Republic of Finland

[finland]

• S U O M E N – T AS A V A L T A

Child
Teenager
Present

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Name --- Tino Väinämöinen
Nation --- Finland
Aliases --- M'w'fe Timo; Suomen Tasavalta; Republiken Finland; Mama.
Apparent age --- 20
Actual age ---
Counting from Prehistoric Times ; Since 8500 BCE.
Counting from Swedish Rule; Since the early 13oo's.
Counting from the Russian Grand Duchery; Since 1809.
Counting from Complete independence; Since 1917.
Gender --- Male

|-|-The External-|-|

Eye color --- Violet. They look blue in the right light.
Hair color --- Almost white, a very very pale ash-blonde.
Height --- 5'6 ½.
Weight --- 125 lbs.
Skin tone --- Pale. Almost pale enough to blend in with the snow.
Defining features ---

Most of the time, the man can be spotted with a warm smile upon his face. It compliments the rosy hue to his cheeks quite well, the only splash of color on his face other than his violet eyes. You can tell when the Finn is near, because the atmosphere will seem just a tad lighter, and the scent of baked goods will linger. There is a hint of stress behind his eyes however, and that seeds from being watched constantly by a certain Swede. You can be certain that wherever Tino is, Berwald won't be that far behind him. The air that floats about him sometimes suggests that he lives in his...own little world. Tino is the shortest of the Nordic Five, though that really isn't saying much. Seeing as most of them are in the six-feet and taller range, this makes the Nordic unusually tall compared to the rest of the European countries, excluding Germany. This makes him slightly intimidating at first glance, though it's only slightly. His warm smile soon excludes any negative thoughts.

As for his attire, the Finn can be spotted wearing a light blue military suit and simple boots, along with a metal cross on the collar and a white beret on his head. The purpose for said clothing is to attain any sense of dignity, and on the other hand, most countries wear their representative military suits anyways when attending a world meeting/conference. And plus, the blue just compliments his pale complexion quite well. The cross around his neck is a point of interest, Tino's worn it ever since he could remember the Crusades starting in his lands. It holds within the ironworks, both good and bad memories.

Additional features ---

During the holidays, he will wear a white-fur-trimmed outfit complete with a red and white hat. This is because he's Santa. He believes it adds to the Holiday Cheer, and around that season, he'll often give out little gifts and candies to the other nations, and to some humans as well. When he’s not at meetings, (see: home) Tino dresses in a simple duo of jeans, a t-shirt (usually white, unless he’s wearing his Finnish flag shirt), and slippers. The beret is absent as well, because he’s at home.When not working, Tino prefers to be comfortable. For super-special occasions, such as big parties with other nations, Tino will dress up in a white suit complete with a single pink rose in his top buttonhole. (Black would have made him look far too pale, and pink matches the light hues better than red ever did.)

|-|-The Internal-|-|

Personality ---

Sweet, simple, and gentle, Tino is rather adultlike but easily embarrassed; especially so around Berwald. The blonde can keep his head in an emergency however, proving that he’s smart as well. The man is talkative and very friendly, despite his dark past. Berwald calls him his ‘wife’, and though it bothers him a little…Tino really doesn’t mind too much. He's also somewhat of an optimist. The Finn is also slowly learning how to trust others; his cautious nature gives him a little hint of paranoia. He constantly keeps a smile on his face in order to hide his true feelings. Yes, Tino bottles his feelings. Sometimes, the blonde wishes he had moments to just let it all out, but...he doesn't want to worry anyone. Worrying people would cause them stress, and he doesn't want to make unnecessary problems for any of his allies/family members.

If you ask him about that, he will blatantly deny it. Tino often comes off as motherly, especially to his 'little brothers', Nikolai (Norway) and Egil (Iceland, name is subject to change). With Nikolai, he's able to relax a little bit. The two are very good friends, and for that fact, Tino is grateful. With Iceland, the man is a little more talkative, but he usually gets the same linefaced response and a nod. Around Denmark, he’s teased, and as a result, he kind of avoids the Dane, but doesn’t really mind talking to him. And then, there’s the matter of Sweden. His feelings towards the Swede are halfway in between an odd sense of love and moreover, a sense of fear. The glare often given off by the other intimidates the Finn and causes him to go on and on in his sentences, because he doesn’t want to feel the eyes of the Swede burning into his skull, and he most certainly doesn’t want to think about it. He’s also good friends with Estonia. Last but not least comes his relationship with Sealand. He sees the boy as his own child, often taking care of him and making sure that he’s happy and well-fed. On another note, Tino is good to go to for advice, because he'll wait until you're done talking before offering his thoughts on the situation. When he's alone, the blonde is quiet and reserved. Around strangers, he's cheery and a little untrusting, but polite nonetheless. It was how he was rose to be, polite and cheerful.

