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Hidden 9 yrs ago 9 yrs ago Post by Slamurai
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God & Country



The continent of Antova: a collection of kingdoms, principalities and duchies loosely united through faith and beset by fire. The High Pontiff is dead, and the Prelates of the kingdoms convene to elect a new religious leader. In his absence, religious strife threatens to divide the bond between church and state. Every day, souls are lost to the pyre as the Ambrusian Order cleanses the "wicked" from the earth in its bid to maintain order. In the east, the drums of war beat and the muezzins rouse the devout to arms with prayer-song from their minarets. Sultans pray, bidding their prophet for blessings on their holy war against the unbelievers. It is a time of uncertainty, where war with the eastern world looms on the horizon, where even kings tread the thin line between salvation and excommunication, and where prayers for deliverance can be heard on the lips of every soul across the known world.


Welcome to God and Country, an NRP set in the continent of Antova - a pseudo-Renaissance Europe at a chaotic time where the Ambrusian Church reigns nearly supreme, and the borders of the easternmost kingdoms are threatened by the looming armies of the Timluks. Antova's monarchies are connected through their belief in God and His ascended Saint Fiorentino. However, the Fiorentinan world is embroiled in disorder, following the untimely death of the High Pontiff Brutellus. The iron gauntlet of the Ambrusian Church can be felt across the continent as thousands burn on the pyres; a political statement, as much as a religious one. The Fiorentian kings are divided in their loyalty to their country and to the church; and with the Timluks on the verge of invasion, such schism could not come at a worse time.

Players will control their own Fiorentian state and the characters within, vying against or cooperating with one another for leverage as the Ambrusians continue their purges. The loyalties of your monarchs and their subjects is up to you, although excommunication is a very real and present danger, which can be faced together, or alone. Meanwhile, the Timluk Sultanates stir to the east, and the call for war is a loud one. Although trade with the Timluks has enriched many aspects of the Antovan kingdoms, the two worlds have clashed time and time again in wars of religion. Untouched from the chaos of the east, virgin lands far across sea are rumored to await the blessings of Fiorentino, or perhaps to shelter those escaping the Ambrusian pyres.

Technologically and culturally, the world is equivalent to the late 1500s. Pike and arquebus have dimmed the candle of knightly dominance, and feudalism is becoming a thing of the past. Printing has led to increased literacy rates, and society has enamored itself with the arts and sciences. Yet, the masses' faith in God has never diminished, and the Church enjoys a seat outside the jurisdiction of secular powers. The setting is low-fantasy: there is magic, but it is hard to define and even harder to master. Practitioners are few and far in-between, but many have found employment in the courts of kings. However, wizards are also usually the first to bear the brunt of the Ambrusians' wrath when the purge swells. It is a discrete and indirect art - a wizard searching for a wind to manipulate a ship out of a lull looks no different than a devout man at prayer, to the average man. There are also no elves, no dwarves - humanity is supreme, much as in the real world, but there may be fantastical beasts and animals that dwell here.

Rules & Regulations

  • I am the Lord, and my Word is Law. Not quite, but I am still GM and I will have the final say in the arbitration of disputes or rulings.
  • You will respect and appreciate thy neighbor. There is no contest, no prize to be won. I have only provided a backdrop for a narrative, and I would like the story to come first. I hope players desire the same. I expect player nations will have long-standing history with each other, and encourage collaboration between them, if not declare it outright mandatory.
  • Do not abandon thy countrymen to death or despair. Where high turnover rates and abandoned NRPs are commonplace, I aim to welcome players who are also invested in a long-term narrative and who have the drive to see it through. If you will be away for a time, please let us know so we can plan accordingly.


The Map




This is the map of the geographic regions most significant to the narrative. The continent of Antova comprises roughly the western half of the map. The east half is made up of the realms of the Timluks and other foreign peoples. A good practice might be to stick to where it's green. There is also the possibility of sailing far westwards, across the ocean and landing on an uncharted continent. That will be dealt with when we cross that bridge.

Nation Sheet



Now, with that on the table, who might be interested? I will answer any and all questions that come my way. I ask that land claims be withheld until the OOC is up, as I will need to establish the territory of the Timluks, other foreign lands and the Vatican-equivalent of the Ambrusian Church.
Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by TheSovereignGrave
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I could be interested in this, and I actually already have an idea for my nation.
Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by Slamurai
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I could be interested in this, and I actually already have an idea for my nation.


Glad to hear it! What've you got in mind?
Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by TheSovereignGrave
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<Snipped quote by TheSovereignGrave>

Glad to hear it! What've you got in mind?


A kingdom that's primarily agrarian in nature, and which is very much trying to hold onto the ideals of chivalry and knighthood in the face of an evolving world. And which is likely going to end up with the very real possibility of facing a succession crisis upon his death because he has 3 children: the eldest son who is unfit to rule because he is mentally retarded, the second son who many consider unfit because he's incredibly frail and sickly, and a deformed infant daughter.
Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by Slamurai
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<Snipped quote by Aristo>

A kingdom that's primarily agrarian in nature, and which is very much trying to hold onto the ideals of chivalry and knighthood in the face of an evolving world. And which is likely going to end up with the very real possibility of facing a succession crisis upon his death because he has 3 children: the eldest son who is unfit to rule because he is mentally retarded, the second son who many consider unfit because he's incredibly frail and sickly, and a deformed infant daughter.


I do love backwater states. God forbid they're on the frontlines of the war with the Timluks!
Hidden 9 yrs ago 9 yrs ago Post by TheSovereignGrave
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<Snipped quote by TheSovereignGrave>

I do love backwater states. God forbid they're on the frontlines of the war with the Timluks!


I wouldn't consider it a backwater, per se. I imagine it as being fairly wealthy since it owns a large amount of fertile land, but definitely currently being left behind technologically.

