Loft Empire

Hey cool. I don't know quite where to take it but I'm interested in it.

The Grand Duchy of Loft Empire has been recently discovered. In the 1600's, a group of three hundred explorers from the North found a cave in the frozen islands of the South. This cave was found to be a sequence of massive caverns, lit in some areas quite brilliantly from the sun's rays being refracted into the cavern. While these explorers were assumed missing and dead, they actually found their boats destroyed, and so settled on this island. Fifty years later, having eaten nothing but peat moss, foliage, small berries that grew in open areas, and fish, five clans emerged for power and struck out against each other in cannibalistic fashion. These five clans clashed on and off for 350 years, obscured to the outside world, with only swords and farming equipment. In 2000, Thor Macht of the Loft Clan went raiding. He stormed and defeated the other clans, not only by the sword but by diplomacy as well, promising that the rule of the Loftss would be fair and balanced to all, and would solve many problems including the overcrowding (The lack of sailing being the major cultural want, given the legends of origin for this people). After a war lasting six years, the Loftss were victorious over all of the others. Thor Macht quickly was titled Duke Thor Macht, Uniter of the Clans, Shower of the Way, General of the Army, Admiral of the Navy. However, he shunned most of these responsibilities in favor of establishing an elected government. He proclaimed that if it was the people's will, his son could become the Monarch, but that the only role he held was to select the First - a role established to be basically a President, and Duke Macht always chose the winner of the popular vote. The Loftss are very technologically unaware, and have no outwardly known cultural advances (outside of some strange way they carbonate beverages, forced to prevent the water from freezing). When not warring, the Loftss are content making art, particularly ice sculptures that take decades to melt. When proposing an alliance with another clan (Soon to be nation), it is customary for a leader to present the potential ally with gifts of ice sculptures. They also enjoy skiing and skating, which are the primary modes of transportation other than the newly rediscovered sailing. Most Loftss have trouble walking on softer soils or sand. All Loftss, even women, are trained to fight with the sword and shield or the axe, but the Loftss themselves have no standing army. OOC: I've tried four times to play this game. I've never even ventured away from the main site before today, and I figure if I'm going to do this, I'm all in. Any advice or words of wisdom you have, please let me know! Looking forward to playing with all of you as I (hopefully) see the modernization this basically barbarian state. Nice to meet you all!