Bumping this as its in danger of being off the main page.
things are looking to be pretty peaceful now in our time, except for northern Italy and the Ottomites...
Also between the cheese eating monkey and the Gallegos.
I'm turning Australia into a death god worshiping warrior caste. See you all next turn.
Be an Australia that worships the god Abbottia who fends off the demons who try to enter the country on boats.
[QUOTE=FireSale69;46357260]I'm turning Australia into a death god worshiping warrior caste. See you all next turn.[/QUOTE]
I'm trying to think of a way to make this society fit in. I'm thinking a Dutch shipwreck goes horribly wrong.
[QUOTE=Mackalda2k6;46357773]Be an Australia that worships the god Abbottia who fends off the demons who try to enter the country on boats.[/QUOTE]
Everything will try to kill you on Australia, even the Natives.
AUSTRALIA IS NEW BABYLON STOP TRYING TO TAKE HER FROM ME.
Mackalda2k6 – Ming Dynasty
Native Hunter – The Most Serene Republic of Venice
Mallow234 – Kingdoms of England and Scotland
Send in your turns people. Unless you can get them in, I can't do the game, and turns will take longer.
[QUOTE]Treaty of Holstein:
Denmark-Norway & England-Scotland/Livonia & Poland-Lithuania:
- England-Scotland is to return the former Livonian colony of Nova Scotia to Livonia.
- Denmark-Norway is to uphold the strong tradition of military friendship that Sweden had with Livonia in exchange for an alliance and peace between the two nations. England-Scotland and Poland-Lithuania also join in the alliance and peace.
- The Sound Toll is rescinded for Poland-Lithuania and Livonia, aswell as safe passage of their ships out of the Baltic Sea.
- Bohemia, Livonia and everyone on their side are to recognize Danish sovereignty over Sweden and allow the formation of a renewed Kalmar Union.
Catholic League/Hamburg:
- Status quo ante is established with Hamburg.
Catholic League/Protestant League:
- The kingdom of Brandenburg-Prussia is to be dissolved and the Margraviate is to be re-established. Prussia is to be returned to Livonia.
- A treaty is signed establishing Westphalian sovereignty and affirming the rights of all Christians in the Empire.
Venice/France:
- Venice is to secede its American colonies to the French, aswell as support the French annexation of Savoy in exchange for the return of previously Venetian held territories in Europe.
- France is to assist Venice against the Ottoman Empire. In exchange, the Venetians will send assistance in any of France's future wars against foreign powers excluding Iberia after 50 years have passed after the signing of the treaty.
Naples/France:
- Naples will pay indemnities to France.
Bohemia (Catholic League)/Denmark-Norway:
- The League is to return Holstein to Denmark-Norway.
- Bohemia and Denmark-Norway shall begin work on a canal in Holstein, dubbed the "Kiel Canal", after all the wars are over.
This officially ends the Terrible War, however, it leads into the war of Kalmarian restoration.[/QUOTE]
As far as I recall, everyone mentioned in the treaty said that everything is ok.
No, I said all french occupied possessions of mine
[QUOTE=Native Hunter;46369188]No, I said all french occupied possessions of mine[/QUOTE]
I showed you that line when I wrote it and you said it was good.
[QUOTE=Damian0358;46369264]I showed you that line when I wrote it and you said it was good.[/QUOTE]
You did not have European possessions there
Native Hunter turn pls
Send in your bloody turns in , people.
[QUOTE=iAmaNewb;46376021]Send in your bloody turns in , people.[/QUOTE]
They're all in man :U
What's the ETA on turn?
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZOiX6cIT8o[/media]
Watch this video to the end in its entirety and I will reveal when the turn comes.
So I got a question for you guys, should I die in the rp would you mind if I rejoined as a nation of equal or lesser power to my own?
so what's going on with this?
[QUOTE=Native Hunter;46457467]so what's going on with this?[/QUOTE]
Yeah it's showing the signs of death. I really don't want this to be another dropped RP, but it's looking like it.
[QUOTE=ImperialGuard;46457546]Yeah it's showing the signs of death. I really don't want this to be another dropped RP, but it's looking like it.[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://i.cubeupload.com/vQ5vgf.png[/IMG]
An RP run by Sobotnik only ends: 1) if he says so; 2) if he makes a new RP or 3) if half a year has passed since the last turn.
Remember that.
READ ME, SEND IN TURNS AS TURN 7.
[b][i]Hereby it is manifest that during the time men live without a common Power to keep them all in awe; they are in that conditions called War; and such a war, as is of every man, against every man; And the life of man solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. – Thomas Hobbes.[/i][/b]
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/OaGM9Sy.png[/img_thumb]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q13B1dfUqk8[/media]
Events of the years 1640 to 1670
-During this period, flintlocks become common throughout all armies in Europe and several others abroad. This stage in firearms evolution marks a diminishing size and weight to the guns as well, which has already begun in some countries. The evolution is concurrent with the development of bayonets and the decline of pikemen in addition, to the point that by 1670 many European armies are now increasingly phasing out the use of pikes in favour of musket-armed infantry. Field artillery have begun to become popular as well, transitioning from early experiments of leather wrapped copper barrels into lightweight cast bronze or iron pieces on small wooden carriages.
-With open areas of debate in England, Denmark and the Netherlands, philosophical inquiry leads to the great question of “How is society to be organized?” A dangerous one indeed, as some men argue that kings are a necessary evil at best, and one to be removed at worst. While they are strongest in their countries of origin (especially England), they have begun to rapidly spread through Europe, aided by the coffeehouse. In some, they are a threat to the crown, although thankfully their poisonous influence has yet to corrupt society. The levellers are the first coherent faction to appear from this, although other men argue that the leviathan formulated by Hobbes is unnecessary too, and that people can live in common, with no concept of property or power over another. They are the diggers, and perhaps most dangerous of all, because they incite common men in rising up against their rightful masters!
[img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=340743&dateline=1411380731[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/ZSD3iv8.png[/img]
[b]Daniel Smith – Union of Iberia
Capital: Madrid
Culture: Castilian
State Religion: Catholicism
Number of dragons: 4 (large)[/b]
-Already somewhat behind their rivals, the Spanish adopt a standard flintlock musket, several decades late. Effectively a direct copy of existing French models, it has several superficial modifications that make it cheaper to manufacture, easier to handle, or a combination of other traits that give it a slightly Spanish feel, even though it is effectively a French gun. The Spanish have also managed to develop a new form of printing press that is perfectly adapted to printing “broadsheets”, which are a recent innovation in media. By printing a daily or weekly sheet of the news, advertisements, and other noteworthy articles of interest, one can appeal to the growing demographic of people who are both literate and wealthy enough to demand information about the wider world. Of course, Spain does not exactly have a big enough demographic to allow for many newspapers to exist, but it’s a start.
