[OOC] [IC/OOC] God and Country - A low-fantasy renaissance NRP of religion and discovery

[Slamurai]

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 continent.

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 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

Geographical Map

Political 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

NS skeleton

Nation Name

Flag or coat of arms here.

Nation Overview

Give us a concise summary of your nation: what is is known for? What is it all about? This should set the tone for other sections and how others will perceive your state. Also, tell us what form of government you have. Most will be kingdoms, but duchies, principalities, even small republics are fair game. Also name important characters and the current head of state.

Geography

Map Claim

Choose a color and draw your borders on the map. You are also at liberty to describe the geography, weather, flora and fauna of your nation here. Also to be mentioned are important cities or locations within your nation.

History

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

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.

Economy/Industry

What resources do you import and export? How is your industrial capacity? Are you more agricultural? Do you make anything especially coveted or unique? Geography will play a role here. No Fiorentian state is wholly self-sufficient.

Military

I do not require numbers or pinpoint-accurate troop demographics, but give us an overview of your military. What does your nation do well? Has it embraced gunpowder and tercio, or does it cling to the past and field vast ranks of mounted ment-at-arms? What kind of equipment do you use? Many Fiorentian militaries will be similar, in appearance and/or equipment, but you don't have to be identical. You are free to embellish this section with famous regiments or historical commanders. How is your army organized? Do you have a color scheme? Have fun, but be sensible.

Lore

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The Fiorentian Faith and the Church:

Antova's monarchies are culturally linked by the Fiorentian faith: a religion that acknowledges a single God, and reveres the Saint Fiorentino as His prophet on Earth. The religion has many parallels to Christianity, in that God is the creator of all things, and the life, death and resurrection of His earthly messenger is proof of his love for humanity. Through faith in Saint Fiorentino, one may be admitted salvation and eternal life. The teachings of the religion are much more similar to the New Testament in this regard, and God does not appear in Fiorentinan texts as the wrathful deity he does in the Old Testament.

It is widely accepted that Saint Fiorentino was a real individual, and the founder of Antova's first true church. He is said to have been the first of all saints, and in time, will walk the earth once again to recover the favored of God. The Ambrusian Church derives its name from an ancient word meaning “reclamation.” His teachings promote doing well by one's fellow man, being a Samaritan and rejecting evil. By doing good deeds as proof of one's love for God, the faithful will be reclaimed upon death and live blissfully in Heaven. While Saint Fiorentino did not explicitly reject controversies such as homosexuality, certain sexual practices, magical arts, or any race of man, these have been, in one way or another, painted as targets for the Ambrusian Church. Present-day, it is much more tolerable of gays, women in public office, and once-undesirable professions, it still reels against the magical arts and those who practice them, citing them as “not of God” and wholly unnatural. While mages of courtly rank are usually beyond the grasp of the militant orders, commoner wizards, hedge witches, soothsayers, oracles and other plain folk are prime fodder for the pyre.

At the head of the church is the High Pontiff, akin to Catholicism's Pope. He is treated as God's representative on Earth, tasked with ensuring Saint Fiorentino's lessons are upheld by the Antovian world. The High Pontiff is elected by a council of lower Pontiffs, each a representative of an Antovian nation, plus the Presbyter General: a warrior-clergyman that oversees the functions of the church's military arm. The High Pontiff resides in Aldmeria, also called the Pontifical State(s). It is a small nation under direct, secular control of the High Pontiff, located in the heart of Antova.

Player/Kingdom Roster

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@TheSovereignGrave - Kingdom on the Ardäin
@Drunken Conquistador - Kingdom of Beredia
@The Spectre - Choedal Kingdoms
@babbysama - Grand Duchy of Cordonova
@POOHEAD189 - Kingdom of Lancea
@Nerevarine - Voivodeship of Lukesaraj
@bloonewb - Kaiserdom of Muragenn
@Dagoth - County of Qaelun
@Gendarme - Kingdom of Reheba
@Hygswitch - The Bluest Republic of Turchina
@LloydTurquoise - Kingdom of Vohemia

Chatzy Link

[Gendarme]

Thank you for seeing this through Aristo. I'll put up my application once I'm done with it; I just need a few more finishing touches. I have the utmost trust that you will tell me if there is anything wrong with it should the need arise. I'm very excited to see what can come of this role-play!

[Mao Mao]

I am interested. Are claims save or not? If so, then this is my claim (if no-one else has already claimed this area). If not, I better getting working on my sheet.

