Aaron will probably finagle the borders a bit to fill in some gaps. I think the gap between him and Kassarock can be kept, but the gap between him and you, the gap between you and me, and the gap between Kassa and me should probably be close a little.

There isn't really much of a gap between you and me. Our borders are like right on each other. And the gap between my and Aaron's nations doesn't look that small.

@Kassarock: I am fairly certain the Visha were very tall as opposed to short. So wouldn't the Vos be taller as a result of their relation, and not short?

Another thing - Aaron has sort of failed to make this clear and it's not really your fault but the Visha are our.. erm, basically, our father-elf race. Aaron is trying to stay away from calling them elves and drawing too many similarities because, well, elves have been done to death. But they do have similarities to elves, like pointy ears. We will not be calling them and their relatives elves though. We will instead be calling them Vishashtani. This is contrary to what the OP may lead you to believe but that is mostly because (it seems like) in a bid to make the Visha unique, Aaron distanced himself so much from elves that it looks like the Visha were just another type of human. But that is not the case.

So if your guys are going to claim descent from the Visha, they would be Vishashtani and not human. Unless they are related to the Visha but have too much human blood to be classified as Vishashtani. Then I guess it gets complicated.

Well to be fair genetics doesn't always work like that. Ligers, for example, are larger than either of their parent species. So it's not inconceivable that a human's and a Visha's offspring could be shorter than normal.

And I'm getting a sort of "Indian Dwemer" vibe from the Visha.

EDIT: I've also added some of my history in case anyone's curious.

And I'm getting a sort of "Indian Dwemer" vibe from the Visha.

Petty much. I think that was one of our sources of inspiration.

I suppose you are right about the genetic thing, though. The way it was written was what threw me off. "They are related to the Visha [who are very tall], so they are short."

It is not a huge deal, though.

@Pepperm1nts

For the Visha themselves – often referred to as Vishput or Vishaput or many other names from many people – they've been often physically described as “beautiful”. Stout in nature, they seemed to tower over their own slaves.

See, I took this as them being physically short but, 'seemed' to tower due to their presence/aura or something? Doesn't stout have connotations of shortness? Or am I making that up? If so I'll change, find some other bullshit similarity to exploit for the same end.

Also, my people aren't really related to the Visha, they just claim to be as a self aggrandising thing. Like I said its a politically motivated claim, one which they mainly use to justify their participation in the slave trade, as they consider themselves racially superior due to their imagined Visha blood. There might have been a kernel of truth in there somewhere, i.e a few historical cases of intermarriage, but no where near enough to say they are really 'descended' from the Visha.

I see what you mean. You're right, it's not clear. And I don't think Aaron has confirmed either way. But the way I understood is that they literally towered over their slaves. I suppose we should wait for Aaron's say on that issue.

As for their imaginative relation - Cool. That makes sense.

The fact they get referred to as dwarves probably also influenced my interpretation as well - damn fantasy conventions.

Well stout just means wide, I believe. The confusion probably comes from the fact that your typical fantasy dwarves are usually described as 'short and stout', you know, with short but wide bodies. But a race as wide as dwarves typically are but as tall as a man would definitely tower over most other races.

There is purposeful vagueness and double-meanings in the OP to reflect a sort of metaphorical understanding. It's purposefully written not to be clear because the fictional book(s) the passages are from were compiled long-after the fact. So they come with no immediate understanding of who or what the Visha were.

Sort of like how the Huns were described as apparently only having the ability to "cry blood" or something. When in reality they probably just cut their cheeks to force bleeding to replace tears when in mourning.

Faction
Dari'a
Race
Humans
Location

Backstory-History

The Dari'a Commonwealth was once nothing more then a river with small city states, or "Dari", dotting its long winding trail to the coast, before emptying out through it's estuary into the warm water of the ocean. The Dari themselves were hardly cities any more then large farming communities using the vast arable land around the river.

