Phenixica
17-10-2008, 09:15
Name: The Kingdom of Vetia
Races: Humans, Elves, Dwarf Miners and Orcs
Population:
3 million Men
900,000 Elves
400,000 Dwarfs
500,000 Orcs, mix of slaves and conscripts
Background
Vetia is a young Kingdom founded by the descendants of an army that passed through the region over 600 years ago and after many years of infighting managed to unite under the banner of King Leopold.
Magic does play a minor role in the Kingdom like Restoration and Intelligence gathering, but the Kingdoms greatest advantage is technology with Steel and gunpowder making the army something feared and with the forts armed with cannons to keep back invaders on the coast and Rivers, paved roads help trade and the invention of the pump has made it so the Kingdom pumps fresh water to it’s main cities by Aqueducts it is truly a golden age of Vetia Technological development.
The Kingdom strength in Technology has seen a drop in the Elvin population of the Kingdom as they find their skills less in demand; this has caused tension between the Elves and Humans. More so since they use Orcs to work in ‘labor camps’ to power the industrial part of the economy and also force conscript 10% of the entire local Orc population into there army. Elves do not agree with this practice and Elven lords refuse to send their Orc populations to labor camps. Dwarf labour has been hired and they have been allowed to setup major mining operations in the western mountains, they are the backbone of the Raw Metal trade that Vetia exports around the world, infact talk as started about allowing them to setup a Dwarf Hall to call home.
The king is absolute ruler of the land with a assembly of advisers being the nearest thing to a voice for the people, but they are filled with puppets and yes-men so the Kingdom is finding itself with more and more unhappy citizens.
Current ruler is King Leopold II
History
From what we can tell from ancient sources the earliest known political power in the region was a confederation of Orc tribes about 6000 years ago, these Orcs were known to raid the Kingdoms in the general area and when goblins arrived on there western frontier that is when there went down. A unnamed Kingdom sent a army to deal with both the Orcs and Goblins, this army numbered some 300,000 huge to modern standards and thought to probably come from several different Kingdoms working together.
Ancient orders on stone tablets show us that there orders were to destroy and Orcs and Goblins, but when the Army arrived they found the local Orcs weak from years of bitter fighting from the Goblins and for some reason (most likely political) a part of the army stayed behind. We think they numbered some 160,000 and they built multiple settlements in the area about 600 years ago.
At first the land was disunited, the humans fought against each other and brought in many foreigners to boost there numbers and quickly the population of the area was raised from 160,000 to a million.
They also brought in Elves and Dwarves to boost there economy and armies but then about 400 years ago one of the many Kings built a giant fortress using Orc Labour, standing on a small mountain overlooking a valley below and this Fort was named WildPass, Guardian of th wild lands.
At first it was a small nuisance, but it toke in numbers as they adopted laws that forced Orcs to fight in it’s armies giving the Orcs a sense of purpose. Lorein was the first city to be destroyed by this army and over the course of the next 200 years they united all the Kingdoms into the Kingdom of Vetia (It is thought Vetia was the name of the general who controlled the first army)
Wildpass still remains the Capital of the kingdom, even tho cities like Mitra and Angersmith have a population 4 times it’s size and make much more money for the Kingdom. WildPass is much safer, the King prefers it as it’s defences in theory cannot be broken by any force.
Today the Kingdom is still mostly Human, with a good Elf and Dwarf minority. Even then these Elves after years of living in the Kingdom have developed Human personalities except for the fact they have a never-ending lifespan unless killed.
The Kingdom has consolidated it’s claimed by making forts and keeping patrols on it’s borders, Goblin raids are a problem so they have a Standing army on there Western border to hold back any attack.
The Men of Vetia
The Humans of Vetia are thought to come from a collection of Kingdoms in the North, this is because of there fair skin and western culture. There are two reasons why that first army of 300,000 men arrived and it's thought that it's both to push back Orc/Goblin raids and also the fact they the rising power of the Elves in the north was to much competition and the Kingdoms wanted to expand south in order to increase there power.
