The Right to Rule

[Vahir]

Be forewarned: I am terrible at making these summaries.

Welcome to the Kingdom of Galenave, loosely based on medieval France. The land is divided into fiefs owned by the major families, and the King sits on his thrown, afraid (justifiably) that the moment he steps out of the capital, the treacherous nobility would take him prisoner. Meanwhile, the nobles run across the countryside, in a deadly game of politics to increase one's prestige and possessions. You are one of these noble families. Each player will have his own crest and land, and will compete to win the king's favor, and to eliminate their rivals.

Note that this game will take place in the transition between the early Middle Ages and the upper, which means that while there are some plate armor and such, most armor is chain mail, and there are no crossbows.


You can find the IC here.

Name of house:
Crest: (Use this if you can't find one you like)
Description of Fief (Explain its geography, its major settlements, stuff of note):
House Family: (Wife, children, brothers and such)
Vassals: (Which families owe you fealty? Name their own seats.)
Family culture, tradition: (Give an impression about your family)

An example (And my sheet):

Name of house: House of Carn

Crest:



Description of Fief: The Carn family holds a fief in the westernmost portion of the realm, an area covered in mountains. The ancient empire had constructed a strong line of fortifications there, as it was the main passage used by barbarians to raid the civilized world. Since then, the Carns moved in and reinforced the line, constructed mighty bastions with thick walls. The principal city, and the seat of the Carns, is Ingria, a city of some forty thousand which is fairly prosperous due to its location on the trade route with the city-states beyond. Although not as strong as the Carns would like, its walls could still repel all but the most determined assailant.

Several other cities lie with it in the valley of the river Thun. However, the pride of the Carns lies with the three castles guarding their lands: Calabria, which holds the northern pass, Bern to the south, an old castle now in a state of near ruin but still imposing, and the true shield of the land, the citadel of Kerall, commonly said to be impenetrable, with its natural cliffs and naturally defensive position.

House Family:

Count Geith: Current lord
Lady Elennor: Wife to Geith
Lord Rillian: Eldest son and heir
Lord Moulder: Second oldest
Lord Hector: Third Odlest
Lady Marcia: Fourth Oldest
Lord Markus: Youngest
Duke Hector: Geith's brother
Duke Oswind: Geith's Cousin

Vassals:

House Boros: Bern
House Tandis: Calabria
House Carneis: Kerall
House Seth: Montebell
House Illyn: Daen
House Wern: Weddis

Family culture, tradition: The Carns are a deeply sedentary people, and are about as movable as a rock. A Carn will never stray from his or her path, fighting on to the bitter end. They are also very isolationist: Their valley has food enough for all, and their walls protect them, so the Carn rule of thumb when the rest of the realm agitates is to bunker down and leave them to their troubles. Carns dislike leaving the valley, although as a vassal they are forced to present a representative at the King's court, usually the youngest child of the ruling family. They are a very old family, and can remember ancient slights for centuries; there were so many deaths from revenge killings in Ingria that the Carns were forced to institute a blood tax to solve disputes between warring families.

Gray: House of Carn. An old and defensive family, prone to old ways.
Dark Green: House of Garo. A family orientated house famed for its dark forests.
Light Green: House of Bourbon. A new house born out of a recent civil war, wealthy from trade due to its unique position.
Burgundy: Ender's house. Information insufficient to resume.
Purple: House of Brandon. A rich region famed for its vineyards.
Black: House of Banímyrkr. A viking-esk warrior house based off of resource poor islands. Greyjoy would be proud.
Dark Purple: House of Rozen. Noted for it's geographic isolation and its woman-based society.

Orange: House of Gabranth. Main city is Coldomore. The ruling house, fear the king!
White areas: Empty fiefs. NPC lords.
Red: The Kingdom of Freycht. Powerful neighbor trying to win the Galenavan throne.

King Mathias died suddenly, without warning, while eating his morning feast. Although he had been in ill health for years now, due to his unhealthy lifestyle, his death has prompted many to suspect poison. Nevertheless, the fact remains that a new heir is needed. There are three candidates for the throne at the moment of this writting:

1. Queen Lyanna, the old king's trueborn daughter. Although she is very popular in the capital and in major urban areas, her arrogance and, more importantly, her sex has alienated a good portion of the nobility. She claims that her father wished her to be the next ruler with his dying breath.

