Major Nations

From Black Country Role Playing Society

The Frjn Empire

People are a little divided on the pronunciation of 'Frjn', but it tends to end up as either 'Frin' or 'Frayn', no one really minding either way.

The empire was founded over 3 thousand years ago by Vrolum Vradir, a holy man who had spent some time as a hermit. The details of that founding are somewhat obscure, with scholars arguing as to the issue being one of lost documents or rewritten history. The official history is that it was a largely bloodless event resulting in Vrolum placing a young man on the Emperors throne and not taking control himself.

The empire is largely benevolent, allowing its constituent countries (Limcen, Bresh, Xantle and Quensta) to have their own nobility and monarchy. Frjn, being easily the size of these other countries together, is run by the emperor and a series of local governors. Taxes are collected locally in all countries, and an amount taken yearly to the Imperial city. The standing army of each country routinely sends about one third of its men to serve directly in the Imperial army for a year at a time.

In terms of world power, Frjn is the largest single power base, having the most money, population and landmass. The countries of Jarvick and Shaal (to the Southwest and South of Frjn respectively) are technically independent states but rely upon trade and protection from Frjn. Neither has a society as advanced as Frjn.

Relba

Whilst only about the size of Limcen or Bresh, Relba is a powerful island state. With its proximity to Draniche, and thus its ongoing wars with Spransif, it has developed a two fold purpose; a supplier of magic and food. All of the very best magical academies and research facilities are to be found in Relba, without exception. This knowledge has be used to improve the food supply and further enrich the country. Its defences are also exceptionally strong magically and it allows a contingent of several national armies to assist in its protection in return for certain favours it is in a position to provide.

Draniche & Spransif

While these two large countries have not technically been at war for some hundreds of years, the main focus of its government remains conflict. They take food and goods as payment for their services in training armies; both troops and commanders. They breed all manner of dangerous creatures for use as training tools, and it is not unheard of them to use slaves from any of the civilised races. They allow evil creatures of all kinds to live in many regions, purely so they can send forces against them to harden them.

The ultimate choice of whether to have ones troops trained in Draniche or Spransif comes down to certain abstract tactical issues and a large amount of which reports and preferences your generals have. General opinion has it that Spransif trains the better skirmish and shock troops, Draniche the better battalions. Some countries make a point of their men going through both countries training programs.

Casualties from this training are not insignificant, however. Typically 10 - 15% of troops sent never return. Rumours that they are fed to creatures or given over to necromancers to raise as training tools are unsubstantiated, but persistent.

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