O L D G L O R Y

They say that in the ancient times, before the Reckoning that destroyed the Earth, America had an empire that stretched from sea to shining sea, horizon to endless horizon. The Founders chose the President-King who in turn sent out armies of knights and legions of bards to spread their influence across the seas and even into the stars. Now, we're all that's left. Five kingdoms all claiming to be the heirs of an empire none of us really know much about.

I pity Old America; I'd hate for her to have to see what's become of her children.

Welcome to Old Glory aka "Game of Thrones but in a post apoc America based on the mod After the End for CK2". The idea is to have a sort of collective story where the adventure is in the journey and not really the end. As such, while I expect (and sort of encourage) the things and tones of GoT, none of it should ever be a sudden surprise and everyone should know what's going to happen; secrets are only in character, not out. Working together to build a connected world and all those good relationships is what I'd like to aim for. Also 18+ because politics and intrigue and war are rarely PG-13 and I don't intent to bowdlerize them too much.

Beyond GoT's stuff, the other big theme is America, or namely how its been misconstrued in this new world as you can see above. It has been at least a thousand years since the Five Kingdoms were united into one with at least a few hundred years of post apocalyptic stuff before that. Which means no guns, electricity, etc. If you are wondering why, its because like After the End, this is mostly to get a very medieval America.

I want at least four/five players to play as the major houses that would rule each of the five kingdoms, once those are filled other people can join in as either cadet branches, vassal houses or other characters within those major houses. Lore is listed below, I have more ideas but I'll add more based on interest. Character sheets will also come at a later date with enough interest or time. I'm aiming for this RP to be "high casual", there's a lot of lore and thought going on in the background but your actual posts don't need to be novellas, just enough to work with/get the point across.

The main plot is still up in the air but there is going to be an inciting incident to kickstart the RP. Right now ideas are ranging from the death of a large portion of the Ivory Throne's line of succession to a mad king to some kind of rebellion, either before, during or after.

Discord here.

The main setting is the Five Kingdoms located in what's known in-character as "Atlantica". Each is ruled by monarchy who all swear loyalty to the Ivory Throne in Washentown. They each claim legacy from America or some part of it. The main faith in the Five Kingdoms is the Faith of the Founders, a deification of the Founding Fathers into a sort of polytheist pantheon.

The Five Crowns [+]

The Northern Marches is made of the New England states as well as New York and portions of northern Pennsylvania; known in shorthand as "Yankee", "the March" or "the North". They boast a strong industry of fishing, whaling and forestry among others and commonly viewed as having a cold exterior with a warmer interior and being more superstitious of the paranormal, sometimes to the point of heresy. As the northern most kingdom, they regularly deal with the Prince and Princesses of Quebecois and the Ursuline Church and while usually on good terms, the North has been the target of more than a few Ursuline crusades, once having even been completely conquered. Their bastards are given the surname of Frost.

The Old Dominion is made of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and parts of North Carolina; also called "Keystone", "the Midlands" or just "the Dominion". They are often seen as the capital realm of the Five Kingdoms and one of its breadbaskets for wheat and livestock as well as having the second strongest mining economy in the realm. It comes as no surprise that many "Dominioners" are seen as self righteous and self important, often being the first to intervene in another kingdom's affairs for better or for worse. As the White Palace and the Ivory Throne are located within its borders, those who control the Old Dominion and more specifically the ancient city of Washentown are often the rulers of the Five Kingdoms. Their bastards are called Woods.

The Lakelands is made of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconson; sometimes referred to as either "the Great Lakes" or "Laurentinia". Many outside the Lakelands believe that Lakelanders are immune to the cold, very polite (although "polite" doesn't always mean "nice") and more than a little warlike due to the regular raids from the Canuck Wintermen from across the Great Lakes. While they farm and craft like any other, the Lakeland is known for one thing: Marine at Arms. Sworn knights specialized in river and water-based combat, it is Lakelanders who make up most of the Mississippi Water Watch and fight the Wintermen or the Ursuline when needed. Their bastards are called Rivers.