Supporters: House Bourbon (Aegis), House Hohenzollern (Ender Wiggin)

2. Oswin, bastard son of Mathias. Since he was a child, he was trained in the arts of war, to command the king's armies in battle. When the king died, Oswin was combating sea raiders attacking some small coastal villages in the Garo lands. When he heard of his father's death, he led his forces in a march against the capital. While the nobility scoffs at the idea that a bastard could sit on the Galenavan throne, Oswin is immensely popular among the soldiers of the royal army, as well as the peasantry. He claims that the realm is under threats from all sides, and requires a man at its head, not a woman. He is currently traveling through Garo lands towards Coldomore.

Supporters: House Garo (Semper), House Carn (Vahir)

3. King Francis III of Freycht: Rumored to be massing his armies in the south to stake his claim at the throne.

I'll add more stuff to this as I think of it.

[Lord Monbodo]

Before I begin, is there an institution similar to the Catholic Church in this world?

[Aegis]

Name of House: Bourbon

Crest:



Description of Fief: The House of Bourbon is located in the Southeast of Galenave, and is one of the more Cosmopolitan regions. Some see the house as weak, it has just recently taken control of the land. Her ports play host to large amounts of trade, and this has helped her remain one of the few bright spots in this dark age. Her capital city, Ajaccio, is located farther inland, but is connected to a major port city, Avignon. The land is criscrossed by several rivers, assisting in trade, both foreign and domestic. There is one Mountain at the center of the Fief, called Mt. Bastion, as it has been a fortress for quite some time, and home to the city of the same name. A smaller, but still important port-city is that of Toulose, located on a small island held by Bourbon off the coast of Galenvale. Not an overly aggressive faction, they seek to use intrigue to win power and land, but Bourbon's vast coffers could be used to fund quite an army if necessary...

At the moment, the military consists of a small standing army of professional soldiers, seen here:

House Family:

Baron Dantes Bourbon: Current Lord, eldest of the brothers, but still quite young
Maximilien Bourbon: Brother to Dantes, General
Lafayette Bourbon: Brother to Dantes and Maximilien, General
Marie Habspurg: Wife to Maximilien
Louise Petit: Wife to Lafayette

Vassals:

House Bourbon: Ajaccio (Capital city, hence direct control)
House Desmarais: Avignon
House Lefevre: Bastion
House Dupont: Toulouse

Family Culture/Tradition: The Bourbons are new to power. The only reason that young Dantes is the Baron of Bourbon is because his father was killed taking the Fief from it's previous rulers. Their shaky claim to power lead the Bourbon family to create a "Council of Nobles". Every vassal house may send one representative to a Council with Dantes, wherein their concerns are heard and addressed, to the extent that one might call it a Constitutional Monarchy. This rather liberal government has caused tensions with the more conservative Houses, but the Bourbons are nothing if not determined. Firm believers in the strong protecting the weak, the Bourbons have a noble air about them. The traditional religion of the land had been that of the barbarians, but the Bourbons are converts to an enigmatic new religion called "Islam". It has not gone well for diplomacy.

[Vahir]

Before I begin, is there an institution similar to the Catholic Church in this world?

No massive monolithic religion appeared, so when the barbarians came, their gods pretty much became Galenave's gods. However, you can play as a convert to another religion if you want, but don't expect the other lords to be happy about it.

There is no centralized church, though. Every temple has a priest, and they decide how their pantheon should be worshiped.

[Angnoch]

working on my family now, I was wondering how encompassing the gods are and how much impact they have in every day life?

[Lord Monbodo]

It make take me a few days to get my NS up. Finals and all.

[Aegis]

So, I based mine off of France obviously, with Moorish elements thrown in as well. For geographical reference, my fiefdom would be centered around Marseille, with the island being Corsica. Critiques and suggestions are always welcome. Question about converts though, should we use real world religions, or make up names for them with the same beliefs?