NS skeleton

Choedal Kingdoms

Nation Overview
Choedal Kingdoms is an absolute monarchy country located north of Ardäin and Mille-Sessau. The lands are average for farming and the mountains are useful to miners. They are one of few nations where farmers aren't the majority, the miners are the majority. Most of the lands aren't as rich and fertile as land south of the nations; however, they have control of the mountains and that's where the miners come into the picture. Despite the increase in miners, there was still a need in farmers and they settled near the rivers, lakes, or the rich and fertile lands in the south.

And unlike other kingdoms, Choedal embraced gunpowder and other technological advances to their country. Before that, they were like any other kingdom until the death of King Éloi Léger. He was fifty-six at the time of death. The only children they had was their young daughter, Sofia Léger. And at the age of eight, she was crowned as Queen of Choedal. However, her mother became a regent for her until the age of eighteen.

Now at the age of eighteen, Sofia officially became the Queen of Choedal. She introduced the first tercio to the military staff and said to them that they will 'ensure control and power in the name of our nation'. Even known, the nobles distrust Queen Sofia and prefer Prince Fritz Léger to take control. Can the Queen please the nobles as well as the farmers and miners? Time will only tell.

Geography
Map Claim.

History
The earliest recorded history in the lands of Choedal is one tribe nearby the largest lake in the area. They were the largest tribe in the area and soon went into an age of war and terror to unite the tribes together. The leader was a ruthless person who threw men towards important villages and caused thousands to die. It isn't known if they believed in a god or gods, but there are mentions that they often killed for the 'Higher Power'.

Following the unification of the lands, the leader and his family suddenly died for unknown reasons. It's said that they died for a terrible plague. After their deaths, there was chaos in the lands for years until several powerful nobles took over the lands with the help of other tribes. One of the nobles was named Sir Greg and he was the most smartest out of the others as he dealt with the tribes for going against them by killing their leaders in secret.

After the reunification of the lands, Greg had poisoned the reminding nobles and soon took the title of King in the lands of Choedal. It would be many years until he gave birth to Éloi Léger, but he ruled the lands and expanded the Kingdoms to the mountains and the coastline. After his death, Éloi took over his father's position and ruled the lands for a long time. When Qaelun declared their independence (years after being taken by his father), Greg avoided war with them and waited for their ambassador until his death.

After he died, her daughter, Sofia Léger, was crowed Queen and started to rule the lands as a way to forget her father's death. The nobles wanted his son, Fritz Léger, to become King instead of his daughter and they are worried about her rule.

Society
The church is still apart of Choedal, but it isn't as important as it is in other nations. The government doesn't condone any religious practices because they don't care about it. The rulers before Sofia were in favor of separation of church and government. They are the first nation with that kind of view towards the church, which they don't like. Often enough, they would do something that got the government's attention and then leave. The simulation of the church is often peaceful enough that it doesn't cause any issues in the long run.

Few nobles are in favor of church and government working together as does Fritz Léger, the King's son. The church supports Fritz as the ruler instead of Sofia. If Fritz was ruler of Choedal, then he would welcome the church with open arms. Then, he would have to deal with the rest of his family and some citizens. However, Sofia has made it clear that she will support the separation of church and government.

As for the rest of Choedal, they are hardworking and skilled citizens in mining. Farming isn't as common as mining as they believe that their food doesn't taste as good as any other food around. It's an odd thing to think about, but that's what is so special about Choedal. They often put themselves down for not doing a good job or getting the job done quicker. They also compete against each other in many different things from sword fighting to drawing. Many other countries think that the citizens are backwater compared to other citizens because of that.

Economy/Industry
What resources do you import and export? How is your industrial capacity? Are you more agricultural? Do you make anything especially coveted or unique? Geography will play a role here. No Fiorentian state is wholly self-sufficient.

Military
I do not require numbers or pinpoint-accurate troop demographics, but give us an overview of your military. What does your nation do well? Has it embraced gunpowder and tercio, or does it cling to the past and field vast ranks of mounted ment-at-arms? What kind of equipment do you use? Many Fiorentian militaries will be similar, in appearance and/or equipment, but you don't have to be identical. You are free to embellish this section with famous regiments or historical commanders. How is your army organized? Do you have a color scheme? Have fun, but be sensible.

[TheSovereignGrave]

Alright, just gonna put up what I got. Still got some sections to fill out.

