Gaullic Errata

1)  Are there any significant cultural differences between the nations in, uh, whatever this continent is called and real life 1911 Europe?
The general policy is that it's the same unless otherwise stated (for simplicity).  Major differences include the fact that the Christian holy land is on this continent (Canaan), this world experienced reverse-Crusades (the Jihads) where the Moslems invaded, other way around.  Instead of England and France being historic enemies across the channel, it was Calabria and Albion.  Gaule is historic enemies with Prussian, kinda enemies with Calabria, frenemies with Iberia, and generally view Albion with suspicion since they're not even Catholic.

2)  What are the major cities in Gaule? What are they like?
The four largest cities are Labrie, Toulouse, Andiers, and the capital, Quinne.  Quinne is a massive city with a huge cultural output, full of artists and musicians.  It's far and away the largest city in Gaule.  Toulouse is where most of the navy is usually stationed, and is a major merchant port to Rossiya, Noregr, the Balkan nations, Iberia, and the C.C.R.   Andiers used to be an independent city-state way back when and still retains a lot of special permissions from the national government, being the most self-governing city.  It used to have a native language even, a subdialect of Gaulic, but that's all but extinct.  It has the most proud and powerful military tradition.  Labrie is a very academic town sitting on a river in a deep valley, the smallest of the four cities and rather sleepy in nature. Despite that, it was the Enlightenment academics of Labrie were what put in motion the Gaulic Revolution more than a century ago, and there's hushed communist whispers in the cafes there.  There's also a substantial women's suffrage movement there.  Labrie is notable for its many libraries, one in particular being the Library of Canaan (also known as the Great Library), which has incredibly rare and valuable texts from all eras of history.

3)  What's life like for someone in Gaule? If they're poor? If they're rich? If they're in the various major cities?
Life is much like it always was.  The rural areas are dominated by farmland, and many people in Gaule are farmers.  In the cities, they are liable to be craftsmen, laborers, or shopkeepers.  If you're poor, life isn't as good.  If you're rich, you probably have both a city home and a country chateau, if not more dwellings.  A significant number of the nobility were killed off in the revolution, but plenty survived and there were plenty of wealthy people who weren't nobles.  The poorer classes tend to be occupied farming, laboring, or engaged in some common or minimally skilled craft.  The middle classes tend to be the shopkeepers, lawyers, doctors, or Church clerics.  The most wealthy often own large enterprises or just collect money from rent, allowing them to live in liesure without work.  It's not as dire as it used to be earlier in the Industrial Revolution, and starving is uncommmon, but there's still a lot of wealth disparity.  However, most Gauls still chafe under the fallout of the loss of the Prusso-Gaulic war, and yearn to be reunited with the lost territories of Alsace and Lorraine.


4)  What's the leading political party?
There's several major political parties, with a couple leading the front and another one of notable mention (there's more, and elections are typically decided by plurality instead of majority, but the others aren't worth mentioning).  The most prominent political party in Gaule is the NATIONAL HOMELAND FRONT, which has an established political ideology and is generally guided by academics, intellectuals, and military theorists, who constitute the leadership of the party.  Autarky--national self-sufficiency--is hugely important to the NHF, and under their administration tariffs have risen considerably.  A major point of concern for them is military preparedness, for the inevitable and glorious war with Prussia.  This party is also fairly xenophobic and immigration has been restricted due to them.
The second largest party is the ROYAL PROGRESSIVE COMBINE. This party is lead by the social elite and wealthy of Gaule, and advocates a laissez-faire government, as well as more liberal government on immigration and business.  A major point for them is promoting industry and businesses.  This party is well-funded, but often disliked by the poor.
Worth mentioning is the LIBERAL COMMUNE, which is illegal in most parts of Gaule.  Founded and run by pious clergymen--the laymen, rather than the bishops--the LC is a Socialist party that initially advocated governmental reform and a return to old-time morals, but has been coopted by its membership into being more oriented towards universal egalitarianism.

5)  Who's making headlines in the news?
General Marc-Antoine Cellier is making news with his bellicose statements about Prussia. In addition, Robin Corriveau, with the Royal Progressive Combine, recently took the position of Prime Minister in the latest election.  However, most of the rest of the administration is still National Homeland Front.

6)  Who's paying the troops and who wants to pay the troops less?
The government, and the Royal Progressive Combine.  The RPC just wants to make a lot of money, while the NHF is filled with patriotic ardor and a vengeful desire for the loss of the Prusso-Gaulic war.

7)  What's the biggest scandal on the radio waves?
The singer Maxime Jacquet, along with twenty other people was just arrested at a clandestine Socialist meeting at a cafe!  Her fate is yet to be determined.