Post by Euphrasia on May 6, 2011 9:30:56 GMT -5
Kingdom Name: Dwarven Republic of Euphrasia
Kingdom Race: Dwarves - Dwarves are one of the ancient races on the planet. They are a stockier race, standing at about four and a half feet tall. It's common in their culture to have long beards and usually, while history has indicated that most of their recorded empires have been built underground, some surface dwelling dwarven cultures have been observed. The Dwarves have a natural pennant for mining and casting, but what is the most known facet of them is their stubborn politics. Dwarves have an average lifespan of 450 years.
Kingdom's Race Bonuses & Malus:
Underground Empires - Dwarven Kingdoms must be built Underground.
Unable Riders - Dwarves cannot purchase Light Cavalry or Heavy Cavalry.
Race's Natural Predisposition: Good -- A good natural predisposition means that this race opposed the rise of Varinus and those races that allied with him. Good allied races must be followers of freedom and justice. They have great relations with other good aligned races and are at near war with evil aligned races.
* Orcs and Goblins cannot be Good aligned.
* Halflings must be Good aligned.
Kingdom Size: Moderate - A moderate kingdom possesses a capital and two cities, as well as having adequate land surrounding all three settlements for sufficient growth. A moderate sized kingdom is ripe both for growth as well as conquest.
* Has up to two cities and the Capital.
Name of the Capital and surrounding Cities (if any):
Stone Dragon – The Capital of Euphrasia Stone Dragon was the first settlement the dwarves established. The appearance of the mountain gives the look of a dragon, maw opening for a vicious bite, coming out of the very earth itself. Stalagmite and connecting stalactites gave the appearance of deadly teeth from a great distance. The entrance from a distance didn’t prepare the dwarves for an up close inspection. The mouth was huge, big enough to allow a few giants easy access. The dwarves settled their city in what many joke as the stomach of the dragon and after starting on the foundations of what is now called the Dwarven Republic of Euphrasia; they set to work on carving, out of the mountain, a realistic face for their mountain. Before the shape simply suggested a dragon but with the dwarves expert hand with stone it no long simply resembled such a mythical beast but in fact looked like one frozen in stone.
Population: 10,500,000 Dwarves
Location: The gray dot closest to the eastern border
Black Lake – Once an ancient cavern the Black Lake is now a city for dwarves whom wish to view the sky but remain in the safety of the mountains. The Black Lake in ancient times, before dwarves settled in the region, was a cavern supported by a huge stalagmite. Some unknown incident caused a large portion of ceiling above to collapse though the main portion of the stalagmite remained and appeared to resemble, to the dwarves, a tree growing from the ground reaching towards the sky. The rain that constantly visits this region of Euphrasia, keeps the depression around the stalagmite filled with water. The city was built into the exterior of the stalagmite rising in levels.
Population: 8,250,000 Dwarves
Location: The gray dot closest to the western border
Death Trap – Once a huge fortress that warded the Dwarven Republic of Euphrasia the city that replaced it was out of necessity as displaced dwarves that fled from two small cities situated on the northern shores, where Euphrasia borders once included. Of the surviving nine million dwarves that found refuge at Death Trap the subsequent months saw another six million die from starvation and sickness. Of the three million remaining only two point five million remained to build a city around the Death Trap Fortress, using the stone from the walls to help build homes and buildings. The other five hundred thousand that refused to remain went into the tunnels carving a life out in the depths of the mountain in small villages scattered throughout Euphrasia with those who already lived in such small established towns.
Population: 3,750,000 Dwarves
Location: The gray dot closest to the northern border
(There are 1,750,000 Dwarves living in small settlements throughout the Dwarven Republic of Euphrasia. Most of the Warriors within Euphrasia are young adventuring dwarves from such small settlements.)
Kingdom Government: Republic - A republic is a form of government in which people or the representatives of the people have ultimate power rather than the power being vested in a monarch or despot. The people or their representatives may elect a leader, but that leader's power derives from the consent of the people.