There is another side to his sweet face, however. If you push him too far then he can and will snap, and a personality almost like the one of a mother bear will appear. This seems to happen the most if his 'child' Peter is endangered. If certain people push him just a little too far, as was seen in the war between another nation and himself, this side will appear. He won't hesitate to hurt someone in between himself and Peter, or himself and Berwald, for that matter. But then, it's always best not to judge a book by its cover, right? This is what Ivan did in the Winter Wars after all, and look how that turned out.

Likes ---
ღ Saliamakki, a sweet treat from his homelands.
ღ Saunas, he and Sweden often visit them.
ღ Festivals, he's come up with some pretty crazy ones before.
ღ His 'family,' though they really are nothing but a group of men, he still loves them all dearly.
ღ Snow, Tino grew up surrounded by it.
ღ Taking care of people, whether they be small children, teenagers, or adults. He just likes to see people be happy.
ღ Good books, but then, who doesn't?
ღ Animals, they tend to cheer him up.
ღ Nature, seeing so much natural life makes Tino feel at ease.
ღ Being with Berwald, though you'd never guess it from the way he acts around the Swede.

Dislikes ---

✕ The dark. It holds too many bad memories for the Finn.
✕ Arguments. Tino prefers to get along with people.
✕ Russia. There are several reasons for this, but the main reason is the Winter Wars.
✕ Blood. The Finn's a bit squeamish.
✕ Pain. Whether it be emotional or pyhsical, Tino will try to avoid it.
✕ The fact that Sweden and Denmark try to kill each other all the time. This is, er, pretty self-explanatory.
✕ Cruelty in general. Tino is gentle by nature, and it upsets him to see people who abuse others or nature.
✕ Sweden's death glare. It utterly terrifies him, especially seeing it first thing in the morning!
✕ Vulgar jokes. Ugh.
✕ Mice and spiders

Fears ---

• That one day, Denmark and Sweden really WILL kill each other. Even in the past, the two didn't get along. So naturally, Tino watches the two very closely.
• The future. He knows it's useless to be afraid of what you can't predict, but...
• Sealand growing up. This would be why he's called 'Mama' instead of 'Poppa'.
• The dark. Too many bad memories.

Lesser known facts ---

○ He's got a remarkable aim with a weapon; particularly a rifle.
○ He's certainly stronger than he looks, don't judge him on his outer appearance alone.
○ Tino doesn't have a very high alcohol tolerance, and he's a pretty mean drunk. It's why he doesn't drink often.
○ He sleeps with a night light
○ He loves coffee. Loves it a lot.

Goals ---

• Keeping Berwald and Peter happy. Failing at either would depress him greatly.
• Making friends around the world. Nothing would make him happier.
• Keeping out of wars. Yech, war.

|-|-The Past-|-|

History ---
{If I did something wrong here, I'm terribly sorry. XD;; j-just tell me and I'll fix it right up~ ;;;;}

Timeline

*Around 4000 BCE—Foundation of the first cultures of Finland. Estimated birth.
*Iron ages; 500 BCE until c.1150 AD. Swedish conquest of Finland is compete, middle ages begin.
*1380; Queen Margaret I of Denmark creates the Kalmar Union.
*1500’s –Finland becomes known as Österland. Tino’s first real name appears here.
*1521; Kalmar Union collapses.
*16oo’s, Swedish rule over everything.
*1697-1699; famine caused by climate.
*17oo’s; 30 Years’ War with Germany. {Date us estimated}
*1700-1721; Great Northern War with Russia. Sweden loses status as a Great European Power.
*1809, Finland is invaded by Russia and taken from Swedish ruling. Tino becomes the Grand Duchy of Finland.
*December 6th, 1917—Finland declares Independence from Russia.
*December 18; Russia recognizes Finland’s independence, then approving it on December 22nd.
*1939; Winter Wars begin.
*1940; Winter Wars end.
*1941; Continuation Wars begin.
*1944; Continuation Wars end.
*1955; Finland joins the European Union.

Detailed

The Beginning (Child; 4000 BC to the 1300’s)[/u]

As is the case with many nations, before colonization, Finland and his people were mostly hunter-gatherers. Tino and his citizens lived in happiness and peace. They lived off the land and sustained each other in a traditional lifestyle, as was common to the times. Then, the middle ages rolled around and the vikings appeared to colonize, forever changing the poor young nation's life. His lands were soon conquered by the Swedish and would be so for many years. He’ll never forget the years that followed ahead.


