Yes, they are actually a lot like that. But i wouldn't say like the original Baptists, the inspiration is the original Anabaptists.
Medieval America Tk II: Discussion Thread
- Thread starter jmberry
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Yes, they are actually a lot like that. But i wouldn't say like the original Baptists, the inspiration is the original Anabaptists.
Commonwealth of Mississippi Part 2
Agriculture: Agriculture is the dominant sector of Mississippi's economy. While the largest export is cotton, the most grown crops are food crops, like rice in the river valleys and sweet potatoes and corn elsewhere. Mississippi's agricultural labor system is tied into its class system. The highest class, or the colonels, rule provinces and lead brigades in times of war. They give out directives and demand taxes from the counts, who govern counties. The counts demand taxes from the lower nobles, or knights. These knights hold yeomen, peasants, laborers, slaves, and sometimes guests. The yeomen are peasants with land. Their extra land comes with county taxes in cash that are paid by them, not the knight. The yeoman tax rate is 1/10th of the value of their land. Their position is completely tied to land ownership, which can be brought and sold. The peasants are farmers bound to the land that they farm and the knights own. They pay 1/4th of their harvest to the knight in kind. Laborers are peasants with no land or fields at all. They survive by 1) working for the knights or richer yeomen, 2) working in various rural industries such as milling, baking, cotton ginning, or spinning, 3) foraging hogs in common forests and swamps, and 4) fleeing to the cities. The laborers pay their taxes either through cash or, if they can't, with 1 week of forced labor. This class is immobile, and completely inherited. Slaves are the knight's slaves. They are usually obtained either as prisoners of war or from other countries. They work in the knight's house and fields. In areas with many immigrants, there are often "guests". These, once they move there, have to work as a slave for seven years. After that, they become peasants. In many counties, peasants have to pay their taxes partly in cotton. This system ensures a supply of cash for the nobility. Sugarcane is grown on the Gulf Coast, and the nobles of this area demand taxes in sugar. As for food, rice is commonly grown throughout the Mississippi and Tombigbee floodplains. Elsewhere, sorghum, sweet potatoes, and corn are eaten.
Agriculture: Agriculture is the dominant sector of Mississippi's economy. While the largest export is cotton, the most grown crops are food crops, like rice in the river valleys and sweet potatoes and corn elsewhere. Mississippi's agricultural labor system is tied into its class system. The highest class, or the colonels, rule provinces and lead brigades in times of war. They give out directives and demand taxes from the counts, who govern counties. The counts demand taxes from the lower nobles, or knights. These knights hold yeomen, peasants, laborers, slaves, and sometimes guests. The yeomen are peasants with land. Their extra land comes with county taxes in cash that are paid by them, not the knight. The yeoman tax rate is 1/10th of the value of their land. Their position is completely tied to land ownership, which can be brought and sold. The peasants are farmers bound to the land that they farm and the knights own. They pay 1/4th of their harvest to the knight in kind. Laborers are peasants with no land or fields at all. They survive by 1) working for the knights or richer yeomen, 2) working in various rural industries such as milling, baking, cotton ginning, or spinning, 3) foraging hogs in common forests and swamps, and 4) fleeing to the cities. The laborers pay their taxes either through cash or, if they can't, with 1 week of forced labor. This class is immobile, and completely inherited. Slaves are the knight's slaves. They are usually obtained either as prisoners of war or from other countries. They work in the knight's house and fields. In areas with many immigrants, there are often "guests". These, once they move there, have to work as a slave for seven years. After that, they become peasants. In many counties, peasants have to pay their taxes partly in cotton. This system ensures a supply of cash for the nobility. Sugarcane is grown on the Gulf Coast, and the nobles of this area demand taxes in sugar. As for food, rice is commonly grown throughout the Mississippi and Tombigbee floodplains. Elsewhere, sorghum, sweet potatoes, and corn are eaten.
Just wondering, what is traded between Alaska/Western USA and Japan/China? To have such a long shipping route, they would have to be pretty profitable by weight. I'm thinking maybe silk and tea would be valuable enough, and maybe some precious metal exchange - Japan had too much gold and not enough silver OTL, and a lot of foreigners got rich on currency exchange.
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This is interesting. Basically, tea can grow here, but attempts to do so have been outcompeted by cheaper production costs in India. Without the competition, tea would be more widely grown in the USA. Fortunately, there is some production here, and I figure enough plants would survive the collapse to start a tea industry.
Tea is one of the more valuable cash crops in the Atlantic Seaboard. It is commonly grown in the tidewater regions of Georgia and South Carolina, and the Sea Islands. About 30% of the fields in the Sea Islands are dedicated to tea. Tea culture is most entrenched in the hinterland of Charleston, and the city itself is known for its many tea parlors. Tea is unique, because it is the only major high-value trade good to only be grown in North America, averting the normal flow of trade goods from South to North.
Tea is one of the more valuable cash crops in the Atlantic Seaboard. It is commonly grown in the tidewater regions of Georgia and South Carolina, and the Sea Islands. About 30% of the fields in the Sea Islands are dedicated to tea. Tea culture is most entrenched in the hinterland of Charleston, and the city itself is known for its many tea parlors. Tea is unique, because it is the only major high-value trade good to only be grown in North America, averting the normal flow of trade goods from South to North.
Yeah, mostly high-value and durable luxuries. Silk is a great example; textiles were the big medieval trade good and it would be the same in TTL. And California wines are surely in demand among the elites of Asia.
Also, Japanese fishing fleets are probably active throughout the North Pacific. They would compete with Cascadian fishermen in the Bering Sea.
Does the West Coast have anything other than Californian wine to trade to East Asia?