Kingdom on the Ardäin

Kinnekräich op de Ardäin

Kingdom on the Ardäin

Nation Overview

The Kingdom on the Ardäin is a kindom with a long and storied history along the banks of the Ardäin river. Though the land on the banks of the Ardäin are rich and fertile, the power of the kingdom has been in a long decline over the years and it is far from its zenith. The simple reason being that most of the Ardäinesch nobility stand stubbornly in the face of progress, clinging desperately to the old ways of chivalry and knighthood. The armies of the kingdom of are varying quality due to their adherence to a feudal system, and still field armies filled with the rabble of the levies and the heavily armoured knights of the nobility. It is also a place of great oppression, with many of the Ardäinesch King instituting laws designed specifically to limit any power the serfs may have. This has resulted in the Ardäin's slow decline, which is only amplified by the Kingdom's internal problems. Still holding fast to feudalism the King has to deal not only with enemies from outside the Kingdom, but from the scheming of the powerful nobility as well. And the current King, Alois IV vun Kinnekdrelaps, is a surly and unpleasant man whose wife has born him only three children: two sons who are a halfwit and an invalid, and an infant daughter with clubbed feet and fused fingers. This had made the King even more unpleasant to his wife, Queen Stéphanie vun Mierbuerg, which has not endeared him to Stephan vun Mierbuerg or Rodolphe vun Gëllenduerf, the Queen's father and eldest son from her first marriage respectively, who are both powerful noblemen.

Geography

The vast majority of the kingdom is made up of flat plains and rolling hills, with forests and copses of trees. The land is also incredibly fertile, especially on the banks of the Ardäin itself, and there are numerous farms all across the countryside. Though there are higher foothills in the northeast and southwest where the kingdom borders mountains.

History

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

Society

Ardäinesch society is, at its most basic, divided into three separate groups: the peasantry, the clergy, and the nobility. Nominally all three branches are of equal importance to the kingdom; the peasantry do the work, the clergy pray and insure God's favour, and the nobility rule and lead. However, in practice the peasantry are looked down upon with disdain by nearly the entirety of the clergy and nobility. There are numerous laws passed for the sole purpose of limiting any power and wealth the serfs could ever have, which results in a generally miserable populace who have been known to revolt. However these revolts all end the same: peasant rabble butchered by the heavily armed noble warriors.

In terms of religion there is a rather interesting dichotomy. Much of the Ardäinesch people are quite religious, especially the peasantry. However the clergy of the Ardäin is infamous for their corruption, excess, and abuse of power. So while the serfs are a pious lot of people they have a near universal hatred and distrust of any clergymen, with the exception of many local priests who aren't as corrupt.

One of the major facets of the upper class is also their staunch traditionalism in the face of an advancing world. Most of the nobles do their best to cling desperately to the trappings of chivalry, and there are many laws which exist solely to attempt to keep the kingdom in medieval stasis (as well as oppress the serfs). There are few cities because serfs are banned, on pain of death, from leaving the village of their birth without permission from the local lord; there are few to no wealthy burghers because the peasantry are banned from having too much wealth; philosophy is nearly a taboo subject unless it exists in line with the Church and nobility's views; the Ambrusian Church is given free reign over the peasants so long as they don't interfere with the nobility; and there are heavy limits on the importation of any 'new' technology such as guns or the printing press.

Economy/Industry

The land along the great banks of the Ardäin River is fertile and well-suited to agriculture, which is the predominant industry of the kingdom. Though there is small-scale mining and logging, the vast majority of the Ardäin's serfs are farmers.

Military

The military of the Ardäin is most assuredly a throwback to a dying era, thanks to the Ardäinesch nobility's disdain for progress and borderline obsession with traditional. As the Kingdom itself still follows the old system of feudalism, the Ardäinesch army is composed of the nobles' varied warriors. Generally the core of the army is formed of skilled knights and men-at-arms, though the rising usage of pikes has resulting in most of them being trained as both heavy cavalry as well as infantry. Meanwhile the bulk of the army is formed up of feudal levies, who have little training other than what they can get done in the seasons where there's little farming to do. Because of this exceedingly decentralized organization, the training and equipment of the various armies can vary greatly depending upon the wealth of the local lord. There are also very few gunpowder weapons in the Ardäinesch army, and those that are there are usually artillery. This is because of the large limits imposed upon such technology, and the fact that many lords won't even want to utilize such weaponry.

And hey, I got a question @Aristo. Could we get some basic history/lore stuff? Like when was the Church founded? Stuff that won't really be changed by the nations we end up with.

[Slamurai]

And hey, I got a question @Aristo. Could we get some basic history/lore stuff? Like when was the Church founded? Stuff that won't really be changed by the nations we end up with.

@TheSovereignGrave

Yes; I've been working on the lore recently and will add what I have to the OP this evening. I'd originally planned to put the OOC IP after completing all that, but that'd surely have delayed us further.

At the RP's start, the year is 1588. The Fiorentinan faith is a relatively new phenomenon, considering it took hold just some thousand years ago. It existed prior as a decentralized cult, until it became the official religion of the empire that once encompassed the Fiorentinan states. Just 400 years ago, the empire fell and gave birth to our kingdoms as we know them today.

[babbysama]

Yeahhh! The OC is up!