This army was under the command of General Harold Vetia, but after the Orcs were beaten and the goblins pushed towards the coast the army was ordered to stay behind to assure they could not come back. The kingdom never sent orders to Harold or the 160,000 soldiers that remained and it is thought they finally were destroyed by the threat of the Elves.
The army was quick to move on, most of them started families with wives from neighbouring kingdoms and built the first towns. The first of these were Mitra and Lorein, Harold stayed in the main camp which is thought to be near modern day Hatea. The leaders of these factions proclaimed themselves King and the land was disunited. It is thought Harold gave orders to his son before he died.
"Make sure you or your offspring unite these lost people"
The next few centuries the men fought until the offspring of Vetia built his mighty Citadel of WildPass using ironically Orc labour. The Kingdom that was created were a natural soldier race and Vetian men for fierce fighters, there armies reputation alone makes the Goblins afraid of outright war.
Non-Human Races of Vetia
Elves
The Elves are the most respected of none Human races and the most assimilated, most of them live in the city of Mitra and they also have a large role to play in the army by working as Skirmishers and in small patrols.
Even if there dominance in the army has gone down due to technology taking over, the Elves that remain are adored by the locals since they also do allot of good work for the sick and a good majority of Elves work for Charitable organizations.
Some Humans and Elf's interbreed and a Half-Elf (or Huelf) is the result.
Most of them come from the west where stories of evil rising forced them to flee there traditional homeland, most of them are neither high elves or dark elves but in fact could be called 'Common Elves' as there most noticable trait is simply there Pale Skin, Slinder build, pointy ears with surperior eye sight. Most of the older generation do not mention what happened, but most elves in Vetia today were born and raised in the Kingdom so that does not matter.
Dwarfs
The Dwarfs were invited into Vetia with promise of riches and wealth, it hasn’t come true but it was not a complete lie.
The Dwarfs inhabit the Western Mountains with the Goblin Federation, most of them work for hours underground and then sleep in the mines they dig. Not quite the Great Halls of proper Dwarf nations but comfortable.
They don’t join the army, most of them see it as simply having a King’s note saying they can officially fight Goblins when they have the constant threat of raids anyway. A recent raid that left 1000 Dwarf miners dead has made a cry for a the King to give them permission to create a Dwarf Hall in the mountains so they can have a safer place to stay. It has been agreed on but they have yet to find a suitable place for the Hall.
So until the hall is constructed they live in there Mining Towns, there only protection the metal doors that keeps the outside world out while they mine in there caves. They also have recently had to hire Orc Laborers because of recent Ebony Veins where only the Orc’s brute strength can move the huge objects.
The Dwarves come mostly from the nearby Iron hills, the immigrated with promise of the vast wealth and were trapped by bureaucracy, most Dwarves are happy in the Kingdom since the King goes to great length to keep the Western Past as safe as possible and there living conditions are average to most other Vetians.
Orcs
Under Vetia the Orc holds no real rights, they are a broken and defeated people imprisoned on there own homeland. They live in labour camps and some of the luckier ones live in the few Reserves that allow them to live there traditional way.
Life is not terrible for the Orcs, there strength has recently been used to increase the output of the mines and turn cities like Angersmith into a industrial powerhouse with there cheap labour. The most feared of all the Orcs are the Orc Conscripts with there plated army and tradition Orc weapons they are the shock troops of the army.
Some Orcs are lucky enough that after a decade or two of service in either industry or army sometimes they are given freedom. This is rare as they would need a sympathetic Lord to take pity on the poor beasts. Most of them are employed by the army or are employed by Lords and other rich people to be guards for there property.
The only good thing is that Orcs don’t mind being conscripted into the army, because the life of war and blood makes a Orc tingle in excitement. Orc Laborers live a life of somewhat shame as had labour goes against there easy-going barbaric nature.