Luckily for the Dari, their lack of any note worthy resources other then food and water made them able to remain outside of the Visha's expanding spheres of influence for a time. Eventually, however, a form a tribute system was created where the many Dari along the river were forced to give up portions of their harvest and even people on some occasions to be used in the Visha's slave force. As unfortunate as this was, however, this was also the first sense of unity between the many Dari.

As the time went on, life continued. Crops were gathered, fish was caught, and men and women were sent away to the deep underground never to be seen from again. The time was unpopular for all of the people, yet the Dari simply had no way to end it realistically, so they were forced to live their lives under the "Siṭī masūla" the Visha had imposed.

The Siṭī masūla also had a positive effect on the Dari, as the shortening of food supplies and reliable manpower became more evident across the area, trade began in earnest along the river. Despite most of it being by small raft along the river or by caravan along the many trails, the people has found a way of living that kept them just as prosperous as before the Siṭī masūla period.

Records of the time during the ending of the Visha and the Siṭī masūla period are few and far between, due to a much larger event(to the Dari, at least) happening directly after.

When the Dari first expirenced the disspearence of the Visha, it was a time of joy and festival. At long last, they were free from a very demanding tribute system, and this feeling was felt all over the many cities. Before too long, the many leaders had met together in the Dari of Śukaraguzāra in an attempt of alliance and unification of the Dari to prevent such foreign influence of falling upon them again. The meeting had ended in a failure to many outside lookers. The formation of the Dari'a Commonwealth was nothing more then a large collection of highly autonomous city states agreeing to free trade and a defensive alliance. Hardly a unified people.

While many Dari people would say the same, the fact remains that the Dari'a due stand united against threatening foreigners. Yet, the Dari people are hardly xenophobic either. Due to a large lack of natural resources such as iron and copper, the Dari'a are forced to trade with many other groups in order to secure such resources. In return, many artisans within the 'Capital City' of Śukaraguzāra create wondrous creations to send to other states. From jewelry thanks the clams offshore, or simple benches and tables from the forests.

The Dari'a Commonwealth, while united only in name and commerce, has its influence in many ports and cities along the western coast.

As a note I'm planning to open the full thread sometime tomorrow. When this happens I'd like the apps carried over there where I will more seriously read through them.

where da arrpee at

Dead. RIP RP, may the Rajas cry themselves to sleep.

I was having Easter dinner, so now I'm stuffed and tired and lay-zee.

Don't deny me muh RP freedom.

I just reminded Googer to make a sheet so that should be coming in soon.

I was having Easter dinner, so now I'm stuffed and tired and lay-zee.

Stick your finger down your throat and get back to work, fool. We don't got time for your happiness.

http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/79071-do-the-eagles-circle-the-mountains/ooc

I'll say again to make sure to move all apps over to the Char tab here so I can review them again. But do not post WIP applications or I may not ever read them. If it's incomplete then keep it to OOC (or just the territory claim) or keep me updated. But do not post an unfinished app, it rustles my jimmies so fucking much.

Faction
Sharodites, Fire Islanders

Race
Humans, Sirens

Location
Northwestern archipelago, on and around the volcanic island.

Backstory-History
Sharod is a distant land far removed from Ganajya by a great gulf known as the Sea of Glass, which extends five hundred leagues from the western shores of Ganajya to those of Sharod. Travelers who have returned from this land recount a wooded, hilly land of poplars and cedars situated on the flank of a low mountain range. A people with fair, olive skin called this land home for many centuries. A tradition of shipbuilding and metallurgy gained the realms of this land some renown. Their mastery of the forging of iron blades and the ability to craft tunics of shimmering bronze gave the Sharodites a mighty advantage in battle against their neighbors. In great cycles, mighty and tyrannical dynasties would gain control over Sharod and launch great expeditions into foreign lands, only to decay and collapse on the account of their bloated, unwieldly domains.