Appalachia is made of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, southern bits of the Great Lake states and the northern bits of Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi; they're called "the Great Mountains" or (more derisively), "Hillmen". While outsiders see them as simple minded, Appalachians see themselves as industrious, hearty and loyal for as children they are taught to never break an oath once made and to never take oaths lightly. They mostly keep to themselves in their clan hillocks and mountain villages and mine the bounty beneath the earth for metals and coal while also making some of the finest alcohol in the Five Kingdoms. Of which they often like to use in battle as fire bombs against the Ozark Tribes who sometimes raid across the river. Their bastards are called Stone.

The Sunbelt is made of the states of Florida and the southern portions of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina; some call them "the South", "Dixon" or "the Stormlands" for the hurricanes that sometimes arrives in the area. Of all the kingdoms, the Sunbelt takes honor and chivalry the most serious, its knights are held to a strict code that is beyond what most of the other kingdoms demand. And while their love of family is sometimes overexaggerated, it is true that to a Sunbelter, duty to the family is more important than duty to others which sometimes results in maddeningly no-win scenarios. The finest warhorses come from the south, and they grow rich on farming and trade with the Carib kingdoms to their south. They also boast the most impressive castle in the realm, that of Cinderrel Castle. Their bastards are called Sun.

Faith of the Founders [+]

The Faith of the Founders (also known as Founderism, Americanism or just the Founders) is the primary faith of the Five Kingdoms. According to Congressional Canon, the Founders first found the world while sailing through the stairs and created America to enact their will. Priest and priestesses are called "Representatives" as they represent the will of the Founders on earth and the high ranking Representative is called the Speaker for the Founders speak through them. Collectively the clergy is known as the "Congress" and the temples to the Founders are also called Congresses. There are five officially recognized Founders along with the Champions who represented them in Old America.

The Six Divine Founders [+]

Washington, the Father is considered to be the King of the Founders who delegates his power to both other Founders and mortal men. He is the Founder of honor, honesty, virtue and. He has no Champions as the everyone from the common lowfolk to the President-King are supposed to embody his ideals.

Lincoln, the Liberator is considered to the the Founder of change, commoners and laborers. He is very popular among the peasantry but less so among the upper class with many invoking his name when confronting unjust lords and unfair decrees. His champions are King Martin and Prince Kennedy, both great nobles who were martyred in his service.

Roosevelt, the Warrior is the Founder of battle, courage, nature and expansion and is considered the patrons of soldiers. Antlers are considered his holy symbol and thus many professional soldiers often carry a trinket of antler or animal bone in the hopes of gaining his strength in battle. His champions were Master MacArthur, who conquered the seas for America, and Cathay the Maid, a woman who disguised herself as a man to become a Rough Rider Knight.

Jefferson, the Scribe is the Fonder of writing, law, bards and community. His likeness is often found before the gates of a town and his statues and busts are the second most popular ones installed in town squares and meeting places after Founder Washington. His champions were Marquis Twain, a noble playwright, and Earnest of Hemmingway, a lowborn playwright.

Lady Liberty, the Guardian is the Founder of defense, women and the poor. Like Lincoln she is often seen to be popular among the lower classes but unlike him, she is also found near noble castles and upon house banners. Where as the previous four were said to have been first discovered upon a cliff face beyond the Mississippi, the monument to Lady Liberty was found in the harbor of Yorick. Where as Roosevelt expanded America, it was Lady Liberty who defended it and its people. Her Champions were Norton the First, a mad but devoted emperor, and Lord Monroe who saw to extend the guardianship of Lady Liberty beyond America's borders to its neighbors.

Franklin, the Inventor is the Founder of innovation, knowledge and tradesmen. It is said that he created the wonders of Old America that the faithful used in their crusades against the Red Demon and the Black Shadow. Scholars pray to him for inspiration while smiths invoke his name while working metal and any good tutor worth their salt has a medallion of his lenses on them. His Champions are Edison Lightbringer, who illuminated the darkness, and Maiden Airheart who flew across the world on wings of iron. However, some believe that Edison is a false champion and instead praise one known as Tesla of the East as his champion instead.

Zealots of the faith are called Patriots and holy order knights are often called Patriot Legion Knights. The main force which opposes the Founders are the insidious forces of the Red Demon and the Black Shadow, lead by the Arch-Traitor Benedict, who was cast out of Heaven for betraying the Founders. July 4th is a holy day known as Ascention Day, where it is believed the Founders ascended to heaven and left behind a line of great President-Kings to rule in their place. Lords and kings are coronated in the name of the Founders, sometimes all of them, sometimes just one (most often Washington).

