Hawkwick

The High Kingdom of Hawkwick and the Körpergroße
The High Kingdom of Hawkwick and the Körpergroße Hawkwick
	Motto: "Krif voth ahkrin, fah nii fen kos dinok."; "Fight with courage, for it will be death."
	Anthem: "Kul do Faal Skar."; "Son of The Hawk."
	Hawkwick's location in Satius.
Capital	Volunruud
Largest city	Rokir
Official languages	English, Skarzul, Altic
Recognised regional languages	Gothic, Frisian, Old English
Ethnic groups	Hawkwickan (95.65%), Heimarn (4.26%), Vand (0.09%)
Demonym	Hawkwickan
Government	Semi-Constitutional Monarchy
Constitutional Monarchy
Area
Population
GDP (PPP)	2013 estimate
HDI (2013)	0.944; very high
Currency	Lions (USD)
Time zone	Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Date format	D/M/YYYY
Calling code	+421
Internet TLD	.hw

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The The High Kingdom of Hawkwick and the Körpergroße (pronounced /hɒkwɪk/) or Skalvik in Skarzul is a developed nation of approximately 140 million inhabitants situated in the north-east of the western continent of Satius. The nation of Vandinium lies to the southwest, with the nations of Makarna and Cosmosplosion to the west and southwest, respectively. Due to its location on the Hlymrek Peninsula, Hawkwick borders both the Gulf of Hawkwick and the Northern Ocean.

Hawkwick is noted as one of the main influences on northern (insert continent name) history, due to frequent invasions and migrations to other areas of the region from either the Altberg Empire, or it's rival, the High Lordship of Eldengarde, throughout history. After the two empire's unlikely unification in 1394 CE by dual-heir and founder of Hawkwick, High King Ragnar Ulfbert, also known as "Vokun" to the Eldenheim, Hawkwick entered an era of stability, which ended in the Splinter Era, during which several warring factions fought for control of the Dragon Throne, in the ancient capital of Volunruud. In 1624, the Kingdom of Hawkwick was restored. Today, Hawkwick once again enjoys relative internal stability. One of Audax's major powers, Hawkwick is the chief exporter of sweets and luxury cars worldwide and one of Audax' chief weapons manufacturers. Hawkwick is also one of the leading producers of clean-energy in Audax, with an estimated 53% of it's power provided by non-fossil fuel sources.

History

Most historians agree that the original Hawkwickan ethnic group, the Kodiist, originated in the Hlymrek area around 4000 BCE, after several large tribes converged together. The Kodiist founded a city on the location of modern-day Hlymrek, called Forelhost. From this hill fortress, the Kodiist spread east, eventually sailing across the gulf to found Rorik, and then their great capital, Volunruud, far to the south of Rorik. Eventually, the Kodiist split into two groups around 2000 BCE, when some migrated west, establishing the city of Eldbjorg. Over time, the groups slowly spread apart, and eventually, by 500 BCE, there were two distinct ethnic groups in Hawkwick, the Eld, which consisted of the remnants of the Kodiist, and the Alt, which derived from the founders of Eldbjorg, now known as Altberg. The Eld continued ruling from the Dragon Throne in Volunruud and re-established the splintered Kodiist kingdom, and with it the High Lordship of Eldengarde, while the Alt, known also as the Altics, ruled from Altberg Fortress, situated in central Altberg.

Kensejunarr (421 BCE - 70 CE)

Due to ideological and minor religious differences, as well as the Eldengardians having a strong claim on all of the Kingdom of Altberg, the first conflict between the two factions started in 421 BCE when the Kingdom of Altberg attempted to expand to Blackhorn Island, a land previously claimed and inhabited by Eldengardian warrior cults. This conflict, now known as the Diistkensejunarr, or "First War of Kings". The war lasted until 397 BCE, when the King of Altberg was assassinated, sending the various factions within the Kingdom of Altberg, most of which were controlled by the former King of Altberg's sons, into a civil war. Eldengarde, crippled from the war, took this bout of peace as a chance to rebuild, and began fortifying their borders. The Kingdom of Altberg collapsed in 396 BCE, with the deaths of all of King Harhold Jorall's sons, and out of it's ashes rose the Altberg Empire, controlled by the Hørenhelm dynasty. In 386 BCE, the new empire attempted to reconcile with their Eldengardian forefathers, but to no avail, as the Harbinger of Eldengarde, Hjalti II, stood by his nation's claim to Altberg, and demanded the Altbergians bend the knee.

