Renatus Char: Developer Diary | Ascalonian Scuffle Reveal
Hello again Lokans! Kaleno here with some development for the Focus Trees, and the next major continents plan, The Ascalonian Scuffle. There will be lore reveal, but the major areas of planning for the world are done, and I'm here to share it with you, it's not enough to reveal many of the important things, but I feel its good to know how the nation's of Ascalon are reacting to all of these events.
The Crash of the Shard
Although Ascalon was by far the least affected of the four main areas of the world (Aladra, Kalros, Garama, & Miscellaneous), the nation's of Ascalon would actually weather the storms quite well, allowing many more nation's to make it through the initial shocks and aftershocks of the market crash. However, this situation would take a major U-Turn in the 2024 July Revolutions, when the situation collapses.
Early into June of that same year, the market crash would finally hit home as many business would close their doors across the continent, leaving huge wealth disparities, and large unemployment numbers in many nations. These would be the hardest hit as they'd be the last market to hit, so no other nation can afford to bail them out.
The situation develops into a massive crisis when the Great Drought struck, leaving an economic crisis in the northern Middle of the continent that can still be felt when 2027 comes around, years after when players resume control of their nations.
Starting in July of 2024, several revolutions would sweep several towns on the continent, causing panic across Ascalon as many town leaders feared they 2were next, and took authoritarian measures to keep them down. In response, the communist nation's would take action and form a defensive military-economic alliance, called the
Grand Imperium
Formation of the Imperium
Four states would form the alliance in September of that year, and due to Covenants hostile foreign policy towards literally any outsiders for many reasons, they'd become an anti-Covenant Bloc. Ironically, the Covenant would open relations with other countries in an attempt to contain and break the spread of communism throughout Char.
Eldritch would lead the effort against the Communists, becoming the Arsenal Against Communism.
Uniting Ascalon
Eldritch would find itself in a very difficult time after declaring the
Skuhoo Doctrine in November of 2024, they were very unprepared for the reality ahead of them. The only thing that benefitted them would be there industrial capacity, which would be the second strongest of any nation, just narrowly behind Southern Valyria of Garama.
Throughout the next year they would focus on improving their industry, output, and research, while also attempting to focus on modernizing its aged military. It would need to also focus heavily on diplomacy with the non-communist non-Covenant members of Ascalon, namely Volterra, Eneria, Loraxia, and Valyria. It would spend the next 4 years focusing on propaganda campaigns throughout their lands, fighting guerilla wars, and supporting the governments against communism.
However this wouldn't be the only problems plaguing the nation, as the Covenant would have an ally rival for power and leadership of the alliance, AL Raltah.
The Al Raltah Revolution
Eldritch wasn't the only one growing in influence across Ascalon, it's ally to the south, Al Raltah would also cross paths with Eldritch when attempting to contain communism, this was fine at first, but eventually the continued friendship would be put on strain as Al Raltah would strangle influence away from Eldritch.
Al Raltahs motives are unknown to most, perhaps its just the power vacuum within the growing alliance needing to be filled, perhaps it was the Naval Industry of Al Raltah outpacing Eldritch by miles, or perhaps some loans that remained unpaid. Whatever the reason, or even a combination of all these reasons, the alliance would be put to the test.
Al Raltah and Eldritch would battle it out for power through diplomacy and agreements. The nation of Valentia, the old leader of a fallen alliance, an alliance who only fell because of communism, seeking vengeance against its former allies in Wastia & Western Fruitopia specifically. Valentia would support Al Raltahs bid for the throne due to its already strained relation wirh Eldritch due to it being consider an outsider before the war. Ionia would also support Al Raltahs bid
Gotham & Western Rivendale on the other hand would support Eldritchs current rule.
The true leader will be found in who helps the most of the other nations.
Now while the Covenant was divided, the Grand Imperium decided to strike.
Ideology of Expansion
After the two major Civil Wars on Loka, the Covenants divisions would be clear as day to Euphoria, the leader of the communists, would see opportunity in four countries.
Volterra although a member of the Trident, would face significant Communist support back home, and would need to deal with these troubles, they'd eventually be overcome after skillful diplomacy between Deathwolf and the demonstrators. However a new crisis would unfold, with Deathwolf, the second in command, openly challenging the Kings position, seeking glory for himself. A politically turbulent time will seek the country for many years to come.
Valyria although strictly neutral, would find it very difficult to keep the Covenant & Communist Supporters out of their borders, leading to a Proxy Soft-War, a war spoken of words and negotiations. Three sides to the conflict, the government itself, the Covenant, and the Grand Imperium. Whatever it chooses, it will not be an easy ride.
Eneria is a nation that has nothing, as it was mainly an agricultural nation that's still recovering from the Grest Drought ongoing. The nations governmenr would lean more towards communism as they implement policies protecting workers & punishing wrong doers. All for one, and one for all after all!
Loraxia is in the trickiest position, it hss a civilian militia group called the Stallions causing heaps of trouble, might not even exist in 2 years due to economic issues, and then it has to deal with a divided populace, it's future is not bright, but its future could be set in the history books as a legend if they complete the Tree Protection Project.
These four nation's could either join the Covenant or Imperium, and change the balance of power forever.
I've printed this out for yall as I'm beginning to formulate the first official focus trees for the continent. But here's the plan for the starting Alliances.
Covenant:
Eldritch

Al Raltah

Valentia
Gotham
Ionia
Western Rivendale
Grand Imperium:
Wastia

Euphoria

Amanita
Western Fruitopia
Undecided:
Volterra: Leaning Covenant
Valyria
Eneria: Leaning Imperium
Loraxia
There is way more planned than I've typed out, and I can't just say it all, but hope you enjoy the sneak peak into this side of the lore.
Insert 'Eldritch Arsenal Against Communism image where Skuhoo stands cross-armed with sunglasses and a tobacco pipe with mountains of armor and gear behind him' here.