Wachian Empire

## People and Society

### People and Citizen Standards

Wachia is a nation primarily ruled by people who name themselves "Wachians" however, the definition of a Wachian varies depending on the source. Hardcore Wachian supremacists will identify "true Wachians" as humans/close relatives to humans with dark hair and brown/reddish/crimson eyes. However, the government identifies Wachians as individuals born in Wachia and those who have lived in the nation for 10 years and have passed the "National Essay" which is an exam which settlers must pass to be considered citizens. While these people will be seen as Wachians, this is a more honorary title as only those born in Wachia with Wachian blood are considered "true Wachians".

### Language and Autonomy

In Wachia, unlike many other nations there are very few languages with the primary language being Wachina but in the northern sections a language named Polsk is quite common which is like Wachinan with a closer tie with Dwarvish. Aside from this, there are no other nationally supported or considered languages legally. The people in Wachia have a varying level of autonomy depending on where they are located. Local officials have a variety of powers which must be approved by government officials with political and cultural allegiances deciding the situations of thousands in the hands of the few. However, the people are allowed to vote for local nobles or send any complaints to local or state officials.

## Government(s)

### Administrations and Governance

The Government of Wachia is identified as a monarchy with a lower federal government who deal with smaller issues while the emperor deals with greater issues and signs off on federal decisions. The emperor has absolute power to refuse or agree with any legislation or decision which in the hands of capable leadership has proven fruitful to Wachia. The nobility of Wachia hold most administrative offices with them being assigned by the emperor himself to their positions. The nobles do hold the same freedoms as the peoples with some extra such as them being able to run for government unlike the lower classes, however in recent times, the balance of power has gotten closer and closer to equality as Emperor Casimire wants to increase the powers of the common Wachian. The capital city of Wachia is Drakos which is in the southeast. The capital is home to the royal family and administrations of Wachia with the black walls and castles of the city casting a shadow overshadow, this is a city that is Wachia itself, once a city of gleaming beauty to a rotted corpse of debauchery to finally a symbol of dark power and Wachian might.

### Crime and Justice

In Wachia, crime is often decided by local officials who get approval from higher ups in the capital. The greatest punishment for any crime is "Undeath Servitude" which has the individual sapped of all life force but the bare minimum and treated subhuman as they are near to being undead themselves. They remain in this state for as long as the government decides which can be centuries as their soul is tortured and they have no free will and are often sold off to the highest bidder as slaves.

### Foreign Affairs

Wachia itself does not hold much in the ways of foreign allies. The DPR resents Wachia considering its monarchy, anti manis ideology and dark past with the dwarves. The Humanik Empire does not hold Wachia in high regards as they view Wachia as traitors and aggressors who are not to be trusted for their cult of darkness. The Drecoria Kingdom is one of the few nations that does not see Wachia as a completely unfavourable light as they themselves see all Wachian crimes against Drecoria as self-defence and crimes of the past.

### Military/Defence

The military of Wachia is divided into three cores. The first is the National Army which is under the directive of the emperor and his selected generals with the army being loyal to the state and the emperor with anyone being able to enlist and serve. The second is the Sanguia Core who serve the Order of Sanguia and work as a crusading and holy force who serve the Order and the Order alone. Finally, there is the NDL (National Defence League) which is a force made up of local officials as leaders with the NDL working to secure internal affairs or smaller issues such as local defence that would not require an all-out military response, this force is made up of locals, the retired and the young. In Wachia, men and women can serve in the NA and the NDL but in the SC only men may serve front line and fighting roles.

## Economy

### Trade and Resources

Wachia has a variety of natural resources with its source of strong lumber, potent plant life and hunting industries providing most of its income. Trade in Wachia is heavily protected and overseen by the government itself as Guilds of certain goods and services work on behalf of the government to strengthen weaker industries and curb the power of predatory companies, in this effort, none Wachian goods are often taxed and thus are sold at higher prices with most markets being funded by the government to help spread Wachian customs while limiting the power of international traders but they have little limits on what can be sold and so provide a key base for more illicit materials to be bought and sold which is often well worth the tax.

### Taxation

Taxation in Wachia is decided by local officials and regulated by the Government to ensure tax is never too high or too low. Tax is collected by local officials and law enforcers with banks providing the key base for taxation to be paid and administered. A lack to pay tax is not often paid by prison time or fines but a simple lack of public service availability and only after persistent avoidance of tax will result in prison. Fraud is often punished by branding and close monitoring with every single gold piece in production being stored in a database with any increase in this number that is not been made apparent to local officials such as currency outside of the nation being punishable with prison time, branding and even mutilation.

