The Great Kingdom of Vadea
Name: Kingdom of Vadea (conventional long form) The Greater Kingdom of Vadea
Capital city: Umar
Head of State: Lord Protector Manis Uan-Tilber
Government Type: stratocracy
Chief of State: The Lord Protector
Head of Government: First Marshal of the State
Ruling Body: Governor General's Council
Economy: A leading maritime trading power in the region and agricultural importer
Religion: Book of Adus / Cult of the Dragon /Goddess Muanm
State: 14 Unitary authorities
Military: Army of the State , Grand Navy of the State
Notable Settlements (largest cities)
Umar (Capital)
Damar (Second Capital)
Osto (Greater Temple of Jorth)
Backwill
Colster (Garrison City)
North Notts
Port Hamstad ( Garrison City)
Port Mander
Welist
Port of Damaden
Uan
State Flag Black dragon on blue field , Iron Mount to the left , broken cleaver represents the ongoing conflict with the Orc to the North.
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Government and State
As a Stratocracy, citizenship and the right to run for office require service in either the army or the navy , subjects are considered to be of a lower class and therefore are subject to the throne, a subject cannot hold office, title or land. This situation can be changed by service in the army for no less than ten years and as stated in the charter "on completion of this term those who have shown true devotion to the Throne may take Citizenship and all the rights under the state" This system of Governance does not extend to those protectorates or Free States held within Vadea as a general rule although citizens of those states can serve in militia forces of Vadea or any standing force raised by those states or principalities.
In Vadean society the two most important pillars of the state are family and the military, the kingdom holds these things to be most paramount. The four great families of Umar have held power in the kingdom for as long as anyone can remember , the family Wattle first seized power in the Years of the Black , General Tannly Wattle lead the Army of the South against Tukk Tukk the Greater and his Orc horde at the river crossing(Battle) of Nays bluff , victory for Tannly would secure his rise to power and paved the way for his family to unify the Kingdom of Vadea.
Wattle Family
A proud heritage and long service to the Kingdom , Tannly Wattle served Lord Duffry as General of Duffry Army, his charge at the Battle of Nays Bluff and victory that day secured all the lands to the north and his place on the road to power and glory , Wattle family unified the Lords and City Kingdoms.
Anders Family
Henry Anders was a captain in the Umar militia cavalry and would go on to inherit a vast fortune from King Hogut, Anders squadron counter charged a vastly superior force at the Village of Eccles and prevented Hogut's forces from being overrun, something the old king would not forget.
Pimiler Family
City Elder Pimiler was to most a worm of a man , called a coward by many in the ruling council of Hastily. Regardless Pimiler was no fool and would use his underhand practises to position himself into a place of favour when the spoils of war came to be divided. Hastly's contribution to the war let alone the any of the battles of the day are a matter of conjecture.
Uan-Tilber Family
Alec Tilber had been born into money and was by most measures a decent man, but one that could not hold his drink or a good hand at the table. fortune in the end would drop Alec Tilber a winning hand during the Battle of Uan.After buying a commission in the Order of the Pillar of Kan with the last of his coin he would be thrown unwittingly (due to drink) into the largest single battle of the war and would lead the relief of Uan City and ultimately find his way to the bed of Lady Ana, daughter of Lord Ramey.
Rule
Only one of the four families can hold power in the kingdom and the current ruling family are the Uan-Tilber, the head of the family or the oldest surviving child will hold the title of Lord Protector and rule the kingdom as head of state.This can technically be either a male or female child or family member, there has of yet been no female heads of state. there is no fixed term of office and the family may hold this office for as long as they maintain support in the Governor General's Council.
Lord Taydus Minister of State for Supply
"The kingdom has prospered in the past but in recent years under the dubious leadership of the Uan-Tilber family the kingdom has faulted and has lurched from one misadventure to another. In an attempt to gain favour with the governor generals the new Lord Protector Manis has declared his intention to re conquer the lands to the north of the Great Hills and rid the kingdom of the Orc menace O'Gork, it is yet to be seen if the hard pressed Army of the State can muster the will or the manpower to achieve victory................"
