasted for thousands of years and saw the transitioning of bronze to iron tools in mass use. Records of early Baedal are sparse but later Baedal records compiled by famed United Kingdom era historian Kim Shik-bu wrote that the country was ruled by three dynasties after Dangun: the Yonju Wang clan whom claim descendants from Dangun, the Onjo Hae clan whom reign was started by Hae Mosu's overthrow of Wang Bu, and the Soseon Jung Clan whom reign was started after the marriage of Prince-Consort Jung Min-ho to Queen Hae Yulha. According to Kim Shik-bu, the Yonju Wang clan had 18 emperors, the Onjo Hae clan ruled with 9 emperors, and the Soseon Jung clan ended the dynasty with 13 emperors.

Baedal was said to be a strong power at its height, with records noting of its military prowess against early Qhin and Asakara. Historians found records from Baedal noting of travelers from the far east named the Haedong people, describing them as looking very foreign but bearing many gifts. Alongside clans hailing from Haedong county, historians believed that records pointed to early contact between Ancient Cheongryeo and Mercia, complimenting the travels of the ancient Mercian traveler Elmo. Overtime, Baedal would lose some of its holdings to rebellions especially in the south with independent kingdoms and tribal confederacies popping up, only nominally paying tribute to Baedal. Records noted of three major wars between Baedal and Qhin, the last war severely weakened Baedal and the kingdom was dissolved and split into three independent kingdoms: Guri, Buyeo, and Sanghae.

Six Kingdoms Period (108 BCE - 668 CE)

The Six Kingdoms period oversaw the growth and maturation of five kingdoms in the mainland peninsula of Cheongryeo and the island kingdom based in Haedongdo. Guri, Buyeo, and Sanghae occupied the northern half, Majin and Kaelim controlling the southern half, and Taebong on the Haedongdo island. The Six Kingdom period is marked by constant warfare, trade, and an exchange of customs and ideals. Domination of the Six Kingdoms would switch between Guri, Buyeo, and Majin, the former two claiming successor status to Baedal when they're each at their greatest heights with Emperor Daeso of Buyeo in 23 CE and Emperor Yejong of Guri in 401 CE. Over time, the six relatively stable kingdoms were forged across Cheongryeo, their territories fluctuated over time and no kingdom remained dominant for long.

The customs, laws, and clothes of the six kingdoms are generally identical. Contemporary records also suggest that the languages between the Six Kingdoms are mutually intelligible enough for someone from one kingdom to be able to translate for someone from another. The Six Kingdoms all have their own respective religions ranging from monotheism to polytheism but the three northern kingdoms maintain an imperial cult of their emperors having divine ancestry ranging back from the Baedal Dynasty. That would become the basis of the state religion of Daejongism that would spread to the southern states, replacing their local polytheistic shaman religions and tying their rulers with relations to the ancient Baedal rulers. From the 5th century to the early 600s, Guri would maintain a loosely unified Choengryeo with all kingdoms paying tribute to Guri. However, Guri would enter a long period of decline starting from 567 CE.

By the late Six Kingdoms Period, much of Cheongryeo would be consolidated into Guri, Majin, Kaelim, and Taebong. Kaelim under King Park Beop-min of the Onju Park clan had expanded greatly, taking advantage of Guri's decline. Kaelim would ally with Qhin to apply pressure onto Guri from the north while Kaelim would battle the western neighbor of Majin, eventually conquering the kingdom in 656 CE. With Majin conquered, the allied force would fight Guri in a two front war. Although Guri was heavily weakened, it would resist against the allied force for many years, eventually being conquered in 668 when Emperor Hae Bojang surrendered to Kaelim forces in the eastern capital of Doseong. Tensions would mount between Kaelim and Qhin over territories of former Guri, ending with the establishment of the modern borders between Qhin and Cheongryeo and Kaelim entering into Qhin's tributary system and using Qhin's calendars. Only Taebong remains as an independent entity, resisting efforts by the mainland for it to join their kingdom for decades.

United Kingdom of Cheongryeo, the Onju Park Dynasty (668 - 956 CE)

The unification of mainland Cheongryeo lead to the formation of the United Kingdom of Cheongryeo by Emperor Park Chang-ho. Efforts were made to assimilate the new subjects by letting the former royal families rule their domains as viceroys and dukes. Hae Bojang, the former King of Guri, was given the title of Grand Warden of Guri and King Chang-ho would marry off his son, the future King Park Yul to Hae Bojang's daughter, Lady Hae Sa-pyeong. The Kaelim aristocracy also framed themselves not as conquerors but as unifiers. Emperor Park Chang-ho even declared that the nation's title was to be called the United Kingdom of Great Cheongryeo (대청려 연합국) instead of the expected Empire of Great Kaelim (대계림국) as he is not the Emperor of Kaelim and its conquered territories but the Emperor of five unified and equal kingdoms. The imperial family even moved from the southeastern city of Andong (the capital of Kaelim) to the middle of Cheongryeo in the coastal city of Gaegyeong in Guri as the new capital city. The United Kingdom would be ruled by the Imperial House of Onju Park for over 200 years and the country experienced relative peace and prosperity, its major threats being against the Princedom of Taebong and pirates from Asakara. War between the United Kingdom and Taebong would last from 672 CE to 700 CE as the Bear Throne lost ten thousand men conquering Taebong and another forty thousand holding the large island. Eventually, negotiated settlements between the Bear Throne and Princedom of Taebong lead to Taebong eventually joining the United Kingdom as an autonomous kingdom. The ruling family of Taebong, the Haedong Go clan, is allowed to keep their titles as Princes of Taebong and the local aristocracies enjoyed many rights and privileges that the lords in the mainland do not. Although Cheongryeo was officially fully unified, the dissatisfaction among some of the lords would be remembered and lead to many many rebellions that were eventually suppressed by royal authorities.

The Onju Park dynasty experienced a golden age of art and culture, as evidenced by the Hwangnyongsa, Seokguram, and the Bell of Emperor Byeongdeok. Relationships between the United Kingdom and Qhin remained relatively peaceful during this time. The maritime prowess of former Majin continued under the the United Kingdom and during the 8th and 9th centuries, dominated the seas of the Sunrise Ocean and played the role of middlemen in trades between Qhin, Asakara, and Khmor. Missionaries from Qhin would attempt to spread the Lazei faith but would fall on deaf ears. Ironically, surviving disciples of the Shen Luoyang would find home in Cheongryeo in the late 930s and some would spread the teachings of the deceased Shin Luoyang to a more interested audience, although the Shenists would be suppressed by royal authorities as a challenge to their divinity in the early years of their existence. The United Kingdom was a prosperous and wealthy country, and its metropolitan capital of Gaegyeong was among one of the largest city in the classical world. The Goodness School and Sohak flourished during this time, contributing to the cultures and the arts of the United Kingdom. However, the Onju Park Dynasty is not without its faults. In the later years of the Onju Park Dynasty, the family would be obsessed with keeping the divine ancestry pure and most of the later kings were born as products of incest despite opposition from Daejongist shrines and temples. The Onju Park Dynasty would weaken under internal strife, contributing to the Pretender Rebellion in 947 CE.

The Rebellion of the Two Pretenders originally started off with a succession crisis after the death of King Park Yeonwoo who died childless during his reign. Although there were times when the Royal Court had to find a suitable male heir for when a king died childless, there were usually a lot of close relatives and siblings to choose from. King Yeonwoo had no living siblings and no close males relatives, thus the court has to look outside the clan. In the meantime, Chancellor Wang Hee-sung served as Regent of the United Kingdom. However, the instability without a ruling king and with internal issues had lead to various uprisings and violence, forcing the Royal Court to act quickly. The only living close relative was Princess Park Eun-bin, the aunt to King Yeonwoo and married to Viceroy Kim Pung of Buyeo State. While it was unheard of for a woman to succeed the Bear Throne, the Royal Court decided to amend the successions to allow Princess Eun-bin to succeed the throne as Queen of the United Kingdom, acknowledging that the United Kingdom would transition from the Imperial Onju Park Clan to the Imperial Jeonju Kim Clan with Queen Eun-bin's eldest son, Kim Il being designated as the Crown Prince.

