Post by Liechtenstein on Nov 20, 2010 2:10:25 GMT -5
Nation: Principality of Liechtenstein
Name: Lili Zwingli
Gender: Female
Appearance of Age: 16
Hair Color: A slightly sandy blond
Eye Color: An aquamarine green
Height: 5’1”
Weight: 95 pounds
Appearance:
Personality:
At a first glance, Liechtenstein appears to be a reserved, quiet girl, though that initial impression isn’t the entire picture. It is true that she blushes every time she is addressed and has even has trouble talking to her adoptive brother on occasion, proving her shyness. Sometimes, though, extreme politeness can be mistaken for timidity since she normally doesn’t talk until she’s addressed. She doesn’t often raise her voice but when she finds something humorous, her loud, rich laugh can be surprising. Then she’ll clear her throat in a poised way, even though she really is slightly embarrassed by her outburst.
Liechtenstein’s serene, composed personality is rarely penetrated by others. Though, when she is occasionally mistaken for a boy, her self-consciousness may show. A slightly childish trait of hers is that a small treat (or anything to make her feel special, like her hair ribbon) can usually pacify her and raise her spirits.
With a brother like the trigger-happy Switzerland, it may seem strange that Lili dislikes guns or any weapons. The ability to end someone with a simple curl of the finger had always bothered her, though those opinions have never been voiced to her brother. When Italy happens to stumble into their lawn half or completely naked she makes her best effort to protect him, either quickly closing all the curtains in their sizeable house, stalling Vash, or going outside to warn Feliciano.
Even though she doesn’t support his use of firearms, Liechtenstein still holds a great deal of respect and love towards her brother. He is, after all, the one who took her in and giving her food and shelter when he himself was struggling. She often imitates him when in unfamiliar situations or when she’s unsure of what to do, or simply stays seen and not heard like a ‘proper lady.’ Lili also follows orders and requests without question and naively believes nearly everything her brother says. She also insists on taking care of their house, rather than hiring a maid, as a token of her appreciation towards him. Liechtenstein doesn’t mind it, and knows Vash doesn’t either, especially since it saves money.
Despite her admiration for her “bruder,” she occasionally disagrees with him, one of their main conflicts being religion. During the Protestant Reformation, Switzerland’s human namesake, Ulrich Zwingli, rebelled against the Catholic Church and has remained Protestant since, unlike Lili. She is a good, innocent little Catholic girl and is sure to dress modestly (which Vash appreciates). Liechtenstein also doesn’t like (though she wouldn’t dare say it aloud) when he forbids her from going out with friends and even on dates and wishes she was treated more like an adult.
She has also adapted to her brother’s frugal lifestyle, having developed a taste for less-expensive items. Lili is lucky she isn’t very picky and is indifferent to the “cheap cheese” Switzerland buys. On the opposite end of the spectrum, she is occasionally dragged on shopping sprees with Hungary or Belgium and is frequently pressured to spend all the money she has saved up on expensive apparel. While new clothes are nice, she doesn’t mind hand-me-downs and often alters her brother’s old uniforms herself to fit her much smaller frame. Lili rarely goes anywhere unescorted, nearly always by Vash.
Likes:
+ Her brother; Switzerland may be overprotective, but she doesn’t mind; she even actually enjoys it. It makes her feel loved and cared for, even when it can be kind of ridiculous. She just has to remember he does it for her own safety and good, giving her a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. She is ever-grateful for him for taking her in after the economically devastating World War I.
+ Cooking, cleaning, sewing; Although it can be a bother sometimes, especially in such a large house, she actually likes working around the house. Lili knows it helps her brother, and she, willing to do almost anything for him, happily obliges.
+ Cute animals; Liechtenstein is often reprimanded for bringing stray or wild animals home. She insists they needed her help and Vash usually submits, letting her keep it for a day or two. Lili also loves Gilbird but she’s never touched it, for it’s always on the head of Prussia, one of the many people she’s been forbidden to associate with.
Dislikes:
- Weapons/Fighting; Lili detests violence and doesn’t understand why people and countries fight. When she asks questions like those, she is often answered with things like, “you wouldn’t understand” or “don’t worry about it” which of course, make her even more curious. Like her brother, she refuses to participate in wars, but also wishes Switzerland wouldn’t carry his guns everywhere.
