EAC flag worn on tright shoulder sleeves by EAC UNIT operatives
In reality with the condition of a number of the states in the EAC the current membership of the EAC UNIT is 5 dominated by Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
Kenyan Administrative Police Special Forces – a force supplying agents to EAC UNIT
Their remit is the same as 1980s British UNIT – alien,s, cryptids and other unusual phenomena. They tend not to get involved in witchcraft scares unless there are indications of alien activity. They operate in an environment where they can face interference and intimidation from groups such as the Russian STRAUSS mercenary group that gets hired for cryptid cases, Chinese intelligence link to belt and road initiatives, corrupt politicans, colonial powers snd the remnants of the War on Terror. There can also be tensions between the objectives of EAC UNIT and the National government supplying an agent.
Professor Alain Verlaine is a graduate of the famous University of Walkovia (Stadt 25) and is a friend of Eugene Varlin and Louis Blanqui from their student days. He was once a socialist firebrand and was tipped for a place in the new Government but instead opted for a life collecting and preserving the ancient history of the continent.
Ranging from the Barbarian North, via the Great Sand Sea to the Dorian Lowlands, Verlaine and his team scour the continent for sites of antiquity. The AEG have also been known to ‘liberate’ items hidden in private collections to be displayed for the benefit of all.
Verlaine’s Private Transport
The AEG comprise of Verlaine and a rotating number of archaeologists, some sign on for 6 months, but stay for 3 years, others leave after 3 months. A second group provide specialist knowledge of artifact location and the best way to acquire them. There is also a permanent ‘Security’ detachment for travel across dangerous areas as well as support for liberation activities.
The Security detachment is comprised of a platoon of Sikh warriors, bound to Verlaine and the AEG after they liberated a set of artifacts and treasures looted by Dexter Curragh (Stadt 20) for his private collection.
A family that slays together stays together. The Cranes are a clan of swamp dwelling sky pirates based in the Kufthaus Mere outside Gatorschloss
Old Kennedy Krane was a bank robber and bandit would ploughed his funds into building a sleet of flying boats and seaplanes that hide deep in the mere. He rules with an iron fist and is a brutal crackling sadist.
His brother Johnson Krane is the tactical genius that plans there raids. He is just happy with loot and interesting raids to plan.
A third brother Nixon Krane sorts all the logistics and repairs. He’d like to build more of a power base in the swamp with a view to taking over Gatorschloss but his brother doesn’t share his ambition.
Nixon, Kennedy and Johnson
They have a brood of children and grandchildren to various partners that gives them around 100 crew. They run a very lean operation stealing from ships off sure as well as Zeppelin and road convoys. To keep the peace with other neighbours in the swamp they distribute some of their loot.
AAI is the international trading arm of the Helix Fanily one of the great mining families of the smelting city of Wolfdorf. The Helixes under the inspiring leadership of Cornelia have not rested on their laurels but expanding into any industrial city they can through consortiums with local partners where they can to expand their operations.
They also have sales offices in less industrial stadts. This gives them a massive network of influence and intelligence. Which is handy because Cornelia is now old and ill and while still running the company from her death bed seeks eternal life and youth through the technology of the Ancients. Project Bathory is a secret mission of the company to acquire and research such technology at any cost.
Cornelia Helix
Her Grand daughter and Chief Executive Nina Helix follows her grandmother’s orders but would dearly love to take control of the company.
Nina Helix
Where permitted by local law AAI has its own armed security. It has its own transport fleet of Zeppelins, ships and trucks (all armed where allows.) It is a formidable opponent for any player characters with ancient tech or may (through cut outs) hire they to secure ancient tech from other collectors, universities or museums through skullduggery. It also engages in strike breaking and intimidation,
A Zeppelin borne circus – its heart is a Zeppelin Catamaran which houses the big top. It plies the skies visiting cities and isolated villages alike bringing fun and festivity to the citizens and subjects of Mitteleuropedia.
Smaller Zeppelins house performers like Samson the Strongman or exhibits like ‘the torture garden’ or animals (Alex the lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the giraffe, Gloria the dancing hippo and performing penguins skipper, kowalski and Private. There is also a troop of chimpanzees led by Caesar.) Various fairground rides are also carried by Zeppelins.
Madame Hauser is an elegant young woman – how she afforded all this infrastructure is a mystery. (She was in fact an infamous cat burglar ‘the Siamese’ who invested her gains with silent criminal partners into this front. She is calm, assured and always sizing up a mark.
