Sea to Shining Sea Background (wip)

To the west of the Old World , past the swirling Atlantic there is a land , vast , ever dangerous , yet in a way united. From the Eastern shore to the Western Coast the Great Union spreads , one great if divided nation ,comprised of many smaller parts of which the Oval Throne holds sway. A nation of contradictions , it's coasts are lined with cities where the learned and cultured reside , yet it's center is a near untamed expanse spanned by the great Grass Sea. The many small kingdoms comprising it always squabbling and at times even coming to blows , yet not since the War of Brothers between Lincoln the Tall and Jefferson Landsplitter has it truly come apart. Of what nation do I speak ? A land of freedom , law , a land beautiful yet divided with war...I speak of Americana.

 Founded near two centuries ago yet with a history richer than a great mine of gems , Americana United  is a power on the world stage , it's people coming from so many different places learned in the lore of magic and technology . Flying ships abound the Sea of Grass , strapped with great cannons that spit fire and lightning, the drills of the dwarves dig deep in the Tejas territory bringing Black Gold gushing like a well spring.It's many mysteries perplex the mind , the Ancient Order of the  Secret Illumination or as they are well known 'Hobo's walk the land as heralds of the end time , the Great Occultists of New England call on Old Powers from the sea and shadow. And though the native elves were driven back years ago by the Blight Song of Colombus the Mad , word is whispered that on the edge of the Grass Sea , their Great Spirits walk once more. 

Sea to Shining Sea is a stupid Idea I came up with , essentially it would be a high fantasy steampunk world based off of American History and politics. So while figures like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington did exist , there are some very large differences, for example beneath the library of Congress is filled with scrolls on magic and alchemy , and under the ice of Alaska great beasts of eons past lie ,waking from their slumber as the drills of the Dwarves dig deeper and deeper for Black Gold. Politicians , those entrusted with the sacred power of the People walk like demi gods on the Earth , often near two times taller than a man. Magic , something regarded as fallacy in our own world , here defines it...the Songs of the World , paths allowing one to see the nature of the elements and control them let men make fire from nothing , change the course of the tides and forge mighty automatons. It is a land so familiar yet so foreign ,a place one knows yet has so much to discover about...anyways I think it'll be a lot of fun.


Factions:Though Americana is united on the world stage as the U.S, internally it is split between many different states each with conflicting values and cultures as different as red and blue (literally).



Federal Territory: Stretching from Maryland in the East to Wisconsin in the West and stopped at Kentucky in the south and Pennsylvania in the north Federal Territory is owned as a whole by the Government itself , sort of the Base U.S with it's regional capitol in of course The Municipality of Colombia. With cultural capitols in Chicago ,Indianapolis and formerly Detroit (Which was overtaken by the Green decades ago) the Federal Territories are united well ordered and wealthy ,home to cultured cities like Baltimore, Columbus and Philadelphia. They are also the birthplace of the Ancient Masonic Order , one of the oldest Magical orders in the nation.

The Kingdom of Magnolia: Symbolized by a light blue flag and one white star , Magnolia is the state of the south , characterized as standoffish , conservative and often times ignorant. In the War of Brothers Magnolia's Predecessor the CSA broke away from the union under Jefferson Landsplitter and his eight Traitor Generals. Eventually though throughout a brutal war in which numerous cities were burned with witch fire , Richmond was bombarded by Air Ship and brothers spilt the blood of brothers , the south was subdued and they have never gotten over it since. As such they have a quiet if civil disdain for 'Yankees' seeing them as uncultured , untrustworthy and simply without respect for tradition. 

  The knightly ways of chivalry are quite alive in Magnolia , whose people have a romantic reverence for the image of the 'Southern Gentleman' , a romantic, classy and honorable nobleman.  As such institutions like the duel and even chivalric orders are quite prominent  and a proud spot of Magnolian culture. However Magnolia does have a bit of a dark side as racial tension (Almost mounting in a war of 'White& Black' during the 6th decade of the 19th century) is ever rising , and not abated by the splitting off of Nova Africa on the south eastern coast.Much importance is also made in folk lore , the magics and ways of the common folk , as well as the honor of captaining and serving on an air ship. Regardless Magnolia is strong , proud and stubborn , never willing to give up their 'brave rebel heritage' and 'southern folkways' and they intend to keep it that way.

Magnolian Territory stretches from the border of the Princedom of Bourbon (Louisiana) in the west to Nova Africa in the East , their capitol is in Richmond Virginia where the Magnolia Throne sits.


The North Atlantic Republic:  Stoic , intelligent , cold , austere , if one was asked to describe a man of the North Atlantic this is what they'd say one way or another , hailing itself as the 'Birthplace of America' and 'Cradle of the Founding Father's the North Atlantic stretches from northern Pennsylvania up to Maine , comprising some of the wealthiest and most cultured provinces in the Union and the Empire City , symbol of Yankee ingenuity.The North prides itself for it's emphasis on education with the prestigious colleges and academies at Yale , Harvard and Penn State teaching generation after generation of the rich elite the ways of art , law , philosophy , and magic.....The rest of the country kinda hates them for being as they say 'Arrogant Ivy League dicks' . However due to a history of Powerful Songsayers like Benjamin Franklin , Samuel Adams and the like , none dare attempt to conquer them. In order to keep magic under control in their provinces the Salem Inquisition was founded and they hound all undocumented and criminal magic users with extreme prejudice. Also clam chowder.

