THE SERENE EMPIRE OF TUDISCHLAND
DAS HEITERE TÜDISCHE KAISERREICH
Family Crest: A white falcon displayed on a field of crimson
Symbol of Kingdom: A white tree emblazoned on a golden field.
Climate: All of the seasons are felt extremely throughout Tudischland, though winter is felt most keenly of all. Summer, on the other hand, is renowned for its beauty. In the well-kept gardens of the temperate west, plants and flowers bloom in a multitude of hues and wrap the valleys in a quilt of colors. Autumn, too, is a beautiful time, but the bite of winter eat away at the color of the valleys, burying them under snow from blizzards that come each year. With the coming of spring comes the respite long-needed, as the rain washes away the snow and nourishes the plants as they ready to bloom again.
Population Estimate: ~23 million
Location: Central-East-ish
Landscape: Mountain ranges encompass Tudischland, some of the highest and the densest on the continent. The domains of Imperial authority usually encompasses the lands in between the three large mountain ranges that occupy the Kaiserreich's eastern, northern and southern borders. Harsh winters make travel only possible through the mountains during warmer seasons, and rebellious mountain tribes make travel even more difficult. However, Tudischland still boasts a wide variety of flora and fauna, with forests of oak and pine situated at the bottoms of the gullies and crawl their way up the sharp sides of the crags. In the fertile west, valleys of hilly plains have patches of farmland that stretch to the mountains themselves. Crops and livestock make up about two thirds of the Tudisch diet, with the remaining third filled with the livestock they raise, game that prowls the valleys, and the the increasingly frequent importation of food from foreign nations.
People: Tudischmen are a sturdy people built to withstand cold weather and the expansive valleys that have protected and provided for them for centuries. They are of moderate height, with the average male being anywhere between 5'7" and 6'0", and the average female ranging from 5'0" to 5'6". Typical hair colors range from golden blonde to deep auburn, though they tend towards the lighter hues. Their eyes are are often light blue, green or grey. Those with dark hair and dark eyes are uncommon but not unheard of, and are more prevalent in the west near the borders.
Flag: The white tree represents the World Tree (der Weltbaum), a sacred tree central to Tudisch religion. The eagles represent the twelve Elector-Princes. The shield they make around the tree shows that the empire protects its lands, and all its people; their outward heads show their hope for expansion. The Fleur di Lis represent the Arch-Gote and his Arch-Lectors. Their inward direction shows that they wield a power that is both tenuous yet strong
Society: The Tudisch are a prideful, solitary people who hold their lands and their beliefs above all else. They have proven themselves to be creative artists, industrious workers, and ferocious warriors. Although they are landlocked by competitors and often enemies, the Kaiserreich remains a cultural leader and a strong military power. Honor, authority, and power are both respected and expected, as is the strive to better their country and their crown. As a multi-national empire united by a common language and faith, their citizens are fiercely proud of their princedoms' varied traditions and ancestry, and as such, the people of each princedom are in many ways a completely different people, with many expressions or dialects varying from province to province. The people of the north and east are seen as hardy and enduring as they are regularly subjected to harsh winters and treacherous alpine conditions, while those in the west and south are generally more cosmopolitan and "civilized" or snooty and effeminate depending on who you ask. Styles of government also vary between each of the princedoms. Himmelsrand in the northeast, for example, runs on an autocratic government while Schattenmark in the far west has had many egalitarian and socially progressive ideals and institutions compared to its sister provinces.
Society in Tudischland is heavily stratified with little room for social mobility. The three major social castes -- the aristocracy, the gentry, and the commoners -- are seen as entirely seperate worlds that should not intermingle. Purposeful classism perpetuates the control of the nobility through unequal rights and an expansive wealth gap even between the majority of Tudisch gentry and noblemen. An old family lineage that inherited wealth is a symbol of prestige in Tudischland. Those whose families have lived in the country for several generations gain more acceptance than those who are recent immigrants. There is nothing greater to a Tudischman than being Tudisch, and they will not shy away from telling you such.
