Araphen
Jun 11, 2017 22:28:49 GMT -6
Post by Nayru Al-Saiduq on Jun 11, 2017 22:28:49 GMT -6
Overview
Originally a contender for the second strongest territory in Lycia after the mighty Ostia, Araphen bore much of the worst of the Bernese invasions; while it was powerful, it was no match for one of the mightiest armies of Elibe. By the time that Hargus had fallen and the Bernese aggression had finally and absolutely been crushed, Araphen's army and people alike had taken many losses. Energized by the ignominy of their defeat and the fear if it happening again, combined with their large size and a strong economy, the proud people of Araphen rebuilt with a single minded drive and perseverance that allowed them to recover far faster than they had any right to. However, the events of that war, showing how little their individual strength availed them against a superior foe, forced Araphen to accept that they could not rely solely on themselves; while nationalism still runs high in the territory, they moved to aid in the rebuilding of Thria and Khathelet as well, marches that had been devastated even worse than they and did not have the ability to rebuild so quickly.
In time, Araphen came back into its own - and with Ostia gone, utterly obliterated by the armies of the Prophet, its people see a chance for something more than merely the status quo. De facto head of a small league of northeastern Lycian states, with arguably the single strongest standing army in all of Lycia, and a military desperate to prove themselves after their failures against Bern, Araphen believes that it is the rightful, stable successor to Ostia. However, Araphen has never been a political superpower, lacking the manipulative skill of Laus or the intelligence network of Ostia, and so there seems to be no clear path to proving their worth. For the time being, Araphen spins its wheels, waiting for an opportunity to show its strength once more, while continuing to support its surrounding states and eyeing the Etrurian invasion of Sacae in particular with disdain given their historic ties to that neighboring country.
Military
Best known for their superheavy armored cavalry and durable infantry, Araphen favors overwhelming mounted force, using their legendary mounted knights to obliterate enemy lines while medium cavalry savages the flanks and horseback archers rain death -a strong reference to their Sacaen ties. Their infantry are also numerous and well trained, but usually used to complement the cavalry rather than the other way around - military tactics often revolve around a mix of 'hammer and anvil' tactics and blitzkrieg strikes with overwhelming force. They make very little use of mages and terraforming of any kind and could be considered relatively old fashioned and frankly uncreative tactically, though individual commanders vary. Notable for using English longbowmen-esque tactics as well - while individually they are definitely inferior to Pheraen archers, quantity is a quality all its own.
Unlike some territories, the knights of Araphen see regular duty throughout Araphen, Tania, and Khathelet alike, the collaborating territories hosting near-constant training exercises and the open borders agreement allowing Araphen's armed forces to aid in the pacification of bandit and monstrous threats alike. While both bandit and monstrous threats are fairly limited within the militaristic, nationalistic march, both as a result of its own brutal crackdowns as well as its relative distance from the real source in Ostia, they do exist to some degree.
All things considered Araphen is likely the single strongest standalone military in Lycia in a conventional war, but roughly tied with several others as a regional power due to mitigating factors.
Relationships
Originally a contender for the second strongest territory in Lycia after the mighty Ostia, Araphen bore much of the worst of the Bernese invasions; while it was powerful, it was no match for one of the mightiest armies of Elibe. By the time that Hargus had fallen and the Bernese aggression had finally and absolutely been crushed, Araphen's army and people alike had taken many losses. Energized by the ignominy of their defeat and the fear if it happening again, combined with their large size and a strong economy, the proud people of Araphen rebuilt with a single minded drive and perseverance that allowed them to recover far faster than they had any right to. However, the events of that war, showing how little their individual strength availed them against a superior foe, forced Araphen to accept that they could not rely solely on themselves; while nationalism still runs high in the territory, they moved to aid in the rebuilding of Thria and Khathelet as well, marches that had been devastated even worse than they and did not have the ability to rebuild so quickly.
In time, Araphen came back into its own - and with Ostia gone, utterly obliterated by the armies of the Prophet, its people see a chance for something more than merely the status quo. De facto head of a small league of northeastern Lycian states, with arguably the single strongest standing army in all of Lycia, and a military desperate to prove themselves after their failures against Bern, Araphen believes that it is the rightful, stable successor to Ostia. However, Araphen has never been a political superpower, lacking the manipulative skill of Laus or the intelligence network of Ostia, and so there seems to be no clear path to proving their worth. For the time being, Araphen spins its wheels, waiting for an opportunity to show its strength once more, while continuing to support its surrounding states and eyeing the Etrurian invasion of Sacae in particular with disdain given their historic ties to that neighboring country.
Military
Best known for their superheavy armored cavalry and durable infantry, Araphen favors overwhelming mounted force, using their legendary mounted knights to obliterate enemy lines while medium cavalry savages the flanks and horseback archers rain death -a strong reference to their Sacaen ties. Their infantry are also numerous and well trained, but usually used to complement the cavalry rather than the other way around - military tactics often revolve around a mix of 'hammer and anvil' tactics and blitzkrieg strikes with overwhelming force. They make very little use of mages and terraforming of any kind and could be considered relatively old fashioned and frankly uncreative tactically, though individual commanders vary. Notable for using English longbowmen-esque tactics as well - while individually they are definitely inferior to Pheraen archers, quantity is a quality all its own.
Unlike some territories, the knights of Araphen see regular duty throughout Araphen, Tania, and Khathelet alike, the collaborating territories hosting near-constant training exercises and the open borders agreement allowing Araphen's armed forces to aid in the pacification of bandit and monstrous threats alike. While both bandit and monstrous threats are fairly limited within the militaristic, nationalistic march, both as a result of its own brutal crackdowns as well as its relative distance from the real source in Ostia, they do exist to some degree.
All things considered Araphen is likely the single strongest standalone military in Lycia in a conventional war, but roughly tied with several others as a regional power due to mitigating factors.
Relationships
- Helped rebuild Tania after the Bernese war, which led to a strong alliance with the nearby territory. Tania provides a great deal of ore and their mastery of stoneworking in return for Araphen's stalwart protection and aid in military training. One of Araphen's closest allies and well liked among the territory.
- Khathelet is HEAVILY dependent on Araphen's goodwill for a number of reasons, but originally it was little more than a buffer state against the expansionist Laus. However, as Khathelet's economy continues to skyrocket, Araphen's ties to the once-ruined march have grown ever warmer, and by this point Khathelet's absolute dependence on Araphen's protection is only matched by the prodigious economic benefit that it now offers Araphen in return. It is also another source of ores and minerals to help outfit Araphen's armies. Khathelet is also a favored training ground for Araphen's armed forces.
- Tuscana and Araphen have a mediocre at best relationship; the weakness of Tuscana's marquess is seen as unforgivable by Araphen's people and nobility alike, but the desire for Tuscana's natural resources has led to a variety of simple trade agreements, with Araphen mostly sending food and occasional aid in turn. Tuscana's ties to Laus are what sours the relationship most, though.
- Bern is about as popular in Araphen as a turd sandwich. While the two territories are ostensibly at peace now, Bernese individuals who make their identity too obvious are unlikely to be especially popular in Araphen.
- Sacae and Araphen have a long-standing and fairly close relationship, perhaps the best Sacae has with any other territory. There is Sacaen blood in Araphen's royalty from previous marriages, and while the horsemen of each territory disagree heavily on the appropriate amount of armor to be worn, there are tactical similarities nonetheless. Unusually for Elibe, Araphen generally sees Sacaens positively and it is rare to face anti-Sacaen sentiments much less outright racism from its residents.