Government:
The Government is ran by a Assembly of Nobles of the Kings choosing, most of these nobles are related to the King or have proven their loyalty in war. There is about 100 members of the assembly all together but they can only come together when the King gives out the call and only then they act as a advisory group for the King.
These Advisers have there own ‘Realms’ in the Kingdom and are supposed to represent that particular region but because he picks only certain people who are loyal to him it has left some of them not visiting there Realm for years.
The military like everything else is run by the King, that’s where it gets it’s orders and directions from.
The Capital is the Fortress of Wild Pass.
The Land of Vetia
Situated between the Evermoors and Myrchior, Vetia is a relatively average sized nation protected on its Northern frontier by a river system and to the south by the Black sea with it's border with the Goblin Federation protected by the very mountains that give the Kingdom it's wealth.
Land Claimed by Vetia (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/myspanishfantasymapbybltn7-1.jpg)
Cityscape of the Kingdom (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/VetiaCities.jpg)
It’s has a Semi-Arid centre, A fertile South-Eastern coast, a mountainous western border and a few rivers that block off direct invasion paths to the North which has left the Kingdom a relatively peaceful place with it’s citizens enjoying a high standard of living and the like.
Economy of Vetia
The Kingdoms wealth lies in the mountains on it’s Western border which hold many Iron and Ebony mines, with the advance road system connecting the many cities and small forts systems along the roads that allow for policing the Kingdom has allowed for safe trade with little risk of Bandits.
Agriculture is the major base of the Economy with their main focus on Rice, Potatoes and Carrots with the main meats being Cow and Lamb.
Trade has been limited of late, but they mostly trade their Silver products like vases and other decorative items. Because the Kingdom lacks an organized naval force to protect it’s rivers trade has been unsafe with river pirates raiding some of the barges that try and break through to the far-away lands.
They have a healthy imports of jade, Raw silver (which they then sculpt) and other precious metals.
Armies of Vetia
Standing Army: 40,000 Melee Infantry, 12,000 Ranged Infantry, 7000 Calvary and 4000 Orc Warriors
Reserve Army: 60,000 Infantry, 30,000 Ranged Infantry, 20,000 Calvary and 7000 Orc Warriors
Kings Navy: 15 Dromos and 30 Longboats
The first line of Defense is not the navy but actually a series of water based coastal Forts armed with cannons, the Navy plays more of a policing force and is not strong enough to withstand a full-scale invasion.
Standing Army was created during the reforms of King Harold about 60 years ago to deal with the lost of the Elf Archers that were the backbone of the original Vetia Army. There advantage in technology like Cannons and Muskets gives them a technological advantage, but they still widely use Crossbows and Swords. They mostly protect the western border from Goblin incursions, they are currently under the control of the Lord of Lorein.
The Reserve army is mostly armed civilians from the many towns that makeup the Kingdom, they spend every second week a month in training to keep there skill level up. The main advantage of the reserve army is it allows for farmers to crop there fields and for the kingdom to constantly have a supply of enough troops to defend the Kingdom from a lightening attack.
Navy
The navy was originally to play a larger part in affairs but the lack of any real invasion attempt has seen it downsized to nothing but a token force, it has no Admiral to direct it and spends most of it’s time just keeping bandits at bay. Some Advisers have pointed out that if an invasion did take place on the southern coast the forts alone could not deal with it since they were created to work alongside a effective navy.
The navy has the number one job of protecting trade between the East and West, they control a economic vein of Eldire. They charge about 4 gold for ships that receive protection and if they refuse to pay they launch a blue arrow which makes a blue fire this is a message to Orc Raiders that the ships are not protected. It is a unspoken agreement between the two factions.
