"Purple is such a bad colour for us. We ought to have picked crimson. Years of bloodshed and war, thousands of orphans and raped women... and for what? A laurelled crown and purpure crest and robe? Madness."
- Cleontes the Great upon his abdication
OOC information:
The roleplay will be based on Late Antiquity, with the focus on a fractioned nation, reminiscent of the Late Roman Empire, rife with strife and turbulence caused by ambitious warlords and princelings, barbarians, religious unrest and disaster. There are a number of interesting parts to be played.
Do you think you have what it takes to rise to power and fill the power vacuums left by the death of emperors? Are you, as leader of an imperial faction, convinced you are able to walk the road to empire, claim the throne and don the Imperial Purpure? Will you fight for honour and justice or be a harbinger of doom? Are you male or will you show the world what women can do? Perhaps the trappings of an Eastern monarch are more to your liking, or the bellicose ways of semi-civilised barbaric kingdoms preying on the decaying Imperium. Maybe you are attracted to none of this all and operate as an agent of chaos, you and your savage warriors leaving naught but death in your wakes. Or, potentially, you, as a spokesman of the God/Gods, attempt to further your own ambitions...
The year is 311 and the dogs of war are unleashed as a number of powerful individuals stake their claims for the imperial throne.
As you were able to read above, the roles presented are legion. There are seven claimants to the throne, each with their own description. Aside from these other factions/nations are present. These descriptions offer basic information that should serve as a basis for the design of your faction. However, I'm always open to suggestions. As such, these descriptions can be altered to accommodate for excellent ideas.
The Empire
West
Claimant 1 (Brytan, Tongoria, Lugdunia, Tolosia)
Claimant 2 (Domia, Anonia, Norica, Ugia, Retulia)
Claimant 3 (Ictria, Tarragonia, Butica, Gatalia) - probably taking this one
Claimant 4 (N. Garthica, S. Garthica, Ardinia)
East
Claimant 5 (Adria, Mosia, Cosia, Ertoria, Yria)
Claimant 6 (Niconia, Hyrocha, Tullica, Nassa)
Claimant 7 (Estandria, Ptorea, Agania, Ciria)
The Old Faith
The New Faith
Western Tribes
The Peructi
The Silorians
The Ripauri
The Vesagans in Guitania
Eastern Tribes
The Osturogans
The Vesagans
The Attalans
The 'East'
The Bossonid Empire
The Kingdom of Erthania
The Kingdom of Tarisca
Claimant 1 (green)
You have recently arisen to the rank of emperor by proclamation of your soldiers. When your father and former senior-emperor died suddenly in 305, you were the next logical choice to become junior-emperor under the replacement senior-emperor for the West, Severus. However, the late Silorian king Childerik and your legions declared you senior-emperor without the approval of the true senior-emperor. However, after accepting the official, yet lesser, title of junior-emperor from the late western senior-emperor Severus, you have recently taken matters into your own hands. As son of the senior-emperor before Severus, your claim is strong and your mind set. With the legions of Brytan, Tongoria, Lugdunia and Tolosia behind you, you have proclaimed yourself senior-emperor in the West.
Claimant 2 (red)
You are a brazen usurper of the senior-emperor title, or so most of your contemporary Emperors see you. When Claimant 1 was proclaimed emperor by his own troops in Brytan during the summer of 305, you saw the path to power. The legitimised bastard son of former emperor Cleontes the Great, you were declared Emperor by the people of Retulia and Domia –the imperial heartlands-, when the other Emperors attempted to pass you by. You have weathered the attacks of the now dead Severus’ legions against your legitimacy to rise to power.
Claimant 3 west, yellow
As son to the late senior-emperor Severus, you had assumed command of the provinces of Ictria, Butica, Tarragonia and Gatalia in order to repel the invading Vesagans. After beating them in campaigns lasting from 304 to 308 you finally managed to persuade your father to grant them the right to settle the depopulated province of Guitania. With the death of your father, and you as his heir, you plan to assume the purple robe of empire. Though your army may be smaller than the usurper Claimant 2, it is far more experienced. Additionally, you can count on Vesagan levies and allies due to you brokering a treaty for them.