I've been incredibly lax with finishing up my sheet so I will get to that posthaste.

[Gendarme]

Hey @Aristo, I've been done with the history of my nation for some time. I'm absolutely certain I can rewrite a few things, but I am wondering if it is acceptable for Reheba to have been in some regard independent or perhaps fairly autonomous when this empire was still around. Maybe it was an unruly vassal? Whatever's fine with you, I'm just thinking of a few ideas.

[Slamurai]

Hey @Aristo, I've been done with the history of my nation for some time. I'm absolutely certain I can rewrite a few things, but I am wondering if it is acceptable for Reheba to have been in some regard independent or perhaps fairly autonomous when this empire was still around. Maybe it was an unruly vassal? Whatever's fine with you, I'm just thinking of a few ideas.

@Gendarme

That'd be fine with me, considering you're off on an island. I think that we could work with you being a relatively autonomous region, while still being technically a territory of the crown. Depending on how the final turnout is reflected in the map, there will likely be some territories that have been independent. Your kingdom would probably have been and still be an important trade hub up and down the coast.

[Gendarme]

I put in a couple of paragraphs about this empire and Reheba's relationship. Here is the nation sheet. I apologize that the shield isn't in the center. I'm still not very good with GIMP.

Nation Sheet

Kingdom of Reheba

Nation Overview

Nation Overview

The Kingdom of Reheba is ruled by Edwyn II, a pious and fairly content widower whose wife died while giving birth to their sixth living child. When this happened Edwynn was distraught, but eventually found comfort in the church and its teachings. Edwyn II has two boys by the names of Ainsely and Radford. Edwynn also has four daughters, Juliana, Noreen, Synne, and Greta. All of the children are middle-aged or in their late twenties by now, and with Edwyn nearing his 67th birthday, the question on the minds of many of his subjects is whether he will die anytime soon. If so, the eldest son Ainsely will probably come to power. Ainsely is much like his father in that he is a content individual, though he is a zealot who refuses to tolerate heresy and other religions. His brother Radford is the youngest of the two sons. An ambitious man and alleged schemer, many question if he will try and take the throne for himself on his father's passing.

Chancellor - The chancellor of Reheba is Cardinal John Whaler, who is also the archbishop of Kingstead. He is newly appointed as a cardinal, and in general tries to be polite and kind given his circumstances, but he has anger issues. He is not fond of corruption.

Steward – The steward of Reheba is also the Duke of Behr, named Thomas Ergurd. He is good with money, and has made efforts to help the economy of Stervon. He is gluttonous, but has some semblance of table manners. Thomas is usually straightforward and to the point.

Admiral Oswald Guilds is the admiral of Reheba. He is known for his efforts to help eliminate piracy near Reheban shores. Oswald likes the concept of chivalry in stories only, and is himself a peasant who worked his way up from a sailor to his current position. He is ambitious and concerned about his image. He desires to be in the pages of history.

Marshal – Alfred Hunter is a humble and devout man who seeks to better the army he commands. This has led to some clashes with the nobility dominated cavalry, but he has been met with more success in the infantry. He grew up in the same town as Oswald Guilds, and the two have been rivals since their adolescence. He is also a peasant by birth.

Reheba has been transitioning from the feudal system into an absolute monarchy. Though few nobles other than the royal family are happy with this state of affairs, as they do not have as much power as they once did.

Geography

Map Claim/Geography

Reheba is colored in orange. The large island is named Reheba, and the smaller island is called Behr.



Kingstead - The capital of the Reheban kingdom, Kingstead was founded after the adoption of feudalism by the southwestern chiefdoms. The city sits a safe distance away from where the Stavolt river and the ocean meet, but it is not so far away as to make a journey to the ocean or the river particularly costly or dangerous. Much of the industry of gunsmiths and artillery foundries can be found here, in addition to an ornately decorated cathedral dedicated to St. Fiorentino.

Belfry - The city of Belfry was formed from two close but separate villages 450 years ago. It is named such because both villages and their lords tried to build a taller belfry than the other, and thus technically gain a larger church. Constant renovations and additions were done to the two church's belfries for a time. It required the intervention of the local bishop to finally stop the rivalry, which had later become violent. Belfry is known for the production of fine leather and the mild cheeses associated with Reheba. It is also home to a fishing and shipbuilding industry.

Trale - Trale is an inland city which sits near fertile land. To the northeast sits a mountain that gives the city its name. The surrounding villages around Trale produce much of its wool and food crops. In the mountains the soil is poor for most food crops, and livestock is raised instead. In the mountains there is a significant amount of iron.

