Reingard

General Overview
Reingard is a small nation that is primarily situated on a collection of island territories on the northern continent of Sparwood with its capital city Ashbourne being located on the largest of the Island with the nation being led by its founding Monarch Drake Von Marux. As it currently stands Reingard only directly borders one nation which is Arxella (Niedea's Vassal) to its South.

The Nation is styled after the British Empire with some German Elements intertwined throughout its Government and Institution. The nation's given name 'Reingard' is a name of Old High German Origin that means "Resolution, Destiny and Protection". The official language of the Nation is currently Travelers Tongue. “The most widely spoken language in the World".

History
Secretive Founding - [19/05/2021]


 * Reingard is founded by Former Soldier Drake Von Marux who settled in an abandoned settlement, although the nation has not yet been made public.

Public Founding - [21/05/2021]


 * Drake Von Marux makes his Nation known to the World.

The Arxellan Dispute - [22/05/2021 - 30/05/2021]


 * The Vassal Kingdom of Arxella began a minor dispute over the ownership of the Islands. However, this minor dispute largely went nowhere with no blood being shed. In the end, Reingard would be given an ultimatum to pay a sum of 35,000 or face the wrath of Arxella over some "Irrelevant, Unused, Ruined structures". Drake, in the end, would acquiesce to the demand made with him spending three days gathering enough ores to sell and reach that target sum. Thereby ending the Arxellan Dispute and securing Reingard’s Independence to Arxella’s begrudged acknowledgement.

Official Independence - [31/05/2021]


 * Reingard officially becomes a recognised independent Nation. With Drake Von Marux and his subjects beginning to settle into the officially acquired land.

Growing - [01/06/2021 - 11/06/2021]


 * Since it officially became an independent nation, Reingard has since made strides towards becoming an industrial nation, even with the beginnings of a brewing business in Progress. The capital city is expected to continue to grow in the coming days.

Reingard Joins the CSS (Confederate States of Sparwood) - [12/06/2021]


 * After being threatened with Invasion by Niedea, over an attempt to purchase land, Reingard Join the CSS, gaining a seat in their senate and further establishing diplomatic relations with most of the nations on Sparwood as well as being given 'military protection' from the CSS.

The CSS issues an announcement warning to all States - [26/06/2020]


 * Drake informs the citizens of Reingard of someone under the name of "Jump Cliffer", who is the head of intelligence in Arxella, who was caught trying to join the UBSR.

The CSS Collapses - [07/07/2021]


 * The CSS collapses being referred to as 'dead' around this date. (Reason has yet to identified)

The Frosmyre Debate - [08/07/2021]


 * Following the collapse of the CSS, Reingard now once again needing an ally to rely on for its existence, debated on whether or not to join Frosmyre, a previous associate to the CSS they will decide on this one day after.

Reingard Joins Frosmyre as a Vassal State - [09/07/2021]


 * Drake upon coming to a final decision would announce to all his citizens that Reingard would be joining Frosmyre as a state, with the hopes of laying the foundations of a Sparwood Empire, additionally, they would benefit from a better economy, a more powerful and better-equipped military and new citizens that can come and go as they please between each territory, better resources, as well as being given the choice of leaving Frosmyre if Reingard deemed it necessary, as long as there is no 'bad blood ' between the two nations.

Location & Territory
Locations:

Ashbourne (Capital): The City is situated on the largest island in the heartland of Reingard territories, with it initially being established from the remains of a long since abandoned settlement, with a small fortress being only a largely intact structure within the ruined settlement. Since Drake and his settlers settled in the abandoned settlement, the area has again been seeing more vibrant activity within the rebuilt settlement with it undergoing a mass redesign, expansion and raising of strong fortification along its coast, with even the ruined homes that were previously located on the island being worked on with the area gradually developing itself into naval port that would be position as a key crossroad of trade at sea in the north of the continent of Sparwood.

Territories:

Reingard currently is a rather small and growing nation, with them being primarily situated on a collection of Island Territories on the Northern Continent of Sparwood. With them only having a tiny slither of territory on Mainland Sparwood, that forms their only border with another Nation (Arxella). Reingard being the size as it only has one city which is Ashbourne, this is due to a lack of territory. In regards to the possible prospect of expansion with Reingard, there has been discussion floating around of colonization in the new world in Eldham but they put the idea on hold until the nation grows much larger and further population growth, with the idea still holding so much weight within the nation.

Governmental System
Main Governing Body

The Current Government of Reingard is a constitutional monarchy with a Lord, Chancellor and Parliament acting as the three pillars of governance within the nation. With Total Power being split three ways although not entirely equally. The Lord holds the majority of absolute power in the nation, while the Chancellor is a close second with being the undisputed third when it comes to the split of power Parliament in the nation.

For the Roles of being a Chancellor and Parliamentary members, they are won in an election that takes place once every two months. Parliament is convened three times in a month (beginning, middle, and end) to discuss, debate and vote on matters and issues with a Chancellor as the head of these discussions and debates.

As a by-product of being in any position of power is the constant prospect of corruption within any kind of government system and hierarchy, to prevent this, the Lord is given the power to veto laws proposed by Parliament and the Chancellors but to balance and counteract this, the Chancellor and Parliament can both veto laws by the Lord with a popular vote. While Parliament is given the control of passing laws, bills and acts, the Lord and Chancellor have the power to create trade deals and pass temporary laws when necessary that could last up to a fortnight until they would be voted on when Parliament once again reconvenes in a session. Voting is done by Yay or Nay (Thumbs up or down for discord).