-With France occupying large portions of the country, Spain quickly adopts military reform similar to what is currently in use throughout Europe at large. Although costly and time consuming, the Spanish successfully rebuild most of their military capabilities that had been left to decay in the past few centuries. Spain however is foiled constantly by the relative decline of their empire. With Mutapa and England cutting into their trade, the Mexicans and French slowly weakening their colonial empire overseas, the collapse of the silver mines, and the decline of domestic manufacturing as Chinese goods flood the market, the Spanish end up accruing massive debts. The straw that breaks the camel’s back is when a new law in Mutapa formally ruins the last traders in Mozambique, bankrupting many merchants and nobles.
-Struggling to maintain stability and revive the stagnant economy, the Spanish state continues to pour investment into road infrastructure and new fortifications to defend the country from France. Although it relieves unemployment somewhat, many workers on these roads end up dying or building roads to nowhere useful, and the cost of building and maintaining them drains on finances. The decline of population continues, made worse by emigration to the colonies and ruin of the tenanted smallholder in favour of noble and church lands. By 1670, declining tax revenues leads to many buildings and existing administration suffering from neglect, and the localities of the country begin to protest. Portugal is the leading one, where the popular sentiment (fanned by vitriolic newspapers) is increasingly viewing Spanish rule as responsible for their decline. The nobility begin to block the passing of legislation, while merchants move their business elsewhere and start blocking the collection of taxes. Overseas, the colonies continue to grow and diversify their economies (particularly in Argentina and Brazil), although revenue generated from agriculture is much less than from mining. New Zealand is also discovered at this time by a number of explorers, although plans for permanent settlement have not yet been established. Fishermen are one of the few Europeans to appear in this area, and they don’t like to stay for long.
-During the wars with France, the Spanish successfully push the French out of Aragon and Navarre, but at great cost. An additional campaign is planned for Occitania, but when the invasion finally occurs, the Spanish soldier’s mutiny over lack of pay. The Venetian Republic seized several major Italian banks at this time to pay for their own wars before declaring bankruptcy and ruining many bankers, in turn cutting off most sources of credit for Spain. The two dragons sent to aid the army are then killed by superior French aerial forces, and the remaining soldiers are demoralized by the loss, bringing a stop to the Occitanian campaign. Widespread rebellions break out in response, and with both France and Spain exhausted by the war (and Occitania being unwilling to accept Spanish rule) they agree to a separate white peace in which borders are restored to pre-war boundaries (although Texas is now French, while Uruguay is Spanish). The Spanish eventually crush many of these rebellions and restore some order, in addition to rebuilding a line of fortifications along the Pyrenees, the state is still desperately impoverished and struggling to find sources of revenue as the overseas empire no longer provides the money it used to. Domestic troubles are still large in addition, but thankfully the regime still maintains their grip on power.
[img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=461103&dateline=1410891072[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/R0Go18G.png[/img]
[b]Mallow234 – Kingdoms of England and Scotland
Capital: London
Culture: Anglo-Saxon
State Religion: Protestantism
Number of dragons: 23 (medium)[/b]
-England continues to pull away from the economic crisis of the early part of the century, focusing on transitioning to a new system that holds promise for the future. As farming steadily improves, the new Dutch plough is introduced, which not only is lighter and doesn’t use wheels, but is also cheaper to produce. These new ploughs begin to spread slowly, due largely to the lack of people with sufficient capital and land to buy and use them on. These new ploughs also come at the same time that a canal building scheme goes underway. An act of parliament in 1660 empowered the construction of a canal to link the Mersey and Irwell. It is a major success, and at the close of the 1660s, several more canal improvements begin on the Thames and Wey. Wagonways are also becoming slowly more common, although they are cumbersome and limited to bulk goods.
-The English economic revival is aided by the weakening power of the monarchy and the rise of mercantile theory. Seeing the disastrous effect of foreign goods undercutting domestic industry, massive tariffs are levied on manufactured goods through a series of navigation acts, while English merchants and gentry lobby for increased powers to parliament. They succeed, when the King finally agrees to give the royal assent to a “Bill of rights”. A piece of landmark legislation, it reduces the influence of the monarchy on law, strips him of taxation powers, control over the army, and numerous other things. In effect, Parliament begins to increasingly assume the role of the supreme authority of the land, although for now it is in balance with the monarchy. The King also resigns as supreme head of the Church of England, and withdraws from religious affairs for good. He also attempts to rescind anti-Catholic legislation, but is blocked continually by parliament and he only manages to get token measures implemented. The levellers appear at this time, and slowly develop as a faction within parliament, pushing for greater political reform on the basis of equality before law, extended suffrage, and religious tolerance. They identify themselves with the townspeople, and are opposed by the lords, the older gentry, clergy, and anti-Catholics.
-In Ireland, the monarchy has greater freedom to implement its will, and introduces more pragmatic policies towards Catholics. A native bureaucracy begins to develop in Dublin, where it may be possible to occasionally find Catholic lords. Fort construction continues throughout the rest of the country, and eventually the Irish are slowly tamed. The rebellions die down as each insurrection is brutally put down, and the native aristocracy learns to work with the English government in return for toleration of their religious status and rights as landowners.
-Scotland decides on a clever venture at this time (although apparently it may have been encouraged by English special agents). One man promises riches to Scotland and the start of a colonial empire through a scheme intended to control trade near Panama, and as much as one quarter of all wealth in Scotland is pooled for the endeavour. They invest into a colony in Darien, where the first expedition arrives and is immediately ruined by disease and starvation. Several follow-up expeditions follow, but in turn fail, and the English navy refuses to rescue the colonists or aid them. In 1668, the colony is deemed a failure and the resulting shock destroys the confidence of Scottish investors and the Scottish government. Faced with crippling debt, the Scottish government and its lords appeal to Westminster for any way of clearing the debt. Westminster offers political integration, and while unpopular in Scotland, negotiations begin in earnest.
-English colonial efforts go much better than the Scottish one did. Explorers travel to, and discover Australia, remarking on the suitability of the soils for cultivation and the plethora of wildlife. There appear to be a light brown race of people with Caucasian features too, resembling a mixture of a biblical-era society. Settlement does not begin, but funds are already being raised at home for such a task. In addition, the colonies in North America and South Africa continue to expand, although in North America they are constrained increasingly by native polities and other colonial powers, whereas in South Africa they are constrained by the landscape and isolation. Most colonists prefer America, with the population growing from 25,000 in 1640 to 100,000 by 1670. Fortifications are built in the Maldives to protect Indian shipping too, as competition in the area rises. The Spanish ships are plying these waters less too, an evident sign of their retreat. English merchants are also starting to choose between exporting raw cotton to England or to China. Given that demand is rising in both countries, it may be prudent to find a way to speed up travel time or secure valuable supplies of cotton, lest one country swallows the market whole. As Chinese cotton clothing becomes common in Europe, it is becoming obvious where that could go.
