Interested Parties @HeatKingdom of CaeliaACTIVE @VahirKingdom of ErayisACTIVE? @ethanjoryDominion of StormtirWAITING FOR CONFIRMATION @CerberovKingdom-Republic of VoltaaniDROPPED @KatabasisKingdom of EuritiaWAITING FOR CONFIRMATION @Lone WandererKingdom of ReinoaWAITING FOR CONFIRMATION Available for interest: Terijas, Gradiar.
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House Specialty House Cragmore gained their wealth, which in turn gained them their rule of Erayis, by breeding goats. The Black Herd is a specialized cavalry of House Cragmore’s infamous Diregoats -- Although not as swift or agile as horses, the Diregoats bred by House Cragmore are capable of ramming through shield walls and barricades, as well as traversing hills and mountains without breaking much stride. The Black Herd is also used as a tool of psychological warfare, as historically, the infamous Dread Horns are sounded shortly before the cavalry’s deployment.
Ancestral Weapon House Cragmore does not pass down a sword, but a shield known as Tempest. The ancestral shield of the Cragmores is small enough to wield with a sword or axe rather than a pike, and large enough to cover most of a man's torso. A circular shield, Tempest is made of mythrite, with gilded diregoat bones framing the edges. It was used in The Rebellion of Gullytown, wielded by Percival Cargmore, where he used it to infamously bludgeon Prince Kenten Gahnt to death.
Important Members
Simply put, King Igor is the reason most put "The Once-Great" as a prefix to House Cragmore. Born the bastard son of King Fenric Cragmore and a barmaid 52 years ago, King Igor began life as "Igor Black", being sired at Stormhall with the rest of the Cragmore family. He grew up mean-spirited, unruly, and jealous of the family he never truly belonged to. This, along with his propensity for violence and large frame, made him an obvious suspect in the death of his half-brother Conrad, heir to the throne, who was found dead. Winning his trial by combat by naming himself as his champion, his aging father Fenric had no choice but to legitimize him, now too old to sire more children. Since then, Igor is famous for his wanton cruelty, with taxes highest in Erayis's history, entire generations being born and dying in the salt mines, and peasant revolts becoming more and more frequent.
Duncan, a man of 25 and heir to the throne, has little worries in life. He is as well liked as he can be, being the son of The Bastard-King, for his skill in tourneys. Finding his ancestral diregoats to be too finicky and hard to train, he is known for his immense skill on the direram, which is seen in Erayis as "The Common Man's Steed", as diregoats are only bred by the Cragmores. He is a jouster who has only been bested twice, inheriting his large size and strength from his father. Although he has great martial skill, he has little interest in ruling Erayis, anticipating he will likely put all responsibilities on his small council.
If Benjamin has learned anything from his father, it is only their house words, "We Will Withstand". Although he would be slow to admit it, he shares some traits with his father, as he has little problem bending rules, is utterly stubborn, and has great pride for his house. However, unlike his father, he is quick-witted, personable, and able to hide his anger. At a young man of 23 is somewhat skilled with combat, although not nearly as good as his sister Reliwen, and is the only Cragmore to form a bond with a diregoat. He shares an unusual bond with his brother Henry, which most assume is from pity on Benjamin's part. He is fairly popular and well-liked by his subjects, but he is not without flaw -- When he was a boy, he slew his bastard half-brother Maddock "Mad Dog" Black in self-defence. Although justified, some believe Maddock was killed as he was a candidate for legitimization, and thus a possible heir.
Often called the "Second Cragmore Prince" in whispered japes, Reliwen has spent the 22 years of her life honing her martial ability. She knows she is not especially good-looking, nor is she especially clever, but she is definitely skilled. Reliwen's inherited strength makes her better-suited at using a two handed sword than most her age, let alone most girls her age. Forsaking the normal life of a princess, she has refused to learn to knit, sing, or even read, devoting her life to swordplay instead. She anticipates she will one day serve as sentinel for her older brother Duncan, which she has no qualms with -- She abhors the idea of marriage.
Henry is 17, but has been seen as a child for most of his life. Believed to be stricken dumb and lame after being thrown from his horse at thirteen, beliefs of his injuries were only half correct -- Henry's left leg was badly damaged, requiring him to use a cane, but his mind remained unscathed. Instead, he has spent the last four years feigning stupidity, believing it will save him from any ill fate should his house ever be attacked, which he believes is extremely likely with his father's reputation. The only person to know of his secret is Benjamin, who he helps gather secrets for.
Sofia Cragmore is the youngest of Igor's children, at 16 years of age. While not especially beautiful, and not especially clever, she expects that her singing voice is what will grant her a good husband, and rarely raises her voice because of it. Second to her singing is her skill as a harpist, which she is equally proud of. She is closest to her brother Duncan, seeing Reliwen as too manly and unpleasant, and Benjamin as too serious and prideful of their meager ancestry -- She dislikes her family history as a whole, feeling that an ancestry centered around goats is unladylike and that her father has ruined what remained of the Cragmore name. She hopes to get married soon, if only to distance herself from her house.
