The Promise of Progress

[Battle bunny]

Cool!

Name: Sigurd Sorensen
Age: 53
Nationality: Norwegian
Date and Place of Birth: 1797, Tromso
Position in the Government: Maxim Pontiff of Norway
Biography: Sigurd Sorensen was pressed into a church career by his parents, but he developed a great deal of political ambition during his youth. Zealous in his faith and ruthless in his politics, Sorensen developed an interest in the Norwegian independence cause and dedicated his life to achieving it. He was inspired by senior members of the church who sought to establish a theocracy in Norway. The Heavenly State was founded in 1820, and Sorensen immediately set about trying to accumulate political power. The first Maxim Pontiff did not have great temporal power; he had some, but most of the power was in the hands of the Norwegian nobles who were instrumental in gaining Norway's independence. When he died, the Council of Bishops held its first elections. Sorensen was elected for life in 1840, and he changed Norwegian society quickly; he crushed the power of the nobles and accumulated nearly absolute power into the hands of the Church. While he is deeply conservative in his religion, as is expected of anyone who hopes to be elected Maxim Pontiff, he does have a modernistic outlook on politics - he began a policy of industrialisation, dragging the country out of its agricultural state as best he could.

 

[Harpsichord]

Name: Franz Heinrich
Age: 45
Nationality: German
Date and Place of Birth: 1805, Worms
Position in the Government: Consul of the West German Republic
Biography:
By the time Franz was born the Republic was already seven years his senior. The son of the Mayor of Worms, Franz was born into political society, and readily adapted to fact that backrooms can on occasion be more ferocious than the battlefield. Due to the recent wars against Prussia and the Austrians, Franz was extremely xenophobic towards his fellow Germans in his youth. By the time he had matured, such feelings had been tempered by years of learning, and he began to understand that friends can be found in the unlikeliest of places. When he was 25, a coup orchestrated by several vested interests projected his father to the Consulship. Unfortunately for the vested interests, Franz's father had a quicker and more vicious wit than they had anticipated; all found their heads in the rope within the year. Fifteen years later his father had passed away from old age. Franz was quickly elected by the Bundesrat, and in the fifth year of his reign looks to make his mark on history, and bring the Republic into a Golden Age.

 

[EasternBloc]

Name: Ludwig Linus Volker
Age: 44
Nationality: German
Date and Place of Birth: 17 December 1806, Bonn
Position in the Government: Chief of the General Staff of the West German Republic
Biography: While Ludwig Volker was not yet born when Napoleon created the West German Republic, it would have a major effect on his future. His father, Karl Linus Volker, was a dedicated German nationalist who favored a republican government. When Napoleon invaded, he had collaborated with the French and created a small army to swing support towards a German Republic. Karl eventually became a general of West Germany military and taught his son Ludwig military tactics and theories. Ludwig studied books written by famous German generals in Bonn, which influenced him to join the German Army and follow in his father's footsteps. His father died from illness when Ludwig was 37, living 61 years. Two years later, the Consul of the West German Republic, Franz Heinrich, had offered him the title "Chief of the General Staff". He accepted, commanding under the name of General Volker, as his father once did.

 

[tonkatoy5]

Name: Alaric Reiter
Age: 22
Nationality: German, West German Republic
Birth: November 20th, Brandenburg
Position: Minister of Foreign Affairs
Bio: Alaric originally had dreams of being an inventor or mercenary but his noble family forbade this and thus he was made the Minister of Foreign Affairs a title which befits him well as he is known for having quite the silver tongue.

 

[firelordsky]

Name: Hassan I, Sultan of Morocco, Algiers, King of Bohemia-Moravia, Emir of Tunis, Cordoba, and Pasha of Tripolitania of the House of Saadi-Osman

Age: 26

Nationality: Arab-Berber

Date and Place of Birth: 29 February 1824, London

Position: Foreign Minister for the Ottoman Empire.

