[OOC] Vassals to an empty throne

[Milkman]

Welcome to Vassals to an empty throne

Vassals to an empty throne is a fantasy nation roleplay set on the continent of Mycoria. The continent is ruled by the Arkronians, a race of human like people that came from beyond the sea. For hundreds of years the Arkronians have managed to remain in power and forced the other nations into vassalage. The rule of the Arkronians enforced peace to a continent that used to be engulfed in endless war. Now a mysterious disease is ravaging through the kingdom of Arkron and only affecting the people of Arkronian descent. With the power of Arkron in decline, the faith of Mycoria lies in the hands of its vassals.

Vassals to an empty throne is a roleplay in its most purest form. It is purely a collective storytelling experience. This roleplay is all about its participants telling stories within and expanding the setting of Mycoria. Vassals to an empty throne is not some play by post strategy game that you can win. Such views and mentality should be left at the door. So there are no mechanics, no stats, no dicerolls and numbers on a nationsheet are mostly irrelevant.

The history of Mycoria

Thousands of years ago the realm of Mycoria was ruled by chaos. Kingdoms and tribes warred each other for small patches of land and the people of Mycoria suffered greatly. Thousands of lives would perish in endless battles. Even in the times of peace, the peoples of Mycoria were not safe as bandits laid waste to village after village. Plundering the riches, raping the women and selling the children into slavery. Mycoria was a place of chaos and bloodshed.

Many believed that the permanent state of chaos was the destiny of the realm, that suffering the hardships was the destiny of the people. However destiny changed with the arrival of the men from beyond the sea. Thousands of ships landed on the western shores of Mycoria, bringing warriors, artisans, women and children. At first the people of Mycoria greeted these strangers with a sense of hostility, trying to drive these invaders back into the sea. However the only thing the people of Mycoria achieved was motivating the men from beyond the sea to put an end to the chaos that had reigned for thousands of years.

The men from beyond the sea established the kingdom of Arkron on the western peninsula and launched what would become known as the hundred year war of unification. Over a period of 100 years, the men from beyond the sea subjugated kingdom after kingdom, tribe after tribe until no nation of Mycoria remained independent. All nations were forced to become vassals to the Arkonian throne, ending thousand years of chaos and bloodshed.

Under Akronian rule, the nations of Mycoria found peace and the continent prospored. However not all were happy with being ruled by overlords from beyond the sea. On three occasions various nations rebelled against the men from beyond the sea. The first rebellion happened 400 years ago and was put down in a matter of months. Not enough nations joined the cause to overthrow the men from beyond the sea. The second rebellion lasted for 100 years and became known as the century of chaos. The century of chaos came to an end with the decisive victory of King Amon-Mar III of Akron over the rebel forces at the battle of Tallingan Forest.

The 3th rebellion is still fresh within the minds of the people of Mycoria. Many elderly who are alive today still have memories of that eventful time as it only happened 50 years ago. Once again various kingdoms rose up against their overlords and in a matter of months the rebels managed to score a string of military victories unprecedented. For the first time since the arrival there was a good chance that the rule of the men from beyond the sea would finally be broken. However the allies struggled to reach an agreement on how to shape the continent after the defeat of the Arkronians. Fearful of sliding back into the times of chaos, the kingdom of Vulpinia secretly defected to the side of the Akronians and lured the rebel forces into an ambush. The betrayal of Vulpinia went down in the history books as the greatest betrayal of all time.

Now 50 years after the betrayal, Mycoria stands once again at the crossroads of destiny. Ravens were sent to all the vassals of Arkron with the news that King Amon-Mar IV had passed away due to a mysterious illness. All vassals were invited to attend the inauguration of his son Rakon-Da as the new king of Arkron, overload of the realm. However rumours start to spread that Rakon-Da has fallen ill as well and is currently in a comatose state. Others whisper that the royal family are not the only ones who are suffering from this mysterious disease. Some reports claim that the men from beyond the sea are dying in the streets by the dozens each day. Needless to say that the realm of Mycoria is about to reach a turning point in their history.

Rules

• Understand that this is a storytelling experience and that the participants are here to work together writing awesome stories.
• Be cool, friendly and communicative to your fellow roleplayers.
• Use common sense when creating nations.
• Post at least once a week.
• Follow the guild rules.
• Listen to the GM.

Lore

Magic
Magic is an integral part of the world of Mycoria. Many try to practise magic but only a very few master the art. This makes magic rare and powerful yet the scope of it’s application can be rather limited. Magic for instance cannot wipe out entire armies or grant someone the strength to defeat a thousand soldiers. Magic can come from different sources but never from within. No one on Mycoria is born with magic. However magic is granted by sources from beyond the mortal realm. Those sources grant a character some magical powers but at the same time can take it away if they feel displeased by how the practitioner uses his newly found abilities.