-England signs the treaty of Holstein in 1641, which brings an end to the terrible war. In the proceedings, the English cede Nova Scotia to Livonia, while receiving a stretch of Danish Canada in return. Venice cedes Malacca to England too, in addition to handsome financial indemnities. England also joins the Baltic alliance, and when France refuses to withdraw from territories in the Holy Roman Empire they send forces to aid in the struggle with France in 1656. The Dutch ally with England at this time in order to secure wealthy lands in the vicinity of Calais. During the course of the war, the English utilize fast, small, nimble dragons that outmanoeuvre the French aerial forces. And, with their tolerance for water, they are at a massive advantage in naval battles, frequently landing on specially designed frigates and some even being able to swim, and in some cases they capture French ships by landing on-board and swiping at the terrified crew. Attempted moves in Texas fail when the Mexican army and French colonial forces destroy the invading English force, made worse by French expertise with dragons on land, the lack of English experience and the unsuitability of the creatures to the climate there. The naval blockades go more smoothly and cripple French trade. After the successful conclusion of the war, France still retains Texas, although they lose much more at home, most notably Flanders to the Dutch, and much of their trade to England.
[img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=601768&dateline=1390096607[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/S97VB5D.png?1[/img]
[b]Kingdom of Scandinavia – Pezgod1
Capital: Copenhagen
Culture: Danish
State Religion: Protestantism
Number of dragons: 36 (large)[/b]
-Stepping up to take the mantle of aerial forces in Europe, the Danish begin to focus on using dragons in an offensive shock role, with heavy ones in particular. To protect them from the increasing use of firearms, they adopt the use of plate armour and chainmail for them to wear, with suitably thick leather harnesses to help hold them on and protect them. Offering excellent protection from bullets, it unfortunately also exhausts them and is a severe liability over water or on long flights. Another interesting new invention in war is the development of the field mortar. Unlike other artillery, it uses a low charge to fire a shot in an arc, with it being a typically explosive shell. While horribly inaccurate, it is however highly portable, requires a very small gunnery crew, has excellent range, and can fire over hills and walls, resulting in its widespread adoption.
-A social revolution begins in Denmark, and like many office workers, it is driven by coffee. The economic crisis begins to wind down, and as a wealthy middle class develops particular tastes, they seek to emulate the practice of coffee-drinking. The state is more than happy to allow coffeehouses to spring up in all of the major cities and towns, where with lax regulation the patrons excitedly discuss the big issues of the day. Newspapers begin to spread from these places, and some even open in the colonies. Given that people like to read while drinking coffee, many of the first newspaper printers are actually integrated into the coffeehouses themselves. They import many new ideas about philosophy and politics, especially those from England. The idea that the royal sovereign should have limitations upon his power is an attractive one, and they begin to spread these ideas to all that would listen. The levellers form in Denmark, a faction demanding equality before law, suffrage, and religious tolerance. The open climate allows them to spread their ideas rapidly.
-Denmark signs the treaty of Holstein in 1641, in which they grant a portion of land to England in Canada, form the Baltic alliance, rescind the sound toll for Poland and Livonia, allow their shipping free access to Danish ports and waterways, and agree to start work on the “Kiel canal” in conjunction with Bohemia. They are also given back control of Holstein, and are given permission to re-establish the Kalmar Union over Sweden. Unsurprisingly, the Swedish take offence, and although the general European war ends, the Danish redouble efforts on the Swedish war.
-As the Swedish learn of their betrayal by the Livonians, who pull out of the country to allow the Danish to occupy towns and cities, they are offered political asylum in Livonia. A few take up the offer, but the vast majority of the Swedish instead become violent towards them. Livonian merchants are dragged from their homes and are beaten to death and lynched, while Polish ones are chased from the towns and cities. Soldiers are pelted with rocks and housing tiles, and riots are frequent. After the Livonians leave, the Danish quickly occupy several of the major towns and cities, leading to a widespread collapse in the Swedish forces. With additional dragons to ravage their armies and an offer of amnesty to the Swedish nobility, the rest of the country quickly falls. By 1652, the Danish King marches into Stockholm to have himself declared King of Scandinavia. The Swedish monarchy is exiled, while the remaining functions of government are either dissolved or taken over by the Scandinavian state. They are unable to take over Gotland however, as Livonia seems insistent that it owns the island and is unwilling to cede it.
-With the war concluded, Scandinavia begins to copy the reforms of the Livonian army in earnest, although they have a larger focus on heavy combat dragons and the use of mortar artillery. The army and navy are both reorganized and expanded to absorb existing Swedish military units (including the navy and aerial forces), giving them a much larger capability in war. The additional tax revenues from Sweden offset some of these costs, although the end of the sound toll harms revenue collection significantly. The construction of the Kiel Canal hopes to counter this however, and many people are interested in its potential. Completed in 1668, it is wide enough to allow for narrow barges (but not ships) to cross from the Baltic to the North Sea, and in the first year it begins to take on significant traffic in the form of Polish grain. There is of course a toll for operating and funding the canal, and it looks promising enough to be a major source of revenue. The limited size of the canal (already an engineering achievement) of course impacts on traffic, but it may be possible to extend and widen.
-In 1656, continuing French refusal to leave occupied lands in the Holy Roman Empire begins to escalate tensions between it and Bohemia, eventually resulting in outright war. Obliged to help Bohemia, Scandinavia sends naval forces with English assistance to Makassar, where they seize control of the coveted territory from the French. Then, after the English helped to settle a treaty with the Dutch, secure their support for an invasion of Picardie. English, Dutch, and Danish ships plague French shipping and cripple many of their ports before this, and frequent dragon attacks harm supply lines. When the invasion occurs, the French meet the Danish nearby Arras. Mortars fired bags of pepper into the French aerial forces camp, driving the beasts wild and forcing them to ascend and remain in the air, exhausting them. This was followed by the Dutch-Danish force using heavy dragons to dive at the French ones and drive them back. With superior aerial support, the Dutch-Danish army presses hard and manages to rout the French army, establishing control of Flanders.
-As this was a crippling blow to the French, the move was particularly effective in bringing a conclusion to the war. With setbacks on all fronts, the French were forced to sue for peace on very unfavourable terms, losing vast territories and influence, especially to the Netherlands. Scandinavia’s largest acquisition has been that of Makassar, which inevitably results in a lot of merchants travelling there to begin trading. They bring back home cheap Chinese goods from silks to porcelains, teas and especially cotton clothing. Hated by many artisans, they often attack merchants selling the underpriced goods and their shops. This happens largely in Sweden too, where it merges with general opposition to Danish merchants becoming increasingly influential.
[img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=23000&dateline=1410718785[/img][img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/109107273/RP/DragonRP/miscgfx/flag.png[/img]
[b]Ruskie – Kingdom of Mutapa
Capital: Bulawayo
Culture: Umgqomo
State Religion: Catholic[/b]
-As Mutapa continues to modernize and expand their military capabilities, it has now been deemed necessary that a navy be built to protect traders and claw back some revenue for Mutapa, instead of it going overseas. This starts with the construction of the first royal shipyard, complete with large slipways and room to build frigate-type ships, based on European models. In addition, they have copied the Dutch fluyt design for merchant vessels, which, although they cannot be converted into warships very well, are superb for trade. Several more shipyards at built at fishing villages or small trading ports, and within decades they begin to boom in size and suck away business from Spanish ports in the area. The increasing presence of Mutapa trading ships also cut a handsome profit, and by 1670 the Spanish trading posts begin to go into terminal decline.