Claimant 4 orange
Comfortable on the northern coast of Aphrigia, you were installed by the previous senior-emperor Severus as governor of the wealthy and prosperous provinces of Ardinia and North and South Garthica. In spite of having the smallest army and navy in the west, you can negotiate from a position of strength due to the dependence of the Domian population of your grain. You are married to one of Severus’ daughters and as such have no legitimate claim to the throne but are considered a member of the Imperial family. However, being the opportunist and realist that you are, you want to assume the title of junior-emperor of the west.
Claimant 5 purple
You are a legitimate senior-emperor, installed by the late eastern senior-emperor Carullus. However, you have had bad luck in campaigns against the Osturogans and Vesegans. Territory was lost and a yearly tribute has to be paid to both tribes, which has attracted another regional player: the Attalans. Following your military misfortune, your junior-emperor Claimant 7 has declared himself senior-emperor of the East. To make matters worse, your cousin Claimant 6, as Commander-in-Chief of your armed forces, has openly defied you in 310 and spies tell you that his ambitions have been coloured purple. Fortunately for you, there are still loyal generals to defend your throne. Your true power, however, lies at sea for you have the largest war fleet available with maritime bases and a supply network to match. In order to supplement your land forces, you might have to turn to your old enemies to the north, for they have served in the Imperial Armies before…
Claimant 6 grey
Your uncle is the senior-emperor, but also a failure. He has brought the Imperium to the brink of disaster with his futile wars against the Osturagans and Vesegans, in which you have fought. After being ordered to invade the kingdom of Erthania, doing so meaning abandoning the campaign against Bossonia, you have taken the initiative and refused your uncle’s orders. The troops support you and have declared you junior-emperor after the self-proclaimed Claimant 7’s missive throughout the Empire. A peace was negotiated with the Bossonids on your behalf to allow you some space to manoeuvre. You intend to march on your uncle, Claimant 5, and make him see reason.
Claimant 7 blue
You are the grandson of Maximus, co-emperor to Cleontes and proud of your heritage. With the southern districts and provinces under your control, you are a political player to be reckoned with. Much of the eastern grain supply is in your hands, and with the support of the legions from Ciria and Agania, you can protect your demographic centres in Estrandia, the source of your wealth. Your fleet is reasonably sized, enough to hold the legitimate senior-emperor of the East at bay until you have built up your strength to strike at him. While waiting for the opportune moment, you have sent a missive throughout the Imperium, stating you claim the title of senior-emperor of the East.
The Old Faith
As a priest of the Old Faith you strive to maintain the free ideals of paganism. The Gods are legion and ought to be feared and respected. During the last two centuries there has been a decline of believers of the old, traditional deities. However, you and your colleagues have been blessed by supernatural gifts, arcane arts… magic.
The New Faith
There is only one God, and you and your fellows are his prophets. You have been gifted with magic and strive to transcend the earthly. Nonetheless, your ambitions do concern the ‘earthly’ since you need political will and power in order to gain followers and show them the way. Some accuse you of being intolerant towards other religions, but it is they who are intolerant toward women. Though men serve in your religion, your faith’s head is female and goes by the title of the ‘Prophetess’.
Peructi pink
Based on the Celts, Pictish themed
Silorians azure
This setting’s Franks, warrior culture, allies of the Empire, provide soldiers and officers, led by warlords and kings
Ripauri or Riporians dark grey
Less civilised than the Franks, Germanic based, Alamans, variety of tribes and kingdoms, barbaric, warrior cultures, oathsworn bodyguards, pagans, make good soldiers,…
Osturogans beige
Ostrogoths, loose confederation of Germanic peoples, some steppe nomads
Vesegans green
Visigoths, often serve as soldiers in the Imperial armies, confederation of Germanic peoples, two factions: one in upper Mosia, one in Guitania
Attalans yellow
Huns, led by two brothers Bleyta and Steypa, confederation of warrior tribes with a majority of cavalry, semi-sedentary, strong mounted culture, ugly appearance (long limbs, flat faced?). New strong regional player, manages to influence the Osturogans and Vesegans to the south.
