Muldinach
The northwestern nation of Verden's Interior. Highly industrial and productive, Muldinach has torn down most of its ancient structures and replaced them with primitive factories, commercial properties, and housing for the many laborers who keep the "machine" of industry running. Dark plumes from coal-powered factories dominate the imposing skylines of its cities, marring the otherwise spectacular view of the mountains beyond.
It is changing the rules of war by engineering gunpowder weaponry, from cannons to primitive muskets. The corporate rulers and industrial barons of Muldinach have visions of a world where "childish" superstitions are replaced by steam and steel.
Structure
Muldinach is formally governed by a council of elected officials. The voting body is limited to landowners and business owners, so power is heavily concentrated in favor of the social elite. The council is led by the First Citizen, but their executive power is limited to foreign diplomacy and breaking voting ties when the council becomes deadlocked.
Functionally, however, Muldinach's day-to-day life is regulated by its many powerful trade guilds -- there is one for every field of industry. A citizen of Muldinach must join a trade guild upon reaching adulthood to complete their education and obtain certifications that allow them to legally accept contacts of employment. Workers who fail to join a trade guild are often ostracized from fields that pay a decent wage, forcing non-guild laborers into the worst menial jobs. Workers and craftsmen aspire to rise through the ranks of their guilds to obtain better contracts and influence.
The guilds have become all-encompassing in their influence, and guild leaders fund the election campaigns of politicians who do them favors.
Public Agenda
Manufacturing and selling goods to other regions has been Muldinach's proven path to wealth and power.
Assets
- A modernized standing army equipped with high-quality steel, cannons, and firearms.
- Extensive wealth and logistical power.
- An aggressive network of merchants to expand their economic influence throughout Verden.
History
Two centuries ago, Muldinach overthrew their ancient monarchy, tore down religious buildings, and began to modernize their nation. Power shifted from nobles to worker unions as former peasants seized power for themselves in the pursuit of independence.
But as another century passed, this revolution grew corrupt from the inside out. Small unions grew into massive trade guilds. The leaders of those trade guilds became protective of their power, and rapidly began locking out competition. Guild leaders began to pay off the middle-tier bosses with gifts to keep them in line, and began hiring "enforcers" to violently crush resistance amongst their own ranks. Guilds have used their influence to elect representatives that will do their bidding, and have subsequently passed laws that severely limit pay and job availability for non-guild workers.
Guild members now try to win favor from their superiors to attain gifts, special privileges, and premium job contracts. While every guild member is awarded independence to make their own choices in theory, in practice it is a matter of knowing the right people and sabotaging rivals to attain power.
The citizens of Muldinach have migrated extensively over the last two centuries. The majority of the population now lives in the massive multi-layered city of Dornimen. The remaining bulk of the population lives in a handful of lesser cities staggered along the Flash Rail line that runs south to Vanadiel along the western coast. The remaining majority of Muldinach's land is dominated by rural farms that feed these massive cities -- worked by only a slim percentage of the population. A small collection of forts exist to protect these villagers from bandits and monsters.
Indeed, many visitors to Muldinach may be surprised by how "deserted" the countryside feels compared to other regions.
Type
Geopolitical, Republic
Demonym
Muldinachean
Government System
Plutocracy
Power Structure
Autonomous area
Economic System
Market economy
Neighboring Nations
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