Marilsan

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Marilsan
Country Information
Motto: Fuerza, coraje, decisión.
Capital: Maril
Languages: Marilsani, Common
Ethnic Groups: Upper Class (The Rich, Merchant Lords, Council Members, etc..), Lower Class (The Poor, Servants, Field Workers, Miners, Shipbuilders, etc..) 99% Human, 1% "Other"
Religion: Varying Sea and Ocean Deities
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
Current Ruler: Empress Torissa Deus
Population: Large, Uncounted


The nation of Marilsan is located on the Inland Sea, to the west of Nahuatl. Marilsan is comprised of long stretches of coast, large river basins and flood plains. Her mostly-uncounted population consists mainly of emancipated lower classes that previously labored under a colonial heel.

For centuries, Marilsan endured being a divided vassal state to her neighbors, including the priest-kings of Nahuatl and Pentlander colonists. Roughly a century ago, Marilsan took advantage of her overlords' temporary weakness and fought a bloody reconquista to carve out her own sovereign territory. Since gaining independence, the realm has grown as a cultural and economic powerhouse.


History

Once a nation that financially, had almost completely existed on the exports of their multiple farming industries, Marilsan has expanded her economy to include the mining of copper, silver, and gold. Not to mention the incredible influx of foreign coin to hire her reputable trades and craftsman, as well as her huge dry docks where they build and sell ships to other foreign nations. This allows Marilsan to be a wealthy realm, and the surge of coin is not represented anywhere better then in the capitol of Maril.

In addition to this, the warm climate and favourable seasonal temperatures have also made Marilsan a popular tourist destination for traveling and vacationing dignitaries, nobles, merchants of foreign origins, which allows for an extra surplus of gold to flow into the capitol and her surrounding areas.


Geographical Features

Marilsan is composed of roughly 175,000 km2 of land which ranges from long stretches of coast, vast river basins and flood plains. There are vast orchards in the lower elevations, and vineyards dotting the higher countryside. Much of the outlying land is suited for farming, so most of the farming communities are spread far and wide, with miles between them.

The massive sea-carved coastline sports many large harbors and bays, which were capitalized on by ship builders and trading companies. Negro Luna Bahía (Black Moon Bay), the largest, Southern-facing bay on Marilsan, was picked to build their capitol of Maril.

The bays have both natural and artificial breakers, helping to protect their valuable coastlines from heavy, storm-tossed waves.

At the Eastern edge of the country, there is a vast forest at a midrange elevation, populated with conifers, and many broad-leafed trees. The Marilsani do their best to maintain a healthy forest as it both protects their western borders, as well as provides them with many of the raw materials that go into their massive shipbuilding trade.


Major Exports

With fertile land for farming and raising animals, vast orchards, and varying ores to be mined, Marilsan has a fair supply of goods for export and trade. Some examples of this are as follows:

  • Fruits
    • Apples, Bananas, Pears, Peaches, Apricots, Plums, Cherries, Figs, Grapes, and Nuts
  • Vegetables
    • Asparagus, Eggplant, Beans, Cabbage, Onion, Potatoes, Peppers, Tomatoes, and Olives
  • Spices
    • Sal, Azafrán, Ñora, Laurel, Garlic, Rosemary, Oregano, Pimentón, Perejil, Guindilla
  • Olive oils
  • Wines and Rums
  • Cured meats and cheeses
  • Clothing
    • Cotton: Raw, Bulk Bolts, and Clothing
    • Silk: Bulk Bolts and Clothing
  • Luxury Items
    • Fine textiles, jewelry
  • Ores
    • Gold, Copper, and Silver for coins. Various other metalworking ores for armor and weapons.
  • Art
    • Paintings, sculptures
  • Shipbuilding


Government and Politics

The Empress Torissa has ruled without question for the last thirty-five years, and her line before her began nearly five centuries ago with her ancestor Toledas Ameo Deus I, who through numerous civil wars instilled himself as Emperor Deus, believing himself to be the living incarnation of one of Marilsan’s many revered sea deities. Though over the centuries vast religious reforms have occurred within Marilsan’s borders, the Emperor or Empress is still regarded with a certain amount of deification, and is often referred to such in her title. Torissa, much like her mother before her (who helped to restructure the Armada) has set forward to instill as much change as she can in her beloved country, one of which includes the separation of religion from state, as well as the denial of her own deification.

