Thursday, December 27, 2018

The Post-War Splintering of the Empire of California

It's not often, but between the Gnome Wars Facebook Group, and this blog, I get some minor fan mail.  Nothing too amazing.  In fact, I tend to get better material for random, off-hand comments on some of the e-mail chains among the Stout Gnomes.

Long-time gnome aficionado Bill Goodrick threw this one at me a while back, and it's worthy of discussion.

"ViscountEric, There was news recently of California possibly splitting into four, or even five states.  How would that affect the Imperial Republic of California?

Excellent question, Bill, as this very thing will happen in a few years down the timeline, and the result will make California the mightiest military power the world has ever seen.

Most historians focus on the Great Gnome War, which spanned the map, but few focus on the subsequent peace.  Upon cessation of hostilities the Gnomish Wanderlust that had powered exploration and war for decades prior came to a crashing halt.   Many soldiers simply dropped their weapons and began the arduous march back to their villages.

With this phenomenon occurring, the peace treaty was done far quicker than expected and put limits to ground forces of not only the losers, but the winners as well.   Armies would be considerably smaller and diplomatic channels were reaffirmed.

With the League of Gnomes firmly established, many nations would use it to curtail the economic and influence of the British mercantile fleet .  The Havana Naval Observer Treaty greatly reduced the number of ships in many powerful nations.  For a nation like the British, the permitted number of ships would barely protect the mercantile fleet.

However, in California, Emperor Steven I "The Seagull" had other plans.

The treaty would force significant ship reductions in California, but after a discussion with the regional governors, a shocking announcement was made:  portions of the of the Empire were seceding.

The improbable separation of the Empire of California would result in four states.  

Imperial California would cover Northern California and ports in Southern Columbia, which were seized for their harbors.  No changes
Los Grandos California covers the sparse southlands into the Baja.  Units are separately by whether they attended the blue neighborhood or the red ones.  Definitely, Confederate Gnomes in theme, with a few low-riders.

The Grand Principality of Schwarzeneggar-Bono  was developed with entertainers and a thriving community of German gnomes.  

The Eleven Sand Seas of Nevaho:  Lots of rhinestones , ex-pirate acrobats, and tiger cavalry led by adventurous explorer Roy Siegfried.  And a surprising number of gnomes dressed as Gnoman Infantry.  Nevaho's interior land-locked territory was mysteriously blessed by a 20 mile wide swath of territory reaching the coast.

California had deciphered the treaty and found a loophole.  Despite all the concerns for security, caps on ships were based on population, so Emporer Steven acknowledged that if his empire were carved into four nearly equal sections, They would each reach the maximum population in the treaty and an Imperial Confederacy on the West Coast could coordinate 300% more ships.

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