[Angnoch]

Name of house: Brandon

Crest: Currently Under Construction (having a friend help with this so it should be up shortly)

Description of Fief (Explain its geography, its major settlements, stuff of note): A large area of vineyards and and farmland, the Duchy of Mislyn is a beautiful and vast piece of land. Mostly flatland the few high points are dotted with fortresses and castles owned by The Duke or one of his vassals. The Palatial Estate of the Brandons sits on a hill overlooking the city of Mislyn for which the entire fiefdom was named, a glittering example of architecture and free thinking, it is home to a small but prestigious university. Producing many works of philosophy and art, although only recently have they been given the freedom to make works that are not based entirely on religion. Many small forests are spread throughout the duchy, creating a very spotted landscape.

example of the estate


the city of Mislyn ignore the roads in the background


general landscape


House Family:
Tomas Brandon Duke of Mislyn: A proud and determined young man, as he was journeying home from a war, the need for a pilgrimage to many of the holy sites gripped him. His father's passing is the only reason he has finally returned home after ten years. Although slightly out of touch with the current intrigues of the court he is gaining friends and enemies in equal measure, the Brandon name still means something afterall.
Lillian Brandon: The Dukes younger sister, said to be quite the beauty although she has many suitors Tomas has yet to marry her off.
Jon Brandon: Younger brother to Tomas, an intelligent but shy young man. He is extremely hesitant to speak and not one for the intrigues of court.
Angelina Varseca: Wife to Tomas she is a foreigner new to the country, but her style of dress quickly brought to her many friends and fashionista's.
Sir Grant Brylan: Tomas' best friend and currenty master-at-arms for the Duke's personal security force.

Vassals:
Wynchester's of Avalache: A small city in the northern most part of the province
Larsene's of Dorent: Operators of one of the most profitable vineyards in all of Mislyn, most of the Brandon's private stock comes from here.
Boe: The least influential of my vassals they operate a large tract of farmland and keep mostly to themselves

Family culture, tradition: An ancient family, holding the Duchy of Mislyn since it was first granted to them, their influence has waxed and waned along with their popularity. Originally this house was accepted into the peerage for impressing the king in battle. His Majesty being very gracious in his victory bestowed land and hereditary title unto the Brandon family. In recent years however, the family has begun to lose some of its influence mostly due to the Late Duke, Tomas' father who was very sympathetic to the king and did his best to appease him. After sending Tomas to war his father William took ill and was never to recover, many believe that he was poisoned by other nobles but Tomas maintains that his father was old and weak and does not pay credence to such rumors. Economically very powerful despite being such a small fiefdom Tomas has managed to slowly increase the productivity and growth of the region. His pride however, does not endear him to many nobles and has caused many duels. His pious belief has endeared him to the common man who see him as someone who understands them, this has afforded him a popularity that none of his forefathers had in the Duchy. Tomas knows the importance of this and goes out of his way to meet with his serfs going so far as to grant them a public audience once a month when he is at the estate, to help settle grievances. In other matters his brother is the justice of the area and metes out judgement when Tomas is not available.

[Ender Wiggin]

Name of house:
Crest:
Description of Fief: Placed in a coastal area, with both the lush land of the land between the ocean and the mountains, and the defensibility of the mountains. The mountains are full of fortresses and castles such as this one. Its economy is mostly fishing and mining, though it is famous for the fine horses and better horsemen it produces for the Royal Army. Its capital is large, mountainside capital by the name of "Machtigersburg". It is strategically placed to ward off raiders from the north, and has done this since its inception and inheritance of those lands.




House Family:
Grand duke Gerhard Hohenzollern, stalwart bastion of honor and loyalty, though given to anger at times. His wife has since deceased due to the plague.
Marshal Johann Hohenzollern, eldest son, unmarried, leader of the house's military affairs. A brilliant strategist and tactician, like his father.
Bishop Gunther Hohenzollern, leader of the lands religious affairs and child of Gerhard.
Minister Pallo Hohenzollern, married, younger brother of Gerhard, in charge of finances.
Agnes Hohenzollern: Daughter, attractive yet follows the "Kinder, Kirche Kuche" rules.
Magnita Hohenzollern: Younger daughter, in the same situation as above.
Vassals: None. The family doesn't like to subcontract out, and all leaders of cities and whatnot are part of the family.
Family culture, tradition: They are about honor, glory, and victory on the battlefield, as well as honor.

[Ellri]

hmm... looks like someone else also took coastal placement by the time we got around to posting this...

Found Here: http://roleplayerguild.com/showpost....51&postcount=4

If there's anything that doesn't fit for the main story, please tell us, and we'll try to fix it... The basis in design chosen for its design is ancient old norse names, closely related to how early Normans may have been with a few personal twists.