Technology
Technology in Mycoria has not advanced very much. Gunpowder does exist but gunpowder weapons are very rare. Concepts such as national identity are alien to the inhabitants of the continent and people are more likely to identify themselves with their village or clan then with a nation. Although there are great works of engineering on the continent. Machinery is mostly a foreign concept and inventions such as the steam engine beyond the wildest dreams of the sages.

The relation between the playernations and the kingdom of Arkron

The relations between the Arkronians and other states could best be described as vassal or tributary states. The states are bound to serve the Arkronian crown by a series of treaties but apart from that are mostly independent. They have their own governments who rule their respective lands, their own distinct cultures and societies and can make most decicions independtly from the Arkronian crown. However the Arkronians ofcourse have implemented certain instruments to assure their dominance.

1. All states must pay tributes. There are certain forms of taxation to all states that are designed to benefit the Arkronian crown while limiting the capabilities of states to grow much stronger and challenge their rule. The tributes could be money, resources, manpower or something different.

2. Foreign policy must be conducted in conjuction with the Arkronian crown. For centuries if nations want to make agreements with eachother they had to meet in the Arkronian capital and do the negotiation in front of Arkronian officials. All formal agreements had to be accepted by the Arkronian crown. Ofcourse there where still informal agreements and secret meetings. Also the Arkronians have had a habbit of intervering in various conflicts over time between other states. Often forcing parties to come to some diplomatic settlement that would ensure that the balance of power remained in Arkronian favor.

3. The Arkronains are allowed to settle in all lands and have military access to all nations. They will have offices, spies and merchants in most nations. Their ships are allowed to dock in all harbors. They could also have some form of military presence. That presence does not neccicarily have to be native Arkronian soldiers. That could also be regiments formed from soldiers from other nations. Just like the roman auxiliary system.

4. The Arkronians have banned the development of shipbuilding technology throughout the continent and monopolized it for their own kingdom. This means that the other nations aren't allowed to develop ships that can cross the ocean to reach other continents and are confined in how large of a mercentile and military fleets the other nations are allowed to have. In short the combined fleets of all other nations might be at best equal in size but subpar in quality.

Ofcourse this sounds a little bit restricting. However as you have have proberbly read, the Arkronian system is on the verge of collapse due to a mysterious decease ravaging through their race. In essence they are a dwingling power and the nations wich the players will create are pretty much challenged by the question of how to shape their future in a post-Arkronian rule Mycoria. The Arkronians are still around, are still powerful but their dominance is dwingling. What is written above is the starting point but can be redefined throughout the roleplay.

Established races

Players are encouraged to develop and pick their own races. Standard fantasy races such as humans, elfs, dwarfs, halflings and orcs are all fine. The general guidelines are that the races must resemble humans in their capabilities and how they live. In short, they must live on land, eat food, drink water, breath air walk on two legs and be in a decent size range compared to humans. Avoid races that are warped demons, that fly, live underwater or live in total hellscapes that are inaccessible to others.

Arkronians: The Arkronians are also known as “the men from beyond the sea”. Arkronians mostly resemble humans to a large degree. However they tend to be of longer build with male ones roughly being in the range of 200 to 220 centimeters. Females tend to be smaller. The Akronian skin is recognizable by its grey color. Not every Arkronian has the same greyscale. This has led to the proverb that there are as many shades of grey as there are Arkronians. Arkronians do not have bodily hair. Their scalps are bald and facial hair in the form of beards, moustaches or eyebrows are absent.

Vulpin: The Vulpin are a race of anthropomorphic bipedal fox like creatures. They often have thick coats of fur, brushy tails and fox heads. There are many variations in fur color, shape of the head and ears and other features. Often such features are tied to a certain Vulpin clan. The Vulpin tends to be slightly shorter than average humans with mail Vulpins often being around 170 centimeters long. The Vulpin have gained huge notoriety with their betrayal during the 3th rebellion. It has led to the proverb “shifty as a Vulpin”.

Avan:Avan, a race of half-man and half-bird, although they were never blessed with the ability of their wild peer's ability to fly. Some would say it was a joke by their ancient gods, or a blessing, or a curse for some past sin that they as a whole have been cast with the burden of having a bird's head and feathers growing where they may else have hair.

Application

Interested? Great! Just post in this topic that you're interested. I'm not overly picky on who's joinging this roleplay as long as they understand that this is a collaborative story telling experience. I don't really want armchair general mentality of playing to win (which is not possible because this is not a game). That just derails things with pointless discussions. As you proberbly have noticed two area's of the map have already been claimed. One is for the kingdom of Arkron, the supreme overloards of the realm and the other is for the kingdom of Vulpinia, those treacherous Vulpin who made sure that those damned men from beyond the sea remained in power.

Please post your nationsheet first in the OOC so that I can review it. Once accepted you can move it to the characters tab.

