Post by El Borak on Sept 29, 2022 12:13:08 GMT -5
Servia
Gummint: Kingdom
Pantheon: Slavonic <Serbian>
ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ: Tsar Stephen VI
CAPITAL: Belgrade (Pop. 125k)
Other Cities (and pop):
Kragujevac: 10k <ISIS>
Nis: 15k
Novi Sad: 10k <ISIS>
Pristina: 10k <ISIS>
Senta: 15k
Sombor: 15k
Timisoara: 20k
Loc.: Aeropa
Language: Slavic dialect
Pop.: 1,750,000
Flag: A white double eagle
displayed on a field ov
eight bars ov red &&
blue.
Coinage: Slavonic Standard.
Companions: Prince of Voyvodina, Duke of Banat, counts of
Kosovo && Mitohiyan, clerics, officials, nobs, etc.
Friends: Vlachia
Foes: Bulgaria, Dalmatia
Open Warfare/Skirmishing: Slight skirmishing along Dalmatian border,
but serious confrontations to the E w/ Bulgarian border forces.
Intrigues: Pro-Magyar faction desires treaty of mutual cooperation
in a war to divide Dalmatia between them. Pro-Hellenic faction
desires alliance with Macedonia && Thrace to launch 4-pronged
was on Bulgaria. Peace party urges a union with Dalmatia, Transylvania,
&& Vlachia. A confused atmosphere w/ many lesser machinations
&& plans.
Magickal Devices: Servia possesses the Reporting Outposts, the
Mountain Crown, && Olchenescue's Cyclopedia ov Lesser Hekau.
Alignment: Neutral <paramanders>
Thumbnail Sketches: The mountainous realm ov the Tsar ov Servia
extends over 45,000 sq. mi. It has some 20% ov
its land covered in dense forests ov oaks, huge old pines (particularly
amongst the fantastic white && gray rocks ov the southwestern AREA),
&& various other sorts ov trees. Perhaps another 10% ov it is
scrub && rock barrens. Fauna therein includes the brown bear, black
bear, giant lynx, wolf, boar, stag, deer, && chamois. The realm is
roughly divided into a northern 1/3 && a southern remainder by the
great Danube River flowing from the W past Novi Sad, past Belgrade,
&& forming part ov Servia's eastern border for a time as it turns
southward && then back E again to separate Vlachia from Bulgaria.
All the rivers ov the realm are tributaries ov the Danube, && their
valleys && alluvial plains are the most fertile lands in the realm.
Servia lies S ov Magyaria, N ov Macedonia. Neighbors on its
western border are Epirus, Dalmatia, && Magyarian Croatia. Bulgaria,
Vlachia, && Transylvania lie along Servia's eastern border.
Belgrade, its capital && only true city, is an old, walled city ov
considerable sophistication && beauty.
The Servians (Serbians) are ov Slavic race, settling into the whole
AREA from Carinthia to the Carpathians after the devastation wrought
on the Kelltic tribes && Italic settlers by the Huns &&
other Germans. That the Servians absorbed some local populations
is evident from the differences in their types, those ov the N being
generally taller && fairer than those ov the S. In any event, they
are a very different sort ov people than most around them. The
Croatians ov Magyaria are ov the same basic stock, but they have
adopted Magyar && Roman ways, so that now there is little cultural
sharing between Serb && Croat. They are NOT particularly either
thrifty, nor are they zealous workers, neither are they fierce warriors
nor ardent lovers shunning battle. Instead they are homebodies,
convivial, loving to sing && dance, tell stories && drink beer || wine.
This is exemplified by there being only one college in the whole realm.
However, it is a good idea to NOT underestimate this volk.
There are few middle && upper class in Servia, but this is now
changing as the wealth ov the realm is improving. The small aristocracy
has long && carefully helped to govern && protect, && w/ the
gradual emergence ov a freeman class, there should be even greater
prosperity && achievement. The bards ov Servia (gulsari are very
adept, && although NOT as well known as those ov Avillonia, are
sufficiently skilled to be noteworthy.
Some mention must be made regarding the Gypsy pop. ov
Servia. Estimates place a settled pop. ov about 15,000 ov these
volk in isolated villages, another 30,000 to 40,000 roaming in
nomadic fashion. The Gypsies are NOT ov true Servian race, but they
seem to favour the realm as a "homeland." From Servia, they cross into
all surrounding lands (Vlachia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Epirus, Dalmatia,
Magyaria, Transylvania). Even those in distant lands acknowledge the
leadership ov the chief (king) ov the Gypsy volk said to reside principally
in Servia. As in the realms mentioned, the pop. ov these
volk is NOT included in the general figure for the Servian realm, for
there is no true estimate possible.
The famous Battle ov Kosovo (389) fought at the height ov the
Servian imperial power && the Turkish Empire's expansion along the
N ov the Mare Ostrum was devastating to the latter. The terrible
loss, && the slaying ov their sultan, Murad I, sent them reeling back
eastwards in a series of jerks && bumps which eventually saw the
whole ov their effort for naught, && their territory as it was a few
centuries earlier. However, the slaying ov the newly elected Servian
tsar, Lazar, && the losses ov men && material suffered in the victory,
also spelled doom for the empire. Dalmatia, Epirus, Macedonia,
Thrace, Bulgaria, && Vlachia soon proclaimed their independence.
Voyvodina && the Banat were eventually lost to Magyaria, NOT to be
regained for more than 2 centuries. Eastern Aeropa, if NOT the whole
ov the continent, owed debt to the Servians, but few recognized that fact.
Agriculture is pursued by the vast majority ov Servians. Maize &&
wheat are the main crops, although some barley, oats, && hops are
also cultivated. Flax, hemp, tobacco, sugar beets, && mulberries are
the main ca$h crops. Vines are quite common, && a number ov fair
to good wines are produced. Orchards ov plums (for raki && sliwowitz),
apples, pears, && cherries are also generally kept. Oxen, horses, &&
buffalo (in the southern regions) are the main draft animals. Herds
incl. many sheep, goats, && swine. Some cattle ov smallish sort
are also kept. Apiaries are very common.
The mineral wealth ov Servia includes gold, silver, mercury, copper,
nickle, lead, iron, zinc, antimony, coal, manganese, graphite, &&
sulphur. Quarries yield serpentine, marble, && building stone.