Bio: Hassan, born as Mohammed al-Barad to his parents who were a part of the Osmanli branch of the Saadi Dynasty and whose deaths earned all of his hereditary titles, was a resident of London for the early 16 years of his life where he was educated in the European ways and excelled at his studies, learning English, Arabic, and French, although he never understood the science of airships and how they could even fly and sustain the weight that they could. The death of his parents encouraged him to start travelling around Europe and Africa and visiting sovereigns' courts and establishing contacts in the regions. Soon, Emperor Suleiman II invited him to the Ottoman Empire and appointed him to be the Pasha of Tripolitania and the foreign minister for the Ottoman Empire.

 

[Deaghaidh]

Name: TBA (french of Irish extraction)
Age:65
Position: Foreign affairs
bio: A nouveau-riche industrialist, among other things in the airship industry. He got into diplomacy as an outgrowth of his efforts to secure overseas bases. These days his son runs the business.

 

[Endovelicus]

(Yes I changed it to make it at least a bit more appropriate.)

Name: Juliane Maria Elizabeth I ''Aurae'' von Hohenzollern
Age: 20
Nationality: German
Date and Place of Birth: 16th of December, 1830
Position in the Government: Queen of Prussia
Biography: Queen Juliane of Prussia, the child of Heinrich Wilhelm III von Hohenzollern of Prussia and Maria Kathrin, Duchess of Niebo Miasto, eldest of the five siblings, she got to take the role of Queen after her parents both passed away.

Her family has ruled the Prussian Kingdom for centuries, and have always stood by the equality of men, women, white and colored alike, as well as being very open to most religions, this shaped Juliane as an open person, not letting her thoughts be provoked by others.
Through this equality of men and women, the Hohenzollern line of Kings and Queens has always been based on the eldest of the children in the lineage, after the current King and Queen would pass away it would be passed on.

As the firstborn, it was always tradition in the Hohenzollern family to have the King take his firstborn at the age of 12 on a Skyplane journey across the cultural Prussian landscapes, keeps, sky fortresses, cities and the coasts, this has given the fascination of the sky a big place in Juliane's heart, she believes who rules the skies will rule the world.
She is thus set to expand her people's boundries to go higher, work on technology to rule the skies, for this Prussia will need to expand her borders for resources, and individuals to invent more powerful devices.
This might come to the cost of the Prussian people, she is still a very inexperienced and young ruler, passionate but does not know alot, Juliane has her goals set, and she will need the aid of her people, and allies to get her goals done.

Juliane has been taught very little about the diplomatics as well, she has been trying to learn, from her brother, Gerhard, who has been studying politics, as he knew, he would not rule, he would still have to help keep the crown secured, any diplomatic strategies she is told about, she will discuss with him, and her other trusted loyal servants of the realm.
She does not have very good relationships with her other siblings however, Miranda despises not having anything to say over the realm, Josef-Wilhelm feels that the men should still rule the lineage, like it used to be a long time ago, so he could be ruler, and lastly her youngest sister Inga, too young to understand what is happening, thinks whatever Josef-Wilhelm tells her to think.
Even though she is not well trained in diplomatics or has good relationships with her siblings, she is still strong minded, and will always make sure she gets a better deal nonetheless.

She has never been to busy with the stuff other Princesses would be thought, she has little idea of what it would mean to court someone, she does know, she would need someone as courageous, if not more courageous to stand by her side.
Her courage is already known throughout streets of Prussians cities however, the name ''Aurea'' is whispered throughout the streets, the honored Nordic wind Nymph creatures of tales long spoken of, the Prussian people want the sky to be theirs, with their Queen Aurae to lead them up there.

For as long as she will be by herself, only her siblings and loyal helpers to help her, she will take her country through difficult trials, as she will have to take herself through difficult trials aswell, the skies will be hers to rule if she understands what it means to rule.