Hance - Named after an ancient hero who supposedly fought a sea monster (Some question the veracity of this story) It is a hotspot for trade, and is known for its shipyards and at one point, its large forests. It has a fishing industry, and a few coal mines in the villages to its west

Eelstone - Eelstone is named such due to a geological oddity. At one point there existed a large, curvy stone, and at first glance and from far away it would have looked like a giant snake or eel. Hence the name. The stone was later taken apart and used for housing. Eelstone has a large fishing industry, and is home to an equally large shipbuilding industry. There was once a substantial forest around Eelstone, but it has almost become uneconomical to pursue cutting down the trees of this forest, as it has been dwindling for some time.

St. Adalberos - Where St. Adalberos first touched Reheban soil, and where he did much of his early preaching and writing. Pilgrimages to the city are common for Rehebans. There is a cathedral named after Adalberos in the city, and in this cathedral lie his remains. Being a coastal city, St. Adalberos has a fishing industry. It sits north of the Calm mountains, which is known for holding precious gems and coal.

Stervon - "Stervon" is an old Reheban word meaning "Whale." The story of why Stervon was named "Whale," is not known for sure, but many speculate it is because long ago men from Stervon hunted whale, as they do today. Stervon is the largest and only city on the island of Behr. Stervon has some timber in the hills north of it. Stervon, being on the coast, has a fishing and shipbuilding industry.

Being an island nation, the weather in Reheba is usually wet. The western sea is rumored to hold sea monsters and is a cause for much discussion. To the south of St. Adalberos sit the Calm mountains, a mountain range which holds much timber, coal, and precious gems. The problem with gathering timber and other resources in the Calm mountains however is that it is rugged and difficult to traverse terrain, making resource extraction arduous. A string of villages and a couple of towns lie in the Calm mountains, but apart from this the Calm mountains are not populated. The Trale mountains near the city of Trale in contrast are more populated.

Reheba's forests are turning into grassland, and most forests that aren't in the process of being cut down are preserved because they are in hard to reach places, such as in the mountains or some valleys. Other forests that survive are used for hunting ground for the nobility above all else, and the penalties for cutting the timber here is stiff.

History

History

Rehebans have always been, as far as the records show, on the island of Reheba and the smaller island of Behr. The island was originally dominated by various tribal chiefdoms vying for power. Religion was pagan, with the worship of multiple gods and in some rare cases human sacrifice. It is no small wonder then that the Ambrusian church sent missionaries to Reheba to convert them from their heathen ways.

A notable Fiorentian missionary, and by the far the most successful was a monk from the Ardäin by the name of Adalberos. Captured from his monastery by Reheban raiders and forced to write of their glory on vellum, he adopted some aspects of Reheban life, and spoke to other slaves and even a few chiefs in parables about the greatness of God and his servant St. Fiorentino. Abalberos regarded his growing flock with much care, and he was an affectionate and overall decent man as far as the texts describe him. Indeed, the Fiorentinan religion spread across Reheba peacefully during his lifetime, and feudalism would be adopted a few hundred years later in some former chiefdoms. Adalberos was eventually canonized as a saint by the church for bringing the Fiorentinan religion to Reheba, and while it would take a few more generations for the Forentinan faith to truly grow and prosper, Adalberos had opened up the floodgates for other missionaries and holy men to come to Reheba.

By the time of Adalberos' arrival, a new enemy of the Reheban chiefdoms would rear its head for the first time. Raiders from the current day duchy of Örst on the southern coast of current day Cordonova had attacked Reheban vessels and raided a small fishing village near where the city of Hance is today. A long and sporadic war would go on for centuries. Truces were signed from time to time, and even a few peaces in some chiefdoms. Though fighting would always resume under another chiefdom, and peaces were at times broken.

By the medieval period, when Reheba was united by feudalism and the Fiorentinan religion, most people from Reheba viewed the Örstans as enemies to be brought to heel. The war had a chance to become steady, if only because some Reheban nobility now saw war more and more as an opportunity for increasing their own power on the mainland. Most Reheban nobility however had become sick of war, and wanted to spend their gold on more fruitful things. So to end the longstanding rivalry between Rehebans and Örstans, a marriage between a Reheban noble, and an Örstan noble was decided.

Another notable saint appeared during the time of Feudalism by the name of Hugh. Hugh was raised by a group of monks at an early age after he was left on the doorstep of their monastery. Trained well in theology, when the first major heresy broke out in northern Reheba, Hugh went out and openly argued against them. He converted a few back to the faith, but he was martyred by the orders of the heresiarch. After Hugh's death, the temporal forces in the evolving but still divided land called for a holy war, and with the aid of the church the heresy was crushed. Soon after these events, the first lords of the Roguelin dynasty would come to power, and gradually start unifying Reheba.