-- Generates +1 Happiness per city per week.
Name of the Kingdom's Leaders:
Tarcisius, Thane of Euphrasia – Tarcisius is the Thane of The Dwarven Republic of Euphrasia, commonly shortened to Thane of Euphrasia for simplicities sake. The young dwarf of some 121 years old was heralded as the slayer of Varinus though claims he is not guilty of this heroic charge. In the battles prior to Varinus’ death Tarcisius lost his sword hand in a battle with an undead warrior. Surviving after such a gruesome wound and continuing to fight up till Varinus’ death with his weaker and less skilled left hand won over the population’s admiration and they elected him as Thane of Euphrasia, against his pleas. Thrust into power he has tried to earn their trust in him these past forty-three years.
Many dwarven maidens find him an attractive dwarve with his red beard trimmed to a medium length that ended about mid chest. Common of dwarves he stood at four feet seven inches and weighed nearly 225 lbs. Dwarves generally being stockier then other races, he was seen as a fit male dwarve well muscled.
Steel Hammerhead, Thane of Stone Dragon – Steel Hammerhead is one of the most respected dwarves of Euphrasia. One of the few dwarves in the Republic to willingly spend almost all of his fortune and nearly bankrupting himself to help purchase food after the Green Fleet from Varinus displaced millions of dwarves. His business after the immediate crisis ended skyrocketed as dwarves sought to support his businesses that helped fellow kinsmen in their time of need instead of letting their greed cloud their good senses. Many of his competitors resent him and his actions, which also led to his election as the Thane of Stone Dragon, but are just now regaining their power and fortunes of the past as dwarf’s gratitude towards Steel Hammerhead fade in their memories.
Steel Hammerhead is known as one of the most stubborn dwarves in Euphrasia and rarely backs down unless irreversibly proved wrong in which he’ll grudgingly agree. Many foreigners find him unwelcoming and too narrow minded though he believes he stands on equal footing; and nearly too for he stands at a giant’s height of five foot and one inch. His long black beard is braided into two braids and streaked with gray informing his age is somewhere in the 300’s.
Flint Hammerfell, Thane of Black Lake – Flint Hammerfell is the wealthiest dwarve within Euphrasia. A majority of the mining claims belong to his family. Like Steel he used his funds to aid the dwarven people though not in the same extent. When the call to war went out though, he ensured to provide the military with superior equipment forged out of the finest metal, mithril free of charge. Since those days though no new resources for the metal has been found and many of the soldiers whom returned, their equipment was damaged beyond repair. Although Flint lost a great deal of income that would have been gained had he sold it, he earned more as returning warriors whom survived because of his generosity, became loyal customers.
Flint Hammerfell was a common dwarf who rose through intelligence and plans to continue rising. Standing at four feet five inches in height Flint was nothing special. Having a brown beard neatly trimmed the young wealthy Thane likes to horde his money and only make investments that he considers are sure things. If he hadn’t aided the military who knows what would have happened, Varinus could have won and then his gold would eventually no longer be his nor would his way of life.
Thrag Ironfist, Thane of Death Trap – Thrag Ironfist is the oldest of Thanes and unlike Flint and Steel he wasn’t elected do to his actions after the fall of Varinus but was re-elected because of his long history of service. For the past 250 years the old dwarve has placed his service before himself striving for excellence. At 399 years old he’s one of the older dwarves within Euphrasia. His hair no longer blond like it once was but has a wispy white look to it. Like most older dwarves he keeps his beard in a long braid.
Kingdom's Population Size and Population Growth: 24,250,000 Dwarves within the Dwarven Republic of Euphrasia
Increase of 150,000 every two week.
Kingdom's Labor Trait: Free Workers - Workers in the kingdom can work with whom they please. Some wish to be masons, some wish to be scribes and others wish to join the military. There is no hierarchy that dictates who is born into what. Farmers becoming kings is still a near impossibility, but only in a society where workers are free to work where they wish is it possible that innovative new ideas can be added, traded and viewed to become usable, rather than in a heavily protected society where artists trudge stone and masons fight in the king's army.