- Sadness; Seeing others in a low mood can make her upset as well, so she tries to make the person feel better when she can. Liechtenstein loves to cheer people up and is rather good at it (probably because she’s so adorable).
Fears:
~ Abandonment; She was incredibly grateful to her adoptive brother, but also surprised she was so readily accepted. Liechtenstein was a bit untrusting towards him at first, but realized he had no ulterior motives and became extremely attached to him after only a short period of time. She doesn’t know what she would do if the one person she trusts most dumped her like before, leaving her to disappear.
~ Independence; Liechtenstein doesn’t think she could survive alone, and doesn’t want to. She depends on Switzerland for many things and even though she thinks it’s selfish, she doesn’t want that to change. Lili sometimes wonders if her dependency inconveniences him, but she doesn’t seem to be too much of a bother to him.
Strengths:
+ Optimism
+ Money; Liechtenstein, for being such a tiny country, has one of the highest GDPs per capita.
+ Kind; Liechtenstein dislikes very few people, treating even America and Prussia (possibly the most disrespectful nations) with utmost benevolence, even when mistaken for someone else or even a boy. She doesn’t know how to not be kind. She took in Russian soldiers after World War II, even in her slightly impoverished state.
+ Technology; Lili is quick-witted, especially about engineering and how things work. She’s taken a special interest in electronics and is rather talented with computers, though she’s not nearly as technological as Estonia.
Weaknesses:
- Softness/Sensitivity; Liechtenstein is a peace-loving girl, being extremely caring and polite to all around her.
- Self-conscious; Liechtenstein is like any other teenage girl and compares herself to others, picking out the differences and brooding over it.
- Physically weak; Being barely 5 feet tall and being close to stick-thin definitely has it’s drawbacks. Not to mention, her entire country is smaller than the capital city of the United States. Lili never took part in any wars and is a strictly neutral country, having no military at all. Were she to be invaded, she wouldn’t be able to fight back.
-Naivety/Curiosity; Even with all the lessons on self defense and staying away from strangers, she just can’t turn down a pleasant conversation, not even with a stranger (or even worse, France).
History:
Background
Liechtenstein, as a descendant of Germania, bears a great deal of resemblance towards him and a few of the other Germanic nations. She shares the characteristic blond hair with Germany and Switzerland, and it can be assumed that they share some of the same blood (though probably not enough to be directly related). However, she wouldn’t be recognized as ‘Liechtenstein’ until the 18th century.
The Holy Roman Empire
Liechtenstein wasn’t yet one of the many tiny states in the Holy Roman Empire until the Liechtenstein family, from Castle Liechtenstein in Austria, bought the county of Vaduz and Schellenberg in 1712 and 1699, formally a principality of the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. The amount of land purchased just met the requirements for having a seat in the Reichstag, the assembly of the rulers of the states in the Holy Roman Empire.
During the Thirty Years’ War, just before her establishment as a principality, she was invaded by Austria as well as Sweden, who’d managed to march through the Holy Roman Empire into southern Germany. The war wasn’t especially devastating, but her misfortune continued when she caught the plague multiple times. Liechtenstein also has faint scars from the witch trials, over one-hundred innocent Liechtensteiners tortured and killed.
Napoleonic Years and German Confederation
At the Treaty of Westphalia, she and the other German states became virtually independent, sovereign states. When France began expanding his empire she was also conquered, she and neighboring states becoming the sovereign “Rhine Confederation” in 1806.
When Napoleon fell, the State of Liechtenstein was accepted into the German confederation in 1815. Many of the small German states similar to herself weren’t resurrected, her being one of the smallest independent principalities. Her boss at the time, Johann I had signed a constitution ensuring her autonomous rule as well as an absolute government.
The termination of her Customs Treaty with Austria-Hungary gave her economic freedom and she developed a textile industry. She was able to print her first national newspaper and open the first bank of Liechtenstein because of the new financial independence. But war between Prussia and Austria dented her economy, forcing her to leave. Liechtenstein declared herself neutral when she seceded from the German Confederation in 1868 and her army of a mere eighty men was dismissed.