High Tudisch (represented by High German) is the official language of the Tudisch government and is spoken in all regions of the Kaiserreich. It is the language that bridges each of the princedoms, and subsequently, unites them. In addition to the standard variety, in everyday life most Tudischmen will speak one of myriad number of Low Tudisch dialects which may or may not be mutually intelligible with the standard language depending on how far you are from the major cities.
Main events:
- Julfest:A twelve day festival beginning around the winter solstice. Presents are given, and decorated pine trees are erected. As the longest night of the year a vigil is kept from sunset to sunrise. During this time, the Yule log (or at least a Yule candle) is kept burning. Thus the light of the sun is symbolically kept alive through the darkest part of the year. This log or candle should be saved, and next year's log or candle should be lit from it. The Wild Hunt is particularly abound at this time, and celebrants might listen for it. If it is far away, a good year is coming. If it is near, there will be hardship or death. It is particularly important that all gods be pledged on this day. A hog is sacrificed to Frey, or at least a hog-shaped loaf of bread. Oaths are sworn on the bristles of the boar, in Frey's name, boasts of deeds that are to be done in the upcoming year. Places are set at table for the ancestors, and beds are made for them. The dead are welcomed, and are as much a part of the festivities as the living. In some places an old wheel is tied with straw, taken to the top of a hill or mountain, set afire, and rolled down the hill. This is a form of scapegoating, and it carries all the bad fortune of the village away with it. Divinations for the coming year are also done at this time. In some places no work of any kind was done for these twelve days, to allow the earth to rest as well as the people.
- Ostern: Celebrated on the spring equinox, this day marks the end of winter and the coming of spring, and thus, the beginning of planting. Eggs are painted with bright colors, and hidden, and hunts are conducted for them. (Eggs are a symbol of new life, and fertility. Rabbits are a symbol of this day too, for the same reason.) Other games are sometimes played with the eggs too, such as racing with them balanced on a spoon, or rolling them downhill. Eggs are ritually thrown high into the air too, and as high as the eggs fly, that is how high the crops shall grow. A procession, led by an ass, begins festivities which include a game called "Osterball". Dancing is an important part of the celebrations. Bonfires to the Spring Goddess Ostern are also lit.
- Maifeiertag: Mayflies and buttercups are gathered. If farmland is not yet turned for planting, Walburgs are made and set up. A Walburg is a scarecrow with a spade in its hand and seems to be a representation of a land-wight. A Maypole is set up, and woven with bright ribbons. Men and women alternately take up an end of a ribbon and dance around the pole. Young women are chased by young men. If they are caught they are scourged with birch twigs, as this will make them fertile. Birch is placed everywhere as decoration, and this is a festival of the birch goddess. Her procession, described above, takes place. Dancing and revelry occurs, and games. A bonfire is lit. A May-queen and May-king are chosen and bedecked with so many flowers and greenery that they are almost completely hidden by it. The Siegsegen (victory blessing) is customarily held, asking Wotan's aid in upcoming struggles.
- Sommerwende: Celebrated on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Different kinds of flowers are gathered and tied together in bundles of nine different kinds. Sometimes these are hung in the house to bring prosperity. Alternately, the bundle is placed underneath pillows and slept on. Dreams of a future spouse are supposed to follow. A celebrant may go to a meeting of three roads and there wait for an omen or prophecy to come. Hunts are conducted for the red fern which, if found, will grant a wish. On this day the gates to the fairy lands are supposed to stand wide, and Elves freely walk the lands of humans. This is a holy day of the land-wights. Sometimes a May-pole is erected and danced around.
- Erntefest: Celebrated in the autumn at various times, though most often around the autumn equinox. The last of the crops, especially rye, is not consumed but tied in a bundle and left in a field for Wotan or for his horse.
Known for: The Tudisch princedom of Ostmark has long been a center of cultural development on the global scale. Composers and musicians from across the world have been drawn to its capital city of Falkenstadt to seek the patronage of the House of Falkenrath, who have always been generous in their sponsoring of wealth, sciences, and especially music, which is perceived as the highest form of art. Music is so highly respected in Tudisch that children brought up into court life are all but required to learn some form of it, and in the major cities of the west, private music schools and conservatories are about. Provincial theaters and orchestras bring the arts to rural and town dwellers.