### Technology and Medicine

Compared to most nations, Wachia is a nation that is not advancing in technology, but neither is it on decline or primitive. Wachia often simply imports their tech while teaching engineers. However, they are sceptical or forbidden from certain tech such as those possessed by the Dwarves such as aircraft and advanced ranged weaponry. In terms of medicine, Wachia is quite advanced in the field since their prowess in blood magik has prevented many pandemics and saved thousands with dark magik also being used to find and destroy disease, however, any disease that bypasses such tests and magik can cause serious damage as this reliance on magik has left thousands to die as quarantines are mandatory for every citizen afflicted by disease.

### Transportation and Communication

Unlike their Dwarven and Humanik neighbours, Wachia has lacked in the field of transport such as in steam powered vehicles or aircraft. However, their road networks and transport administrations are comparable to none with roads being safe and infrastructure being strong, Wachia is well known for their cart technology and brilliant equestrian skills as the strongest and most efficient horses are Wachian breeds and trained. In terms of communication, Wachia has an extensive BMS (Bat Messenger Service) of local Bats who are large enough to fend off aerial predators in the day and are unmatched in the night as they can deliver 100 letters a day with 60% of these deliveries being made in the night. This service is paid publicly with a small fee needing to be made for each delivery with any issues or failings being refunded in full. This system is admired the world over with this form of communication providing thousands of jobs with those being chosen as the Bat keepers being an honoured position.

### Agriculture

Agriculturally, Wachia is very potent with the strongest and toughest plants being found in the northern mountains which are often used across Eura in emergency granaries as the majority can survive for up to 2 years when separated from their soil with minimal light and water required. This industry of "Cold Crops" is the majority for northern Wachian farmers with the south being known to harvest "Black Wheat" which gets turned into "Black Bread" which is often seen as stale while still being soft. This bread can survive months in open air without being ruined by natural causes which grants itself value to Wachia. The wheat itself is mass produced but since the wheat is often unstable and rots easily, even missing a day of cultivation can ruin millions of crops with only 20% being harvested as the rest is often corrupted or ruined. This black bread is known for its health properties as a single loaf could feed a family for months which makes its production worth the effort with thousands of farmers making hundreds of gold pieces for a cart of the successful wheat while many others can be ruined by a bad harvest.

## Culture and Customs

### Art and Entertainment

In Wachia, art is a highly valued career/talent with history, literature and creativity being a valued trait as many see Wachian art as the very spirit of Wachia itself while others criticise Wachian art for being biased and government controlled to show Wachia in a noble/favourable light. For Entertainment, the core love of Wachians is the art of acting. Wachia has a rich history of tales and stories that balance between myth and reality. The story of Karn is well known with all Wachians being able to sing songs and poems of the old King. Acting is valued as the many see it as the greatest way to show Wachian culture and history as it is the great epics of old unfolding before us with the Crimson Court being the largest theatre in Eura which has battles of hundreds of actors taking place on a colossal stage with 100,000 watchers in attendance at most given times with the entire hall being silent when required and either cheering or sobbing at the culmination of these great tales.

### Architecture

The architecture of Wachia is varied depending on the northern and southern divide. The northern settlements are often known for their efficiency over overall looks with industry being a vital point with northern buildings being known for tall chimneys and simple and strong structures. However, in the south architecture is treated more like an art where over time buildings are changed as the nation changes with looks and practicality being evenly managed. We can see this in structures such as the imperial palace which is known for its massive spires and intricate designs that are enforced with iron spikes and meter thick walls of black stone which makes it a near impregnable fortress while also being a glorious symbol of Wachian culture and power.

### Ethics/Views

Wachia is thoroughly divided between northern and southern ideals. The north is very much so more liberal and left leaning as the industry and persecution of the workers drives ideals such as Manisism and social class freedoms. In the north, the individual and the worker are rarely separate with the people having a fatalist idea system with their views on equal views coming from a pure sense of lacking individuality. In the south the individual is more valued with tradition and desire to "stick to one's own" there is no reliance on your neighbours, instead there is a pure reliance on your own abilities and skills with those who cannot perform certain tasks being seen as lesser.