Madame Hauser
A Clown Troop ‘Zeppo’s All Stars’ are also the pilots of the circuses escort fighters – a variety of craft painted in gay clown colours, polka pots, gingham etc;
Mister Jack/Sr Rosier
However the Circus contains a secret its ringmaster ‘Mister Jack’ is in fact corrupt mad scientist and plastic surgeon Dr Rosier he recruits criminals, surgically alters them and then Madame Hauser uses them in the Circus. Wheh the Circus visits a City it often will clash with an art exhibition or jewellery show and things will go missing to fly off with the circus on its next gig. Dr Rosier is also experimenting on the shows animals and is partially proud of something he calls ‘the Gruffallo’ which might be exhibited in the Torture Garden.
The Circus is also an excellent smuggling front, tool to escape the authorities (but what if Dr Rosier then wants to experiment on you ..)
(apologies to Circus of Horrors, Torture Garden, the Gruffalo and Madagascar)
Produces prodigious amounts of coal it exports up and down the cost – particularly to the railways.
As an island the power is a maritime race which has translated to a powerful navy and plentiful merchant marine,
What does the City import ?
Food and metals.
Define the City’s issues
As states move from coal to oil the cities exports are starting to dry up and come under price competition. Trade Unions are legal and have a say in the constitution but that creates tensions between different trades and professions lowering cultural co-herancy, On top and aside this allegiances many identify with their home Duchy of Nortvolk, Southervolk and Vestax leading to another source of division in the land. Poor management of mining waste has led to ‘the black waters’ fetid dead marshes of pumped mine fluids only for bandits and its rumoured ghosts. Food production has been lowered by this cavalier spoilage,
Define City’s leader / leadership (can use Tony Bath personality cards)
Before defining the Citiys leader a little on its constitutional arrangements.
There is a hereditary constitutional monarch inherited by the eldest male of the direct royal line. He a KonigCouncil of himself, the 3 Archdukes (of Nortvolk, Southervolk and Vestax), His Chancellor, the Archbishop Patriarch and Chair of the Allengres Insitute of Commerce.
However the KonigCouncil can officially only consider motions suggested by the Staatsboard another committee co-chaired by the Chancellor and one of the Archdukes on 3 monthly rotation – other voting members are Foriegn Minister, War Minister, Navy Minister, Air Minister, Home Minister, Minister for Health and Sanitation and Education Minister.
The Chancellor is a civil servant chosen by the unanimous decision of tge KonigCouncil. The Ministers etc are their appointments but subject to approval by the KomigCouncil on majority vote.
Non-voting but speaking members are the heads of the armed forces, Commissioner-General of the Gendarmarie, heads of the trade unions, professional bodies and the provincial bishops. Other non voting but speaking members can be invited at request,
The Staatsboard considers motions from ministries (which are often generated through machinations of KonigCouncil members.)
This means it takes a very long time to make decisions in Allengres and while not democratic everyone has kind of been included in the decision.
Leaders
King Gustav XI – moustachioed and bald King Gustav is a considered, thoughtful and kind monarch – trying his best to keep his feuding Dukes and other officials co-operating.
Edward, Duke of Southervolk – a huge bald bearded muscular man who tries to wear black. He has a deep bombing voice. He is contemptuous of Edmund and Edison and hopes for policies that get wealth out the city and into his rural agricultural lands. He was environmental clean ups and improvements and suppression of the trade unions who push for industrialisation.
Edmund, Duke of Nortvolk – Edmund is happy to live off his estates but thinks Allengres should have a overseas Enpire to this end he ventures various schemes and foriegn intrigues via mentees in the bureaucracy, He also illegal runs his own foreign policy with his own agents and schemers. He is a good looking if vacuous man.
Edison, Duke of Vestax – a quick witted and scarcastic little bespectacled man who owns the majority of the coal mines and lots of land in the capital. He considers Edward a backward dolt and Edmund a deluded schemer. Bigger building of industry in the City increasing demand for his coal and rents fur his urban property.
Chancellor Margret Heart – beleaguered public servant exhausted by balancing the egos in politics but scared to let go as dreads to think what will happen if she does.
Archbishop Patriarch Clement Satsuma – a warm charismatic churchman who calls for urban investment to ease the conditions for the poor. He is also in favour of moral crackdowns on birth control, law houses, gambling and public morality. He sees no contradiction between the tw positions.