An Eldenheim Spearman depicted around 80 BCE

This led to a long period of high tensions between the two kingdoms. Assasinations, blackmail, infiltration, and espionage were frequent. This period of tension exploded in the Ziistkensejunarr, the "Second War of Kings". The war is still in the top most destructive Hawkwickan wars in history, numbering approximately 1.3 million deaths, 2.23 million displaced, and 2.15 million driven to poverty, out of 35 million Hawkwickans. The war's final battle was fought in 347 BCE, around Rorik. During the Battle of Rorik, Eldengardian Harbinger Gaarsaviik was killed in personal combat with the Altbergian Prince and Heir, Stundarr Hørenhelm. With Gaarsaviik dead, the Eldgardians were thrown into disarray and driven from their lands, eventually retreating to the Forelhost Peninsula, and it's city, which they fortified, and renamed Hlymrek, after the newly elected Harbinger. Meanwhile, the Altbergians continued to expand, taking the city of Ostwind from several Kavalan trading republics in the south, and expanding north onto Luftberg, where the Altbergian Emperors set up their retreat and estate, Nordschloss. After his father's death, Stundarr Hörenhelm, revolutionized the empire, introducing consistent currency, plumbing, easy water access, and even public baths in some areas. Despite the acquisition of Volunruud, Altberg continued to be the capital of the Empire. At it's second-largest extent in 100 BCE, the Altberg Empire stretched from Luftberg to Ostwind, and from the Koepergrosse to Rokir.

During this time, the Altbergians had turned a blind eye to Eldengarde, thinking that their lands were not worth invading, and that the Hlymrek peninsula had become barren and desolate. In 24 CE, the Eldengardians united under a new leader, Vulonir, "The Night Hunter". Vulonir used Eldengarde's navy to invade the Altberg Empire from several locations, and initiated the Siidkensejunarr, the "Third War of Kings", or as some still call it "The Great Hunt". For nearly fifty years, the Eldengardians relentlessly attacked the Altberg Empire, managing to retake Volunruud and Rorik. In 70 CE, Vulonir was killed by an Altbergian assassin, while visiting a marketplace in Volunruud. The Third War of Kings ended, but the factions were once again on equal ground.

Growth Era (70 CE - 1392 CE)

Eventually, Vulonir's successor, Yunzaak, successfully reconciled with the Altberg Empire over a period of several years. In 179 CE, the Altbergians, now with a trading partner on their east, decided to expand elsewhere. Altbergian colonists successfully spread to the plentiful farmland directly south of Ostwind, bringing a much needed surge of crops to the two empires. In 300 CE, the Order of Traders was established in Rokir, bringing much needed wealth and resources from all over the world into the city, and greatly expanding it. This lead to what is known as the "Growth Era", due to the rapid expansion of both Eldenheim and Altic ethnic groups throughout the continent. Around 900 CE, one branch of Altic colonists originally from Altberg went on to the land of Heimar, where they mingled with the local Nordic population. The Eldenheim colonized Sofia Island, and discovered the western continent, while the Altberg Empiire launched invasions into both Vandinium and Artstotszka in the early 1100s, both to some degree of success as the remaining invaders began to colonize, or in Vandinium's Case, merge with the populations of, the two areas.