Units of the Kingdom
Vetian Infantry (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/UC1414helm_shield.jpg)
Elven Archers (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/elf_archer700.jpg)
Orc Conscription Warrior (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/Orc01b.jpg)
Arquebus (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/Musket_and_Arquebus_Gheyn.jpg)
Crossbowmen (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/5111053.jpg)
Cavalry (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/BWBert.jpg)
Bombard (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/bombard.jpg)
Dromon (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/naval_dromon.jpg)
Longboat (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/longboatweb.jpg)
Important Cities and Fortresses of Vetia
Fortress of WildPass (Capital of the Kingdom) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/1-fortress.jpg)
WildPass is a large fortress in the middle of the Kingdom, it only has a population of 2000 but it's safe location has made it a perfect choice for the location for the throne. It has held total power over the region for the last 200 years and it's Garrison comes from the best in the army, it's a Fortress that cannot be beaten.
City of Mitra (Main trading city of Vetia) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/athens_view1.jpg)
Mitra before the unification was thought to be the only city that could unite the Regional Kings into one nation, but sadly money can buy armies but it did not buy leaders. With a lack of decent military leaders Mitra could never become more powerful then a simple city state, Today it's the main land route to the lands of the East. It's well known for it's culture and great thinkers. It has a population of 40,000.
Port of Angersmith (Only economic port of the coast) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/MytileneNPort.jpg)
Angersmith was founded after the unification, beforehand it was a fishing village but after careful map drawing they found it was the perfect place to create a Port. Because allot of trade was calling out from the Black Sea it had to be constructed, the Port now has 25,000 people living in it's boundaries and is the only port capable of harboring the many merchant vessels.
River Forts that run the rivers and southern coast (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/2f61dee76b.jpg)
The Water Forts were a expensive yet needed project, the Kingdom was constantly being raided by coastal pirates and northern barbarians and with the Standing army in constant fight with the Western Goblins had left them bogged down so the Forts were created to hold back invaders. There is about 50 Forts altogether, like mentioned it was expensive and every fort has 600 soldiers in it's garrison.
Ancient City of Lorein (ruined city, used as military camp) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/roman-ruins-at-volubilis-by-dhess.jpg)
Before the war with WildPass, Lorein was the Mitra of it's day. It had a rich trade with the Goblins, they got things like Oil which they used as a weapons and a slave trade where they used Goblin labour to construct there city walls. The war with WildPass left it's burning and crushed as the Orc Conscripts under WildPass and rebellious Goblins burned the city. It was put in law it would never be rebuilt, sadly this turned the Western Goblins sour and thus they lost all trust and respect for the 'Veteran Men' and started doing constant raids. The ruins were to be used as the HQ of the Standing army and holds over 60,000 men in its ruined buildings where they sleep in tents and camp inside the ruins of a one time great city.
City of Hatea (Trading Outpost of the Northern part of the Kingdom) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/londinium.jpg)
Hatea was for a long time a little known town on the border, it got into no strife with the South because it simply had no strength. it had modest trade and only a civilian miltia to keep it safe at night. It's main strength was that it had none and was bypassed by most raiders and attackers, but now things have changed since in the last 100 years it has become the HQ for all defence efforts against threats in the North making it become one of the most important settlements.
Myron (Outpost for the East, city is being re-built for further used) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/Pompeii.jpg)
Myron was destroyed during the wars before WildPass, it is currently being rebuilt to keep a better eye on the Eastern border. They hope to turn it into a military settlement for Veteran soldiers.
Small Dwarf Mine (Typical of the Dwarf Settlements in the area, these villages are under ground) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/istan.jpg)
Dwarf settlements litter the Western Mountains, some can be towns under the ground with the call for a Dwarven Hall to be constructed they hope these barely defended settlements will be a thing of the past. But the King is worried that if the Hall was constructed they might try and create a independent Dwarf state that could ally with the Dwarfs of the North.
