It's a work in progress.

Faction [+]

The Vrasje Mafia

aka The Vayron Mob or "The Family"

-Capital: Hidden in Vayron
-Government Type: Mafia
-Relation to Aldebaran: (to be decided)
-Currency: cold hard Vayron cash
-Population: (To be decided)

-Unique Trait #1: (Created by the player, needs to be approved by me)
-Unique Trait #2: (Created by me, mostly to reduce min-maxing)
-Unique Flaw #1 (Created by the player, needs to be approved by me)
-Unique Flaw #2 (Created by me, mostly to reduce min-maxing)

HISTORY & CULTURE
-History:

-Relations:

The Vrasje have managed to bully, blackmail, extort, and punish their way through Vayron, capitalizing on the rise of the Dark Lord through loan sharking, human trafficking, minor to political extortion, hit squads, and a plethora of other highly illegal activities ranging from jaywalking and loitering to mass slaughter and political corruption.

-Cultural Notes:

The Vrasje is a tight knit endogamic mafia, only including Vayron natives as their members, or more particularly those of Vrasje culture (but open to using non Vrasje as tools). The Vrasje started off as a merchant family in legend, but now it is a fully grown dominating criminal organization of a large culture group that is said to derive from the merchant family, and even hold their organization codes and tenets in a list known as the “Code of the Merchant” also known as the “Vrasje way” by non-Vrasje.

The code is rather straightforward: (subject to change)

The Pater (or Baba) is the final word
Do not kill another Vrasje (Burri) without consent of the Pater (or Baba)
A non Vrasje tool or recruit (Ashkush) must listen to the Vrasje (Burri)
A Vrasje (Burri) must listen to the Middle management (Fuqi)
All must listen to the Pater (Baba)
Ashkush cannot strike a Vrasje of any higher rank
Burri cannot strike anyone in the family (does not include Ashkush) without consent
Fuqi cannot strike other Fuqi (without consent) and never the Baba
Do not rob from the family, or kill with in. (unless consented by the Baba or appropriate rank)
Do not divulge family business

NATIONAL DRAMATIS PERSONAE
-Head of State/Monarch/Leader: Baba Armend Savir
-Ruling Dynasty (If applicable): “The Family”

-Persons of interest:

Baba Armend Savir

GEOGRAPHICAL
-World-Realm Map: Vayron

-Buildings of Interest: The Home, headquarters of the Baba, location unknown (as well as not determined yet)

RACIAL
-Majority Race: Human of Vrasje Ethnicity
-Majority Race Appearance: Human
-Majority Race Characteristics: Human

RELIGION & MAGIC
-State Religion:The Vrasje Family Codes, The Code of the Merchant. Formal religions hold little pull on The Family and instead they refer to the Codes as the Law.
-Religious Information:
-Religion Demographics:
-Magical Schools and Curriculum:

MILITARY
-Military Details (Unit Types)

I love it so far, Gold. Keep in mind that Varyon is ruled by a puppet government with a very tenuous hold on power, so the Family likely has enormous pull with them. I listed some details about Varyon in the OP, but feel free to develop the whole broken, miserable country as you see fit. The Family too will likely have an interesting relationship with the Scarred King.

<Snipped quote by Goldeagle1221>

I love it so far, Gold. Keep in mind that Varyon is ruled by a puppet government with a very tenuous hold on power, so the Family likely has enormous pull with them. I listed some details about Varyon in the OP, but feel free to develop the whole broken, miserable country as you see fit. The Family too will likely have an interesting relationship with the Scarred King.

I can imagine The Family has the government by the balls in certain aspects if it is as weak as described. It probably holds mixed emotions about the Dark Lord as well.

<Snipped quote by HeroicGathering>

Accepted. Feel free to post in the character tab- I look forward to seeing what else you come up with. I'd love to collaborate on a shared history btwn your people and the Scarred King, whom I will give further details on shortly.

Me too! But I'm not sure whether to wait for other players to create nations, so that I might make a hero of their race, or whether to forge on ahead.

As with the HOGR's (short for heroes of the grim reaches ;) ) relationship with the Scarred King, I had planned on them being pawns in his master strategy. However, I'm not sure what kind of "King" this guy is. Is he a good person? Standing up for the righteous etc? Or is he simply another powerful entity, like Dagon, who is trying to win a losing war at any and all costs?

In any case, we should definitely arrange something :)

Also, I planned for the enchantment on the Blade of Liberty to make the weapon extremely potent against the Immortals. You know, able to smite them in a single stroke or absorb their offensive spells. Not trying to be OP or anything, because Bjorn doesn't know the enchantment exists. I just thought it might add a cool dynamic later on, if he ever runs into one.

