NationStates Jolt Archive

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Metzengerstein is a beautiful country situated high in the Ragged Mountains. It is an old land of gothic architecture, crumbling castles, and sprawling manor houses. Although its early history was wrought with strife, most of the old torture houses filled with rats and devious implements of physical and psychological torture have been torn down. Only a few remain, which have been turned into museums to remind the citizens of Metzengerstein of the nation's barbaric past and to demonstrate how the nation has grown and matured.

Metzengerstein is a northern, mountainous land with a harsh, rocky coastline. Its forests are primarily evergreen. Off the coast of Metzengerstein is the Maelstrom, a violent whirlpool that has been a danger to shipping and an impediment to trade. Because of this, the easiest means of travel and commerce in Metzengerstein are via airship and rail.

The history of Metzengerstein is one of violence and a barbaric Inquisition, recently overthrown. The Inquisition's once mighty strongholds of torture are now in ruins, however, and the people of Metzengerstein are trying hard to forget the atrocities that took place there. One lingering horror from days gone by is the disease of the blood known as the Red Death. Metzenger scientists are working on a way to combat this dread affliction, however.

The capitol of the Constitutional Monarchy of Metzengerstein is the city of Valdemar, located in the Ragged Mountains. The parliament is called the House of Usher, an elected body, the members of which are voted into office every 6 years. Our currency is the poe, which features the likeness of our first king and founder, Edgar. Our national animal is the black cat, and the national bird is the raven. The national insect is the gold bug.
Although one of our chief industries is "soda," we prefer to think of it as "Amondillado wine." It is a fine drink with a nice bouquet that is highly prized among all those of genteel and noble distinction. (Likewise, our industry of the manufacture of escapable caskets — designed to aid those who have been buried alive — was erroneously reported as "pizza delivery." Our apologies.)

On a further note, we wish to dismiss rumors that some of the vast torture chambers filled with rats, pits, and pendulums are still in operation. Those were implements of the past to which our people and our Queen say "Nevermore!" Other outlandish rumors of orangutans trained to kill our political dissidents are likewise false.

Thank you for giving ear to a new nation.

The House of Usher
Valemar, Metzengerstein

Written and released to the public on order of Queen Ligeia and her vice-regent, Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin, Advisor to the Queen.

OOC: Care to post anything about your steamtech history? We are Post-Modern/Steampunk.

Nice entry, btw

http://www.bateshome.com/jordan/nsig.jpg (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=97342)

OOC: Very nice intro.

OOC: Thanks, both of you. Although it probably need not be said, I am a big Poe fan. Metzengerstein has a theme of steamtech/horror, using elements from the stories of Poe (obviously) and other 18th, 19th, and early 20th century authors of the macabre. It is a gothic place -- not as in the modern Goth subculture, rather the feel and the authors that inspired it.

As regards the steamtech, Metzengerstein is "more creepy and less technological." Using the concepts of the Maelstrom (which has caused a limitation in trade) and the recent Inquisition (which caused stunted technological growth), I have limited the technology level of Metzengerstein to a more real-world Victorian level. It did this not only because I am not well-versed in any of the current popular "steampunk" games (but I was a big fan of Space: 1889), but also because it gives me a good opportunity for trade negotiations once I learn more about the dynamics of these fora and the people that RP here.

The one concern I have is about the Maelstrom -- I fear that people will accuse me of "godmodding" by having a giant whirlpool off the coast of my country. The Maelstrom is a Poe story, and that is why I included it in my geography. It is not intended to be the natural equivalent of a "giant force field" that protects me.

That being said, I look forward to future interaction. I have only been here a few days, but I am having a great time!

OOC: Since the names, likenessess, and personalities of my main characters are drawn from Poe stories, I thought I would share with you my interpretations of them. Some characters have yet to appear in my RP stories.


Queen Ligeia: (from Ligeia) Queen Ligeia is tall, with voluminous black hair. Her eyes are large and dark, and seem to have a quality which enables her to pierce the soul of those at whom she stares. She is a young woman, and new to regency. Her father was killed in the recent wars to rid Metzengerstein of the Inquisision, and was beloved by the people as a wise, fair, and just man. Queen Ligeia hopes to live up to her father's good name.