Some guidelines about nation creation:
* I don't care about numbers, avoid using them. Rather write about how your society functions and what the effects of the terrain and climate are on their culture.
* Work together with your fellow roleplayers to write some shared history. Prior to the arrival of the Men from Beyond the sea most nations where at eachother throat and old wounds might still exist.
* Players can create their own races as long as they follow the following guidelines; The general guidelines are that the races must resemble humans in their capabilities and how they live. In short, they must live on land, eat food, drink water, breath air walk on two legs and be in a decent size range compared to humans. Avoid races that are warped demons, that fly, live underwater or live in total hellscapes that are inaccessible to others.

Nation sheet

Name:
Flag:
Quick description of your nation:
The side your nation was on during the 3th rebellion: Either with the throne or with the rebels
Population/races:
Culture/society:
Religion:
History:
Government:
Economy:
Military:
Territory:
Factions:
Characters:

Discord (only ooc talk): ask gm.

[Milkman]

Rough time schedule:
I want to keep things relatively on track so I am putting up a rough schedule on how I want to handle a few things. If things move really fast with nation creation we can start IC earlier.

* March 6: Start of IC
* March 6: Join status goes to full, no new participants. Remaining space will be filled with NPC nations
* March 13: Last date to finish nation sheets

IC is open. Accepted nations can start posting. If you haven't finished your nation sheet yet, please do so. Last day to submit your sheet is march 13th.

[datadogie]

Hai hai, I am here!
It might be good to include the original map as well as the territory map, so that we can still see what the terrain was like before all of the colours and claims were added.

[Red Alice]

@Milkman



Something like this for my claim. I wanted to fill out the natural boundaries within that area since that felt most natural as a stopping point for my nation. The region below me I'm not sure about, for now I'll just take it if no player has any desire for it by start time. My thoughts may change depending on what direction I go with my nation, though.

I think I prefer the little city state vibe I've got going there though.

[Aoko Aozaki]

Henlo! I would like to join! I'd like to claim this little cove in purple if possible!

[Milkman]

@Milkman



Something like this for my claim. I wanted to fill out the natural boundaries within that area since that felt most natural as a stopping point for my nation. The region below me I'm not sure about, for now I'll just take it if no player has any desire for it by start time. My thoughts may change depending on what direction I go with my nation, though.

I think I prefer the little city state vibe I've got going there though.

@Red Alice

Sure. I'll update the claim accordingly.

I would like to present an alternative idea for the region below you. We could turn it into an NPC nation that was the previous ruler of the city on the peninsula. A sort of rival nation that lost the city at some point to your nation. The details we can work out together.

Henlo! I would like to join! I'd like to claim this little cove in purple if possible!

@Aoko Aozaki

Tha is perfectly fine. I'll add it to the map when i update it tomorrow.

[DELETED32084]

Second Rhaetian Republic (Rhaetia)

Quick Description:
Rhaetia is a complicated landscape of diverse geography and bloody history. From the fertile southern plains and plentiful sea, to the towering wooded peaks of the north. Throughout the land are heavily fortified towns and villages, always located in strategically important locations atop bluffs or straddling vital river crossings. Various districts are governed by a senate of elected officials who can hold their office for no more than four years. It is an ancient land peopled by a relatively modern race born of the forced union of Arkonian soldiers and the now virtually extinct local Orcish population.

The 3rd Rebellion:
Rhaetia sided with the Crown during the 3rd Rebellion.

Population/Races:
The dominant species in Rhaetia are the Ruline, a hybrid species created following the First Rebellion in which Arkon soldiers crushed local Orcish tribes that had risen against the King from Beyond the Sea. The Orcs that survived were enslaved and became little more than strong backs and breeding stock. From this strange union came the Ruline; strongly built humanoids with green, almost red-tinged, scaly skin and notable jet black hair. The Ruline can grow no facial hair.

There are still a few Orcish tribes clinging to the deep mountains but their numbers dwindle every year. Arkronians, Avan, and Humans are represented in small numbers, usually as diplomats, merchants, or as skilled tradesfolk.

Culture/Society:
Rhaetians are well known for their horsemanship, celebrations, and desire to enjoy every meal like it was their last. Much of their culture revolves around horses, which were introduced by the invading Arkronian forces. Breeding, training, and owning horses is a integral part of Rhaetian society and even the poorest home is likely to own at least one horse that can compete in local events or carry a soldier to battle. For the best riders there is fame and fortune to be had.

Rhaetians build a house around a garden, not the other way around. Great care is taken to ensure their homes are beautiful, well built, inviting and tranquil. Gardens are everywhere, as are elaborate water features that help calm the mind and cleanse the spirit.

Music and dance is often taken for granted, but Rhaetians are famous for their elaborate dances, brightly coloured costumes, and wide range of musical instruments. The guitar is the most popular and the best musicians and bards are fetted and celebrated for their skill.

