Daghuo Desan (Desan Empire)
Jul 21, 2015 23:35:28 GMT -6
Post by pixel on Jul 21, 2015 23:35:28 GMT -6
Last thread was removed because reasons.
Nation Name: Daghuo Desan (Desan Empire)
Government: Dynastic
Power of Tradition
Spoiled Blood
Description: Hegemony is the name of the game on Desadifang as different groups work to get themselves in a position where their nominal control of the planet leads to a nominal control of an empire. A dynastic cycle can be observed as each dynasty has a rise, stagnation, and fall.
The current ruling dynasty is the Mejorul house, who are presently in the 'rise' phase. They will give Desan what it deserves: an interstellar empire!
Species: Desan ('Men')
Description: Desan are tall, lean, vaguely humanoid creatures that take from amphibian and avian roots in their evolutionary history. Their bone structure is that of a honeycomb, a remnant of a long-forgotten time when Desans' ancestors could, indeed, take flight with wings. Today these wings are only vestigial, and as a child matures tend to disappear entirely (which is often the point where a child is considered to be an adult). One thing which has not faded away from this past is their excellent eyesight and slender figure. They are carbon-based lifeforms, they breathe oxygen and are iron-blooded (or hemoglobins) but are also ecto-therms (or cold-blooded).
Homeworld: Desadifang (Man's Home)
Description: A hostile and unforgiving world that is, ever so slowly, dying. At this point in its history, it can only sustain civilized life along its coastlines - where cities and civilization engage in feverish activity, relying on marine agriculture. Going further from the coastline, into the barren dustlands, there are no settlements, only mining or military outposts and the occasional nomadic group. Deeper inland is totally lifeless. Its atmosphere is thinning as the planet's magnetosphere diminishes and it is lost to space, temperatures are dropping, and water levels dropping. It is clear that existence hangs in the balance - and, indeed, always has.
Despite its ruinous state, civilization on Desadifang scarcely notices its situation, believing that technology has largely absolved them of the need to worry about these problems. Indeed, the planet can and will remain an important power center and launching point for a glorious interstellar civilization.
Capital City: Anquandisho (Safe Haven)
Description: An underground city built in the typical Desa style, concave architecture, with town square being at the deepest part of the pit and the wealthiest living closer to the surface. The city is built of stained glass and carved stone and has been inhabited for many many generations. Each home is a temple to the individual, decorated and modified as an expression of that individuality. On each wall, whether interior or exterior, a painted mural or depiction of some event of any scale - whether personal or national. The most masterful and cherished treasures of the city include the 'Ghost of Zhanuigur', a bronze statue depicting the main character of a legendary author's most beloved work.
Sectors:
(Iaohukexi, 'Welcome Sight', Commercial)
(Lanindisho, 'Life of the Lands', Commercial)
(Hendelingo, 'Everlasting Places', Industrial)
(Dayankadian, 'Smoky Meadows', Industrial)
(Panwenbeidisho, 'Panwen's Enclosure', Research)
Agent Name: Mejorul Kamin Harkastbeim ('He Who Endures the Path', of the Mejorul or 'White-Walled' house)
Agent type: Government Agent
Custom Trait: Masters of Light and Circuit [no approval yet]
--- Beam Cannons +1 firepower
--- Research Sectors give +2 Science and 15 Economy (instead of 10)
--- Advanced Sensors and ECM Centers have +1 modifier to rolls
--- Fabricators repair 2 ships per turn (instead of 1)
Culture:
Desan have a rich, flourishing culture which is experiencing a golden age.
Naming Convention
Most names consist of the family's name coming first followed by one chosen by the child's parents. Children only have these two names until they reach adulthood. At this point, there is a traditional maturation ceremony, the finale of which is the child being sent alone into the hostile inner landscape of the homeworld. They are not permitted to return until they have (or claim to have) had a vision, from which their last name is taken. This vision is, according to legend, given to the person by Lanbolqun, the spirit in Desan mythology which holds domain over dreams, nightmares, and fantasies.
Architecture
Desan had an advanced knowledge of glassworking and masonry, and the raw materials for their structures was the foundation for their architectural systems. Most buildings were largely assembled from carved stone, often in the form of domes, concaves, and pyramids. However, the interiors were often made almost entirely of glass, with the exception of stone trims, doorframes, windowframes, and so on. Desan glass came in many different colors, but the favorites were black and blue and made checkered patterns of these two colors, though they were not the only ones available. Glassworkers and stonemasons are proliferate and their work is highly respected.
Cities
Cities were always coastal or at least near a river or lake. No settlements bigger than a mining village, trade post, or military outpost were built further inland, although nomads lived in these regions for millenia. Most cities, especially newer ones, were built entirely into in a 'concave' style. Each concave was called a 'plot' and it was very difficult to expand these plots to accommodate a greater population. As such, building a new city required a great deal of forward thinking. Planners stressed the rule of making plots bigger, and thus deeper, than what might seem sufficient. If the city's population still grew past this point, then city builders took to building tall rather than wide. Problems arose if the city had its top covered - the equivalent of a city wall - forcing a compromise between security and the capacity the city could grow to.