Race in the South
In the South, the traditional ways were that Whites were over Blacks, and Mexicans were a little over Blacks. In this system, race determined how much land you got, how many animals you could keep, what employment you could seek and, often, the outcomes of legal systems. At the top were Whites, those who were at least 15/16 European. Then came a descending array of mixes. For example, after Whites were 1/8 Mexican, 7/8 White; then 1/8 Black, 7/8 White, then 1/4 Mexican, 3/4 White, and so on. For odd races such as the Indios(Mexican Native Americans), Amerindians, Appalachians, or Asians, Indios were between Mexicans and Blacks, Amerindians were above Mexicans, Asians were above Amerindians, and Appalachians were above Asians. Sometimes there were refinements to that system, like in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi where the Early Cowboy phase of the Great Plains forced a million Texans and Oklahomans, especially the Indians of Oklahoma and Mexicans in general, into those regions.This traditional order was shattered with the Racial Wars. This cycle of violence started when Jimmy Duval, a populist general and Mayor of Shreveport, declared a coup over the Red River Territory in 2510. In order to win over enough of Shreveport's plebs to hold onto power against attempts to depose him by the elite, he, on the basis of his Black great-grandfather, declared himself Black, and utilized colored street mobs to intimidate his detractors. However, he was less able to do this in the rest of the country, so nobles rebelled, and after a 2-year long civil war, he was replaced with a white sheriff. In 2540, Ted Flannagan declared a coup in Georgia. He was obviously Black, so he didn't have a choice as to declaring himself Black or not. This led to Mississippi, whose king was second-in-line for the Georgian Succession, to dispute his claim to the throne. Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina joined Mississippi, while North Carolina, Florida, and Arkansas went to Georgia's aid. Eventually, Flannagan won and established a dynasty that ruled until 2824, when the Henderson dynasty took over. There were also many Black rebellions in the century, and they often forced areas to make reforms to their racial codes. By the 30th century, most areas had outlawed racial bias in employment, courts, and farming regulations. There was still a lot of bias in those areas, but regulatory codes no longer explicitly referred to race, and racism was no longer institutionalized.
In the South, the traditional ways were that Whites were over Blacks, and Mexicans were a little over Blacks. In this system, race determined how much land you got, how many animals you could keep, what employment you could seek and, often, the outcomes of legal systems. At the top were Whites, those who were at least 15/16 European. Then came a descending array of mixes. For example, after Whites were 1/8 Mexican, 7/8 White; then 1/8 Black, 7/8 White, then 1/4 Mexican, 3/4 White, and so on. For odd races such as the Indios(Mexican Native Americans), Amerindians, Appalachians, or Asians, Indios were between Mexicans and Blacks, Amerindians were above Mexicans, Asians were above Amerindians, and Appalachians were above Asians. Sometimes there were refinements to that system, like in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi where the Early Cowboy phase of the Great Plains forced a million Texans and Oklahomans, especially the Indians of Oklahoma and Mexicans in general, into those regions.This traditional order was shattered with the Racial Wars. This cycle of violence started when Jimmy Duval, a populist general and Mayor of Shreveport, declared a coup over the Red River Territory in 2510. In order to win over enough of Shreveport's plebs to hold onto power against attempts to depose him by the elite, he, on the basis of his Black great-grandfather, declared himself Black, and utilized colored street mobs to intimidate his detractors. However, he was less able to do this in the rest of the country, so nobles rebelled, and after a 2-year long civil war, he was replaced with a white sheriff. In 2540, Ted Flannagan declared a coup in Georgia. He was obviously Black, so he didn't have a choice as to declaring himself Black or not. This led to Mississippi, whose king was second-in-line for the Georgian Succession, to dispute his claim to the throne. Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina joined Mississippi, while North Carolina, Florida, and Arkansas went to Georgia's aid. Eventually, Flannagan won and established a dynasty that ruled until 2824, when the Henderson dynasty took over. There were also many Black rebellions in the century, and they often forced areas to make reforms to their racial codes. By the 30th century, most areas had outlawed racial bias in employment, courts, and farming regulations. There was still a lot of bias in those areas, but regulatory codes no longer explicitly referred to race, and racism was no longer institutionalized.
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Just wondering, what do the Medieval Americans use rubber for? Canon says its one of the major South American goods entering North America, but how do they use it? Could they make wagon tires, could they make rubber soles for shoes?
Commonwealth of Mississippi Part 3
Government:
In Mississippi, local nobles hold most of the power over the local peasants. In each county, the government is led by the mayor, but the governmental positions are elected by all members of the noble families. In the regions (that is, larger entities consisting of about 8-9 counties), the Executive leads the government, and the governmental positions are appointed by a committee of mayors. In all of these cases, only nobles or clergymen are allowed to be part of the government. At the state level, the Colonel of Mississippi is appointed specifically by the officers of the army. This is considered a better system because the army officers, unlike the general aristocratic population, are less likely to be lazy louts and more likely to be qualified men. The Colonel appoints who he wants to government offices. However, the executives also convene every year to discuss national policy and give him recommendations. As the governmental positions are held by aristocrats and clergymen, government policy is aimed at pleasing those groups. Some of the biggest government policies are subsidizing Non-Denom churches and modernizing agricultural estates. The last policy usually entails providing money for aristocrats to buy out yeomen. In some cases, aristocrats have been known to use this power of free money to force people to sell, that is, they pass county ordinances to force yeomen to sell their land. In one particularly brazen example, a county near Mobile passed a law proclaiming that "All persons calling themselves Joe MacHarris must sell land at all opportunities." This bill caused riots throughout the Gulf Coast, and while that specific law was repealed, he eventually was coerced into selling a few years later. On the other hand, it also includes providing incentives to introduce new and improved agricultural techniques, and that probably helps the peasantry. Urban merchants and unyon leaders often complain that, even though they may be richer and more worthy than the aristocracy, they have zero percent of the government representation that the aristocracy does. As the aristocratic voting body is unwilling to compromise their power, the rich urbanites have found solutions by bribing some of the poorer knights to vote their way. This means that urban interests are best represented by keeping some knights bribe-able. The main political divide in Mississippi is on commercial policy. Many noblemen, especially in the Gulf Coast and Black Belt, have adopted new economic theories calling for the maximizing of exports and minimizing of imports. They have organized a "Commercialist Club" that calls for policies to do that. Thus, they foster attempts to introduce tea cultivation to Mississippi, develop cash-crop plantations, attempt to establish customs regimes, and try to obtain cheaper trade goods by conducting trade agreements with other countries. Their opposition in the court are conservative nobles that follow older economic theories that emphasize controlling prices and maximizing production in general. This is also backed up by clergymen, many of which think that the Commercialists' embrace of supply and demand for determining prices are immoral. Because of the clerical influence on the conservatives, they also tend to oppose laxity on heresy or Catholics immigrating to Mississippi. Right now the Commercialists have more influence on the Colonel, but it is nevertheless a large dividing point in the Mississippi government.