Rhaetians can be accused of eating simply to have a conversation. Major meals are taken twice daily and can last several hours; they are a very engaged affair and those who share a table will discuss anything and everything. Food is often simple but delicious and comes when it is ready, forcing everyone to share dishes among the group, thus encouraging more participation among guests.

Religion:
There is no notable faith among the Rhaetian people. The state itself recognizes no official religion and allows its citizens to worship as they wish, providing it does not disturb the order of things.

History:
The dominant species in Rhaetia are the Ruline, a hybrid species created following the First Rebellion in which Arkon soldiers crushed the local Orcish tribes that has risen against the King from Beyond the Sea. The Orcs that survived were enslaved and became little more than strong backs and breeding stock.

As four hundred years passed, the Ruline spread out across Rhaetia, slowly replacing the Arkronians as the dominant race. It was during the Second Rebellion that the Ruline became the dominant race when the King stripped every Arkronian he could find from the region to fill the ranks of his army.

By this time the Ruline, widely referred to as Rhaetians, had established themselves as excellent horsemen and were called upon to provide light horse archers and scouts to the Kings army. They did so with skill and distinction, so much so that when the Century of Chaos finally came to and end, the King rewarded the Rhaetians with their own nation.

The First Rhaetian Republic was a mitigated disaster as the fledgling state attempted to rule itself even as thousands of young men returned from the wars. The senators at the time were those who had remained home and gotten rich; their laws and policies aimed at protecting what they had gained.

The Second Rhaetian Republic was born in a twenty four hours of blood letting when veterans stormed the senate, slaughtered the senators, and proclaimed a new government. There were hiccups along the of course, but with time the Republic managed to find its legs and several generations later entered the Third Rebellion as a loyal vassal of the crown.

Government:
Republic, controlled by a Senate whose head is known as the First Consul.

Economy:
Agrarian

Military:
Every Rhaetian youth is expected to learn how to ride and fight from horseback. There is no standing army, nor core of professional soldiers, but in times of war, every able bodied Rhaetian can be called upon to form an impressive horde of light horsemen. Vulnerable to sustained close contact with heavily armed knights or infantry, they rely on their mobility and speed to wear down and destroy an enemy.

The Third Rebellion actually led to the first Rhaetians integrating with the Arkronian siege train. Rhaetian armies can now be found operating mobile siege weapons in the form of chariots and battle wagons. These are relatively knew since the Third Rebellion but are becoming increasingly popular among those folk who have little or no skill fighting on horseback.

Territory:
See the map

Factions:
This feels like something I should hold off for when the RP starts and as I write them in.

Characters:
This feels like something I should hold off for when the RP starts and as I write them in.

[Blandina]

Name: Kingdom of Skekaria

Flag: Two flags are traditionally used, the first in peace time and the second during times of conflict. The peace flag is a lighter blue background (think Wode) with three orange circles positioned like the point on a triangle, each being surrounded by four smaller circles. The war flag has the same color scheme, but the three circles are connected, and their subordinate circles (all twelve) are arranged into a smaller circle on the interior of the triangle.

Quick description of your nation: The majority of the populace of Skekaria cling to the smooth sand beaches that make up their western coastline, finding the rockier western shore to be less comfortable and significantly more dangerous. Those few clans that have chose to make their home elsewhere reside either on the grassy plains that comprise the majority of the land's interior, generally providing for themselves through nomadic pastoralism, or in the rain-soaked mountains of the western coast, making their living off of trade with the coastal clans or through farming in the fertile valley regions.

The side your nation was on during the 3th rebellion: Either with the throne or with the rebels: The Kingdom of Skekaria sided with the throne during the rebellion, not out of love for the throne but ouf of fear that a successful rebelion would inspire their own subordinates to throw off the yoke.

Population/races: The Skekarii are, on the average, a shorter race. Both men and women tend to average roughly 160 centimeters. The Skekarii are a tan people, owing to their southerly location, with black and deep brown hair and eyes ranging anywhere from brown to olive green, though the mountain clans are said to be duller both in appearance and personality as a result of their rainy home.

Culture/society: The Skekarii are a people only relatively recently unified, having only been established as their own power a few decades before the conquest. This recent unification is still shown in the intensly clan-based mentality of many Skekarii, who see their ultimate devotion as being to their clans, though after unification urban centers have been slowly coming into vogue which has led to the development of an increasingly state-oriented culture within the confines of the few scattered cities. Despite the city-dwellers growing nation-state mentality they are still reliant on relation to secure most agreements from land trades to significant business deals, which has led to a culture of intense polyamory, It's rare to come across a Skekarii with only one partner, with the average Skekarii having anywhere from four to six partners of either gender with whom they live communually and raise children jointly.