At around the time when feudalism had become dominant, the empire which had unified a large sum of the Antovan continent had decided that Reheba would make a fine vassal. Facing the empire’s larger army and navy, the Rehebans had two options before them; accept the rule of these foreigners, or fight. The Roguelin dynasty had at this point unified most of Reheba, but a few chiefdoms in the south resisted both the Roguelin kingdom and the empire. So the Roguelin king of the time made a deal with the potential invaders.

He would kneel before the emperor in fealty in exchange for their help with these troublesome southern chiefdoms. Having a much larger army and navy to assist them, the Rehebans who had adopted feudalism warred against their countrymen who had not to take their land. The empire took on Reheba as a vassal, and gave it a good degree of autonomy so long as it would pay its taxes and offer support in time of war. As the empire waned in strength however, the Rehebans became more and more unruly. Eventually the cry of independence rang out throughout Reheba, and Reheban men took up arms against the men of the empire. The war was successful for the Rehebans, and the next Roguelin king would ruthlessly put down any opposition he saw to his rule so as to keep the kingdom unified.

Reheba existed as a unified kingdom 400 years ago on the island of Reheba. The kingdom was prosperous and rich until the seventh king of the Roguelin dynasty died. Three of his four sons, rather than submit to their new king, warred against their brother for the throne. The eldest brother was exiled and his land split among his younger siblings. For seventy years these small kingdoms would wage war, each trying to unify Reheba. The Roguelin dynasty would eventually wither away due to a mixture of treachery, lack of male heirs, and inbreeding. The next major line of royalty in Reheba would be the Hewlett line, which would go on to become kings through rebellion while the coffers of the southwestern kingdom were bare. They did this by manipulating the peasants to fight for them, claiming they would give them more rights.

The new Hewlett king Godric would give the peasants a few more rights, and he did so "gladly and with haste." What probably helped him make this decision was that there were now armed peasants in his land. Godric's successors would go on to incrementally grab counties and the occasional duchy of the two neighboring kingdoms until Reheba was somewhat whole. Godric's successor, Alfred the strong, allied with the Vohemian monarch of the time and offered them some land in the rival eastern kingdom if they would help with the war. Up until the last century a substantial stretch of land belonged to the landed nobility of Vohemia. A mixture of economic pressure and threats over the years from Reheban lords caused the Vohemian nobility of this strip of land to evict themselves from Reheban soil at the end of the last century.

The Hewletts reign to this day.

Society

Society

Reheba is known for its mild cheeses and few dietary restrictions. In fact, almost any animal can be eaten in Reheban culture without the fear of social stigma save for dogs, cats, small rodents, frogs, toads, and various arachnids and insects. Whale is a delicacy among the nobility, as is seal. Magic is regarded as rare and perplexing. The services of a wizard are seldom used by most people, and many wizards keep their magical abilities secret. Some wizards aid or cause damage to the communities they live in, but it is done within secret.

Rehebans usually aid the Ambrusian order when possible; partly out of fear, and partly out of devotion. The people tend to be pious and follow the will of the Ambrusian church. Heretical uprisings in Reheba were commonly known for their violence, the most notable example being the uprising that happened during St. Hugh’s time. That being the case, heresy is currently a cause for panicked hysteria in Reheba, followed by military intervention if a heretic community cannot be persuaded to return to the church.

Corruption exists in the church in Reheba; moral corruption, in friars and monks making visits to the brothels, in addition to financial corruption in the act of high-ranking clergymen siphoning off church donations for their own lavish lifestyles. These two are but a few examples. At the same time however, there exists a group of clergymen who resist corruption within the church, and intend to try and help make reforms from within, while still attempting to remain true to the Ambrusian church.

In Reheban culture many traits are admired, but some of the most important are diligence, loyalty, piety, compassion, and humility. In times of war, practicality is considered to be very important, and this is one of the reasons why gunpowder and its various deadly expressions were so readily adopted. With the nobility however, the usual ideal of practicality during warfare has taken a backseat to personal glory and pride, which is one of the reasons why the cavalry is so inefficient and outdated.

A Reheban saying around most coastal towns and in some places further inland is, "The anchor has dropped." The saying means that something is done with finality, or that a deed is finished. The Rehebans that aren’t too busy working, praying, or fighting oftentimes see fit to trade with the other denizens of Antova. A few people have suggested prodding at the mists of the western sea, and a few other people have in turn suggested that there is nothing far to the west but death. It is a heated topic about what lies far to the west to say the least.

Economy/Industry

Economy/Industry

Reheba has a considerable sum of subsistence farmers, but there are also a few commercial farmers. The majority of commercial farmers raise sheep or cows, though they primarily raise sheep. Reheban craftsman guilds have many well-designed and well made products, and the secrets of how these are made are somewhat well guarded. What could cripple Reheba is their reliance on various metals and timber that they simply don't have or are running out of.