At the same time, the Kaiserreich is a nation bred for war, having had a history of fighting off their foes with the will, steel, and the faith of their patriotic citizens. The modern Tudischarmy is one of the strongest land forces on the continent, with the ability to field over 100,000 troops. Each Imperial soldier is regularly trained, equipped, and maintained at the expense of the Imperial government. Enlistment in the state troops means enlistment in a full-time profession, where those with skill at arms enlist as basic front-line soldier. Armies stationed within the richer south and west are equipped with the finest weaponry and armor available to them by their local government, with standard equipment being comparably superior than those in other national armies.
There is some distaste for the Kaiserreich in other nations, even among those who consider them close, for their military-centric policies, unfettered nationalism, and their unwillingness to let go of the gods of old. There is a growing stereotype of Tudisch sexual licentiousness, a belief perpetuated by their "lax" attitude towards sex and nudity. There are bathhouses in major cities where people of all ages and both genders may intermingle without any pretense of modesty. Sexual preference is not something heavily scrutinized in the Kaiserreich. A person's sexuality is fluid according to Tudisch values, and it is not unheard of for people to take same-sex or even incestuous lovers. However, because of the inability to procreate in such unions, marriage is reserved exclusively for heterosexual couples.
[Religion: (see Religion tab)
Occupations: The nobility (der Erste Stand) make up the smallest part of the Kaiserreich's population, though they vary wildly in their power and wealth. Outside of rulership, they inhabit many bureaucratic roles throughout the nation and the majority of the country's administrative positions. Below the aristocracy is the gentry (der Zweiter Stand) who are comprised of a small group of wealthy commoner families who have amassed fortune through trade and craft. People such as clergymen, doctors, lawyers, musicians, financiers, high-ranking soldiers and farm owners fit into this demographic unless they hail from a noble family originally. The commoners (der Dritte Stand) make up the majority of the Kaiserreich's population. Low ranking clergy, common soldiers, craftsmen, and traders fill the upper echelon of this class, followed by the laborers, whose wages are enough to afford them residency without serfdom. At the bottom of the hierarchy are the serfs, living in homes loaned to them on their lord's land on which they work for their food and keep. While it is lowly, it is not a disrespected role.
Firner SituPracticed almost exclusively in Tudischland, Firner Situ (meaning 'the old custom' in Old High Tudisch) is a traditional paganistic religion that arose from the early myths to the north. To the rest of the world, it is obsolete and disregarded for more palatable religions that do not rely so heavily on mysticism. With a firm grasp on the Kaiserreich, the Situic religion is very much alive and strong within the safety of its mountain walls, with no small thanks to the Imperial government, who have it in their best interest to perpetuate the faith.
Although Firner Situ does not enforce strict ways to conduct one's life, the culture it builds permeates Tudisch life. Practitioners believe that everyone's life is governed by a Wurd, or fate. Everything that happens that is not directly caused by another human is a result of the whims of the Gods. Intentionally malicious or benevolent or unintentionally so, everything from a bountiful harvest to a stormy spring are attributed to Them. Great emphasis on courage and honor, holding them to be the highest of virtues. Loyalty, especially to one's family or country, is also considered important, as is hard work, independence, and freedom. Situics believe that there are multiple universes, perhaps infinite, and that they are all connected by a great network known as der Weltbaum: the world tree. They call the human universe Middengard, but they believe that it is possible for alternate human universes to exist, all tied together by the World Tree. There are other known realms too, such as Muspel, the land of fire, Ettingard, the land of giants, Elfheim, the land of the elves, and Zwergeheim, the land of the dwarves.
There is no heaven or hell in Situic mythology. There is only das Jenseits: the Beyond. All who die will find themselves lost there, in the expansive otherworld where the Gods inhabit. It is only with the help of Heimdall that they will find their way to their true purpose in death: Wonne, or Weh. The Beyond is an unforgiving place, dark and cold to new souls, but still, some souls favor that unknown to the eternal anguish of Weh. Those who have not wronged or angered the Gods in life will be allowed passage into the Palace of the Gods, where a life of unparalleled pleasure and splendor awaits them. Those doomed by the Gods will be bared from their gates, left to wander the Beyond alone, a boundless prison dominated by a fog that withers the minds of lost souls, effectively driving them insane by imprisoning them in their own darkest memories. All souls exist within the same Beyond, but in wildly different roles.