-The transformation of this state is made most obvious by the official conversion of the King to Catholicism. With most of his population already Catholic it is a widely celebrated move, save for a few noblemen and villages that resent this. Increasing literacy and the power of the state is then later formalized with the establishment of a new legal code, which standardizes and simplifies most of the confusing and overlapping jurisdictions of the old kingdom and makes the king the ultimate legal authority within Mutapa. With a strong government thus assured, the Kingdom expands further, focusing largely on trade routes, rivers, and other valuable territories that hold the most promise. The Spanish are already heavily invested here, but their weakening domestic situation makes it nearly impossible for them to counter the growing threat of Mutapa.
-By the 1660s, the navy has managed to build up to the point it can seriously consider exerting its influence overseas, starting with the hunting down of pirates. In a twenty year period, over 340 men are caught and executed for preying on traders, and eventually the last pirate base is ousted in 1667. This ties in with the growth and expansion of trade, especially as the development of a centralized state to abolish internal tariffs and to protect traders gives a great deal of encouragement. Some merchants have begun to buy maps and navigational equipment that gives them knowledge of much of Madagascar and South Africa, including the cape colonies. In addition, some are now sailing to Egypt, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Persia, and India, allowing them to tap into markets that were once solely the domain of Europeans and Arabs. This is not without cost however, as the Jesuits are becoming annoyed with the decline of their Spanish benefactors, and attempt to prevent many of these reforms, as the loss in revenues has caused many of their businesses to begin losing out to native competition. In addition, the massive influx of Chinese manufactured goods is readily accepted by Mutapa (although it cripples Spanish merchants), where, with no manufacturing base, is happy to pay for them with agricultural exports and minerals. Cotton is one crop with potential, although it has yet to be introduced here or techniques developed to process it for export.
[img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=243999&dateline=1389299675[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/mPnQT4R.png[/img]
[b]Satansick – Aztec Empire
Capital: Tenochtitlan
Culture: Mexican
State Religion: Catholic
Number of dragons: 6 (medium)[/b]
-Measuring gunpowder for firearms is a time consuming process, and one liable to human error. While paper cartridges have existed for decades, the Mexican government has simplified and standardized the system in the hopes of improving the rate of fire in battle. Firstly, these paper cartridges not only hold a measured charge, but are greased and possess agents that make it easier to slide down the barrel and to clean the gun of residue. With all of these various improvements taken together with the flintlock, one can easily fire 3 shots a minute. In addition, improvements in the field of alchemy have made the manufacture of new powders much easier. The problem of combustion is tackled, and eventually a new theory is developed. Named phlogiston theory, it supposes that all metals (when they burn or rust) will lose the material that makes them flammable, this substance being named phlogiston.
-One of the first practical uses of the new developments in natural philosophy (although nowadays the term science is increasingly preferred), is the use of it in an offensive capacity. By mixing sulphur, nitre, gunpowder, and other materials inside a cast iron shell and firing it from a mortar, one can fire a cannonball that flies in an arc over obstacles and onto the enemy, where the fluid streams out from it and sprays flaming goo over soldiers along with iron fragments. In addition, it is difficult to put out, making it a grim weapon to face against, unless you have a lot of sand or urine. Although adopted for naval use, it is quickly shelved after it accidentally sets fire to the rigging of ships that use them. Soldiers are also now being given uniforms dyed green from natural dyes, which fade to become a muddy green that is difficult to see from a distance. Of course, the fact that guns give off a lot of smoke tends to make it easy to see them once they fire their gun.
-Mexico begins to expand northwards once more, bringing the last of the troublesome tribes under their thumb, such as the Pueblo peoples. Central government authority is considerably weakened here however, and despite the migration of settlers to establish farmsteads here, it is a frontier land where law is very much a thing taken into private hands. Cotton is one of the first major things grown here, but there is a major problem with the cotton. Unlike Indian cotton, the shorter fibres in America make converting it into thread and then cloth much harder, largely leaving domestic cotton to be consumed at home due to its inferior quality and lack of demand overseas. Nonetheless, these farms still turn a profit, and as the number of farmers grow, so too do the number of forts and military patrols. A permanent border with the French colony is established on the Rio Grande, with the Mexicans being content to settle the west. Significant military assistance is given to the French, and while the war does not go as expertly planned, Mexico gains valuable experience, without any noteworthy losses. The most significant battle is during the invasion of Texas, when the English land and their water-based small dragons are easily seen off by the larger Mexican ones, trained with French handlers. They then easily crush the English forces on land.
-Several state-sponsored policies to encourage economic growth are introduced at this time due to mining becoming gradually less attractive as silver and gold output peaks. Watermill and windmills are built by the central government, while existing road networks are expanded or rebuilt. Unfortunately, these top-down policies only appear to have a limited effect, and after thirty years barely a dent has been made in the life of the average Mexican, 80% of which tend to be subsistence farmers. While a small number are being integrated into a growing market economy in which cash crops are focused on, transportation costs and international competition make overseas markets difficult to break into. The most successful of the new industries is in growing the coca plant. The leaves are dried and often mixed with tobacco before being sold. While popular domestically, it has yet to break into wider markets. A reason cited is that long travel times and conditions cause the leaves to degrade and weaken their potency.
-A new art movement called “futurism” begins in Mexico. Characterized by an extreme disdain for old traditions and customs, it emphasizes speed, mechanical views of nature, violence, and other related subject matters. In architecture, it places a demand on long, dynamic lines. The parliament is rebuilt in such a manner in 1659, and is it hated by most of the people in the city for its perceived ugliness. It stands in stark contrast to the excessive baroque style that is in vogue among many people too, in which elaborately ornate buildings, music, and art are popular. Some of these architects are sent to the new colony to the far north in California, where a town has been established at the “Golden Gate”. The governor’s manor is in such a style, and looks oddly out of place among the small wooden and stone houses scattered around the area, in addition to a timber and earth fort.
[img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=440820&dateline=1409317697[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/wEPAaQQ.gif?1[/img]
[b]Native Hunter – The Most Serene Republic of Venice
Capital: Venice
Culture: Venetian
State Religion: Catholicism
Number of dragons: 18 (large)[/b]
-Venice sits in the middle of a body of water, and a shortage of water is not one of their problems. The shipyards frequently suffer from leakage, and a recent development throughout parts of Europe is adopted as a solution. By making a large metal boiler and filling it with steam, you can then squirt water into the boiler and produce a partial vacuum that can be used to do work. This principle is initially used to pump water out of the shipyards, before being introduced to several mines. Unfortunately, its inefficiencies and the lack of coal limit its effectiveness, and the machine is not very popular. The shipwrights do however purchase one during the expansion of the Venice arsenal, as now larger ships must be built in order to maintain Venetian naval supremacy. This new generation of vessels, primarily frigates, are named “ships of the line”, from the fact that they form the line of battle in a naval engagement. As they grow larger and carry more guns, they are now steadily displacing both galleys and galleons. Venice will find it hard to adapt however, especially as the waters around their port are shallow.
