The Marcher Lord
Preamble
Welcome to The Marcher Lord. My intent here is to gauge interest for a possible RP with a highly focused setting. Taking place in a far flung corner of a prosperous kingdom, the players control characters whom dwell within a formidable castle. Collectively the players are tasked with the defense of the castle and surrounding area, keeping the border safe from enemies, as well as overall prosperity. At the same time there is a competitive element as players also compete for influence and wealth and the right to the title of Marcher Lord. Players may wish to play as brigands, soldiers, nobles, merchants, or anything they like, I only ask that they live within the Castle and it's surrounding village.
The Setting
Far from the Swadian Capital of Preven, isolated from the overbearing politics of the royal court, the Marcher Lords maintain peace along the frontiers. Free from the constraints of dynastic succession, the Marcher Lords are appointed by merit, selected among candidates that stand apart in their ability to maintain the defense of the kingdom's borders. Ruling over powerful castles, the Marcher Lords are the first line of defense of the Kingdom of Swadia. One such castle is Harlston Castle.
Harlston Castle, named after the Swadian lord that wrestled control of the castle from the enemy Vhaegarians decades ago, is strategically located upon a hill at the knees of the Frostfang Mountains. Built to guard the Frostfang Pass from Swadia, Harlston Castle, or Norvegr Castle as the Vhaegarians call it, soon became a staging area for multiple Vhaegarian invasions over the centuries. After many failed sieges, Swadia was finally able to sack the castle and safeguard the northern realms from Vhaegarian aggression. Now at an uneasy peace with Vhaegar, Swadians rule over the Frostfang Pass, wary of the nearby Vhaegars and troubled by news of strife in Preven.
With the death of the former Marcher Lord just passed, the inhabitants of the castle now jostle for position, anxiously awaiting news from the capital, wondering who the king will name the next Marcher Lord.
The Game
So the game will be a casual RPG, divided in a series of turns, each spanning one week in game time, with jumps in time typically ranging 3 months or a season. Players submit overt orders in the thread by way of IC, placing their orders in a hider at the bottom of their IC post. Covert orders may be pm'd to me, with a summary posted of overall results posted to bring the game forward. Common sense is typically the deciding factor for orders, along with chance if needed.
Players have stats that give an indicator of their character's overall success. Gold, followers, and influence are acquired and used to accomplish your goals.
Hierarchy of Harlston Castle in descending order...
The Marcher Lord - Ruler of Harleston Castle and Frostfang Pass, appointed by the king to guard the border from Swadia's enemies.
The Castellan - Overseer of the castle and the right hand of the Marcher Lord. Generally manages the treasury and ensure's edicts are honoured.
The Marshal - Chief military advisor and second in command of the castle's garrison, after the Marcher Lord.
Guild Master - Elected among the villagers, the Guild Master oversees the castle village and represents the interests of merchants and craftsmen.
Guard Captain - Leader of the castle's garrison, and charged with maintaining the peace.
Local Map
A map of the immediate area around Harlston Castle, encompassing the Frostfang Pass and the fief of the Marcher Lord. The local area can be traversed within a week's time, or one turn.
Norvegr - A small and poor village of an overwhelming Vhaegarian majority. The populace is deeply resentful of Swadian rule. The village produces lumber, bows and arrows, and dried meat.
Sandvick - A small mining village divided among Vhaegarians and Swadians. Conflict between the two groups is common. Sandvick produces iron, fish, and wool.
Jokusla - An average size farming village of a Swadian majority. The village produces grain and lumber.
Regional Map
The regional map covers the area surrounding the Frostfang Mountain Range and is largely outside the Marcher Lord's sphere of influence. It takes up to a fortnight to traverse the area around the Frostfangs, or two turns.
Stonepoint - Once a downtrodden village under constant threat from Vhaegarian warbands, since Swadia took ownership of Harlston Castle, it has flourished. Now a prosperous town, Stonepoint is a popular designation for caravans travelling into the Icevein Inlet or up the King's Road from Preven.
Vhaegard Castle - Once the seat of the Marcher Lord before taking Harlston, Vhaegard has declined rapidly. No longer needed, the walls have fallen into a state of disrepair and the meager garrison is said to have grown fat and lazy. Nevertheless, it boasts a busy port where ships dock, unloading their wares and sending them to the markets of Stonepoint.
Boer - Seat of the Vhaegar chief of the Tusk Clan. Boer is little more then a mead hall but fishing villages dot the Enga river, all sworn to Tusk Clan.
Koranes - A fortress nestled deep in Blackwood. Koranes is the fortified hall of the Ash Clan and is a known haunt for Vhaergarian mercenaries and warriors. Surrounding villages pay tribute to Ash Clan for the privilege of their protection.
Haugr Hall - Seat of Jarl Valgard Haugrsson, self styled lord of the Frostfangs and the Marcher Lord's chief rival. Valgard is among the strongest of the Vhaegarian jarls, and backed by the Tusk and Ash Clans, he is certainly a man to be reckoned with.
World Map
The known world to the Swadians. The continent of Caldaria is large and to traverse the area would take at least a three months to accomplish. The castles of the Marcher Lords defend the frontiers from the rival kingdoms while bustling cities in the kingdom's interior contribute to the overall prosperity of the kingdom.
Vhaegar - An alliance of four jarls or kings who control a swath of northern forests, mountains and tundra. They are a hardy folk who celebrate war and hardship.
Rhodos - A confederation of nomadic tribes that earn a living among the regions vast steppes. Led by a ruler they name the Great Khan, Rhodos is a force not to be taken lightly, especially their infamous horsed archers.
Ghizar - A sultanate that spreads south over arid deserts and badlands. Though seldomly aggressive, they defend their borders with unmatched ferocity.