The World Wars
Near the end of the 19th century, her economic situation hadn’t recovered, but worsened. Few jobs were available in her own country besides textiles and agriculture, forcing her citizens to seek work in neighboring countries. Some even emigrated, most to America.
During the first World War, Liechtenstein claimed neutrality, not participating directly in the fighting. However, she did assist Austria monetarily until the end of the war and the end of her Customs Treaty with Austria. Liechtenstein was now poorer than ever: the textile industry’s failure, hunger, and inflation driving her close to destruction. Switzerland offered her a new Customs Treaty with him, and she readily accepted.
Between the World Wars, more tragedy befell the poor nation; she was nearly bankrupt by the Sparkassa scandal and also suffered from severe floods. Luckily, Liechtenstein’s economic union with the neutral Switzerland kept her safe from the second World War in terms of money.
Post-World Wars to Modern Day
More blessings befell the tiny country after WWII, her nation transforming greatly in just a few years. Liechtenstein’s economy improved and overall, became more modernized from the poor, rural nation she was during the world conflicts.
During the Cold War, she generously gave refuge to about five-hundred men from the First National Russian Army. However, she feared her citizens’ involvements in the Soviet conflict and didn’t allow them to travel to Czechoslovakia.
Today, she has the highest GDP per capita and low taxes and uses the Swiss franc. Even now, Liechtenstein is very connected to Switzerland, their monetary union still in effect. She is a member of the EFTA and EEA, but like her fellow neutral nation, hasn’t joined the European Union.
Allies: Liechtenstein is a neutral state, though she does have a customs union with Switzerland, her brother. Other than political allies, she gets along with pretty much everyone though acts very reserved to more unfamiliar acquaintances.
Enemies: None, although she had a minor dispute with Russia over the Liechtenstein family’s archives that he’d stolen when she was occupied by Russia until he returned them in the 90’s. Nowadays, she’s still afraid of him but is sure to act politely towards him for fear of ‘becoming one’ with him…whatever that meant.
Sample Post:
For a long time, she couldn't tell if she was awake or dreaming. She didn't remember falling asleep, especially on such an uncomfortable surface, and hadn't ever had dreams this realistic. Liechtenstein could smell the sweet scent of old books and feel the coldness beneath her, giving her goosebumps even through her costume. The girl heard scuffling noises every so often as well, but every time she tried to open her soft green eyes only blackness met her vision. Lili began to hear even louder --though slightly muffled, possibly coming from the next room over-- sounds, almost like people talking. She concentrated hard on the voices, determining two speakers, one tone striking a familiar chord in her mind. Is...is that brother? she wondered.
A sudden, loud crash from the other room made the wooden floor under her shudder, making her jump in surprise. Lili opened her eyes again and shakily got herself up in a sitting position. She was almost sure she was awake now, and her eyes began to adjust. Just a few feet away, she could just barely make out the vague outline of a door. She verified her brother's presence on the other side of the wall, as well as one new identity. Liechtenstein began crawling on her hands and knees towards their voices, noticing Vash's becoming louder and more irritated. An unexpected shot made her stop dead in her tracks, taking in a sharp breath. She heard two outbursts and an apology, exhaling in relief when all three were accounted for.
Lili covered the rest of the distance quietly and knelt by the closed door. She put her ear to the door, straining to hear their conversation. She jumped in surprise again when she heard a sudden shriek from the other room and detached herself from the closed portal, her breath caught in her throat for a moment. I wonder what happened in there? I hope brother's alright...I want to see him...
The fifteen year old took a few deep breaths and stood. She put her hand on the cold, brass doorknob and slowly rotated her wrist. To her dismay, it wouldn't turn, making a disappointing click. A small wave of panic spread through her and she tried again, this time shaking the handle slightly. This time, she was successful and the door swung open slowly.
"B-brother?" she called, voice wavering.
Did you read the rules? Prussia likes being fed awesome pancakes by Gilbird and his chicks.