-- Requires only 30 Economic Points for a Golden Age requirement.
-- Capital starts with a Library Construct and all other Library Constructs cost 6 Economic Points less.
Kingdom's Legal Trait: Taxation - The kingdom has decided that it can vary the level of taxation upon its citizens. The economy can flux and the taxation rate can be adjusted to ensure the people are kept happy. When the taxation rate increases, the revenue of the kingdom increases but the unrest within the kingdom increases as people make less and less for themselves.
-- Taxation Rate: Anywhere from 0 to 10.
-- For every level of taxation past 7, a decrease of 2 Happiness points a week occurs.
-- For every level of taxation of 6 or below, an increase of 2 Happiness point a week occurs.
(Taxation Level is 6)
Kingdom's Religion Trait: Free Beliefs - Free religion is the policy of a state which does not mandate which religions its members must adhere to. All religions are welcome, and let the spiritual marketplace decide among them. Though perhaps implemented for more noble reasons, free religion often has the effect of limiting the power of any individual religion. In states with one religion, the people in charge of that religion may wield a great deal of power. States with free religion generally attempt to treat them all equally, ensuring that none can become ultimately dominant.
-- Kingdom gains +1 Cultural Points a week for every Minor Religion and +2 Cultural Points a week for every Major Religion that has at least 20% followers in its kingdom.
-- Religion does not affect Happiness in the kingdom unless 90% of the kingdom is one religion, than -5 Happiness per week.
Kingdom's Military Trait: Professional Army - A professional army is a full-time military organization that remains in being even when the country is at peace. Its soldiers are paid for their services by the state and spend their time training or performing public works when not at war. The earliest armies were not professional. When war was imminent, the country's leaders would issue a call and all able-bodied men would shoulder their weapons and march off to battle. These amateur soldiers usually didn't have much training and were often expected to supply their own weapons and armor, so their quality was not very high. They tended to desert when they had to tend to their crops, so battles were scheduled for the summer. If victory wasn't achieved by harvest, the war would often be called off for a year. Professional armies form when a society has grown wealthy enough to support a large number of men who do not work the fields or perform other productive work. The soldiers are usually housed in barracks and segregated from the civilian population to minimize friction, and the state provides their food, weapons, armor, and training. They are almost always more effective than the amateurs.
-- All land Military Units cost twice as many Military Points and have double Military Maintenance costs.
-- All land Military Units now fight as "Veteran" types.
Kingdom's Kingdom Trait: Advanced Architecture - Beautiful structures dot as far as the eye can see in this Kingdom's cities. From archers to massive spires that rise high throughout the heavens. Yet as much as these structures are beautiful, many are also practical such as the high walls that surround its cities. This nation has turned building into an art form and in the process has learned advanced building techniques and how to ensure that a structure will last a millennia.
* Constructs cost 20% less.
Kingdom's Military / Military Spending:
72 Military Points
3 (Veteran)Warrior Regiments = 12 MP
4 (Veteran)Spearmen Regiments = 24 MP
4 (Veteran)Skirmisher Regiments = 16 MP
Remaining Military Points: 72 - 52 = 20 MP Remaining
Kingdom’s Hero:
Tarcisius, Thane of Euphrasia
Industriousness – Constructs cost 2 Economic Points less.
Kingdom's Resource Nodes / Economy:
Foodstuffs
-- Required by all kingdoms.
-- +1 Economic Points every two weeks.
-- Every Additional resource node adds +200,000 population increase.
Gold
-- +6 Economic Points every two weeks.
