Post by Gaea on Feb 1, 2017 16:08:34 GMT -8
History
For much of its history, the kingdom of Actona suffered under an ineffective and corrupt royal family. While its location astride one of the primary Nabatan-Lycian trade routes allowed tariffs to keep it afloat, the crumbling infrastructure and collapsing borders eventually culminated in the most recent king trading portions of Actona's limited territory in return for certain of his extremely expensive vices.
The revolution was historically bloody and excruciatingly methodical. The entire royal family was butchered to the accompaniment of the cheers of the citizens, the existing power structure torn out at the roots by the military coup, and in its place a stratocracy was born - a council of generals took supreme power and re-dubbed the kingdom by a new name, Austranova. Nationalism erupted like wildfire as the long-suffering people finally found their saviors, cultivated by the new leadership as they struggled to find competent replacements for the countless corrupt officials that had been removed. Rebuilding entire sectors of the economy and government nearly from scratch was difficult, but occurred at record speed as Austranova grew into a meritocratic stratocracy, veneration to the state mingled with a degree of investment in their nation that serfs and citizens alike had never before experienced. In only thirty years, the collapsing country transformed into a regional superpower.
Austranova is bereft of natural resources, but as a rapidly developing industrial nation, its sudden explosion of nationalism and military expansion have become synergistic and exponential in growth. Furthering this growth is the constant presence of the military; army units are constantly deployed within the country for everything from infrastructure projects to parades, giving a friendly and familiar face to a force that most commoners in other countries view as terrifying. While a calculated move by the state, it is less empty propaganda than constant reinforcement of the people's role in their new government, as equal citizens rather than mere serfs - only citizens with at least two years of military service can hold public office, but there are no other requirements and the meanest serf can ascend to significant power if they have the talent and drive to do so.
Somewhat unusual by the standards of Elibe, Astranova is entirely focused on humanity; only humans and specially vetted humanoid youkai are allowed to serve in any kind of military or leadership position, and it is one of the few countries that actively discriminates against dragons and other monstrous nonhumans, requiring them to stay in human form at all times within the country's borders. This has strained relations with Arcadia somewhat, but they are well liked within the Lycian Divide and tolerated by Arcadia for their incredible contributions towards keeping the western wall protected from the horrors of the Reaches.
Military
Known across Elibe for its incredible advances in the field of clockwork technology, Astranova fields one of the most advanced armies in Elibe, though it lacks severely in magical innovation. Clockwork soldiers - automatons driven by steam and electricity - wield great strength and durability albeit possessed of extremely rudimentary intelligence, while mechanized suits allow even average humans to wield abilities and even firepower. Gunpowder is in its infancy, but Austranovan military doctrine already embraces the use of artillery and mechanized shock troops alongside expendable clockwork men. Research moves ever forward, and the fledgling superpower is suspected to host more than one prototype weapon that have not been unveiled to the public yet.
For much of its history, the kingdom of Actona suffered under an ineffective and corrupt royal family. While its location astride one of the primary Nabatan-Lycian trade routes allowed tariffs to keep it afloat, the crumbling infrastructure and collapsing borders eventually culminated in the most recent king trading portions of Actona's limited territory in return for certain of his extremely expensive vices.
The revolution was historically bloody and excruciatingly methodical. The entire royal family was butchered to the accompaniment of the cheers of the citizens, the existing power structure torn out at the roots by the military coup, and in its place a stratocracy was born - a council of generals took supreme power and re-dubbed the kingdom by a new name, Austranova. Nationalism erupted like wildfire as the long-suffering people finally found their saviors, cultivated by the new leadership as they struggled to find competent replacements for the countless corrupt officials that had been removed. Rebuilding entire sectors of the economy and government nearly from scratch was difficult, but occurred at record speed as Austranova grew into a meritocratic stratocracy, veneration to the state mingled with a degree of investment in their nation that serfs and citizens alike had never before experienced. In only thirty years, the collapsing country transformed into a regional superpower.
Austranova is bereft of natural resources, but as a rapidly developing industrial nation, its sudden explosion of nationalism and military expansion have become synergistic and exponential in growth. Furthering this growth is the constant presence of the military; army units are constantly deployed within the country for everything from infrastructure projects to parades, giving a friendly and familiar face to a force that most commoners in other countries view as terrifying. While a calculated move by the state, it is less empty propaganda than constant reinforcement of the people's role in their new government, as equal citizens rather than mere serfs - only citizens with at least two years of military service can hold public office, but there are no other requirements and the meanest serf can ascend to significant power if they have the talent and drive to do so.
Somewhat unusual by the standards of Elibe, Astranova is entirely focused on humanity; only humans and specially vetted humanoid youkai are allowed to serve in any kind of military or leadership position, and it is one of the few countries that actively discriminates against dragons and other monstrous nonhumans, requiring them to stay in human form at all times within the country's borders. This has strained relations with Arcadia somewhat, but they are well liked within the Lycian Divide and tolerated by Arcadia for their incredible contributions towards keeping the western wall protected from the horrors of the Reaches.
Military
Known across Elibe for its incredible advances in the field of clockwork technology, Astranova fields one of the most advanced armies in Elibe, though it lacks severely in magical innovation. Clockwork soldiers - automatons driven by steam and electricity - wield great strength and durability albeit possessed of extremely rudimentary intelligence, while mechanized suits allow even average humans to wield abilities and even firepower. Gunpowder is in its infancy, but Austranovan military doctrine already embraces the use of artillery and mechanized shock troops alongside expendable clockwork men. Research moves ever forward, and the fledgling superpower is suspected to host more than one prototype weapon that have not been unveiled to the public yet.
