Britannian Empire

I AM FAST COMING TO THE CONCLUSION THAT FRANCE SHOULD BE ITS OWN PAGE... I DON'T SEE WHY I'D PUT THE TWO HALVES IN SEPARATE PAGES? IF YOU'RE IN ONE YOU'RE LIKELY TO TRAVEL TO THE OTHER HALF...

The Britannian Isles - including Albion, Caledonia, Cambria and Hibernia - as well as Gallia Nord (Bourges up) are Britannian territory, as are the Channel Islands.

The British Royal Navy and the Spanish Armada completely rule the waves. There are pirates in the Canary Islands giving the Spanish trouble, and Sino-Viking Raiders giving Britain trouble!! Vikings will raid the Spanish a bit and Pirates the British, mostly though it’s as I just said. Both raid the French, depending on the region.

Matters of Contention: Pick one to be the first Prime Minister. Is Napoleon or Jeanne d’Arc in Northern France? (Pick one for North, one for South).

Much of the South East is a black, smoggy industrial place. That's what makes it unique. It's like Dark Souls or Lord of the Rings. Possibly Game of Thrones thrown in there. They annexed France so Paris is theirs, a beautiful city with smoke rising and ash in the air.

The Brits use Golems and technological constructs (eg the ones in Nerd Poker). They also collect monsters and different races to experiment on them and make variants to fight for them.

The Halflings of Albion and Cambria are said to be as shrewd as any across Europe, while the Giantfolk of Caledonia and Hibernia are as strong as any who can be found – they have to be to resist the Viking raids which constantly beset their borders. The technology and industry of Britannia is said by travellers to be without equal anywhere within Europa – great columns of smoke rising from their factories leave a lasting impression on visitors – however Queen Victoria is said to be very ill, and her succession is far from clear. Eastern Britannian and Hispanic France face regular monster-folk raids from Germania.

= Politics =

Political System
This could actually be really cool, players could influence foreign policy by getting involved in the internal Politicking of the country. Have democracy be very limited, only the aristocracy get votes (the wealthy and powerful women have puppet aristocrat men, so basically vote through them). Players can advocate for a certain politician’s position by promoting one Prime Minister over another, the Queen’s tacit endorsement comes with great benefit. An election will come sometime in the next year and a half. French nobles also get a vote, players can do internal politicking in their time in Northern France.

Rulers and Pretenders
Rulers: Victoria is the Queen but she’s old and frail with two lines of successors (Richard Lionheart in France, Prince John in England), Churchill is Prime Minister. Pretenders: Napoleon (Napoleon wants to recreate what Charlemagne had and is in conflict with Jeanne, this is ironic) or Jeanne d’Arc. The true ruler is Smaug.

William Ewart Gladstone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ewart_Gladstone#Second_premiership_(1880–1885) Anti-Scramble for Africa, but wants war with Romanus-Aegypti (look at foreign policy second premiership). Also anti-alliance with Ottomans (probably wanting a war ‘to stop their persecution’ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pitt_the_Younger Look into this guy, heavily involved in the Napoleonic wars. Could also look into Nelson. Pitt wants to rein in the East India Company. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Walpole Wants to free Austria (maybe Germany as a whole?). Anti-Spain due to the Austrian War??? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Peel A proponent of free trade. PROBABLY DON’T USE. NO FOREIGN POLICY. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Grey,_2nd_Earl_Grey Look into this guy (haven’t looked yet) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Disraeli Look into this guy (Haven’t looked yet but probably use). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Gascoyne-Cecil,_3rd_Marquess_of_Salisbury Look into him (already looked but look again)

= Geography =

Main settlements
Cities: Britain has London, York, Bristol, Edinburgh (the old town under Edinburgh, like the author of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde), (Cardiff and Dublin). Northern France has Paris, Strasbourg.

Hemel Hempstead: the site of a giant diamond mine that makes the town a very attractive place for mages. It now has a famous magical university called Pogworts and is overwhelming wealthy. It almost acts as its own arcanocractic city state run by a powerful archimage known as The Immortal Johnathan.

The Midlands is a dangerous wasteland full of goblins which separates the North and the South - just like in real life.

The North
Tension between Lancaster and York? Lancaster being smaller but having more surrounding villages and towns and more English with more halflings. York/Jorvik/Eboracum has more Dwarves and Norse influence, and Roman influence to a somewhat lesser extent.

Eboracum
York/Jorvik/Eboracum has more Dwarves and Norse influence. Coliseum, religious influence from the Cathedral.

Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Border town. Trade hub and adventures. Bamburgh Castle, Lindisfarne holy site, etc.