Chancellor George Kentham High Priest Toki Marshal Cedric Saltpier Sage Ramsay Goldmane Sentinel Solomon "The Orphaner" Black Spymaster Theodore Morcant Steward Thomas Stontan
House Kentham House Kentham supplies House Cragmore with the majority of their shepherds, servants, cooks, and guards. They are the only house but Cragmore to have access to diregoats, and many are their breeders and keepers. Their sigil is a brown lamb on a white field, and their words are "Dutiful and True".
House Blackburn House Blackburn, formerly known for their skill in stonesmithing and architecture, has been in charge of King Igor's salt mines for two decades for their proximity to the mountains. Although one of the oldest and richest houses, they have very little respect for their king as their duties have been shifted from building and mining, to acting as glorified wardens. Their words are "Above All, Create" and their sigil is a black hammer on a yellow field.
House Graves Aptly named, House Graves has supplied soldiers to Erayis for generations. While not necessarily more skilled than other soldiers, they are known for their unwavering loyalty to their ruling house, and their bravery. Although somewhat poor, they are the largest house in Erayis, with 46 members, All children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of Ferris "The Fruitful" Graves. Their words are "Let Them Come", and their sigil is a red falcon on a dark blue field.
House Espen House Espen is known for their naval skills, being situated in Erayis's largest port, and within close proximity to the Stormbroken. They supply Erayis with the majority of the country's seafood, as well as seasalt and croaker meat. They are by no means a house of naval warriors or raiders, but generations of sailing have made them some exceptionally swift. In the rare skirmishes they do have, they are known for their hit-and-run tactics, spearing their enemies hulls and making quick escapes. Their words are "Brine And Blood", and their sigil is a golden fish on a dark blue field.
House Miller A simple farming house, House Miller is known for little but their bread and humility. They supply a great deal of grain to their country, and are fairly wealthy as a result. Although a small and unassuming house, it is a well-guarded secret that their lord, Daniel Miller II, is only seen with his wife for coronations and appearances, and with Ser Omar Artejo, his bodyguard, all other times.
House Powell
House Powell has an unexceptional history, but noteworthy members. Leroy Powell is their lord, who stands a head higher than most men and wields a heavy staff made of steel. He has taken to the Kaardic faith, and has made it his duty to preach and spread temples in his own land. He does not prosthelytize outside of his own lands on the orders of King Igor, but is eager to convert as many in his own duchy as he can. As a show of faith, he has given his three sons traditional northern names – Ulfrik, Uri, and Utir. Their sigil is a purple sun on a red field, and their words are “None So Mighty”.
House Webb
House Webb is, unsurprisingly, synonymous with spiders. They keep the largest nest of spiders in the world, an immense subterranean labyrinth larger than their own keep, housing millions of spiders of varying breeds and sizes. They are notoriously strange, quiet, and all-around unsettling. They are a very rich house, continuing to make large profits selling spider silk, venom, and spider eggs, which are used in potions. Their sigil is a white web on a grey field, and their words are “Spinning Always”.
House Abner
By every definition of the word, House Abner is a simple house. They are shepherds and farmers, “, with a small keep and few riches. If anything, they are known by their subjects for being charitable and just. It is rumored that their crippled lord, Gregory Abner, uses his bastard sons as spies. Their words are “All Is Right” and their sigil a brown ram on a grey-green field.
House Croft
House Croft the smallest duchy, but one of the grandest castles. Known for their hospitality to guests, their castle, Croftkeep, has been the site of many weddings, as well as hosting Erayis’s army when they are passing through Croft’s land. Their sigil is a grey tower on a green field, and their words are “Ale, Fire, Feast”.
House Southton
House Southton is the house of traders. Although founded by a smuggler, they are in charge of the shipment and oversight of nearly all trade in Erayis, known for their skillful business practice. When sheep are in abundance they sell wool, and when crops are failing, they sell seeds. Their words are “His Breath, His Word” in reference to their loyalty to their king. Their sigil is a blue bird on a yellow field.
House Warwick
“All Things Burn” are the words of House Warwick. Their sigil is a black hand, reaching from flames, on a black field. One of the more grim houses alongside Blackburn, Webb, and Graves, House Warwick is known only for their skill at waging war. In The Great Rebellion, it was Derric Warwick who led the siege on House Gahnt’s ancestral castle, and Derric Warwick who stomped their infants to death. They are trained to be immoral and vicious from a young age, which is reflected in a strange family tradition of giving their eldest son grim second names. Their current lord is Angus Ripred Warwick.
Realm Kingdom of Erayis, The Highlands of Orlandis
Primary Holding
Stormhall is the ancient seat of House Cragmore. Atop Mount Stonereach, Stormhall boasts a near impenetrable design. On the clearest days it is said one can see from Stormhall to the edge of Erayis, and on the cloudiest days, one can see the trees nearest to them. Aside from being at the peak of a mountain, it is also protected by Erayis's natural stormy weather, and the craggy terrain -- Horses have great difficulty climbing Stonereach, aptly named for its steep, narrow path. Diregoats, however, can quickly climb the mountain with no difficulty. This leaves those who wish to lay siege to Stormhall with little options other than travelling up the mountain on foot, which is a daunting task in its own right. Below Stormhall and Mount Stonereach is the capitol city of Erayis -- Fairfield. Although a large city, it resembles an oversized village, more than anything. A city of thatched roofs and cobblestone roads, Fairfield is comprised mostly of merchants, the miners they sell to, and the farmers they are fed by. They are a quiet people, although it is uncertain whether it is out of contentment in their prosperous town, or fear of their Bastard-King, who watches with his city patrol from his mountain abode.