Religion: Skekarii religious belief holds that the ancient world was a constant conflict between the twelve old gods and the thirty-six new gods, born from the ever fracturing natures of the old gods, a conflict which the new gods eventually won, but not without suffering. The Skekarii hold the goddess of the sea, Senald, as the cheif deity of the world, a reverence reflected in their devotion to aquaculture, and their greatest festivals and rituals are devoted to her gratification. The Skekarii honor Senald above all others for they believe that it is through her actions that they came to the relatively prosperous land they now call home. In Skekarii mythos Senald had been greivously wounded in the war with the old god she had broken off from, leading to her fall to the sea in the mortal world, which at the time was a land of deep struggle and poverty for the Skekarii. Seeing their goddess so wounded the Skekarii dragged her body from the depths of the ocean and brought breath back into her divine lungs, before feeding her and allowing her to recover. Out of thankfulness for their kindness, once the war was settled and the old gods were truly shattered, Senald sent forth the bounties of the sea so that they may be harvested by the Skekarii. In emulation of their goddess the Skekarii are all expected to make at least one pilgrimage to their great temple where they reenact a portion of Senald's suffering by piercing their hands upon sharp stone and spilling their blood into a sacred pool into which they are then submerged with weight nearly until the point of drowning, before they entirely lose consciousness they are brought from the pool by the temple priests and have their own lungs filled with air again. The last phase of their ritual involves drying by the temple's fire where they are fed and nurtered by the priests. The priests, in recognition that they become nothing more than the servants of the gods are granted a mask upon their acceptance, they are forbidden to ever remove the mask, regardless of their rank the mask remains the same, from a servile priest to the dual high priests. The other gods do have worshippers, they simply aren't as widely revered and are given less pomp and circumstance by the state.

History: For the majority of their history the Skekarii has managed themselves through a multitude of clans, often waning and waxing in regional power, with no clear dominate party, though the clans of the western coast were generally more prosperous and are generally recognized as being the oldest clans. At some point in ancient history the clans began to experience significant infighting which pushed several of the clans out of their traditional homeland and into the western mountains or the internal plains where the clans maintained limited trading. In more recent history, shortly before the coming of the Akronians, three of the larger neighboring clans- the Wya, Cani, and the Ae- joined together through a marriage of their three clan leaders, declaring themselves as the first monarchs of the Skekarii.

Joining their forces and recources together they established a city on the river that had formed a portion of their border lands and named it Wyacanae. It is from this city that the three monarchs, the founders-become legend King Roqur, Queen Mahn, and Queen Rostet, led their crusade to conquer the remaining tribes. The first to fall were the neighboring tribes on the western coast as they lacked the population of the time to prepare for such a force, the next were the nomadic herders of the plains, though they were unable to put up much effective resistance due to their small population. By the end of the third year of conquest only the mountain tribes remained, the last of which wouldn't be subdued until just a few scant years before the Arkronians arrived. Following the completion of the conquest each of the three clans from which the monarchs came assumed nominal management of four subordinate clans in an effort to integrate them into the new kingdom. Nominally the Skekarii lay claim to the island to the north of their homeland, though they've never made any significant effort to colonize or even fully explore it.

Government: The Skekarii are ruled by a mixed government where, in theory, absolute power rests with the three monarchs, none may pass an order without the consent of at least one other, while the two archpriests and their subordinates oversee much of the administrative work of taxation and land usage in order to compensate for the crown's unprepared bureaucracy, a role which gives them significant power and influence. Further, each of the subdued clans is allowed to send a representative, usually a direct relative of the clan's leader, who is then ritualistically married to one of the monarchs, this allows them some representation in the state's governance.

Economy: The Skekarii engage in large scale aquaculture on their western coast, as well as extensive agriculture and mining within their western mountains. Recently, with the rise of more urban locations, they have begun engaging in regional sea trading. The Skekarii have also begun efforts at establishing their coastline as a site for regional tourism, claiming that their warm southern climate is good for the health.

Military: The Skekarii millitary developed from early fishing crews and, as such, relies heavily on spears and the usage of javelins with light armor. The Skekarii, beyond their pretensions to the northern island, have little desire for significant land expansion and thus rely on a better knowledge of their homeland in order to defend themselves from their enemies, utilising early guerrilla tactics.

Territory:

Factions: I would prefer to develop this in-RP.