More than one country wanted to rule over Tino and his land when it (and himself) was discovered. Among those looking for ownership were Sweden, Denmark, The Republic of Nvgorod, and a few crusading German orders. After one or two invasions by Denmark, the victor was Sweden, and Finland lived with him long into the middle ages, himself even becoming a province of Sweden in the 13oo's. Just after that, Denmark groups together the Nordic countries and starts the Kalmar Union, ruling them all by himself. A very stressful point in history for all the Nordics; and Tino soon found out that Berwald didn’t like being ruled by Denmark one single bit. The two are ruled by the nation until 1521, when it collapsed and Berwald took Tino and went back home. It was around this time that he also took the name of Österland, which literally meant Eastern Land. A few yeas after the escape and collapse, Finland is named a Grand Duchy of Sweden—just before the peasants rise in rebellion (estimated date is 1596). But, Tino's troubles didn't end with a rebellion. A year later, a severe famine took over the land, dropping the population of Finland to one third of its original. Tino could feel himself dying away, he and his people both. It was a very frightening time for the young nation. In 1710, a plague struck his capitol and then in 1713, Russia invades for the first time, taking part of Finland away from Swedish rule.



The Great Northern War

This war, essentially, is Tino's first of many against Russia. Sweden fought against Russia for the borderline of Finland. Since Sweden won, the poor boy thought that this would be the last he'd ever see of Ivan. Though, considering that Ivan managed to take part of Eastern Finland, Tino really should have seen what was coming next. Unfortunately, he didn't, and what resulted was the complete overtake of his lands and being torn away from Sweden for good. This is also when the concept of being a free country and earning his independence began to seep into his thoughts. Tino is around the age of 14 or so by now, and so the concept of rebelling against the adults around you was to be expected.

Russian Grand Duchy (1808)

Finland is fully conquered by the armies of the Tsar, Alexander I, which took him away from Swedish rule entirely. Under Russian ownership, Tino went through oppression and he and his people were made to conform to the Russian way of life. This, you can imagine, did not bode well with the nation and his people. The thought of freedom once more began to push at his thoughts, and seeing the people he so loved and cared about being oppressed like this sparked his long hidden rebellious feelings.

Fighting for Independence (Middle)(Teenage years)

On December 6th of 1917, Finland's government came up with a declaration of independence. This, unfortunately, also lead to a civil war, staging the 'Red Finns' against the 'White Finns'. The 'Red Finns' managed to take Helsinki (the current capital) and other towns, until Germany intervened and helped to crush the rebellion. Russia didn’t recognize his independence due to the collapsing Soviet Union until December 18th, and finally on December 22nd, Tino becomes his own, independent country.


In October of 1918, a German Prince was made the King of Finland, though his reign was short. Finland rewrote his constitution and in 1919, Tino became a republic. All was well until the start of World War II, where things spiraled down into hell. That was when Ivan turned on him again, looking for land and someone 'simple and weak' to take it from. As the following events will show, he really shouldn’t have picked on the Finn.


The Winter Wars (February 14, 1939-1940)


Tino's second war against Russia, though this war was fought mostly by the Finn with little Swedish intervention. Russia, fearing attack from the west, wanted to take territory from Finland to protect his northern flank. This quite obviously, Tino and his government disapproved of, which lead to war. The Finns were heavily outnumbered by the Russians, the opposing force having three times as many soldiers, 30 times as many aircraft, and 100 times as many more tanks. Tino, in fact, wasn't sure if he was going to win this war. The Russian morale was low however, and Finland managed to pull through and even win against the Soviet invasion. The war ended in March of 1940 with the signing of the Moscow Peace Treaty, where Finland seceded 11% of his lands and 30% of his economic assets to the Soviet Union. This particular war wasn’t the longest, but is certainly well remembered for all the losses on the Soviet Side. It shows off how much of a badass Tino really is too.


The Continuation War (1941-1944)(Read: Revenge)


A year later however, Finland joins forces with Germany in attacking Russia. The Finns themselves called it the 'Continuation War'. Finland quickly regained his territory, but when Great Britain declaired war on Finland (after Germany had been defeated in Salingrad in 1943), Tino realized that he should leave the war, revenge wasn’t really worth fighting England. Negotiations began in March of 1944 with Russia, but Finland rejected Russia's demands over and over again. Russia being the stronger country, Tino eventually called for a ceasefire on the 5th of September, with much bitterness on his side. At long last, things became somewhat stable between himself and his neighbor, Russia.