State Law
Law and order is administered by the Minister General of the Courts, all citizens have the right to be heard by a Provost Marshal Judge. An individual bound under the law will be represented by an Officer of the Court or if one is not available a Provost Sergeant can act in his place. Subjects and non citizens must seek legal aid from the local bailiff, Subjects that commit offences lesser than those of murder or attempted murder can defer the death penalty and serve 25 years in a penal or assault regiment.
Local Policing is provided by the Provost Guard The Provost Guard also provide specialist individuals to deal with issues of a supernatural or magical kind
Merchant Marine of the Kingdom
A key trading power in the region Vadea has a large merchant fleet carrying all manner of goods from the far corners of (??????) .The great Link ships ever travel the seas, from the wines and fruits of (??????) to the very best furniture made of the finest woods the Deep Forest has to offer the capital. Having such a large fleet the Vadeans are able to maintain large numbers of trade routes that give their produce and products access to a large market and as a consequence fill the kingdom's treasury annually, a welcome event due to the huge strain the military has on the state in the defence of the north. It was once said you could walk from the Port of Mander on the west coast all the way to the New Isles on the far side of the Vadean Sea by stepping from one ship to another.
3 Red Verdean Cross overlaying the Red Cross of The Order of St Ted with Gold field with the anchor representing the merchant fleet. This ensign is used by the Grand Fleet. The merchant fleet ensign is the same but without the St Ted Cross , leaving 4 Verdean Cross on a gold field.
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To protect the vast merchant fleet of the kingdom the Grand Navy ever stretched thin continually patrols the coast and the deep trade lanes of the oceans , fighting a seemingly endless war of attrition with the Pirate States of the North Vadean*. The Admirals of the Fleet are always to be seen entering and leaving the Court Ministry presumably attempting to gain more funding and troops for the fleet, In an Ironic turn known only to politicians the fleet is seen as an expense the kingdom could do without , yet without it the ever loved army would starve and die and the kingdom would fall to destruction. Admiral Ansley Toddly the hero of the Retreat of Black field Peninsular continues to call for forces to attempt a second invasion of the city state of Canister* and punish the ungoverned States of the North Vadean*, but with little support from the Governor General's and the redeployment of many marine regiments of foot to other fronts it looks unlikely.
- States part of the North Include Canister, UMAR referred to as northern states/Pirate States
Retreat of Black field Peninsular
Darkness fills the sky, great fires bilge great columns of black acrid smoke into the air as our Battalion moves forward to join the line , the great Canister horde before us , Forward ! goes the cry and ten thousand men push our line towards the Hells! Canister war beasts give out great screams that turn men white but forward we must forward for Jarramoth! And the blue Banner of the 2nd Bat.
Regiments sited for honour during the retreat include those lost in the rear guard, 22nd "Tides Furry" Naval Regiment of Foot, 9th "1st Fleet forward" Naval Regiment of Foot and 106th Penal Regiment of Foot "Marine" and elements of the 10/55th Siege Regiment "Militia"
State Religion
Taken from the book of Adus "It is said that in the far past the lands of the Pine flats gave rise to the Great Jarramoth and that he gave rise to the fire that warmed mankind in the dark days of the black, Jarramoth a noble winged dragon born of the despair of man and bested by Adus the First at the foot of Iron mount would serve his master and thus mankind to the end of the light."
The cult of the dragon has been prevalent in the region for a long time and can be seen in everyday life from the city guilds to the kings of the past, The Seal of the Thrown depicts the great battle of Iron Mount, the Flags of the Kingdom, A black dragon with wings stretched standing on a shattered cleaver on a blue field with Mt Iron to the left.
Army of the State
<flag> Flag of the 2/4th Regiment of Foot "Duke Lanto"
The cornerstone of the kingdom can be found in the army, To be a citizen one must have served in the army for at least 10 years, a deferral of service can be arranged and a reduction to 1 year can be purchased if you can afford it. The army is well equipped and for the most part battle hardened , a number of prolonged border wars with neighbours to the east and the continued encroachment of the Orc holdings in the north test the military daily. The army is divided operationally into Field Armies when deployed on maneuvers or when called to actual combat. Primarily an infantry centric force, field armies lack mobility and have been slow to react to evolving situations in past wars. Cavalry and militia are deployed in ad hoc formations and are often used to out manoeuvre enemy forces and support the main field armies attacks. Cav regiments can operate with a field army as well as in larger Cavalry Corps. The Militia are regional units formed under the direction of the First Marshal of the State, each unitary authority must raise at least one permanent regiment of militia or maintain a regiment for no less than 2 years on a rotating basis. It is also the responsibility of the militia to raise siege regiments when the need arises.