Vassal Holdings
Influence & Relations A summarized list of relations/influence with neighbors or vassals.
Exports & Imports A summarized list of product yield that are traded in or out.
Recent History Text
Other Information Theme Songs, Notes, and so forth.
Great House Antar, ruling house of the Merchant-Kingdom of Voltaani
Sigil
A spartan, yet striking icon: a white-gold disk on a field of undulating chevrons of burnt umber, the symbolism of House Antar’s sigil is twofold. Principally, the disc represents the cyclicity which lies at the heart of Voltaani’s Diosaean belief---but it can also be seen as a direct manifestation of the sun, a powerful icon in the culture of the Huanapada, the indigenes of the Verge whom the Voltaani displaced following their exodus, and a symbol which reigns in the hot and arid lands of the kingdom.
House Words
“Sun and Steel”
House Specialty
Shrewd Tradesmen: Whether it be trading in silks, spices, precious minerals, wine, oil, and even flesh, House Antar are renown for being one of the wealthiest houses in Orlandis, in no small part due to their successful forays into commercial enterprise. The Antar maintain scrupulous relationships with the great merchant families of Voltaani, and have their finger on the pulse of trade in the region and throughout Orlandis. This has led to the adoption of the appellation of “Merchant Prince” to describe certain members of the house.
Ancestral Weapon
Oagílas, roughly transliterated into modern Voltaani as, “Amber Tongue”. The ancient blade of King Ignál---the ruler who founded the Antar dynasty far in the mists of antiquity---who, according to mythological record, forged the sword from the smouldering ore of a fallen meteorite and the tears of his virgin daughter. Even today, the erudite smiths of Voltaani have been unable to replicate the techniques which were used to craft the sword. An icon of unparalleled mythical significance, Oagílas has been kept close throughout the centuries and has followed House Antar across the waves to Orlandis---not even in the confusion of the Rape of Gran Voltá was Oagílas lost.
Important Members
Character Summary: A man of forty-seven years, Aquilino has retained the lithe frame and curled mop of hair of his youth, though that hair has greyed at the temples and his long face of sharp angles and aquiline peaks and ridges has been drawn into wrinkles. His eyes---large, deep, molten, the color of rich coffee---have lost none of their curious vigor. Known for his calm temperament and erudition in a wide range of subjects, since his ascendance to the seat of power Aquilino has ushered in an era of untold prosperity and stability for the Kingdom of Voltaani, thus well-earning his appellation of “The Steward”.
Traits: Scholar, Shrewd Diplomat, Master of Administration
Flaws: Cold, Prone to Mood Swings, Not a Warrior
Character Summary: The daughter of the prominent merchant House Dalphés, Inés is a woman of forty years who, like her husband, has retained her youthful freshness. Known as a great beauty, her hand was vied for by nearly a hundred hundred suitors before the King himself made offer. With skin the color of deep bronze, honeyed eyes, and dark hair, Inés is the archetypal Endosi beauty. She and her husband make an odd couple---he, not by any means naturally gregarious, while she is known as the “Host of Léonez”: charismatic, outgoing, and a raucous partygoer. Her marriage to Aquilino has been known to be tumultuous.
Traits: Charismatic Negotiator, A Worldly Woman, Weaver of Webs
Flaws: Unfaithful, Likes to Argue, Hedonist
Character Summary: The heir to House Antar, only twenty, has proven himself already a successor of his grandfather rather than his father. Onofre is a master of sword, spear, and bow, and an adept falconer---rather than cloister himself away like Aquilino, he roams the country, often surreptitiously and without an escort. At twenty, he has already sired a bastard---Aquilino was wroth to such a degree that he had the boy whipped in the Plaza of the Azaleas before an audience. Thus, he and Aquilino are not on the best of terms---like Aquilino and his father, Onofre and he are diametrically opposed.
Traits: Warrior, Falconer, Attractive
Flaws: Strong-willed to a Fault, Lustful, Hedonist
Character Summary: A spitting image of her mother, Josefa-Bibiana promises to eclipse her beauty. At the age of ten, she already had a throng of suitors vying for her hand. Josefa has however seemed to inherit her father’s fascination with the realm of scholarly inquiry. From an early age, Aquilino doted on her---she was the only child allowed in his library, and he sought to expound to her the wonders and miracles and terrors and mysteries of the world. Now fourteen, she has frequently voiced her distaste at the thought of marriage to her mother, unless a proper suitor has been found. Her protests have been scoffed at.
