The Tyhinn Empire

The United Tszamoorian Empire
File:Tszamoore.jpg
Country Information
Motto:	"Tomorrow rises from the struggle of today"
Capital:	Ursland
Languages:	Common Orcish Elven
Ethnic Groups:	Human Orcs Dwarves
Religion:	Menxism, various indigenous
Government:	Empire State/Oligarchy
Current Ruler:	Ilith Marconos
Population:	Unknown
Currency:	Dinar

The United Tszamoorian Empire is an imperial state that rests on the choke of the upper peninsula on the continent of Veth. The Empire is concentrated out of a massive pull apart basin known as The Great Bat Tree Bowl and is surrounded by a circular mountain range since dubbed The Ring of Fire. The economy of the Empire is heavily reliant upon the export of mineral-rich ore within the surrounding mountain ranges. Gold exports and outsourcing have allowed the Empire to grow into a formidable economic and military power in the Northern states of Veth.

History

File:Flagoftheempire.jpg The flag of the United Tszamoorian Empire

The United Tszamoorian Empire originally began as a pioneer effort through early frontierism. Expansion efforts began initially due to exile and expatriate efforts to seek refuge outside of the main charted continent, initially bringing pioneers into the fertile lands of the Bat Tree Bowl. In what is now known as Ursland, early settlers used the great Bat Tree Interchange (waterway) as a freshwater source to irrigate crops in the Mediterranean climate. As more and more settlers migrated into the Ursland area, the frontier efforts began to migrate out in all directions, soon encompassing the swamplands of the Ith in the east. Those inhabitants who had elected to remain in the flooded forests established the permanent settlements that now make up the swamplands.

Earthquake Series and Creation of the Ith

In its infancy still, the Great Bat Tree Bowl experienced numerous earthquakes as the strike-slip basin was expanding. In such an occurrence, the friction of plate movement gave way to several troughs being cut through Tszamoore, which allowed drainage of the massive body of water that had originally collected in the center of the basin. Fractures and fissures in the ground led to a natural "over-flooding" to occur within the eastern forests within the basin. The flooding quickly became a permanent run-off for drainage from the surrounding mountain range, but due to The Sawtooth Territories lying eastward, it caused a natural blockage to where the water became stagnant in the eastern forests. As such, the still water soon turned brackish and created peat swamp forests that now make up the Ith.

The Gold Era

In an effort to establish a self-sustaining economy, venturing soon led to the surrounding mountain ranges as the interest of prospecting grew. Initial efforts led to meager returns though through the gradual move towards what is now known as the Timberland Province provided ore that was rich in iron. A move to the northern Zarloc Mountains proved gold was fairly prominent within the mined ore located there. The push, however, led to several confrontations with hermits and a unified community of tribesman in the mountainous region that knew the territory well enough to push back and stymie any efforts at mining.

As a decade passed, Tszamoore’s economy grew ten times to what it was, as well as its population, which quickly led to the formation of a standing army. The army was quickly mobilized into an effort to expand Tszamoore’s reign into the surrounding mountainous region known as The Ring of Fire. The struggle rapidly deteriorated into a state of war, by which the army of Ursland deployed throughout the surrounding foothills and mountains to put down the scattered tribes and communities within the mountains.

The war effort was swift, but not without its fair share of casualties. As the foothold took place within the Timberland Province and Zarloc Mountains, the arid mountainous region of The Sawtooth Territories rapidly became an interest after oil shale and magnesium deposits were in large supply within the mined ore of that area. The nomadic tribes of the Sawtooth Territories put up a formidable fight, but the experiences of the war within the Timberland Province and Zarloc Mountains had made the Ursland army accustomed to high altitude conflicts.

Imperial Incorporation

File:Theempire1.jpg A Map of the early Imperial State

Upon conquering the Sawtooth Territories, the expansionism efforts were brought to a standstill as Ursland struggled to reign in control of “The Ring of Fire.” Political wrangling and sporadic uprisings led to Ursland instituting a policy of recognizing regional governors, who were local leaders appointed by Ursland to take control of their respective divisions. These divisions soon became automatous regions that were ultimately united within the Tszamoorian Empire. Their respective mineral acquisitions were absorbed within the greater economy to subsidize the need for imports from elsewhere.

