Setting Information
Feb. 19th, 2014 02:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
albainvictamodsThe gist is that Alba is a pseudo-Victorian setting with touches of steampunk. Women are considered intellectual equals to men, though are taken much more seriously if they are married - female academics, doctors and scientists all exist, but they are usually married first. Women are not generally considered physical equals to men, except in the arena of dueling. Homosexuality is considered scandalous and unnatural. People of many races, colors and creeds are citizens of Alba, but there are still strains of racism. There is most definitely classism.
House of Lords - the House of Lords (and Ladies) consists of those considered peers among the nobility, either by membership due to inherited position or by Imperial election. Their job is to suggest, analyze, debate, refine or otherwise shape proposed law or measures for commerce or responses to internal and external threats. Once they had agreed that a piece of legislation was acceptable, they presented it to the Emperor, who approved, qualified or rejected it. If it was approved, it became law. If qualified, it was approved with minor changes. If rejected, it meant that the substance of the proposed legislation was unacceptable.
The Emperor (or Empress) also had Imperial Discretion, wherein s/he could create law without passing it through the House of Lords. S/he can also strip a noble House of its status, usually for treason or some other heinous crime, which is not always a popular decision and can lead to resentment from the former noble house.
S/he can also raise a person up to peerage, and grant their descendents noble status.
Yes, women can be in the House of Lords and can also be elected as Ministers.
Ministers - Elected from the House of Lords by the Emperor/Empress, they directly advise on specialized matters - war, domestic affairs, foreign relations, etc. They can lose their post by displeasing the Emperor/Empress.
*****
Execution is a punishment, usually held for treason and murder, with prison sentences and fines for lesser crimes. In addition to the criminal system, there was a strong civil legal system for commoners. Nobles, of course, could call on the privilege of the sword.
Privilege of the Sword - those of noble descent are given the privilege of the sword; they can call on duelists, designated to defend their patron in an honor duel. Duelists can be men or women, as dueling tends to rely more on speed and precision, rather than brute strength, and there are rules to follow. They can be noble born or have won their dueling education through patronage.
This longstanding privilege was instituted hundreds of years ago after the Empress Elsinore I outlawed private armies and consolidated all the military under the authority of the Imperial banner to prevent needless feuds from crippling the nation in civil war - if a dispute between noble houses cannot be solved through diplomacy or law, the nobles can invoke the Privilege of the Sword. The winner is in the right, and the loser is dead. This privilege is not invoked lightly.
Prostitution, gambling, drugs and other vices, are all common and ever-present, especially since the last Emperor had many similar proclivities. Every city has at least one brothel, gambling den and several places where one can purchase narcotics.
Crossbows, batons and blades remain the weapons of choice for hired killers, since they are silent but no less deadly.
*****
The Emperor/Empress elects their Lord Marshal, usually from a pool of candidates suggested by the Minister of War. They can also lose their post by displeasing the Emperor/Empress.
Soldiers are, by and large, male as the military culture has concerns about women being "distracting" - though there have been female soldiers masquerading as male discovered from time-to-time. As military technology moved away from swords and bows, the importance of raw physical strength became less vital, but the culture remains firmly as an all-boys club. Even though there are female duelists, the life of a soldier is considered too hard, too rough, physically, for the female physiology.
Currently, the military has mostly been deployed to shore up cities against natural disasters, but with unrest starting in the colonies, it's just a matter of time before they are sent there to quell the masses.
*****
Steampunk fantasy - steam ships, flintlock pistols and rifles, telegraphs and unstable electricity. Electricity is not in common use and is almost completely reserved for rapid communications. Messages are very brief and repeated multiple times in case the electricity fails or cuts out mid-message. Couriers are still the dominant form of communication, by horse. Printing press, books, basic literacy. Indoor plumbing in most urban places, flushing toilets (water closets).
With the onset of the steam engine in industry, the value of human labor has dropped, putting power back in the hands of the employers.
The preeminent scientific and technological institute is the Imperial Academy of Natural Sciences, through which a vast majority of funding is provided. The Academy itself receives funding from the government and from private sponsors.
*****
Literacy is a broad concept ranging from being able to sign your name to being able to comprehend full text, so for our purposes, literacy describes the ability to read your basic penny press (tabloid), printed for the common masses.
Adult literacy is at 95%, given that definition, though many of the lower classes have to read phonetically. The literacy rate is encouraged due largely to support from the Academy, which has established small schools that teach basic literacy without requirement of payment. They are funded in part by the government.