It is impossible to please (or displease) all of the gods and goddesses of the pantheon for they are scores in number. And just as there are countless deities, there are countless houses of worship erected to pay them all homage known as Höfe, or singular Hof. Each Hof is overseen by a Gote (feminine Gotin), who tend to each temple. What worship entails, and how a Hof is tended, is completely dependent on the whims of its Gote. While there is no tenant that explicitly demands so, worship is an everyday event for those who follow Firner Situ. Some make daily offerings to their choice gods or those they most need the help from at that point in their life, at personal altar or in public Hofs. This sort of worship is personal and lacks uniformity. There is consistency in how feast days and holidays are celebrated, however, and the belief that worship, in general, is something to be celebrated. The people of Tudisch are happy to give thanks to their gods. It is better to pay homage than to be forced to grovel for forgiveness, after all. Even death is a celebratory occasion. A somber one, but the Tudisch people send their loved ones into the afterlife with pomp only seen in the Kaiserreich.
Gods:(This is not an entire list of Situic gods, but these are the most heavily featured in the mythos and the most widely recognized and worshiped.)
Wotan -- The magical leader of the Gods, patriarch of the Asen; benevolent yet unforgiving, Wotan's role is to oversee the behavior of the other gods and goddesses as well as that of his lesser children, humanity. His domain is that of knowledge, learning, strategy, and wisdom, and as such, Höfe dedicated to Wotan are houses of learning and quiet. Libraries full of tomes, some ancient and some new, are cared for and meticulously cataloged by the Goten, who worship the father of learning. Patrons of Wotan tend to be scholars and archivists. He is portrayed as an old man, often with only one eye and wielding a spear in the northern provinces.
Frija -- The mother of the Asen and the goddess of women, the goddess of prophecy, and as the wife of Wotan, is the queen of the gods. She governs childbirth, love, marriage, and family. In the mythos, Frija is possessive and protective of her loved ones, and she goes to great lengths to protect and avenge them. Her wrath is one best avoided. She is depicted as a beautiful woman, rounded in the ways fertility goddesses are meant to be, and veiled only by her mass of golden hair. Only women are allowed to enter Höfe devoted to Frija, and her Gotinnen are well versed in the art of midwifery and child rearing. Often, when a woman gives birth, it is done at a Hof of Frija with a Gotin directing the process. It is also common for Gotinnen of Frija to be called upon to act as wet nurses and governesses for the children of the elite.
Donar -- The hammer-carrying and incredibly strong god of thunder, and by extension sky and weather in general. He is the eldest son of Wotan and Frija, performs many heroic and wise feats, and sires many children, both godly and mortal. His is a love for the finer points of debauchery, like carnal desire and exacting justice. Though he is gluttonous in his enjoyment of entertainment, his domain also encompasses the realm of masculinity, and is the one to be turned to when someone is in need of fatherly direction and for help in the journey to becoming a man. Höfe devoted to Donar are places of leisure and also of respite, and meant only for men; those who seek them out often do so in order to make use of the Goten that call them home or to leave behind offerings of gold, food, or mead in hopes that Donar will look favorably upon them or their sons. Goten of Donar are well-versed in the study of weather. They study climate patterns and seasonal cycles and learn to predict them.
Tyr -- The one-handed god of war, victory, glory, and combat. His temperament is explosive and his prowess in battle is unmatched. He governs acts of impulse and instinct, as well as physical strength and endurance. Höfe of Tyr act also as safe grounds to conduct duels, and the Goten and Gotinnen often act as arbiters for those duels. In addition to mediating sanctioned acts of revenge, the Goten act as historians for wars throughout history. People wishing to engage in blood sports, settle a disagreement through a duel, or learn of the Kaiserreich's bloody history find their way to Tyr's Höfe.