There are currently 7 active field armies and 2 independent cavalry forces , all but 2 field armies with the entirety of the 1st Cav Corps are deployed to the north against the Orc Hold
Current STANDING forces (excluding militia)
37 Infantry Regiments: total active manpower = 92,500
36 Naval Regiments: total active manpower = 50,400
24 Cavalry Regiments: total active manpower = 19,200
Total standing force = 162,100
Militia in the Kingdom
Militia forces do exist within the Kingdom and are raised on the basis of need with the exception of 14 Regiments (one from each unitary authority, 14 in total) raised for a period of 2 years of active service. From the order of Council Provost Marshal 'all able bodied citizens are expected to commit to 5 weeks of militia service each year of the post harvest period.' On paper there are 47 Militia Regiments , with 14 ative ,15 able to muster within 4 days, the remaining 18 within 4 weeks.
Total Militia force manpower when fully mustered (in theory) = 53,580 Total active militia force active = 15,960
Free People's Militia
As Vadea expanded may lands that had fallen to strife and death have come to be part of the greater kingdom , to reflect this those peoples of the Kingdom known as Free people's can serve in the Free Peoples Militia , Gnomes for instance have long been associated with engineering and metal workings and often form the core of siege and munitions forces
Example - 24th 'Duke of Eastbay' Lancers
1 Regiment = 800 horse , 4 Squadrons = 200 horse , 5 Troops = 40 horse
Well known Regiments of Foot and Cavalry
1st "Lord Protector" Knights Guard of Foot
2nd "Adus’s Own" Knights Guard of Foot
5th Centurion Battalion 'Pennant of the Smilodon'
9th "Duke of Cambes" Foot Pike
12th Light Foot Scouts
16th Pike Guards of Foot
21st "Orc Death" Foot Pike
30th "Old Iron Chin" Foot Knights
3/5th Light Foot "Marine"
1/3rd North Notts Militia "Bills Boys" Foot
9th Heavy Horse
19th "Drake Scale" Heavy Lancers
25th "Duke of Damesters" Pike Lancers
2nd House Cavalry Heavy Horse
4th House Cavalry "Hollands" Guards of Horse
Types of Units
regiments using the title Guard have earned it in battle via great achievement.
INFANTRY
Vadean Centurion Guard, Elite Troops found only with the Sovereign.
Marshal Guard, Elite Palace Troops , Heavy infantry armed with Bill Hooks and Vadean Short Sword.
Vadean Foot Knight, heavy armoured foot soldiers, regiments using the title Guard have earned it battle via great achievement.
Foot Pike, the long Pike used to great effect against massed infantry or cavalry attacks.
Footman, Infantry armed with Vadean Short sword and shield.
Foot Archers, Carry Longbows.
Specialist Forces
Vadea Militia Engineer Corps, Recruited predominantly from the Gnomes of the Principality skilled in siege works and engineering duties.
Marine, Assault troops armed with Short swords and Light Round Shield
Foot Caliver, Infantry armed with an early firearm , specialist troops small in number.
Horse Caliver, Mounted Infantry armed with an early firearm , specialist troops small in number.
CAVALRY
Light Cav
Pike Lancers, use both the Vadean Pike (short) and the lance , primarily used as light skirmishes and employed in flanking maneuvers .
Horse Troopers (Pike), Standard Cav using Pike adapted for use on horse, the Vadean Pike (short) is used to assault directly massed infantry.
Heavy Cav
House Cavalry, Fitted out and funded by the ruling house , generally used as shock cavalry.
Heavy Horse, Armed with Lance.
Vadean Knights, heavy armoured foot and horse regiments.
