Lost Hills
04-01-2008, 22:47
The Kingdom of Lost Hills
Work in progress...
Background
The Kingdom of Hills is a massive, sprawling collection of fiefs and vassalages that is paradoxical in its traditionalist politics and progressive society. United in 1264 AD by King William the Unstoppable, the fiercely independent nobles of Lost Hills united under the banner of the King for the greater good.
Geography
Description: Two continents separated by sea.
Area: 25,268,327 sq km
Boundaries
Sea: 50,435 km
Maritime claims: 50nm
Climate: Varies, temperate with clear seasonal changes. Arctic, tropical, desert, arid in some areas
Terrain: Vast fertile grasslands ringed with volcanic mountains. Hilly forests in northern continent.
Lost Hills is composed of two continents separated east-by-west by a narrow sea. A massive country, the two continents together contain every geological and climatic extreme known to man and everything in between. Plains cover much of the interior of the two continents, while still-active volcanoes separate them from hilly forests and marshes on the coasts. The climate is mostly temperate, although the rainforests on the southern continent and deserts in the north stand out as being particularly unique. Lost Hills boasts over 5,000 mammal species in its boundaries, one of the largest concentrations in the known world.
People
Population: 4,168,000,000 (Jan 2008 census)
Age structure: 0-18 years, 25%
18-60 years, 63%
60 years and over, 12%
Median age: 32.1
Ethnic groups: Population almost entirely Manchu-Greek
Languages: Chinese-Greek (official), English, French, German, Latin
% of eligible citizens with undergraduate degree: 79%
% of eligible citizens with postgraduate/doctoral degree: 42%
Literacy rate: 100%
The Kingdom’s people are wealthy, educated, and young. The official language is Chinese-Greek, but English is widely used in the government and in business. An underclass serves as laborers in the huge estates and fiefs of the various lords, and the middle class exists to create evermore wealth for them and the sovereign. The upper classes are entirely noble in birth; although a middle class businessman may become rich, he will never be accepted into the upper class except by special dispensation from the King. The easiest way to do this is to gain recognition as part of the King’s Army, but there is no real imperative to join the upper crust except for political power.
Government
Government type: Hereditary monarchy
Capital: Mariposa
Administrative divisions: Over 15,000 counties, duchies, fiefs, baronages, and vassalages administered by minor nobles. Organized into larger groupings ruled by major nobles.
Executive: King Ignatius IX the Shrewd
Legislature: Council of Lords
Judicial: Council of Judges
Lost Hills is a hereditary monarchy, and its current ruler is King Ignatius IX the Shrewd. He is the 26th King of Lost Hills and a direct descendant of the legendary King William the Unstoppable, first ruler of the Kingdom. There are no true provinces or states in the country, but rather, fiefs and duchies administered by members of the Lost Hills nobility. These divisions range in size from a simple hamlet with farms to the capital city ruled by the King Himself. These nobles have sworn allegiance to the King, but there have been many instances in the Kingdom’s past where nobles have revolted and tried to form their own kingdoms.
The power of Legislation is given to the Council of Lords, a select group of 250 high nobles who have been prepared from birth to make decisions on behalf of the people. The Council meets as needed to decide upon critical issues in the Kingdom, and the King retains the power of veto over anything they decide.
The Council of Judges serves as the Kingdom’s supreme court, and all nobles are required to provide for adequate courts in their local principalities to adequately serve the people. A thriving bar has evolved from this, with tens of thousands of courtroom brawlers arguing on behalf of the people every day.
As for the actual workings of the government, the King retains the services of 14 Departments that administer to the Kingdom. These are: Foreign Affairs, Domestic Affairs, Defense, Health, Commerce, Treasury, Transportation, Education, Labor, Agriculture, Interior, Energy, Justice, Social Affairs. The 14 Secretaries report to the King as His Majesty’s Cabinet, and a select group (Defense, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Domestic Affairs, Treasury) join others in composing His Privy Council.
Military
The Lost Hills Defense Forces are composed of the branches: His Majesty’s Army, the Royal Air Force, and the Royal Navy (which includes the Royal Marines). The LHDF are fully nationalized under His Majesty, and he retains final control of all command decisions, although the Department of Defense is responsible for day-to-day operations.