Justice System:

The Justice System in Reingard is a basic system of which Regardians who are accused of ‘crimes’ are judged in court being either found innocent or guilty. The Court is made up of two Lawyers (Defense attorney and Prosecutor), one Judge, and a Jury of 12.

The Punishments that are issued are entirely dependent on the severity of the crime. The severity of the crimes being divided up into various levels ranging from 1 to 3.


 * Level 1 - Offenses are punishable by a fine or by community service.
 * Level 2 -  Punishable by prison time or military service.
 * Level 3 - Punishable by prison time, a life sentence, or the death penalty.

Types of crimes:


 * Misdemeanours (Low, level 1, and possible level 2 punishment): Trespassing, Gambling, Prostitution, Petty theft, Assault, Disturbing the peace, Public drunkenness or lewdness, Selling shoddy or adulterated goods.
 * Felonies (Medium, level 2, and possible level 3 punishment): Rioting, Inciting a Riot, Piracy, Bribery, Destruction of property, Theft, Robbery, Arson.
 * Capital Crimes (High, level 3, and less likely level 2 punishment): Murder, Treason, Counterfeiting.

Reingardian Military

The Reingardian Military is split into two army regiments. The Primary Army “The Iron Marines” and the National Guard “The Imperial Guardsmen”. The official uniform of the Reingardian Military is a "British Royal Marine" uniform from the 1700s-1800s. Soldiers are promoted from their posts based on their time in service and/or experience. While not at war or keeping watch over the territory, soldiers are expected to either expand their skill set or perform jobs (mining, building, crafting) that they see fit to benefit the nation.

Citizenship

To acquire citizenship to become a naturalised citizen of Reingard, it is required that the applicant must pledge their allegiance and loyalty to the Lord and purchase a house/plot, within Reingardian Territory. Although there is also the other feasible option of Military Service. New Citizens moving are encouraged to learn how to use a forge and how to mine.

Religion
The Official Religion of the Nation is ‘the Church of Stahl Riesa’. The Religion Worship Vulkan, a steel giant considered to be the master of fire, forging, and mining. It is the belief that whoever worships Vulkan will become masters in both metalwork and industry. Additionally, Freedom of religion is promoted and very much allowed within Reingard, with them not discriminating against other faiths, treating each faith with equal respect and dignity.

Culture
Reingardian Culture can be summed up rather quickly, It’s a nation filled with Prideful and Patriotic People, who believe in the values of Loyalty, Victory and Bravery in combat and that are honourable to a fault with them following through on agreements and promises, although unlikely they would only ever break a deal or promise if the other party has made a decision that would personally harm either the person or their home nation. Iron is regarded and seen as a precious metal among the Reingardians this is mostly because of how the metal primarily helps run the nation and its holy status in the Stahl Riesa Religion. Another integral part of the nation’s culture is its much valued Beer Brewing industry which is considered to be an art form that provides a beloved beverage to the country and economic growth, additionally, Land of any kind is equally viewed as holding the same weight and value of iron prompting citizens to use whatever territory the nation owns to the fullest capacity.

Gallery
Banner & Flag

Foreign Relations & Diplomatic Policy
Reingard’s current policy appears to be one of forming advantageous alliances with neighbouring nations in an effort to curve the power and might of its powerful neighbour of The Imperial State of Niedea and its Vassal State of Arxella.

The Imperial State of Niedea

Relations with Niedea and by extension Arxella (The Vassal of Niedea) from the very beginning were tense, with Reingard receiving threats of invasion from both Niedea and Arxella. With fears of a two-front war being constant with these fears being the primary reason as to why Reingard jumped at the opportunity of joining other states for its own preservation, eventually the fears will die down following their entry as a state to Frosmyre with their treaty of non-aggression with Niedea extending over to their lands.

Conferderate States of Sparwood [Dissolved]

Reingard previously allied themselves with the members of the CSS, having a seat in their Senate, as a means of having greater diplomatic relations with the continent of Sparwood as well as the additional military support they would receive from the CSS, however following the fall of CSS, Reingard would once again look elsewhere, for military and economic support which led them to joining Frosmyre a former CSS member as a state of their territory.

Frosmyre

Reingard relationship with Frosymre is currently one of 'subservience' with Reingard being classed as a state thereby being a extension of Frosymre within their territories, despite once again losing its status as a sovereign independent nation, Reingard for most part benefited from this arrangement exponentially, with their economy on the rise as well as having assured backing of a more powerful, better-equipped military, along with potential arrival of new citizens and better resources to develop their territories. Addionally as apart of their membership with Frosmyre as a state, Frosymre agreed to one important term, being given the choice to leave Frosmyre, if Reingard deemed it necessary when relations soured between the two states thereby giving Reingard some semblance of self-determination to act on their own. The last subject of note with their relations with Frosmyre would the additional advantage of the Niedea-Frosmyre Treaty extending over to Reingard, with the treaty stimulating that both sides would be in a mutual pact that will exclude either party from declaring or engaging in war with one another in conflicts thereby securing Reingard's territories from attack from Niedea and by extension it's Vassal Arxella.

Lore
The Meaning behind the Nation's Flag

The flag of Reingard holds two emblems, an Eagle and an Iron Cross. The eagle represents victory, pride, and royalty, all valued aspects in Reingard. The Iron Cross is meant to represent soldiers' bravery to face combat.

References & Further Reading

 * 1) Drake Von Marux
 * 2) Church of the Stahl Riesa
 * 3) Sparwood
 * 4) Niedea
 * 5) Frosmyre
 * 6) Confederate States of Sparwood