{{ Sorry for using the intro from MoF. DDDx It’s late and my brain is dead from two straight hours of Liechtenstein history (which isn’t much
). If you want me to re-write my sample post, I definitely will. >< }}
Name: Lili Zwingli
Gender: Female
Appearance of Age: 16
Hair Color: A slightly sandy blond
Eye Color: An aquamarine green
Height: 5’1”
Weight: 95 pounds
Appearance:
Personality:
At a first glance, Liechtenstein appears to be a reserved, quiet girl, though that initial impression isn’t the entire picture. It is true that she blushes every time she is addressed and has even has trouble talking to her adoptive brother on occasion, proving her shyness. Sometimes, though, extreme politeness can be mistaken for timidity since she normally doesn’t talk until she’s addressed. She doesn’t often raise her voice but when she finds something humorous, her loud, rich laugh can be surprising. Then she’ll clear her throat in a poised way, even though she really is slightly embarrassed by her outburst.
Liechtenstein’s serene, composed personality is rarely penetrated by others. Though, when she is occasionally mistaken for a boy, her self-consciousness may show. A slightly childish trait of hers is that a small treat (or anything to make her feel special, like her hair ribbon) can usually pacify her and raise her spirits.
With a brother like the trigger-happy Switzerland, it may seem strange that Lili dislikes guns or any weapons. The ability to end someone with a simple curl of the finger had always bothered her, though those opinions have never been voiced to her brother. When Italy happens to stumble into their lawn half or completely naked she makes her best effort to protect him, either quickly closing all the curtains in their sizeable house, stalling Vash, or going outside to warn Feliciano.
Even though she doesn’t support his use of firearms, Liechtenstein still holds a great deal of respect and love towards her brother. He is, after all, the one who took her in and giving her food and shelter when he himself was struggling. She often imitates him when in unfamiliar situations or when she’s unsure of what to do, or simply stays seen and not heard like a ‘proper lady.’ Lili also follows orders and requests without question and naively believes nearly everything her brother says. She also insists on taking care of their house, rather than hiring a maid, as a token of her appreciation towards him. Liechtenstein doesn’t mind it, and knows Vash doesn’t either, especially since it saves money.
Despite her admiration for her “bruder,” she occasionally disagrees with him, one of their main conflicts being religion. During the Protestant Reformation, Switzerland’s human namesake, Ulrich Zwingli, rebelled against the Catholic Church and has remained Protestant since, unlike Lili. She is a good, innocent little Catholic girl and is sure to dress modestly (which Vash appreciates). Liechtenstein also doesn’t like (though she wouldn’t dare say it aloud) when he forbids her from going out with friends and even on dates and wishes she was treated more like an adult.
She has also adapted to her brother’s frugal lifestyle, having developed a taste for less-expensive items. Lili is lucky she isn’t very picky and is indifferent to the “cheap cheese” Switzerland buys. On the opposite end of the spectrum, she is occasionally dragged on shopping sprees with Hungary or Belgium and is frequently pressured to spend all the money she has saved up on expensive apparel. While new clothes are nice, she doesn’t mind hand-me-downs and often alters her brother’s old uniforms herself to fit her much smaller frame. Lili rarely goes anywhere unescorted, nearly always by Vash.
Likes:
+ Her brother; Switzerland may be overprotective, but she doesn’t mind; she even actually enjoys it. It makes her feel loved and cared for, even when it can be kind of ridiculous. She just has to remember he does it for her own safety and good, giving her a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. She is ever-grateful for him for taking her in after the economically devastating World War I.
+ Cooking, cleaning, sewing; Although it can be a bother sometimes, especially in such a large house, she actually likes working around the house. Lili knows it helps her brother, and she, willing to do almost anything for him, happily obliges.
+ Cute animals; Liechtenstein is often reprimanded for bringing stray or wild animals home. She insists they needed her help and Vash usually submits, letting her keep it for a day or two. Lili also loves Gilbird but she’s never touched it, for it’s always on the head of Prussia, one of the many people she’s been forbidden to associate with.
Dislikes:
- Weapons/Fighting; Lili detests violence and doesn’t understand why people and countries fight. When she asks questions like those, she is often answered with things like, “you wouldn’t understand” or “don’t worry about it” which of course, make her even more curious. Like her brother, she refuses to participate in wars, but also wishes Switzerland wouldn’t carry his guns everywhere.