In addition to the Empress, the government is run by a collection of ministers and statesmen who submit and pass most laws through an elected council body. Though considered to be an eclectic body of aged old men, the majority of the actual governing of Marilsan is controlled and wielded by the council, though the Empress does have final say and full veto authority on any laws that come through the council.

Notable Government Officials

Empress: Torissa Deus("Official" Marilsani title: "Hija del Mar, Su Alteza, Emperatriz Torissa Deus")
Concejal: Luis Torrero
Concejal: Pablo Herrera
Concejal: Antonio Cortes
Concejal: Hugo Ramirez
Maestro de las Brigadas: Comandante Javier Cardenas
Maestros de las Armada: Almirante Vicente Alvarez, Vice-Almirante Santiago Velasquez
Marilsani Ambassador to Transdariania: Alejandra Castilleja


Military

Brigadas Imperiales de Marilsan

"Si tuvieras paz, prepárate para la guerra."
"If you would have peace, prepare for war."

Though Marilsan is not known particularly well for her military might, the country does have a standing army large enough to suitably defend their borders. Highly trained for tactical maneuvers, the Marilsani Brigadas have been known to defeat larger forces with key precision and unit cohesion. Officers are generally on horseback armed with espadas laterales, while the regular enlisted are all foot soldiers who are trained to fight using their espadas laterales, as well as their most notable asset, the halberd. There are archers among the ranks, though you would scarcely be able to tell them from the regular footmen and officers until bows are readied and drawn.

During peacetime, members of the Brigadas assume normal functions such as city guard, Empress' elite guard, and rural policing, as well as specialty officers and enlisted men. In times of war, these men and women come together to form this cohesive unit of elite soldiers. Prior to the first Marilsani Emperor, the military and peacetime roles were completely separate, which was found to be a waste of resources and manpower. With these men and women fulfilling both military and domestic authoritive roles, they have found greater success in the Brigadas.

The Brigadas are the primary authority and major military force for the Empress and the lands of Marilsan, which also prevents nobility from forming their own smaller private armies to claim some right to authority. There is one Comandante, serving out of Maril, with full detachments serving out of Kremisia and Amparo. Smaller villages and farming towns will often have a few men deputized and reporting to the closest local detachment, but are usually on their own and fairly self-sufficient, only relying on the Brigadas when absolutely necessary.

The Brigadas' uniforms are fairly simple. For Officers: A dark blue jacket and breeches with gold trim, fitted over a suit of light chainmail and the padding beneath, and a pair of boots. Women in the Brigadas have the option of wearing either a skirt or standard issue breeches while on duty, but the skirt must allow for movement and offer the option of riding horseback. Spellcasters are permitted to wear mages' robes instead of the standard uniform, but it must be matching color to the regular uniform and must offer suitable protections for the wearer. For foot soldiers: The standard uniform only applies when off the line, as foot soldiers are required to wear heavier armor. In this case their rank is on the shoulder of a red sash worn across their armor. In addition, women serving as foot soldiers do not have the option to wear skirts, and any spellcasters that are not of officer ranks are relegated to the officers' line to cast with some measure of protection.

On the other hand, individual members can (and are encouraged to) supplement what they are issued; better armor, better weapons. Thus, the Brigadas are given the leeway to attire themselves as they see fit so long as their badge is displayed on their belt (or sash) and are armed with, at the absolute least, their espadas laterales, which is a trademark weapon of their homeland.


Maestro de las Brigadas
Rank Comandante
Insignia Marilsanicommandante.jpg
Name Javier Cardenas
Officers
Rank Caballero-Capitán Caballero-Teniente Subteniente
Insignia Marilsanicabcaptain.jpg Marilsanicabteniente.jpg Marilsanisubteniente.jpg
Enlisted
Rank Sargento Primero Sargento Cabo Escudero Recluta
Insignia Marilsanisargentoprimero.jpg Marilsanisargento.jpg Marilsanicabo.jpg Marilsaniescudero.jpg Marilsanirecluta.jpg


Armada Imperial de Marilsan

"Emperatriz servida y patria honrada."
"Empress served and homeland honored."