Higher education - the sciences, math, philosophy - require tuition from the student or their families, though tuition is on a sliding scale depending on the quality of the private institution. Finally, the Academy accepts particularly gifted students for scholarships.
Basically, if you want an education more comprehensive than basic literacy, you need some money or you need to be notably gifted.
*****
Neo-Victorian - Women wear pants, if they choose. Men do not wear dresses, except in private. Exotic imports from the colonies and other nations blend with traditional styles.
Though women have many opportunities and are regarded as intellectual equals of men, they are still treated as physical inferiors (except as duelists) - the military, the police force, industrial labor, these are all areas that are barred to women, by and large. There is also still a certain kind of etiquette and formality in how women are to be treated and are expected to behave, especially in regards to courtship.
Women are expected to be married, if they wish to be taken seriously. Marriage, it is said, is the institution that remedies the flighty nature of females and allows them the intellectual gravitas of men.
The only legitimate marriage is between a single man and a single woman. Charges of homosexuality can ruin a person's career prospects and reputation.
*****
The state religion is the Imperial Abbey - which frames the Empire itself as a divine creation and outlines what is considered right living, all in relationship to the Empire. Of utmost importance is the preservation of the Empire, though not necessarily of individual rulers, the stable function of its industry and the general welfare of its citizens. It is not that the Emperor/Empress is god, but the Empire is god and thus Emperor/Empress is the highest spiritual authority.
However, generally, the Empire is reasonably tolerant of other religious worship - so long as the beliefs do not disrupt the stability and prosperity of the Empire or involve unlawful practices (such as human sacrifice).
*****
The Empire itself ranges across many climates, from temperate to tropical to desert heat. The heart of the Empire is located along a wide river that leads to the open sea to the South. It is also approachable by land from the East, though a range of mountains and careful deployment of military forces has historically made invasion difficult. The provinces around the capital used to be independent states that were absorbed into the Empire.
As their naval might built, the Empire began to expand to colonies across the sea.
The Provinces:
Bristol - home to the Imperial Capital, Hartwall, seat of the Emperor and location of the House of Lords (and Ladies). A hilly, temperate region that is marked by a wide winding river that leads to the open sea in the South. The lands of Bristol are very fertile and a profit of harvest lead to a high population and traditionally, the ability to maintain a powerful standing army. Now Bristol is also the heart of industry in the Empire - Tyvia provides the ideas, Bristol brings them to life.
Amalfi - known for its hot and dry climate, the quality of its wine (due to the excellent vineyards) and cigars, the tendency for more immodest fashions, and its navy. While Eisen guards the Empire from land threats, Amalfi protects its coastlines and its waters. Those native to Amalfi are said to be hot-blooded, passionate and easily moved. They also have the largest population of foreigners, people who have moved from the colonies. The (arguably) best duelist school is in Castille, the capital of Amalfi.
Eisen - guarding the mountain borders to the East, Eisen is noted for the quality of the steel and the dreariness of the climate. When it is not raining, it is overcast and often cold and still wet, the kind of cold and wet that gets into the bones. Most of Alba's troops are trained in Eisen and even the civilians of the province are notably disciplined, but because of its focus on the military, Eisen relies on the other provinces to provide resources in exchange for patrolling the roads and guarding the borders. The capital of Eisen is Hapsburg.
Tyvia - a province of contradictions, Tyvia is bitterly cold. It thaws for two months (or so) and then freezes over the rest of the year. However, the people of Tyvia are warm and hospitable, are known for their social graces and, somehow, Tyvia has become the fashion, intellectual and cultural center of the Empire. The finest textiles and clothes come from Tyvia, as do, they say, the most beautiful women (this is hotly contested by Amalfians). The Imperial Academy of Natural Sciences is based in the capital of Tyvia, Visby.
The Colonies - Collectively known as the "Colonies", these are city-states and small countries across the sea that were annexed under the Imperial banner during a variety of circumstances. Some joined willingly, seeking the protection of the Empire, while others were politically maneuvered into accepting annexation. They provide exotic spices, dyes, metals and materials to the Empire. Some of their traditional customs have been outlawed - some customs were rightfully outlawed (child marriage) while others are questionably so (ritualistic destruction of personal property).
*****
For simplicity's sake, the Empire follows a twelve month calender and a twelve hour clock. The months are numbered and have no common name - so the first month of a yearly cycle is simply called "First Month".