Characters: I would also, if possible, prefer to develop this in RP.
King Vahn II Wya: King Vahn II is widely regarded among the upper strata of Skekarii society as being a fairly ineffectual monarch, a status which has led to some degree of disatisfaction amongst his subordinates. King Vahn II, being in his later forties, is viewed by many Skekarii as having lost much of his vitality, leading many to look towards his heir.
King Mahd Cani: King Mahd is viewed by many Skekarii as the youthful energy necessary to counter the more complacent King Vahn II, with his efforts at revitalizing the mining clans brining in new sources of income for the state treasury. Together with his younger counterpart, himself only being in his later twenties, Queen Haster IV Ae, new efforts have been made to expand the state's bureaucracy in hopes of solidifying the crowns position in comparison to the church.
Queen Haster IV Ae: Queen Haster, being in her early twenties, is one of the youngest monarchs to come to the throne in the kingdom, a matter which has brought many concerns about inexperience. Despite initial worries Queen Haster has shown herself, at least in partnership with her senior, the King Mahd, to be a relatively capable monarch. Notable of Queen Haster is her concern with diplomacy, breaking from the generally isolationist tradition of the kingdom Queen Haster has begun sending envoys to treat with the courts of nearby nations.

[Milkman]

@The Wyrm Looks good. The Ruline are a hybrid between Orc and Arkronian? Works for me. Maybe add a quick describtion of the current consul and you can move Second Rhaetian Republic to the character tab. I like the little details in the culture section. That makes the place sound unique and flavorful. Additional details can always be added through roleplay and exposition :)

@Blandina I'll start off with a few minor points that will help you a lot with your future roleplaying here. Maybe you've corrected it already when I post this and then you can ignore it :) Try to use BB code when you're making sheets. Make different tabs bold and/or in a different color like The Wyrm has done. That makes charactersheets much more clear to read. My text here makes it bold. You can change color [color=color code]my text here[/color] will change it to the selected color. Here is a link to a list with color codes absitomen.com/index.php?topic=331.0

I've quickly scanned your sheet and it looks good so far. I'll give it a more thorough read later today. Maybe add already a quick description of the three kings. That doesn't have to be a big charactersheet. You can always expand on it later.

@Dinh AaronMk The nation sheet you've posted in the int check is accepted. Just add a quick description of the king and you can move it to the character tab. Name, gender, age will do. Further detail can be done in game and later added to the sheet if you feel like it.

I really would love to see some nations that where on the rebel side. So far all sheets that have been submitted where on the side of the crown.

[Blandina]

@Milkman I've made some edits to it that I hope line up with what you'd like! I appreciate the help, I was really struggling with getting that map image in there haha. On the map I didn't color in the northern island because I wouldn't really say they own it, they just claim that it's theirs, though there's no realistic way for them to enforce that if someone else wants to claim it.

[Milkman]

@Milkman I've made some edits to it that I hope line up with what you'd like! I appreciate the help, I was really struggling with getting that map image in there haha. On the map I didn't color in the northern island because I wouldn't really say they own it, they just claim that it's theirs, though there's no realistic way for them to enforce that if someone else wants to claim it.

@Blandina

Looks great. You can move it to the character tab. Most easy way to do that is to use the "edit post feature" here and copy/past the content of the edit screen into the character tab.

[Dinh AaronMk]

@Milkman

I've been at work all this time so I haven't been able to cook up anything. But now that I get one day off I have the opportunity to at least cook up a flag, so when I get that finished I'll be moving it all over.

[datadogie]

I'll be finishing my sheet tomorrow. I'm stuck at a wedding the whole day today, and staying overnight. We got the time wrong so had to rush out the door. I forgot my toothbrush, my trainers, and my watch and left them at home. Why is it a concern that I forgot my trainers? Because I'm in full Scottish wedding attire, including a kilt, thorn, sgian dubh, and other such ceremonial apparel. These. Shoes. Are. Painful. Internet is shite, too. Send help. Call the prime minister, no, the army. Fuck it, call the united nations. I'm so bored.

In other news, should we have a Discord Server for this RP?

[DELETED32084]

@datadogie, liven things up by stabbing the nearest person. It ain’t a true Scottish wedding until someone stabs someone else, or the English show up to rape the bride.

[Blandina]

@datadogie Good luck with the wedding, hope it itsn't too painful!

@milkman I was wondering if it'd be appropriate to add a part to my economy about a sort of early tourism industry? Since the Skekarii consider their western coast to be a gift from Senald, I figured it'd make sense that it'd be a fairly lush/pretty shoreline. I recognize modern tourism doesn't really work in this setting, but I was thinking maybe some sort of medical tourism, like in early modern Europe where Mediterranean Spain was a popular location for people suffering from tuberculosis. Perhaps on a regional level, since travel beyond the surrounding area seems like it'd be a bit difficult in this world. I edited it in, but I'm more than happy to remove it if it seems iffy.

[Yam I Am]

Yuravia CS

Name:

Yuravian Confederation (Yuravian: "Konféderatïe Juravïanâ")

Description:

Yuravia is a semi-nomadic tribal alliance united by common language and culture, nestled in a realm with an equally diverse array of climates. From the thick woodlands of the Southwest to the hills of the North, and the great alps of the south, the great diversity too perpetuates a wide variety of dialects within Yuravia.