Chair of the Allengres Insitute of Commerce Athelreda Danpak wants to see the state modernise but has a brusque manner that makes it hard to develop alliances to put her plans into operation. She is getting unceasingly frustrated and thinking how she could change the constitution of the Kingdom. Maybe with foreign or pirate help.
The City’s big cultural events or selling points ?
Motorcycle chariot races are an annual event when the armed forces, police, noble houses and trade unions all enter teams. They actually race around the City ring road with fans watching from balconies and windows.
Hans Bratch winning another race
More regular sporting occasions are soccer leagues with similar varied amateur teams playing every saturday,
What is the city’s infrastructure like ?
The City is ancient with ramshackle whattle and daub buildings pilled on each other next to more modern art deco building. There is no public transport but fly overs and a ring road and the bicycle the main transport for common people with taxis and chauffeured cars for the more prosperous.
The City has a coal power station and coal gas supplies and is well illuminated. The Cities water supply is partially polluted by mine cast offs and those who can buy bottled water from the water truck (with recyclable bottles and jars) than use the public supply.
What is the City nickname ?
the Turquoise isle,
What are the City’s inhabitants called ? any nicknames ?
Allengrenisans, Turquos
Any notable inhabitants ?
Hans Bratch, Champion Charioteer for the Coal Miners Union – broad shouldered, strong jawed and plain speaking Hans Bratch is a beloved source of gossip for the newspapers on the front and back pages.
Orlando Campbell, Republican agitator – a short wild eyed passionate agitator – while not harassed by the authorities he is very much disapproved of and considered something of a crank.
Orlando Campbell
Nev Campbell, radical theatre impresario (and sister of Orlando) – Nev is a wild eyed short passionate actor, director and impresario known for her adaptations of novels and poems which other directors who baulk at putting on the stage.
Nev Campbell
Jill Grummond, experimental musican – Jill is an intense leather trench coat wearing surrealist who puts the the music together for Nev Campbell’s spectaculars. Her 18 hour symphony only using ankle bells is an artistic tour du force or farce depending who you ask.
Doleen Parton, heartbreaker and gigilo – a smooth moustachioed charmer who schmoozes dowger duchesses and bored lady industrialists – he has information to sell to the right party.
What is the City Flag ?
White Dragon on a red background
How is the City policed ?
There is one Allengres Gendarmarie – a City Division and then three rural divisions. Staff are rotated every 2 years on a rolling basis to stop them getting corrupt or drawn into local politics and officers live in barracks until they obtain rank of sergeant when they can leave and get married, Arned with revolvers with shotguns. submarine guns and rifles carried by car patrols or mounted officers. .
They wear blue grey uniforms.
The largest branch of the City Divison is the traffic department who wear white covers on their headgear.
City Military
Royal Allengres Navy – battle ships, battle cruisers and escort craft – powerful surface fleet giving control of the Northern Black Ocean but vulnerable to aviation and submarines. The officer corps is dominated by Southervolk Duchy recruits but the ratings come from across Allengres. They wear grey uniforms
Allengres Army – is amphibious expeditionary force of light infantry and armoured cars intended to work in combined arms approach with the Air Force and Naval Gunnery Support. The Army has regiments from all three Duchies but the Officer Corps is dominated by Nortvolk lesser nobility. The Army is made up of single battalion regiments with their own traditions of dress and custom (i.e. Baron Cumbernald’s Own Stormtroopers or the Southervolk Lowland Lancers.)
Soldiers from Baron Cumbernald’s Own Stormtroopers and the Lower Lowmanry Jägers
Common uniform items are picklehauble spiked helmets and peakless field caps.
Royal Allengres Air Force -is an extensive force focused on ground support of the army the majority of its recruits come from the Vestax Duchy. They were green uniforms after a hussar pattern flying twin engined strike fighters.
The Commonwealth has a splendid Museum of the Ancients – the City itself being built on a set of catacombs that belonged to the Ancients. What they lack in practical understanding and application of ancient technology the Commonweath makes up for in presentation and narrative. The museum attracts visitors from across the globe either coming via rail or the coast road or via the cities impressive air port and airship terminus.
The neo-gothic edifice of the Aerport and airship terminus is secondary tourist resort in its own right. It has a extensive tax free shopping arcades and malls, bars, restaurants and lounges. As well as attracting visitors it is also popular point for layoffs and it is said spies use it as a place for clandestine meetings.
