Strosveld Info

Strosveld Info:
	The Duchy of Strosveld is a new nation in an old land. Its predecessor states were some of the first to arise from the chaos of the fall of the Neuland Empire eight hundred years in the past. The Duchy is only half a century old, born from the union of the Duke of Strosveld and Baroness of Marburg. While the marriage united two lands, the Duke of Strosveld had been a head of state since the foundation of his house, and acts as a mediator for a parliament elected by the people of each district of the nation. It is also notably one of the most stable nations in the areas, by virtue of its proportionally large military. In an area where small battles and prolonged skirmishes plague the lands of other nations, the Duchy of Strosveld is unmolested by its neighbors. Its position in the center of a multitude of testy nations has caused it to flourish as some of the brightest minds come seeking a safe and stable state.
	Strosveld may be a standout among its smaller neighbors but it is far from perfect. Its administration is a bickering mess of districts arguing over claims, and the only reason any forward movement is made politically is due to intervention of the Duke, often criticized as a power monger and a tyrant. Reactions to sudden troubles are slow and solutions often do not occur until it has been too long for them to prevent the damages caused by the problem. Their military, while well trained, is bogged down in petty power games between noble houses, whose members oft make up the officer echelons of the army. They view their commoner comrades with contempt, and are poor at best in working with them.
	The high nobles of the military usually act independently of the high command of the government. Some units are actually quite infamous for intervening in the conflicts of neighboring nations for the benefit of the lord in command. Such corruption is not like to disappear without extreme intervention.