### Fashion and Dress

In the north of Wachia, clothing is simplified due to the look on efficiency and lack of individuality. Most men in the north wear overalls, cotton shirts, simple dark shaded pants and worn boots with protective gear being a part of the fashion. For women in the north a commonality is like male clothing except for certain work where short dresses and lighter shoes are common. In the south this factor is the opposite with individuality and individual style being prized. Men can be found wearing fine cotton shirts with dark jackets, dark shoes, fine pants, and cuffs. Women can be found wearing either long dresses with black leather jackets and fine shoes or long pants with flares at the bottom, often coloured red with the jacket sometimes being absent in favour of a long dress jacket which often goes to the knees and curls at the bottom with a tinge of red. Dark colours and reds are universal across Wachia with the nobles wearing extravagant dresses and fine suits. For nobles, there are no gendered style as they believe that if they are nobles then they should not be restricted by the traditions and norms of the lesser peoples as they are freer and more important and thus must look their absolute best all the time.

### Holidays/Celebrations/Customs

Wachia has three core national holidays that are universal. The first and most important takes place on the 3rd of November which is named "Sylvushast" which celebrates Wachian independence and the life of Sylvus II. This is often celebrated during a week of celebration. In the day people work half their standard work hours for the same pay with the rest of their shifts being spent preparing for the Red Parades which have houses having blood paintings on their faces of that families' stories and ancestors and how they were true Wachians with the winners receiving the crown of Crimson King. The parade sees the higher ups and honoured members of the local area atop great chariots with crimson iron and black wood decorating the great chariots. This holiday is the most widely celebrated in Wachia and has been held for decades. The second holiday is "Sanguinasa" which is the celebration of the formation of the Order of Sanguia on the 18th of August which sees temples put on shows of holy devotion with hymns and songs ringing across the plains in harmony in celebration. The third main celebration is "Karnfest" which lasts for three days from the 2nd of January to the 5th of January which celebrates the new year and crowning of Karn with the story of the old King being retold across the nation in great plays and feats as all wear black fabrics and celebrate with markets selling fine foods and services as many dance through the streets and play instruments in black wooden masks as it represents Wachian unity. Other holidays are purely regional and are not nationally recognised.

### Religion/Faith

The core religion of Wachia is the Order of Sanguia. The Order of Sanguia was formed shortly after the rise of Sylvus II who created blood magik as it is known. These members worship vampirism, undeath and the purity of blood. They believe that blood can only be tarnished by non-Wachian mingling and reproduction which makes them allies to traditionalists and Wachian supremacists, however many bend these rules to appeal to more people as a friendly faith. The faith follows the idea of keeping one pure and their nation pure in turn through the Crimson. This faith is a great force in Wachia with much power politically and culturally. They have a council of Darkness which is made up of 12 members of the most potent blood magik users and devout priests who govern under the eyes of the state. They all reside within crimson temples with black flames dancing in pots of iron. The wealth of the order is equal to the state itself with the Order being taxed heavily as to curb their power. The faith is growing every day despite the distain from the emperor himself who tries to limit the Order and its members. The faith finds most of its allies in the south of Wachia and especially on their own island of Sanguia where they rule from the Tower of Karn itself and their city named Sanguia which is a city of the church where faith comes above all loyalties to the state. The Order of Sanguia holds a force of potent warriors who defend the Order in their crimson armour and black cloaks as they number in a mere 500 members but do not be fooled, they are some of the greatest warriors in Eura as a single Order of Sanguia Knight could face 10 standard footmen in a duel and shrug off firearm shots as blood magik has turned them immune to pain and immune to bleeding itself as they turn a battlefield into a slaughter which they feast upon to gain more power.

### Magik/Views on Magik

Wachia, much like other nations has specific rules on Magik users. Wachia views magik as a tool that is vital to a rising and potent nation that can serve the people and the nation unlike any scientist or soldier can do. In Wachia, two forms of magik are seen as far above others with Blood magik and Dark magik being core abilities of any Wachian caster while light magik is frowned upon. There are few magik academies in Wachia but this does not change the effectiveness of these academies as they are considered some of the finest, however they are also very authoritarian as spell casters are seen more as state assets as they are all obliged to serve the state when summoned to do so. Those who are deemed a threat due to their abilities are often hunted by the Black Order who specialise in destroying magik wielders as they attack from the shadows.