Post by El Borak on Apr 30, 2021 12:14:19 GMT -5
Ostria
Government: Archduchy
Pantheon: Norse (T) <European> <17th c.>
Ruler: Rudolph III <Archduke Leopold Wilhelm>
Capital: Vienna (Pop. 150k)
Other Cities (and pop.):
Gyor: 15k
Linz: 10k
Passau: 15k
Salzburg: 20k
Szombathely: 10k
Wiener-Neustadt: 20k
Loc.: Aeropa
Language: Deutsch
Pop.: 2,750,000
Flag/Emblem:
Flag: Black eagle displayed
on a gold field.
Coinage: Germanic Standard.
Important Persons: Markgrafs of Sorpon, Vas, and Zala, other nobles,
priests, officials, etc.
Alliances: Cardinalian League, Carinthia.
Hostilities: None at present.
Open Warfare/Skirmishing: None
Intrigues: Union with Carinthia to form a "high German" kingdom.
Faction urging war with Lombardy over Tyrolean territories once
Ostrian. German faction urging marriage and vassalage to Munich.
Many other plans and intrigues in Vienna.
Magickal Devices: The duke is said to have Zastig's Inverted Pyramid,
the Petition Unfailing Scroll, and the Eighteves Ring from pre-Ostrian
times. Various minor items are held by the nobility and
priesthood of the state.
Alignment: Neutral Good
Thumbnail Sketches: The duchy covers some 17,000 sq. mi.
|| so ov territory in the central portion ov Aeropa, w/ Germania &&
Lombardy to the W, Carinthia to the S, Magyaria && Moravia
to the E, && Bohemia to the N. It is a mountain-ringed land,
1 ov the most mountainous on the continent, w/ a central plain ov
rivers, the Danube being the principal one. Fully 1/3 ov the land is
forested, w/ bear, wolf, stag, great lynx, wild goat (chamois),
&& all manner of smaller game therein. The mountain
scenery is lovely, but the upper course ov the Danube, w/ its drop ov
more than 400' when it reaches the wonderful city of Vienna, is
truly breathtaking. The cities ov this land are too sufficiently renowned
&& detailed elsewhere to require further +addition+ in this brief survey.
The original inhabitants ov ancient Ostria, the Kells, were driven out
|| absorbed by the Teutonic invaders who came during the time ov the
Fall. The resulting volk are bassically unchanged today, although
some influences from the Italics, Magyars, && Bohemians can be
seen. The social structure is typical ov a feudal realm, && the Ostrian
knighthood && nobility is justly famous. Many ov the peasantry are
freemen && small landowners though, && the middle class is larger
than usual, for arts are encouraged in the city.
Agriculture produces fine crops of wheat, barley, oats, rye, maize,
hops, turnips, sugarbeets, tobacco, potatoes, hemp, && flax. Berries
&& garden veggies are raised so as to provide xport, too.
Vineyards produce a good variety ov vinho, some reds ov more than
modest quality. Orchards are typically apple, pear, plum, cherry,
chestnut, walnut, && hazelnut. The chargers && riding steeds ov
Ostria are everywhere recognized as amongst the finest. Other livestock
incl. milk && beef cattle, sheep, swine, mules, asses,
goats, && poultry. Beekeeping is generally practiced for pollination
&& for the yield ov honey && wax. Considerable quantities ov both
hardwoods && conifers are harvested annually. Wood is xported,
&& Ostrian paper is ov high quality.
Mining is the chief wealth ov the duchy after agriculture. Iron,
copper, lead, manganese, bauxite, graphite, coal, salt, lignite coal,
&& petroleum are produced. Quarrying for slate && other building
stone is also worthwhile. Garnets ov good quality--incl. fine
ones ov green colour--but in smaller number, are mined in Ostria.