The economy is somewhat weakened by the gluttony of the Royal family and the extravagance of the nobility. Although generally a devout bunch, the Royal family is known for employing various monster hunters who once in a great while bring back live fantastical or exotic creatures to be eaten. Needless to say this decadence is looked down upon by the clergymen that aren’t gluttons themselves. The nobility is usually bribed or threatened so they don't get in the way of progress, but the bribes tend to be expensive, and can simply be money, or luxury goods. The latter is often preferred.

Reheba exports wool, iron, coal, leather, precious gems, and various weapons such as cannons and arquebuses.

Reheba imports sulfur, tin, and copper. It also imports luxury products for the nobility and the wealthy. Reheba is losing many forests due to a growing population and naval upkeep. It is highly likely timber will be imported soon.

Military

Military

Reheba has given gunpowder and artillery a loving embrace. Its navy is a strong one with a decent sum of galleons, but it is reliant on an ever dwindling supply of lumber at home. The navy was built primarily to help protect trading vessels, but it is also used to protect the island nation from attack. The cavalry has not been reformed in any meaningful way in years, and mounted-men-at-arms still dominate the cavalry. What this means is that only those that pay for their equipment or the nobility usually ride horses into battle. They often use lances or occasionally swords. Recently there has been talk of the crown paying for replacement horses should a man lose his in battle, but whether this will happen or not remains to be seen.

The Arquebusier is often accompanied by men who wield pikes and halberds, and the tercio formation is sometimes used in conjunction with the cavalry. Cannons are rarely used on the field, but are used on ships, in forts, and in old castles. They can sometimes be positioned around a settlement provided there is enough time, money, and labor to do so.

[Dagoth]

Hello everyone! I rarely use this forum (I will though, if I can find a good and stable RP) but this RP caught my eye. I posted a nation in the characters tab. Feel free to let me know if something needs changing or move it if need be (or remove it if it doesn't fit at all, again just let me know). I apologize for formatting, I'm not really sure how to correctly work all that. I look forward to working with you all in the future.

[LloydTurquoise]

I've moved my NS to Characters.

[KremeSupreme]

I'm interested in joining.

But first, how rare exactly is magic in this world? Are there monsters? Is it like where only a small handful of people in the world know magic?

[Kho]

This looks fascinating. Subscribed and look forward to seeing how it develops.

[Slamurai]

I'm interested in joining.

But first, how rare exactly is magic in this world? Are there monsters? Is it like where only a small handful of people in the world know magic?

@wxps350

From the OP:

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.

Think something like the Witcher with less monsters and LOTR-esque magic. Only a few have the knack for it and it is almost beyond comprehension to your average person; yet it is a real and powerful thing.

[Hygswitch]

Okay I couldn't help it and started writing a Nation up. As you see it is still very much WIP.

Indacissima Republicca Turchina

Nation Name
Indacissima Republicca Turchina

The Bluest Republic of Turchina

Flag

coat of arms


Nation Overview
Starting out from a number of Villages around the swampy estuary of the River Fiore in Ancient Times, a Trading city took shape after the building of the Grand Bridge. The Blue City grew over time, as her Ships, ever following the Coast, brought in the exotic riches of the Orient. Spices, Gems, Tapestries and Carpets, Silks, but most of all Indigo. The Blue Colour was highly sought after and even though it was beginning to be cultivated in the vicinity soon, none could match the Vibrant blue of Turchinas Indigo. With wealth came the rise of the great families, and soon Turchina sought independence from the Noble Lords, and was granted it. The Republic grew rapidly thanks to the wealth to raise armies and Build fleets of Ships to conquer a few Oriental Coast towns as Trading Posts and Contors. But along the Coast other Cities joined the Republic mostly without bloodshed.

Geography
Map Claim
(It would be very welcome if those claiming most of the coast now could cede a few smaller coastal areas to Turchina)

History

Society
While steeply stratified between the Noble families of the City, and a mass of unfree workers, most of the Cities populace is free, and quite a big part of the populace does quite well for itself. While there are notable Churches all around Turchinas Domain its people are said to be not quite the most pious, but very worldly in their outlook. Due to the wealth there is no shortage of festivals and balls in Turchina, the most famous of which is the great carnival in spring, with its masque ball.
The Architecture shows quite some Oriental influence, and some say this influence and trade relations with the heathen east might have tainted the blue city.
While Originally being ruled by a Doge elected by a council of the Noble Families, house Marcellaii has managed to make this office heritable about 120 years ago.