Speaking of OP, none of my heroes are immortal, and I will expect them to die if they face down opponents that far surpass their own skills. So there's no hard feelings if someone kills them off, so long as they run it by me first so I know what's going on and why :)

EDIT: Also, if you're looking for an "original map" to use, there's donjon's Fractal World Generator. I use it sometimes, it's not very detailed but it at least provides a fresh world that hasn't been used before.

SECOND EDIT: I've added two more characters, a dark skinned warrior from some "southern deserts" if there are any? And a skilled herbalist in the form of an old mysterious woman.

I might change things around, once players start posting more lore for me to gobble up, but for now that's what I've got. Though I may just simply add to the roster, I don't suppose there's a limit to how many I have is there? I mean I wont have hundreds, but I think six is the traditional maximum number for any band of travelling heroes.

I'd very much like a knight, if one of you fine fellows would design a nation of horse warriors! :D

@HeroicGathering Knights you say. Just so happens... Well, you'll have to see.

@HeroicGathering Knights you say. Just so happens... Well, you'll have to see.

[Waiting to see intensifies]

Maybe i shouldn't have done that. I'm still working on it. ;)
Edit: I feel like a dick. They're pretty much Paladins following the old religion Pre-Dagon. So if you want an honorable, oath-abiding knight that is still full of faith and shares a hatred for Dagon. You might have one of these in your party. I'll go into more detail in the NS.

Maybe i shouldn't have done that. I'm still working on it. ;)
Edit: I feel like a dick. They're pretty much Paladins following the old religion Pre-Dagon. So if you want an honorable, oath-abiding knight that is still full of faith and shares a hatred for Dagon. You might have one of these in your party. I'll go into more detail in the NS.

Why would you feel like a dick? Lol

An honourable, oath abiding knight is exactly what I want. My group needs a moral compass, and who better than Sir Tobryn, four times champion of the jousting grounds, defender of the weak, and vanquisher of evil?

Take your time though, don't rush anything on my behalf :)

@HeroicGathering Sounds good. I felt like a dick because i said that and then didn't have much to give you in regards to information on them.
I'll be on Pirate pad for tonight and probably tomorrow if anyone wants to talk about anything and come up with some cool ideas.

Are the Vrasje accepted @flagg?

EDIT: I had a thought, perhaps the Baba of the Vrasje has a current Atilla style extortion going on right now where the king of Vayron pays him to keep his life. Under the threat that there are others who might outbid him on his life. An extortion. You pay the Baba, you live... if somebody starts paying more for your life, you better cough up more. See?

Are the Vrasje accepted @flagg?

EDIT: I had a thought, perhaps the Baba of the Vrasje has a current Atilla style extortion going on right now where the king of Vayron pays him to keep his life. Under the threat that there are others who might outbid him on his life. An extortion. You pay the Baba, you live... if somebody starts paying more for your life, you better cough up more. See?

Yes accepted. The Family would likely also need some kind of understanding with the occupying Aldebaran folks, since it's their puppet the Family is threatening to kill.

We prefer the term "looking out for".

WIP


NATIONAL
-Capital: The Grand Monastery of Eslen
-Government Type: Theocracy
-Relation to Aldebaran: Openly Hostile
-Currency: WIP
-Population: WIP
-Unique Trait #1: Knights of the Righteous - The warriors that defend the defenseless and fight in the name of the pantheon, are those that know their cause to be true. The Principalities soldiers are equipped in some of the best armour one can find and stand with the morale to fight. (Let's talk about this one first)
-Unique Trait #2: (Created by me, mostly to reduce min-maxing)
-Unique Flaw #1: The Oath - All those that fight in the name of the pantheon are bound by a strict oath, to honor and follow unto death. (Will add details.)
-Unique Flaw #2: (Created by me, mostly to reduce min-maxing)

HISTORY & CULTURE
-History: A relatively young religious order forged during the crucible of war. The war between the kingdoms of Aldebaran and Varyon was a long and bloody affair before Dagon IVs rise to immense power and consequent conquest over Varyon. During those long bloody years, soldiers from either side pillaged and raided, taking advantage over those that could not defend themselves. The faithful and the innocent suffered, for this reason. The order arose from the chaos, a beacon and sanctuary to the faithful. Founded to provide care for the sick, poor and injured. Warriors and nobles who's faith was strong joined the order during it's infancy to fight for their faith, there was no greater calling than to fight for the Pantheon in righteousness and to defend those that could not defend themselves, these would become the first knights.