Homes
The home, whether it was a common workers' house or a palace fit for a king, was seen as a temple dedicated to its principal resident. They were heavily individualized, but in general there was a standard foundation for most houses. They were usually assembled underground, with the entrance being through a manhole at the summit of a dome or at the bottom of a concave.
Military architecture
Fortifications were built throughout Desan history. Rather than forcing the enemy to assault high walls or sloped flanks, these forts focused on establishing a zone of control and forcing the enemy into poor ground, where he could be struck against with ease by a mobile attack force. Elaborate systems were constructed which tempted and baited the enemy (if used in combination with said mobile strike force) into a position where he could be trapped and annihilated. Today this lends itself well to the hedgehog defense strategy and may catch an alien enemy, unversed in fighting Desan, off-guard.
Stratification
Desan society is heavily stratified and this is a major influence on politics and government. Each group is called a Clique. The stratification was largely created by a complex division of labor that emerged in early civilizations on Desadifang, but also was heavily based on the system of laws which was put in place that guided the caste system along lines of currency. Each person had a monetary worth that was based on their clique. This system was called ‘desamakar’ which meant ‘person-price’. The desamakar was to be paid out to the family of the offended person. If the price could not be paid by the accused, then an honor duel or family feud would ensue.
By the time of the modern era the desamakar was not paid to the victim’s family but instead to the state – essentially, a tax on crime. This system, along with tribute from subordinate states, generated much of a government’s revenue. Unfortunately, it also created a system in which the government had reason to encourage crime. Desan put in place no other taxes – either based on income, commodities, or property, unless tribute from subordinates counted.
Although the desamakar was made to the state and not the family, if the price could not be paid, the family was entitled to whatever retribution they saw fit. Duels of honor, and outright feuds, were common ways to deal with blackmail, homicide, and larceny.
Nation Name: Daghuo Desan (Desan Empire)
Government: Dynastic
Power of Tradition
Spoiled Blood
Description: Hegemony is the name of the game on Desadifang as different groups work to get themselves in a position where their nominal control of the planet leads to a nominal control of an empire. A dynastic cycle can be observed as each dynasty has a rise, stagnation, and fall.
The current ruling dynasty is the Mejorul house, who are presently in the 'rise' phase. They will give Desan what it deserves: an interstellar empire!
Species: Desan ('Men')
Description: Desan are tall, lean, vaguely humanoid creatures that take from amphibian and avian roots in their evolutionary history. Their bone structure is that of a honeycomb, a remnant of a long-forgotten time when Desans' ancestors could, indeed, take flight with wings. Today these wings are only vestigial, and as a child matures tend to disappear entirely (which is often the point where a child is considered to be an adult). One thing which has not faded away from this past is their excellent eyesight and slender figure. They are carbon-based lifeforms, they breathe oxygen and are iron-blooded (or hemoglobins) but are also ecto-therms (or cold-blooded).
Homeworld: Desadifang (Man's Home)
Description: A hostile and unforgiving world that is, ever so slowly, dying. At this point in its history, it can only sustain civilized life along its coastlines - where cities and civilization engage in feverish activity, relying on marine agriculture. Going further from the coastline, into the barren dustlands, there are no settlements, only mining or military outposts and the occasional nomadic group. Deeper inland is totally lifeless. Its atmosphere is thinning as the planet's magnetosphere diminishes and it is lost to space, temperatures are dropping, and water levels dropping. It is clear that existence hangs in the balance - and, indeed, always has.
Despite its ruinous state, civilization on Desadifang scarcely notices its situation, believing that technology has largely absolved them of the need to worry about these problems. Indeed, the planet can and will remain an important power center and launching point for a glorious interstellar civilization.
Capital City: Anquandisho (Safe Haven)
Description: An underground city built in the typical Desa style, concave architecture, with town square being at the deepest part of the pit and the wealthiest living closer to the surface. The city is built of stained glass and carved stone and has been inhabited for many many generations. Each home is a temple to the individual, decorated and modified as an expression of that individuality. On each wall, whether interior or exterior, a painted mural or depiction of some event of any scale - whether personal or national. The most masterful and cherished treasures of the city include the 'Ghost of Zhanuigur', a bronze statue depicting the main character of a legendary author's most beloved work.