Despite the booming relations between the two nations, the Eld still held a claim to all of the Altberg Empire, even if it was seldom mentioned and never enforced. This changed in 1371 CE, when newly-elected Eldenheim Harbinger Hakonor decided to bring his claim directly to the Empress of Altberg, Jorva IV, and with it demand that they return to their rightful place. As Hakonor entered the throne-room in Altberg, the Empress was ordering her men to execute her father's bastard son, and next in line to the Altberg throne, Eldenheim-raised Ragnar Ulfbert, also known as "Skal", or "Hawk". When Hakonor entered, he distracted the guards, and, as his meeting was unannounced, surprised most of the retainers within. In an event now known as "The Maltiid", Ulfbert wrestled one of his distracted guards to the ground, retrieved his longsword, and dispatched him. In this confusion, the Harbinger's men drew their swords, taking Ulfbert's actions as a threat. This caused a chain reaction, and a skirmish broke out in the throne room between the Harbinger's warriors and the Queen's guards. As the queen turned to flee the throne room to safety, Ulfbert plunged his longsword into the queen's head, killing her instantly. He then turned his attention to the skirmish, which had regressed into a one-on-two fight between two guardsmen and the Harbinger. Ulfbert picked up another sword, and threw it at the group, reportedly hitting one of the soldiers in the back and bringing him down. As the Harbinger dispatched the last guard, the throne room's remaining reunite looked on as the duel between the two remaining members began. That day, Ragnar Ulfbert defeated Hakonor in single combat, and by Eldenheim custom became the next Harbinger. As he was already next in-line to the throne of Altberg, in 1392, for the first time in thousands of years, the two tribes were unified once again. the The new state was from then on known as the High Kingdom of Hawkwick, named after Ulfbert himself.

Einheit Era (1394 CE - 1567 CE)

Ragnar Ulfbert's March to Volunruud

With The Hawk at it's helm, the Altbergian Army immediately marched to Volunruud for a proper coronation. In Volunruud, the Elders named Ragnar Ulfbert I "Vokun", therefore abolishing the Order of Harbingers, and proclaiming Ulfbert King of Altberg and Eldengarde and Lord of Blackhorn. Under Ulfbert's rule, the new Kingdom of Hawkwick flourished from the combined resource yield of the two former rivals. In 1400, a large festival was held in Volunruud, where the High King announced the next territorial expansion of the Kingdom, the large island of Xelghast, where several trading ports were founded. Ulfbert also introduced English, a language distantly related to Altic that he had learned while adventuring abroad, and designated it the official court language of the nation. This enabled the language barrier between the two empires to slowly begin dissolving. Ulfbert's forces also established new castles in Vipura, consolidating Hawkwick's power in the upper landmass while also reclaiming and rebuilding the Luftberg retreat. During this time, Hawkwickan explorers discovered Moreland, Franco-Tyskland, and the similar Teutonic Union. Despite the growth, Hawkwick's fragile military presence in east Artstotszka, a remnant of the Altberg Empire, came to an end in 1410 with Artstotszkan Independence, although some say that it was willingly given up by Ulfbert.

Despite the new kingdom, the culture and religion of the two former kingdoms remained distinct, and at the dual-blooded Ulfbert's supposed death in 1442, his only known son, Alfarin, gained the throne, proving much less unifying and a much weaker ruler than his father, and barely managing to hold power amid his vassals' quarrels. After his death at Hlymrek Castle in 1446, his half-sister, and Ragnar Ulfbert's first daughter, Ava the Greater, took over the Empire, managing to swiftly restore order to the vassals upset by Alfarin's rule before any escalation could occur. The infant kingdom's prosperity was restored as the Kingdom acquired unique crops from exotic lands and started exporting them. The military also evolved, with new crucible techniques being invented, enabling Hawkwickan steel, especially that high in Osmium content, known as "Skar Steel", to be made for the weapons, shields, and armor of the Hawkwickan navy. Gunpowder, a substance originally discovered by the Altberg Empire in Solaria, was finally implemented with a military use in mind, with fire rockets, cannons, and other rudimentary weapons bolstering the large arsenal of the military. On Ava's death in 1510, her oldest child, Ava the Lesser, took power, her reign holding a similar pattern until her non-fatal poisoning in 1561, which sent the kingdom of Hawkwick into partial disarray as several nationalist factions formed around Hlymrek. In 1567, the same assassin killed Ava the Lesser with a grenade.

Volbur (1567 CE - 1851 CE)

Painting of Ragnar II by Sir Kenneth Bran

The ramifications of Ava II's assassination were felt as the nationalist factions declared independence, halving the rulerless Kingdom. In 1610, with the help of gunpowder cannons and grenades, Ragnar II Ulfbert, "The Snake", crushed the reinstated Eldengarde, and incinerated the entire Eldengardian nobility. Despite his triumph, Hawkwick had suffered from the splinter era, losing territory to other factions which had declared independence. These states included the Ostwind Federation, The High Duchy of Rokir, and The Blackhorn Dominion, a militaristic Eldengardian splinter nation in control of Blackhorn, Luftberg, Sofya, and Vipura.