The first knights, sworn by oath to uphold their own and the orders honor and to protect the defenseless, cut out a swath of land around the Monastery of Eslen, fighting either side that would march on holy land. This would become the Principality of Eslen. A Principality forged through bloodshed and faith. Refugees sought the protection of the faith, flocking in large numbers towards Eslen as more and more religious nobles and soldiers joined the cause to fight in the Pantheons light. In the years that followed, the Principality gathered more power becoming a force to be reckoned with, supported by a large army of highly trained warriors and soldiers. However, it remained neutral during the war, dealing justice to those that deserved it, regardless of class and alignment. Cementing the place of the Pantheon in the realm, for a time. These were proof that the gods we're still watching.

During Dagon IVs flirt with darker powers and conquest over Varyon. The Principality denounced Dagon as a heretic of the faith. Openly going to war with his forces. After fifty years of war, the Principality has suffered. It's once renowned army of knights, reduced to much smaller numbers. Relying on it's militia formed from refugees with the heart to fight, and the Principalities Sergeants to make up the backbone of it's armed forces, the Principality still resists, though not as strongly as it once did but has returned this damage tenfold to Dagons seemingly endless legions.

-Relations:
Kingdom of Aldebaran - Hostile
Puppet regime of Varyon - Hostile
Tsarleoi - Hatred
The Scarred King - Friendly
The Vrasje Mafia - Unknown

-Cultural Notes:
Knights and Sergeants: Only those descendant of the First Knights, or those that have proven their loyalty by acting as a squire to a Knight of the order and are sponsored by their knight in good standing, are eligible to become a Questing Knight with the right to bear a coat of arms. To prove their valor and courage, Questing knights must undertake quests in the Order's favor, such as recovering lost artifacts of the faith, or slaying beasts or those that prowl on the defenseless. A small percentage complete these quests granting them the title of Knight and equipment worthy of such a station, with the same percentage being slain on the quest. Those that fail and survive are eligible to become Sergeants. The orders military mainly consists of these Sergeants, most being deadly warriors but with no eligibility to become knights or have failed their questing, making the rank of Sergeant the highest they can attain. Still a honored title in it's own right.
The Oath: All those that fight for the Principality have sworn an oath before the gods themselves. To honor and uphold. WIP

NATIONAL DRAMATIS PERSONAE
-Head of State/Religion: Grand master Harroway, charged with the ruling of the Principality and Order.
-Master at Arms: Ser Tavion Waller, Master at Arms, charged with the training of soldiers during peace time and acting as the main military advisor to the Grand master.
-Chaplain Chaplain Orme, charged with upholding the spiritual well being of the Principalities soldiers during war time and maintaining the faith among those that fall under the Principalities banner.
-Persons of interest:
Ser Damon Hayard, a knight who has proven worthy of such a station. Has proven several times his chivalry and skill in combat.

GEOGRAPHICAL
-World-Realm Map: [Map forthcoming] (Probably somewhere on the border of Aldebaran and Varyon. )
-Major Cities:
-Major Castles:
-Buildings of Interest:
-Geographic Features of Interest:

RACIAL
-Majority Race: Humans
-Majority Race Appearance/Characteristics:
-Minority Races:

RELIGION & MAGIC
-State Religion: The Pantheon
-Religious Information: WIP
-Religion Demographics: WIP
-Magical Schools and Curriculum: WIP

MILITARY
-Military Details: (Unit Types)

@Lone Wanderer

Check Sir Tobryn Stormwater's bio, in case I've said anything about Eslen that you're unhappy with.

Long story short, he was a renowned knight, who fell from grace after attacking a column of refugees that Dagon had disguised as a legion to fool him into killing them. The ploy worked, despite his knights begging him to call off the assault, and the Grand Master exiled him.

@HeroicGathering
Read it, that's awesome, nothing wrong with him. Reflects the knights perfectly. :D

The wheels fallen off this shin-dig?

Seems like it.

Meh, well I enjoyed creating the characters anyway.

If this resumes, let me know, I'm technically still in, but as I'm sensing RP cot death, I'm going to start flirting with other threads.

I liked creating my chracter as well.

It's still up. We mainly talk on the Pirate Pad guys. Come join us. @HeroicGathering @KabenSaal
Pirate Pad

It's still up. We mainly talk on the Pirate Pad guys. Come join us. @HeroicGathering @KabenSaal
Pirate Pad

Awesome! I'm busy atm, but i'll catch up with you all later.