However, challenges erupted with two uprisings. In Majin Region, agitated lords rallied behind a man named Jin Hwon who claimed to be a bastard son of the late King Yeonwoo during his youths. General Yi Ui-min who was originally sent to subdue the pretenders, suddenly drew his lot with the rebels. Fighting would be fierce in Majin as loyalist and rebel forces clashed with each other. The rebellions would eventually be crushed in 949, solidifying Queen Eun-bin's rule and the next ruling family dynasty after her reign.

Jeonju Kim Dynasty (956 to 1392 CE)

When Empress Eun-bin passed away in 956, the Imperial Court officially coronated Crown Prince Kim Il as the next Emperor of the United Kingdom, giving him the reigning title of Taejo to start a new imperial dynasty, the Imperial Jeonju Kim clan. Emperor Il ordered the construction of numerous public works projects to improve quality of living such as public bath houses and aqueducts all throughout the country. Emperor Il also banned the practice of incest during his reign, blaming incest of the excess and corruption of the later emperors of the Onju Park Dynasty. He was succeeded by his firstborn son, Prince Kim Mu. Emperor Mu was interested in the teachings of Shin Nakyang and four years within his reign, convened a council of Nakyang's surviving disciples and uncovered followers of the underground church in order to officiate the religion in the form of the Cheonju Church. Overtime, the Cheonju Church would gain acceptance by the public and would replace the Daejonggyo as the state religion in 984 CE. During that time, Emperor Mu would deny having any deification and referred to himself as the Regent of Heaven (Cheon Seopjung) instead of the usual title of "Son of Heaven," something all succeeding rulers would follow suit. He would also use the title of Grand King instead of Heavenly Sovereign as part of the undeification of the Bear Throne.

The officiation of what is considered a heretical faith in Qhin was not without opposition from Qhin and Qhin forces launched a punitive expedition against the United Kingdom a year later in a series of conflicts known as the Crusades. Although Qhin forces were able to breakthrough Cheongryeoan border forces, they were defeated and forced back to the border by General Gyeong Dae-seong. Bolstered by their victories, the Cheongryoan forces attempted to invade Qhin to seize the territories surrounding Shin Nakyang's birthplace as a holy site only for their forces to be routed by Qhin defenses. In 987 CE, Qhin and Cheongryeo would recognize the territorial and religious sovereignties of both nations and ensure that religious differences would not be grounds for war. After Emperor Mu's passing in 1001 CE, he was given the posthumous title of Holy Emperor (Seonje).

The Jeonju Kim Dynasty would be noted by a series of religious emperors who ruled according to the Cheonju texts. The role and wealth of the Cheonju church also grew exponentially thanks to patronage of the Imperial Court. Like the Onju Park Dynasty before it, the Jeonju Kim lead Cheongryeo was a highly cultural state, and invented the metal movable type printing press. Cheongryeo experienced a golden age that lasted a century, during which compilation of historical records and legends such as the Cheongryeo Yuksa and the Cheongryeo Sagi were completed. There were great developments in printing and publishing, promoting learning and dispersing knowledge on philosophy, literature, religion, and science; by 1100, there were 12 universities that produced famous scholars and scientists sponsored by the Imperial Court and the Cheonju Church. The Jeonju Kim Dynasty wasn't fully peaceful, however. Efforts to convert Daejongist and ancient shamanistic temples into that of the Cheonju Church in the early decades of the dynasty were met with some oppositions with few conversions becoming violent. In the 1350s, contact would be established with Mercia as Mercian vessels arrived at the island of Taebong, nearly a thousand years since the Saint Elmo's visit to Baedal in 450 BCE. Trading relations would commence between the two polities with Taebong and the archipelago islands of Nabido being major sources of trade, leading to some colonization of Nabido by Cheongryeoans. The Imperial Jeonju Kim clan would end its male line with the ascension of Empress Sapyeong to the Bear Throne in 1357.

Jangheung Yi Dynasty and Centralization (1392 to 1778 CE)

The Jangheung Yi Dynasty started with the marriage of Princess Kim Sapyeong, the only child of Emperor Kim Do to Duke Yi Jaeso, the son of War Minister Yi Muhyeol in 1338 with the intention by Emperor Do to designated Princess Sapyeong as the Crown Princess. When Princess Sapyeong ascended to the throne as Empress, Yi Muhyeol received the title of King Consort. When Empress Sapyeong passed away, Crown Prince Yi Myeong-bok ascended the throne as Emperor Taejo of the Jangheung Yi Dynasty. Although the prior Jeonju Kim Dynasty manufactured and incorporated gunpowder into its military, the Jangheung Yi Dynasty placed greater focus on gunpowder based weapons in the national military, even establishing a military office for the purpose of firearm and cannon development. During the reign of Emperor Suwon II (1418 to 1458), he received the title of King of Storms (Pukpung Wang) due to the heavy use of firearms in his military campaigns in subduing pirates from the island of Nabido east of Taebong island, a title which all succeeding Emperors would adopt as part of their styles. The Jangheung Yi Dynasty also experienced a multi-theatre civil war dubbed the War of Four Kings that severely devastated the country for four years.

The War of Five Kings started after the death of Emperor Il II and the ascension of his eldest son, Gi to the Bear Throne. However, Il's younger brothers, Prince Won and Prince Hyo believed that Emperor Gi was not a son of the late Emperor Il II (recovered private documents from a retainer of Prince Hyo stated that Emperor Gi had none of his father's facial features and that the late Emperor's wife was rumored to have been very close with her male attendants) and plotted with Chancellor Go Seung-ryeong to put Gi's younger brother Grand Prince Bu to the throne. Eventually, the conspiracy was discovered and Emperor Gi declared death to the people involved with the plot, including his own brother Prince Bu. Chancellor Go Seung-ryeong was beheaded and Prince Won and Hyo fled to the Eastern and Southern Capital and declared themselves legitimate claimant to the throne. The beheading of Chancellor Go Seung-ryeong saw a backlash from the region of Buyeo, whom was governed by the Jolbon Go Clan ever since Buyeo was an independent kingdom. Go Seung-ryeong's eldest son, Viceroy Go Bang-won declared Buyeo as an independent kingdom once more with himself as Emperor Taejo of Buyeo. The region of Nabido would also declare independence under the leadership of Lord Kim Bok-su as the Sea King, sensing weakness in the Bear Throne to resume piracy.

The War of Five Kings would be devastating as lords would declare allegiances to the claimants to the Bear Throne and separatist kings. Wealthy entities would purchase weapons and armor from Mercian merchants, including service of their fleets. Over the course of the war, territories and allegiances would shift between the five factions Nabido's independence was quickly snuff out by the naval forces of Emperor Won of the Southern Court with assistance by Mercian warships and an attempted invasion of the capital city of Gaegyeong by armies of Emperor Hyo of the Eastern Court were routed by capital defenses. Taejo Go Bang-won would be slain in battle and his younger brother, Go Young-gi would declare for Emperor Won. Emperor Gi would grow to be paranoid and tyrannical, dismissing and ordering executions of government officials as the war started to turn against him. During the War of Five Kings, Yi Hyo would die of dysentery and his final wish was to have his forces declare for Emperor Won of the Southern Court, swelling the numbers of the Southern forces. Near the end of the war, most of the towns would recognize Yi Won's forces as they saw his forces having the most of restoring peace to the realm. With a united forces loyal to Yi Won camped outside of Gaegyeong, disaffected members of the Imperial Court would secretly negotiate terms of surrender with Yi Won's men under the noses of Emperor Gi. Members of the Court would convince the city guards to allow Yi Won's forces to enter the capital and depose Emperor Gi as long as the city remains intact. Yi Won accepted the terms and outside of minimal resistance from men loyal to Yi Gi, the city fell with few casualties, including the deposal of Yi Gi. Yi Won would ascend the Bear Throne as Emperor, declaring the era name of Gwangmu.

