Leoben

Subject: Leoben Tue Mar 04, 2014 11:02 pm

"The path to enlightenment is one not even the heaviest footfall can disturb."

Quote :: Sat landlocked between the isolationist Saint-Astan and the trade nation of Aldinor, Leoben is a country with no dreams of expansion. They forsake the prestige of a grand kingdom for power gained through a vast wealth knowledge, and dedicate themselves wholly to the pursuits of scholars and soldiers in equal measure. They maintain an army, rigorously trained and expertly equipped, and though its numbers hardly compare to the nations sharing their borders they opt for quality in place of quantity.

The kingdom is ruled by a queen, or königin, Elena Anhalt-Leyen. From the castle-palace of Ostfalsten, situated within the capital city of Essel, she presides over the realm with an ever vigilant eye. She has three children by an Astanian husband, Lydia, Dietrich and Thomas, of which no successor is named. By the queen's own decision, a successor will be named only once they prove themselves worthy of rule.

Essel is a city of blackstone built countless years ago, surrounded by a wall that envelops the river flowing through the northern district. It contains a number of grand temples to Riegel and the modern pantheon both, recieving heavy amounts of travellers from the multicultural neighbouring nation of Aldinor.

It is a temperate seasonal grassland, of very few prominent inclines and steep valleys. The mountains blockading the dangers of the Savage Lands form a natural border, but are not considered to be part of Leoben itself especially given that they are for the most part entirely inaccessible. The land's uneventful geography allows for a sparse littering of villages dedicated to agriculture, though the nation as a whole has many more towns than it does smaller settlements and the average Leobener will choose to live amongst larger congregations of people such as cities.

With little space to expand, Leoben has a technological focus far above that of other nations.

Quote :: Leobeners are typically of a straightforward nature, with few jokes and an appropriately mild sense of humour, though this is much more prevalent in city folk than it is in the numerous villages dotted about the land. They focus themselves fiercely on whatever task they undertake, be it their craft or something as simple as preparing a meal, and this is reflected in their precise designs and smithing.

Leobische technology is of the highest and most advanced quality, even when matched against the industrial might of El Deya's forges and exotic design. Their influence can be felt across the world despite their landlocked geography, the crossbow being the most widespread of all their innovations to date. They have also pioneered multiple new designs for armour, the newest seamlessly combining chainmail and some heavy plate to create a protective, yet mobile, shell for soldiers to wear. It sees use in the country's army, but not commonly outside of their borders due to its relatively recent emergence.

The history of Queen Elena's ascension to power is a tale well-documented, and for many a lesson hard learnt.

Quote :: Following the death of her father Friedrich only seven years earlier to the present, the throne passed to Elena when she was barely eighteen and came with no small deal of contention and strife throughout the realm. Factions formed amongst the circles of nobles and pretenders, rallying to depose the newly appointed monarch widely regarded as unfit to rule as soon as possible and through any means necessary. Several months later, an assassination attempt came by way of crossbow during a memorial service for the past rulers of the kingdom, injuring the young Elena but failing to inflict a mortal wound. Three bolts were fired, two of them blocked solely by one knight of the household guard, Reimund von Böhmer, who went on to become the right-hand and most trusted aide of the throne after suffering near-fatal damage to the chest. The would be assassins escaped.

Whilst recovering, it was discovered by way of court intrigue that a handful of prominent lords of the land had orchestrated the attempt on her life. Elena's response, despite the urgings of her advisors, was swift and merciless. Under cover of darkness, they were brought to the capital to be held in imprisonment in the dungeons below the palace of Ostfalsten, and publicly beheaded the following day once they had named their fellow conspirators. The twelve or so nobles associated with the plot remain in irons to this day.

It marked a lull in the dissent rapidly spreading throughout the nation, and won her some support in the eyes of a select few houses that saw her fit to rule with the hereditary iron fist of her father, but it was not to last.

The two largest houses in Leoben at the time, Steuber and Leverenz, raised their flags in a declaration of rebellion. They marched upon the capital with their levies, and those of a handful of minor nobles allied with their cause, and issued their demands. Queen Elena was to surrender the throne to her uncle, or find herself under siege by an army some thousand men strong.

The queen responded with strength of arms, calling for any and all willing to aid her cause. Within days of the rebellion, she rode out at the head of her own royal army to meet those that had deemed her unfit to rule in the field, with her father's longsword and tabard over armor she had thought herself never to use. What little forces her own allies summoned met her some way to the battlefield, and what had at first started as an objection to a new ruler had suddenly become the Leoben Civil War.

It was to be a short war, the tide turned by the decisive battle that occurred just outside the town of Beyersdorf. Owing much to luck and a natural flair for strategy in equal measure, Elena took charge of the fighting again to the dismay of her advisors and generals, investing herself as much as possible without physically swinging a sword the heads of her enemies. The forces of the crown emerged victorious, if greatly bloodied, and pursued the rebel army over the course of seven more clashes until both Hans Steuber and Otto Leverenz agreed to lay down their arms. They too, remain imprisoned to this day.

The realm has seen six years of peace ever since, with complaints voiced by way of representative and government over the ill-fated methods of old. The opposition to the queen no longer stands, at least certainly not in the public eye, and the doubts as to her ability to rule are widely regarded as unfounded and unpopular.

Riders of the Inquisition are seldom seen, but ever present. Even those pursued by their blades travel unaware of the eyes upon their backs.

Quote :: Under the strict personal command of the königin, the Inquisition is a highly secretive organisation established for the purpose of keeping a strict order within the borders of Leoben. Despite their name and their reputation, they do not act in the name of any religion, but only in the interests of peace. Often, they will assume command of soldiers underneath the Queen's army, acting behind the scenes to co-ordinate an effective response to riots and other such dangers to the common order, and other times they will tread the shadows to cut the head off any potential treasonous serpents lurking where most would overlook.

It is impossible to say how many they number, for no official record exists as far as the general public are concerned, but they find a way to place themselves wherever they may be needed. They travel by horseback, with lanterns affixed to their saddles, and wear dark hooded leather vestments to aid passage unseen. Most know of them, and would even have no difficulty recognising them were they to pass in clear sight, but none would wish to encounter them. Their ranks are said to be made up of those with little purpose other than their duty, or those condemned by past crimes, combining the loyalty of a knight with the underhanded methods of the assassin. They act without question, pursuing no other goal than that of the Queen's will or their own supposed redemption, and are feared by all who would seek to do wrong.

They do not interfere in matters that do not require them, however, and will only appear in and around the stirrings of the most severe crimes. Whispers of treason bring the silent blades of the Inquisition, and are not to be taken lightly.

The temples of Leoben are grand, and found exclusively in the capital city.

Quote :: Leoben subscribes to a monotheistic belief system, its people devoting itself wholly to a single god named Riegel. He is said to preside over the flow of time, holding an ever turning wheel in his left hand, and justice balanced on the scales in his right. He is commonly believed to have created the entire world and its population, and a long four hour service regularly begins at the start of every week for those who would seek his help. Tradition once dictated that he lead a congregation of minor deities beneath him, but that belief has long since departed the Leobische religion.

In recent times, Leoben has found itself accepting the more modern pantheon enough that temples and shrines have begun to appear throughout the land. There is some conflict as to which religion to follow, leading to minor pockets of strife often quelled by either soldiers of the Queen's army or riders of the Inquisition, but nothing beyond small clashes and disorderly conduct.