Balder --
Fosite --
Frey --
Ostern --
Inguin --
Idun --
Heimdall --
[WIP; will write more]
When the Ryger tribes split off form the Alemanni tribes and migrated east millennia ago, they found a new homeland and called it "Tudischland", which meant "Land of the People" in their tongue. These people would not become a nation for another thousand years. This period of time is littered with numerous wars the Ryger tribes waged, both with foreign powers such as the Imperium Renatum as well as their fellow tribes. During that time, the highborn would make a tradition out of infighting and continued to fight with each other over petty matters in order to gain more power. A few of the most powerful nobles put forward their bid for kingship over the Ryger, but without success. Then, at the tail end of the Dark Ages came a man named Friederich, whose origins are shrouded in myth and legend. Most historians agree that he came from a merchant family, probably from Ostmark. Through a combination of guile, diplomacy, bribery and war, Friederich brought the various Ryger tribes into his confederation, with him as its acknowledged leader .One by one, the leaders of each of the tribes pledged their support to him and his armies. Yet several of the tribes still refused to join Friederich's growing tribal confederation, or were openly hostile and threatened to make war upon the him and his allies. The Venedi and the Herul tribes would notably resist the unification of Tudischland, and would migrate north and east into the mountains, where they continue to live life as bandits and raiders.
A year after unification, the Arch-Goti, religious head of the Firner Situ, placed a crown of gold and ivory and proclaimed him the Kaiser of all Tudischland before the assembled representatives of the Ryger tribes. Before him knelt the tribal chiefs, who swore brotherhood to each other and fealty to Kaiser Friederich and the newborn Empire of Tudischland. Yet for all the talk of unity, Friderich knew his people and knew that their attachments to the old tribes were too strong to simply be erased. He also acknowledged that the lands of the Kaiserreich were simply too big to govern as a centralized realm. He therefore made the best of the political situation and made the chieftains of the twelve tribes Princes of the Empire. Each Prince would be sovereign in his own lands, subject only to the laws and edicts the Kaiser made for the Kaiserreich as a whole. The tribal lands became the original twelve Great Princedoms of the Kaiserreich.
Friederich's reign was one marked by peace and prosperity. Good weather brought regular harvests and,eventually, a booming population. The new Imperials cleared land and laid the foundations for new towns and cities on unspoiled lands. But fifty years after ascending the throne, Friederich announced his abdication to the assembled Princes and the Goten. The First Emperor set down his crown, picked up a meager bag of provisions, and walked out the door to an unknown final fate. Thus did Friederich depart the lands of his Empire, to the bewilderment and grieving of his subjects. With that, the remaining Princes were left with a major crisis. Friederich had never married and, as far a anyone knows, had never produced an heir. Nor had he left a will designating who should succeed him on the Imperial throne. Never in the fifty years of his reign had anyone even considered the question of succession. Several among the Princes claimed the throne, some on the basis of being the most skilled in war or politics, while others claimed the favor of the Gods. The arguments in the Palace grew to the point where the threat of civil war loomed large, when a priestess of Frija who was in the retinue of the Prince of Himmelsrand suggested an election. Let all the Princes renew their vows of brotherhood and then let each explain why he or she should take the Crown. The first to get a majority of the votes of his or her peers would become the new Kaiser or Kaiserin. Determined to avoid civil war, the Prince agreed and retired to the Great Hall of the Imperial Palace to deliberate. After three days passed, the Arch-Goti came forth to announce their new leader: Kaiser Karl of Hochfels. As part of the agreement, the Princes determined that each new Kaiser should be chosen from among them and that the person so chosen could move the Imperial capital to his state's chief city. In recognition of their role in choosing the Kaiser, the Princes changed their titles to "Elector-Princes" of the Empire.
The incumbent Kaiser is Franz Leopold Balthasar Falkenrath, whose reign has so far been marked with a steady increase in the stability of his nation, due in part to his careful consideration of the economic and social policies he institutes. Balancing Tudischland's budget through increased taxation and regulated expenditures has allowed him to strengthen the nation's military, while improvements in education and medicine have bolstered the well-being of his people. His unwavering spirit and authoritative demeanor have made him a popular Kaiser, but like all rulers, this sentiment is not universal.
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