EDIT: And man is it difficult trying to find a nice looking coat of arms with skulls on it.
Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by Nerevarine
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Nerevarine Frá hvem rinnur þú? - ᚠᚱᚬ᛫ᚼᚢᛅᛁᛘ᛫ᚱᛁᚾᛅᛦ᛫ᚦᚢ

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Kind of a WIP, but mostly done


Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by Brithwyr
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Interest = Piqued
Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by ZB1996
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I'm interested. I'll probably have something up within the next couple of days.
Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by Slamurai
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@Nerevarine
I like what you've got; seems like it will have a nice dynamic on the Fiorentian political sphere.
I had wanted to set land claims aside for the OOC, but yours doesn't conflict with any plans I had, so its all good.
Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by Slamurai
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-Double post; disregard-
Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by RWDS
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Interested Comrade
Planning on doing something similar to Poland-Lithuania.
Hidden 9 yrs ago 9 yrs ago Post by TheSovereignGrave
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So, figured I's get at least a start on my NS.

Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by POOHEAD189
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POOHEAD189 The Abmin

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Might just join!
Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by Theodorable
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Could I be a Papal States like nation?
Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by POOHEAD189
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As some of you might have guessed, yes indeed, I will be a militaristic state.
Hidden 9 yrs ago 9 yrs ago Post by Slamurai
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Could I be a Papal States like nation?


Actually, as GM, I'll be playing the Vatican-equivalent of the Ambrusian Church and directing their activities, but you are all free to play the respective prelates or bishops that represent your nations. Expect them to convene frequently at the church's political center.

However, some folks have been interested in playing knightly orders or crusader state-type factions, which I'll allow on a case by case basis. The real focus should be on the nations and how they tread the political and religious waters at their throats. That said, I do need somebody on the borders with the Timluks to have a Constantinople-esque city; a spiritual Fiorentinan headquarters, so to speak.
Hidden 9 yrs ago 9 yrs ago Post by Theodorable
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EMPIRE OF MILLE-SESSAU




Nation Overview
With over two and a half thousand square miles of territory, the Empire of Mille-Sessau is a quilt of language, faith and culture. Almost entirely agrarian, the Empire of Sessau thrived as a beacon of the Antovan religious, home to it's many scholars and the birthplace of some of it's more respected cardinals. The Sesso-Millean War, with the Kingdom of Mille finally moving to thwart Sessauan expansionism in the region ended, Sessau emerged as the dominant power in the region. It's hold however, was tenuous. Encompassing a brave fourteen million souls, Sessau embodies people who speak over thirty-six different languages, with twice as many different cultures.

Empress Alisandre de Salle has been on the throne less than a year and already the fabric of the empire has stretched her meek and mild soul. With the former Kingdom of Mille clambering to the minor nations for movements of revolt, the King's Council (named so even with a queen on the throne), issued a mandate to allow the Milleans some form of autonomy. This has kept things quiet. For now. The Sessauans are ruled as an absolute monarchy, with a King's Council of five governors plus an allotment to the Millean King, Juno IV of Herada.

Geography



History
Self-explanatory. This doesn't need to be long; just informative. I encourage players to collaborate and create shared history.

[Under Construction]

Society
What are the people in your nation like? How closely do they adhere to the Church? What is notable about their culture and how they do things? Feel free to elaborate, but keep it reasonable. History may play a large role in this section, and vice-versa.

[Under Construction]

Economy/Industry
The Sessauan economy is based on primitive agrarianism and specialized guilds. The Guilds are separated into their respective crafts and they are often at odds with their Fiorientian neighbors. Silks, arts, marble and granite works are all among the various elements of industry that the Sessauan artisans sell. Le Grande Bazaar is one of the biggest marketplaces in Western Antova(n) and among a favorite for lesser royalty to browse and shop at.

Due to a lack of mountainous terrain, the Sessauans import the majority of their iron ores for use in military weapons, as well as stones for construction of buildings and defensive works.

Military
The Sessauan military has two very distinct hierarchies. The Sessauan Army is comprised of feudal levies, raised by the fiefs of those who serve the Sessauan throne. If called to actions, it's estimated that between 100,000-120,000 men-at-arms can be raised. These troops wear chainmail and are often given pikes, maces or short swords and bucklers. They are moderately equipped, as they are given seasonal training, but are not professional soldiers.

The Order of Sapphira and the Saavan Order are the two remaining sects of knighthood. The Sapphiran Knights have the limitations that they must be born in Sessauan royalty. They are trained, nearly from birth, for combat. They number around 3,800. The Saavan Order are those who have devoted themselves to the Ambrusian Church. They are the warriors of faith often lauded in song and dance. They come in a thousand different cultures and number around 15,000.
Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by TheSovereignGrave
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Hey @Aristo, it seems pretty obvious that the Ambrusian Church is sort of a Catholic Church expy but are we going to get a more detailed explanation of what exactly their religious beliefs are?
Hidden 9 yrs ago Post by Nerevarine
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Nerevarine Frá hvem rinnur þú? - ᚠᚱᚬ᛫ᚼᚢᛅᛁᛘ᛫ᚱᛁᚾᛅᛦ᛫ᚦᚢ

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@Nerevarine
I like what you've got; seems like it will have a nice dynamic on the Fiorentian political sphere.
I had wanted to set land claims aside for the OOC, but yours doesn't conflict with any plans I had, so its all good.


Cool :)

As well, given that they're basically the Antovan Bosnia, my plan was for them to be overrun by Timluks and mostly vassalized and converted to their religion (whatever the not-Islam is called) due to being more or less crippled from it's division, as well as it's rebels converting as a political statement and for support. I'm curious if that would be okay in the later game?
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