Many jobs in Genova are in the tourist sectors – hotels, food, drink, theatre and various festivals.
The Cities dominance over wide tracts of rural land and rivers with larger side than its neighbours give it an dominant position in the central black ocean region
Its most famous agricultural product is the Genovan pears as reflected in the national anthem.
Genova, the land I call my home, from the green clear summers to blossoming pear trees magnificent her mountains and seas, Genova, Genova, you’re noble, proud and brave Genova, Genova Forever will your banner wave!
Many of the restaurants feature traditional pear based desserts and pastries.
What does the City import ?
Being Heavy urbanised – despite its large rural hinterland and fishing fleet it needs to import food and most raw materials.
Define the City’s issues
The Common Weath Party has been administering the state for 39 years. The second generation of apparatchiks are embedded in place with privilege from their position. Rather than wrath being held in Common it seems state/party officials have first choice. This breeds resentment and to stem dissent the Party has been shutting down newspapers that don’t toe with party line,
Most business are private owned but utility and public services are owned by the state. Tax is heavy but the public services (child care, health, social care, public transport) is good. It can be hard to do business if you don’t have friends in the political bureaucracy to lessen the administrative burden.
Most workers wear plain overalls but party officials wear lavish outfits and a tendency to big hair.
typical Commonweath workers
Define City’s leader / leadership
Chairwoman Jekyll and Fred
Chairwoman Isla Jekyll of the executive council – she has marvellous energy for launching sundry policy initiatives but very little energy for following through so there are many policy announcements that bureaucrats delicately ignore until her attention is elsewhere.
She also has a pet Goose Frederick who accompanies her everywhere.
A positive thing about Isla is her desire to build of a local alliance of states against piracy and banditry combining the strengths and weakness of their different militaries. Though diplomatic meetings can be disrupted by Fred.
The City’s big cultural events or selling points ?
The Museum of Ancients a greco-roman edifice that then has multiple catacombs of exhibits under it deep into the bedrock of the City. The Museum has numerous special occasions throughout the year – a midnight openings in advent with light shows, easter egg hunts, a midsummer parade where exhibits are paraded on floats.
There are to add to the tourist appeal many festivals and conventions running in the city a Literary Festival, a Theatre Festival (and associated fringe), burlesque, comedy, circus, a Scientific Romance Convention (SciComRom) , Murder Mystery Convention (MurMystCon), Mitteleuropedia Police Convention and many more.
What is the city’s infrastructure like ?
Since the revolution the City has been centrally planned other than ‘old towns’ around the Theatre district and Aeroport the town is arranged on a grid system with wide boulevards running east to west intersected by narrower streets. Trams run on every second boulevard and state owned buses on every second street north to west. Bike ownership is subsidised and clouds of bikes glide across the City. Tourists are also encouraged to hire bikes for their stay (trams and buses have external bike racks.)
The City has a reliable electric and gas grid but supply is rationed out side the Museum and Arrport districts.
Another state owned enterprise is the Aerotransport Authority whollly owned by the Aerial Board of Control (air traffic control) – a fleet of transport zeppelins subsidised by the state giving the City some independence in transport supply.
What is the City nickname ?
House of relics
What are the City’s inhabitants called ? any nicknames ?
Genovans, Reliceepers
Any notable inhabitants ?
Sebatina Marcel -,The surprisingly young Director of the Museum of the Ancients – archaeologist turned organiser – plans spectaculars to keep the tourists coming – ruthless in defending her budget and people. It is between her, Stolly and Walnut for who would replace Jekyll. She sees the air transport industry as serving tourism and would want to ensure even greater attractions in the City to attract visitors,
Sebatina Marcel
Nikolai Chorizo – President of the Aerial Board of Control – a placeholder apprachnik namely appointed to stop Walnut and Stolly finally falling out. Nice but dim – but wise enough to take advice.
Nikolai Chorizo
Dimitri Stolly – Director of the Aerotransport Authorityhard drinking, hard swearing, opportunity grabbing, intriguing boss who is a more capitalist state would be a Corporate Baron. He would definately free the economy to more private enterprise (from his rich friends in more capitalist states.)
Dimitri Stolly
Warren Walnut – Director of the Aerport and Airship terminus – dedicated administrator who runs the Aerport like a military vessel. Despises Dimitri Stolly as a drunken capitalist buccaneer. He favours return to revolutionary values. He does run from within the Aetport staff his own intelligence network spying on the spies using the facility and gathering a treasure trove of intelligence and back mail – indeed much of the public spaces of the ‘port are bugged.