What followed is known to historians as "Volbur", or "Chaos". Sciences pertaining to war and weaponry flourished, as did the arts in protest of the violent era. In early 1611, the Blackhorn Dominion was invaded by Hawkwickan forces from the south and by independent Artstotszkan forces under the command of Lydia Volukunov, who proceeded to take Vipura while King Ragnar II was battling on Blackhorn. Crisis was narrowly averted when Ragnar II rushed ahead to meet Lydia on Korlun Island, warning her of the possibility of war should she go any further, and, beginning a centuries-long island dispute. Despite losing Vipura, the Snake had ensured stability, and, upon his death, his son, Horvald I Ulfbert, swiftly regained control of southern Hawkwick diplomatically. All tensions were gone by the dawn of the 18th century. Hawkwick's new state was one of the largest it had ever been. Hawkwick colonized Stinpor, known as Wahland today, in 1728, and set up a large regional government there, and late in the century fought The War of the Blackbirds with the nation of Heimar after an invasion attempt by Hawkwickan High King Ragnar V Ulfbert. The War was brief, and ended in one of the largest defeats in Hawkwickan history. During this time, Wahland was ceded to Heimar.

Around 1815, many democratic governments had started throughout the world, and Hawkwickans, particularly city natives, called for the king to step down. When the king went with a compromise, and attempted to implement a constitutional monarchy under the Valkragrind Act, his actions were mistaken by the crowd, who staged a violent revolution. The revolution lasted for years, with unrest until the 1840s. In the end, the Ulfbert line was exiled to Vandinium, and in it's place the First Republic of Hawkwick was initiated, banning the Order of Lords and nationalizing the vassal-based military.

Contemporary Era (1851 CE - 1973 CE)

Immediately after it's creation, the First Republic set out on modernizing the nation even more, working with the remnants of the enlightenment movement to bring both institutions of learning and modern industry to Hawkwick. The new Hawkwickan Army was one of the first to switch to cartridge-based weapons during this time, with the revolutionary W.H. Shaw's Repeating Rifle (RR-1) being designated the Army's primary weapon in 1854. New, revolutionary building projects began in Altberg and Volunruud, mainly as governmental buildings. New technologies gripped the nation around the 1880s, with electric lighting, running water, and air conditioning common in most Hawkwickan houses by the turn of the century. Mass Media also began to take it's grip, with movie stars, radio show hosts, and playwrights receiving attention throughout the nation. Flight, which was tamed in Hawkwick as early as the 1890s, received particular attention, and air racers and their craft received the most. By 1921, piston-engines aircraft were common in Hawkwick in the Army Air Force and in the civilian sector.

President Adalbert Mirner proved to be integral to Hawkwick's modernization.

The First Republic, too, flourished, and progressive movements helped bring the nation's civil rights up to near-modern standards; nationality was no longer discriminated against, women could vote and legislation was quick and efficient to pass through the Bundestag. However, with freedom came extremism. Communist, Fascist, and Theocratic parties gained huge amounts of support as their gripping campaigns swung through the nation. This came to a climax in 1923, when the People's Worker Union of Hawkwick, a communist group, gathered an artillery piece in the suburbs outside of Altberg and fired it into the Parliament courtyard. Although nobody was harmed, it was a shock to the government and the capital was placed under martial law until the perpetrators were found. The PWU relocated the artillery piece, and then used it to fire on the parliament again, this time to stage an assault upon the capital. Large crowds gathered near the gates as the Communist Party members ousted the First Republic's government, burning it's flag and beheading most of it's present members.