The LHDF are modern and professional, with an all-volunteer force. With so many opportunities available in such a large country like Lost Hills, many soldiers “go career” and provide a solid corps of NCOs and technicians that run the military.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the military are the regional militias noble lords lead into battle. Each noble, no matter how small or large his influence, is required to outfit a retinue of militia large enough to defend his territory against foreign invasion. This is a double-edged sword, as while this creates a large body of soldiers from which the regular army can draw in times of emergency, it makes it extremely common for minor nobles to war with each other over land or money.
There are five types of divisions that make up the bulk of the army.
Mechanized Infantry or Pezhetairoi
The Pezhetairoi of Lost Hills serve as the King's Mechanized Infantry force, and with Divisions of around ~9,000 infantry plus mechanized crew, they are excellent all-around fighters who are suited for many different missions. The original Pezhetairoi served the King as mounted infantry who dismounted upon entering combat.
Light/SOC or Hypaspistai
The Hypaspistai serve as the Light Infantry forces of Lost Hills. They can be specialized for various tasks (arctic, mountain, desert warfare), but lack armor, artillery support, or air cover. These are generally among the first troops to deploy to any conflict, simply because it is so easy to mobilize and transport them. Their divisions also number ~9,000 infantry.
Airborne or Prodromoi
The Airborne Divisions come in two flavors: assault and light. Air assault troops travel by helicopter, and light troops parachute into conflict zones. These divisions also number ~9,000 infantry, but they also contain tank troops and artillery battalions to support any operations.
Armored Cavalry or Hetairoi
The armored brigades are separated into two categories: Lancers and Hetairoi. Lancers serve entirely at the pleasure of the King, and their Divisions are among the best-trained and elite of the entire army. Hetairoi comprise the remainder of the armored brigades. Only a few thousand infantrymen are attached to each armored brigade, so these are best suited for concerted strikes aimed at opening holes in enemy lines.
Marine
Lost Hills is still in the process of organizing Marine divisions.
As for corps level organization, Corps of 5 divisions (1 Light, 2 MI, 2 Armored, 1 Airborne) are organized into groups of three under a particular banner. Corps and banner listings will follow. Divisions designated "Guards" have distinguished themselves in battle in the past and display a greater esprit de corps than regular units.
Work in progress...
Background
The Kingdom of Hills is a massive, sprawling collection of fiefs and vassalages that is paradoxical in its traditionalist politics and progressive society. United in 1264 AD by King William the Unstoppable, the fiercely independent nobles of Lost Hills united under the banner of the King for the greater good.
Geography
Description: Two continents separated by sea.
Area: 25,268,327 sq km
Boundaries
Sea: 50,435 km
Maritime claims: 50nm
Climate: Varies, temperate with clear seasonal changes. Arctic, tropical, desert, arid in some areas
Terrain: Vast fertile grasslands ringed with volcanic mountains. Hilly forests in northern continent.
Lost Hills is composed of two continents separated east-by-west by a narrow sea. A massive country, the two continents together contain every geological and climatic extreme known to man and everything in between. Plains cover much of the interior of the two continents, while still-active volcanoes separate them from hilly forests and marshes on the coasts. The climate is mostly temperate, although the rainforests on the southern continent and deserts in the north stand out as being particularly unique. Lost Hills boasts over 5,000 mammal species in its boundaries, one of the largest concentrations in the known world.
People
Population: 4,168,000,000 (Jan 2008 census)
Age structure: 0-18 years, 25%
18-60 years, 63%
60 years and over, 12%
Median age: 32.1
Ethnic groups: Population almost entirely Manchu-Greek
Languages: Chinese-Greek (official), English, French, German, Latin
% of eligible citizens with undergraduate degree: 79%
% of eligible citizens with postgraduate/doctoral degree: 42%
Literacy rate: 100%
The Kingdom’s people are wealthy, educated, and young. The official language is Chinese-Greek, but English is widely used in the government and in business. An underclass serves as laborers in the huge estates and fiefs of the various lords, and the middle class exists to create evermore wealth for them and the sovereign. The upper classes are entirely noble in birth; although a middle class businessman may become rich, he will never be accepted into the upper class except by special dispensation from the King. The easiest way to do this is to gain recognition as part of the King’s Army, but there is no real imperative to join the upper crust except for political power.