Warren Walnut
Augustus Bloodwort – Imperassio, Actor and adventurer – duelist, lover, star of stage and silver screen (is he a spy ? maybe) (Apologies to Megadumbcast’s Chris here.) He hates the lost of theatre talent to the movie industry in Formsvien on the west coast.
Augustus Bloodwort
Cardinal Patriarch Gurtlich Gold – senior churchman mumbles mild condemnation of the state from the pulpit.
Cardinal Golf
Director of Public Safety Taylor Street maintains a strictly neutral stance which has enabled her to survive in post through the whole post revolution period / the stress of this has led to a furtive affair with Cardinal Golf (who is supposed to be celibate.) She rarely appears in uniform.
Taylor Streer
General Karla Volvo leads the New Model Army – she disapproves of the Chairwoman’s foreign policy – she considers nearby cities are a threat and will be using anti bandit co operation as a chance to spy. She has an estranged twin sister who is a member of the Sisters of the Sands.
General Karls Volvo
What is the City Flag ?
Hammer and plow in yellow on a red background
How is the City policed ?
Genova Department of Public Safety
Constables wear a light blue version of military battle dress with a blue soup bowl helmet or fore and aft forage cap and a yellow aiguillette. They are typically unarmed but can be issued with pistols, rifles and batons.
The ranks are Probationary, Constable, Sergeant, Inspector, Chief Inspector, Superintendent , Chief Superintendent, Commander, Deputy Assistant Director and Director of Public Safety.
Plainclothes detectives are called agents and the ranks agent, special agent, Assistant Special Agent in Charge , Special Agent in Charge, Captain, Bureau Leader, and then Commander etc;
hello hello hello
City Military
All forces are branches of the New Model Army
Every adult citizen18-50 does a month basic training followed by a one days training a week and a two week camp in the military.
Every 5th year of service (23,28,33,38,43,48) you spend 6months called to the Ironsides the precise role depends on fitness and civilian career. This means the GPFs frontline forces have a different age demographic to many conscript armies.
The Mobile Forces (or ‘Ironsides’) are truck borne infantry and light armoured cars designed to deter bandits and attackers.
The Reserve Forces are called into County (country) or District (urban) battalions and companies of infantry. They have lots of machine guns and mortars – initially they are meant to fight as a static defence and if that fails break into resistance bands.
The elite of infantry of the Air Mobile Forces designed to be dropped from gliders carried by Aerotransport Authority Zeppelins which would be pressed into service. The AMF also act as security / marines and on Aerotransport Authority ships.
The Marine Force is one of fast patrol boats there are no ‘marines’ as in naval infantry per se.
The professional Air Defence Forces are devoted to air superiority flying biplane fighters.
The universal uniform is composed of a fairly streamlined short jacket of wool serge that buttoned to the outside of high-waisted wool serge trousers. The sleeves of the jacket had a forward curve built into them so that they were more comfortable to wear prone, shouldering a rifle, or seated holding a steering wheel for instance, although they tend to show multiple wrinkles near the inside of the elbow when the soldier’s arms were held straight at the sides. On the trousers, there is a large map pocket on the front near the left knee and a special pocket for a field dressing near the right front pocket (on the upper hip).
One problem, the gap between the blouse and trousers opens up in extreme movement and buttons popped, so braces were issued; in some cases a sweater was worn. A woollen shirt was typically worn under the wool jacket. Wearing an open collar jacket (with tie) was initially restricted to officers, other ranks buttoning the top button of the jacket and closing the collar with a double hook-and-eye arrangement. Short webbing anklets cover the gap between the trousers and the ankle boots, further adding to the streamlined look and keep dirt out of the boots without having to use a taller, more expensive leather boot.
The AMF wear light blue berets.
A soup bowl helmet is commonly worn by all arms in combat.
Nebay sits on top of an oil field, which, if correctly tapped, could produce over 100,000 barrels per day for the next 75 years. The challenge is that most of the reserve lies under the Black Sea and it would take a feat of engineering to tap in to it fully.
What does the City import ?
As it is, around a 1000 barrels per day are being produced.The City sits on a knife edge of being self sufficient for its small population and utter disaster if one crop fails or one factory closes.