King Harupun of the Amon Dynasty was the first Sharodite king to launch one such foray to Ganajya nine centuries before. His army of bronze-clad warriors marched from the recently-conquered realm of Batkra along the Western Shoulder into Ganajya proper. In shimmering phalanxes and chariots, King Harupun's host marched two hundred leagues in search of a rumored city deep in the mountains, said to be full of vaults of gold and treasure. King Harupun and his warriors found this city at Sadyo Raj, along with a mighty Vishatan host commanding a far mightier host of slaves that stood in wait for the foreign marauders in those deep mountain passes. Unprepared to be thought a coward, Harupun foolhardily launched his armies against the Vishatan defenders. The Sharodite host, accustomed to battles on level terrain where their chariots could be brought to bear against their enemies, were woefully unprepared to fight in Vishatan warriors in the close confines of the mountain passes. The Sharodites were utterly crushed; King Harupun and his survivors beat a hasty and shameful retreat back home.

King Melechon of the Sardosh Dynasty brought a greater host to bear against The Vishatan Empire four hundred years later. Twenty thousand warriors came by sea, sailing past the Fire Isles and down south along the western coast of Ganajya to plunder the vault cities of Tatpu and Angor. The Sharodites marched inland, fresh and eager to take the riches of Angor back to Sharod. Melechon's forces met ten thousand Visha leading another ten thousand slave warriors on the plains of the Angala River. At the helm of the Vishatan army was the Samraat himself, flanked on either side by a cadre of automatons - marvels the likes of which the Sharodites had never seen. The automatons, beasts of metal with fire and steam for blood, crushed rank after rank of Sharodite hoplites. The Vishatan warriors followed in close behind the automatons, rending through the shattered ranks while the slave levies went about to flank the invading army. Melechon's legions were utterly broken that day. Those who survived and evaded capture fled East on their ships to an archipelago several leagues off the mainland. The descendants of that routed invasion survive to this day as the Uwanese.

The century after the debacle at Angor saw the Sardosh Dynasty decline towards collapse. The tremendous expense and loss of warriors incurred by the Ganajya campaign catalyzed the empire's impending decline. Splintered factions camped outside the Sardosh capital at Yerak and laid siege to its mighty walls on and off for nearly a decade. But control of Sharod did not fall to the warring factions within the vast empire, but to enemies beyond Sharod's shores. Just beyond the shore, that is.

A legion of sirens rose up from the waves and invaded Sharod, slithering in from the very surf. This vile legion of undersea warriors was led by Gormon, a purportedly handsome and majestic sea demon who held dominion over the sirens as their lord and master. Gormon and his sirens waged a savage war against the Sharodites, making up for its brevity with sheer brutality. The Sharodites attempted vainly to reunite to stand against the sea demons, but generations of infighting had weakened their armies too gravely to resist. The besiegers of Yerak were brushed aside; Gormon entered the capital and disposed of the Sardosh Emperor, claiming Sharod as his own.

For three centuries, Sharod languished under the yoke of its sea demon masters. The ancient Uraic faith was supplanted, temples that had stood for more than one thousand years were demolished. Slaves raised high the stones of shrines built to honor the vanity of their siren masters. Yerak was razed, and Chakum Gorma - the City of Gormon - was built in it's place. It was the largest and most lavish palace in all the world. A hundred thousand thralls perished to realize a house worthy of the Master of the Oceans, their new god.

Gormon's appetite for all things was voracious. New annexes of the palace-city were under ceaseless construction even when there were entire portions of the palace which he had never visited. Concubines from throughout the known world were brought to his chambers to partake in heinous - often lethal - acts of fornication. But the gods had cursed Gormon with boundless avarice; nothing could satisfy the Siren King's appetites. And so his legions of enslaved Sharodites must march across the world, plundering neighboring realms that the spoils of their conquests might appease their god. And it is said that the ancient underground nexus cities of Ganajya are full of Visha treasures.

Little surprise it is then that Gormon has moved to secure a foothold in Ganajya. The Siren warlord Enuma, backed by a fleet of Sharodite warrior-thralls, arrived in the Fire islands a generation ago and subjugated the indigenous peoples. In the years since their arrival, the lush forests of the islands have been felled to build ships and fuel forges. Very soon, the Siren-led Sharodites will make an effort to secure a foothold on the mainland. And once there, the Sirens will not be sated until all the treasures of the Visha are theirs.