Ursus

Biodata

History

Ursus was forged into its contemporary form through the old Emperor's wars. His focus on conquest left territorial development neglected, while Crown Prince Feodor advocated economic construction and slower military expansion. The old military nobility opposed Feodor's program because it threatened to dilute their power. 17

Ursus sought high-purity Originium from newly stabilized Kazdel despite possessing extensive mines of its own. Its refining methods were described as crude, inefficient, and severely harmful; severely and moderately Infected were concentrated in mines, subjected to black-lot rituals, and buried in exhausted shafts to form new ore deposits. 16

Kazdel and Ursus concluded a commercial treaty under Laterano's witness. Kazdel goods entered Ursus at low tax rates, Ursus transferred military equipment in exchange for military-grade Originium, and Kazdel was permitted to purchase mine laborers—including teachers, doctors, farmers, and Infected children. 17 18

Near the end of the old Emperor's reign, Ursus abruptly ended its campaign against Kazimierz and invaded the East. The offensive initially succeeded but stalled against sustained resistance and inadequate supplies; the Emperor executed several senior generals before ordering peace with the East and confirming Feodor as successor. He died soon afterward. 18

Feodor inherited a state divided between his reformist faction and entrenched old nobles. He resisted demands for new foreign wars, using the time to build influence through the Fifth Army Group and loyal personnel; Vitt estimated that this internal struggle would prevent Ursus from launching a war for at least twenty years. 24

Feodor later gained political support by acquiring Kazimierz territory through mediation rather than conquest. The newly acquired land belonged directly to the Emperor, allowing him to distribute it without the old nobility's involvement. 32

Government and Society

• Emperor — Feodor succeeded his father after the latter's death and sought to shift Ursus from constant expansion toward economic development. 17 18
• Imperial Council — Vitt serves as Speaker of the Ursus Imperial Council and acts as Feodor's principal diplomat in dealings with Kazdel. 32
• Old nobility — Territorial dukes and veteran military nobles retain substantial influence. Though loyal to the Emperor, they resisted Feodor's reforms and favored war, where their authority was strongest. 16 17 24
• Treatment of Infected — Ursus discriminates against Infected people while offering preferential treatment to veteran soldiers, creating a politically difficult class of retired Infected soldiers. 39
• Treatment of non-Ursus races — Alien races face entrenched discrimination. Wendigo soldiers, despite their service and combat record, could rise no higher than captain in the Ursus Army. 32

Military

Ursus follows a continental-army doctrine centered on massive corps intended to overwhelm resistance with numbers. Its equipment is practical and shaped by combat experience, including heavy infantry gear, artillery-guidance drones, mortars, and Originium shells. 17

• Heavy infantry divisions — Feodor transferred the active equipment of one Ursus heavy infantry division to Kazdel during the Kazimierz crisis. 24
• Mortars and Originium shells — Ursus mortars and shells became a major source of military technology for Kazdel, whose artisans later reverse-engineered the equipment. 17 39
• Drones — Ursus reconnaissance and artillery-guidance drones are compact, concealable, and capable of serving as communication relays. 17
• Wendigo units — Formerly assigned to the northern demon-defense line and conventional wars, the Wendigo formations were officially disbanded after the old Emperor's death. Feodor later arranged for many Wendigos to return to Kazdel. 19 32
• Fourth and Fifth Army Groups — These formations were mobilized toward Kazdel when Ursus agreed to support it against Victoria. 48
• Joint exercises — Ursus demonstrated its naval artillery alongside Victoria in a large-scale exercise near Kazdel, with Kazdel cavalry and Wendigo units serving as supporting forces. 49

Foreign Relations

• Kazdel — A major trade partner and strategic associate. Ursus exchanged equipment for high-purity Originium, supplied laborers, cooperated in verifying Foreign Legion recruits, and later backed Kazdel against Victoria. 17 39 48
• Kazimierz — Ursus fought repeated wars with Kazimierz. After Kazdel's conflict with Kazimierz, Feodor gained territory through the resulting settlement without committing Ursus troops. 18 20 32
• Yan — Following the Russo-Eastern War, Feodor sought reconciliation with Yan through a jointly built commercial mobile city. Ursus hired Kazdel to provide security and logistical support for the project. 32
• Victoria — Ursus supported Kazdel against Victorian pressure in return for exclusive access to improved airship technology and Kazdel's promise not to manufacture military airships. 48
• Leithanien — Ursus remained cautious about Leithanien's expansion near its grain-producing regions, avoiding direct intervention while urging Kazdel to act during the Siracusa conflict. 40