Traits: Homosexual, Scholar, Shrewd Diplomat
Flaws: Shy, Surly
Character Summary: One of only two legitimate sons (the other being Aquilino) of the late King Godofredo XI, Efraín appears a hybrid of his brother’s erudition and his father’s brawn. Once desirous of the throne, at age forty-five Efraín has long since abandoned his ambitions in favor of building a merchant empire in his own right. A shrewd tradesman, he and his partners represent one of the premier merchant enterprises in Voltaani, importing everything from exotic woods, fruits, textiles, and spices to rare foreign armaments and, most infamously, eastern slaves and whores. Called, “The Richest Man in Orlandis” (a claim which may or may not hold up to scrutiny), he, along with his brother’s administrative maneuvers, have brought newfound wealth and stability to the kingdom. He is also the founder of the Order of the Palm, a state-subsidized mercenary company with clients all over Orlandis and in Atularis. Married to Princess Ursulina Caspár.
Traits: Mighty Warrior, Shrewd Tradesman, Able Administrator
Flaws: Slave Trader, Tendency towards Cruelty, Hedonist, Lustful
Character Summary: The only legitimate daughter of King Godofredo XI, she was born shortly before he died and thus is much younger than her brothers, at twenty-nine years of age. With her eldest brother Aquilino ascending to the throne and busy with the affairs of state, her only recourse was to find a father in Efraín, who at that time had not yet embarked upon his grand commercial enterprises. Thus, she is an experienced warrior, and an adept in the art of horse archery. To this day, she is one of the Grand Captains of the Order of the Palm---though it was determined that she should not lead the Order, fearing that the men “would not follow a woman”, a lamentable consequence of the times. She remains unmarried and mostly aloof from the rest of her family members.
Traits: Warrior, Falconer, Strong-Willed, Chaste
Traits: Cold, Shy
Character Summary: One of Godofredo’s three legitimized bastards (his illegitimate bastards are countless), Erasmo is the eldest (fifty-one) of all of Godofredo’s brood. He was brought to the palace shortly after Aquilino was born, and the two grew up together as fast friends. Even when Efraín was born, none could trespass upon their fellowship. Erasmo is known as Aquilino’s “right hand man”---he serves as the realm’s Chancellor, and resolutely enforces and assists in the drafting of the King’s ordinances. Warm, outgoing, and prone to laughter, Erasmo is a more inviting extension of Aquilino. The King was once quoted as saying, “Without him [Erasmo]---perdition.” He is married to Yona, a trader from Atularis with whom he fell in love.
Traits: Gregarious, Master of Administration, Amateur Warrior
Flaws: Alcoholic, Getting Fat, Honest to a Fault
Character Summary: The youngest (twenty-eight) of all Godofredo’s children and another of his legitimized bastards, Ximena is the second of House Antar’s so called “Warrior Princesses”, along with Úrsula. The spawn of a Euritian whore, Ximena was kept by Godofredo due to her, “lucid eyes”---indeed, her eyes, of a cool cerulean blue, are her most striking feature, other than her powerful body and long, aquiline nose. Boyish, uncouth, rude, and quite pushy, Ximena has never been one for the luxuries of court living. She often accompanied her half-brother, Efraín, on his falconry trips, before Úrsula repudiated her---in fact, the rivalry between the “Warrior Princesses” is just as famous as the princesses themselves. The two are almost polar opposites---Úrsula is an adept with the bow, cool, calm, quiet, and chaste; whereas Ximena is an acolyte of the spear and of close-quarter combat, and is hot-tempered, rude, loud, and something of a hedonist. She once said, “Any man who can make me climax is the man I will wed, and no other.” To this day, none have accomplished the deed.
Traits: Mighty Warrior, Athletic, Falconer
Flaws: Uncouth, Hot-Tempered, Lustful, Hedonist
Character Summary: Little now is known of Joaquín, the last of Godofredo’s legitimized bastards. At the age of thirteen, he was kidnapped by highwaymen on a falconing trip with the castellan, Raúl, and, despite the best efforts of the royal guard, he was never recovered. It is not known whether he lives or perished, though there has been rumor of a mercenary “with Godofredo’s eyes” at work in Orlandis.
Courtiers & Retainers
The Small Council
Chancellor: Prince Erasmo “The Wise” High Priestess: Ajora, Keeper of the words of the Santo’Libro and voice of Saint Jovita Marshall: Duke Carlomagno Ojeda y Fantón of the Duchy of Montáz Sage: Faisal, a Brother of Weisheit from Atularis Sentinel: Ser Basajuán Estèbe, Captain of the Royal Cavaliers Spymaster: Ibiza, also from Atularis Steward: Leandro Dalphés, heir to the merchant House Dalphés
Courtiers
Ser Enzo Huertas, Constable of the City Guard of Léonez
Ser Barnabas “The Tankard” Axto, a famously drunken cavalier in the service of House Antar.