- Sadness; Seeing others in a low mood can make her upset as well, so she tries to make the person feel better when she can. Liechtenstein loves to cheer people up and is rather good at it (probably because she’s so adorable).
Fears:
~ Abandonment; She was incredibly grateful to her adoptive brother, but also surprised she was so readily accepted. Liechtenstein was a bit untrusting towards him at first, but realized he had no ulterior motives and became extremely attached to him after only a short period of time. She doesn’t know what she would do if the one person she trusts most dumped her like before, leaving her to disappear.
~ Independence; Liechtenstein doesn’t think she could survive alone, and doesn’t want to. She depends on Switzerland for many things and even though she thinks it’s selfish, she doesn’t want that to change. Lili sometimes wonders if her dependency inconveniences him, but she doesn’t seem to be too much of a bother to him.
Strengths:
+ Optimism
+ Money; Liechtenstein, for being such a tiny country, has one of the highest GDPs per capita.
+ Kind; Liechtenstein dislikes very few people, treating even America and Prussia (possibly the most disrespectful nations) with utmost benevolence, even when mistaken for someone else or even a boy. She doesn’t know how to not be kind. She took in Russian soldiers after World War II, even in her slightly impoverished state.
+ Technology; Lili is quick-witted, especially about engineering and how things work. She’s taken a special interest in electronics and is rather talented with computers, though she’s not nearly as technological as Estonia.
Weaknesses:
- Softness/Sensitivity; Liechtenstein is a peace-loving girl, being extremely caring and polite to all around her.
- Self-conscious; Liechtenstein is like any other teenage girl and compares herself to others, picking out the differences and brooding over it.
- Physically weak; Being barely 5 feet tall and being close to stick-thin definitely has it’s drawbacks. Not to mention, her entire country is smaller than the capital city of the United States. Lili never took part in any wars and is a strictly neutral country, having no military at all. Were she to be invaded, she wouldn’t be able to fight back.
-Naivety/Curiosity; Even with all the lessons on self defense and staying away from strangers, she just can’t turn down a pleasant conversation, not even with a stranger (or even worse, France).
History:
Background
Liechtenstein, as a descendant of Germania, bears a great deal of resemblance towards him and a few of the other Germanic nations. She shares the characteristic blond hair with Germany and Switzerland, and it can be assumed that they share some of the same blood (though probably not enough to be directly related). However, she wouldn’t be recognized as ‘Liechtenstein’ until the 18th century.
The Holy Roman Empire
Liechtenstein wasn’t yet one of the many tiny states in the Holy Roman Empire until the Liechtenstein family, from Castle Liechtenstein in Austria, bought the county of Vaduz and Schellenberg in 1712 and 1699, formally a principality of the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. The amount of land purchased just met the requirements for having a seat in the Reichstag, the assembly of the rulers of the states in the Holy Roman Empire.
During the Thirty Years’ War, just before her establishment as a principality, she was invaded by Austria as well as Sweden, who’d managed to march through the Holy Roman Empire into southern Germany. The war wasn’t especially devastating, but her misfortune continued when she caught the plague multiple times. Liechtenstein also has faint scars from the witch trials, over one-hundred innocent Liechtensteiners tortured and killed.
Napoleonic Years and German Confederation
At the Treaty of Westphalia, she and the other German states became virtually independent, sovereign states. When France began expanding his empire she was also conquered, she and neighboring states becoming the sovereign “Rhine Confederation” in 1806.
When Napoleon fell, the State of Liechtenstein was accepted into the German confederation in 1815. Many of the small German states similar to herself weren’t resurrected, her being one of the smallest independent principalities. Her boss at the time, Johann I had signed a constitution ensuring her autonomous rule as well as an absolute government.
The termination of her Customs Treaty with Austria-Hungary gave her economic freedom and she developed a textile industry. She was able to print her first national newspaper and open the first bank of Liechtenstein because of the new financial independence. But war between Prussia and Austria dented her economy, forcing her to leave. Liechtenstein declared herself neutral when she seceded from the German Confederation in 1868 and her army of a mere eighty men was dismissed.