*****
The Imperial Parliament - Government District, Hartwall, Bristol
The Imperial Academy of Natural Sciences - Visby, Tyvia
Espada di Honor (Honor's Blade), the preeminent dueling school - Castille, Amalfi
Fort Schattenberg, a militarized city at the base of the main mountain pass in Eisen
House of Lords - the House of Lords (and Ladies) consists of those considered peers among the nobility, either by membership due to inherited position or by Imperial election. Their job is to suggest, analyze, debate, refine or otherwise shape proposed law or measures for commerce or responses to internal and external threats. Once they had agreed that a piece of legislation was acceptable, they presented it to the Emperor, who approved, qualified or rejected it. If it was approved, it became law. If qualified, it was approved with minor changes. If rejected, it meant that the substance of the proposed legislation was unacceptable.
The Emperor (or Empress) also had Imperial Discretion, wherein s/he could create law without passing it through the House of Lords. S/he can also strip a noble House of its status, usually for treason or some other heinous crime, which is not always a popular decision and can lead to resentment from the former noble house.
S/he can also raise a person up to peerage, and grant their descendents noble status.
Yes, women can be in the House of Lords and can also be elected as Ministers.
Ministers - Elected from the House of Lords by the Emperor/Empress, they directly advise on specialized matters - war, domestic affairs, foreign relations, etc. They can lose their post by displeasing the Emperor/Empress.
Execution is a punishment, usually held for treason and murder, with prison sentences and fines for lesser crimes. In addition to the criminal system, there was a strong civil legal system for commoners. Nobles, of course, could call on the privilege of the sword.
Privilege of the Sword - those of noble descent are given the privilege of the sword; they can call on duelists, designated to defend their patron in an honor duel. Duelists can be men or women, as dueling tends to rely more on speed and precision, rather than brute strength, and there are rules to follow. They can be noble born or have won their dueling education through patronage.
This longstanding privilege was instituted hundreds of years ago after the Empress Elsinore I outlawed private armies and consolidated all the military under the authority of the Imperial banner to prevent needless feuds from crippling the nation in civil war - if a dispute between noble houses cannot be solved through diplomacy or law, the nobles can invoke the Privilege of the Sword. The winner is in the right, and the loser is dead. This privilege is not invoked lightly.
Prostitution, gambling, drugs and other vices, are all common and ever-present, especially since the last Emperor had many similar proclivities. Every city has at least one brothel, gambling den and several places where one can purchase narcotics.
Crossbows, batons and blades remain the weapons of choice for hired killers, since they are silent but no less deadly.
The Emperor/Empress elects their Lord Marshal, usually from a pool of candidates suggested by the Minister of War. They can also lose their post by displeasing the Emperor/Empress.
Soldiers are, by and large, male as the military culture has concerns about women being "distracting" - though there have been female soldiers masquerading as male discovered from time-to-time. As military technology moved away from swords and bows, the importance of raw physical strength became less vital, but the culture remains firmly as an all-boys club. Even though there are female duelists, the life of a soldier is considered too hard, too rough, physically, for the female physiology.
Currently, the military has mostly been deployed to shore up cities against natural disasters, but with unrest starting in the colonies, it's just a matter of time before they are sent there to quell the masses.
Steampunk fantasy - steam ships, flintlock pistols and rifles, telegraphs and unstable electricity. Electricity is not in common use and is almost completely reserved for rapid communications. Messages are very brief and repeated multiple times in case the electricity fails or cuts out mid-message. Couriers are still the dominant form of communication, by horse. Printing press, books, basic literacy. Indoor plumbing in most urban places, flushing toilets (water closets).
With the onset of the steam engine in industry, the value of human labor has dropped, putting power back in the hands of the employers.
The preeminent scientific and technological institute is the Imperial Academy of Natural Sciences, through which a vast majority of funding is provided. The Academy itself receives funding from the government and from private sponsors.
Literacy is a broad concept ranging from being able to sign your name to being able to comprehend full text, so for our purposes, literacy describes the ability to read your basic penny press (tabloid), printed for the common masses.
Adult literacy is at 95%, given that definition, though many of the lower classes have to read phonetically. The literacy rate is encouraged due largely to support from the Academy, which has established small schools that teach basic literacy without requirement of payment. They are funded in part by the government.
Higher education - the sciences, math, philosophy - require tuition from the student or their families, though tuition is on a sliding scale depending on the quality of the private institution. Finally, the Academy accepts particularly gifted students for scholarships.