The other factions of Hawkwick, the Republicans and Fascists especially, were not pleased when the coup was staged, and fled to the countryside, hiding out in abandoned castles and farmhouses. The Hawkwickan Army and the two guerrilla groups fought for years, out of the public eye of most nations and to a large amount of success. In 1954, after years of Communist rule, the Hawkwickan National Army finally cracked down on the many hideouts and strongholds, and decimated the rebel groups, which fled mostly to hideouts on Luftberg, Sofya, and even Vipura and neighboring Heimar, in some cases. By 1970, the secret war was still going on, although the fascists were largely destroyed or had merged with one of two factions. In 1971, the Hawkwickan public staged huge demonstrations in the very place the demonstrations of the 1920's were staged, and almost simultaneously the nation of Vandinium then lead by Emperor Treven Vonstoiben staged an invasion of Hawkwick through the south and east, in a war known now as the Great Nevthronian War, after the Nevthronia Accords of 1973. The war ended two years later, when, after a stalemate in the northern regions of Hawkwick, the Premier of Hawkwick threatened a nuclear strike, only to be apprehended by the crowds as they finally stormed Parliament. In an emergency protocol, the Hawkwickan government launched a nuclear device, which was stopped mid-flight over Altberg. The ICBM fell onto Altberg, without any launched MIRVs, and a combined force of 3 megatons flattened the city in a massive nuclear explosion. Quickly cited as an action of the government by the rebels, they garnered international support in the last days of the war. Among the leaders of the rebel Hawkwickan faction were then-Sergeant Hans Jensen, who had recently returned from the front after a confrontation with the Emperor. Hinrich Reinhart was also present, opening the gate that let the crowd storm in. After the chaos, the Vandinium Army retreated, and the Republic of Hawkwick, known by some as the Second Republic, was created in it's wake. A popular vote surprisingly named Jensen president of Hawkwick.

Information Era (1983 CE - 2016 CE)

{TBD}

Geography

A Cabin in Central Hawkwick.

Hawkwick is approximately 9 million square kilometers, and situated in the northeastern corner of the westernmost continent on the planet of Audax. The mainland is full of fjords and peninsula, the most prominent of which is the Hlymrek Peninsula on the eastern side of Hawkwick. To the north of the mainland lies Blackhorn, an off-limits island that serves as a hub to many military installations, such as HARM Command Control Center, The terrain of northern Hawkwick and the Hlymrek Peninsula is largely mountainous, while areas south of Rokir begin to depress, but not completely, as rolling hills keep a steady presence throughout. The southernmost region, Karthspire, turns to windy steppe just south of Ostwind. The islands Blackhorn and Luftberg are both mainly rocky taiga, with Luftberg holding slightly more forest than Blackhorn. Due to the Blackhorn Current, both the south of Blackhorn and the island of Sofya, as well as the northern end of the Hlymrek Peninsula, are home to a slightly more temperate environment than central Hawkwick and Luftberg. The Ostwind Area also holds a largely more temperate and fertile environment than central and north Hawkwick. The Altis Islands have a grassy, Mediterranean climate, due to the Blackhorn Current passing directly through it, warming it's waters.

Hawkwick is one of the most fresh-water saturated nations in Audax, with approximately 7% of it's landmass being home to lakes, ponds,and rivers. The largest of the lakes, Lake Ragnar, situated near Sorvik, is over 36,000 square kilometers. Additionally, several hundred glaciers of large proportions are located throughout northern Hawkwick, several leaving behind glacial lakes during their spring retreat. Northern Hawkwick experiences cool summers and harsh winters, while the temperate regions experience mild winters and warm summers. Hawkwick is not home to any arid or tropical environments of considerable size.

Hawkwick is home to a variety of unique flora and fauna. Of note are the Riid Wolves, a species of large wolf native to the Hlymrek Peninsula. Flora in Hawkwick is largely evergreen in the north and temperate in the south, although the transitional central region is home to a unique variety of deciduous pines, especially along the lower ends of the Bearpeak Mountains in central Hawkwick. The Black-Tailed Hawk, the national animal of Hawkwick and the namesake of Ragnar Ulfbert, is also present throughout Hawkwick.