-In 1641, after exhausting years of war, the Republic signs the treaty of Holstein, ending the long protracted conflict. It is a major blow, with all of their holdings in the Caribbean being ceded to France and Savoy being finally annexed into the Kingdom for good. In return, the French leave the territories previously owned by Venice and return them, although this hardly offsets the major loss to both Italy as a whole and Venice. Malacca is ceded to England, plus indemnities are paid to them. The Holy Roman Empire is weakened even further, and a miscalculation on behalf of the Bohemian Emperor results in the descent into another awful war. Venice attempts to sign an alliance with France in the hopes they can offer support in a war with the Ottoman Empire, but increasing pressure on the behalf of Bohemia eventually forces a war between them and France.
-The Venetian Republic begins a major conscription campaign, where they enlist every man they can find, putting them through a vigorous 6 week training regimen to ensure they can march, reload, aim, and fire their guns. Manufactories are established to help supply the necessary guns, cloth, uniforms, powder, and other essential supplies needed to maintain an army. Unfortunately, these tend to be quite expensive, especially when men leave the land to work in them or the army, and end up allowing harvests to suffer. This inevitably leads to many men trying to stay out of military service, but to little avail as many are forcibly press ganged. They desert whenever possible. The Venetian government introduces one of the first “propaganda” campaigns to counter desertion and to encourage workers to accept lower pay, as keeping the Turks at bay is considered more important. Many Italians care little, and see it as a war imposed by the near-foreign republic, and frequently they attack army recruiters.
-The Venetians first attempt to subjugate Northern Italy. Despite massive economic weaknesses and heavy debt, they do have a much larger army, with years of experience behind them. They progressively subdue and annex effectively all of Northern Italy, before seizing the banks and struggling to squeeze taxes and supplies out from their new acquisitions. Already hostile, there are frequent outbreaks of rebellion, needing major military intervention to put them down. Unfortunately, the Republic is forced to declare bankruptcy anyways, ruining many bankers and merchants and in turn starting a financial crisis in Spain. During this war, the “Marino Company” is formed within the Venetian navy. Consisting of soldiers who are trained in both land and naval warfare in addition to being suited to amphibious invasion, they are rightfully feared and respected for their abilities, bravery, and tough training. Some naval shipwrights also travel to Persia, to assist with their naval modernization program.
-With war on the horizon again, Venice pledges assistance to Bohemia in the war with the Ottomans, although it is clear that Venice is already considerably war-weary. They invade without French assistance, due to France being tied down in the war in Germany and Venice being unwilling to intervene in that conflict. Using dragons and multiple frigates, the Venetians bombard Ottoman ports and towns before landing with the marines. Initially successful, they are then halted by the arrival of the Ottoman navy. While the Ottomans possess many more galleys and dragons, the Venetian frigates are much more suited to the new methods of warfare, and destroy the Ottoman galleys, pushing them back. Crete and several parts of the Adriatic are regained, but they are unable to push further after the crippling cost of the war and the rebellions in Italy bankrupt Venice once more, forcing them to sue for peace with only the minimal gains of Crete and a few other pieces of territory. Bohemia itself is the primary concern of the Ottomans, and due to this are heavily side-lined during talks with the Ottomans, with the lion’s share of gains in the war going to Bohemia, Poland, and Persia. Venice has overall become relatively much poorer, with their gains either ceded away or squandered in war, which has made the government deeply unpopular among the people. The economy continues to shrink as trade in the Atlantic gains momentum, and Venice is slowly left behind. By 1670, the French government establishes a permanent embassy, sending over a large number of gifts in the hopes of currying favour.
[img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=193052&dateline=1386775127[/img][img]http://u.cubeupload.com/Mackalda2k6/Chinaflag.png[/img]
[b]Mackalda2k6 – Ming Dynasty
Capital: Beijing
Culture: Han
State Religion: Confucianism
Number of dragons: 202 (medium)[/b]
-The Ming state, investing significant resources into the navy (in response to the rise of raiding Japanese pirates and the incursions of foreign traders) manages to develop new ship designs that draw upon the best of both native and foreign shipbuilding techniques. Abandoning many old designs, they come up with a ship that bears a superficial appearance to European frigates. With a long flattened deck to hold many guns and a design that bulges out towards the bottom to accommodate heavier pieces, they are well suited to naval warfare. In addition, new arsenals have been established to put cast bronze guns inside these ships, although inferior metalworking techniques means these guns tend to be heavier and harder to move than European ones. In addition, while their ships are among the most advanced in East Asia, the lack of experience with them means that building more and maintaining them is both costly and time consuming.
-In addition, many new military reforms are being carried out on land too. News of the “Terrible War” of the west has reached the Imperial court, where lurid descriptions of the use of gun, pike, dragon, and sabre horrify many dragons and bureaucrats present. They opt to send officers and generals on embassies to Europe, where they observe the new trends in warfare, such as an increasing emphasis on firearms and the increasing focus put on the use of massed volleys and charges to break enemy lines. Artillery and the ability to move it around quickly is another important factor now, while cavalry have been assigned specialist roles. This all is noted and written down in a “Commentary on European War”, which is made necessary for those with a military career to read and be examined upon in the new military academy. This may be useful, as Russia has begun to expand to the north of China, and it may be prudent to negotiate a border with them.
-Problems of food supply and distribution in addition to the ongoing financial crisis weaken the Middle Kingdom, although some token reforms are made to address this. The merchants are formally granted the right to have seats in the Imperial court, where they may advise the Emperor on a suitable course of action. Unfortunately, this gesture only works for a few years, as it becomes clear the Emperor lacks the power to hold the Empire together. The merchants tend to press for greater opening up of trade with the foreigners, which while it cuts down on smuggling, only worsen the outflow of silver. The first water-powered “factories” begin to proliferate throughout the east in areas where wages are the highest, and utilizing strong divisions of labour, they drive down manufacturing costs even more. Silver mining in the New World effectively implodes at this time too, bringing an end to inflationary pressures. In fact, the collapse of prices of manufactured goods throws many thousands of artisans out of work, as merchants centralize production. They riot and smash the machines, demanding an end to their usage. Unfortunately for them, in Guangzhou alone, the number of spinning frames increases from 14 to 1300 in the space of thirty years. Cotton imports begin to grow too, sucking up as much cotton from India as possible, while mulberry plantations continue to grow and expand.
-Europeans have ended up cracking into the Chinese market, where the residents are hungry for goods ranging from tobacco, cotton, sugar, alcohol, and spices. In return they sell once prized Chinese monopolies such as silk, porcelain, tea, and salt. While the economy grows, it also slips increasingly from the grasp of the state. The policy of using dragons as governors has backfired as now they cost just as much as the human ones to feed and house. Tax revenues are in decline as traditional sources of income weaken and no suitable reforms to tax collection have been made. The massive population shifts northwards and westwards especially annoy the Mongolians, who are being pushed out of their old homeland by a peasantry that relies not upon rice but potatoes and maize. The Mongolians rebel and raid the north, while the Khoshut raid the west, with catastrophic results. Unlike in the past, they are easily seen off by hordes of musket armed peasantry and soldiers, who spare no mercy for the nomads who have terrorized China for thousands of years. Many demand a campaign to finish them off for good.