Their Flag is a dark red with a white sailboat surrounded by a golden wreath and silver stars.

The Grass Sea: The Many provinces swallowed by the grass sea unite under one banner , burnt orange and with a golden crest of grass in front of the sun. Life is hard and often short out on the Prairie ocean , most people either farmers , bandits , or Buffalo whalers hunting the massive woolen beasts for the strange oil they have in their humps. The population is small and sparse often split up by family ranches , although there is the occasional city , and most who live here feel abandoned by the rest of the country who know them as 'Flyover Country'. They by far have the largest borders swallowing up everything between Wisconsin and Cascadia.

The Kingdom of Freeland : Wakanda with basketball....I kid , born during the time of strife when the country almost broke into a genocidal 'War of White & Black' Freeland was built as a sort of 'compromise state' , a byproduct of the segregation thought process of the times though it has since grown out of this. Initially hailed as a refuge for the descendants of slaves from oppression it now has a burgeoning and diverse population , the the culture remains heavily African American. However like all other states it is not without it's dark sides , The Turner Party , a band of rebels and terrorists attack non-black populations and raid majority white settlements in rural areas claiming Freeland is 'For Blacks only'. This has caused even more tension with Nova Africa's sister state Magnolia as their neighbors citizens begin to denounce Freeland as a 'hypocritical ethno state'. Freeland must now look to their past in order to decide their future.

 Yet  despite (or perhaps because) all of these challenges Freeland has a blossoming culture , centered around large cultured urban centers such as Atlanta (the seat of the Ebony Palace),Charleston, and Charlotte. Passed down from the history of slavery Freeland is known for it's peoples many folkways such as hoodoo ,a more ritualistic form of magic passed down from their ancestors in west Africa who would turn into rabbits to escape their plantations. Religion plays an increasingly role in public life as well as the reverence of ancestors mixes with baptist tradition to form the Nova African church. Music,fashion , the arts and athleticism take center role in public culture as well as the perception of 'cool' , a code of conduct revolving around near every part of daily life from clothes to attitude.  Though smaller than their Magnolian siblings the Army and Air Corps of Freeland are skilled , and include such units as "Henry's Steel Driving Knights" and the 'Buffalo Cavaliers' , as well as the 'Red Flag' Air Battalion.

Though a newer addition to Americana Freeland is optimistic , and determined to remain free at all costs, never again shall they be chained , one aim , one dream , Freeland forever.

The Republic of Texas: The Lone Star rises high in the southwest ,Texas proud and true against all odds born in it's own revolution achieves glory as the deepdrills of the dwarves burrow deep into the rough earth and find something more precious even than gems , Black Gold..the fuel for automatons , land ships and auto-phaetons , with it Texas rises to wealth and they're more than happy to let everybody know. The eternal rivals of their hated enemy California the Texans small but elite Army equipped with the new-fangled revolver guns of the dwarves is to be feared though their navy is weak. And their political influence extends out through the entire western half of the country , their agents infiltrating the governments and agencies of other states in order to act out Texan interest. The lone star wreathed in blue red and white hangs proudly from their capitol in Dallas , after all everything's bigger in Texas.
 
Principality of California: On the southern west coast of California , in the land where the sun sets , lies the Principality of California , flooded with a wave of immigrants from across the great Pacific expanse , and ruled by a 'divine prince' California it a major regional power and such. With control of the west coasts wealthiest ports , the symbol of this nation is the crimson of the Golden gate bridge on a golden background. California is tolerant , proud , cosmopolitan and strong.

Though their army organized by veteran warlords isn't anything to laugh at , it is in their air corps and navy that they should be truly feared , and a swarm of Californian Sky Junks on the horizon has struck fear into many of their enemies before.And they do have many of those , Texas vies with California for control over the strategic baja gulf and the south western provinces and Californias wealth in precious metals and Lacrima Crystal attract the greed of ambitious Texan Barons.

Cascadia: To most the north western state of Cascadia seems quite , peaceable , a place where one could settle down for a quite life in the woods away from the worries of the world. Most would be wrong , in small circles whispers abound of the strange beasts of this land , Sasquatches , Hide-behinds and more. For deep in the center of the northern woods there is a hole , a dark deep hole , and from it come things. Creatures not meant to still live , thawing out of imprisonment in the ice , and crawling to the surface. Just because the woods are quiet...doesn't mean they're safe.

Cascadia is home to the Hunter Order , a one hundred year old organization of skilled warriors and songsayers dedicated to keeping the beasts that stalk it's lands inside , and due to the dangerous environment of their homeland Cascadians tend to be resourceful , quiet and ready for a fight.

Hawaii: Owned by the Great Guild of Dole , Hawaii is one of the most culturally independent members of the Union, though because of this they rarely factor into politics.