 

[Maxwell500]

Name: Louis Auguste, Duc de Normandie, Maréchal Général des Camps et Armées du Impératrice
Age: 60
Nationality: French
Date and Place of Birth: 18 August 1790, Versailles
Position: Chief of the General Staff of the Imperial Armed Forces
Biography: Born in 1790 to Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, the young Louis Auguste was regarded as a gift from the heavens owing to his birth a little over a year after the death of his oldest brother, Louis Joseph. From the moment of his birth he was treated with the utmost care by the nannies assigned to him and was granted everything he desired. At the age of six years old he begun his education under the tutelage of Jacques Necker, Charles Philippe de France, and Alexandre Angélique de Talleyrand-Périgord. He quickly proved himself an intelligent child but all three of his tutors complained that he was at times extremely distracted and was interested in the military uniforms he used to wear than anything else. Four years later however, everything changed with the the death of his father, Louis XVI, and the ascension of his elder brother as Louis XVII. With his brother only fifteen, and thus childless, the young Louis Auguste was named as Dauphin de Viennois, heir-apparent to the Empire. Jacques Necker passed away in 1804 and his role was filled by Jean-de-Dieu Soult, a army officer in the Empire. In 1806 the prince's position as heir was threatened by the new law on succession, which allowed female children of the Emperor to inherit if he possessed no male children. Two years late, at the age of 18, the young Louis Auguste was named as Duc de Normandie by his brother and quickly entered service into the Imperial Army. For the next decade he served to the utmost of his ability and proved himself genuinely capable in the tasks assigned to him. It came thus with no surprise that he promoted Général de brigade in 1812, Général de division in 1817 and Général de corps d'armée in 1819. The year following his latest appointment the Emperor welcomed his first child, a daughter. The Emperor welcomed a further two daughters, one in 1827 and another in 1830. By then Louis Auguste had been in service for twenty-two years and had been promoted once again, this time to Général d'armée. Even though he lad lost his heir-apparent position in 1827, as brother to the Emperor and the only other son of Louis XVI he remained extremely influential. His position was further bolstered when his brother elevated him to Maréchal de France in 1838, on the anniversary of his 30th year in service. The following year he was also appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Imperial Armed Forces, and with his brother so concentrated in politics, he had become the de facto Commander-in-Chief. The next few years were to go by without much interest until the fateful of 1845, when the Emperor, his wife, eldest daughter and the fiance of the current Empress all perished aboard an airship in what is known as the 'Loup Garup' Accident. With no son the throne fell to the second daughter, Jeanne. Whilst many of the older members of the Bourbon family called on Louis Auguste, being the closest male claimant to the throne, to ascend and thus exclude his niece he declined in respects to his brother's wishes. For his loyalty the Empress awarded him with Maréchal Général des Camps et Armées du Impératrice, the highest military dignity in the entire Empire. Following the events of 1845 the aging Louis Auguste has continued to serve in his capacities and does not look to retire soon.

 

[Deaghaidh]

Name: Juliane Maria Elizabeth I von Hohenzollern
Age: 20
Nationality: German
Date and Place of Birth: 16th of December, 1824
Position in the Government: Queen of Prussia
Biography: <later>

The bar for sexy young sovereigns has just been raised!
Seriously, I know there are lots of images of sexy models in steam punk costumes ((though I've yet to find Summer Glau as one)) but all monarchs can't be hotties in their teens and 20s. Let's at least have one of you be more of a cougar.

 

[EasternBloc]

The bar for sexy young sovereigns has just been raised!
Seriously, I know there are lots of images of sexy models in steam punk costumes ((though I've yet to find Summer Glau as one)) but all monarchs can't be hotties in their teens and 20s. Let's at least have one of you be more of a cougar.

In other words, this is starting to like a beauty pageant.

 

[Ab Ovo]

((So...

Queen of Great Britain - moonlights as a fashion model
Queen of Sweden
Empress of France-Spain
Queen of Prussia - moonlights as a porn star

All of whom are regnant, and none of whom are above the age of 25. The Queen of Great Britain cannot legally drink. In addition to that the King of Greece is handsome enough to be a model.

...am I the only one seeing a problem? This goes for kings as well as queens.))

 

[Battle bunny]

(Oh, the wonders of a steampunk world. In other worlds: no, you're not the only one. It's like everyone decided "Hey, everyone's going to play a boring King, so I'll play a Queen instead!" at the same time, with some of them not even bothering to look for an avatar that could be reasonably sold as a monarch. But hey, it doesn't break the game. The immersion, maybe...)