Erthania bordeaux
Armenia, wealthy, strives to remain independent from the Bossonid Empire
Bossonid Empire pale purple
Sassanids, ‘New Persia’, Sun Cult
Tarisca grey-blue
Bosporan kingdom, mix of Imperial, steppe and barbaric cultures, engages in piracy, strong navy
History:
As old as it is large, the Empire is the most powerful state the world has ever seen. Originally a republic, it evolved into a monarchy after a period of civil wars. The ruling dynasty, named after the first (covert) emperor Retullius, remained in power for over five centuries. Retullius was careful to frame his power within constitutional rights and traditions. The Senate realised the new reality and condoned the new political system. As the years progressed, the position of ‘first’ or ‘leading citizen’ was redefined and formalised, transitioning from a semi-legal to a legal function.
The Retullian dynasty eventually died out due to premature deaths, kin-strife, jealousy and increasing infertility. A terrible civil war ensued between a variety of claimants, some fighting for old religions and beliefs, independence, others fought for their own gain, while there were those that attempted to restore order. The Empire had grown too big and had collapsed on itself. Only through the colossal efforts and thorough reorganisations one individual succeeded in saving it from consuming itself.
To make matters worse, the barbarian tribes and eastern monarchies were seemingly reorganising themself, finding new vitality and encroached on the Imperium's borders. The Gannic peoples, split in the Vesagans and Osturogans, executed several raids and eventually settled the regions north of Mosia and Yria. However, the Empire's might was formidable and for foreigners and citizens alike, it was appealing to serve in its administrative or military system.
The ascension of Cleontes the Great, forty years ago, marked a major departure from traditional Imperial constitutional theory regarding the Emperor, who was nominally first among equals during the Principate. Whereas before Emperors had worn only a purple toga and were greeted with deference, Cleontes –inspired and influenced by the eastern cultures- wore jewelled robes and shoes, and required those who greeted him to kneel and kiss the hem of his robe. In many ways, he was the first true monarchical Emperor, and this is symbolised by the fact that the word dominus ("Lord" or “Master”) rapidly replaced princeps as the favoured word for referring to the Emperor.
In short, the Dominate represented a time when the emperors unabashedly showcased their status and authority compared to the earlier Principate.
Cleontes created the Hexarchy, the Rule of Six, in order to facilitate effective government throughout the Imperium. However, this was a gradual development, spread over 2 decades. After the civil wars and the crisis in the 3rd century it became apparent that the Empire had become too large to govern effectively by just one man. Crises followed swiftly on one another, making the presence of an emperor key. Cleontes appointed one of his close friends and experienced generals as junior-emperor to his regime.
Not shortly after, this Diarchy was reformed into the Hexarchy after it became clear two men were still insufficient to govern the entirety of the Empire. From now on, there were two senior-emperors to govern the Eastern and Western part of the Imperium. They were in turn each aided by two junior-emperors. When the senior-emperor of East or West would abdicate, his successor would be chosen from the more able of the two candidates.
From 271 to 311 the system worked admirably. The Empire had gained momentum and prospered once more under the new order. However, after the deaths of the last senior and junior emperors appointed by Cleontes the Great, tensions between the new occupants of the thrones rose.
222 death of Retullius X
223-280 interregnum
271 ascension of Cleontes the Great, start of the Dominate, Maximus elevated to junior-emperor
275 Maximus elevated to co-emperor in the west
277 appointment of two junior-emperors, Lucianus and Carullus
278 appointment of an additional junior-emperor
292 Maximus dies in combat against the Silorians and Vesagans
293 Cleontes abdicates, appointment of three new junior-emperors, Lucianus and Carullus become senior-emperors
297 Cleontes dies
305 last immediate successors appointed by Cleontes exchange the temporal for the eternal, death of Lucianus, ascension of Claimant 5 as senior-emperor, death of Claimant 1’s father – Severus becomes senior-emperor in the West.
308 Vesegan settlement of Guitania
310 death of western senior-emperor Severus
311 current date, emperors at odds with one another
We will work with a ‘troop class’ system which will give you a basis to work from but still allow you liberty to fill in your own armies and forces. However, you should try and keep true to the setting. I suggest you take inspiration from the Late Roman Army.