The deposits of iron and production of charcoal led to the production of high-grade steel, of which the blacksmiths of Ursland amassed great craftsmanship in the production of weapons and tools. The mining of oil shale greatly increased the export and use of kerosene, which rapidly replaced the need for wax candles and provided the citizens of Tszamoore a longer-standing energy source for light. Gold, mined from the Zarloc Mountains, became the backbone of the Dinar, Tszamoore’s chief mode of currency.

Migrant Workers

Since its expansion efforts, dwarven miners and blasters have migrated into the Empire for prospecting and road-building efforts within the mountains. Leveling mountain paths had led to the creation of The Imperial Highway, a crude road-system that encompassed the entire mountainous region known as “The Ring of Fire.”

A vast migration of Orcs from the north western regions of Zul Kiras led to the organization of “Labor Trains.” These large groups would be used primarily in road-building, both within “The Great Bat Tree Bowl” as well as within “The Ring of Fire.” Their use was rapidly expanded towards mining efforts in the creation of pillar mines to extract ore rich in minerals. Many of these “Labor Trains” were mistreated and neglected, often resulting in vast deaths and often times revolts, of which the Tszamoorian Army would need to quell.

The Sea-faring Effort

With a heavily fortified economy, Tszamoore refocused its efforts beyond the “Ring of Fire” to create a small Armada that could protect its own coastline. With exports ranging from wine to weapons, Tszamoore sought to control the commercial traffic around its shores to ensure piracy and invasion did not compromise the efforts of its regional economy.

While the Tszamoorian Empire’s economy thrived, the internal unrest within “The Ring of Fire” kept it’s expansionism efforts stagnant. As such, Ursland has sought to reconfigure and balance its use of politics and taxation to accommodate the divisions that makeup the deeply divided nation-state.

Notable Historical Figures

From its early inception, Tszamoore has seen its share of state rulers and regional governors. Key to its history, however, were the Three Kings of early history, all of direct lineage.

Taltian Kurleiser

The first appointed King of Tszamoore/Ursland was Taltian Kurleiser, who initially led the military expansionism into the mountainous region known as "The Ring of Fire" to mine for valuable minerals such a iron, gold, and oil shale. His military leadership ultimately led to the great acquisition of the divisions and territories that surround "The Great Bat Tree Bowl," furthering the economic growth of Tszamoore.

Jilarlo Kurleiser

King Kurleiser's son, Jilarlo, furthered the expansionism efforts into the development of the naval armada that secures the international trade waters around Tszamoore's coastlines. He was also the chief architect of The Imperial Highway

Dirth Kurleiser

Jilarlo's own child, Dirth Kurleiser, however, succeeded him, only to fall victim to his own greed. Higher taxation and government control of private markets led to several uprisings within "The Ring of Fire" that ultimately set the economic and military progress of Tszamoore back by nearly a decade. The culmination of such a rebellion led to The Coup of Heights, which was quelled violently. The Oligarchy of Ursland had sacrificed numerous, invaluable resources towards humbling these revolts. Upon Dirth Kurleiser's death, a transition of power left ultimate control and centralization of power to the great Oligarchy of the Tszamoorian Empire. This, in turn, resorted greater control towards the Governors of each division and settled many of the Empire's internal disputes over the course of the next decade.

Geographical Features

Resting on the choke of the continent of Veth, the Empire is situated directly in the middle of massive pull apart basin that makes up The Great Bat Tree Bowl. The basin is still actively moving outward and has created a fissure in the ultimate drainage of the mountainous surroundings. At its current tectonic rate, the basin will ultimately separate the upper peninsula of Veth, segregating it into another continental body completely.

Drainage from the mountains collects within the lowest point of the basin. Prior to the early Earthquakes and tectonic movement that separated part of the basin, the drainage collected into a massive body of water that made up a Endorheic Lake. The lake had no natural source of drainage and remained stagnant. However, separation of the basin through seismic activity caused deep fissures that soon allowed drainage of the lake into the ocean on both the east and western coasts of the Empire. A third channel of drainage also appeared, which makes up the flooded forests of the Ith.

Ultimately, The United Tszamoorian Empire is broken down into two major partitions of semi-autonomous regions; “The Great Bat Tree Bowl” and “The Ring of Fire.”