-The Emperor does manage to push through a few successful reforms at this time however. With the aid of the merchants (or under pressure from them), he gradually lifts many restrictions on the construction of roads, bridges, and canals, allowing the merchants to build them wherever they please. The gentry complain bitterly about the destruction of the tranquil landscape, which has been torn up to make way for canals or roads. Tolls are imposed on these links as well, and while they are objectively better than the ones that came before, these tolls are poorly received by peasants and traders unused to them. Millet cultivation methods improve in the areas with poor soils too, while the advent of maize and potatoes does much to reduce the risk of famine. Unfortunately, this has also aided the decline of the rural gentry. Faced with lowered profits from agriculture and unable to compete with merchants for power or wealth, they are now starting to rent off their estates or even sell them off. As the gentry consist of the vast majority of the governments reach in rural areas (where dragons do not have the time to deal with everyday problems), this has in turn led to reduced taxation revenue and the weakening of the state.
[img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=507230&dateline=1376613839[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/NgdbPVs.png[/img]
[b]StaleRye – Kingdom of Livonia
Capital: Riga
Culture: Livonian
State Religion: Protestantism
Number of dragons: 12 (big) [/b]
-A new invention could help make the lives of miners easier, and it uses a novel source of power. Called a “fire engine”, it consists of a boiler and several interconnecting pipes. By heating water in the boiler into steam and using valves to control its movement before cooling the steam, a partial vacuum is created which sucks up water into it. It is of excellent use in the deeper mines of Livonia, where hand pumps are too weak. At around the same time, there have also been further improvements to the firearms used by skirmishers. While rifling has been around for centuries, it is now being adopted on a wider scale for potential use in the field, where skilled riflemen can harass enemy soldiers and sow confusion and panic among their ranks. Of course, as it clogs easily and takes a long while to reload, it is not well suited to use by line infantry and due to the fragile nature of the guns, they cannot hold bayonets, making them especially weak in close quarters.
-With the war in Sweden and Poland coming to a close, the treaty of Holstein is signed in 1641 between all belligerent parties. Livonia in particular makes some several major gains, although not without cost. The colony in Nova Scotia is ceded back to them by England, while the dissolution of Brandenburg-Prussia finally brings Ducal Prussia under Livonian control. The Sound Toll is rescinded in addition, giving Livonian shipping an advantage and allowing them free access to the North Sea and the Atlantic. Unfortunately, this required abandoning their Swedish ally and handing over control of occupied cities over to Denmark. The Swedish citizenry reacted largely with disgust, with them throwing stones at the soldiers, setting houses on fire, and dragging Livonians out of their homes before lynching them. With the Kalmar Union being formed once more, the Livonian king feels guilty enough to offer political asylum to the Swedish royal family and nobility. They unsurprisingly take it as an insult, and many seek refuge elsewhere or otherwise collaborate with the arriving Danes. Livonia decides to also annex Gotland for good measure, annoying the newly formed Scandinavia that they are technically allied with through the Baltic alliance.
-Continuing with a tradition of military reform and innovation, there is a greater focus on military engineering, with the ad hoc artillery and sapper crews being slowly integrated into professional military units. They are initially trained to dig trenches and help with the layout of camps, before their duties expand to the building and deployment of pontoon and wooden bridges in addition to preparing suitable ground for artillery batteries. Other reforms focus on the conduct of soldiers, with pillaging, rape, theft, and buggery banned. Although unpopular, the discipline benefits are significant and beneficial. Officers are also encouraged to use their own initiative more, with a larger demand placed on exploiting the terrain to their advantage. To make this possible, Livonia begins to conduct some of the first “mock battles” in modern armies. Firing blanks and made to manoeuvre over difficult terrain, it is much more practical than having men march around in drill grounds, although it is costly.
-With the new reforms in place and recovery from the war underway, the Livonian army nearly doubles in size, as new conscription offices are established throughout Lithuania and Prussia, recruiting many thousands of new men to the army. Many of them are former Polish rebels or have had experience in the civil war, and in the closing stages of the Polish civil war they make an appearance. They siege the remaining cities and castles of the eastern parts of the Polish territories, capture and execute the remaining ringleaders, and finally when they return home they go on a major program to “slight” the castles of the nobility. Many are often seized and rebuilt into star forts and gun batteries for national defence, as the ever present threat of Russia looms on the horizon.
-When relations between France and Bohemia break down, it sparks yet another conflict, although this time Livonia generally stays out of it. With the exception of the seizure of Cape Breton Island and several expeditionary forces to assist Bohemia, they hardly intervene and retain the bulk of their forces at home or send them on other adventures. The Comoros are settled around this time by the Livonian India Company, while several tribes on Madagascar are subjugated with the aid of rival tribes. The skill of the Livonian soldier is a major advantage here, although disease and hostility limits them primarily to the coast. Fort Kettler is constructed in addition to a small wharf, in the hopes of being able to profit from overseas trade. Unusually, they ban slave trading, which are a major source of revenue in this part of the world. However they are still successful at breaking into a few small niches of the trade with China and India, although nowhere near the scale of other European powers. Nova Scotia holds some promise too, as fur trapping is profitable along with forestry and fishing. Since trade is fairly limited due to competition, while Chinese manufacturers threaten some domestic industries, mercantilism is introduced to protect both. Given that the Sound Toll has been abolished and that Poland has an even smaller interest in overseas trade, it allows them to comfortably become the major supplier of luxury goods. The construction of the Kiel Canal is a further boost to this too, as now Livonian nobles can sell their grain to Western Europe much more easily.
-The end of the French war sees Livonia hold onto Cape Breton Island, and further cements their position as a new power in Europe. Their influence stretches beyond even Europe, as Persia spends a great deal of money on importing their muskets, military advisors, and artillery, seeing the Livonian army as one of the best in the known world. The strengthened monarchy enjoys popular support from most of their subjects, support from the church, and a subservient nobility. The peasantry have become slightly unhappy as late, since now the nobility have found it profitable to tie them to the land to grow crops for export. The middle classes enjoy the widespread tolerance of the competing faiths, although in their coffeehouse conversations they have heard of ideas from England and Denmark that challenge the natural order of society. The army is strong, well-funded, and sizable, while the monarchy enjoys riches through shrewd tax policies and careful accounting.
[img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=655211&dateline=1411795831[/img][img]http://i.cubeupload.com/xVJr0C.jpg[/img]
[b]ImperialGuard – Persia
Capital: Tehran
Culture: Persian
State Religion: Shia
Number of dragons: 5 (small)[/b]
-With the field of physics gradually becoming a field in its own right, many philosophers in this area have begun to make predictions and record observations of various natural phenomena. The latest involves the swinging of a pendulum, which seems to oscillate reliably. It doesn’t take long for this to be integrated into mechanical clocks along with an escapement mechanism, and by the 1660s the first “pendulum clocks” are appearing throughout Persia. They are extremely prized by astronomers for their accuracy. One concurrent development in the same field of science involves the use of pressure to achieve work. By heating steam in a boiler and then rapidly cooling it, you can create suction beyond that of a manual handpump, which makes pumping water to greater heights much more feasible. Unfortunately, the high expense of fuel and the machines inefficiency makes it near useless in practical application.