The fixed unit size and label is a regiment. An infantry regiment can vary in size from 1,000 to 3,000 combatants, whereas a cavalry regiment numbers around 400 to 500. When creating your army, keep in mind that you state the size of your regiments. The limitanei have a 1/3 ratio of your total armed forces. The palatinae and scholae combined cannot exceed the same ratio of 1/3 of your total military. Additionally the scholae regiments cannot exceed the number of 5.
Beside the troop class there are also troop types: infantry, cavalry, ranged. Which are in turn divided into sub-types corresponding with their function. Infantry for example can be divided into light, medium and heavy infantry with varying weapon types such as spearmen, pikemen, swordsmen, …
While these troop classes seem very strict and linear, the elite units such as the palatinae and scholae offer you more liberty and customisation. The limitanei and comitatenses are pretty straightforward in order to have a more general/common feel for the Imperial Army though you are free to incorporate ‘regional’ difference such as different hair styles or sword/spear types.
Should you pick up a non-imperial nation or faction, you will have a less defined basis to work from.
Troop Classes
The military is based on that of the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity, the period of the Tetrarchy and Dominate to be more precise, which corresponds with this roleplay’s setting. As such, your militaries should resemble the limitanei and comitatenses. In addition to these two ‘troop classes’ there are the palatinae and scholae classes as well as auxiliaries. So in total there are 5 troop classes. The illustrations are there for the sake of offering examples, give you an idea.
The limitanei (or ‘ripenses’) are professional soldiers that tend to perform garrison and frontier (‘limes’) duties. They are inferior to the comitatenses, in that they lack heavy armour, but not by much in other regards and can comprise of both infantry and cavalry. These troops will form the mainstay of your defensive forces, but can –at a risk- be deployed offensively.
The comitatenses form the mainstay of your field armies. They are full-time soldiers with good equipment and combat experience. Better armed and armoured, they are led by capable officers and display excellent discipline. This troop class can contain anything from infantry to cavalry or ranged troops.
The palatinae are, as the name suggests, palace guards –at least originally. However, due to the changing concept of imperial duty, they act as the heavy core of field armies. Elite units, their equipment is very customisable to fit their tasks. Palatinae forces can include light and heavy infantry or cavalry.
The scholae troops are the best of the best, usually made up of heavy cavalry regiments. With access to the best equipment and resources, the scholae are a fearsome weapon in the right hands. In recent years they have taken over the role as Imperial bodyguards.
The auxiliaries are an extremely diverse troop class. They are drafted from affiliate nations and ethnicities. Some examples would be Silorian infantry armed with axes and short swords, or horse archers from Bossonia or Attalan cavalry.
[hider=Magic]
“Magic is extremely rare. Little is known about how exactly individuals gain magical abilities, but it is clear it has to do something with a ‘shadow world’ – a mirror to the real world. It is there that the Gods and Goddesses reside and watch us mortals. It is there that they judge and gift their servants with incredible powers.” – Edunius the Elder on the occurrence of magic
Because magic originates from the deities, for they are the source of everything, true sorcerers and magicians are usually found serving as priests in the temples. However, sometimes priests and priestesses are cast out after malpractice or an infraction against the codes of the temples. They become apostates, and though their magical potential is diminished due to the omission of divine favour and the distance to the sources of power (usually located in said temples) they are still capable of powerful sorcery.
However, these apostates have to be careful, for without the divine protection, daemons pry on them and attempt to break free of the shadow world. Not many apostates manage to fend these infernal entities off and succumb to madness or have their will enslaved. Yet there are the few exceptions who withstand the daemonic voices.
[hider=Religion]
There are many forms of religions but only four are worth mentioning.
In the ancient times, when the Empire was still young, a pantheon of syncretic gods was formed. Imperial and foreign religion influenced one another and gave birth to what is now referred to as the Old Faith. A plethora of deities, not all of them clearly defined, reside in the shadow world and only barely take interest in the lives of mortals.