The Great Bat Tree Bowl

Main Article: The Great Bat Tree Bowl

File:Geographymaptsz.jpg The Geography of the United Tszamoorian Empire

The Great Bat Tree Bowl is comprised of a massive valley that literally makes up a “bowl-like” shape. To the west are fertile soils that are moistened with the encompassing marine layer that drifts over the mountains at night and in the early morning. These soils are often ripe for growing grapes and mustard plants, hence the western region is prominent for its wine and mustard production.

From the West, higher winds generally carry the moisture across the middle valley rather quickly, offering a semi-arid Mediterranean-like climate. In the central bowl, this is offset by the existence of the Great Bat Tree Interchange, a natural moat-like body of water used for irrigation of the surrounding farmlands. The surrounding lands about Ursland is where much of the major crop production takes place, leading to the central bowl being the agricultural capital of Tszammore.

To the east, much of the remaining moisture trapped within the bowl hits the mountainous region and becomes stagnant. This trapped moisture creates a swamp-like region in the east that is comprised of marshes, bogs, and tropical-like swamps. The area is known as the Ith. This particular region is considered rural and economically poor, as its agricultural prospects are severely limited. As such, the land value is well below that of the rest of the Bat Tree Bowl. Thus, most of the local economy is based on hunting game and the distribution of meat. Some farmers have taken efforts to drain certain portions of the marshes and swamps to create fields ripe enough to grow crops amongst. Due to the poor nature of the region and limited prospects, many of the young males from the Ith are conscripted into the Tszamoorian Army.

The Southlands

The flat lands in the immediate south of the Ring of Fire largely border Zul Kiras. Much of this countryside is littered with orcs or lies within the raiding area where habitable conditions are anything but stable due to pillage by elements of the United Clans.

As such, this particular division of the Tszamoorian Empire lies within its territorial claim, but remains completely autonomous through lack of control from Ursland. Early attempts at annexing the lands forcefully proved disastrous once United Clans' reinforcements pushed Tszamoore's forces back to the Bat Tree Bowl.

With great interest sought elsewhere within The Ring of Fire due to its mineral-rich ore, interest in the Southlands have been put on the back burner until stable conditions can be met within the Ring of Fire.

The Great Canal

Plans have recently been proposed to initiate a massive canal project through the Southlands which will create a shortcut through the upper continental divide of Veth. Trade would increase greatly and control over sea traffic through tariffs would exponetially increase Tszamoore's economic standing. However, such a plan would require Ursland to face-off with the United Clans and initiate a massive war effort in order to gain those territories back and place them under their control.

Even if the territories were regained, raiding and harassment from the United Clans would stall production of the canal. However, it is envisioned that the canal will offer a natural buffer between Zul Kiras and Tszamoore in the eventuality of the greater plans of expansionism.

The proposal is a likely consideration for Ursland to push forward, but has considered a secondary plan of action to stabilization efforts within the Ring of Fire.

The Orco Cays

File:Orco.jpg The Orco Cays

The Orco Cays are a small stem of Cays found off the northern coasts of Tszamoore. These cays are each surrounded by an extensive sand bar and can only be approached by small row boats before becoming grounded.

The Tszamoorian Navy has used these cays for recreation for its sailors, often granting them limited leave to offer "down time." The cays are uninhabited and did not host any indigenous population beyond sea creatures. However, the cays would soon become home to the exiled Hell Hounds of the Tszamoorian Army. As they were essentially imprisoned on the islands, the Tszamoorian Navy ceased all recreational use of the cays and maintained a series of patrols throughout the region to ensure isolation of these small land masses.

The Ring of Fire

Main Article: The Ring of Fire

File:Geographyzarlocslopes.jpg View of the Zarloc Mountains at 20,000 ft.

The Ring of Fire is comprised of a variety of mountain ranges, all known to have radically different characteristics. The Timberland Province, for instance, ranges in elevation of 2,500 ft to 7,500 feet, just reaching an altitude below the timberline. This range is rich in iron deposits within the ore that is contained deep inside the bellies of its mountains. Flora ranges vastly from Scots Pine to Spruce. This makes this region especially vulnerable to wide-ranging forest fires, hence its visitors and residents are the primary monitored interest of the Tszamoorian Army in that region.

The Zarloc Mountains are the main source of water and irrigation to all territories and provinces under the imperial umbrella of Tszamoore. Massive glaciers melt seasonally and provide vast channels of freshwater to the pull-apart basin in the heart of the Empire.