Basically, if you want an education more comprehensive than basic literacy, you need some money or you need to be notably gifted.
Neo-Victorian - Women wear pants, if they choose. Men do not wear dresses, except in private. Exotic imports from the colonies and other nations blend with traditional styles.
Though women have many opportunities and are regarded as intellectual equals of men, they are still treated as physical inferiors (except as duelists) - the military, the police force, industrial labor, these are all areas that are barred to women, by and large. There is also still a certain kind of etiquette and formality in how women are to be treated and are expected to behave, especially in regards to courtship.
Women are expected to be married, if they wish to be taken seriously. Marriage, it is said, is the institution that remedies the flighty nature of females and allows them the intellectual gravitas of men.
The only legitimate marriage is between a single man and a single woman. Charges of homosexuality can ruin a person's career prospects and reputation.
The state religion is the Imperial Abbey - which frames the Empire itself as a divine creation and outlines what is considered right living, all in relationship to the Empire. Of utmost importance is the preservation of the Empire, though not necessarily of individual rulers, the stable function of its industry and the general welfare of its citizens. It is not that the Emperor/Empress is god, but the Empire is god and thus Emperor/Empress is the highest spiritual authority.
However, generally, the Empire is reasonably tolerant of other religious worship - so long as the beliefs do not disrupt the stability and prosperity of the Empire or involve unlawful practices (such as human sacrifice).
The Empire itself ranges across many climates, from temperate to tropical to desert heat. The heart of the Empire is located along a wide river that leads to the open sea to the South. It is also approachable by land from the East, though a range of mountains and careful deployment of military forces has historically made invasion difficult. The provinces around the capital used to be independent states that were absorbed into the Empire.
As their naval might built, the Empire began to expand to colonies across the sea.
The Provinces:
Bristol - home to the Imperial Capital, Hartwall, seat of the Emperor and location of the House of Lords (and Ladies). A hilly, temperate region that is marked by a wide winding river that leads to the open sea in the South. The lands of Bristol are very fertile and a profit of harvest lead to a high population and traditionally, the ability to maintain a powerful standing army. Now Bristol is also the heart of industry in the Empire - Tyvia provides the ideas, Bristol brings them to life.
Amalfi - known for its hot and dry climate, the quality of its wine (due to the excellent vineyards) and cigars, the tendency for more immodest fashions, and its navy. While Eisen guards the Empire from land threats, Amalfi protects its coastlines and its waters. Those native to Amalfi are said to be hot-blooded, passionate and easily moved. They also have the largest population of foreigners, people who have moved from the colonies. The (arguably) best duelist school is in Castille, the capital of Amalfi.
Eisen - guarding the mountain borders to the East, Eisen is noted for the quality of the steel and the dreariness of the climate. When it is not raining, it is overcast and often cold and still wet, the kind of cold and wet that gets into the bones. Most of Alba's troops are trained in Eisen and even the civilians of the province are notably disciplined, but because of its focus on the military, Eisen relies on the other provinces to provide resources in exchange for patrolling the roads and guarding the borders. The capital of Eisen is Hapsburg.
Tyvia - a province of contradictions, Tyvia is bitterly cold. It thaws for two months (or so) and then freezes over the rest of the year. However, the people of Tyvia are warm and hospitable, are known for their social graces and, somehow, Tyvia has become the fashion, intellectual and cultural center of the Empire. The finest textiles and clothes come from Tyvia, as do, they say, the most beautiful women (this is hotly contested by Amalfians). The Imperial Academy of Natural Sciences is based in the capital of Tyvia, Visby.
The Colonies - Collectively known as the "Colonies", these are city-states and small countries across the sea that were annexed under the Imperial banner during a variety of circumstances. Some joined willingly, seeking the protection of the Empire, while others were politically maneuvered into accepting annexation. They provide exotic spices, dyes, metals and materials to the Empire. Some of their traditional customs have been outlawed - some customs were rightfully outlawed (child marriage) while others are questionably so (ritualistic destruction of personal property).
For simplicity's sake, the Empire follows a twelve month calender and a twelve hour clock. The months are numbered and have no common name - so the first month of a yearly cycle is simply called "First Month".
The Imperial Parliament - Government District, Hartwall, Bristol
The Imperial Academy of Natural Sciences - Visby, Tyvia
Espada di Honor (Honor's Blade), the preeminent dueling school - Castille, Amalfi
Fort Schattenberg, a militarized city at the base of the main mountain pass in Eisen