Main Characters
Lord Jacob of the Ruined city of Lorein (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/shadowwarrior.jpg)
Almerius Monra, captain of the Garrison at Angersmith (http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/?action=view¤t=ScreenShot00120.jpg)
King Leopold II of Vetia, famous General (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/constantinexi.jpg)
Rustbald, Representative of the Western Dwarf Mines (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/dwarf_miner.jpg)
Races: Humans, Elves, Dwarf Miners and Orcs
Population:
3 million Men
900,000 Elves
400,000 Dwarfs
500,000 Orcs, mix of slaves and conscripts
Background
Vetia is a young Kingdom founded by the descendants of an army that passed through the region over 600 years ago and after many years of infighting managed to unite under the banner of King Leopold.
Magic does play a minor role in the Kingdom like Restoration and Intelligence gathering, but the Kingdoms greatest advantage is technology with Steel and gunpowder making the army something feared and with the forts armed with cannons to keep back invaders on the coast and Rivers, paved roads help trade and the invention of the pump has made it so the Kingdom pumps fresh water to it’s main cities by Aqueducts it is truly a golden age of Vetia Technological development.
The Kingdom strength in Technology has seen a drop in the Elvin population of the Kingdom as they find their skills less in demand; this has caused tension between the Elves and Humans. More so since they use Orcs to work in ‘labor camps’ to power the industrial part of the economy and also force conscript 10% of the entire local Orc population into there army. Elves do not agree with this practice and Elven lords refuse to send their Orc populations to labor camps. Dwarf labour has been hired and they have been allowed to setup major mining operations in the western mountains, they are the backbone of the Raw Metal trade that Vetia exports around the world, infact talk as started about allowing them to setup a Dwarf Hall to call home.
The king is absolute ruler of the land with a assembly of advisers being the nearest thing to a voice for the people, but they are filled with puppets and yes-men so the Kingdom is finding itself with more and more unhappy citizens.
Current ruler is King Leopold II
History
From what we can tell from ancient sources the earliest known political power in the region was a confederation of Orc tribes about 6000 years ago, these Orcs were known to raid the Kingdoms in the general area and when goblins arrived on there western frontier that is when there went down. A unnamed Kingdom sent a army to deal with both the Orcs and Goblins, this army numbered some 300,000 huge to modern standards and thought to probably come from several different Kingdoms working together.
Ancient orders on stone tablets show us that there orders were to destroy and Orcs and Goblins, but when the Army arrived they found the local Orcs weak from years of bitter fighting from the Goblins and for some reason (most likely political) a part of the army stayed behind. We think they numbered some 160,000 and they built multiple settlements in the area about 600 years ago.
At first the land was disunited, the humans fought against each other and brought in many foreigners to boost there numbers and quickly the population of the area was raised from 160,000 to a million.
They also brought in Elves and Dwarves to boost there economy and armies but then about 400 years ago one of the many Kings built a giant fortress using Orc Labour, standing on a small mountain overlooking a valley below and this Fort was named WildPass, Guardian of th wild lands.
At first it was a small nuisance, but it toke in numbers as they adopted laws that forced Orcs to fight in it’s armies giving the Orcs a sense of purpose. Lorein was the first city to be destroyed by this army and over the course of the next 200 years they united all the Kingdoms into the Kingdom of Vetia (It is thought Vetia was the name of the general who controlled the first army)
Wildpass still remains the Capital of the kingdom, even tho cities like Mitra and Angersmith have a population 4 times it’s size and make much more money for the Kingdom. WildPass is much safer, the King prefers it as it’s defences in theory cannot be broken by any force.
Today the Kingdom is still mostly Human, with a good Elf and Dwarf minority. Even then these Elves after years of living in the Kingdom have developed Human personalities except for the fact they have a never-ending lifespan unless killed.
The Kingdom has consolidated it’s claimed by making forts and keeping patrols on it’s borders, Goblin raids are a problem so they have a Standing army on there Western border to hold back any attack.
The Men of Vetia
The Humans of Vetia are thought to come from a collection of Kingdoms in the North, this is because of there fair skin and western culture. There are two reasons why that first army of 300,000 men arrived and it's thought that it's both to push back Orc/Goblin raids and also the fact they the rising power of the Elves in the north was to much competition and the Kingdoms wanted to expand south in order to increase there power.