The reign of Emperor Won (1594 - 1621) was notable in which Cheongryeo became heavily centralized over the years to grow the powers of the Bear Throne. One of his first edict was to abolish private armies, effectively severing the ability of lords to muster large-scale revolts. He also moved towards the provincial systems, splitting the Five Kingdoms into multiple provinces with appointed governors and magistrates. In addition, he created three state sponsored categories exams: the literary examinations, military examinations, and miscellaneous examinations as ways for individuals to seek employment with the government, opening the government to many talented commoners and preventing domination by the lords with storied history (eventually, most of the aristocratic families would retain their importance by taking part in the exams). Under Emperor Won, Cheongryeo would officially transition from the federative United Kingdom of Cheongryeo to the centralized Great Cheongryeo State (or Empire of Cheongryeo) in 1611, although Cheongryeo would still be referred to as the United Kingdom (Yeonhapguk) as a sobriquet.

The later Jangheung Yi Dynasty would begin the study of Borenean science and technology as ways to improve the country's quality of life associated with the body of knowledge and movement called Donghak (or Eastern Learning), including translations of Mercian scientific books and purchases of Borenean technologies through existing trade. Many historians believed that the extensive movement of Donghak allowed Cheongryeo to be abreast of development of Borenea and for the country to build up the theoretical and technological scientific base that allow the country to be able to industrialize and modernize more successfully than Qhin has.

Ubong Jang Dynasty (1778 CE ~ )

Rule of the Imperial Ubong Jang Dynasty would start with the ascension of Jang Chung-heon to the Bear Throne as the Crown Prince of Empress Yi Jeongmyeong and King-Consort Jang Won-ho. Cheongryeo under the Ubong Jang Dynasty underwent vast societal changes with the rise of liberal thinking, both by homegrown movements and foreign books. The powers of merchants, while growing during the Jangheung Yi Dynasty, would rise immensely during the Ubong Jang Dynasty and would lead to demands for constitutional reforms. Meeting the demands, Emperor Seon (1816 - 1867) would establish a bicameral national legislative body called the Central Assembly, divided by the upper House of Peers and the lower House of Delegates with the House of Delegates being made up of elected representatives from cities all over the country and would be lead by the First Minister. The House of Peers would be made up of members of the nobility and would be unelected. Universal suffrage would be available only for men of 20 years although moves by female suffragettes would gain momentum in recent years. Additional constitutional reforms would be declared by Emperor Seon, such as the restructuring of the civil service exams. Quality of life improvements would also make its way in Cheongryeo such as opening public education to all in 1878, allowing women to pursue general education (previously, only women of means could afford primary and secondary education although many churches had offered education to all). Cheongryeo would transition into a constitutional monarchy under Emperor Wonjeong in 1869, allowing the First Minister of the House of Delegates to grow exponentially in political power.

Conflicts between Cheongryeo and Qhin would occur under the Ubong Jang Dynasty, often with Cheongryeo utilizing its technological supremacy to be on top, although Cheongryeo wouldn't dare to invade Qhin due to Qhin's massive size and conflicts would often be through proxies and over influences of smaller neighboring states.

In the year of 1882, Cheongryeo stands at its height under the reign of Emperor Jang Wonjeong at the age of 43. The outlook of the country is optimistic however things can change over time or at an instant.

RP Reference/Links/Sample:

- Alternate World War 2 (War of Blood and Steel)
- Fantasy Sword Throwing (A Dance of Chaos)
- Alternate history gone mad in 1812 (Alternate Divergence 1812)
- It's like Alternate Divergence but made by the Cobalt Network and has set nations (Tales of Two Horizons II)
- War, what is it good for? (Back to 1935)
- Rednecks and post-apocalyptic America (Fallout: Damn Dirty South)
- NS Red Dawn (Crane Ascendent)
- Generic late 19th century Alt-history RP (Voice of a New Age)
- War, war never changes (Fallout: Republic of Dusts)
- Alternate history taken all the way (1900: Alternate Divergence)
- Anime Vietnam Flashbacks (Operation Gatelord)
- When the Spanish Flu wiped off 50% of the world population (All Quiet on the Front)

Accepted,

Just keep in mind Submarines are likely 2-3 decades away in terms of actually being useful.

[Imperialisium]

WiP
Polity Name: The Empire of Sedna
Secondary/Informal Names: The Steel Hegemony, The Empire
Population: 185 million, not counting Khmor
Territory Claim: https://i.imgur.com/gJUrStz.jpg
Government Structure: Absolute Monarchy, with subordinate organizations.

At the top of Imperial Society is the Emperor or Empress, also referred to as the Imperial Sovereign.Serving the Sovereign directly are various bodies of varying authority. Chief among these is the Privy Council, composed of the most powerful and influential members of the Empire, be their Dukes, Lord-Generals and Admirals, wealthy industrialists, and the intellectual elite. They advise the Sovereign on matters of great importance, both foreign and domestic.

Adjacent and slightly below the Privy Council is the Council of Territories, which contains the Lords, Administrators, and Representatives of the colonies, territories, and Administrative Districts from across the far-flung Empire. Generally the position holders themselves can not attend the Sovereign directly due to their duties, and act through delegates.

Beside the Privy Council and Council of Territories, is the House or Lords and Burghers, wherein nobles and (sometimes) elected citizens sit to help assemble and propose laws of the realm to the Sovereign. The House holds no actual power over the Sovereign, but the Sovereign is generally advised to take the proposals and words of the House seriously, to keep them appeased if nothing else.

Most cities, towns, and villages will have its own smaller version of the House, either composed of just Burghers, or the local nobility and notable citizens. They act as the connection between the Sovereign and their peoples.

The common people themselves also have the right of redress, where they may seek an audience with Burghers, nobles, or even the Sovereign themselves, though these matters tend to be handled by bureaucrats or other representatives.

Religious Information: The Empire is fairly religious, and though it was once polytheistic with a decently large pantheon, over the last several centuries the pantheon has shrunk to nearly monotheistic worship of Aneria, the old Goddess of the Stars, Seas, and Trade, though her domain has much expanded. The other handful of gods and goddesses still worshiped tend to only be so in the less developed and foreign regions of the Empire.

Though not technically enforced throughout the Empire, with several colonial regions still holding to their own religions, it is encouraged by the government, and a ground-level requirement of service in Government is the bare minimum attendance of services once a month, when possible. Some regions with more troublesome religions are forcefully converted.

Social Information: A generally free society, though with not much social climbing to be had. As home of the Industrial Revolution, there has been explosive growth of cities as people flock to work in the factories that seem to spring up every day. The average citizen's wealth has slowly but steadily increased, though those in the cities have had declining standards of living thanks to cramped, polluted cities.

The major cities of the Empire have also become fairly more cosmopolitan as the promise of wealth and employment has drawn immigrants of all races and cultures to the Empire's heartlands, both from its colonies and territories and from foreign nations. The most notable racial minority is Dwarves, followed by Greenskins, and recently an uptick in Faerie immigration.
Elven immigrants are exceptionally rare, with even the largest cosmopolitan cities able to count the number of elves in the double digits, and generally the low double digits. Kobolds are also fairly rare, but more numerous then the elves, the resilient Kobolds finding many profitable opportunities in the industries to tempt immigration. There has been a noted uptick in Styr immigration to the Empire in recent years as well.

The humans of the heartland are historically a professional, dour, and maritime people, which has lent itself to the staggering rise of Sedna to its position as the preeminent human nation on the planet, and perhaps its greatest empire.

The Trade Companies: Perhaps more than any other nation, Sedna is a behemoth in the field of international trade. Although there are dozens, or perhaps even hundreds of registered Trade Companies headquartered in Sedna, there are a few that stand out.

The Al-Khair Trading Company: Not the oldest of the Trading companies, but by far the largest trading company in the world, and perhaps the largest corporation. It dominates trade exports from Al-Khair to Askara, and especially Khmor. Founded in the last years of the 1500s by a group of middling bankers in the capital city of Tyrne, it would rapidly become prosperous from its imports from Al-Khair and the surrounding region. It was able to do so thanks to treaties it had in place with the Al-Khair kingdom of Yema.