Taxation Level is 6
Total Economic Points Generated: 1(Food) + 6(Gold) + 6(Tax) + 2(Library) = +15 EP
Kingdom's Cultural Points:
2(Baseline) + 2(Library) = +4
Kingdom's Happiness Points:
-6(3 Cities) + 3(Republic) + 1(Library) + 2(Taxation Level) = 0 Happiness Increase/Decrease
Kingdom History:
Rise of Varinus: During the rise of Varinus the Dwarven Republic of Euphrasia was ignorant of his growing power so far away from their lands and enjoyed a peaceful expansionist era. They established the now ruined cities of Daggers Bay and White Cliff during the twelve years of Varinus’ rise to power. Although newly established those cities had a large number of dwarves who left the under mountain cities who desired a fresh start or wished to view the open skies. Both cities were the first above ground establishments and many dwarves who had previously left Euphrasia because they felt confined underground joined those settlements and aiding in the construction.
The end of the year Varinus’ armies marched out of the dead lands with the coming of spring intent on bringing death to every nation in every direction. The first few months spelled disaster for the surrounding nations as millions died and the defenders were forced to withdrawal further against the unstoppable hordes of Orcs, Gobbies, Drow, Humans, and fallen soldiers raised from their violent deaths to fight in death against those who they in life attempted to protect.
Mid way through the forty-three Ancient Era is when that all changed when green sails began flooding the northern shores of the Dwarven Republic of Euphrasia. The small navy that Euphrasia had managed to assemble in those thirteen short years didn’t even slow the hordes of vessels the Lizardmen had at their disposal. The assault was unexpected and without warning. Within days both Daggers Bay and White Cliff had fallen. The citizens that once numbered some thirteen million souls were down to nearly ten million as the citizens fled the burning, ravaged coastal cities. The Lizardmen choose not to pursue the fleeing dwarves back into the mountain but choose to continue their raids along the coastline against small settlements.
Around one million dwarves died in the unexpected journey back to the mountains. Of the nine million dwarves who remained only three million survived at Death Trap, the other dying of starvation and disease during the following months. Death Trap, a former fortress, soon because a established city of the displaced citizens of Daggers Bay and White Cliff though due to its hasty construction the city had no uniformity but was a large maze of roads and alleys.
Fall of Varinus: When the call to arms rang throughout the all the nations Euphrasia answered the call. Their Thane of Euphrasia at the time went to council. He agreed to send 30,000 dwarves to help put an end to the armies commanded by Varinus. Accompanying those troops would be a supply train of nearly 1000 dwarves who would cook, attend to wounded, and ensure that the dead returned to Euphrasia. Unlike today’s Dwarven Army those that helped put an end to Varinus’ ambition were poorly trained yet well equipped, the opposite is true of their current army, which is well trained but equipped with subpar weapons.
One their march south towards Varinus’ realm, known as The Dead Lands by some, the Dwarven Army was resupplied by friendly nations, whom hoped that the dwarves and other races marching on The Dead Lands would end Varinus’ continued rise to power. As the dwarves entered nations that neighbored The Dead Lands they saw how ravaged they had become. It appeared as if death had visited the lands nearest to the blighted lands. Seeing what their nation might become and what horrors of war had been committed within a short year of the wars start the dwarves fought with unchecked anger.
The battles leading up to Varinus’ Death provided those among the allied kingdoms with experience on how to stand strong against the hordes of his minions. During one of these battles Tarcisius lost his sword hand, his right hand, in a battle with a huge Orc, he survived the encounter but was deemed unfit to fight. His previous service had been noticed by his regiment and his loss was hard felt.
The next battle though he was there fighting alongside his kinsmen, staying away from the larger picture but still willing to lend a hand, even if he was untrained with his left hand. He shouted out words that reminded them what they fought for. Cries of ‘For my family!’ and ‘For our kinsmen!’. His dedication and loyalty to those he served elevated him within the Euphrasia army and uplifted their hearts and souls. It reminded them that they could not bear the loss of the war in the afterlife. Their people would become like so many other nations surrounding Varinus’ own though he wouldn’t stop till his opposition was dead, he wouldn’t stop till ever dwarf of Euphrasia, a nation of dwarves that stood up to him died.