Lancaster
Minimally develop. Smaller than York but having more surrounding villages and towns and more English with more halflings.

Lake District and Whitehaven
Border town. Trade hub and adventures. Port city - passage to the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland. Some trouble with vikings but more with bandits.

Bandits, magical creatures and natural artefacts of interest operating around the Lake District.

The South
Much of the South East is a black, smoggy industrial place. That's what makes it unique. It's like Dark Souls or Lord of the Rings. Possibly Game of Thrones thrown in there.

London
Cosmopolitan hub.

Bristol
Halfling bastion, party town. Border city - gateway to wild Cornwall and civilised Wales.

Norwich
Exists too. But minimally develop both of those. The Midlands is a wasteland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_towns_and_cities_in_England_by_historical_population

Portsmouth-Isle of Wight
Don't develop as much. Interesting island stuff to do - villains.

Caledonia
Jekyll and Hyde, Haggis, bandits, William Wallace

There are threats and troubles in between.

Edinburgh
Mysterious city, illusions, castle, lively music.

Isle of Skye
Gorgeous adventure location full of beauty and ruins.

Inverness and Loch Ness
Mostly just the Loch Ness monster story - but monsters are all over the place there, a hardy city.

Aberdeen
Viking raids - stout folks. A port city which sees some trade. Dark mysteries.

Wales - Cambria
Middle Wales is similarly wild and full of goblins. Hugging the coast of Wales is the safest path by land from South to North - but it takes a bit longer than cutting down the middle and is the least interesting.

Most of the South and the North of Wales is fairly civilised and full of farms - only a couple of interesting places at each end.

Bangor, Snowdonia and Anglesy
Exciting ruins and dungeons.

Camarthen
Merlin, historic castle and festival.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisteddfod - a festival with several ranked competitions, including in poetry and music.

According to some, Merlin was born in a cave outside the town with suggestions and gave the town its name. Bryn Myrddin is a tree-covered hill that sits right on the A40. Legend has it there is a hidden cave there where Merlin was trapped by Vivien. As the legend goes, Merlin was in love with the sorceress and taught her spells. After earning his trust, she used the same spells he taught her to imprison him.

Legend also had it that if the tree Merlin's Oak, which stood on the corner of Oak Lane and Priory Street, fell, it would be the downfall of the town. Translated from Welsh, it reads: "When Merlin's Oak comes tumbling down, down shall fall Carmarthen Town".

Aberystwyth
A civilised port town - fairly safe compared to the surrounding lands. A place to rest and trade between North and South Wales.

Brecheinoc
Brecon - a border town and the last one before the wilds of Middle Wales. Don't develop much. Below Brecon is also the wild Brecon Beacons.

Hibernia
An ancient land of adventure and excitement. Find out the historic sites of the North. Use mermaids. Steal from that old picture book you got on the Irish cruise.

Riteguardian - which causes tension with the mainland.

Gallia Nord
The Gallic/Gaelic/Gaulic/Garlic League (occassionally the Gaeilge league). A league of Caledonia, Hibernian and Gallia Nords pushing for independence - headed by William Wallace, Michael Collins (?? OR LOOK FOR MORE HISTORIC) and Napoleon or Jeanne D'Arc. Its name is purposefully vague and open to interpretation.

They annexed France so Paris is theirs, a beautiful city with smoke rising and ash in the air.

Head to Francia for more.

Demographics and Borders
Races: England and Wales have Halflings. Irish are Firbolg (Volo) and Scots are Giants/Goliaths (Volo). Brittany has Halflings. Spriggans in Cornwall.

Welsh Dragonborn (furnaces) and Scots are the engineers?

There are pockets of Pagan activity across Britain and Ireland. Particularly in Cornwall, Scotland, Yorkshire and maybe Ireland. Have it be cool witch-like stuff (eg the Last Kingdom) - it’s authentic.

= Plothooks for Britain =

Vikings. Possibly pirates. The Matter of Britain. Also Hogwarts. Then there’s all the traditional stuff (feuds between Lords and the like). Witch Trials. And some rebellion from Scotland/Ireland. Science/tech. The East Indian Trading Company will also have conflict and opportunities with Britain.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mug_Ruith - cool Irish hero.

= Plothooks for France =

Pirates a bit, Vikings a bit less, raids from Germany mainly (goblins mostly). The Matter of France. The invasions from Britain and Spain will produce conflict (both France-Britain, France-Spain, and North-South) and opportunities from both. Religious tensions between the two. Artefact hunter/treasure hunters. Opportunists of all sorts trying to make their way in France. The Fey and Fairies are extremely influential here and in Germany (in part because of the nature of France’s uncertain ownership).