The Al-Khair Trading Company would undergo a change in leadership in the 1750s, as the Royal Family of Yema, who had likewise become increasingly wealthy from its partnership, took out several large loans and bought out a majority of the company's shares, placing themselves in control of the company.

While the kingdom of Yema was officially dissolved and absorbed into the Empire since than, the company has only increased is profits and influence under the guidance of the Lethu family, especially with its aggressive in-road making in Khmor, which it has steadily wrested influence and control from over the petty princedoms that generally dominate the region. It enters the new decade under the control of Duchess Josephine Lethu, who also serves on the Imperial Privy Council.

Out of all the Trading Companies it maintains the largest force under arms, including four Army Standard Regiments of Infantry, two of artillery, and two of light cavalry, not including the more numerous non-Army Standard and native regiments it employs in Khmor. As well it supports nearly forty warships in four squadrons. These tend to be older ships, and generally only armed to fight off raiders and protect its trade ships and stations.

The Eldeirnari Trading Company: The youngest and smallest of the trading companies, the ETC is noted for having been granted exclusive trade contracts with the Eldeirnari Dominion (There is some debate if this was granted by the Imperial Family or the Elven Kingdom of Valataine, either way the Trading Company is very close lipped about the matter), so far as Sednan trade companies are concerned. With this they have been able to firmly establish themselves on the Imperial and global market for Elven fine crafts and artistry.

The Ummhara Trading Company: The oldest of the still existing Trading Companies, the UTC is more of a continuation and combination of a handful of previous business ventures that operated on exporting and importing goods to Ummhara. While its fortunes have dwindled in the last century or so, it is by no means defunct, and more than anything it has a legacy of longevity and professionalism to call upon.



Military Information: As the most industrial nation on the planet, Sedna has a formidable, advanced, and professional military.

The Imperial Navy: The largest and most formidable navy on the planet, leading naval engineering and design into a new era with the launching of the Dreadnought-class of ships in 1871, which has revolutionized naval warfare and design. The Empire maintains multiple squadrons and fleets.

6 Dreadnoughts
-4 Dreadnought-class battleships
6x Twin Tyrne Heavy Armaments BL 12 Inch MkVI guns | 18x Single QF-BL 6 inch guns | 12x Single QF-BL 3 inch guns | 12x Single QF-BL 2 inch guns in sponsons on the superstructure of the ship | 6x 18 inch torpedo tubes

-2 Conqueror-class Dreadnoughts
4x Twin THA BL 14 Inch MkII guns in superfiring turrets | 2x Twin BL 12 inch MkVI guns | 12x Single QF-BL 6 inch guns | 16x Single QF-BL 4 inch guns | 12x Single QF-BL 2 inch guns in sponsons on the hull and superstructure | 6x 18 inch torpedo tubes

12 Pre-dreadnought battleships still in service, with two others modified into training ships, and another 8 turned into tender/depot ships
-2 Thunderer-class battleships
2x twin 17.7 inch muzzle-loading Mk1 guns | 4x Single 10 inch QF-BL guns | 12x single 8 inch QF-BL guns in sponsons in the hull | 8x Single 3 inch QF-BL guns

-4 Royal Sovereign-class battleships
2x twin BL 12 inch MkV guns | 8x Single QF-BL 8 inch guns | 12x Single QF-BL 4 inch guns in hull sponsons | 6x 18 inch torpedo tubes

-6 Impetuous class battleships
2x twin BL 10 inch MkVI guns | 8x single QF-BL 6 inch guns in hull sponsons | 16x single QF-BL 3 inch guns in hull sponsons | 4x 14 inch torpedo tubes

-15 Armored Cruisers

-67 Protected Cruisers

-23 Unprotected Cruisers

-12 Courier Frigates (Lightly armed and armored ships built for speed to deliver sensitive and confidential documents across the Empire. They are potentially the fastest ships ever put to sea)

-9 Breastwork Coastal Monitors

-And dozens upon dozens of miscellaneous ships from Depot ships, training ships, and collier/supply ships


The Navy also has access to the Marine Corps, which generally guards ships, ports, and other naval stations, can raid coasts, and has a few larger regiments with access to light and medium field guns, and Gatling guns.

The Imperial Army: Like the navy, is a professional force with modern equipment. It is generally smaller than the navy, with a maintend strength of just 200,000 soldiers and officers, though it is entirely professional. There are stockpiles and means of rapidly expanding the army in the event of a major war.


His Majesty's Aerial Service: The newest of the military services, the Aerial Service deals with airships. While airships are poor for general military purposes, they are useful for observation and other miscellaneous tasks. As such the Aerial Service is generally attached to either the Navy or Army command structure.

The Empire also has several secondary military formations that it can call upon to serve, they are as follows;

House Guards: Major nobles with the wealth and income to support their own House Guard generally do. The House Guards are a mish-mash of professionalism, standards, and equipment, each being different from the other. However, for House Guards to receive a stipend from the government towards their upkeep, they must maintain basic standards, allowing them to be integrated into the regular Army rather seamlessly for the most part.

Company Regiments: Trading companies are numerous in the Empire, and most will hire men to protect their ships or land based operations. The largest of these companies may well have entire regiments of men. Chief among these is the Al-Khair Trading Company, which supports many Army Standard regiments of infantry, cavalry, and even some proper modern artillery.

Between the House Guards and Company Regiments, there are roughly an additional forty thousand soldiers of wildly varying standards.

Non-humans are allowed to serve in all branches of the military, but generally cannot become officers. Women are disallowed to serve in the military for the most part, the only real exception to these are women or non-humans wealthy enough to form their own regiments thus earning themselves a colonelcy by default or serving in more lax House Guards or Trading Company forces.


History: The history of Sedna and the Empire itself can be traced back to antiquity, and the city-state of Tyrne. It is recorded that one of the ancient scions of the modern day House Lividivus-Rosewood, Arktheleon Lividivus the Dragon Slayer would embark on a decades long mission to rid the islands of what is today Sedna of dragons. Judging by the numerous skulls and other bones of dragons on display at the Imperial Palace that have been passed down the generations, it is presumed he succeeded in this mission. For several hundred years Tyrne would dominate the home island of Sedna in an early empire of alliance and domination, though this empire would eventually crumble with the islands reverting back to the control of various city-states and larger national entities.

As the ages went on Tyrne would grow into a genuine metropolis thanks to the wealth generated by its trade and development as a center of culture, learning, and economy. Its influence and control would expand gradually to neighboring cities and petty lordships. However it wasn’t until the renaissance that the idea of a united Sedna, as a single national entity, would begin to arise. With Tyrne as the dominant force on the home island, its royal family would embark on two centuries worth of expansion across the entirety of Sedna, both through conquest and peaceful integration via treaty and marriage.

Some of the more notable histories being the conquest of Eldon and its Isles, on the west coast of Sedna, who put up such fierce and determined, if limited, resistance that they were able to join the forming Empire with rather favorable terms. It was this war that made the leaders of Tyrne pursue a peaceful integration of the even heartier and more numerous clans of the Felan Highlands of the north. By 1650 the island of Sedna and many of its surrounding isles would be united.

The now united Sedna would then turn its attention abroad, expanding trade and its own reach at exceptional speed. In 1703 its Imperial House would inherit the lands of Alinia on the Continent, and with the merging of the Alinia Royal House with the Imperial one, it would form the Imperial House of Lividivus-Rosewood, and the lands would likewise be united, though there were concerns that Alinia would become a weakness to the Empire thanks to the lands being on the continent, where enemies could not be kept at bay by the power of the Sednan Navy.

The Industrial Revolution began in Sedna and kickstarted an era of industrial, economic, and population growth that has yet to subside, though it has slumped every now and then. It also kickstarted an era of increased colonization and Empire building that is still going strong to this day.

RP Reference/Links/Sample:


History:
RP Reference/Links/Sample:

Accepted

[Imperialisium]

https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=529845

IC

[Daekong]

Is there a map of all the claimed area?