Hawkwick is largely mountainous, with four major mountain ranges dotting it's landscape. The northernmost Altberg Mountains are home to both New Altberg, and formerly, Altberg. They are generally considered as the most docile geographically of the mountain ranges, as they encompass the lowest and most temperate of Hawkwickan mountain ranges. The Hawkwick-Heimar border is home to the Kørpergroße Mountains, which stand tall and windy, but still relatively lush with flora. This mountain range is Hawkwick's longest, linked directly to both the Altberg Mountains and the Bearpeak Mountains. The latter are a unique breed, situated in a dry area in central Hawkwick. Typical mountains in this range have little to no plant-life anywhere above 600m of Altitude, and they are considered the most dangerous, as frequent rock avalanches, cave-ins, and extreme cold with little protection are common. The final range are the Hlymrek Mountains, which jut out of the Hlymrek Peninsula from top to bottom. They are considered one of the harshest, and are home to the tallest mountain in Hawkwick, Ruknaar, which has a height of 9,221 meters above sea-level.

Demographics

Hawkwick is home to approximately 450,800,000 people, most of them pertaining to the primary English-speaking Hawkwickan ethnic group, as designated by the Hawkwickan Census and Demographics Agency in 2010. It's population density stands at about 220 inhabitants per square kilometer. The overall life expectancy in Hawkwick is 94.44 years. Hawkwick is home to a large minority of Heimarn, with approximately three million Heimarn living throughout Hawkwick, with a large concentration around the Sumpfland Valley in Southern Hawkwick. Hawkwick is also home to other minorities, including Vandiniumites, Altic-Vipurans, Drazics, and Kitiari.

Hawkwickans are on average slightly taller than the average person with a an average height of 1.82m (6'0") for males, and 1.72m (5'8") for females. Although some Hawkwickans have Artstotszkan Kitiari DNA, the large majority of Hawkwickans are not distinguishable from an average human, with only minor differences in eye coloration. In recent years, more exotic and varied eye colors have become increasingly common, especially with the outlawing of discrimination against Eldenheim genes.

Hawkwick has three official languages, English, Altic, and Skarzul. Skarzul is mostly spoken in the former Eldheim Kingdom, in the states of Hlymrek, Rokir, and areas west of Altberg. Altic is spoken in the east and south, with areas around New Altberg and Ostwind, as well as the islands of Blackhorn and Luftberg. English, or Basic, has served as a unifying language of the two groups since the early 1890s, when it was designated as the language of government, with it taking almost total precedence in and around New Altberg, and around the entire south of Hawkwick, particularly the Ostwind area.

Although former wars between the groups have led to tension before, today, issues are largely resolved, and Hawkwickans identify as one ethnic group. After the communist regime was overthrown, Hawkwickans have leaned towards democratic socialism, with Hans Jensen's presidency implementing social policies against discrimination, legalizing same-sex marriage. Hawkwickans are also generally ardent supporters of total freedom in civil rights, and democracy. Despite their negative attitude towards big business, war, and international intervention. The creation of the Altic Union seemed to flip the political axis of the nation, with megacorporations such as Vokun being tolerated, and many advocating war against Vandinium or other types of international intervention.

Hawkwickans are supporters of maintaining a large and equipped military, likely due to the instability of Audaxia, and particularly, Nevthronia, in recent years. Hawkwick has no official religion, and every Hawkwickan constitution since the First Republic's have forbidden theocracy. Due to this focus, recent Hawkwickans are largely irreligious, although many still follow ancestral Heimarn-Hawkwickan religions, with Trinitat or familial Animism related to organized Trinitat being the most popular.

Urbanization

Hawkwick is home to a large amount of cities, largely pertaining to it's densely populated landmass. There are 144 recognized metropolitan regions in Hawkwick, 9 of which number over ten million inhabitants.

Rokir - 35 million inhabitants
New Altberg - 26 million inhabitants
Hlymrek - 19 million inhabitants
Ostwind - 19 million inhabitants
Volunruud - 14 million inhabitants
Sorvik - 13 million inhabitants
Skuldafn - 11 million inhabitants
Keldaar - 10 million inhabitants
Arnsburg - 10 million inhabitants

Government

Military

Main Article: Hawkwickan Armed Forces

Hawkwick

Contents

History

Kensejunarr (421 BCE - 70 CE)

Growth Era (70 CE - 1392 CE)

Einheit Era (1394 CE - 1567 CE)

Volbur (1567 CE - 1851 CE)

Contemporary Era (1851 CE - 1973 CE)

Information Era (1983 CE - 2016 CE)

Geography

Demographics

Urbanization

Government

Military

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