Princess Ursulina Caspár, wife of Prince Efraín
Princess Lupita, eldest daughter of Efraín and Ursulina, age sixteen
Prince Teodór, only son of Efraín and Ursulina, age thirteen
Princess Rigoberta-Flores, youngest daughter of Efraín and Ursulina, age nine
Princess Yona, wife of Erasmo “The Wise”
Prince Fabrizio, eldest son of Yona and Erasmo, age nineteen
Prince Orlando, youngest son of Yona and Erasmo, age fifteen
Mirabel, Xevera, and Isidora, courtesans in the service of Prince Efraín
Aurelio, the Court Bard
Antón, the Court Jester
Portas, the Royal Chef
Vassals
House Artejo, ruling house of the Duchy of Ordón(3)
House Ibrál, ruling house of the Duchy of Calmejos(5)
House Edur, ruling house of the Duchy of Txau(1)
House Navaraño, ruling house of the Duchy of Ximénes(7)
House Borocón, ruling house of the Duchy of Miramanto(9)
House Uvadarse, ruling house of the Duchy of Zuerta(6)
House Ignáz, ruling house of the Duchy of Montas(8)
House Umbertamos, ruling house of the Duchy of Umbería(2)
House Llose, ruling house of the Duchy of Orgales(4)
Realm
The Merchant-Kingdom of Voltaani, the Verge of Orlandis
Primary Holding
The Grand Port of Léonez, Capital of the Merchant-Kingdom of Voltaani Léonez, being situated at the easternmost tip of the Verge, serves as the gateway to Atularis and is perhaps the most bustling port of Orlandis. It was the landing point of the exiles of Voltaani, uninhabited (or so they surmised) and near fresh water, and thus the foundations of the city were laid shortly thereafter. The Quayside is the largest district of the city and where most of the port’s trade is conducted---large shipping houses line the water's edge, constantly abuzz with the activity of exchange; all manner of tongues, creoles, and pidgins can be heard, and seamen and traders from a thousand nations can be seen; hawkers cry their wares, selling oysters and clams and sweets and all manner of foods that titillate the sea-weary sailor; at the far end of the Quayside there are the public houses and whorehouses, offering the two things irresistible to sailors. Few habituate the district, however, for the scent of fish and mud and the raucous clamor of the wineskins do not let up until dawn. Adjacent to the Quayside is the Bell Quarter, where most of the city’s wealthy live. Here can be found the grand mansions of the Great Merchant Houses, and the first chapterhouse of the Merchant’s Guild. But a short walk from the Bell Quarter is the Plaza of Annunciation, in which stands the sweeping spires and steeples of the Templo del Refugio, one of the two seats of the Diosaean faith in the known world and a site to which many pilgrims flock. Rising above even the Templo del Refugio, shimmering atop Mount Cascalboa stands Ignál’s Holdfast, the home of the royal family and the seat of government. Below that stretches the craftsmen’s district of Berlanga’s Ingle, so named because of its smoke from the forge fires. It is in this quarter that the great smiths craft the fabled Voltaani steel. Adjacent to “The Ingle”---as it is known to locals---stretches the ancient Bazaar Carbajal, where most of the city’s trade is conducted. It is said that anything known to human beings has passed through the Bazaar, and that in some nook or cranny of the marketplace, if one looks, one can find peddlers selling the dust of faeries and the powder of dragons’ bones. Finally, the smallest district of the city is simply referred to as “The Slums”, for that is exactly what they are. Once a monasterial complex which was lost to fire, the city’s poor live out their miserable lives in sight of some of the richest people in the world. The outskirts of the city offer some of the most excellent farmland in Orlandis, and many plantations have been erected there. The principal crop is sugarcane, but date palms, oranges, wine grapes, wheat, carob, pistachio, almonds, prickly pear, olives, figs, and pomegranates also thrive and feature heavily in local diets. Further in the interior, many tropical foodstuffs---custard apple, avocado, coffee, and some cultivars of banana---introduced from Atularis, have been introduced and found some success.
Vassal Holdings
WIP
Influence & Relations
The remnants of the Imperium of Vndos: The Kingdom of Voltaani is the largest piece left of the once proud trading empire that it came from, but other parts exist. The Republics of Ortan, Orm, Nevra, Ralos, and Naeos are seemingly mere provinces compared to their might at the height of the Imperium, but they are both invaluable as trading ports, and the few pieces of the Imperium that escaped the collapse following the Voltaani Exodus. (taken from Cerberov)
WIP
Exports & Imports
Wine: Wine is ubiquitous, both on the tables of freemen and of nobles, and Voltaani is known for its fine sweet wines. The hill country of Calmejos and Orgales in particular are renown for the fine vintages they produce, and these are some of the most prized wines throughout Orlandis. Date and fig wines are produced in the south, and while few beyond the cultured gourmand has developed a taste for these in Orlandis, they are extremely popular in the former trade republics of Vndos.
Gold: The eastern mountains of Voltaani are rich with gold veins, and while the majority of this gold is minted, the remainder is taken by jewelers and goldsmiths, who turn it into works of art and jewelry designed to cater to nobility. Gold is by far Voltaani's most lucrative export, though the current difficulties of finding ore in the mountains have slowed trade. (taken from Cerberov)
Spices: Voltaani itself produces a variety of spices, such as cassia, olibanum, cumin, poppy seeds, and saffron, but is heavily involved in the Atularian spice trade, and thus provides Orlandis with much of the spices valued by the nobility and in doing so reaps a fortune.