Government:
In Mississippi, local nobles hold most of the power over the local peasants. In each county, the government is led by the mayor, but the governmental positions are elected by all members of the noble families. In the regions (that is, larger entities consisting of about 8-9 counties), the Executive leads the government, and the governmental positions are appointed by a committee of mayors. In all of these cases, only nobles or clergymen are allowed to be part of the government. At the state level, the Colonel of Mississippi is appointed specifically by the officers of the army. This is considered a better system because the army officers, unlike the general aristocratic population, are less likely to be lazy louts and more likely to be qualified men. The Colonel appoints who he wants to government offices. However, the executives also convene every year to discuss national policy and give him recommendations. As the governmental positions are held by aristocrats and clergymen, government policy is aimed at pleasing those groups. Some of the biggest government policies are subsidizing Non-Denom churches and modernizing agricultural estates. The last policy usually entails providing money for aristocrats to buy out yeomen. In some cases, aristocrats have been known to use this power of free money to force people to sell, that is, they pass county ordinances to force yeomen to sell their land. In one particularly brazen example, a county near Mobile passed a law proclaiming that "All persons calling themselves Joe MacHarris must sell land at all opportunities." This bill caused riots throughout the Gulf Coast, and while that specific law was repealed, he eventually was coerced into selling a few years later. On the other hand, it also includes providing incentives to introduce new and improved agricultural techniques, and that probably helps the peasantry. Urban merchants and unyon leaders often complain that, even though they may be richer and more worthy than the aristocracy, they have zero percent of the government representation that the aristocracy does. As the aristocratic voting body is unwilling to compromise their power, the rich urbanites have found solutions by bribing some of the poorer knights to vote their way. This means that urban interests are best represented by keeping some knights bribe-able. The main political divide in Mississippi is on commercial policy. Many noblemen, especially in the Gulf Coast and Black Belt, have adopted new economic theories calling for the maximizing of exports and minimizing of imports. They have organized a "Commercialist Club" that calls for policies to do that. Thus, they foster attempts to introduce tea cultivation to Mississippi, develop cash-crop plantations, attempt to establish customs regimes, and try to obtain cheaper trade goods by conducting trade agreements with other countries. Their opposition in the court are conservative nobles that follow older economic theories that emphasize controlling prices and maximizing production in general. This is also backed up by clergymen, many of which think that the Commercialists' embrace of supply and demand for determining prices are immoral. Because of the clerical influence on the conservatives, they also tend to oppose laxity on heresy or Catholics immigrating to Mississippi. Right now the Commercialists have more influence on the Colonel, but it is nevertheless a large dividing point in the Mississippi government.
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Titles like Count and Duke should be avoided since they have no history in America. They're going to use titles from American government - they have no need to delve up words from European history.
Here's a nice list of titles that are common throughout eastern North America.
Here's a nice list of titles that are common throughout eastern North America.
Well, count comes from county, but what do you suggest for the level below the state and above the county?
But in American government there is no association between county and the title count. That's where the word comes from, but it's been totally lost. Based on the later discussion, it looks like the decision was that there are "counts," but mostly in and near Quebec, because it was sort of re-borrowed from French.
The original standard title for a feudal noble in charge of a county was Sheriff, according to Winner's post in that link. But because of title inflation, more and more men achieved the rank of Sheriff, and it came to lose some of its power. Many other terms exist. Based on those posts, the county-level nobles could be Sheriffs (the oldest title), Judges (also somewhat archaic-sounding), Wardens, Vices, or Chiefs. At the duchy level, there may be Executors, Directors, or Commissioners. Somewhere in there, Colonels came up as well, and more could possibly be done with military and police ranks.
There may also be something specific to Mississippi that inspires unique titles.
Just my 2c - personally I think it's best to start with US culture and project ideas forward from there, rather than reach backward to borrow ideas directly from Europe.
Commonwealth of Mississippi Part 4
Military:
Mississippi's military is composed out of knights, levies, and infantry. The knights are armored in light armor, and ride incompletely-armored horses. They come from noblemen not already engaged in government work. To fill out the ranks, each knight has to recruit a commoner to join the ranks. While this helps Mississippi to win battles, it is fairly controversial. Some see it as insulting to their Southern honor for commoners to fight the same way as peasants. In fact, if the Colonel was not appointed by army officers, the practice probably would have been abolished by now. One way they are unique is that most of them take shortbows into battle. These are used to counter the large amount of heavy infantry that Louisiana relies on. The levies are recruited from the villages. They are shaky, ill-equipped, and horrible at battle. However, they boost numbers, and often those can win the day. The militias are recruited from the cities. They carry polearms or pikes, and wear armor. They are typically used as the backbone of the force, or to hold an enemy force in preparation for a cavalry charge. Mississippi also has many units of foot archers. These mostly see combat in the wars with Red River, which tends to use horse archers. Mississippi also has an elite force of slaves. These are used by Mississippian commanders as shock troops.