C. Auguste Dupin: (from The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Purloined Letter, and The Mystery of Marie Roget) C. A. Dupin is a man of incredible intellect, whose senses have been honed to near super-human levels. His skills of deductive reasoning are second to none. He was an associate of Ligeia's father, and fought with him against the Inquisition. When Ligeia ascended to the throne, she stunned the nation by selecting Dupin -- a commoner -- to be her co-regent.

General Montressor: (from The Cask of Amontillado) General Montressor is a military man, as was his father and his father's father. The family Montressor is wealthy and ancient, and holds many titles and owns many vast estates. General Montressor is, himself, a man dedicated to Metzengerstein and the betterment of its people. He is the current Field Marshall of the army of Metzengerstein. A stern man with little humor, General Montressor is vengeful and violent. He seems to suffer insults well, but this is merely a facade: Insult Montressor, and you have made an emeny. Dupin does not trust Montressor, and fears that the General has designs to take the throne himself. Montressor is torn between his duty to Metzengerstein and his love for the Lady Rowena Trevanion.

The Lady Rowena Trevanion of Tremaine: (from Ligeia) The Lady Rowena Trevanion is a bitter woman. She is lovely, perhaps one of the loveliest women in Metzengerstein save for Queen Ligeia herself, but she is also spiteful. She is of the noble class of Metzengerstein, and through her research into geneology she has discovered that her family is of royal lineage. Since her family is older than that of Queen Ligeia, she feels that it is she who should be queen. The Lady Rowena sees Ligeia as a usurper, an upstart noble of lesser distinction who has unlawfully taken her place. To this end, she employs spies to keep watch on Ligeia and her entourage.

Hop-Frog: (from Hop Frog) Hop-Frog is the chief spy and assassin in the employ of Lady Rowena Trevanion. He is a man with a vengeful streak larger and meaner than that of Montressor, if such a thing is possible! Hop-Frog despises royalty and the noble class, having suffered innumerable insults and humiliations from them. The Lady Rowena treated him well, however, and provided him with protection and shelter after Hop-Frog had killed several nobles by burning them to death.

General Lasalle: (from The Pit and the Pendulum) General Lasalle is under the command of General Montressor. He is fiercely loyal to Queen Ligeia, and secretly seeks her hand in marriage. Lasalle has no love for the Inquisition, and was one of the men who helped Ligeia's father defeat them and tear down their vile citadels.

Oldeb: (from A Tale of the Ragged Mountains) Oldeb is Queen Ligeia's chief spy and informant. (I have yet to work out the details of his personality.)

The Inquisition: (from The Pit and the Pendulum) Not a person, but an organization. The Inquisition was a domineering religious order that took hold of Metzengerstein 200 years ago. Like the Inquisition of our world, it was a violent regime priests who ruled the land harshly, torturing those who opposed them. Many citadels were constructed by the Inquisition, filled with devious implements of horrible physical and psychological torture. The Inquisition was finally defeated 2 years ago, and many of its citadels were torn down. Rumors say that isolated pockets of the Inquisition exist still in Metzengerstein, but Queen Ligeia is dedicated to removing them as well.

M. Valdemar: (from The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar) M. Valdemar was a man who, at the very moment of his death, was hypnotized by a mesmerist. He lay in this state many days until finally released to die naturally. Unfortunately for M. Valdemar, death was no longer a natural occurance for him. He is now a vampire-like creature that stalks the dark nights of Metzengerstein. He is a wild card on the political stage of the new nation, and as yet none of the other characters are aware of his existance. The capitol city of Metzengerstein, Valdemar, is named after his family.

Lenore: (from The Raven) Lenore is a vampire in the service of M. Valdemar. Rather than a bat, she prefers to transform into a large black raven. She enjoys the bleak irony of becoming the very symbol of Metzengerstein. Like her master, M. Valdemar, she is a wild card.

If I think of other characters to include, I will update this post.