This northwestern state was mainly called The City of Holdine, neighboured by Strane, Upavshei, Zema, and a few assorted small entities. The isolation of this northern region made the culture very different from the rising southeastern city states Durem and Barton. Except for trade, the two regions generally left each other alone. Soon it would become evident that Holdine was developing differently and much faster than the other regions. Factories became towns, towns to cities, cities to fortresses of metal and steam. It wasn't long before war machines began to be produced.
Pride turned to imperialism as a massive war broke out between northern city states. Holdine cut a swath through the rural, but resource rich, Upavshei. It had put a buffer between it and the powerful Zema, and only set up for the next tactical move. All it took was a few minor attacks, as well as some espionage, to cause a large portion of Strane to surrender. The stage was set for the steam powered machines to crush the northern lands; a nation changed into an empire. This empire was known as The Imperial Union of Holdine Strane, incorporating the mother nation and the surrender states that pushed the balance of war.
War continued on until a majority of the northern lands were under Holdine control; a push in a decidedly southeast direction. When the Empire reached the plains that house modern day Latent city, Durem could not take the risk. Putting aside the ages old isolation of the two regions, Durem began supporting the forces fighting Holdine Strane. Early pushes into the now Durem sponsored states proved unsuccessful, and General Grant Von Helson's counter attacks were just as unsuccessful. Despite his imperial ambitions Emperor Stigmus Csar, proposed peace talks with the two city states. The entrenched warfare didn't stop, but diplomats travelled to Barton.
In an unfortunate turn of events, Stigmus Csar died suddenly of a stroke.
Command was quickly divvied up between generals, political figures, and close friends of Stigmus. Needless to say that politics in the empire became strained, as did the peace talks. Soon a splinter group Nove Strane appeared, claiming to be the true will of the empire. They were the children of Strane loyalists, the classic example of idealistic youth. Thankfully for the empire, this group only served to inspire a group of rising political figures to attempt to rekindle the empire. The war just got more complex.
The young radicals of Nove Strane quickly appealed to the one group of people they could: Other young and rich radicals. They believed that if they could destabilise the country, much like what happened to Strane, they could push the war in Durem's favour. The fact they were willing to send their own people to die against Durem proved their dedication to the cause. No sacrifice was too great if it could destabilise the empire that tore their homeland apart from the inside. While some would argue their radical lust for revenge was short-sighted, those same people couldn't deny that same revenge made them frighteningly dedicated. They became an underground organisation embedded in the upper reaches of Holdine culture. A politician could be a member without any suspicion being drawn towards them.
On the other end, there was a group in the government that was willing to play just as dirty. They would organise political killings, spy on everyone, and most importantly appeal to the lower classes. The one thing that Nove Strane couldn't argue with was how prosperous the country was under imperial control. Keeping the people loved the success the empire brought, the army was in high spirits, and there was just enough fear of the people in power to prevent peasant revolt. In a very Machiavellian effort, the government put on the mask of being for the people while preserving their reign. Where the radicals had idealist energy, the government backers had political experience. Chancellors, senators, advisors, judges and lawyers, all skilled at turning political game in their favour. One of those figures was the brilliant politician and magnificent liar, Abel DeLuall. Within a few years his profile was raised even more, and there was even talks of him becoming the next emperor.
A climate where anything could happen.
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So, what's up with this eh?
Well here's the deal. This is almost like an alternate Gaia Mainstream venue. It takes place in the world of Gaia mainstream, has the same location, and perhaps some of the same characters, but takes place about 500 years before the current date in Gaia mainstream.
So, I'd love to see some of the older characters (ie thousand-odd year old demons) show up around here. But at the same time, feel free to make new characters too. Pretty much any character is welcome, just as in Gaia mainstream.
