Belmar

"The war solved no problem. Its effects, both immediate and indirect, were either negative or disastrous. Morally subversive, economically destructive, socially degrading, confused in its causes, devious in its course, futile in its result, it is the outstanding example... of meaningless conflict"
- C. V. Wegdwood

Imperial Belmar
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Politics and Advancement
Capital: Aldanburg Government: Absolute Monarchy Emperor: Francis William IV Motto: Fiat justitia, et pereat mundus Technology: Eng 5, Chem 5, Phys 5, Bio 4, Psyc 4 Magic: Ment 1
Population and Economy
Population: 42,772,800 Industry: 77 Wealth: 96 Research: 15 Ether: 75 Resources: N/A

Overview

Belmar is a generally pleasant and summery world in the Tyrolean Starzone with three inhabited continents separated by wide turquoise seas. It is largely controlled by the Belmarian Empire, a state that was established over a millennium ago by refugees fleeing out of the destruction of neighboring Tyrol shortly before the closure of the starways. Although blessed with a mild climate, Belmar has been devastated over the past fifty years by several cataclysmic wars and a lengthy period of military anarchy that have left the planet's population decimated and its environment deeply scarred. This long series of domestic troubles was followed by a number of ill-advised and ill-fated foreign campaigns launched shortly after the reopening of the starways by the then rump empire that nearly saw Belmar overtaken by triumphant rebel forces backed by off-world interests.

The destruction of the Belmarian Empire, which had reached the nadir of its fortunes, and the installment of a foreign puppet regime over Belmar as a whole was averted when the death of the regent Fredrick II in 1004 was followed by the ascension of King William III to the throne of the Royal Imperial stronghold of Carthinia-Pomerania. Rallying around their new and capable leader, the empire's armies were able to, with the aid of mercenary forces and a bit of luck, launch a counter attack and eventually overcome their weakened and increasingly disunited enemies completely. The occupation of the rebel capital and the exposure of collaboration between elements of the renegade Deldan Senate and foreign powers allowed for the signing of a peace settlement that for the first time in almost fifty years saw the whole of the empire at least nominally united again.

That is not to say that the Belmarian Empire that has emerged from the long crisis is nearly as centralized or as strong as the one that entered into it; The northern continent, which escaped the worst of the wars under the leadership of the self proclaimed independent city of Rehrersburg, won recognition in the peace settlement of its complete autonomy with only vague commitments to the notion of a unified planetary defense. In the west, the former rebel provinces united in the Republic of Deldan have once again been brought under the empire's flag and authority, but they have managed to retain for now no small amount of autonomy on a local level and the process of reunification will be a long one. In the east, much of the loyalist stronghold of Carthinia-Pomerania remains in ruins and the task of rebuilding its broken cities will take many more years.

Still watching the skies.

But the Belmarian Empire is once again an empire, and not the broken and tired remnant of one it was when it entered into the thousandth year of the New Era. And for the first time since the death of Fredrick II's older brother, it has an emperor. In a solemn ceremony in the ancient capital of Mala Nedelja, King William III took up the long neglected Imperial Crown as Emperor Francis William IV. For now at least it appears that Belmar's further decline has been, if not reversed, at least for a time delayed.

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Keep these walls from falling.

The Old Empire

Belmarian Armed Forces

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Technology and Magic

Engineering: 500
Chemistry: 500
Physics: 500
Biology: 400
Psychology: 400

Creation: 0
Destruction: 0
Matter: 0
Mental: 100
Movement: 0

Infrastructure

Industry: 77+0
Wealth: 96
Research: 15
Ether: 75

Stockpiles

WU:
IUU:
Ether:
Geodes:
RP:

Advantages

Elite Armed Forces
The Belmarian fleets and armies are well trained, well-equipped, and battle-hardened. Though not exactly the most well-regarded military out there, they're man for man some of the best soldiers and spacers in the west.

Diplomatic
For whatever reason, Belmarians have proven to be pretty capable at navigating the maze of cultures and powers they've found out beyond their world with the reopening of the star ways. Loosely state sponsored Belmarian adventurers and travelers can be found out across much of known space attempting to make deals to the advantage of their homeworld.

Large Population
Although not that large compared to other powers, the population of Royal Belmar in the postwar years was generally far larger than the remaining infrastructure was able to comfortably support.

Space Cadets
There is a cluster of large stations and other orbital facilities high above Belmar, built over the last few decades to replace those that were destroyed during the Great War.

Disadvantages

Lord of All
Emperor Francis William IV presently has no heir, his death would send the empire into chaos and perhaps undo all the work accomplished over the past several years.

Angry Population
The empire's government is doing better in the polls with the armed forces and the wider population these days, but in turn a considerable portion of the powerful old nobility is restive. Can't please everyone.

Resource Poor
There's just not that much in the way of resources in Royal Belmar's territories.

Barren World
It's not really lifeless, but Belmar's agriculture is still in tatters and huge portions of the planet's surface are still poisoned from apocalyptic opening battles of the Great War fifty years ago.

Slow Population Growth
No one's really much for having kids these days. Maybe not too surprising given how bad things have been over the past half century.

Factious World
Royal Belmar uneasily shares its planet with Deldan, now nominally returned to the empire, and the northern country of Rehrersburg.