The range is also strictly mined by Dwarven blasters as well as Orcish miners, both. The Tszamoorian Army in this region carries the sole role of security, as this range of mountains is primarily responsible for the production and mining of gold for the entire Empire. Much of the region lies above the timberline and is the reason for many deaths from altitude sickness and harsh winter weather for its year-round mining operations.

The Sawtooth Territories are a range of arid mountains primarily responsible for the mining of oil shale and magnesium. This range lies within the “rain shadow” of The Great Bat Tree Bowl, leading the lack of moisture necessary for plant-growth. Controlled irrigation, however, does exist, leading to the existence of several palms as well as limited crop production. However, this particular range is the most populated by an indigenous population and has led to numerous conflicts and uprisings.

Government and Politics

File:Flagoftheempire.jpg The flag of the United Tszamoorian Empire

The central government of the Empire is located within Ursland, which is the economic capital of the Tszamoorian Empire. Originally designed as a monarchy, the expansionism efforts for minerals and fertile land quickly developed the nation-state into one of an Oligarchy and quasi-Military Junta. The greater oligarchy consists of a number of governors who reign over their respective, semi-autonomous divisions, though military oversight and the pressure from Ursland's rulers ultimately dictate policy and decision-making. The divisions include a number of regions within both “The Great Bat Tree Bowl,” as well as within “The Ring of Fire.”

These governors are primarily tasked with keeping control of their particular divisions, while ultimately providing allegiance to the central government of Ursland’s oligarchy.

Civil unrest and cultural rejection by the native tribesman of various divisions within “The Ring of Fire” have led to a policy of assimilation. Many residents of the mountainous region have been relocated forcefully to designated areas within “The Great Bat Tree Bowl.” Often times these designated areas have proven to become labor camps, which likely direct them to work on road-building and mining operations in regions they are not particular native to.

The greater policy of expansionism, while ultimately the ideal goal of Ursland, has been brought to a quick halt through civil unrest in the surrounding mountainous regions. Much of the Tszamoorian Empire’s interests are self-containment/stabilization and securing international trade at present.

Economy

The Empire has since experienced several breakthroughs in discoveries of mineral-rich ore as well as crop production that has led to Tszamoore's economic growth.

Economic Growth

In its infancy as a nation, Tszamoore relied solely on agriculture to build its own community. As such, the economic growth was small in the beginning, with meager growth to justify the small influx in migration every decade. However, once iron and gold-rich ore were discovered within the surrounding mountain ranges, the economy soared as the gold rush within the Zarloc Mountains caused the economy to grow tenfold in just under ten years. As the government of Ursland operated under an ever growing budget, the primary focus immediately turned towards internal security to assure the mineral assets found and mined for remained under the control of Ursland.

The military eventually became the most predominant occupation within the Empire with mandatory conscription lending to the numbers. With no secure trade routes to be found inland, Jilarlo Kurleiser oversaw the construction and implementation of Tszamoore's navy along coastlines. The armada would serve to secure trade and travel across international waters, mostly along the northern coast to where it could be handed off to privately fortified caravans that traveled down threw Najjir or trade ships that would sail around North-Eastern Veth.

So much of the budget was placed into the military that living conditions, especially outside of the Bat Tree Bowl, began to quickly deteriorate. Conditions only became worse under the rule of Dirth Kurleiser, who imposed high tariffs in the Zarloc Mountains as well as the Sawtooth Territories to compensate the high costs of military operations in that region.

Despite Tszamoore's military culture, the power to sustain such a sizable force for such a reasonably young nation is beset entirely on the flow of gold from the Zarloc Mountains. The military is concentrated purely on internal security and ensuring exports and trade routes remain unobstructed at sea. The empire's ability to reclaim the Southlands from Orcish Clans who spilled over from Zul Kiras are no more a feasibility with the current political conditions, despite the numbers. Stabilization would also be a major risk of any involved in a border war with any of its neighbors.

Policy of Outsourcing

As Tszamoore had begun to amass wealth through its mineral discoveries in the mountains, Ursland quickly opened up its policy towards contracting foreign workers, and in some cases, foreign governments, to assist in its own road-making and naval build-up operations. Ship-builders from Secca were lured to the Empire to oversee the construction of many ships in its naval fleet. Blacksmiths that specialize in weapons and armor have been brought in as far away as Panguro. As such, much of the Empire's military might has been fortified by contracted, foreign labor through a policy of open-door outsourcing that has led to the economic growth of not only Tszamoore's economy, but those of foreign lands as well.