This army was under the command of General Harold Vetia, but after the Orcs were beaten and the goblins pushed towards the coast the army was ordered to stay behind to assure they could not come back. The kingdom never sent orders to Harold or the 160,000 soldiers that remained and it is thought they finally were destroyed by the threat of the Elves.
The army was quick to move on, most of them started families with wives from neighbouring kingdoms and built the first towns. The first of these were Mitra and Lorein, Harold stayed in the main camp which is thought to be near modern day Hatea. The leaders of these factions proclaimed themselves King and the land was disunited. It is thought Harold gave orders to his son before he died.
"Make sure you or your offspring unite these lost people"
The next few centuries the men fought until the offspring of Vetia built his mighty Citadel of WildPass using ironically Orc labour. The Kingdom that was created were a natural soldier race and Vetian men for fierce fighters, there armies reputation alone makes the Goblins afraid of outright war.
Non-Human Races of Vetia
Elves
The Elves are the most respected of none Human races and the most assimilated, most of them live in the city of Mitra and they also have a large role to play in the army by working as Skirmishers and in small patrols.
Even if there dominance in the army has gone down due to technology taking over, the Elves that remain are adored by the locals since they also do allot of good work for the sick and a good majority of Elves work for Charitable organizations.
Some Humans and Elf's interbreed and a Half-Elf (or Huelf) is the result.
Most of them come from the west where stories of evil rising forced them to flee there traditional homeland, most of them are neither high elves or dark elves but in fact could be called 'Common Elves' as there most noticable trait is simply there Pale Skin, Slinder build, pointy ears with surperior eye sight. Most of the older generation do not mention what happened, but most elves in Vetia today were born and raised in the Kingdom so that does not matter.
Dwarfs
The Dwarfs were invited into Vetia with promise of riches and wealth, it hasn’t come true but it was not a complete lie.
The Dwarfs inhabit the Western Mountains with the Goblin Federation, most of them work for hours underground and then sleep in the mines they dig. Not quite the Great Halls of proper Dwarf nations but comfortable.
They don’t join the army, most of them see it as simply having a King’s note saying they can officially fight Goblins when they have the constant threat of raids anyway. A recent raid that left 1000 Dwarf miners dead has made a cry for a the King to give them permission to create a Dwarf Hall in the mountains so they can have a safer place to stay. It has been agreed on but they have yet to find a suitable place for the Hall.
So until the hall is constructed they live in there Mining Towns, there only protection the metal doors that keeps the outside world out while they mine in there caves. They also have recently had to hire Orc Laborers because of recent Ebony Veins where only the Orc’s brute strength can move the huge objects.
The Dwarves come mostly from the nearby Iron hills, the immigrated with promise of the vast wealth and were trapped by bureaucracy, most Dwarves are happy in the Kingdom since the King goes to great length to keep the Western Past as safe as possible and there living conditions are average to most other Vetians.
Orcs
Under Vetia the Orc holds no real rights, they are a broken and defeated people imprisoned on there own homeland. They live in labour camps and some of the luckier ones live in the few Reserves that allow them to live there traditional way.
Life is not terrible for the Orcs, there strength has recently been used to increase the output of the mines and turn cities like Angersmith into a industrial powerhouse with there cheap labour. The most feared of all the Orcs are the Orc Conscripts with there plated army and tradition Orc weapons they are the shock troops of the army.
Some Orcs are lucky enough that after a decade or two of service in either industry or army sometimes they are given freedom. This is rare as they would need a sympathetic Lord to take pity on the poor beasts. Most of them are employed by the army or are employed by Lords and other rich people to be guards for there property.
The only good thing is that Orcs don’t mind being conscripted into the army, because the life of war and blood makes a Orc tingle in excitement. Orc Laborers live a life of somewhat shame as had labour goes against there easy-going barbaric nature.