The World Wars
Near the end of the 19th century, her economic situation hadn’t recovered, but worsened. Few jobs were available in her own country besides textiles and agriculture, forcing her citizens to seek work in neighboring countries. Some even emigrated, most to America.
During the first World War, Liechtenstein claimed neutrality, not participating directly in the fighting. However, she did assist Austria monetarily until the end of the war and the end of her Customs Treaty with Austria. Liechtenstein was now poorer than ever: the textile industry’s failure, hunger, and inflation driving her close to destruction. Switzerland offered her a new Customs Treaty with him, and she readily accepted.
Between the World Wars, more tragedy befell the poor nation; she was nearly bankrupt by the Sparkassa scandal and also suffered from severe floods. Luckily, Liechtenstein’s economic union with the neutral Switzerland kept her safe from the second World War in terms of money.
Post-World Wars to Modern Day
More blessings befell the tiny country after WWII, her nation transforming greatly in just a few years. Liechtenstein’s economy improved and overall, became more modernized from the poor, rural nation she was during the world conflicts.
During the Cold War, she generously gave refuge to about five-hundred men from the First National Russian Army. However, she feared her citizens’ involvements in the Soviet conflict and didn’t allow them to travel to Czechoslovakia.
Today, she has the highest GDP per capita and low taxes and uses the Swiss franc. Even now, Liechtenstein is very connected to Switzerland, their monetary union still in effect. She is a member of the EFTA and EEA, but like her fellow neutral nation, hasn’t joined the European Union.
Allies: Liechtenstein is a neutral state, though she does have a customs union with Switzerland, her brother. Other than political allies, she gets along with pretty much everyone though acts very reserved to more unfamiliar acquaintances.
Enemies: None, although she had a minor dispute with Russia over the Liechtenstein family’s archives that he’d stolen when she was occupied by Russia until he returned them in the 90’s. Nowadays, she’s still afraid of him but is sure to act politely towards him for fear of ‘becoming one’ with him…whatever that meant.
Sample Post:
For a long time, she couldn't tell if she was awake or dreaming. She didn't remember falling asleep, especially on such an uncomfortable surface, and hadn't ever had dreams this realistic. Liechtenstein could smell the sweet scent of old books and feel the coldness beneath her, giving her goosebumps even through her costume. The girl heard scuffling noises every so often as well, but every time she tried to open her soft green eyes only blackness met her vision. Lili began to hear even louder --though slightly muffled, possibly coming from the next room over-- sounds, almost like people talking. She concentrated hard on the voices, determining two speakers, one tone striking a familiar chord in her mind. Is...is that brother? she wondered.
A sudden, loud crash from the other room made the wooden floor under her shudder, making her jump in surprise. Lili opened her eyes again and shakily got herself up in a sitting position. She was almost sure she was awake now, and her eyes began to adjust. Just a few feet away, she could just barely make out the vague outline of a door. She verified her brother's presence on the other side of the wall, as well as one new identity. Liechtenstein began crawling on her hands and knees towards their voices, noticing Vash's becoming louder and more irritated. An unexpected shot made her stop dead in her tracks, taking in a sharp breath. She heard two outbursts and an apology, exhaling in relief when all three were accounted for.
Lili covered the rest of the distance quietly and knelt by the closed door. She put her ear to the door, straining to hear their conversation. She jumped in surprise again when she heard a sudden shriek from the other room and detached herself from the closed portal, her breath caught in her throat for a moment. I wonder what happened in there? I hope brother's alright...I want to see him...
The fifteen year old took a few deep breaths and stood. She put her hand on the cold, brass doorknob and slowly rotated her wrist. To her dismay, it wouldn't turn, making a disappointing click. A small wave of panic spread through her and she tried again, this time shaking the handle slightly. This time, she was successful and the door swung open slowly.
"B-brother?" she called, voice wavering.
Did you read the rules? Prussia likes being fed awesome pancakes by Gilbird and his chicks.
{{ Sorry for using the intro from MoF. DDDx It’s late and my brain is dead from two straight hours of Liechtenstein history (which isn’t much
). If you want me to re-write my sample post, I definitely will. >< }}