@ClocktowerEchosI would like to play someone from the house whose seat is in the Lakelands, as that is closest to where I'm actually from.

Can you enlighten me as to what the house name would be and their words/sigils and such? Unless you would like me to create it.

House Brewer of the Lakelands [+]

House Name:House Brewer
House Words:"Praise be the Harvest"
Coat of Arms: A golden frond of wheat, on a background of blue (Pantone 2905 U, to be specific)

Seat: The Lakelands, "Chicago", Shedd House (Old Shedd Aquarium)
Titles:

• Lord of the Lakelands
• Sovereign of Illinois
• Warden of the North
• Marine Masters of the Mississippi

History: House Brewer, or rather, the Brewers, has been around for ages. The Brewers have always served the old lord in the North, working as laborers and occasionally men at arms. Over the centuries, Brewer men have always worked hard and, when necessary, fought bravely. However, even with their hardy nature and tireless work ethic, the Brewer's as a house did not amount to much.

Until one faithful campaign.

The lands to the West of the Lakelands, namely Minnestar and the Dako Plains, were considered strategically important and some were even fertile farm lands. The old lords in the North oft waged wars against the tribes in the North to seize the lands for themselves and the kingdom as a whole. These campaigns were mostly successful, but often at the cost of men and war beasts alike. One campaign, aptly named "War of Grains" saw the lords of the North, along with Brewer men at arms, wage a costly war against the tribes of Minnestar. On the morn of the decisive battle, one Camden Brewer was a common man at arms, fighting under the banner of lords of the north. The battle raged on around him. Arrows loosed from drawn bows and men cleaved at each other with crude iron swords.

Camden, knocked from his horse, rose to see that he was one among a few. One of those was the lord of the north. A tribesman was about five paces from the lord and had an arrow drawn. A sudden burst of courage overcame young Camden. He charged forth and tossed a nearby spear at the tribesman while diving in front of the lord. A whizz was heard. The lord, unharmed, pulled Camden to his feet but noticed that he was wounded. An arrow stuck out from his left shoulder like a grotesque branch from a tree. The action of Camden, however, served as the rallying cry for the rest of the troops, as the act of a young soldier in the face of danger is oft to do. The battle, and the rest of the campaign, was theirs. The lords of the north took over the fertile lands of Minnestar for their own.

For now.

Young Camden, for his bravery, was given a title and a minor land to hold as his own, in Illinois. Now, as lord of Wind Castle, Camden's family finally was able to settle and prosper. As a port on one of the great lakes, Illinois had plenty of commerce and trade. Over the years, House Brewer moved on from simple laborers to merchants and traders. Of course, their men at arms still fought for the lords in the north. The campaigns west never quite stopped, or were they as successful for the lords in the north as War of Grains. The foothold they gained west of the Mississippi were eventually ceded back to the tribes of Minnestar, in order to forge a peace treaty...

This was about 100 years ago now. Over the century, House Brewer grew strong. From simple farms, to knights, to lord, and now Warden of the North. Camden II has ready the stories and saw the relics. He knows the history, and his place.

Head: Lord Camden Brewer II
Heirloom: "Jewel of the North Star" A prize given as a sign of peace from the Minnestar Tribes. An aquamarine gem of flawless quality, found in one of the great lakes. Currently inlaid into the pummel of the great axe used by Camden II.
Traits: Brewers are known to be fair-skinned, golden haired with piercing blue eyes. Typically, they are quiet friendly and are known to be great hosts of feasts.

Misc: Given the fact that half of House Ironwit was banished into the Badlands of the Dako Plains, House Brewer often serves as the first line of defense against the would be usurpers. Brewers are also known as clan of hardy people, unafraid of the cold they often endure.
Quote:
"Ah, the Brewers. They surely live up to their name. The ales they brew are known far and wide for their subtle honey taste, and a refreshing finish, like a quick dip in a lake on a hot day"

-The blabbing of a local drunkard.

"What we know of the Brewers are that we have a peace treaty with them. We gave them our L'Étoile, they gave us His helm. But, if I had to wager a bet, I'd bet they're readying themselves to take our lands and harvest again..."

-Whisperings of Minnestar tribal chiefs, said with a slight tinge of contempt.