The New Faith has only been around for two centuries and has known a rapid growth, particularly across the eastern and southern provinces of the Imperium. Instead of preaching to several divine personalities and entities, they advocate there is only one true God. He will lead his flock to salvation, and protect them from the powers of darkness.
Further to the East, in the Bossonid Empire and Erthania there is the cult of the sun. Though the Old Faith has adopted the deity and dubbed it Sol Invictus (the victorious sun) the Bossonids firmly believe there are only two three gods; the first being Oraster (Sol Invictus), the second his sister-wife Andarte (who corresponds with the chief female goddess) and their brother Morden (God of Darkness and the Underworld). Some believe Morden is merely the second face of Oraster. Light is terribly important to the Bossonids and followers of the Sun Cult.
Lastly, there is paganism. A mockery of a faith, or so it is called by the Old and New Faith, for pagans are barbarians. Their gods are dark and unpredictable, residing not in temples but in the open air. Spirits of forest, earth, fire and water whom server bigger more powerful entities. Their servants are shamans and witches, blessed with unholy powers. Rumours are plentiful about the atrocities committed to please the pagan gods, rumours about human sacrifice and blood magic.
The days of the elves and dwarves are long past, their existence fading from memory in spite of the things mankind learned from them. Some claim there are still descendants of these elder races, but if so there can be no more than a handful of settlements, carving out a living in the upper northern regions. There are rumours that the Peructi are half-elves due to their agility and lithe frames and perhaps survivors of the elves should be looked for there.
However, there are other races and beings worthy of note that populate the world.
The larger specimens consist of ape-like monsters; their bodies covered in fur and their mouth filled with dagger-like teeth. They are the giants, trolls and wendigos, and usually live far away from urban centres. They are considered primitive and are hunted within the Imperium, making their kind more present outside of the Empire’s borders.
Beastmen prowl the forests and plains to the east of Riporia Magna. Their kind comprises of minotaurs and abominations reminiscent of a union between rams, goats and men. They usually live in tribal communities and seem to have developed some sort of sentience. This veneer is lost for they tend to make war on everything and anything. Though not exactly related, harpies are often included in this category.
Shanka, also called ‘flatheads’ for obvious reasons, are pale and evil creatures. About half the size of a fully grown man but with the same strength and double the malice, they cannot but be the offspring of devils. They use primitive weapons like the beastmen but live in mountains and underground tunnels, which has led to them being considered nothing but vermin.
Fortunately not all creatures are evil. Dryads, spirits and spriggans are known to be favourable towards mankind, as are the satyrs (not to be mistaken for beastmen) and mermaids. They are, however, apprehensive of groups of people, preferring to communicate with a single individual. The presence of metal scares them, particularly iron or steel.
Lastly there are the rusalka. These are creatures of prophecy, water and fortune. They herald the future, but the future is dangerous and uncertain. To this day people are unclear whether the rusalka are good or evil, for they are death incarnated. Souls of young maidens spurned by lovers that have taken their own lives transform into rusalka. They are therefore extremely rare, but found –often singing- nearby pools or rivers where they have taken their life.
One man sees a ruselka: his life forks there.
Two men see a ruselka: one of them shall die.
Three men see a ruselka: one is blessed, one forks, one shall die.
One woman sees a ruselka: her path comes clear to her.
Two women see a ruselka: one of them shall bear a child.
Three women see a ruselka: one is blessed, one is clear, one shall bear a child.
Nation Sheet:
Sigil:
Nation name: (can be 'claimant 7’s faction')
Religious affiliation:
Important characters:
Head of State:
Name:
Age:
Description: (appearance & personality, be sure to include some flaws for a more interesting character)
Biography: (can base this of the faction descriptions above, but don’t have to. Important is to state the nature of your claim and how you came to be as head of your faction).
Others:
Court-members, priests, soldier, general,…
Geography:
Province list should be put here in order of prosperity
You can write a short description per province, if you don’t the province will correspond with the historical description. Tongoria for example will correspond with Belgica or Germania Superior/Inferior.
Military:
List your troop classes, types (including weapon and armour type) and peculiarities if present
