This is also the final blog post of 2017; with the next two weeks being Christmas and New Years respectively normal service will resume on Monday 8th Jan. A two week long break will hopefully mean fair progress will be made on the Kickstarter related content. In the mean time, Happy Holidays for whatever you celebrate at this time of the year.
The Coalition
The Coalition was once the United Provinces and lies to the west and south of the Tyland Free State. Like alot of other nations, the Coalition is a radically different nation to what it was when the Great Darmonican War started. The United Provinces was a nation who's lifeblood was trade and coin flowed freely, drawing traders and mercenaries alike. Mercenaries in particular did well on United Provinces contracts guarding trade convoys, especially when the war broke out.
The United Provinces' last ruler, King Francis IV, constantly worried about his nation being dragged into the conflict and placed restrictions on the export of war materials. The King reasoned long as his nation sold basic foodstuffs and some luxury goods to the various warring factions then he couldn't be accused of favouring any particular side. Problem was that a number of rich merchants and big businesses, whom effectively controlled the United Provinces Council (the nation's legislative body), didn't see it that way. The Council passed a Motion of No Confidence in the King and effectively exiled him. The Council also removed the King's restrictions on exports and some business regulations to improve the profit margins of the business interests that backed the Council.
These days the Coalition is a highly capitalistic nation where all the power resides in the various corporations that still hold sway over the Council. Factories and worker's tenant blocks, plastered with corporate posters, dominate the various towns and cities. Rural areas tend to be filled with either corporation own farms or the country estates of high ranking managers. Small businesses exist, though are connected to the big corporations one way or another. The more independent entities tends to be shopkeepers, though even they have to do business on the corporations' terms.
Each corporation has its own militia and agents to protect its interests, especially interests that lie outside of the Coalition. There are a few 'national' organisations such as the police and military. The Coalition Police perform the same job as their counterparts in other nations, though cases and/or crimes that affect a corporation tends to be handled by that corporation. The military is split into three branches; army, navy and air force. It is tasked with defending the Coalition, though some corporations think that extends to safeguarding their assets and some even have high ranking officers on their payroll. Other organisations of note include the External Audit Department which acts as a national intelligence service and the Assets Retention Bureau that recovers stolen Coalition property.
Every day life in the Coalition is comparable to other nations, though money and, to a degree, skill plays a part in your standing in society. There is a basic education system designed to ensure that the lower classes/workers are able to read, write and follow instructions. For those from the lower classes that prove to be gifted there are colleges where they can learn more technical skills for specialist trades. Children of management level citizens receive a much higher standard of education which includes preparing them for leadership roles, they also have guaranteed places for universities. Those from less well off background can still go to university, though typically it requires getting a scholarship.
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