Government:
The Government is ran by a Assembly of Nobles of the Kings choosing, most of these nobles are related to the King or have proven their loyalty in war. There is about 100 members of the assembly all together but they can only come together when the King gives out the call and only then they act as a advisory group for the King.
These Advisers have there own ‘Realms’ in the Kingdom and are supposed to represent that particular region but because he picks only certain people who are loyal to him it has left some of them not visiting there Realm for years.
The military like everything else is run by the King, that’s where it gets it’s orders and directions from.
The Capital is the Fortress of Wild Pass.
The Land of Vetia
Situated between the Evermoors and Myrchior, Vetia is a relatively average sized nation protected on its Northern frontier by a river system and to the south by the Black sea with it's border with the Goblin Federation protected by the very mountains that give the Kingdom it's wealth.
Land Claimed by Vetia (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/myspanishfantasymapbybltn7-1.jpg)
Cityscape of the Kingdom (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/VetiaCities.jpg)
It’s has a Semi-Arid centre, A fertile South-Eastern coast, a mountainous western border and a few rivers that block off direct invasion paths to the North which has left the Kingdom a relatively peaceful place with it’s citizens enjoying a high standard of living and the like.
Economy of Vetia
The Kingdoms wealth lies in the mountains on it’s Western border which hold many Iron and Ebony mines, with the advance road system connecting the many cities and small forts systems along the roads that allow for policing the Kingdom has allowed for safe trade with little risk of Bandits.
Agriculture is the major base of the Economy with their main focus on Rice, Potatoes and Carrots with the main meats being Cow and Lamb.
Trade has been limited of late, but they mostly trade their Silver products like vases and other decorative items. Because the Kingdom lacks an organized naval force to protect it’s rivers trade has been unsafe with river pirates raiding some of the barges that try and break through to the far-away lands.
They have a healthy imports of jade, Raw silver (which they then sculpt) and other precious metals.
Armies of Vetia
Standing Army: 40,000 Melee Infantry, 12,000 Ranged Infantry, 7000 Calvary and 4000 Orc Warriors
Reserve Army: 60,000 Infantry, 30,000 Ranged Infantry, 20,000 Calvary and 7000 Orc Warriors
Kings Navy: 15 Dromos and 30 Longboats
The first line of Defense is not the navy but actually a series of water based coastal Forts armed with cannons, the Navy plays more of a policing force and is not strong enough to withstand a full-scale invasion.
Standing Army was created during the reforms of King Harold about 60 years ago to deal with the lost of the Elf Archers that were the backbone of the original Vetia Army. There advantage in technology like Cannons and Muskets gives them a technological advantage, but they still widely use Crossbows and Swords. They mostly protect the western border from Goblin incursions, they are currently under the control of the Lord of Lorein.
The Reserve army is mostly armed civilians from the many towns that makeup the Kingdom, they spend every second week a month in training to keep there skill level up. The main advantage of the reserve army is it allows for farmers to crop there fields and for the kingdom to constantly have a supply of enough troops to defend the Kingdom from a lightening attack.
Navy
The navy was originally to play a larger part in affairs but the lack of any real invasion attempt has seen it downsized to nothing but a token force, it has no Admiral to direct it and spends most of it’s time just keeping bandits at bay. Some Advisers have pointed out that if an invasion did take place on the southern coast the forts alone could not deal with it since they were created to work alongside a effective navy.
The navy has the number one job of protecting trade between the East and West, they control a economic vein of Eldire. They charge about 4 gold for ships that receive protection and if they refuse to pay they launch a blue arrow which makes a blue fire this is a message to Orc Raiders that the ships are not protected. It is a unspoken agreement between the two factions.