 

[GreatSlayer]

((So...

Queen of Sweden
))

You rang?

 

[Bialaska]

(Oh, the wonders of a steampunk world. In other worlds: no, you're not the only one. It's like everyone decided "Hey, everyone's going to play a boring King, so I'll play a Queen instead!" at the same time, with some of them not even bothering to look for an avatar that could be reasonably sold as a monarch. But hey, it doesn't break the game. The immersion, maybe...)

Well, UK historically had a queen at this time, Queen Victoria. I was actually planning to be her, but all pictures of her were boring, and none were Steampunky.

 

[Revan529]

Magnus Fabian Eriksson Oxenstierna
Age: 41
Nationality: Swedish
Date and Position of Birth: 29 May 1808, Stockholm
Position in Government: Prime Minister of Sweden, Head of the National Progress Party
Biography:

The scion of one of the leading noble families of Sweden, Magnus always seemed destined for great things; he excelled in academics, graduating from the University of Uppsala first in his class, and enlisted in the Royal Air Corps, rising to the rank of Colonel. In 1837, he was elected to Parliament, and soon found himself as one of the rising stars of the National Progress Party; from 1841 to 1845 he served as the Minister of War, performing exceptionally and gaining a large following amongst the party. When the Prime Minister died, Magnus announced his bid for the leadership of the party, and won a surprise win over older party stalwarts (who he then asked to join his cabinet); he led the NPP to a crushing victory in 1846, taking 77% of the seats (largely because the opposition had hitherto been financed by the Profiteers).

Since taking office, he has devoted most of his energy to reforming the economy and expanding the Royal Air Corps; he's also made his pro-colonial ambitions well known amongst the Parliament. Though he and the Queen have often bickered about what is perceived to be his "expansionist" agenda, he was thus far attempted to maintain peaceful relations with their neighbours. Throughout his administration, he was taken a very harsh stance on pro-Profiteer groups, and has widely tried to silence them whenever possible.

 

[PanzerCorps]

Okay, I have no experience whatsoever with any game like this, but would love to join. Is it okay if I bother you with newb moves a bit?

If so I'd like to reserve a spot for Minister of Foreign affairs of the British Empire. Will fill-up sign up form if I'm welcome

 

[Harpsichord]

((I can forgive the pictures, it's not like I ever have to look at them again. But having every second monarch be practically pre-pubescent is pretty jarring. Never mind, with greater age comes greater wisdom!))

 

[aedan777]

Okay, I have no experience whatsoever with any game like this, but would love to join. Is it okay if I bother you with newb moves a bit?

If so I'd like to reserve a spot for Minister of Foreign affairs of the British Empire. Will fill-up sign up form if I'm welcome

Yes, anyone is welcome. Make a character, or if you need to talk about it, join the coldfront channel

 

[Noco19]

Name: Franz Joseph I
Age: 20
Nationality: Austrian
Date and Place of Birth: August 18th, 1830, Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna
Position in the Government: Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary
Biography:

Third Emperor of Austria, Franz ascended in 1849 after the death of his uncle, Ferdinand I. Suffering from the adverse effects of Hapsburg incest, Ferdinand was stricken with a plethora of health problems, such as intense seizures, impairing his rule harshly. While holding on to his life, the stresses of a fractured Empire bore too heavily, and resulted in an early, and mourned, passing.

Next in succession was Ferdinand's brother, Franz Karl, an ineffective and unambitious man. At the behest of his wife, and own personal refrain, Franz Karl waived his right of succession, turning the Crown to his eldest son, Franz Joseph. Already raised by his mother as a future Emperor on the tenants of diligence and devotion, on top of his military career since the age of thirteen, Franz Joseph eagerly accepted the role he felt was proper for him.

As the first new year under his reign begins, speculators await the young Emperor's path in history.

 

[GreatSlayer]

((I can forgive the pictures, it's not like I ever have to look at them again. But having every second monarch be practically pre-pubescent is pretty jarring. Never mind, with greater age comes greater wisdom!))

((Our youngest character is 19...))