GovernmentType: Monarchy
Head(s) of state: Grand Prince Drazhan
Legislature: Princes' Council
Prominent government members: Prince Kazimir
Capitol city: Vyšeghrad
Major cities: N/A
Intentions of your government: Develop infantry tactics/technology as well as fortifications. Retake the southern area lost to barbarians.
Foreign relationsMilitary Alliances: N/A
Trade partners: N/A
Organisations: N/A
Collaborating with: N/A
DemographicsModel culture: Kievan Rus', Finno-Ugric, Balkan Slavs, minor Hellenistic influences
Population: 163,540
Official language: (extremely) Old East Slavic
Other languages: Various (extremely) old Germanic and Slavic dialects
Demonym: Kyrv, Kyrvs
Religion: Paganism
Currency: Grivna
Calendar: Babylonian
General InformationGeography: Pelovsk is a temperate land, connected to the mainland by two narrow isthmi, one to the northeast and the other to the southeast. The interior is hilly and near-mountainous, covered in forests and the occasional lake. To the east lies the Kataysk Sea and a myriad of small and large islands, forming a natural border with the rest of the continent. The coastal regions are much more flat and suited to farming.
Climate: Pelovsk experiences warm summers and cold winters. Deciduous trees are common in the hills and on the coast, with evergreen forests dominating the taller and rougher mountains. Tropical storms from the west as well as lake effect snow from the east means Pelovsk is often saturated with light to moderate precipitation at nearly all times of the year.
Agriculture: Potatoes and wheat are the staple crops of the region. Fruits such as apples or pears as well as vegetables, ranging from onions to spices such as thyme, parsley, laurels and chives are common. Garlic as well as various kinds of peppers are grown in the northern reaches.
Cuisine: Fish as well as cultivated potatoes and wheat are the Kyrv staple. Chicken, pig, turkey as well as the occasional cow, goat or lamb may supplement meals. Fruits and grains make up a large portion of side dishes, while vegetables are most often included in stews or soups. In the more mountainous forested regions, boar and venison is common. A usual breakfast consists of oats, eggs, toast or rolls, jams and cheeses. A usual noon meal consists of breads, cheeses, some form of soup with staple meats and fresh fruits. A usual evening meal consists of a meats, starch such as potatoes, fresh fruits and vegetables as well as breads or rolls, and is typically more substantial than lunch.
Architecture: While still somewhat primitive and ancient, Kyrv architecture shares similar themes throughout. Virtually all structures are built of wood, with the larger structures being made straight from notched logs. Large, peaked roofs, thatched or cedar shingled, cover most buildings. Large, thick log walls provide reasonable defense for outlier settlements, while larger cities such as Vyšeghrad contain fortified stone walls. As defense is of the utmost important to the Kyrvs, cities and settlements are built nigh uniformly, often onto hills, with large streets and very narrow side passages to funnel enemies towards a strong shield wall. All cities and villages revolve around the Keep, the most fortified area of the settlement most often where the lord and the local military or militia resides.
Areas of interest: The city-fortress of Vyšeghrad serves as the capital of Kyrvan. Situated on top of a large hill overlooking the Kataysk Sea and offering a commanding view of the surrounding area, a series of three walls wind their way up the hill in rings. Near the top, a large reinforced stone wall guards the keep. Between the first two walls, the housing of the lower class can be found, as well as the harbour. The larger area between the second and third wall houses the free middle class as well as the trade district and stables. Behind the third wall lies the mansions of the upper class. Within the walls of Vyšeghrad Keep exists Kyrvan's primary military barracks as well as the Royal Palace, as well as everything those entail.
Cultural overview: The Kingdom of Kyrvan is a federation of culturally Slavic nobles ruled by the Grand Prince from his seat in Vyšeghrad. Kyrvan's citizens are typically free men of the middle class, with the wealthy Princes and somewhat lesser Boyars comprising the upper class and poor workers and/or indentured servants making up the lower class. Primarily, the free middle class serve in the military, which is commanded by Princes who are supported financially and politically by Boyars, all of whom are supplied by the lower class.
This somewhat haphazard organisation of nobility leads to constant bickering and political manoeuvring. The Grand Prince seat is handed to the next most powerful Prince as opposed to the Grand Prince's son, making dynasty changes frequent. In addition, the constant struggle of Boyars to become Princes and Princes to stay Princes makes the aristocratic landscape of Kyrvan tumultuous at best. Despite this, the upper class is extremely nationalistic if not downright xenophobic, and will put their conflicts on hold for the good of the realm.
MilitaryArmy: 20,000 infantry
---> 16,000 Heavy infantry (
Rytsar) - Armed with long spears, large shields, short swords and various armors, typically bronze
laminar or
linothorax with bronze helmets, greaves and heavy sandals.
---> 2,000 Light infantry (
Pekhota) - Armed with ranged weapons such as javelins or bows, as well as short swords, light shields, lighter laminar or gambesons, simple bronze helmets and sandals.
---> 2,000 Cavalry (
Kavaleriya) - Armed with long spears, cavalry shields and falcata-type swords as well as various light armors, typically lighter laminar or gambesons, bronze winged helmets and riding sandals.
Navy: N/A
HistoryTraditional spoken history claims the Kingdom of Kyrvan descends from the original two inhabitants of Taymayr's ice plains, the Chevolek, borne of the ice; one in the image of the supreme god of the heavens, Rŏd, the other in the image of his female companions, the Rŏzhanitsy. All other gods paid fealty to Rŏd, and gave his creation gifts in respect. The Chevolek, now man and woman, received the gift of fire from Svarog, god of the Sun; agriculture from Jarilo, god of the harvest; and fishing from Veles, god of the waters, among other gifts, including immortality - with these gifts Rŏd made them sentinels of his creation, but made them swear never to venture below or above the Earth lest they lose their immortality. Chernobod, the god of darkness and Rŏd's counterpart, refused to give them gifts, and descended beneath the Earth to hide from him. He sought dominion over Rŏd, but required the approval of a human to ascend the earth and confront him. A clever being, Chernobod took the form of a magnificent bird with the body of a lion and appeared before the woman, offering her passage to the top of the highest mountain. Out of curiosity she accepted, and on the back of Chernobod she flew to the mountain's peak. There he took his true form, an enormous winged lizard of black scales, and confronted Rŏd, who came down from the heavens alone. There they fought in a stalemate that leveled the mountain, and out of fear the woman and all other gods hid. Man heard the sounds of the fighting, and with the woman they returned to Rŏd and Chernobod. The brave man sacrificed his immortality and that of the woman's to approach the gods, and with a deft throw heaved a golden spear through Chernobod's heart, banishing him permanently beneath the earth. Rŏd, weakened but victorious, was humbled by the courageous act of his creations, and bestowed upon them the gift of abundance, withdrawing to the heavens with a promise to one day return. The children of man and woman spread across the Earth and await the return of their creator.
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