Lirentia

**Lirentia** is the northern most country in Europe and boasts the tallest peaks around as well as the flattest plains. Most of the former League of Nation's top geographical sites are featured in its diverse landscape. With the North Sea and Sovetsk Sea surrounding them in the north, their only neighbours are Salrelis and Lorraine. As their positional advantage suits them well for it, Lirentia makes a sizable income from taxing all ships that enter and leave the Bay of Balta, much to the infuriation of several neighbours but Lirentia holds a stalwart series of forts which second guesses all acts of aggression in this regard. Population is estimated to be around 27 million as of 1932. Due to their times throughout history where they have been constantly surrounded by large, powerful and aggressive foes, Lirentia focuses on a strong defence, challenging invaders to fight for every inch of soil, asking if it is really worth it in the end. Recently, a huge cache of high quality minerals were found in the mountainsides, attracting interests from many eyes, good and bad.

### Geography

#### Island Walls

Aside from the mainland, Lirentia holds several thousand islands (mostly in the North), which are all too small to be noted on most maps but deter any ships from coming too close to shore nonetheless. An exception is the large island of Koppingham, which houses the great forts of Linnake, Urhea and Olof, each garrisoned around the clock with 500 men each. A symbol of national pride is located on the fortress Olof, in the form of the 18 inch (45.7cm) gun "Olof" from which the fort takes its name. It was named after a captain Olof who sank two Armestis battleships during incursions into the Bay of Balta in 1899 using the cannon.

#### Mountains

A large mountain range flows through the centre of the nation, with its tallest peak capping at 4,500m+, which has yet to be conquered. A few light fortifications have also been built into the mountainside in the case of a naval invasion from the north, although the shattered island formations would likely tear a hole in ships that attempt to cross anyway.

#### Swamps

To the east, shared with Salrelis, are a huge array of swamps and marshes. Navigating the terrain for non natives can and usually are lethal, with sudden dips and uneven footing. Especially in the winter, when the water freezes over with a thin crust, those who can not distinguish ice from solid ground find themselves with the rest of the hundreds every year who are swallowed by "the Devil".

#### Southern Plains

However, contrasting the rest of its treacherous terrain, the southern plains of Lirentia are plain fields which yield large wheat reserves, although the limited space requires heavy management. Over 90% of the population is concentrated in the small area which explains the political maturity of the country at large, willing to just live peacefully in coexistence with everyone around.

### History

#### The Great War - (1910 - 1917)

Lirentia was one of the four original nations to align themselves against Skogsmark in the Great War, but as their allies crumbled one by one and new recruits were turned to ash, Lirentian forces on the continent withdrew to home soil to prepare for the impending assaults. Try as they might, Skogsmark could not crack the engima that was the Lirentian natural defences and eventually give up to proceed with Operation Scarmost, the invasion of eastern Europe and CUSS. From this time until Valkenburg signing with the coaltiion, Lirentia was effectively neutral, claiming to be conserving their strength until the time was right. In 1916/17, as the war finally turned back in favour of the coalition, Lirentia assisted advancing CUSS forces in Lorraine and Slovania. After the war, Lirentia refused to receive any of the spoils, feeling guilty for their inactivity during the years of 1912-1916, when the fighting was thickest.