City’s leader / leadership
The Synod of Faiths – a coalition government formed by a PR vote across the City Wards. The ‘Official Candidates’ are all members of the religious communities and tend to remain set on policies agreed decades before. Few outside of the Faith backed lists have any chance of being selected as the ‘faithful’ are directed to vote for their own candidate(s).The Stadt has been declining in population for many years, leaving it with the population of a large town. City status is maintained by the presence of the Basilica of St Cecelia, the Grand Mosque of Istar, the Synagogue of the Faith and numerous smaller religious buildings. The City has been set on a plan for the last 30 years to build a Temple of Reconciliation, which will be home to all faiths. It is estimated that it will take at least another 30 years for the Temple to be completed.
City’s issues
The City suffers from a shortage of manpower to both defend its vital location and produce goods and services. At any one time, the standing army may only have 20% of its forces available. The Navy mainly sits in port, with the occaisional foray on excercise due to the same issues
The unpopularity of the government, though democratically elected in proportion to the faith of the populace, has accelerated the move away of the more ‘liberal’ citizens and their families to other cities where your hairstyle or what you eat on a Friday isn’t a source of persecution. Corruption is a daily grind, multiple bribes being required to get through any average transaction with officials.
How is the City policed ?
The Credo – Militias organised into units which police particular areas of the city. Utterly corrupt and will enforce fines ( bribes ) for any minor distraction from the Law, real or imaginary. They also brutally enforce some of the more draconian laws ( beard length / popular music / role playing games ) when it suits the Synod to crack down. This fuels the unpopularity of the Government and the general migration away from the City.
Credo Uniform: Well made suits, with a sash of colour tied around the waist. A white key pinned to the top pocket. Cavalry trousers tucked into high oxblood boots, with steel toecaps. Armed with a sturdy baton for common use and a revolver for backup.
What are the City’s big cultural events or selling points ?
The Driving the Last Spike ceremony is celebrated annually and multiple religious festivals mean a celebration is only weeks away from the last one
Any notable inhabitants ?
Yarkae I Tabbaal – Musician and Poet
Take I Tabbaal
Aleksandar Živojinović – Writer and Philosopher
Dr. Karl Zbourg – Theologist and scholar
Dr Zbourg with assistant
What are the City’s inhabitants called ? any nicknames ?
God Botherers / God Learners
Call themselves Nebs ( sometimes appended with a faith colour ) i.e. Neb Blue are Lutherpalians, Neb Greens are Catholic, etc.
Flag
white key on a dark blue cross, against a light blue backgroundThe Key – after the Synod’s Book The Keys to Enlightenment, copies of which are distributed in all schools, workplaces, hotels and places of worship, as well as it’s key position s port and railhead.
What is the City nickname ?
What is the City’s infrastructure like ?
Ramshackle. The decline in population and the focus on religious buildings has left the Stadt in a state of disrepair.
City Military
20,000 (ish) eligible population 12,000 Army 6,000 Navy 500 Air Force 500 River PatrolArmy 2 Brigades of 5,000 101st Infantry Brigade 1st Guards Regiment – “Marfeil” 13th Regiment – “Dumah” 17th Regiment – “Beburos” 201st Cavalry Brigade 72nd Lancers – “Barbiel” 73rd Lancers – “Baraqiel” 80th Regiment – “Saureil” 2 Regiments of 1,000 301st Artillery Regiment – “Matriel” 401st Mobile Batallion – “Ananiel”Infantry are well equipped squads of 15 men, 10 regular infantry and a support section of 5.
Regular Infantry are equpped with Carbines, a casque adrian helmet and well crafted uniforms, a cuff band in black and gold indicates the name of the regiment.
The Support Squad is equipped with the same basic equipment, but also act as crew for a support weapon eg LMG x 2 / HMG / Mortar In rare cases, the Support Squad consists of two sniper teams and an Observation Officer
Cavalry are issued with Carbines, but will first use Lances / Sabres, in an absence of common sense. Uniform is similar to the Infantry due to a lack of production facilities. They are essentially used as mobile infantry, once the outcome of sabres versus machine guns became obvious.
Weaponary
The Artillery Regiment are moving away from horse drawn large calibre guns, to lighter ‘Jeep portible’ models in the 2 Pounder range. The older, larger guns are being emplaced to provide some defense of the harbour and railhead.