[Orostan]

Can I apply as a mercenary company?

[Imperialisium]

Is there a map of all the claimed area?

There is, it is being updated currently and the OOC will be updated with it soon.

[Imperialisium]

Can I apply as a mercenary company?

Prefer a polity

[Orostan]

WIP evil empire

Polity Name: Empire of Zeygid

Secondary/Informal Names: Zeygid Empire

Flag(s):

Population: 40 Million Humans, 3 Million Greenskins, 10 Million Satyrs, 1 Million Dwarves

Territory Claim:

Government Structure: Unitary Absolute Monarchy

Religious Information: Zeyism: The predominant belief in Zeygid territory among the humans at least, is that the semi-mythical King Zeygid founded their state more than three thousand years ago and was able to secure peace for his people, the favor of the divine, and prosperity through his campaigns of conquest. The Zeyist equivalent to a holy book explains the story of how a poor slave of Greenskins led his people to freedom and was able to secure the favor of the spirits of his ancestors by defeating his people's enemies and leading them to greatness. A secular scholar would comment that the Zeyist holy books are more of an instruction manual for living in the harsh territory the humans of the Zeygid Empire inhabit. Every prophet of theirs distinguished themselves in battle, with good leadership and justice, or by becoming wise. Successful leaders who enrich their (human) subjects and make subjects of foreign races often have their statues placed alongside those of King Zeygid, and those that accomplish really great feats are honored like living gods or become remembered as prophets outright.

However despite elements of ancestor worship likely brought over from the east during the period of the Five Kingdoms period Zeyism retains a monotheistic character where King Zeygid is interpreted as a prophet who through his own ability received the blessing of one all powerful God who, by the dominant interpretation, created the world for Humanity and the other races as challenges to defeat.

Social Information:

The Zeygid Empire is highly stratified with humans occupying a privileged position over all other races in its territory. While Dwarves posses the right to occupy political office and are represented well among the wealthy merchant class, Satyrs are kept out of most large urban centers and barred from office or living on the best land. Greenskins have the least rights and are generally kept to the less valuable land where they can live in their typical nomadic ways while supplying the Empire with military force in exchange for payment or tax reductions. They are generally not allowed to settle in one place for too long and feel little need to.

Among humans however there is a high degree of social mobility. A powerful land holding aristocracy does not exist as it might in a feudal country because ancient inheritance laws break up large land holdings, and attempts to change those laws are typically opposed (sometimes violently) by the majority of humans that stands to lose if an aristocracy is allowed to form. A wealthy aristocracy was impossible to maintain anyways until the unification of all the Zeygid states by the Great King Aryo because of constant political instability. With the increase in the Great King's power and the new prominence of trade and the steam engine the old ways are being erased by the increasing power of the merchant class. As the society of Zeygid conquerors who based their power on the strength of the class of human farmers that comprised most of society fades into history a society of mercantile colonizers and industrialists is emerging where the Satyrs, Greenskins, and other oppressed peoples of the empire are forced into new mines and factories to produce wealth for the Zeyist humans, and increasingly wealthy dwarves, to use for their own ambitions.

Military Information:

Royal Army: Compromised of 100,000 humans and 20,000 non-human Greenskin auxiliaries the Royal Army benefits from the experience of innumerable pre-unification wars and the on and off campaigns in the north. The (human) Zeygid Army has possibly the finest individual soldiers in its part of the world, but is held back by a fear of internal revolt and infighting. At its worst when the King is weak it resembles more of a group of warlords undermining each other more than cooperating, but at its best it is an efficient and well coordinated conquering force.

Royal Navy: WIP

History: WIP

RP Reference/Links/Sample: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=518271

[Imperialisium]

Map claims updated

https://imgur.com/dmumzp5

[Imperialisium]

Polity Name: الْخِلَافَةُ الداتورة / al-Khilāfah al-Da'atura / The Da'atura Caliphate
Secondary/Informal/Outsider Names: The Caliphate / Da'atura Empire / Kaduri Caliphate / Kaduri Empire / The Theocrats
Flag(s):

(Image)

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Population: 96,872,078

HUMAN

• Kaduri, 60.2%|56,931,387
• Hameziyya, 22.5%|20,858,782
• Shemnay, 11%|10,650,773
• Quraysh, 2.5%|2,439,276
• Umharaysh, 2.4%|2,329,457

• Xaadlaay, 1.1%|1,109,819
• Kiidaaw, 0.3%|332,946

HUMANOIDS

• Dwarven, 2.4%|2,219,638

Territory Claim:

(Image)
(Image) (Image) (Image)
RED IS THE COMPROMISED LAND OF THE UM'HARAH

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Government Structure: The Da'atura Caliphate is strange when compared to its preceding Caliphates, as whereas those were of a highly centralized sort when it came to the dynasty, the Da'atura Caliphate- though named after the al-Da'atura clan- can be more described as an absolute monarchy with elective and decentralized characteristics. This state of affairs can be primarily attributed to how the Caliphate was created, in which Khalīfah Zakariya ibn Hiram al-Da'atura unified the southwestern peninsula of Ummhara through a combination of diplomacy, conquest, guile, and common enmity against infidels. What resulted was a confederation of clans under the al-Da'atura banner, which politically, Zakariya successfully maneuvered into becoming the new Caliphate.

Now united, Zakariya quickly got to solving an issue that saw many of the Caliphal Dynasties of the past destroyed: the laws of succession. The reforms and additions to said laws of succession were written so with the intention of being a solution and prevention of the dynastic conflicts of the past, usually caused by succession conflicts resulting in either a transition or outright collapse of a Caliphate. Recognizing all of the clans, both within and outside the Caliphate's borders, as descendants of al-Zoroaste, it was made so that all clans would have the ability of potentially becoming the Caliph, but in honor of the al-Da'atura's unification of said clans, the Caliphate would remain named after them. A common ground- a capital- would then be chosen in the city of Kadur, in which the clans could congregate to either deliberate on issues or elect the next Caliph.

There are a whopping 107 recognized clans as of 1882 CE and as a result, the Caliphate is divided into 107 administrative divisions called imārah. Every member of a imārah, be it a clansman or a mere citizen has been given the right to elect amongst the members of the clan leading the imārah as their representative at the Balat al-Khilāfah or Caliph's Court, this relatively strange right was a demand of Zakariya to give power to even the lowest descendant of al-Zoroaste, and as of recent during Caliph Asher's rule, has been tentatively extended to non-members of al-Zoroaste. However, governance of an imārah is restricted to an election between members of the clan administrating that imārah, and in the case of disputes, the Caliph has the right to appoint a member from that imārah's clan to be the leader to resolve the dispute. Leaders of an imārah are called Amirs (ah-meer), and representatives to the Balat al-Khilāfah are called Vails (va-eel). The Caliph has been reserved the right to raise a 108th Vail from any citizen of the Caliphate after said Caliph has been chosen.

There are 107 Amirs and 108 Vails as a result. Both positions are lifelong with the exception of the 108th Vail, which comes and goes with the Caliph.

Election of the next Caliph is conducted amongst the Vails with the exception of the 108th (except in one circumstance). If a Vail is chosen amongst them with a clear majority, he becomes the next Caliph after the Ceremony of Fire. In the event of an unclear election, the 108th Vail is raised once again to prominence and given the right to throw in two votes for his chosen candidate. After the Ceremony of Fire, the Caliph then grants the title of Hakim or Sage to eight Vails, essentially making them the members of a cabinet. Each hakim leads a Hokmā or Wisdom.