Mercenaries: Foreign mercenaries are commonplace in Voltaani, comprising much of the military power of the nobility---yet the Order of the Palm, the state-subsidized mercenary company, is commonly hired out by the squabbling lord of both Orlandis and Atularis and famed for their prowess on the battlefield.
Wheat: Voltaani is one of the “bread baskets” of Orlandis, and provides many areas with climes inclement to wheat with the valued grain.
Sugar: Grown in the subtropical lowlands near Léonez, it is exported in the form of stamped muscovado cakes all throughout Orlandis. A common crop in Atularis, Voltaani exports almost all of its sugar to Orlandian clients, who in the past have satisfied their sweet tooth with carrot, beet sugar, or honey.
Textiles: Voltaani exports silks, fine damasks, and light cotton vestments to a mostly aristocratic clientele around Orlandis.
Slaves: Infamous even in Voltaani though not entirely illegal, slaves gleaned from Atularis comprise one of the most lucrative Voltaani enterprises. Many Orlandian clients have even begun selling to the Voltaani in hopes of cashing in on the trade. Most slaves are touted as status symbols by aristocrats in Orlandis, though they are gaining traction as field laborers to some of the more affluent plantation owners in southern Voltaani. Still, they are far too expensive to ever replace the peasantry.
Looking forward to it, as it is one of the more lore-intensive houses let me know if you need help. Ceb's CS is still a pretty good thing for reference material but I'm interested very much so on how yours comes out different regardless!
Skavian Berserkers: The people of Skavia are said to have one of the finest fighting forces on Orlandis. The Skavian Berserker is their deadliest soldier. A sort of marine force specializing in everything from boarding enemy ships, to sustained infantry combat, to guerrilla tactics. The Berserker is a member of a shieldwall, a sort of phalanx/pike infantry and short sword unit hybrid. They can be utilized as heavy infantry but still have above average agility and stamina due to their extremely durable, yet light, Vyntic armor. The use a round shield made of hardened wood and steel along with a longspear and choice of short sword or battleaxe. Finally a Berserker is capable of entering into a 'battle trance' in which they seem to be completely impervious to pain. In this trance they become insatiably blood thirsty, causing many of their foes to flee in fear.
Ancestral Weapon
Stormbrytare, or Storm Breaker in old vyntic was forged for the first Hafrek king by house Balkr over three hundred years ago. It is a Runesteel battleaxe hardened with acid during the craft making in nearly eternally sharp. Rumor says that King Erik "The Dragon slayer" Hafrek and his shield-brothers once killed a dragon using Stormbrytare over two hundred years ago. This rumor may be false, but king Erik and his men did bring back a dragon's head to Hovedstad that to this day hangs over the deck of Drage.
Important Members
Name Crach "the Tyrant" Hafrek
Age 56
Appearance
Summary Crach is an extremely impatient man. The youngest of the two sons of "Old Man" Thorir Hafrek, Crach felt he was underappreciated as a child. Because of this he began training himself in combat at a very young age, even for a Skavian. In his youger years he was one of the greatest warriors in all of Orlandis, a fact that he had no problem with sharing. However, despite his quality as a single combatant, his command ability on both land and sea suffered. His rashness often getting the better of him in strategic situations.
He is however an astute administrator. This might be due to his great ambition and greed. He very effectively taxes Skavia for the "crown's interests." His lack of discretion however ensures that most of his vassals are aware that most of, if not all of the extra taxes go straight into his pockets.
He is also a very cruel and hedonistic man. He executes farmers and nobles for their land, rapes peasant wives, and tortures petty criminals on a regular basis. Many of the common people believe that he s cursed by the gods, who knows he may be. He also holds a deep hatred for his much younger bastard half brother Loki, who he has tried to kill on two occasions. The last one causing a great scandal in the royal court and forcing Loki to flee to the southern parts of the country. Rumors of a civil war are brewing.
Name Loki Drittsekk
Age 22
Appearance
Summary The bastard son of Old Man Hafrek and a peasant girl from Terijas, Loki is personality-wise completely different from Crach. Even at his young age, many people believe he is destined to become a great man. He has trained his entire life to become a warrior and excels in both the individual and the strategic level. He is also one of the youngest men to achieve the rank of Berserker in Skavian history.
On the administrative level he leaves something to be desired however. He can order troops around a battle field and achieve victories in what seem like hopeless situations but is dumbstruck by the idea that an army needs food to survive. Because of this flaw, he likes to surround himself with sound administrators to take care of logistics.
Loki is believed to be one of the smartest men in the North however. With age he hopes to gain administrative abilities. First he needs to survive. His much older brother and king of Skavia is trying to kill him. Loki has fled to Grense, the southernmost duchy in Skavia. Here he has met his lover, Astri Biarni, the daughter of one of the most powerful Dukes in Skavia and an avid enemy of "The Tyrant." Rumors of a civil war are brewing.
Name Sigi "The Barren" Hafrek
Age 45
Appearance
Summary If ever there was a woman perfect for a man like Crach, it would be Sigi. The last member of the lesser branch of the Hafrek family, she is her husband's distant cousin on his father's side. A notoriously unfaithful wife, Sigi and her husband have come to an arrangement of "mutual freedom" from each other. Each are known to force peasant and low noble subjects to service their sexual desires. Sigi did however take this even further than her husband. After the birth of the couple's only son Svein, she had her ovaries removed by an Alturian sage. Because of this she has been given the nickname "the Barren" by her subjects.