Known for a fierce affinity for trade and war, Yuravia has long existed as something of a thorn in Arkron's side, owing to their disperse nature as well as significant cultural differences. As it stands, Yuravia has long held their eyes upon the renegotiation of the tribute system. The prospect of a fully unified Yuravia is a terrifying one, and with the news of the Arkronian Epidemic, fears run rampant that the Wolves of the West smell blood in the water...

The side your nation was on during the 3th rebellion:

In the Third Rebellion, the tribes of Yuravia sided with The Rebels for a variety of reasons. The primary factor is the overwhelming feeling that direct vasselage to the Arkronian Crown was, at best, needless and at worst, actively degrading to their relationship. Arkron was a continent away and had few bearings on the day-to-day affairs of Yuravia, and when coupled with their levvying of tribute as well as their restrictions on maritime technology, this has long stipulated a sensation of inequality between the states, to where the duty of tribute is referred to as, Zo Taxe Inézale, or "The Unequal Tax".

Population / Races:

Endemic to Yuravia, Ascarians are a hardy folk. Ascarians are identifiable from the other races of men through their pointed ears, typically extending to a length of approximately 14 centimeters. Derivative from their nomadic ancestry, Acsarians typically possess a more tightly-built frame, typically amassing tone over raw mass as they make the most of every muscle. They are also noted for their complex set of pupils, Ascarians are gifted with very keen eyesight, able to discern objects with much greater clarity at extreme distances. Most Ascarains possess skin tones that range from snowy pale to rich redwood, though for those with mixed ancestry, it is possible for them to possess a skin tone that is much more bluish or dark than usual. Though gifted with long lifespans - with many a healthy Ascarian recorded to have reached 300 years - it's more typical that an Ascarian first die to disease, violence, or health complications before reaching so prime an age. On average, an Ascarian will stand at approximately 180cm, with deviations being based more heavily on ancestry as opposed to sexual dimorphism.

Though a majority of the population is Ascarian, there exist sizable portions of other races within Yuravia as well; Part of this stemmed as early on, as the Pre-Arkon practice of absorbing and assimilating vanquished tribes was common throughout much of Yuravia. Their children would be raised with the cultural values of their Ascarian takers, and would eventually become fully-fledged tribesmen. Thus, the term "Yuravian" refers to all inhabitants of the domain who practice the same indigenous culture; "Ascarian" is specifically reserved as a racial term.

Culture / Society:

The ambulatory nature of the Yuravian has changed very little since the arrival of the Arkronians. An overwhelming majority of its populus continues to live semi-nomadically, in which they stay in settlements or buildings for perhaps a few weeks or a month at a time, then continue to move onwards with the changing of the winds. Many locations are, as a result, attributed with extreme population flux, whereas a town will be a bustling beacon of activity one week and in the next will find itself barren. This love for travel (Yuravian: "Amostea D' Marćer", lit. "Love of Walking") is deeply rooted in Yuravian common belief, such that the act of walking and moving with "new airs" is essential to the maintenance of one's mind, body, and spirit; A sedentary life is told to become like a still pond, in which refuse and mold grows within it, until the waters are irreparably plagued. Such volksgeist pervades near every aspect of Yuravian society, from its economy to its infrastructure.

Accordingly, Yuravians are intrepid merchants and avid explorers. Found in virtually every corner of Mycoria, Yuravian traders are as ubiquitous as they are keen. An initial impression of a Yuravian will harken to one their fondness for jewelry, for gilded rings and argent piercings adorn their ears, lips, noses, and fingers with the regularity of fields of flowers in spring. Their natural ambulant drive urges Yuravians to see all corners of the Earth, and accordingly bring many of those baubles back with them on the return home.

True to this spirit, horses are of principal import to Yuravia, not only culturally, but economically and socially. Every Yuravian can be expected to own a handful of horses on their own, of which they serve as incredibly versatile companions; Horses in Yuravia are swift enough for riding, sturdy enough for pulling moderate loads, and provide vital milk which is regularly consumed throughout Yuravia.

Yuravian society has a profound respect for skill; Honorifics are referred to via one's abilities or accomplishments rather than any hereditary title. Yuravian folklore likens the development of crafts as absolutely essential to life, apropos the branches of a tree soon bearing fruit, which will feed its world and spread forth another seed of life. The most noteworthy extension of such skills branch toward a love of all things martial, and so it is that martial prowess is among the most respected of traits to be found in Yuravia. Famously so. To such a great degree does there exist an affinity for the martial is that, when paired with its history, is there an immediate image of a Yuravian that it has become the spitting image of the nation's people itself. Such claims to belligerence are purported to such heights that the common image of Yuravia is that of a perpetual state of warfare.