The Mobile Regiment was formed with some armoured cars and small Pz II type tanks and is seen as the upstart of the military. However, with an oil processing centre, mechanisation may be the way forward for all branches.
uniform outlines
Navy Battleship Apollyon – 950 Crew Battleship Zazel – 950 Crew Uthra Class Destroyers x 5 – 1,000 Crew Watcher Class Frigates x 10 – 2,000 Crew ( inc Marines ) Fleet Auxiliary – 1,000 CrewAir Force 2 Squadrons Light Fighters / Reconnaissance 1 Squadron Heavy Fighters 1 Squadron of Seaplanes ( Mixed ) 1 Squadron of Light / Torpedo Bombers
Irma was the daughter of a bandit chieftain, long since brought to justice, who rampaged on the Bisonplan. From a young age she was a keen naturalist and botanist and when her father was brought to justice she was adopted by a wealthy Mittelthal family having the best education. She became well versed in the creatures and terrain of the great sand sea. Her adopted parents lost their wealth in the machinations of Mittelthal politics and Iram as a young adult has had to fend for herself.
A keen shot, and with her knowledge she acts as a guide, safari mistress and expedition leader for both scientific outings and thrill seeking game hunters. Her particular expertise is the liminal area between the Bisonplan and the Great Sand Sea but she’ll work anywhere in the Mid-West.
Despite her youth she is a confident and resolute leader, with a compassion for animals. Even on hunting expeditions she will not tolerate cruelty or excess or an animal being left to suffer. Her practical knowledge exceeds much book learning of academics who think they know better and she has earned respect and tolerance from bandit groups.
In the Zorba mountains live four warring bandit gangs which descend on motorcycle combinations from their highland camps to raid caravans , hamlets and homesteads in the surrounding area.
Named Klephts after their signature pit barbecue dish of kleftiko slow roasted meat in sealed pit to avoid the attention of pursuing armies and air forces.
The Klephts are descended from a mix of expelled revolutionaries, rejected nobles and royalties formed into a stew of bandits. There are four major bands.
The Pen Gwyn (the white heads.)
Morganna Penderran
A minority linguistic group who lost land from changes in surrounding Cities and fled to the mountains they are now a few dozen families – loyal to their hereditary Headwoman Morganna Penderran. They stay separate from the the other klephts, private and aloof – their raids focused principally on food, fuel and ammo,
Daughters of the Scarlet Moon
Frederika Von Starbeck
An all female band of Klephts – while Mitteleuropedia is much more equal society than say 1930s earth with women in the military, politics and business there are still incidences of domestic violence and coercive behaviour. The Daughters of the Scarlet Moon was formed by a band of abuse survivors as a safe haven as it grew and strengthened it turned to banditry to survive. Frederika Von Starbeck a former cavalry captain took leadership and certain rules were established. They taken anyone who identifies as a woman. Transgressions of rules – bullying, sexual violence etc are punished by exile under threat of death (and the exiles are branded with a crescent on their forehead.) Children are taken in but sons are exiled ((without branding) when 16.)
Their raids are extensive and meticulously planned – they use an autogiro for scouting. and have a network of women who return in and out of the world as spies.
They hate and despise the Gallows Men and skirmish constantly.
The Gallows Men
Count Ivan Kleissburg
Count Ivan Kleissburg was hung as a traitor to his city of Formsvien. He survived – awaiting his second hanging he escaped stole a plane and flew into the Great Sand Sea. Crashing he survived trekking the desert and got to the Zorgs. There he found other scraps of bandits – the worse scumbags, escaped prisoners and the like and forged them through his iron will into an army.
His assembled terrors make up in ferocity and viciousness what they lack in tactical execution. They use hardy mountain pony’s as well motircycke combinations and grab ostentatious wealth. The Count has ambitions to form a true army and conqueror neighbouring city states.
However he can’t even deal with the Daughters of the Scarlet Moon.
The Anarchocaps
Comrade Anton Hauser
These Klephts are an anarchist commune – they vote on decisions, form committees for essential tasks (camp maintenance etc.) Their spokesman is the intense and charismatic Comrade Anton Hauser.
anarchocaps flag
They ideologically dispute the gender exclusionary policies of the Daughters of the Scarlet Moon but remain cordial with them. They hate the Gallows Men but leave them alone while they pursue their own agenda they are in contact with anarchist groups across Mitteleuropedia and target their raids where possible against the upper classes, big business and too assist their comrades in other anarchist groups
They fly their ancient mongoose flag from their bikes and often wear red and black.
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