Cities:
Mobile: Mobile consists of 40,000 people, making it the largest city in Mississippi. It is a major port, and it ships cotton and sugar to the entire gulf. The largest industry by employment is weaving, and that industry's Unyon is very powerful, in some cases actually negotiating trade policy with other Caribbean powers. Mobile is also a major center of molasses and rum production. Because almost all of the Caribbean states have sugar industries, a lot of sugar has to be turned into rum (which is far less fungible) in order to sell in other countries. Also, due to its status as a major port on the world's most trafficked ocean, its market is a sight to behold. Acai berries from Amazonia can be found next to jars of coca leaves from Colombia or coffee from Cuba. Being on the border with Louisiana, Mobile has extensive fortifications. It is surrounded by a high wall. In case the fleet held in the docks of Mobile fails, the harbor has a heavy chain in order to deter Louisiana's ships. Chariot races and football games are held in a large stadium next to the market. When it is not a market day, locals often play futboll, a popular game imported from Mexico, on the market green. While this is frowned upon by the Mobile elite, it still happens. Most of the population is Non-Denominational, but there are small minority communities that practice Catholicism or Voodoo.
Vicksburg: Vicksburg is a large city, of 36,000 people, on the Mississippi River. Its economy is based on cotton and cloth, but it also has a porcelain industry. The weavers and spinners employ more people, but the porcelain industry has about the same amount of power. The Potters' Unyon, which handles porcelain as well as regular clay industries, often exploits the divide between the Weavers' and the Spinners' Unyons to accomplish its goals in the local government. Vicksburg is a city on a hill, and it uses its advantageous position to control the Mississippi with fortifications on the river side of the hill. The slopes are lined with fortifications to keep Red River out. The city has some good chariot teams, and hosts the Mississippi championship game every two years between teams selected by each city. While the city is majority Non-Denom, in practice the government is not devout enough to prevent the sale of Hoodoo herbs and charms in the marketplace. Too many of the city's mercantile elite profit off of the trade with the Hoodoo shamans of the Valley to seriously think about banning it. Futboll is banned in the city, but Vicksburg has several free basketball courts, set up to keep the working class away from the supposed moral hazard of the Mexican sport.
Jackson: Jackson, the Pearl of the Pearl, is a small city, the capital of the District of Mississippi, and home to 21,000 people. It's economy is that of an average Deep South riverport, except that it is the seat of the Bishop. This man controls all of the non-denominational churches in the old state of Mississippi, including parts of Natchez and Shelby counties, and leads several conversion efforts against the heretics and heathens elsewhere in the commonwealth. The city has a large cathedral, a favorite destination for pilgrimages in the Deep South. Because of its piety, an enormous majority of the residents are Non-Denom. The Spinners' and Longshoremens' Unyons are controlled by the bishop, but not the weavers'. For this reason, far less cloth is made there than yarn.
Meridian: Meridian, the capital, has 19,000 souls. It would be an unremarkable city, and the river is not deep enough to carry much traffic, but it is the capital, as the Colonel wanted a location nearer to the center of the realm after he conquered Alabama. Many of the inhabitants work for the court or government. It is also a pious city, as the government funds conversion efforts in order to look good to the Church. Meridian has a large castle, built by the last king, who was a notable architecture aficionado.
Military:
Mississippi's military is composed out of knights, levies, and infantry. The knights are armored in light armor, and ride incompletely-armored horses. They come from noblemen not already engaged in government work. To fill out the ranks, each knight has to recruit a commoner to join the ranks. While this helps Mississippi to win battles, it is fairly controversial. Some see it as insulting to their Southern honor for commoners to fight the same way as peasants. In fact, if the Colonel was not appointed by army officers, the practice probably would have been abolished by now. One way they are unique is that most of them take shortbows into battle. These are used to counter the large amount of heavy infantry that Louisiana relies on. The levies are recruited from the villages. They are shaky, ill-equipped, and horrible at battle. However, they boost numbers, and often those can win the day. The militias are recruited from the cities. They carry polearms or pikes, and wear armor. They are typically used as the backbone of the force, or to hold an enemy force in preparation for a cavalry charge. Mississippi also has many units of foot archers. These mostly see combat in the wars with Red River, which tends to use horse archers. Mississippi also has an elite force of slaves. These are used by Mississippian commanders as shock troops.
Cities:
Mobile: Mobile consists of 40,000 people, making it the largest city in Mississippi. It is a major port, and it ships cotton and sugar to the entire gulf. The largest industry by employment is weaving, and that industry's Unyon is very powerful, in some cases actually negotiating trade policy with other Caribbean powers. Mobile is also a major center of molasses and rum production. Because almost all of the Caribbean states have sugar industries, a lot of sugar has to be turned into rum (which is far less fungible) in order to sell in other countries. Also, due to its status as a major port on the world's most trafficked ocean, its market is a sight to behold. Acai berries from Amazonia can be found next to jars of coca leaves from Colombia or coffee from Cuba. Being on the border with Louisiana, Mobile has extensive fortifications. It is surrounded by a high wall. In case the fleet held in the docks of Mobile fails, the harbor has a heavy chain in order to deter Louisiana's ships. Chariot races and football games are held in a large stadium next to the market. When it is not a market day, locals often play futboll, a popular game imported from Mexico, on the market green. While this is frowned upon by the Mobile elite, it still happens. Most of the population is Non-Denominational, but there are small minority communities that practice Catholicism or Voodoo.
Vicksburg: Vicksburg is a large city, of 36,000 people, on the Mississippi River. Its economy is based on cotton and cloth, but it also has a porcelain industry. The weavers and spinners employ more people, but the porcelain industry has about the same amount of power. The Potters' Unyon, which handles porcelain as well as regular clay industries, often exploits the divide between the Weavers' and the Spinners' Unyons to accomplish its goals in the local government. Vicksburg is a city on a hill, and it uses its advantageous position to control the Mississippi with fortifications on the river side of the hill. The slopes are lined with fortifications to keep Red River out. The city has some good chariot teams, and hosts the Mississippi championship game every two years between teams selected by each city. While the city is majority Non-Denom, in practice the government is not devout enough to prevent the sale of Hoodoo herbs and charms in the marketplace. Too many of the city's mercantile elite profit off of the trade with the Hoodoo shamans of the Valley to seriously think about banning it. Futboll is banned in the city, but Vicksburg has several free basketball courts, set up to keep the working class away from the supposed moral hazard of the Mexican sport.
Jackson: Jackson, the Pearl of the Pearl, is a small city, the capital of the District of Mississippi, and home to 21,000 people. It's economy is that of an average Deep South riverport, except that it is the seat of the Bishop. This man controls all of the non-denominational churches in the old state of Mississippi, including parts of Natchez and Shelby counties, and leads several conversion efforts against the heretics and heathens elsewhere in the commonwealth. The city has a large cathedral, a favorite destination for pilgrimages in the Deep South. Because of its piety, an enormous majority of the residents are Non-Denom. The Spinners' and Longshoremens' Unyons are controlled by the bishop, but not the weavers'. For this reason, far less cloth is made there than yarn.
Meridian: Meridian, the capital, has 19,000 souls. It would be an unremarkable city, and the river is not deep enough to carry much traffic, but it is the capital, as the Colonel wanted a location nearer to the center of the realm after he conquered Alabama. Many of the inhabitants work for the court or government. It is also a pious city, as the government funds conversion efforts in order to look good to the Church. Meridian has a large castle, built by the last king, who was a notable architecture aficionado.
tehskyman
Banned
The BorderLands: Southern Ontario and Canada
At the very edge of the feudal heartland right next to the un-ending forests lie various squabbling nations, each claiming direct descent from the original Canadian Government. In Southern Ontario, there are currently 4 nations from west to east; Middlesex County (Capital: London), The State of Ontario (Capital: Toronto), Edwards County (Capital: Kingston) and the Dominion of Canada (Capital: Montreal).
Ever since the fall this areas has been one of constant fighting and raiding. Occasionally some of the larger nations surrounding this region, Michigan, Quebec or New York will attempt to conquer one of the 4 nations, however they can never completely hold it as their neighbours to the south take advantage of the situation or the Canadian nations banding together and fighting off the foreign invasion. At any other time however, these nations are squabbling amongst themselves.
Whenever foreign invasions come, they always stop at the walls of the fortress-city of Toronto. Surrounded by ravines on all sides as well as multiple smaller fortress towns surrounding it, these defences, natural and man-made makes the city near impossible to take by foreign armies. With nearly 40,000 inhabitants Toronto is by far the largest city in the region and even has its own non-denom branch. This makes the State of Ontario the most powerful of the 4 Canadian Nations. With the largest harbour on Lake Ontario it also boasts a sizeable navy, used for raiding in the winter and fishing in the summer.
At the very edge of the feudal heartland right next to the un-ending forests lie various squabbling nations, each claiming direct descent from the original Canadian Government. In Southern Ontario, there are currently 4 nations from west to east; Middlesex County (Capital: London), The State of Ontario (Capital: Toronto), Edwards County (Capital: Kingston) and the Dominion of Canada (Capital: Montreal).
Ever since the fall this areas has been one of constant fighting and raiding. Occasionally some of the larger nations surrounding this region, Michigan, Quebec or New York will attempt to conquer one of the 4 nations, however they can never completely hold it as their neighbours to the south take advantage of the situation or the Canadian nations banding together and fighting off the foreign invasion. At any other time however, these nations are squabbling amongst themselves.
Whenever foreign invasions come, they always stop at the walls of the fortress-city of Toronto. Surrounded by ravines on all sides as well as multiple smaller fortress towns surrounding it, these defences, natural and man-made makes the city near impossible to take by foreign armies. With nearly 40,000 inhabitants Toronto is by far the largest city in the region and even has its own non-denom branch. This makes the State of Ontario the most powerful of the 4 Canadian Nations. With the largest harbour on Lake Ontario it also boasts a sizeable navy, used for raiding in the winter and fishing in the summer.
System of Government: Hereditary Monarchy with Congress of Nobles
Head of State: Commissioner
Population: 460,000
Religion: Non-Denominational
Totemic Symbol: Pelican roosting on cross
Religion:
While the most common and official religion is the Non-Denominational Church, there are many other religions in Natchez. Hoodoo is commonly practiced in the Mississippi Valley north of the Red River. Voodoo is practiced along the Valley and near the Louisiana border. Catholicism is mostly followed in Acadiana, but also in Baton Rouge. There is even a Catholic diocese headquartered in Baton Rouge. New Israelites used to be common West of the Mississippi (remnants of the Texan invasions of the 23rd centuries), but most of the Texi-Mississippians have since been assimilated. Underground Baptist congregations can be found in many of the rural areas, but they are not as prevalent as they are in Mississippi. The County tries to stay religiously neutral to the Vodoun and Catholics, in order not to alienate its trade partners and Louisiana.
Agriculture:
Natchez County's government places a large emphasis on cash crops in order to generate export income. The two largest of those are cotton and sugarcane. While sugar is mostly grown throughout Acadiana and the Gulf Coast, cotton is the most important crop for the Mississippi Valley. The other parts of the country mostly live off of subsistence farming. In accordance with the latest Commercialist ideas, Natchez County has banned serfdom. This has resulted in mass displacement, poverty, urban growth, and, as was intended, profits. The lower Mississippi usually produces a glut of grain every year. This reduced prices. This made Natchez's grain sector relatively unprofitable, compared to the other sectors of the economy. When the serfs were freed, more were evicted in the parts of the country that did not produce clay, cotton, or sugar. The newly freed peasants then sought employment in the cash-crop plantations and cities. This boosted production in the most profitable sectors, and increased the national product.
Cities:
Natchez: This city has 60,000 people, and it is the largest city and capital of Natchez County. It is a port on the Mississippi, which is wide enough to hold the largest sea ships. Because of the possibility of these coming to Natchez, it has a large port, with treadmill-powered cranes, dozens of warehouses, and many naval industries near the dock to service ships. However, the city's main economic activity is manufacturing for export. The largest industry is pottery, which is made from the clay in the rivers of the Valley. The second-largest industry is clothmaking. The city still remembers the last war, and they have a large castle in the center of the city to protect from invasion. The most powerful Unyon in Natchez is the Potters', and they are bigger than both the Spinners' and Weavers' Unyons put together. The large majority of Natchez is non-Denominational, but there are a few Vodoun there, mostly Louisianans doing business there.
Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge has 28,000 people. Its main industries are pottery, molasses, rum, and cloth. It is the capital of the Bishopric of Greater Louisiana, and the headquarters of the Catholic Church's Natchez Parish. Because of this, the city is divided between Catholics that make up about 30% of the population and Non-Denoms with 60%. Linguistically, the city is also divided by similar margins, with 40% speaking Louisianan and 50% speaking Mississippian. 10% of the population speaks Arkansan.
Head of State: Commissioner
Population: 460,000
Religion: Non-Denominational
Totemic Symbol: Pelican roosting on cross
Religion:
While the most common and official religion is the Non-Denominational Church, there are many other religions in Natchez. Hoodoo is commonly practiced in the Mississippi Valley north of the Red River. Voodoo is practiced along the Valley and near the Louisiana border. Catholicism is mostly followed in Acadiana, but also in Baton Rouge. There is even a Catholic diocese headquartered in Baton Rouge. New Israelites used to be common West of the Mississippi (remnants of the Texan invasions of the 23rd centuries), but most of the Texi-Mississippians have since been assimilated. Underground Baptist congregations can be found in many of the rural areas, but they are not as prevalent as they are in Mississippi. The County tries to stay religiously neutral to the Vodoun and Catholics, in order not to alienate its trade partners and Louisiana.
Agriculture:
Natchez County's government places a large emphasis on cash crops in order to generate export income. The two largest of those are cotton and sugarcane. While sugar is mostly grown throughout Acadiana and the Gulf Coast, cotton is the most important crop for the Mississippi Valley. The other parts of the country mostly live off of subsistence farming. In accordance with the latest Commercialist ideas, Natchez County has banned serfdom. This has resulted in mass displacement, poverty, urban growth, and, as was intended, profits. The lower Mississippi usually produces a glut of grain every year. This reduced prices. This made Natchez's grain sector relatively unprofitable, compared to the other sectors of the economy. When the serfs were freed, more were evicted in the parts of the country that did not produce clay, cotton, or sugar. The newly freed peasants then sought employment in the cash-crop plantations and cities. This boosted production in the most profitable sectors, and increased the national product.
Cities:
Natchez: This city has 60,000 people, and it is the largest city and capital of Natchez County. It is a port on the Mississippi, which is wide enough to hold the largest sea ships. Because of the possibility of these coming to Natchez, it has a large port, with treadmill-powered cranes, dozens of warehouses, and many naval industries near the dock to service ships. However, the city's main economic activity is manufacturing for export. The largest industry is pottery, which is made from the clay in the rivers of the Valley. The second-largest industry is clothmaking. The city still remembers the last war, and they have a large castle in the center of the city to protect from invasion. The most powerful Unyon in Natchez is the Potters', and they are bigger than both the Spinners' and Weavers' Unyons put together. The large majority of Natchez is non-Denominational, but there are a few Vodoun there, mostly Louisianans doing business there.
Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge has 28,000 people. Its main industries are pottery, molasses, rum, and cloth. It is the capital of the Bishopric of Greater Louisiana, and the headquarters of the Catholic Church's Natchez Parish. Because of this, the city is divided between Catholics that make up about 30% of the population and Non-Denoms with 60%. Linguistically, the city is also divided by similar margins, with 40% speaking Louisianan and 50% speaking Mississippian. 10% of the population speaks Arkansan.
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Peasants, of course. No man of a high class would run unless he wanted to get someplace quickly. 
But seriously, the first cranes, that were invented in the Late Middle Ages in Northern Europe, were powered by treadmills. Also, so were Medieval China's paddleboats. Here's a picture of a mock-up of a medieval crane.
But seriously, the first cranes, that were invented in the Late Middle Ages in Northern Europe, were powered by treadmills. Also, so were Medieval China's paddleboats. Here's a picture of a mock-up of a medieval crane.
The Cult of Oblivion
The Cult of Oblivion is a cultic faith and social club popular in areas scattered across the western world, but its center is undoubtedly in Providence, Rhode Island. In the Americas, it originally began as a Faith of Sailors, later becoming adopted by many wealthy Jersey, New York and New English families, as well as those attending Ivy League colleges, and through sailors, it became popular among the whaling Inuit of the far north, and the Swampfolk of the Mississippi.
The cult was the confluence of two major influences; Ancient literature, which managed to survive the Apocalypse which caused the world to regress into barbarism, and Catholic theological debate.
These tales spread from port to port. Any who doubted would be shown strange artifacts and gold said to come from the far south. The rumor became the toast of the West, and in Brasilia, the center of Western Catholicism, a theological debate came about. Were these monsters men? Could they be redeemed? Were these Demons? Was the far south literally Hell? If so, could one go in there and pluck someone out of hell? Was the gold of the south tainted? Could the Tsalal be saved? Were they men at all, the seed of Adam, or were they simply separate to humans? Could they sin at all, if there ancestors had never fallen from grace?
These ideas, along with Desereti and Scientologist ideas which came with the trade the routes from out west over the idea of aliens on foreign worlds. This led to a conclusion among New England clergy- C'thulhu had died for the sins of all strangers.
The Nondenom Church, while never one to go on a crusade, frowned on certain aspects of the theology, and so the Oblvioni tried to keep it out of the mainstream. Discussions at pubs and Ivy League colleges dominated. The Cult appealed immensely to sailors, because it promised them salvation anywhere they went, not subject to the whims of the Gods of the Voodoo or Mexicans or Rastafarians.
Many of these sailors returned home rich men, and brought the Cult into the higher classes. Over time, it shifted from its original message, and really became a cult. There wasn't so much of a struggle to understand strange subject matter or conform it to Christian ideology. It became a veritable Mystery Cult, like the Freemasons prior to them becoming the Nondenom equivalent of Monastic Orders. It was more of a time for people to meet up, make connections, and have a few drinks, as well as feel apart of something powerful.
During the mid 2700s AD, the world was beginning to lift out of the New Dark Ages, into a new Medieval Age. States were starting to consolidate, and a new order was forming. Part of this new order was Jersey, New York and New England traders plying the Americas, as far south as N’awleens (with the exception of the occasional trader attempting to defy the Queens of N’awleens (often to fatal effect), and as far north as Godthab in Greenland, trading luxury goods, timber and shipbuilding goods in exchange for whale derived goods, ‘Vinlandish Wines’, textiles, clocks, furs, spices…
These traders grew rich, and brought enormous sums of money back to their home cities, rebuilding several of them, especially Providence, which underwent a massive beautification effort, with Basalt and Fieldstone imported from Pennsylvania, and Soapstone from Virginia. Massive buildings were made and canals dug using chattel imported from the South, moast famously the Victory Arch at the mouth of the Providence River after fending off Quebecois raiders (and doubling as a fort and lighthouse). However, during these constructions, the writings of one ‘HP Lovecraft’ were discovered buried underground. These old world relics were held sacred by many, though the subject matter was hard to comprehend, and many Nondenom Priests in Providence pushed for it’s Canonization into the Library of Congress, but representatives of Washington declared it nonsense, and refused. Other copies were discovered across New England, and among clergy, it was of much interest. This was the first influence for the Cult.
The second would be a Catholic debate. Catholicsm, present in Quebec, New Jersey, and South America, was divided from the rest of the Church by the Occidental Cardinal, who was for all intents and purposes was the Pope in the West, but still subservient to the Pope in the East, but contact was hard enough that he was not in practice. Catholic traders had long known of the savage men of the Southern Seas, but contact had been rare. The Malvinas, considered by many to be the end of the world, was inhabited part of the year by Whalers and Walrus hunters, and all year round by the English speaking sheep herders. They were considered savage enough, but one boat, swept south landed in Africa. There, they found a bizarre people, calling themselves the Tsalal. Any truth to be found is rare, but on this much all agree- they speak some bastard form of English, they have gold, markedly advanced technology, and they are looking to colonize the South Seas. Many stories discussed horrifying practices of cannibalism, bestiality, incest, orgies, worshipping idols, and crimes that many deem unmentionable. They are said to revere Science, that lost arcane art, above all, and they believe they are the last true humans.
These tales spread from port to port. Any who doubted would be shown strange artifacts and gold said to come from the far south. The rumor became the toast of the West, and in Brasilia, the center of Western Catholicism, a theological debate came about. Were these monsters men? Could they be redeemed? Were these Demons? Was the far south literally Hell? If so, could one go in there and pluck someone out of hell? Was the gold of the south tainted? Could the Tsalal be saved? Were they men at all, the seed of Adam, or were they simply separate to humans? Could they sin at all, if there ancestors had never fallen from grace?
These ideas, along with Desereti and Scientologist ideas which came with the trade the routes from out west over the idea of aliens on foreign worlds. This led to a conclusion among New England clergy- C'thulhu had died for the sins of all strangers.
The Nondenom Church, while never one to go on a crusade, frowned on certain aspects of the theology, and so the Oblvioni tried to keep it out of the mainstream. Discussions at pubs and Ivy League colleges dominated. The Cult appealed immensely to sailors, because it promised them salvation anywhere they went, not subject to the whims of the Gods of the Voodoo or Mexicans or Rastafarians.
Many of these sailors returned home rich men, and brought the Cult into the higher classes. Over time, it shifted from its original message, and really became a cult. There wasn't so much of a struggle to understand strange subject matter or conform it to Christian ideology. It became a veritable Mystery Cult, like the Freemasons prior to them becoming the Nondenom equivalent of Monastic Orders. It was more of a time for people to meet up, make connections, and have a few drinks, as well as feel apart of something powerful.
By the 'modern day', the Cult has four main groups of adherents; Sailors, Swampfolk, Inuit Whalers, and New England upper class. The Cult is shrouded in mystery, and to join it is seen as a mark of great prestige. While the Church does not approve of its alleged blood sacrifices or Pagan elements, they allow it to continue thanks to lobbying on the part of rich merchant families.
The Cult of Oblivion is a cultic faith and social club popular in areas scattered across the western world, but its center is undoubtedly in Providence, Rhode Island. In the Americas, it originally began as a Faith of Sailors, later becoming adopted by many wealthy Jersey, New York and New English families, as well as those attending Ivy League colleges, and through sailors, it became popular among the whaling Inuit of the far north, and the Swampfolk of the Mississippi.