It is common belief that Sigi is even more cruel and greedy than her husband. Some even believe that she pulls the strings in some of the more horrible of Crach's deeds. There is one infamous story of a beautiful peasant girl from Erayis who Crach impregnated having her child ripped out of the womb and killed in front of the mother as she slowly bled to death. While this may be an exaggeration, many people believe the story.
Name Svein Hafrek
Age 24
Appearance
Summary Being raised by Crach and Sigi Hafrek, it is understandable that Svein has an intense anger problem and is prone to outbursts. However that is one of the only things he has in common with his parents. While he is rash, he is much more calm than either of his parents and finds no joy in torture, rape, or murder. This is not to say he is a chaste individual, he just enjoys the touch of a willing woman. While torture and murder are not things he enjoys, he uses them on occasion as tools to further his agendas. He is not seen as a benevolent person for good reason, however compared to his parents he is... nicer.
Svein is one of the greatest warriors in Skavia but has yet to reach the level of Berserker. He is a much better tactician than his father and shares his administrative abilities. He is also fairly greedy. Svein is a staunch traditionalist and hopes to bring Skavia even closer to its Vyntic roots. While he will fight on the side of his father in a war, he can at least understand that Crach is not a very good king...
Name Astri "the Beauty" Biarni
Age 19
Appearance
Summary Astri Biarni is widely acknowledged as being one of the most beautiful young women in Orlandis, a fact that she knows well. Along with her looks, she is both intelligent and extremely charming. Her father often sends Astri to diplomatic meetings where she uses her abilities of seduction and wit to get the best results for her house. Despite her incredible beauty and powers of seduction, she remain a virgin. A fact that most of the more hedonistic people on the continent refuse to believe.
Astri also has a keen administrative mind. She is capable of everything from collecting taxes, passing legislation, and feeding an army. This creates a perfect balance between her and her lover, Loki. Astri however is not a warrior, she uses her charms to get out of most situations but would not be able to defend herself against a truly skilled warrior. This is her greatest weakness and one that may cause trouble in the future.
Courtiers & Retainers
Chancellor Raegnald Rodrekrson (Crach) Chancelor Ylfing Biarni, the Duke of Grense (Loki) Marshal Hallgrim Avaldi (Crach) Marshal Jorund Erilarson (Loki
Vassals
House Biarni (Duchy of Grense) WIP
Realm
The Kingdom of Skavia
Primary Holding
Hovedstad, The Island of Therifel Hovedstad, the old Vyntic word for capital city (and also know as the floating city by most of Orlandis), serves as a massive bridge over the Skavian channel between Therifel and Gardifel. It is a city built of the ancient ships used by the Vyntic refugees on their original voyage to northern Orlandis. (Well on the coast of Therifel anyway, the rest of the city is comprised of Skavian ships built throughout the centuries and even captured enemy vessels.) These ships are reinforced by stone support beams that reach to the surface of the shallowest part of the channel. Other buildings have also been built without the bodies of ancient ships and resemble the mead halls found on the mainland. Each ship has been refitted into serviceable buildings and are supported by an abundance of anchors. They are all connected by wooden and steel bridges nailed tightly together to keep the current from carrying the ships away. The King's palace is located on the central ship in the Floating City, Drage, the largest ship ever constructed in the history of Orlandis.
Hovedstad is also the largest port in Skavia and its central trading hub. It attracts tourists from all over the world due to its unique construction and is viewed as Skavia's greatest architectural achievement. No man or woman who has ever visited the Floating City has forgotten its wonders. It is believed that the gods themselves watch over the city and its people because it has never been destroyed. Storm, war, and disease have all attacked the city, however instead of being destroyed it always grows larger.
Vassal Holdings
Influence & Relations
To be determined with other players.
Exports & Imports
Timber: The abundance of forests throughout Skavia provide excellent timber for everything from ship construction to firewood. The timber trade in Skavia is the most lucrative career for both nobles and the common people.
Furs: A great number of wild animals roam Skavia. This grants an excellent opportunity to the common hunter. The furs and shipped to the south where they are used in southern fashions.
Fish: Due to the unique position of the Floating City, Hovedtstad is the world's largest fishing village. The people there catch everything from shrimp to shark and sell in markets all over the world.
Mercenaries: Skavian warriors are known to be extremely fierce, because of this a Skavian mercenary is greatly sought after. While this brings no direct income to the kingdom, Skavian kings have been known to lend out small units of troops to other countries for a hefty fee. Although relations between the two countries are seldom that friendly.
Recent History
For nearly eighty years Skavia was ruled by "Old Man" Thorir Hafrek. Becoming king at the young age of 14, Thorir ruled his people peacefully and fairly. Civil strife was unheard of during his reign and not a single peasant revolt was raised during this time. He is believed to have been the greatest king of House Hafrek and perhaps in Skavian history.