After the war/Present day

A lot of land went to Russia in the surrender, and Finland also had to pay for the damages done. A final, final peace treaty was made with Russia in 194. The economy after the war rose and sank, and in 1955, Finland joined the European Union. Today, the population of Finland is estimated to be 5.2 million people. His economy is fairly stable, and he's currently the champion in mosquito-killing, mobile phone-throwing, and wife-carrying. (Those are all competitions, seriously.) As you can tell, he's a lot more laid back compared to how he used to be.

|-|-The Style-|-|

Roleplay example ---

{The Winter Wars; beginning; 1940}

Cold. That was the only thought registered in the Finn's brain at the moment as he pulled his jacket and cloak closer to his shaking body, watching the flakes swirling in the psychotic and unpredictable breeze. His cheeks were flushed red from the bitter cold and his equally frozen hands were shaking with the effort to keep a grip on the object within them. A gun, a rifle to be exact. The scope was taken off, he wouldn't be able to use it in this bitter dark. Tino didn't know how long he'd been waiting out here for the Russian man to show, but he knew he'd be damn near dead if he gave up and went back now. This was it. The final fight for his freedom. Tino allowed his mind to wander for a moment, thinking of Berwald, his kind and somewhat obsessive neighbor. He missed the man and knew he'd be a great help in this war, but this was something the Finn knew inwardly that he'd have to win himself. Not only was he fighting Ivan to gain freedom for himself and his people, he was fighting to prove himself, to prove that he wasn't just the shy and weak man whom everyone seemed to think he was upon first looking at him.

Tino checked the ammunition in the rifle again; full. The man took a breath to calm himself and coughed a little, having inhaled bitter cold air and a few chunks of what felt like frozen ice instead of snow. The air however helped him calm himself and focus on the task at hand. He squinted through the blizzard, wondering if Ivan was already out there, trying to spot himself. That thought send a violent shudder down the man's back and he forced it out of his mind. He had to stay positive, and he had to remember what he was fighting for. Otherwise the Finn was sure to lose this battle against the Russian. Losing wasn't an option in such a dire time as this. Losing would ensure his downfall and his entrapment for years and years to come. Slowly, his thoughts began to drift to the matter of his opponent, wondering if he had any weaknesses. Beside him, the soldiers stirred in the inky dark, just as frozen, tired, and cold as he was. These humans didn't want to be here any more than Tino did. Someone had to take Ivan on though, and the Finn wasn't about to leave that up to the poor beings themselves.

Ivan. Tall and intimidating, childishly cruel; his sanity warped to the point where others gave him a wide berth. This man sent shivers down the backs of all others he knew, but Tino to be honest felt nothing but pity for the poor soul. Imagining what the other must have gone through to twist him into the being he was today made Tino feel sympathy for his opponent rather than fear. He tensed however upon seeing a moving figure in the powder and the grip on his gun tightened as the rest of him shook, this time with anxiety mixed with fear. This was it. Now or never, for freedom or for a lifelong servitude under the Russian. * “Toivota onnea, äiti.” he murmured and kissed the Cross hiding beneath the cloak before taking aim and firing into the whiteout, watching as the first few figures stumbled with the pain of the bullets. Shots rang out, louder than anything else Tino had ever heard, but quieter than the silence of the snow. It felt like a dream. No. Not a dream. It felt like a nightmare.

The poor nation didn't know that luck was not on his side that night. He didn't know what the outcome would be; he didn't know how much longer he'd have to actually fight off the Russian. Nearby, he heard the screams of the soldiers, the cries of anguish, the cries of fear and the smell of iron to go with it. He could smell the blood in the air. He could taste it in his mouth, an iron aftertaste lingering. The last thing Tino remembered seeing was the smile, that smile. The one wich would remain in his nightmares for years to come. Ivan had lost it, nothing was right in his mind anymore. All the Russian was thinking about was to kill and to prevail over his enemy. Blast it, glancing around, Tino knew what he had to do. *"Vedä takaisin! Retreat!" He called over the storm and watched as his soldiers did as told; as they dissapeared amongst the trees, the Finn following shortly after. He hoped that none of them were too badly injured.

{*Wish me luck, mother; Pull back!}

|-|-The Player-|-|

Username --- Finland
Age --- 17
Time zone --- AKST/AKDT/GMT …uh, the point is, I’m in Alaska. xD;



Please just tell me if I need to change anything. orz ;;;

[Spain]

Hey, welcome to War & Peace! I am sure that Norway will be glad to see you accepted, hopefully we'll get more Northern Europeans so that you will be able to rp the larger events (and I'm sure as you know, some facts may need tweaking as they join). Anyway, please check out the Additional Character Information and the Member's Section to get started with the forum. Awesome job!