-During this period in Persian history, the monarchy managed to establish amicable relations with Livonia and secure their backing to send teams of military experts to reform the Persian army. On their arrival, they are treated as personal guests of the Shah, and are given free rein to carry out the necessary reforms. This begins with the adoption of new muskets adapted for bayonets, the introduction of bayonet itself, and the construction of military academies in Tehran and Jerusalem respectively to train the next generation of officers. Several other changes are made to weaponry and strategy too, such as the shortening of gun barrels, the abandonment of grenadier mortars, and a heavier focus on using volley fire and bayonet charges to break the opposing enemy unit. Within a decade, the Persian army begins to increasingly resemble the Livonian one in dress, drill, and discipline.
-As these reforms continue to rapidly reshape the armed forces, the Persians now see to it that their navy be updated in a similar manner. Following the example of the Livonians and Polish, the Shah commissions a vast number of gunboats to be constructed to aid in pushing their influence in the Mediterranean. To ensure that they have capital ships as well, they also receive assistance from their old allies Venice to help build several frigates. Although they are expensive (some ships possess more guns than armies) and take months or years to build, they are well worth the investment. Several smaller ships suited for exploration and trading are also built. Given that willing sailors are in short supply, they are filled with prisoners, and the exploration fleet is sent to Australia. They sail down the coast, eventually reaching an island of primitives. The decision is then made to dump all of the prisoners there and build a prison colony, and after the population of the island halves, the colony of New Babylon finally stabilizes and begins to slowly grow. Conflict with the natives is common, and by 1670 their numbers are in terminal decline. Prisoners tend to have a habit of wandering out of the camp and kidnapping women or stealing from the natives. The governor is complicit.
-Back home, Persian society continues to go through what is effectively a renaissance. Persian is finally adopted as the language of administration and education, a severe blow to the Arab-speakers who continue to see their position weaken. Although Arab-majority speaking areas are permitted to use it, they have lost their former influence in the central government. Forced labour and slavery begins to be steadily abolished at this time, at the cost of prompting severe revolts by the aristocracy, which in turn are put down by the newly reformed army. The Shah finally decides to rid his nation of their influence for good, by ordering the expulsion of all Qizilbash to Arab-speaking territories, and redistributing the land among the peasantry or those who were loyal to him. Although several thousand die or flee in the process, it enjoys popular support, and the Shah consolidates his powerbase even further. A form of welfare is adopted, where each rural district must provide some form of employment and lodging for those without work (typically building roads or irrigation) and basic supplies of clothing and food to the infirm. It is limited in effect however, as the end of serfdom means many nobles have become impoverished and many peasants have no jobs. They begin to move to the cities and towns, some buy or rent the land of their former masters, while others take up artisan crafts. The landed aristocracy are quickly losing their privileged status.
-Religious laws begin to gradually weaken at this time too, with the shah heavily undermining religious authorities in favour of strengthening his own secular power. The courts begin to accrue more powers, especially as the common people begin to prefer attending ones where the vernacular is spoken. The multiple faiths in the Empire continue this trend, as Christian and Jewish communities begin to practice more openly and enter positions in government or the army. Several people from Sweden, Livonia, and Poland settle in Persia too to aid with the establishment and growth of trade contacts, while merchants from the Mughal Empire also become more common. They not only bring eastern manufactured goods, but agricultural products such as sugar and cotton, which the new artisans are process into finished goods in high demand.
-Tensions with the Ottoman Empire continue to rise however, and with Europe still bloodied from war, they are given a perfect opportunity to strike when Bohemia, Venice, and Poland declare war on the Ottoman Empire, putting their military and logistical systems under severe strain. The Persian army, outfitted in the latest weaponry (much of it imported) and trained in the modern style, commence the war by invading Egypt. Concurrently, a large fleet of gunboats are deployed to help defend the ports and restrict Ottoman supply lines. Unfortunately, the Ottomans deployed the majority of their dragons to this front (largely as a result of the main breeding grounds residing in Egypt) and ravaged the gunboat fleets. The Persians are only saved by the entry of the Venetians, whose navy devastates the Ottoman fleet (Venice is however crippled by the war, and is forced to sue for an early peace). After this, the conquest of Egypt went without major problems, especially due to the restrictions on looting and violent repressions. The old governors retain their positions, there are no cruel taxes imposed, and overall their presence is generally accepted.
-Occupying Egypt took a great deal of manpower however, and when the war moves into Anatolia the progress of the army slows down. They are constantly attacked by dragons and find the terrain difficult as they march westwards. The Ottomans, freed from the strain of a naval war against Venice, then later move most of their dragons to Cyprus as a base to attack Persian supply lines and shipping from. Despite the deployment of gunboats and new frigates, the Persians are unable to disable the coastal artillery on the island or dragon patrols. A move by Persia to launch an invasion of Thrace by sea ends disastrously when the Ottomans send fireships into the Persian fleet and set many of them ablaze, crippling the advance. The war continued to drag on for years at high expense to both sides, and eventually the Ottomans sued for peace when bankruptcy caused an attempted coup by the Janissaries. In the treaty, they effectively ceded the vast bulk of their empire away, with most of Anatolia and all of Egypt in addition to Libya lost to Persia alone. Heavy losses in the Balkans effectively destroy what was once a great power, the Empire of Osman now increasingly resembling the Byzantium he helped dismantle several centuries prior. It now remains to be seen how Persia will take up the mantle, especially as they now rule over vast multitudes of different peoples that are troublesome at best to manage.
[img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=586833&dateline=1393115083[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/UNIDv5a.png[/img]
[b]Quandilotor – Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Capital: Warsaw
Culture: Polish
State Religion: Catholicism
Number of dragons: 23 (large)
[/b]
-Copying developments in the Bohemian aerial forces over the last few decades, the Polish begin to adopt armour for their dragons, consisting of metal plate or chainmail bolted together and held onto the beast with leather straps and chains. Capable of reducing damage from small arms and giving the beast extra momentum when it comes to diving on targets, they nonetheless are costly and can only be used on short bursts before tiring them. However, a more interesting development takes place in the University of Krakow. There, the work of Harvey into the circulation of blood in the body has become common knowledge. In Krakow, they also carry out experiments on the veins and blood flow, by deliberately inducing clots to cut off blood supply and observe what happens to the animal. They discover that after a dog was drained of blood to near death that quickly introducing another dog’s blood into those veins via pump saved the dog’s life. The students of medicine are excited by the findings, and begin to look for other applications and potential experiments.