Government
Government type: Hereditary monarchy
Capital: Mariposa
Administrative divisions: Over 15,000 counties, duchies, fiefs, baronages, and vassalages administered by minor nobles. Organized into larger groupings ruled by major nobles.
Executive: King Ignatius IX the Shrewd
Legislature: Council of Lords
Judicial: Council of Judges
Lost Hills is a hereditary monarchy, and its current ruler is King Ignatius IX the Shrewd. He is the 26th King of Lost Hills and a direct descendant of the legendary King William the Unstoppable, first ruler of the Kingdom. There are no true provinces or states in the country, but rather, fiefs and duchies administered by members of the Lost Hills nobility. These divisions range in size from a simple hamlet with farms to the capital city ruled by the King Himself. These nobles have sworn allegiance to the King, but there have been many instances in the Kingdom’s past where nobles have revolted and tried to form their own kingdoms.
The power of Legislation is given to the Council of Lords, a select group of 250 high nobles who have been prepared from birth to make decisions on behalf of the people. The Council meets as needed to decide upon critical issues in the Kingdom, and the King retains the power of veto over anything they decide.
The Council of Judges serves as the Kingdom’s supreme court, and all nobles are required to provide for adequate courts in their local principalities to adequately serve the people. A thriving bar has evolved from this, with tens of thousands of courtroom brawlers arguing on behalf of the people every day.
As for the actual workings of the government, the King retains the services of 14 Departments that administer to the Kingdom. These are: Foreign Affairs, Domestic Affairs, Defense, Health, Commerce, Treasury, Transportation, Education, Labor, Agriculture, Interior, Energy, Justice, Social Affairs. The 14 Secretaries report to the King as His Majesty’s Cabinet, and a select group (Defense, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Domestic Affairs, Treasury) join others in composing His Privy Council.
Military
The Lost Hills Defense Forces are composed of the branches: His Majesty’s Army, the Royal Air Force, and the Royal Navy (which includes the Royal Marines). The LHDF are fully nationalized under His Majesty, and he retains final control of all command decisions, although the Department of Defense is responsible for day-to-day operations.
The LHDF are modern and professional, with an all-volunteer force. With so many opportunities available in such a large country like Lost Hills, many soldiers “go career” and provide a solid corps of NCOs and technicians that run the military.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the military are the regional militias noble lords lead into battle. Each noble, no matter how small or large his influence, is required to outfit a retinue of militia large enough to defend his territory against foreign invasion. This is a double-edged sword, as while this creates a large body of soldiers from which the regular army can draw in times of emergency, it makes it extremely common for minor nobles to war with each other over land or money.
There are five types of divisions that make up the bulk of the army.
Mechanized Infantry or Pezhetairoi
The Pezhetairoi of Lost Hills serve as the King's Mechanized Infantry force, and with Divisions of around ~9,000 infantry plus mechanized crew, they are excellent all-around fighters who are suited for many different missions. The original Pezhetairoi served the King as mounted infantry who dismounted upon entering combat.
Light/SOC or Hypaspistai
The Hypaspistai serve as the Light Infantry forces of Lost Hills. They can be specialized for various tasks (arctic, mountain, desert warfare), but lack armor, artillery support, or air cover. These are generally among the first troops to deploy to any conflict, simply because it is so easy to mobilize and transport them. Their divisions also number ~9,000 infantry.
Airborne or Prodromoi
The Airborne Divisions come in two flavors: assault and light. Air assault troops travel by helicopter, and light troops parachute into conflict zones. These divisions also number ~9,000 infantry, but they also contain tank troops and artillery battalions to support any operations.
Armored Cavalry or Hetairoi
The armored brigades are separated into two categories: Lancers and Hetairoi. Lancers serve entirely at the pleasure of the King, and their Divisions are among the best-trained and elite of the entire army. Hetairoi comprise the remainder of the armored brigades. Only a few thousand infantrymen are attached to each armored brigade, so these are best suited for concerted strikes aimed at opening holes in enemy lines.
Marine
Lost Hills is still in the process of organizing Marine divisions.
As for corps level organization, Corps of 5 divisions (1 Light, 2 MI, 2 Armored, 1 Airborne) are organized into groups of three under a particular banner. Corps and banner listings will follow. Divisions designated "Guards" have distinguished themselves in battle in the past and display a greater esprit de corps than regular units.