Economy/Industry
Turchina controls most of the Sea trade routes for luxury goods, and mainly spices but also has some agricultural land of its own around its cities. Without its trade it’d be hard pressed to feed itself comfortably though. Most of the small Landmass controlled by Turchina is wooded though and worked as sustainably as possible to ensure enough wood for the ships. As a City State the handcrafts are blooming and the Arsenal could be seen as the greatest Industrial Complex of the Age. Also the city is rich beyond compare, housing most of the big Banking houses of the Continent. What Turchina is lacking is access to own mines for Ores.

Military
The Indigo Navy is a sight to behold, with their great number of Caravels and Carracks. Most of the ships are very ornate and quite a few are not used for trade at all, but armed to the teeth to keep the trade routes save. On the Arsenal Island are the great shipyards that, by a very efficient system produce up to one new Ship a day, thus Turchina stands unchallenged at sea.

The main City itself is guarded by a professional City Guard.
Commissioned Officers wear entirely Blue Uniforms, if they can afford it with a lot of golden Embroidery.
Warrant Officers wear white or yellow Uniforms trimmed with blue.
The lower Soldiers wear white, grey or yellow Uniforms, Corporals with a blue cravat around their neck.

Most of the Noble Families maintain own household guards, sometimes reaching company size that mostly wear their houses colours. As these often incorporate Indigo and Gold their Clothing differentiates in other ways from the City Guards.

The smaller Cities and Colonies mostly have less prestigious non professional Guards.

To Supplement these a number of Mercenary Companies serve the Republic. Some of them since generations.

[Slamurai]

@HygswitchThere's plenty of coastline open for you on the mainland east of Reheba!

[LordZell]

@Aristo Hey so what would you want me to do exactly?

[Slamurai]

@Aristo Hey so what would you want me to do exactly?

@LordZell

If you think you're more interested in option #2, then the NS just needs some tweaking in wording; replace nation with faction, etc. Some things to note would be where it's headquarters are located and what kinds of ranks/positions it has, and so on.
Since I'm puppeteering the bigwigs of the Church, we'll likely be working closely together: I'll need to shoot you some noted about the church very soon, and add them to the lore.

[LordZell]

<Snipped quote by LordZell>

If you think you're more interested in option #2, then the NS just needs some tweaking in wording; replace nation with faction, etc. Some things to note would be where it's headquarters are located and what kinds of ranks/positions it has, and so on.
Since I'm puppeteering the bigwigs of the Church, we'll likely be working closely together: I'll need to shoot you some noted about the church very soon, and add them to the lore.

@Aristo

Alright, once you do that I'll begin some work on it.

[Slamurai]

Added some tidbits about religion and the church to the Lore section:

Hider

The Fiorentian Faith and the Church:

Antova's monarchies are culturally linked by the Fiorentian faith: a religion that acknowledges a single God, and reveres the Saint Fiorentino as His prophet on Earth. The religion has many parallels to Christianity, in that God is the creator of all things, and the life, death and resurrection of His earthly messenger is proof of his love for humanity. Through faith in Saint Fiorentino, one may be admitted salvation and eternal life. The teachings of the religion are much more similar to the New Testament in this regard, and God does not appear in Fiorentinan texts as the wrathful deity he does in the Old Testament.

It is widely accepted that Saint Fiorentino was a real individual, and the founder of Antova's first true church. He is said to have been the first of all saints, and in time, will walk the earth once again to recover the favored of God. The Ambrusian Church derives its name from an ancient word meaning “reclamation.” His teachings promote doing well by one's fellow man, being a Samaritan and rejecting evil. By doing good deeds as proof of one's love for God, the faithful will be reclaimed upon death and live blissfully in Heaven. While Saint Fiorentino did not explicitly reject controversies such as homosexuality, certain sexual practices, magical arts, or any race of man, these have been, in one way or another, painted as targets for the Ambrusian Church. Present-day, it is much more tolerable of gays, women in public office, and once-undesirable professions, it still reels against the magical arts and those who practice them, citing them as “not of God” and wholly unnatural. While mages of courtly rank are usually beyond the grasp of the militant orders, commoner wizards, hedge witches, soothsayers, oracles and other plain folk are prime fodder for the pyre.

At the head of the church is the High Pontiff, akin to Catholicism's Pope. He is treated as God's representative on Earth, tasked with ensuring Saint Fiorentino's lessons are upheld by the Antovian world. The High Pontiff is elected by a council of lower Pontiffs, each a representative of an Antovian nation, plus the Presbyter General: a warrior-clergyman that oversees the functions of the church's military arm. The High Pontiff resides in Aldmeria, also called the Pontifical State(s). It is a small nation under direct, secular control of the High Pontiff, located in the heart of Antova.