Sectors:
(Iaohukexi, 'Welcome Sight', Commercial)
(Lanindisho, 'Life of the Lands', Commercial)
(Hendelingo, 'Everlasting Places', Industrial)
(Dayankadian, 'Smoky Meadows', Industrial)
(Panwenbeidisho, 'Panwen's Enclosure', Research)
Agent Name: Mejorul Kamin Harkastbeim ('He Who Endures the Path', of the Mejorul or 'White-Walled' house)
Agent type: Government Agent
Custom Trait: Masters of Light and Circuit [no approval yet]
--- Beam Cannons +1 firepower
--- Research Sectors give +2 Science and 15 Economy (instead of 10)
--- Advanced Sensors and ECM Centers have +1 modifier to rolls
--- Fabricators repair 2 ships per turn (instead of 1)
Blueprint Name: Madapari Natanwen-class (Wayfarer's Jewel-class)
Ship Class: Destroyer
Speed: II
Defense: N/A
Weapons: 2 Beam Cannon
Utility: Advanced Sensor Array
Cost: 15 Industry, 3 Credits, 3 science
Upkeep: 1 credit/turn
The Wayfarer's Jewel class of starships are meant as fleet destroyers. Rather than using armour they prefer to stay well out of range of the enemy's weapons and using enhanced accuracy, better detection abilities, and increased firepower, pelt the enemy from afar. Their speed is used to navigate into a positional advantage as well as kite the enemy if they give pursuit.
Ship Class: Destroyer
Speed: II
Defense: N/A
Weapons: 2 Beam Cannon
Utility: Advanced Sensor Array
Cost: 15 Industry, 3 Credits, 3 science
Upkeep: 1 credit/turn
The Wayfarer's Jewel class of starships are meant as fleet destroyers. Rather than using armour they prefer to stay well out of range of the enemy's weapons and using enhanced accuracy, better detection abilities, and increased firepower, pelt the enemy from afar. Their speed is used to navigate into a positional advantage as well as kite the enemy if they give pursuit.
Desan have a rich, flourishing culture which is experiencing a golden age.
Naming Convention
Most names consist of the family's name coming first followed by one chosen by the child's parents. Children only have these two names until they reach adulthood. At this point, there is a traditional maturation ceremony, the finale of which is the child being sent alone into the hostile inner landscape of the homeworld. They are not permitted to return until they have (or claim to have) had a vision, from which their last name is taken. This vision is, according to legend, given to the person by Lanbolqun, the spirit in Desan mythology which holds domain over dreams, nightmares, and fantasies.
Architecture
Desan had an advanced knowledge of glassworking and masonry, and the raw materials for their structures was the foundation for their architectural systems. Most buildings were largely assembled from carved stone, often in the form of domes, concaves, and pyramids. However, the interiors were often made almost entirely of glass, with the exception of stone trims, doorframes, windowframes, and so on. Desan glass came in many different colors, but the favorites were black and blue and made checkered patterns of these two colors, though they were not the only ones available. Glassworkers and stonemasons are proliferate and their work is highly respected.
Cities
Cities were always coastal or at least near a river or lake. No settlements bigger than a mining village, trade post, or military outpost were built further inland, although nomads lived in these regions for millenia. Most cities, especially newer ones, were built entirely into in a 'concave' style. Each concave was called a 'plot' and it was very difficult to expand these plots to accommodate a greater population. As such, building a new city required a great deal of forward thinking. Planners stressed the rule of making plots bigger, and thus deeper, than what might seem sufficient. If the city's population still grew past this point, then city builders took to building tall rather than wide. Problems arose if the city had its top covered - the equivalent of a city wall - forcing a compromise between security and the capacity the city could grow to.
Homes
The home, whether it was a common workers' house or a palace fit for a king, was seen as a temple dedicated to its principal resident. They were heavily individualized, but in general there was a standard foundation for most houses. They were usually assembled underground, with the entrance being through a manhole at the summit of a dome or at the bottom of a concave.
Military architecture
Fortifications were built throughout Desan history. Rather than forcing the enemy to assault high walls or sloped flanks, these forts focused on establishing a zone of control and forcing the enemy into poor ground, where he could be struck against with ease by a mobile attack force. Elaborate systems were constructed which tempted and baited the enemy (if used in combination with said mobile strike force) into a position where he could be trapped and annihilated. Today this lends itself well to the hedgehog defense strategy and may catch an alien enemy, unversed in fighting Desan, off-guard.
Stratification
Desan society is heavily stratified and this is a major influence on politics and government. Each group is called a Clique. The stratification was largely created by a complex division of labor that emerged in early civilizations on Desadifang, but also was heavily based on the system of laws which was put in place that guided the caste system along lines of currency. Each person had a monetary worth that was based on their clique. This system was called ‘desamakar’ which meant ‘person-price’. The desamakar was to be paid out to the family of the offended person. If the price could not be paid by the accused, then an honor duel or family feud would ensue.
By the time of the modern era the desamakar was not paid to the victim’s family but instead to the state – essentially, a tax on crime. This system, along with tribute from subordinate states, generated much of a government’s revenue. Unfortunately, it also created a system in which the government had reason to encourage crime. Desan put in place no other taxes – either based on income, commodities, or property, unless tribute from subordinates counted.
Although the desamakar was made to the state and not the family, if the price could not be paid, the family was entitled to whatever retribution they saw fit. Duels of honor, and outright feuds, were common ways to deal with blackmail, homicide, and larceny.