These are:

• Abyad-Hokmā/White Wisdom, assigned with foreign affairs.
• Ashad-Hokmā/Black Wisdom, assigned with military affairs.
• Ahmar-Hokmā/Red Wisdom, assigned with religious affairs.
• Alsmar-Hokmā/Cyan Wisdom, assigned with judicial affairs.
• Akhdar-Hokmā/Green Wisdom, assigned with food affairs.
• Arjuar-Hokmā/Purple Wisdom, assigned with Caliphal affairs.
• Aqazar-Hokmā/Blue Wisdom, assigned with infrastructural affairs.
• Asafar-Hokmā/Yellow Wisdom, assigned with economic (includes taxation) affairs

The current Khalīfah is Asher ibn Malik al-Da'atura

Religious Information: "There is no God but ALHY/Allaanihayiya/Alahay/the Infinite/the Highest, Zoroaste is His Prophet, and the Zoroash are His People." This is the primary axiom upon which the al-Zoroaste faith revolves around. Highly insular towards other religions but very eager towards spreading the word of the Prophet, which they see as their way of overcoming the sinful world made by Amalek/AMLK. Human sacrifices by burning is also commonplace, the more sinful the person the better. Missionaries bearing the Eight-Sided Star ply the routes of the world as a result, to spread the bad news about this world and to tell those told that there is good news too. The more this sinful world is purified by fire, the closer everyone gets to transcendence towards a higher plane of thought and existence.

If al-Zoroaste is to be distilled into a single word, the most succinct and apt word would be "Overcoming" or "Struggle". And these are words baked into the core, the very essence of the al-Zoroaste religion, as unlike in most dualistic religions, the deity representing the darkness, which in this case is AMLK/Amalek is in fact the greater of the two. Al-Zoroaste posits that due to the fact that human nature- which is likened as the soul in general- is at its core, rotten; then by extension, the source of the soul is as rotten as it is, and thus Amalek was, is, but won't be. Amalek is the God of Evil, the Infinite Chaos Before and After Creation, the First Coldness. By overcoming Him, and what He has instilled in us through the denial of ourselves, we are brought to a higher plane of thinking and soon enough, a higher plane of existence after death, or if we do so but are unable to truly do so, we are reincarnated. But overcoming a God is impossible, is it not?

This is where the lesser deity, the God of Good, comes into play. Alahay/ALHY is posited in al-Zoroaste theology as the helper, He who came after Amalek, and He Who Overcomes. He is likened to a guiding fire and warmth compared to the tempestuous cold waters that is AMLK/Amalek. Compared to Amalek who simply is, Alahay came from nothingness, and through merely existing amidst the Chaos of Nothingness, nothing became something in itself as it was now opposed existence, or something. The smoke and ashes from the burning of Chaos as ALHY became would become the world we know today, and in His anger, Amalek imposed himself upon Creation, claiming it; and in return, Alahay blinded Him with fire, and thus AMLK was no longer omniscient and would have to rely on his agents of chaos, or Ishtam.

Chaos Amalek may be, but He too is also one of stagnation. Amalek is a welcoming God, for He wishes for you to be slovenly, to give in to your base desires, to follow instinct, and to idle yourself and your mind; He is the Wide Gate, He is welcoming but he will not pick you up. In contrast, orderly Alahay is a strict and jealous God, for He wishes you to deny yourself, for you to deny his enemies, and for you to deny the world; He is the Narrow Path, and he is unwelcoming but helpful to those who try.

The eight-pointed star is the symbol of the faith for a reason, for it represents both the dark (clockwise), and the light (counterclockwise). One must look at it from the center point, which is considered as either Obedience or Defiance (of the sinful status quo), you then look upwards towards pride (Obedience) or downwards towards humility (Defiance). For Obedience, it is as follows: Pride evokes Envy towards those greater, Envy evokes Wrath at the unfairness of it all, Wrath evokes Sloth as one wonders as to what can be done about it all, Sloth evokes Greed as want becomes wanton and unchecked, Greed evokes Gluttony as even basic needs become affected by the ceaseless hunger for more, and Gluttony evokes Lust as the basest of desires is tainted, and returning to the Point of Pride, it then becomes the Point of Surrender above it all as the person is consumed by the Ignoble Eightfold Path.

On the other side of the spectrum, going downwards towards Humility will lead to Gratitude for both great and small things that Alahay graciously grants you, and Gratitude will lead to Patience as one will inevitably strive towards these things through overcoming, Patience will lead to Diligence as one will begin to strive to overcome the world and deny the self more and harder, Diligence leads to Charity as one will begin to share the bounty of the fruit of their labor out of gratitude to their fellow brothers and sisters in Alahay, Charity will lead to Temperance as though you would then have materially less you would be spiritually more and thus be truly satisfied more, and Temperance leads to Chastity as one begins to master one's own base desires and instincts, and returning to the Point of Humility, it would then be changed into the Point of Victory above it all as the person is transfigured by the Noble Eightfold Path.

Socioeconomic Information: Several urban centers growing at varying speeds, society inundated in religiosity and tradition, traditionally absolutist in terms of authority, and relatively mild climate.

Relatively Mild Climate: The Peninsula of Kadur and its surrounding islands have always been surrounded by a mild, if stormy climate due to moderately moist airs from the Sunrise Ocean westerlies blowing and colliding with cold and dry airs blowing in from the easterlies of the Arctic Seas. This combined with a fertile land has given the people of these lands an opportunity for plentiful living conditions.
Culturally: Collectivist tendencies such as generosity and hospitality tend to be the trend in the harsher southern lands of the Caliphate, but in the more fertile if craggy plains of the north, individualist tendencies trending towards self-sufficiency and the like are observed more.
Socially: The two tendencies cancel each other out, and there seems to be an appreciation for both liberties and orderliness across the Caliphate as a whole, provided that these adhere to religious lines.
Economically: The fertile black soils of the Caliphate's northern areas allow for extensive cultivation and growth of crops, the surplus tends to be exported to other nations in Ummhara though as of recent, the Caliphate has been trading its food with non-Ummharan nations as well, such as Sedna.

Idyllic Geography: Rocks, rills, woods, tempered hills, and fjords for days. The Kaduri Peninsula and its surrounding islands are a idyllic smorgasbord of varying climes, sceneries, and vistas; swinging anywhere from violent and stormy, to serene and mild. The land is also wetter than the usual Ummhara dryness, being surrounded by water at varying levels.
Culturally: Ummhara is considered as the promised land given to Father Zoroaste and his descendants by Alahay, the lands just north of the peninsula may be the mainland of Zoroaste, but the peninsula is his Land of Milk and Honey. The inhabitants of the land hold it at a greater reverence than most, save Zoroaste's mainland; as a result, it is more conserved than most.
Socially: A deep connection to the land, a religion that reinforces it, and a government that stokes these tendencies even further? People will defend this land to the death with an awe-inspiring amount of zeal, to lose even a small amount of it can and will breed resentment in the al-Zoroaste populace here. Proof of this resentment would be how the Caliphate formed using the resentment after the Clan Confederation's loss against Sedna and the subsequent concessions of land as fuel.
Economically: A desire to keep the picturesqueness of the Caliphate's lands has more than often gotten in the way of industrialization efforts. Many areas that would've benefitted from industrialization have been set behind years due to this desire, and as a result, the industrial capacity of the Caliphate is somewhat more sluggish compared to most industrialized powers.

Strategic Geography: Keyword is fjords, and then add straits, inlets, river mouths, and bays on top of all that. The Caliphate's lands is harbor heaven, with multiple areas having natural harbors by the dozens; abundant fishing spots have not helped in the slightest against extreme development around these areas, and the Southern Straits are as a result dotted with numerous settlements, ranging from small fishing villages to sprawling cities, and everything in-between.
Culturally: These sprawling waterways that comprise the Southern Straits are a hotbed of interregional trade, exchange of ideas, and travel. The larger sections comprising of the straits, bays, and inlets surrounding the peninsula proper basically make up the main sociocultural backbone of the Caliphate.
Socially: Everyone wants a slice of this lucrative pie as a result, causing people to flock and congregate to these areas, they're also the areas most shielded from the autumn and winter storms. The lands surrounding the peninsula especially near the straits are prime real estate for both locals and settlers as a result.
Economically: This network of crisscrossing waterways turns it into the most strategic stretch of water when it comes to Caliphal geopolitics, the people that flock here have turned it into the industrial heart of the Da'atura Caliphate. Substantial investment to protecting this land has occurred as a result.