Their hearts and souls lifted the dwarves fought for what they cherished and held dear to them most. Their fury was unstoppable and when the armies gathered before Varinus’ eventual fall in combat the dwarves were in the thick of it besides all other races assembled. They didn’t fight for their lives but the lives of the countless millions that would bear the brunt of Varinus’ wrath should they fail. Weather it was luck or the will of the gods that aided them in their success is anyone’s guess but many dwarves contribute the war’s victory over Varinus to Tarcisius. Without him many say the dwarves would have lost hope earlier on in the campaign so far away from home, but his bravery and determination to continue fighting allowed the dwarves to see the clear reality.
Dwarves whom were near Tarcisius in the battle say Varinus’ sought him out knowing his actions helped lead to the success of the Euphrasia Army. Troops that stood in his way were cut down but when he met Tarcisius that the mage Varinus couldn’t kill him. They saw him cast a spell of lightening that that threw the dwarf into the air and on his back, smoke rising from his chest. When he stood others recall him yelling, “It’s a clear sky mage, your thunder is fake and will do me no harm.” Before charging Varinus who readied his blade, but it’s rumored that even his skill wasn’t enough to overcome the emotion and rage that fuel Tarcisius’ left arm that was unaccustomed to the rigors or combat.
When he was slain by whom the Dwarves claim as the Hero of Euphrasia* the hordes of evil creatures pledged to his cause broke ranks and fled the field, not even attempting to reclaim their leaders body for burial. The dwarves tired of fighting choose not to pursue the fleeing fragments of Varinus’ shattered hordes. They helped burn their enemies in huge pyres using the dead trees that inhabited and still inhabit The Dead Lands as fuel. Their own dead they prepped for the journey home hopping their fallen comrades would find peace with returning to the stone. Tarcisius’ alleged victory over Varinus, which he constantly denies to this day, was sent ahead and he received a welcoming fit for a king.
His injuries were some of the first to be attended to. His right hand was seen to ensure that no infection had plagued him during the campaign and his permanently burned chest was examined it though found it would heal fine but weather the pain that plagued him every day would dissipate when the wound did was beyond them. The bolt of lightning that should have killed him didn’t due to the mithril armor he had worn to battle. Without that armor he’d have surely died like any other ordinary person, so the healers informed him. To this day the burn aches with the same pain as when it was first inflicted upon him some forty-three years ago even though only a scar remains. Shortly after his injuries were seen to he was elected as the new Thane of Euphrasia. A job which he attempted to turn down but apparently couldn’t no matter what he attempted.
Rebuilding from the Ruins: The past forty-three years have been peaceful within Euphrasia. Although nothing has begun to grow in The Dead Lands the dwarves believe it is because of the Tower of Nùhr that prevents anything from growing. The dwarves who were expansionists before the war have become more industrious timid of another expansion after what happened to Daggers Bay* and White Cliff*.
As the dwarves build new constructions and additions to their cities some of the younger generations want to join the military and go hunting for the remains of Varinus’ horde of followers before some strong leader emerges and threatens the land again. It’s highly debated among the Thanes and among the people of Euphrasia about their course of action. Those that fought in the past war don’t wish to fight again and find it highly unlikely that a new charisma leader would rise to gather such an army again. Others, mostly the young, wish to march out of Stone Dragon to return as heros.
*Hero of Euphrasia – Would like it to be Hero of (Insert worlds name here/insert continents name here) instead of Hero of Euphrasia but didn’t wish to dictate a continent or world name for the game. Should one be chosen I’d like the Hero of Euphrasia to be changed accordingly to either one, preferably the continents name though.
Daggers Bay – The second city that fell to the raids of the Lizardmen’s Green Fleet. The city it the black dot furthest to the west directly north of the Dwarven Republic of Euphrasia.
White Cliff – The first city that fell to the raids of the Lizardmen’s Green Fleet. The city is the black dot furthest to the east directly north of the Dwarven Republic of Euphrasia.
Kingdom's Location:
