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| shared_worlds:thick_as_thieves_countries [2015/08/31 23:32] – [Hespera] Petike | shared_worlds:thick_as_thieves_countries [2023/11/12 09:02] (current) – [Schaafenstein] petike |
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| | ==== Agirdéle ==== |
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| | __Full name:__ Principality of Agirdéle |
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| | __Type:__ City state. A constitutional monarchy. |
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| | __Demonym:__ Agirdélan, Agirdélasque |
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| | __Description:__ A small principality on the southern coast of Nobrena, surrounded on all sides by the Kingdom of Nobrena (to the north, east and west) and the sea (to the south). The principality was founded by a noble family originally from northeast Montoverde. The local dialect is a mix of local southern Nobrenian dialects and the ruling house's original Montoverdin dialect. Agirdéle has something of a reputation for skillful banking, as well as a more dubious reputation for its recent experimenting with legalised gambling establishments, and the resulting glitz-and-glamour of it all. Some of the other unusual, novelty-focused pursuits of local royalty, includes organising the first official steam-powered and electric-powered carriage races in Aporue, or investments into scholarly pursuits, such as patronage of oceanic research and marine biology research. Agirdéle is one of the founding members of the Urban League.\\ |
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| | __Real world frame of reference:__ Primarily the history of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaco|Principality of Monaco]] and of the House of Grimaldi. The controversial local gambling industry is less about modern casinos with roulettes, and more of a medieval to early modern version of the industry, just for the sake of humour.\\ |
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| | __City NPCs of Agirdélan origins:__ TBA\\ |
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| ==== Archontia ==== | ==== Archontia ==== |
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| | ==== Ellada ==== |
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| | __Full name:__ |
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| | __Type:__ Territorial state. |
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| | __Demonym:__ Elladic |
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| | __Description:__ The more contemporary form of the Elladic language is a descendant of Ancient Elladic, and it formed a key linguistic influence on the development of the Archontic language during the days of the Old Empire, a.k.a. Archontia.\\ |
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| | __Real world frame of reference:__ Primarily the medieval and early modern history of Greece (and to a lesser extent, callbacks to its history during antiquity). Ellada is a very Byzantine Empire inspired place, though one that has already been influenced by a few centuries of Sillamian Sevaranate rule. As Ellada is not fully independent in the "present day" of the setting, it's in an odd middle ground between being a vassal of the Sevaranate and being relatively autonomous.\\ |
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| | __City NPCs of Elladic origins:__ TBA\\ |
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| ==== Hespera ==== | ==== Hespera ==== |
| __Demonym:__ Hetmaner, Hetmanian, Atamanian | __Demonym:__ Hetmaner, Hetmanian, Atamanian |
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| __Description:__ Also called "The Atamanate", this is a country of plucky frontiersmen with a peculiar political system that has somehow managed to eke out an existence caught between the [[thick as thieves countries#ursania|Empire of Ursania]] and the [[thick as thieves countries#lengelia|Kingdom of Lengelia]]. Throughout its entire existence, it has somehow managed to eke out a place on Aporuean maps, despite many claiming that something like that would be borderline impossible. The reputation of Hetmanaters among many Lengelians and Ursans of note as "a bunch of self-appointed and combat-skilled hicks-warriors that hardly know anything about governance" didn't help matters. In the past, both Lengelia and Ursania had repeatedly tried their damndest to bring the Hetmanate under their influence, either diplomatically or by force of arms. But all of these had faltered.\\ | __Description:__ Also called "The Atamanate", this is a country of plucky frontiersmen with a peculiar political system that has somehow managed to eke out an existence caught between the [[thick as thieves countries#ursania|Empire of Ursania]] and the [[thick as thieves countries#ruteňa|Kingdom of Ruteňa]] and [[thick as thieves countries#lengelia|Kingdom of Lengelia]]. Throughout its entire existence, it has somehow managed to eke out a place on Aporuean maps, despite many claiming that something like that would be borderline impossible. The reputation of Hetmanaters among many Lengelians and Ursans of note as "a bunch of self-appointed and combat-skilled hicks-warriors that hardly know anything about governance" didn't help matters. In the past, both Lengelia and Ursania had repeatedly tried their damndest to bring the Hetmanate under their influence, either diplomatically or by force of arms. But all of these had faltered.\\ |
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| __Real world frame of reference:__ Think of these guys as, ironically enough, equal parts [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cossacks|cossacks]] from the historical [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cossack_Hetmanate|Hetmanate/Zaporizhian Host]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_Tatars|Tatars]] from the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_Khanate|Crimean Khanate]]. In terms of Aporue's ethnic and linguistic relations though, they are a lot more distinct from both Lengelians and Ursans, much moreso than OTL cossacks would be from Poles and Russians. Additionally, the Hetmanate's martial and civilian culture borrow something of a Wild West flavour from OTL, though with a distinctly East European makeover.\\ | __Real world frame of reference:__ Think of these guys as, ironically enough, equal parts [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cossacks|cossacks]] from the historical [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cossack_Hetmanate|Hetmanate/Zaporizhian Host]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_Tatars|Tatars]] from the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_Khanate|Crimean Khanate]]. In terms of Aporue's ethnic and linguistic relations though, they are a lot more distinct from both Lengelians and Ursans, much moreso than OTL cossacks would be from Poles and Russians. Additionally, the Hetmanate's martial and civilian culture borrow something of a Wild West flavour from OTL, though with a distinctly East European makeover.\\ |
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| __City NPCs of Karantian origins:__ Kratan\\ | __City NPCs of Karantian origins:__ Kratan\\ |
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| | ==== Kusdrova ==== |
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| | __Full name:__ Republic of Kusdrova |
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| | __Type:__ City state with elements of a small territorial state. A municipal-and-aristocratic republic. |
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| | __Demonym:__ Kusdrovan, Kusdrovian |
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| | __Description:__ A small coastal country directly to the south of Rvača, the republic of Kusdrova consists mainly of people speaking in a local dialect of the Rvačan language and another local dialect influenced by long historical ties to the maritime regions and states on the western coast of Montoverde. The obvious capital and crucial part of the very small country is the old coastal city of Kusdrovik, a trade hub and naval hub since the days of the late Old Empire. The Republic of Kusdrova is one of the founding members of the Urban League. Translated from Archontic, Kusdrova's country motto states, "Having some gold is fine and all, but we ain't parting with our freedom for gold !".\\ |
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| | __Real world frame of reference:__ Primarily the history and geography of the small [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ragusa|Republic of Ragusa]], centered on the famous city of Dubrovnik (nowadays at the southern tip of Croatia). The motto is, of course, a gentle parody of the real world motto of the Ragusan republic.\\ |
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| | __City NPCs of Kusdrovan origins:__ TBA\\ |
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| __Real world frame of reference:__ The Czech lands and their history. The name itself is a nod to: a.) The Germanic Marcomanni tribes that inhabited the area during Antiquity, prior to displacement by other ehtnicities, including Slavs. b.) The fact that eastern parts of the Czech lands, such as Moravia, were considered marks (border marches) of the Frankish and later Holy Roman Empire at various periods of the Middle Ages. In another nod to real world puns about Czechs-cheques-checks, some languages of Aporue have their own punny "Markan-marker-mark" jokes.\\ | __Real world frame of reference:__ The Czech lands and their history. The name itself is a nod to: a.) The Germanic Marcomanni tribes that inhabited the area during Antiquity, prior to displacement by other ehtnicities, including Slavs. b.) The fact that eastern parts of the Czech lands, such as Moravia, were considered marks (border marches) of the Frankish and later Holy Roman Empire at various periods of the Middle Ages. In another nod to real world puns about Czechs-cheques-checks, some languages of Aporue have their own punny "Markan-marker-mark" jokes.\\ |
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| __City NPCs of Markanan origins:__ ?\\ | __City NPCs of Markanan origins:__ Paidrkoa Baltābols (née Křilžic)\\ |
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| __Demonym:__ Melzan, "City Dweller", "Cittan" | __Demonym:__ Melzan, "City Dweller", "Cittan" |
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| __Description:__ The primary gameplay setting of the //**[[shared worlds:Thick as Thieves]]**// roleplay. Melza has been a settled location for a very, very long time. Described in feminine terms, "she" was apparently named by her first settlers after the eponymous major river that flows through the city and its surrounding territory (hence one of the city's more poetic nicknames). Though some artefacts and vague written records have survived from its earliest days, much of the city's ancient history remains shrouded in mystery. Naturally, over the many centuries, this has led to the creation of a rich local folkloric tradition, full of tales and legends about various eras of Melza's bygone past. Whatever the truth, historians, archaeologists and commoners alike agree that the city has some deep and manifold foundations, both literal and figurative, running innumerable generations back. Some say it might even be one of the oldest still standing cities in the entirety of Aporue. (There are certainly rumours that Melza's deepest foundations reach back all the way to the [[thick as thieves countries#archontia|Archontia/Precursor]] era.) Daydreaming and flights of fancy aside, Melza is nowadays one of Aporue's largest and most populous cities (exceeding one million souls as of the latest census). It's a metropolis of many contrasts, of fancy high streets and lowbrow slums, of old towering architecture and modern transport and information networks, a city of many colourful individuals and groups, from nearly every imaginable species, nationality, religion, ideology and profession. Melza is a cosmopolitan place, even by the standards of other Aporuean city states, and yet has her own hard to describe quaint charm. Due to its status as one of the most impressive and influential cities of Aporue (and even the wider world), it's no surprise that the locals tend to commonly refer to their mostly-urban homeland simply as "The City", "The Old Metropolis", and by other similar genericisms. Melzans themselves (a.k.a. Cittans) are, like many of the Aporuean nations based around city states, something of an ethnic motley crew. "A fine blend", as many of them cheekily say. "There is no such thing as a 'true, pure-blooded Melzan' - because a true Melzan is a happy-go-lucky mongrel by his very nature, one who does not fit in neatly into any expectations that people make of him based on experiences with neighbouring nations... And he or she is always proud to be such a mongrel !", the locals often elaborate. Modern day Melza is certainly no sleepy showcase town. Trade and commerce, both legal and illegal, are the lifeblood of The City, and ample road, rail, river and air links make it a crucially important transport hub in this part of the continent. Add to that a vibrant social and cultural scene and the equally amusing and mystifying world of [[thick as thieves city_gov|domestic Melzan politics]], and you soon get an idea of why The City has plenty of quirks to explore. In addition, The Sovereign Barony and City State of Melza, as its full name stands, is one of the member states of the [[thick_as_thieves_countries?&#international_clubs_and_organisations|The Urban League]]. | __Description:__ The primary gameplay setting of the //**[[shared worlds:Thick as Thieves]]**// roleplay. Melza has been a settled location for a very, very long time. Described in feminine terms, "she" was apparently named by her first settlers after the eponymous major river that flows through the city and its surrounding territory (hence one of the city's more poetic nicknames). Though some artefacts and vague written records have survived from its earliest days, much of the city's ancient history remains shrouded in mystery. Naturally, over the many centuries, this has led to the creation of a rich local folkloric tradition, full of tales and legends about various eras of Melza's bygone past. Whatever the truth, historians, archaeologists and commoners alike agree that the city has some deep and manifold foundations, both literal and figurative, running innumerable generations back. Some say it might even be one of the oldest still standing cities in the entirety of Aporue. (There are certainly rumours that Melza's deepest foundations reach back all the way to the [[thick as thieves countries#archontia|Archontia/Precursor]] era.) Daydreaming and flights of fancy aside, Melza is nowadays one of Aporue's largest and most populous cities (exceeding one million souls as of the latest census). It's a metropolis of many contrasts, of fancy high streets and lowbrow slums, of old towering architecture and modern transport and information networks, a city of many colourful individuals and groups, from nearly every imaginable species, nationality, religion, ideology and profession. Melza is a cosmopolitan place, even by the standards of other Aporuean city states, and yet has her own hard to describe quaint charm. Due to its status as one of the most impressive and influential cities of Aporue (and even the wider world), it's no surprise that the locals tend to commonly refer to their mostly-urban homeland simply as "The City", "The Old Metropolis", and by other similar genericisms. Melzans themselves (a.k.a. Cittans) are, like many of the Aporuean nations based around city states, something of an ethnic motley crew. "A fine blend", as many of them cheekily say. "There is no such thing as a 'true, pure-blooded Melzan' - because a true Melzan is a happy-go-lucky mongrel by his very nature, one who does not fit in neatly into any expectations that people make of him based on experiences with neighbouring nations... And he or she is always proud to be such a mongrel !", the locals often elaborate. Modern day Melza is certainly no sleepy showcase town. Trade and commerce, both legal and illegal, are the lifeblood of The City, and ample road, rail, river and air links make it a crucially important transport hub in this part of the continent. Add to that a vibrant social and cultural scene and the equally amusing and mystifying world of [[thick as thieves city_gov|domestic Melzan politics]], and you soon get an idea of why The City has plenty of quirks to explore. In addition, The Sovereign Barony and City State of Melza, as its full name stands, is one of the member states of the [[thick_as_thieves_countries?&#international_clubs_and_organisations_in_aporue|The Urban League]]. |
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| __Real world frame of reference:__ Melza is inspired by many European cities throughout history, but its cultural and architectural trappings are mostly central European and southeastern European in tone, with an alien, alternate world touch here and there... | __Real world frame of reference:__ Melza is inspired by many European cities throughout history, but its cultural and architectural trappings are mostly central European and southeastern European in tone, with an alien, alternate world touch here and there... |
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| | ==== Ruteňa ==== |
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| | __Full name:__ Kingdom of Ruteňa\\ |
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| | __Type:__ Territorial state. Monarchy, with some constitutional elements, but mostly traditional. |
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| | __Demonym:__ Ruteňan, Ruten |
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| | __Description:__ Ruteňa is a sizable kingdom bordering Lengelia, Lesana and Ďamara in the east, the Hetmanate to the southwest, and Ursania in the west and northwest. Ruteňa's peoples have a shared history with Lengelia, the Hetmanate, Lengelia, Segalimia, and to a lesser extent Lesana and Ďamara. Ruteňa is a descendant of an older and even larger west Aporuean monarchy, whose capital was once dubbed "the Mother of Cities" (at least as far as west Aporue is concerned). Economically and militarily, Ruteňa is a blend of the older and the newer, with a somewhat more traditionalist undertone than many of the countries surrounding its territory. |
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| | __Real world frame of reference:__ The history and geography of the European region of Ruthenia, in today's Belarus, the eastern edges of Poland (Polesian Poland) and western Ukraine. Its most explicit real world inspiration is the Kingdom of Volhynia. |
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| ==== Rvača ==== | ==== Rvača ==== |
| __Real world frame of reference:__ The history of Croatia up until the mid-1800s and the historical lands of Croatia: Slavonia, Croatia proper and Dalmatia. | __Real world frame of reference:__ The history of Croatia up until the mid-1800s and the historical lands of Croatia: Slavonia, Croatia proper and Dalmatia. |
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| __City NPCs of Nobranan origins:__ | __City NPCs of Rvačan origins:__ |
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| | ==== Schaafenstein ==== |
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| | __Full name:__ Principality of Schaafenstein |
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| | __Type:__ Very small territorial state with one major city. A constitutional monarchy, though with a strong ruler. |
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| | __Demonym:__ Schaafenstein, Schaafensteinian, Schaafensteiner |
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| | __Description:__ A small country surrounded by tall mountains and a major local river, its small territory wholly surrounded by Karantia. Schaafenstein is often seen as an inoffensive, mostly rural little country, and is often used as a synonym for a tiny, amusing and somewhat old-fashioned monarchy that's in no hurry to anywhere. The Principality of Shaafenstein is a member of the Urban League, one of the later members to join. This almost didn't happen, as there were many legal disputes over whether Schaafenstein even fulfills the criteria of a city state, even its largest city being quite tiny and not disproportionately big compared to the other settlement. Ultimately, Schaafenstein was allowed entry, its doctors of law and the prince himself arguing that Melza and Kusdrova are also small territorial states, despite being Urban League members.\\ |
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| | __Real world frame of reference:__ Primarily the history and geography of the small [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liechtenstein|Principality of Liechtenstein]], between real world Austria and Switzerland (Karantia itself a rough equivalent to both aforementioned countries). The name of the principality is a nod to GeekhisKhan's old parodic timeline about Liechtenstein, //[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/leaves-in-the-wind-a-nano-tl.154637/|Leaves in the Wind]]//.\\ |
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| | __City NPCs of Schaafenstein origins:__ TBA\\ |
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| ==== Segalimia ==== | ==== Segalimia ==== |
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| ==== International Clubs and Organisations in Aporue ==== | ==== International Clubs and Organisations in Aporue ==== |
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| **The Urban League** (UL) - The League is an international organisation that focuses on bringing the city states of the Aporuean continent closer together in political and economic ties and cooperation. Most of the continent's city states are have membership in the League, but not all of them. | **The Urban League** (UL) - The League is an international organisation that focuses on bringing the city states of the Aporuean continent closer together in political and economic ties and cooperation. Most, but not all of the continent's city states have membership in the League. Melza is one of the founding members of the UL. Other current members include Kusdrova (south of Rvača, centered on coastal Kusdrovik), Genarla (northeastern coast of Montoverde), Agirdéle (southern coast of Nobrana), Schaafenstein (between Karantia and southern Lokytia) and several others. |
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| **International Measurements and Standards Compact** (IMSC) - The Compact is one of the economic and scientific international institutions that have taken up roots in Aporue during recent history. As its name straightforwardly implies, it oversees the adherence to internationally agreed upon physical properties for traded goods, and the usage of certain standardised or newly adopted measurement units in the mundane economy. | **International Measurements and Standards Compact** (IMSC) - The Compact is one of the economic and scientific international institutions that have taken up roots in Aporue during recent history. As its name straightforwardly implies, it oversees the adherence to internationally agreed upon physical properties for traded goods, and the usage of certain standardised or newly adopted measurement units in the mundane economy. |
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| **Aporuean Maritime Defence Alliance** (AMDA) - A diplomatic and military treaty organisation of the coastal countries of Aporue. Essentially offers a mutual cooperation agreement for the naval forces of the member countries. Some major members include Aethelia-Dumnonia, Nobrana, Segalimia, Montoverde. | **Aporuean Maritime Defence Alliance** (AMDA) - A diplomatic and military treaty organisation of the coastal countries of Aporue. Essentially offers a mutual cooperation agreement for the naval forces of the member countries. Some major members include Aethelia-Dumnonia, Nobrana, Segalimia, Montoverde. |
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| | **The International Blood Star** (IBS) - Founded by a Karantian of Nobranian origins, Denin Hurlant, after he witnessed the aftermath of a horrid battle. "The Blood Star" is a comprehensive medical aid organisation that aims to ease people' suffering in times of war as well as peace time. It has slowly grown into one of the more prominent and visible among newcomer international organisations. Taking its name after the Holy Star of the Faith of the Maker (also present in the coat of arms of Hurlant's hometown, in argent) and the colour of blood (as well as the colour of the field of the aforementioned coat of arms), the IBS now has branches in virtually every country on the continent. |
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| ==== Source ==== | ==== Source ==== |
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| **[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?p=9730912#post9730912|Basic Geography, Countries and Polities]]** | **[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/1/post-9730912|Basic Geography, Countries and Polities]]** |
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| (Last modified on September 28th, 2014, 04:49 PM.) | (Last modified on September 28th, 2014, 04:49 PM.) |