Multiple urban centers: Nevertheless, despite all that in the point prior to the one before this, the Industrial Revolution in the Caliphate still marches on. Multiple industrial urban centers have formed in the cities dotting the straits, as a result of geographical realities.
Culturally: Due to the recent pragmaticism of the Caliphs, the majority of the support has now come from the urban centers that have formed, with the flourishing of ideas within them being a fertile ground for whoever the current Caliph is and his ideas. In light of this, there is a push from above for further urbanization to occur in order to create a stronger support base; nevertheless, the traditional support base of the Caliphs remains the variably zealous loyal rural citizens.
Socially: A social divide is starting to form between rural and urban citizens of the Caliphate as a result. Something that some, but most importantly the current Caliph, has noticed and are now actively trying to prevent.
Economically: There's a lot of industrialization going on as a natural result in these aforementioned urban areas, which the Caliphate has been feeding as much as possible in order to grow it into becoming comparable to that of the Boreanan powers encroaching on the lands of Ummhara.

Belligerent and fundamentalist faith:
Culturally:
Socially:
Economically:

High levels of drug use:
Culturally:
Socially:
Economically:

Military Information: The Caliphate back in its glory days had always been more of a land-based power, with its desires of unifying the entirety of Ummhara into a singular state professing one faith. And to some extent, this military tradition has been retained. However, because of recent developments- especially in the geopolitical and cultural sense- this is unfortunately no longer the case. What is the case however, is the fact that said recent developments have turned a once weak Caliphal naval tradition into a burgeoning one, with the navy following closely with the recent rapid industrialization of the Caliphate and the wave of pragmatism washing over the land with the ascension of the Da'atura clan. Both army and navy are developed, but funding is more or less 60/40 in favor of the navy due to geopolitical realities and the close encroachment of infidels.

If ever the Caliphate decides to reunite the western sections of Ummhara, this trend of the navy being focused on may reverse into the army being at the forefront of military funding and technology again as it once was in the past. There is also the matter of Caliphal naval thinking being somewhat behind most, with a focus more on cruisers and raiding rather than a large surface fleet, if there is an insight that might justify such an approach, it hasn't been figured out yet.

Total
967,800 men

Army
857,800 total divided into 8 Kathra
8 Kathra/Host/field army of 107,000~
5 Rakaz/Focus/corps of 21,500~ in a Kathra
5 Qism/Division/divisions of 4,300~ in a Rakaz
4 Altaqsim/Subdivision/brigades of 1,000~ in a Qism
4 Alfasl/Chapter/battalions of 250~ in an Altaqsim
5 Safha/Page/companies of 50~ in a battalion

Navy
110,000 men
2 Khalifa-class dreadnought battleships in construction, 1000 complement
2 Sayyid-class predreadnought battleships, 750 complement
2 Mirza-class predreadnought battleships, 750 complement

4 Khalid-class coastal defense battleships, 400 complement
18 Zayd-class monitor ships, 200 complement

6 Rashidun-class armored cruisers, 500 complement
6 Faruq-class armored cruisers, 500 complement
6 Siddiq-class armored cruisers, 500 complement

8 Yazid-class protected cruisers, 450 complement
8 Hamza-class protected cruisers, 450 complement
8 Ubaydah-class protected cruisers, 450 complement

64 commerce raiders (primarily of the Saad-class)

Numerous logistics ships

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History:

It is widely agreed upon by contemporary scholars that humans first came to Ummhara in the early 4th millennium BCE, crossing in from both the Hesperian and Achysian land bridges, which nowadays has long since been sunk by risen sea levels.