The pride of every Marilsani native rests firmly planted in the nautical forces the country wields. Though impressive by any standard eighty years past, the previous reigning Empress completely restructured the Armada, both hierarchically and technologically. Her innovative ship designs helped push Marilsan forward as a front runner for nautical strength, speed, and power. In addition to the technological advances, new laws passed through council declared that all able-bodied men over the age of ten were drafted into the Armada to serve a minimum five year period (women were exempt from this law, though still free to volunteer if they so desired to serve) which insured that the manpower required to crew and sail Marilsan’s Armada was at all times at it’s highest complement.

The head of the Armada, the Almirante, serves out of Maril, while the Vice Almirante serves aboard the Pride of Marilsan, the Empress' flagship. Both the Almirante and Vice Almirante rarely leave Marilsan except in a time of war or for diplomatic missions involving the Empress herself.

The naval uniform is similar to that of the Brigadas, a dark blue jacket and breeches with gold trim. Women and spellcasters in the Armada are both required to wear this uniform as is, there are no allowances for skirts or mages' robes. Each uniform will bear the naval rank of each individual sailor as well a pin denoting by name or symbol what ship they are sailing upon. Much like their Brigadas comrades, members of the Armada must be armed with at least their espadas laterales.


Maestros de las Armada
Rank Almirante Vice Almirante
Insignia Marilsanialmirante.jpg Marilsanivicealmirante.jpg
Name Vicente Alvarez Santiago Velasquez
Officers
Rank Capitán Teniente Alférez Guardiamarina
Insignia Marilsanicapitan.jpg Marilsaniteniente.jpg Marilsanialferez.jpg Marilsaniguardiamarina.jpg
Enlisted
Rank Sargento Primero Sargento Cabo Marinero
Insignia Marilsanisarprimarmada.jpg Marilsanisararmada.jpg Marilsanicaboarmada.jpg Marilsanimarinero.jpg


The Ships

Marilsani vessels draw some inspiration from carracks and caravels, but have evolved into much more specialized designs and are thus their own classes of ship. A lot of innovation comes into play in weaponry and the use of sails in ways that improve both speed and maneuverability. In some instances, like the Emperador Class, much of the innovation went into building a reinforced hull providing maximum protection. The sacrifice of speed for protection was a worthwhile one, as an Emperador class vessel can take several shots from close range and come out of a battle remaining seaworthy, while other ships might already be at the bottom of the sea.

All Marilsani ships are fairly sleek designs with a surprisingly low waterline profile, and the smaller vessels are quite swift with an ability to sail have a point of sail that is nearly close-hauled. Mast and sail counts vary based on the class, with four masts and two steering masts on the Emperador Class, down to three on the Pegaso.

Present ship classes are as follows:
Emperador Class Warship Soberana Class Warship Libertadora Class Warship


Religion

Though the steady influx of tourists from other lands has caused some minor temples and oracle basins to spring up across the landscape, the majority of religion in Marilsan is dedicated strongly to those deities who patron over agriculture and the sea. In particular, due to their large coastline, the sea deities are most highly revered. Many religious factions and cults have originated out of the fervour to properly worship the sea celestials in an attempt to curry favour and ward away bad luck and poor weather.

The most commonly spoken-of deity in Marilsan would be Nateela, or "La Marea Negro", which translated into the more common tongues means "The Black Tide".


Society and Peoples

The people of Marilsan, the Marilsani, are descended from a hardy breed of plains folk. No strangers to hard work they approach their tasks with a certain degree of enjoyment. Olive toned in complexion, their warm humid climate tends to produce a peak hours of work centralized around the highs and lows of the temperature through out the day, this can cause outsiders to regard the people of Marilsan as laidback or unhurried in most of their tasks. Traditionally a farming people, the past few centuries of reform have caused an explosion of cultural awakening in the quiet Marilsan people, taking them from a very rigid and buttoned down life-style to a far more exuberant fashion of living.


Language

The major language taught in Marilsan is Marilsani, and it's many dialects. Common is also fairly prominent, especially with regards to their economy and trade. As they begin to barter with more countries, they have slowly worked other languages into schools so that newer generations will be able to communicate and expand trade much more freely.