Units of the Kingdom
Vetian Infantry (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/UC1414helm_shield.jpg)
Elven Archers (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/elf_archer700.jpg)
Orc Conscription Warrior (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/Orc01b.jpg)
Arquebus (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/Musket_and_Arquebus_Gheyn.jpg)
Crossbowmen (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/5111053.jpg)
Cavalry (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/BWBert.jpg)
Bombard (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/bombard.jpg)
Dromon (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/naval_dromon.jpg)
Longboat (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/longboatweb.jpg)
Important Cities and Fortresses of Vetia
Fortress of WildPass (Capital of the Kingdom) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/1-fortress.jpg)
WildPass is a large fortress in the middle of the Kingdom, it only has a population of 2000 but it's safe location has made it a perfect choice for the location for the throne. It has held total power over the region for the last 200 years and it's Garrison comes from the best in the army, it's a Fortress that cannot be beaten.
City of Mitra (Main trading city of Vetia) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/athens_view1.jpg)
Mitra before the unification was thought to be the only city that could unite the Regional Kings into one nation, but sadly money can buy armies but it did not buy leaders. With a lack of decent military leaders Mitra could never become more powerful then a simple city state, Today it's the main land route to the lands of the East. It's well known for it's culture and great thinkers. It has a population of 40,000.
Port of Angersmith (Only economic port of the coast) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/MytileneNPort.jpg)
Angersmith was founded after the unification, beforehand it was a fishing village but after careful map drawing they found it was the perfect place to create a Port. Because allot of trade was calling out from the Black Sea it had to be constructed, the Port now has 25,000 people living in it's boundaries and is the only port capable of harboring the many merchant vessels.
River Forts that run the rivers and southern coast (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/2f61dee76b.jpg)
The Water Forts were a expensive yet needed project, the Kingdom was constantly being raided by coastal pirates and northern barbarians and with the Standing army in constant fight with the Western Goblins had left them bogged down so the Forts were created to hold back invaders. There is about 50 Forts altogether, like mentioned it was expensive and every fort has 600 soldiers in it's garrison.
Ancient City of Lorein (ruined city, used as military camp) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/roman-ruins-at-volubilis-by-dhess.jpg)
Before the war with WildPass, Lorein was the Mitra of it's day. It had a rich trade with the Goblins, they got things like Oil which they used as a weapons and a slave trade where they used Goblin labour to construct there city walls. The war with WildPass left it's burning and crushed as the Orc Conscripts under WildPass and rebellious Goblins burned the city. It was put in law it would never be rebuilt, sadly this turned the Western Goblins sour and thus they lost all trust and respect for the 'Veteran Men' and started doing constant raids. The ruins were to be used as the HQ of the Standing army and holds over 60,000 men in its ruined buildings where they sleep in tents and camp inside the ruins of a one time great city.
City of Hatea (Trading Outpost of the Northern part of the Kingdom) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/londinium.jpg)
Hatea was for a long time a little known town on the border, it got into no strife with the South because it simply had no strength. it had modest trade and only a civilian miltia to keep it safe at night. It's main strength was that it had none and was bypassed by most raiders and attackers, but now things have changed since in the last 100 years it has become the HQ for all defence efforts against threats in the North making it become one of the most important settlements.
Myron (Outpost for the East, city is being re-built for further used) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/Pompeii.jpg)
Myron was destroyed during the wars before WildPass, it is currently being rebuilt to keep a better eye on the Eastern border. They hope to turn it into a military settlement for Veteran soldiers.
Small Dwarf Mine (Typical of the Dwarf Settlements in the area, these villages are under ground) (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/istan.jpg)
Dwarf settlements litter the Western Mountains, some can be towns under the ground with the call for a Dwarven Hall to be constructed they hope these barely defended settlements will be a thing of the past. But the King is worried that if the Hall was constructed they might try and create a independent Dwarf state that could ally with the Dwarfs of the North.
Main Characters
Lord Jacob of the Ruined city of Lorein (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/shadowwarrior.jpg)
Almerius Monra, captain of the Garrison at Angersmith (http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/?action=view¤t=ScreenShot00120.jpg)
King Leopold II of Vetia, famous General (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/constantinexi.jpg)
Rustbald, Representative of the Western Dwarf Mines (http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/Belcameron/dwarf_miner.jpg)