• 4000~ BCE - Patriarch Adonai lands upon the shores of Ummhara upon being called by ALHY | First human migrations into Ummhara
• 2000~ BCE - Adonai's descendants now occupy every acre of land | Humans now cover the entirety of Ummhara
• 1500~ BCE - Ummhara can now be cleanly subdivided into three geographic cultural groups: Western, covering much of the stormy temperate west and the future Kaduri Peninsula in the southwest; Central, covering much of the center-north coastline and central dry lands; and Eastern, covering the reminder which consists of a synthesis of the previous climes, temperate but dry.
• 1450~ BCE - Umjar city states arise on the coastlines of the west, while Haradi city states arise in more inland areas.
• 1387 BCE - Umoja becomes the first nation state to rise from the Umjar.
• 1382 BCE - Ashurhan becomes the first nation state to rise from the Haradi.
• 1371 BCE - Omar, Umjar nation.
• 1365 BCE - Harappa, Haradi nation.
• 1300~ BCE - Invasion of foreign tribes fleeing from decaying conditions from the central areas, mostly repulsed but they settle in the fertile lands of the area. They are dubbed the Smirnii by the Haradi nations they first menaced.
• 1250~ BCE - The northwest now fully dominated by nation-states. First expansions into the southwestern peninsulas begin. 2nd wave of Smirnii migrations occur, this time towards the peninsulas.
• 1237 BCE - Start of King Zoquihar of Harappa's reign. Conquests of King Zoquihar begin.
• 1234 BCE - The King of Omar dies without sons, leaving Omar to the rule of his eldest daughter Anisha.
• 1228 BCE - In a bid for peace with the conquering Harappans, Queen Anisha unites Omar with Harappa through marriage by marrying King Zoquihar.
• 1225 BCE - Zoquihar the Younger (son) born. Omar-Harappa finally subjugates the formidable Ashurhan.
• 1223 BCE - A daughter is born. Omar-Harappa enjoys a ten year peace after repelling a Smirnii incursion from the east.
• 1222 BCE - Twin sons are born. King Zoquihar manages to peacefully integrate a few city states but doesn't bother to war with those too stubborn.
• 1220 BCE - A son is born.
• 1218 BCE - A twin son and daughter are born.
• 1218 BCE - A daughter is born. Smirnii tribe settled after a negotiation, the Omar-Harappan Kingdom expands outwards peacefully.
• 1215 BCE - A son is born. Climate begins to slowly worsen around this time.
• 1213 BCE - Zoroaste is born. The ten year peace is ended with a large incursion of marauding Smirnii tribes from the dry east.
• 1211 BCE - Umoja along with its confederate city states, tributaries, and allied Smirnii tribes attack the Omharappan Kingdom in a bid to crush them while the iron was hot.
• 1203 BCE - After ten years of war, the Smirnii are repulsed and Umoja forcefully integrated into the Omharaan Empire. The land however, suffers from drought and famine, and the people are disgruntled. Zoroaste is raised as a religious scholar of the old pagan beliefs.
• 1202 BCE - Annus horriblis, the people revolt while at the same time, a combination of fleeing and marauding Smirnii from the east along with a strange new horde of horse riding people called the Atileagh begin to make devastating incursions into the land.
• 1200 BCE - Despite King Zoquihar I's efforts, he is killed trying to stem the eastern hordes. Zoquihar the Younger who was currently crushing the revolt, succeeds him. Zoroaste begins to have visions around this time of ALHY | Zoroaste is assigned to the Temple of Umoja.
• 1199 BCE - Zoroaste returns to the capital after being urged on by ALHY | Zoroaste recalled after Zoquihar II dies on the field of battle against the Atileagh along with the second eldest son of King Zoquihar I.
• 1198 BCE - AMLK reveals Himself to Zoroaste, revealing and displaying his power over the world by destroying the capital of Omharra | Omharran capital brutally sacked by victorious Atileagh forces. There are attempts to form a solid state which is disrupted into a war of succession following the death of the Atileagh leader.
• 1181 BCE - Atileagh forces reunited under a new leader ransack the corpse of the Omharran Empire along with roving bands of Smirnii tribes. Zoroaste begins his ministry regarding his observations, conclusions, and philosophy; evading capture by the Atileagh and Smirnii, and personally writing down his teachings.
• 1178 BCE - It is said in the Kalimaht that Zoroaste took eight women from various prominent Omharran clans as wives, which would result in the clans of (from first wife to eighth wife): Omhar, Abbas, Qasdaq, Zulaykh, Murabiyya, Almuhaddun, Iblisid, and Da'atura. Persecution of the al-Zoroaste begins to slowly increase.
• 1175 BCE - An attempt on Zoroaste's life causes him to slowly shift his teachings away from relatively peaceful into objectively violent.
• 1172 BCE - Zoroaste imprisoned, but let go after a trial. The Atileagh kingdom expands to cover much of western Ummhara with the exception of the southwest.
• 1170 BCE - Zoroaste flees into the southwest after yet another attempt at imprisoning him, spending time with the Smirnii natives there and preaching to them.
• 1168 BCE - Zoroaste braves the risk and returns north to preach once more, this time with a more radical approach. There was to be no peace with the Atileagh who had desecrated the land given to them so long ago by ALHY.
• 1165 BCE - Dry period causes famine, numerous revolts occur mostly unrelated to the al-Zoroaste, and a few succeed in breaking away. The Prophet proceeds to minister to these breakaways, gaining large followings in some.
• 1164 BCE - Zoroaste takes a military leadership position and decides to lead the faithful in revolt against the Atileagh this time instead of being on the sidelines. A decades long war ensues.
• 1149 BCE - Zoroaste captured and martyred by being burned to death. His last words are a promise of retribution being at hand. Reports of defeats begin to pile up along with increasing unrest when a tribal confederation on the outskirts of Omharra begins devastating incursions into the Atileagh and Smirnii states.
• 1146 BCE - After decades of fighting on part of the al-Zoroaste, a year of mourning and deliberation, and enflamed by the martyrdom of their Prophet, the al-Zoroaste finally succeed in revolt against the Atileagh and Smirnii rulers of Ummhara, pushing both out and establishing native rule for the first time under the Ummharan Caliphate, led by Zoroaste's son Zakariya ibn Zoroaste Omhar. Zoroaste's ashes are buried in the place where Patriarch Adonai said to have landed, where a settlement would promptly pop up and grow.
• 1147-1028 BCE - The Ummharan Caliphate period started by Caliph Zakariya ibn Zoroaste Omhar, and the only Caliphate to have the honor of being named after the land, which would soon be named after it. The southwest is finally pacified through a series of both peaceful and violent integrations; while the eastern plains and drylands are violently pacified and integrated into the new Caliphate. Al-Zoroaste, the Prophet's Faith, would be spread rapidly by word or sword in this period. It unfortunately ends when a succession crisis compounded by a drought and famine causes immense instability that results in the Caliphate's collapse (1st Fitna). Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh)
• 1027-933 BCE - The period of the 1st Fitna, or the Great Trial as it is sometimes called. Clans and other states war against each other in hopes of seating one of their own as Caliph, with invading tribals and horselords coming from the east. It ends when Zakariya ibn Tumart Abbas, whose clan- the Abbas- claimed descent from Zoroaste's 2nd wife, succeeds in reunifying the disparate al-Zoroaste states. Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh)
• 992-714 BCE - 1st Abbas Caliphate period started by Caliph Zakariya ibn Tumart Abbas. Territorial expansion through military conquests and diplomatic integrations causes the Caliphate to cover much of western Ummhara, and to this day, it was under the 1st Abbas Caliphate that the greatest territorial extent of the Caliphates was achieved. The administrative division and subdivision of the Caliphate is standardized in this period, with the eight clans borne out of Zoroaste's eight wives rising to ultimate prominence, displacing those unrelated to the Prophet. Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh), Zakariya's resting place/Abbas capital (Amghar).
• 713-659 BCE - The period of the 2nd Fitna; or as many in the al-Zoroaste faithful call it, Denouncement of Decadence. The Abbas Caliphs along with their blood oathed clans would slowly engage in increased debauchery as the empire stagnated; and upon word of a great palace scandal occurring in late 714 BCE, five of the eight clans, along with multiple other groups would rise up in anger at the disgrace to Zoroaste's legacy. But though this period ended in 699 BCE, conflict between the differing factions and clans would result in the second half of the 2nd Fitna. The relative peace caused by the coalescing of the al-Zoroaste polities into three disparate Caliphates would result in the end of the 2nd Fitna and the beginning of the Aliartibak, or the Confusion. Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh), Zakariya's resting place/Abbas capital (Amghar).
• 658-563 BCE - Three Caliphates rise from the 2nd Fitna's end: the 2nd Abbas located in the westernmost lands containing the heartland of the Ummharans, under Caliph Taus ibn Malek Abbas; the Zulaykh Caliphate controlling the eastern lands bordering the dry steppes, under Caliph Zaid ibn Zoquihar Zulaykh; and the Murabiyya Caliphate safe behind the Alturay Mountains in the southeast and controlling Kadur, under Caliph Tumart ibn Abdul Murabiyya. The separation of the al-Zoroaste faithful causes the faith to slowly but surely fragment, and by 560s BCE, the 2nd Abbas and the Zulakyh would have deviated so severely as to embrace these heterodox if outright heretical views. Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh), Zakariya's resting place/Abbas capital (Amghar).
• 565-562 BCE - Conquest of the 2nd Abbas and Zulaykh Caliphates by the Qideagh coming in from the east. Though the conquest was long relative to the Qideagh's speed of conquest in regards to elsewhere in Ummhara, it was perhaps their bloodiest, with entire cities being put to the torch and populations massacred wholesale by the marauding horselords. People fleeing from the devastation are welcomed by the Murabiyya in exchange for renouncement of their views, a largely political move meant to secure extra population for the Murabiyya Caliphate, now the sole surviving state. Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh), Zakariya's resting place/Abbas capital (Amghar), the main settlement of the survivors (Hamez).
• 561-560 BCE - The Qideagh try to wear down the Murabiyya in order to soften the Caliphate up for a future conquest. When they sense an opportunity late in 560 BCE, they prepare for an invasion and then begin pouring in full force into the Kaduri Peninsula in the southwest. But in a miraculous battle, they are soundly defeated on New Years in the Battle of the Pass, where their leader is slain along with a massive amount of their armies, causing discord in the Qideagh ranks. Current holy sites: Zoroaste's birthplace (Harappa), Zoroaste's retreat in the southwest (Kadur), Zoroaste's resting place (Quraysh), Zakariya's resting place/Abbas capital (Amghar), the main settlement of the survivors (Hamez), the site of the battle (Bloody Pass).
• 559-412 BCE - With legitimacy and religious authority gained from the Battle of the Pass, Caliph Isma'il ibn Sajjad Murabiyya begins the Murabiyya Caliphate period. Ever the warlike ruler but with a secured succession in place, he is free to die in victorious and glorious battle just eight years later after declaring the legitimacy of the Murabiyya. Battle and war defines this period as a burning need to reclaim the holy sites of al-Zoroaste grips the people and the leadership.
• PLACEHOLDER
• 1750-1753 CE - War with Sedna, two islands ceded after a great loss and indignation in the al-Zoroaste faithful of the Kaduri peninsula grows significantly.
• 1754-1785 CE - Capitalizing on this, the Confederated Emirates is formed by the Da'atura clan and their confederate clans as a pact of self-defense and greater cooperation.
• 1785-1799 CE - Wars with Ummharan states on the border, the Great Blood Pact established in August, 1799. 1st Dwarven Immigration Wave.
• 1800 CE - New Years Declaration, a caliphate is declared for the first time with sufficient legitimacy and political maneuvering, the Da'aturan Caliphate. The Great Fitna largely ended for the southwest.
• 1800-1868 CE - The Great Restoration, Caliphate undertakes a nearly 7 decade period of reform and industrialization under the idea of "Ummharan Thinking, Boreanan Technology."
• 1869-1875 CE - Period of rapid military reformation and improvement with the progress gained with the Great Restoration.
• 1876-1878 CE - War for the Xaadlaay-Kiidaaw Islands results in the annexation of these frigid islands and the establishment of the first Caliphal colonies in history. 2nd Dwarven Immigration Wave.
• 1879-Present - Contemporary period, economic buildup leads into military buildup which then leads into increased control over the Great Blood Pact.

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RP Reference/Links/Sample: [1] [2]

Accepted