Sounds interesting, though the fascist fetishism is a bit offputting. Hopefully this will be presented in shades of grey?

Sounds interesting, though the fascist fetishism is a bit offputting. Hopefully this will be presented in shades of grey?

I totally understand that. The focus of the story is the liberation of a tortured people by a divine figure. Some of the old state's fascist tenets will naturally be interpreted differently by the new sovereign, and the player characters will be a major factor in that influence.

This is quite interesting. Just like Dead Cruiser noted, I am a bit put off by the whole "fascism" thing (and I can't be the only one who saw a similarity between the Ashkanai and Ashkenazi Jews can I? lol) (also hordes of people invading a "pure" land and propping up their "dark" gods ), but still, I'll say that I'm tentatively interested. On the one hand the whole idea is pretty badass, not gonna lie, but on the other hand it's somewhat impossible to see the whole thing except through a contemporary political lens. Might be better in some instances to say authoritarian or theocratical.

But in general, interested.

Interested

This is quite interesting. Just like Dead Cruiser noted, I am a bit put off by the whole "fascism" thing (and I can't be the only one who saw a similarity between the Ashkanai and Ashkenazi Jews can I? lol) (also hordes of people invading a "pure" land and propping up their "dark" gods ), but still, I'll say that I'm tentatively interested. On the one hand the whole idea is pretty badass, not gonna lie, but on the other hand it's somewhat impossible to see the whole thing except through a contemporary political lens. Might be better in some instances to say authoritarian or theocratical.

But in general, interested.

The setting was designed with a contemporary political climate and conspiracy theories in mind, so it is to no surprise that you can see similarities. The word 'fascism' itself wouldn't exist in this fictional world, and I don't think it should be censored here. It's a collection of tenets that have been vilified by the current political left.

I personally find the tone of the writing purposely propagandic in nature, as if the narrator is only telling us one perspective of the story. Perhaps the vile description of the Ashkanai was put out to dehumanize the enemy, and the Ashkanai are actually ordinary tribesmen who felt abused by the Empire and decided to retaliate?

I personally find the tone of the writing purposely propagandic in nature, as if the narrator is only telling us one perspective of the story. Perhaps the vile description of the Ashkanai was put out to dehumanize the enemy, and the Ashkanai are actually ordinary tribesmen who felt abused by the Empire and decided to retaliate?

Is this a lore suggestion or criticism of the roleplay idea? I'm open to both.

The point of putting this in a dark fantasy context is to eliminate subjective perspectives and moral relativism. It works (somewhat) in real life, but not here. The Ashkanai, humanoid goat-like creatures, propagate worship of demonic Gods devoted to corruption, sacrifice of other races, and bloodshed. However, you are right in that they are nomadic tribesmen who believe these practices to be the right way of things, and as such would feel threatened by the Empire and its human values of life, prosperity, social cohesion, and by extension the 'superiority' of the human race.

@Prisk Wait, so this is a black-and-white, clearly-defined-good-and-evil kind of world, like the Lord of the Rings?

I personally think this would be far more interesting if the characters, along the course of the journey, discovered the dark truth about their beloved empire.

@Prisk Wait, so this is a black-and-white, clearly-defined-good-and-evil kind of world, like the Lord of the Rings?

I personally think this would be far more interesting if the characters, along the course of the journey, discovered the dark truth about their beloved empire.

Yes, but the story is about something else entirely.

Okay, and what would that be? To be honest, it looks a lot like you're not actually interested, but pointing things out for whatever reason. I'm sorry if this roleplay idea rubs you the wrong way.

@Prisk Wait, so this is a black-and-white, clearly-defined-good-and-evil kind of world, like the Lord of the Rings?

I personally think this would be far more interesting if the characters, along the course of the journey, discovered the dark truth about their beloved empire.

I don't necessarily see this as a world of clearly defined good and evil, as that type of dichotomy is impossible to create. There are two clearly defined, opposite factions that have been in conflict. These groups are antithetical and antagonistic to each other. It is evident that whatever a person thinks about the nature of these this conflict is solely based on their individual perspective on the matter.

It is clear that the narrator of this story is from a perspective that heightens the glory of the Anatolia (why the sun wheel to represent a region of the Byzantine Empire, btw, feels anachronistic), but even the most hardened patriot of the Empire can still have their own perspective and qualms on the nation, given that they make sense to his ideology, such as lamenting how the Empire was weak enough to falter in the face of such adversity.

Of course, you could probably make a character who is more critical of the Empire, but still sees the necessity of his quest and hopes that this journey to find some messianic figure might finally bring peace to the land (lol idunno, the rp hasn't even started yet). Actually, this story is probably meant that you have some sort of character arc so that your character repents and makes peace with what he has done. Sorry is came out a bit too mort de l'auteur, but that's just what I think.

Sounds interesting, though the fascist fetishism is a bit offputting. Hopefully this will be presented in shades of grey?

It's just an rp man. If you don't like the themes, no one's forcing you to participate.

I didn't get "black and white" good and evil from this. What I got is Bleakland horror, where life on earth is hell. Reminds me very much of the portrayal of daily life in the Netflix Castlevania series. It's dirty, bloody, and death is a daily fact. Won't be surprised if there's a pile of bodies outside every village.

It can't be black and white because it's all black. Evil is everywhere, especially in the church, though the common folk seldom realize that. Good exists, but it's hidden and elusive, though I suspect the sinners will have some in them.

There's an art to this sort of misery-porn setting. Usually it's very poorly done, but this has potential. Often the theme is that the world can be redeemed if the withering good in the world is found, protected, and nurtured. Some kind of drastic allegory for real life or human history or the inner soul or something something.

I don't see this as fascist-fetishism. And I don't see the problem with calling fascism what it is. The DM welcomed criticism, which is noble, but it seems like this is being criticized for not being more like different, safer, and more popular themes.

That said, I'd like to throw in my interest.

Edit: initially quoted the wrong person.

Yes, but the story is about something else entirely.

Okay, and what would that be? To be honest, it looks a lot like you're not actually interested, but pointing things out for whatever reason. I'm sorry if this roleplay idea rubs you the wrong way.

The idea is indeed quite interesting; apologies if I was misunderstood.

<Snipped quote by Prisk>

The idea is indeed quite interesting; apologies if I was misunderstood.

Ah, lovely.

To comment on your statements more in-depth, as @Didgeridont and @Life in Stasis touched upon, while there is a clearly defined right and wrong, it's not a universal notion but rather based on the perceptions of two difference races and their divine inspiration. The four named demons—Belial, Azazel, Moloch, and Dagon—for example, are the four nobles that betrayed the First Sovereign, leading to his death and the fall of the empire. There might also be individual Ashkanai that don't condone the practices and behaviors of their race. I was thinking that the characters would meet such an Ashkanai in the story, just to put them through such a scenario and moral test.

The 'dark truth about the empire' would be that there are traitors, that there are humans who don't agree with the empire. When you are deeply brainwashed from the time of infancy, any derivation of your world perception becomes extremely disturbing even if it might be an obvious thing. People are individuals, all of them will not agree with a 'greater good'. But, those brainwashed by that greater good could never understand that. So, the 'dark truth' can also be the extent of the deep propaganda, the need for a common perception that ignores the individual. So, something that the characters can go through is doubt. "Why would there be traitors? What don't they agree with the empire? How could they not see the light? Is the empire wrong?"

@Dead Cruiser@babbysama@Didgeridont@Life in Stasis@BingTheWing

Tiny update, interested or no: Working on information that will be sufficient for character creation. There is a shit ton of stuff to write, so I'll continue after that essential stuff is there.