-These developments were largely brought on by the experience of war, especially the recent terrible war that Europe descended into. When peace is signed at the treaty of Holstein in 1641, Poland comes out of the treaty reasonably well, securing free access to Danish (and later Scandinavian) waterways, the abolishment of the sound toll, and their royal prerogative over Prussia is recognized once more (with the duchy granted to Livonia as originally intended). Livonia comes out of these talks fairly well too, and continues to send military support to help bring the civil war in Poland to an end in thanks. As this Polish civil war winds down, the valuable experience gained in the war and from Livonian military reform leads to the Polish army becoming one of the best in the world, with a highly professional nature that allows them to conduct war with brutal efficiency. Speeches given by the King before battles helps to raise the morale of these new confident soldiers, who finish the last campaign to subdue the rebels for good. An ultimatum is issued, which grants the last rebels a pardon if they leave, and leaves their lands free from being seized. Given the progress of the war, the last great landowners leave the movement, and the smaller gentry (who had little to lose) end up fighting to the end and moving to Russia. There, they form the bulk of new explorers and soldiers that fight in Russia’s wars to the east. The remaining land that Poland has claim to are seized and redistributed to loyalist supporters.
-With opposition crushed, the monarchy continues to enact additional reforms and increase their power base. The nobility are made dependent on the state for help, while the peasantry are more tightly controlled and integrated than ever into serfdom in order to produce enough grain for export. The construction of a canal in Kiel and the removal of Danish tolls contribute to the revival of agriculture in Poland, and by 1670 exports are at their highest level yet. The monies gained are then spent by the nobility on fine mansions, artwork, and palatial estates. To gain support among the middling classes, the Polish state removes many restrictions on printing in the vernacular, allowing books in Ukrainian or Russian to be printed widely. Newspapers become popular in the main cities, although the penetration of new ideas from England and Denmark have a tendency to both support and question the legitimacy of an absolute monarchy. Coffeeshops in Gdansk are a centre for the great debates on politics, and many of the merchants and artisans there begin to form associations to lobby for reform. There is also a general increase in civic and national pride, as many towns have funded the construction of monuments in remembrance of the war, and the monarchy spares no expense on promoting the need for a strong state to uphold stability.
-With tensions between Bohemia and France (then later the Ottomans) leading to outright war, the Bohemians call on their Polish allies to help assist. They gladly do so, and invade the Ottoman Empire. While the Ottomans are by no means weak, their military is behind the curve of other powerful nations and only possesses numbers as a strength. They are shocked by the speed and power of the Polish armies, which descend on Romania and cut off major supply lines. The other armies invade France holdings in Germany and Ottoman dependencies around the Black Sea, utilizing swarms of gunboats left over from the civil war to bring guns for offshore batteries to hammer coastal defences. The Ottomans are of course heavily tied down in other fronts (mostly notably with Persia), and with Persia and Poland occupying vast swathes of land they are incapable of reinforcing the gains made in Bohemia in the opening moves of the war. They are forced to sue for peace with all three powers, ceding away the vast majority of their empire. Poland comes out a clear winner, annexing the Crimean khanate and most of the territory north of the Danube. Bohemia also annexes a great deal of land, but their reduced military size and the war with France limited the territories annexed.
[img]http://facepunch.com/image.php?u=462795&dateline=1403898583[/img][img]http://i.cubeupload.com/E2GdBY.png[/img]
[b]Damian0538 – Kingdom of Bohemia
Capital: Vienna
Culture: High German
State Religion: Catholicism
Number of dragons: 45 (large)
[/b]
-Bohemia, one of the pre-eminent military powers of Europe and possessing one of the largest aerial forces (bested only by France) begins to enact reforms in this period, learning from the experiences of Neapolitan aerial forces and years of war. It is generally a professionalization of the officer corps, the adoption of the modern system of organizing dragons, examinations, regular wages and holidays, centralized command, and a government body set aside to purchase land and pasture for dragons to stay in when they are not performing any duties. These reforms come concurrently at the time of similar French ones, and are largely brought about by necessity as maintaining a massive aerial force tends to bring with it a new set of challenges in itself. Around the same time, the Bohemians also invent a type of early pressure cooker, which uses pressurized steam to cook a whole chicken or joint of meat in a mere half hour.
-In 1641, with Bohemia exhausted by war (in addition to the rest of Europe), the Emperor calls a meeting between all of the heads of the various European and German states, to agree on a treaty that would end the state of war and try to make the nations of Europe ultimately happy (and thus less likely to go to war). In Holstein, while the treaty covered many nations, Bohemia itself had several gains and losses from the war, some of which ultimately weakened the Empire. Holstein is granted back to Denmark, while they are recognized to ultimately have authority over all the Scandinavian peoples, weakening the German states of the north heavily (The Hanseatic league holds their last meeting before dissolving as a result). As a gain, Brandenburg-Prussia is dissolved, while the Margrave is re-established, although ultimately the next clause negated this. Sovereignty was granted to effectively all of the states of the Empire, with states free to practice their own religions. The Netherlands left the Empire itself in addition. The pope protested heavily against his reduction in influence, but was side-lined over more pressing concerns. France also gained authority over many territories in Germany, but as diplomatic pressure failed, it ultimately led to a second war.
-In this second war, Bohemia invaded French possessions in the Empire, while their allies would reinforce them by either invading through the north and naval warfare overseas (in the case of the Netherlands, English, and Scandinavians) or by supporting Bohemian moves in the Empire. Unfortunately, high tensions with the Ottomans also led to war. At one point the Ottomans besieged Vienna, but the entry of Venice, Poland, and Persia led to major losses. In addition, heavy dragon raids led to the collapse of supply lines and the need to pull back. The Bohemians could then safely push into the Ottoman Empire until they encountered significant resistance in the south, due to an increasingly hostile population with larger concentrations of Muslims and poor terrain that impeded their advance. In Germany, the Bohemians suffered major losses against the French that resulted in a stalemate until the breakthrough of the Dutch into Flanders forced the French to sue for peace.
-The treaty finally brought back some of the lost prestige and territories of Bohemia, with the conquest of large swathes of the Balkans and return of all of Frances possessions within the Holy Roman Empire to their former owners. Unfortunately, many of the new territories gaine
Fuck yea it's finally out
Why does Australia use the flag of the Right Sector?
So can I be France now since I lost
Requested by Griffster when he first realized he genocided the wrong people:
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/olJWIiK.png[/IMG]
Alright so flag vote for France:
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/VJJOvzO.png[/IMG]-Agree
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/tsjT4d2.png[/IMG]-Disagree
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/o4AYiyF.png[/IMG]-Funny
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/xHlNQmd.png[/IMG]-Winner
Well griff looks like we're allies
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/XbBWsdE.png[/IMG]
unionem aeternam non tres
de mane usque ad vesperum,
hiems et aestas,
fidéle ipsi mille annis
sic valens, ut cor nostrum,
ut ex utraque parte acutus, ut mens nostra,
unionem aeternam non tres
a terra, et mari,
a luna usque ad sidera
fidéle ipsi mille annis
a sanguine Christi,
et talis est voluntas Dei,
quoniam hæc in sempiternum
the eternal union of three
from morning and evening,
to winter and summer,
shall last a thousand years
as strong as our hearts,
as sharp as our minds,
the eternal union of three
by land and from sea,
from the moon to the stars,
shall last a thousand years
from the blood of Christ,
and such is the will of God,
shall last forever since
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