Geopolitics Roleplay

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Celestinism: - A Religion enforced by law for all citizens of Celestinia. The Holy Books of Celstinism say that the people of the Celestial Empire were descended from the stars, a tribe of Peoples that were taller and broader in frame then any of the other inhabitants of the planet. The Proto-Celestinians were said to have arrived on the planet with naught but a golden cross, which has been since adopted as the symbol of the religion.

The Tenets of Celestinism are rather strict and regimented. For example, the Holy Books state that each gender has separate roles assigned for it. Men are typically preachers, prophets, leaders and other positions of authority. Women are expected to fulfill a more supportive role. Housewives, civil service, social work etc. However, as Military is a key part of Celestinian culture, Women may join the military, but are rarely given frontline positions.

Celestinism is a very militarist religion, preaching ideals of "All under the Celestials is Celestinian." Giving followers of the religion a more aggressive disposition to other religions and cultures. Whilst Crusades are no longer the norm for the religion in the 20th century, Celestinian Authority and Superiority is still highly promoted. Rulership is generally seen as Divine Right, and the Imperial House of Celestinia is thought to be descended from the first Proto-Celestinians, as the leader of the tribe.

Despite the Religion's Gender role focus, one of the tenets of Celestinism is to have respect and protection for the opposite sex, as one cannot continue without the other. The idea of "For a goal, another idea is often needed." is most likely the most peaceful part of the religion, to have respect and admiration for another who follows the true faith, and respect for different interpretations of the Holy Books are encouraged, provided they don't go against the commandments of the Religion.

Most of early Celestinian History is only described in the Religion's Holy Books, as a race of tall, broad humanoids with a fervent desire to spread their faith. Records began around 500 BCE, as a large feudal kingdom, that had dominated all the surrounding tribes to form the first nation of Celestinia. For almost 1000 years, the Celestinians embarked on brutal crusades in the surrounding land, either killing or converting anything that moved. Most of these crusades are only noteable for how unprepared the enemy was for the arrival of the 6-foot, fanatical warriors, clad in full plate with giant swords as big as a human being, which could cleave a knight in two with one swing.

 Until the year 1532 CE, the Celestinians dominated anyone they came across. This came to an end during the Last Great Crusade, where the Celestinian Empire fought against the similarly sized Empire of Ryudinia. It was a long, brutal war with hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides, with an estimated death toll around one million. Unfortunately, the war ended in 1565 CE, where Celestinia was annexed into the Ryudinian Empire. The reason for the loss was twofold. One, the Celestinian equipment was oudated. They carried giant swords wearing extremely heavy armor, and couldn't catch up to the more lightly armored Ryudinians. On top of that, the heavy armor was easily dealt with by the Ryudinian Matchlock weapons, handheld cannons that killed with a single shot, and penetrated almost any armor. The initial Matchlocks weren't strong enough to penetrate the armor of a Holy Sepulcher, who were the frontline heavy infantry of the Celestinians, which led to initial success in the war. But with more innovations in Matchlock design, the bullets were sturdy and fast enough to penetrate right through the heavy steel plates and the Celestinians, unable to adapt to the change, found themselves on the losing end of the war. However, it would take nearly 30 more years to fully defeat the Celestinians, as their unrelenting fervor made them almost impossible to break on the battlefield. Eventually, after the bloodiest war in Celestinian history until The Great War, the country was annexed into the foreign empire after they made a desperate last stand at the Holy City of Rodnatsia.

Over the next 350 years, Celestinian culture and religion was repressed in favor of Ryudinian value, and the region would act as the secondary Ryudinian Manpower reserve, keeping the area geared for war, but not for defence as it was not expected for an attack to come through the harsh climate of the region. Celestinian soldiers were primarily used as shock troops and heavy infantry, due to their natural strength and bloodthirstiness. Over time many separatist movements took hold of the country, but all were eventually put down, until a final separatist movement during the Great War. The Triple Alliance sent a surprise attack into Celestinia which was met by minimal resistance, due to both most of Celestinia's armed population miles away in trenches, and the liberty desire of the people at home. Eventually the war ended in favor of the Triple Alliance, and the Celestinians were devastated. It is said every single family in the country were missing at least one family member from the war. Anti-Ryudinian sentiment reached extreme levels, but before any rebellion could start, the Ryudinians offered to give independence to Celestinia, ceding all pre-annexation land to the Celestinians except for the Holy City of Rodnatsia. Begrudgingly, Theodoric I Valeria, who claimed to have descended from the leaders of ancient Celestinia accepted the offer, and in 1919 CE, independence was once again granted to the newly proclaimed Holy Celestial Empire.

Perhaps obviously, many radical Celestinians were unhappy with Theodoric's complacency to give up the Holy city, where 354 Years ago the Celestinian Royal Guard had made a desperate last stand in the city, to let the Emperor of Celestinia escape into exile. None of the 500 Royal Guard survived the stand, and the battle was considered monumental in Celestinian History. On December 15th 1919 Emperor Theodoric I was assassinated by a radical. He was promptly buried at the Valerian Mausoleum in Honoria, where millions attended his funeral. Now, his 18 year old son Theodoric II has taken the throne. Popular with the Army for his involvement during the end of the war at age 16, but not popular with the clergy and conservatives for his progressive stance on female involvement in the empire's management, he will have to make some hard decisions.