Twenty years into Thorir's reign his wife gave birth to Fjorn Hafrek, the heir to the Skavian thrown. She died in childbirth however forcing Thorir to remarry. He found a woman of low nobility from Perhyr and four years later she gave birth to Crach Hafrek. Although Thorir's obvious favorite was Fjorn, the son given to him by the woman he loved.
Over the next twenty years the two brother grew up together. Crach was largely ignored by his father. This caused the young man to becom bitter and rash, often trying to prove his honor and worth to his father. During this time, Thorir gained the nickname "Old Man" Hafrek in his mid fifties.
In 864 AE, Clan Friedyar from Vyntarland declared war on Skavia. They began raiding northern Therifel and burning down hundreds of acres of farmland. Crach Hafrek led his first ever battle against a Friedyar fleet in the sea of echoes in late 864. While the young man was an extremely gifted warrior, his rash strategies led to the largest Skavian naval defeat in 200 years costing the lives of 7000 Skavian sailors and 1000 Berserkers. He returned to Hovedstad in disgrace where he waited out the winter.
Over the next two years Old Man Hafrek and his sons defended the northern coast in many naval battles and the odd large scale land battle. The most famous of which was the victory of Fjorn Hafrek in the siege of Nortdaven where he defeated a Friedyar army twice the size of his own.
In the year 870 AE Crach Hafrek led a massive invasion of the Friedyar lands in Vyntarland. He razed the Clan's lands to the ground and killed thousands of its people. He ordered his men to rape the women and children. He also ordered them to kill two out of every three members of the clan that was captured. An order which caused a mass mutiny in his ranks. The mutineers had to be put down and silenced. He raped the chief's wife and daughters in front of him before slitting their throats and burning him alive. This enraged the other clans of Vyntarland and many of the southern clans began preparing for war. What was meant as a way to end the war swiftly backfired.
When Crach returned home his father was enraged. He banished the young prince and then executed all of his officers in hopes of halting Vyntic rage against the kingdom. Three other Vyntic Clans declared war against Skavia but the war only lasted for another year on the condition that the Skavian crown helped the surviving Friedyars rebuild. After the war ended however, a rogue Vyntic company of one hundred men murdered the majority of House Hafrek leaving only Old Man, Fjorn and his two daughters, Crach, and Sigi Hafrek a distant cousin. The company was hunted down and killed by the Vyntic chiefs in order to maintain peace.
For the next eight years Crach traveled Orlandis as a mercenary with his cousin turned lover Sigi. He visited every country on the continent and quickly became recognized as one of the greatest warrior in Orlandis. six years into their travels they were married and Sigi gave birth to Svein their only son. While in Voltaani, Sigi had her ovaries ritualistically removed by and Alturian sage.
When the couple and their baby finally returned home, they learned that Old Man Hafrek had done the impossible at the age of 72. He impregnated a peasant girl from Terijas who gave birth to another son Loki. The infant was immediately legitimized and his father treated him as he treated young Fjorn. Crach attempted to smother the babe but was unsuccessful.
As young Loki grew up, it was quickly apparent that he was destined for greatness. The youngster learned the art of combat at a faster pace than even Crach. He was a quick study in everything from military tactics, to history, to mythology. He was an instantly likable person and had charm to rival his father's.
By the age of 19 Loki was already accepted into the ranks of the Berserkers and was a veteran combatant. This is also when Old Man Hafrek's age finally caught up with him. At the old age of 91, he died in bed leaving the kingdom to Fjorn who was 57 years old and had no male heirs.
The Skavian people held the largest funeral since the days when the first royal dynasty of Skavia was executed by Kristof the Zealot. The entire nation mourned for their beloved king and every vassal and subject without exception payed their respects to the old king.
Three days after the funeral feats in Drage (and before the coronation o the new king), Crach murdered his older brother Fjorn in cold blood allowing him to succeed to the throne. The murder was blamed on a group of Stormbroken mercenaries staying in Hovedstad who were all executed without a trial. For the last three years Crach has ruled Skavia tyrannically. Even from the early days, the people knew their age of relative peace was over. Crach began using his powers to rape peasant and low noble women with greater regularity, execute farmers and miners for their land, torture petty criminals for fun, and worst of all raised the feudal tax by 30 percent.
Three months ago Crach tried to kill the last real threat to his rule, Loki. Loki and his shieldwall had returned from a raid on the coasts of Stormtir (if that's not okay I will change it) and were resting in one of the many mead ships in Hovedstad. Crach himself attacked Loki with his own shieldwall. Only Loki and two other men were able to escape with their lives and fled to the Duchy of Grense. The Duke there was situated furthest away from the Floating City and was known as an avid enemy of Crach's administration.
Ylfing Biarni, Duke of Grense has spent the last few months trying to convince Loki to lead a rebellion against his brother. He has even resorted to using his daughter Astri and her charms on the young man. Now it looks as if Loki is starting to agree.
A little over halfway done with my NS, it's a lot of work but I think it's going to be worth it in the end.
My first CS will probably be for Joaquín, a prince of Antar who was abducted by highwaymen and eventually became a mercenary under an assumed name. I figure he can be involved in all manner of wacky dealings all over Orlandis.