Military

File:Tszamooreflag.jpg The Flag of the Tszamoorian Army

Main Article: Tszamoorian Military

The Military of Tszamoore is a force of roughly 1/4 of the men and women of the Empire, to include naval forces. The numbers account for just over a third of the overall population, which means most males of military age from the flat lands are generally conscripted into the armed forces of The United Tszamoorian Empire.

The military of the Tszamoorian Empire is comprised of three distinct elements; the standing army of “The Bat Tree Bowl,” the navy of Tszamoore, and a light-cavalry company known as "The Headsmen".

Headsmen

Main Article: The Headsmen

File:Headsmen.jpg The Headsmen's coat of arms

The Headsmen are primarily two to three squads of soldiers selected from mounted infantry units to originally serve in raiding and harassment operations.

Prior to the greater expansion efforts into The Ring of Fire, the government of Ursland had set its sights on the autonomous territories bordering Zul Kiras. Early attempts at liberating those areas proved disastrous, as Orcish Clans quickly countered the efforts with heavy reinforcements from the south. As such, the military trained and developed The Headsmen as a series of light cavalry units. These light cavalry units were broken down into squads designed to reach behind enemy lines and cut off supply trains, harass and delay reinforcements, engage in limited false-flag operations, and partake in reconnaissance missions.

However, before the war efforts could be launched, mineral rich ore within the Ring of Fire suddenly distracted the government of Ursland. Forces were sent into the mountains to humble the indigenous population and put down any resistance. Major setbacks occurred as cavalry units were useless in this terrain and Ursland had to devise a new strategy and use for its infantry and specialist light-cavalry units.

In such, The Headsmen soon became a subversive group of specially trained intelligence gatherers and assassins.

These units were often times deployed ahead of an army invasion, targeting the heads of local tribes in assassination efforts and sabotage to essentially “Cut off the head of the snake.” Once the central leadership is taken out, a lack of clear successor will prelude the subsequent army invasion on foot. This is much of how Tszamoore has captured control of “The Ring of Fire.”

However, once control has been established, the army’s ability to maintain order has been undermined by rebellions and uprisings, of which these units are of no use. This is generally where Tszamoore’s conventionalism has come to stall its greater goals and efforts.

As a result, many members of The Headsmen were either exiled or executed in fear that they would turn their subversive talents against Ursland while Tszamoore was under the tyrannical rule of Dirth Kurleiser.

Navy

Main Article: The Tszamoorian Navy

File:Tszamooreflagnavy.jpg The Flag of the Tszamoorian Navy

The Tszamoorian navy and armada have proven to retain great control of the coastlines about the charted territories of the Empire. This control of the surrounding seas and coastlines has stabilized both the export and import trade of the Tszamoorian Empire, further securing its own economic growth.

Religion

Religions within the Tszamoorian Empire vary greatly between “The Great Bat Tree Bowl” and “The Ring of Fire.” Within “The Great Bat Tree Bowl,” religious beliefs are mostly geared towards Menxism, as it was carried over by pioneers and settlers from within the continent South-East. Various followers of Menxruk flock to The Walikeen Corridor of The Sawtooth Territories for sacrificial purposes.

Within “The Ring of Fire,” however, religions vary to the extent of being polytheistic and even toteism. The religious beliefs and practices differ so greatly between tribes that they remain greatly undocumented.

Society and Peoples

The culture of the Tszamoorian Empire can be best described as, “A melting pot.” While the central government of Ursland dictates morality and even economic values, the greater region beyond the capital adopts its own views and concepts of religion, morality, and work ethic. These elements vary greatly depending on the terrain and focus of each region, often based around the survival of each individual division within the Empire.

Language

As many of the pioneers came from various locations amongst the main, charted continent before, “Common” remains the wide-spread, spoken language of the Tszamoorian Empire. However, indigenous languages exist, mostly amongst the tribes of the Sawtooth Territories in the East. Immigrant languages have also spilled over into various elements of the economy and trades that primarily affect orcs (i.e. construction) and dwarves (i.e. road-building and mining).