The cult was the confluence of two major influences; Ancient literature, which managed to survive the Apocalypse which caused the world to regress into barbarism, and Catholic theological debate.
These tales spread from port to port. Any who doubted would be shown strange artifacts and gold said to come from the far south. The rumor became the toast of the West, and in Brasilia, the center of Western Catholicism, a theological debate came about. Were these monsters men? Could they be redeemed? Were these Demons? Was the far south literally Hell? If so, could one go in there and pluck someone out of hell? Was the gold of the south tainted? Could the Tsalal be saved? Were they men at all, the seed of Adam, or were they simply separate to humans? Could they sin at all, if there ancestors had never fallen from grace?
These ideas, along with Desereti and Scientologist ideas which came with the trade the routes from out west over the idea of aliens on foreign worlds. This led to a conclusion among New England clergy- C'thulhu had died for the sins of all strangers.
The Nondenom Church, while never one to go on a crusade, frowned on certain aspects of the theology, and so the Oblvioni tried to keep it out of the mainstream. Discussions at pubs and Ivy League colleges dominated. The Cult appealed immensely to sailors, because it promised them salvation anywhere they went, not subject to the whims of the Gods of the Voodoo or Mexicans or Rastafarians.
Many of these sailors returned home rich men, and brought the Cult into the higher classes. Over time, it shifted from its original message, and really became a cult. There wasn't so much of a struggle to understand strange subject matter or conform it to Christian ideology. It became a veritable Mystery Cult, like the Freemasons prior to them becoming the Nondenom equivalent of Monastic Orders. It was more of a time for people to meet up, make connections, and have a few drinks, as well as feel apart of something powerful.
During the mid 2700s AD, the world was beginning to lift out of the New Dark Ages, into a new Medieval Age. States were starting to consolidate, and a new order was forming. Part of this new order was Jersey, New York and New England traders plying the Americas, as far south as N’awleens (with the exception of the occasional trader attempting to defy the Queens of N’awleens (often to fatal effect), and as far north as Godthab in Greenland, trading luxury goods, timber and shipbuilding goods in exchange for whale derived goods, ‘Vinlandish Wines’, textiles, clocks, furs, spices…
These traders grew rich, and brought enormous sums of money back to their home cities, rebuilding several of them, especially Providence, which underwent a massive beautification effort, with Basalt and Fieldstone imported from Pennsylvania, and Soapstone from Virginia. Massive buildings were made and canals dug using chattel imported from the South, moast famously the Victory Arch at the mouth of the Providence River after fending off Quebecois raiders (and doubling as a fort and lighthouse). However, during these constructions, the writings of one ‘HP Lovecraft’ were discovered buried underground. These old world relics were held sacred by many, though the subject matter was hard to comprehend, and many Nondenom Priests in Providence pushed for it’s Canonization into the Library of Congress, but representatives of Washington declared it nonsense, and refused. Other copies were discovered across New England, and among clergy, it was of much interest. This was the first influence for the Cult.
The second would be a Catholic debate. Catholicsm, present in Quebec, New Jersey, and South America, was divided from the rest of the Church by the Occidental Cardinal, who was for all intents and purposes was the Pope in the West, but still subservient to the Pope in the East, but contact was hard enough that he was not in practice. Catholic traders had long known of the savage men of the Southern Seas, but contact had been rare. The Malvinas, considered by many to be the end of the world, was inhabited part of the year by Whalers and Walrus hunters, and all year round by the English speaking sheep herders. They were considered savage enough, but one boat, swept south landed in Africa. There, they found a bizarre people, calling themselves the Tsalal. Any truth to be found is rare, but on this much all agree- they speak some bastard form of English, they have gold, markedly advanced technology, and they are looking to colonize the South Seas. Many stories discussed horrifying practices of cannibalism, bestiality, incest, orgies, worshipping idols, and crimes that many deem unmentionable. They are said to revere Science, that lost arcane art, above all, and they believe they are the last true humans.
These tales spread from port to port. Any who doubted would be shown strange artifacts and gold said to come from the far south. The rumor became the toast of the West, and in Brasilia, the center of Western Catholicism, a theological debate came about. Were these monsters men? Could they be redeemed? Were these Demons? Was the far south literally Hell? If so, could one go in there and pluck someone out of hell? Was the gold of the south tainted? Could the Tsalal be saved? Were they men at all, the seed of Adam, or were they simply separate to humans? Could they sin at all, if there ancestors had never fallen from grace?
These ideas, along with Desereti and Scientologist ideas which came with the trade the routes from out west over the idea of aliens on foreign worlds. This led to a conclusion among New England clergy- C'thulhu had died for the sins of all strangers.
The Nondenom Church, while never one to go on a crusade, frowned on certain aspects of the theology, and so the Oblvioni tried to keep it out of the mainstream. Discussions at pubs and Ivy League colleges dominated. The Cult appealed immensely to sailors, because it promised them salvation anywhere they went, not subject to the whims of the Gods of the Voodoo or Mexicans or Rastafarians.
Many of these sailors returned home rich men, and brought the Cult into the higher classes. Over time, it shifted from its original message, and really became a cult. There wasn't so much of a struggle to understand strange subject matter or conform it to Christian ideology. It became a veritable Mystery Cult, like the Freemasons prior to them becoming the Nondenom equivalent of Monastic Orders. It was more of a time for people to meet up, make connections, and have a few drinks, as well as feel apart of something powerful.
By the 'modern day', the Cult has four main groups of adherents; Sailors, Swampfolk, Inuit Whalers, and New England upper class. The Cult is shrouded in mystery, and to join it is seen as a mark of great prestige. While the Church does not approve of its alleged blood sacrifices or Pagan elements, they allow it to continue thanks to lobbying on the part of rich merchant families.