Another depth to Yuravia's vox populae lay in its affinity for the humanities. A deep love for storytelling is common throughout Yuravia, for the effects of song and dance upon Yuravian society at large cannot be overstated; So greatly are tales and performances exalted that the dancer and the chronicler receive the same prestige as the warrior and the chieftain. The most famed exhibits of these feats are in the form of the Povéstï, a traveling troupe similar in some ways to a circus. Each Povéstï can be seen as a combination of a circus and an opera. Consisting of several performers and an accompanying orchestra, the Povéstï travels from land to land, sharing and collecting famed tales and legends of old, set on reenacting the grandest of acts throughout folklore.

Families in Yuravian culture subscribe to very few conventional models typical - and in many ways, required - of a usual society. Yuravians form very large, intertwined families via a system of conjoined marriage. Persons typically take multiple spouses, each with children of their own, who in turn have their own spouses independently. Therein, it is entirely possible to be "married by association" or "half-married" depending on position within that particular family. There exists no hereditary inheritance system on the basis of age or bloodline, and upon a parent's passing, any items in their possession are distributed via their wishes as dictated in their diće, or will. Accordingly, there is no position of "Head of Family" or "Patriarch", owed to Yuravia's strongly-ingrained belief of skill serving as the basis of one's person, not birthright.

Religion:

Shamans known as Dricérin tend to the spiritual needs of Yuravia. Chiefly among their duties was that of divination, as it was commonly perceived that communication with the deceased would reveal insights, prophecies, or simply words of wisdom. Principally, they are the most inclined with any and all magical elements, and largely serve as the greatest body of thurmaturgical knowledge within Yuravia.

Yuravian Folk Religion consists of a large body of spirits and Patron Saints, known by a veritable assortment of names depending on region and dialect. As such, the direction of patronage is more commonly addressed in terms of their domain rather than their name proper, as the prevailing belief is that the peoples of the world worship the same Gods under different names. There exist no permanent structures of worship surrounding Yuravian Folk Religion, such as churches or shrines, though several chants and incantations exist for the purposes of practice.

History:

The exact origins of the Ascarians remain shrouded in myth and mystery, with many such records being lost to conflict or having simply died out as historiography evolved. With a long history of nomadic propensity, it is widely believed among anthropologists that the Ascarian's ancestors migrated extensively, as artifacts and Ascarian arrowheads can be found in all locations of the continent.

Prior to the arrival of the Arkronians, conflict between neighboring tribes was widespread, but limited in scale due to the extremely simplistic structure of each tribe making more organized attempts at warfare difficult at best and impractical at worst. It was, however, universal practice for the vanquished tribe to be integrated into the victor, thus substantially increasing the size and power of each tribe with each successive victory. If one tribe grew extremely powerful, however, common alliances between tribes would arise as a means of containment as an ensurance that no one tribe would come to dominate all the others.

Just prior to the arrival of the Arkronians, it was at the height of a particular campaign where the tribal alliances could be convened for what was, according to verbal accounts, the first time in centuries. Following a fateful battle upon the northern plains, the first Gardinâ in several hundred years was assembled, wherein the chieftains appointed the current Čaptâin, a woman named Aurielin, to become the first Čévdinčévi, as a great chieftain and ruler of all Yuravia.

Relations between the Arkronians were, at first, lukewarm, but when it became clear that the desires of the Men Across the Sea and the Men of the Kureathian Range would clash, the call to arms rang across all Yuravia. Aurelin waged many campaigns against the Arkronians to great success; She knew very well that while the Arkronians could quite easily beat them at sea, on land, they would be comparatively slow on the draw, and thus, she devised many clever faked retreats, baits, and supply strikes, even earning the nickname, Çanglêroza Rein, or "The Bloody Queen".

Their momentum, however great, would not last forever; Soon after, the famed Aurelin was fatefully found comatose in her bed, and despite the best efforts of her medičes, she would soon succumb to poison. Nobody concretely knew who the perpetrator was. Paranoia and a sense of betrayal ran rampart throughout the Yuravians, each clan and family convinced another had something to do with her sudden death. Yet, no matter the cause, the writing was on the wall: With no clear successor in place, it would only be a matter of time before the Arkronians could regroup, and with it, bring forth a force to bear much better-organized than they could scramble up. The disorganized Yuravians soon sought peace, one by one submitting beneath treaty and codex.

Aurelin had become a hero, sanctified as one to make the world tremble. So great is her influence that her legacy prevails throughout all Yuravia, beckoning to all who train in the incandescent image of One to Make the Seas Tremble. Yuravia has far from forgotten their history of inequality beneath the Sea, and like the mighty Sea Serpent, the hearts of its people know that, one day, it will part the seas themselves as it rises from the depths.

That day may soon be upon us.

Government:

Yuravia is organized around a confederated system, with much of its power being dispersed throughout its varied participating tribes. Nationally, they are governed through an Tribal Council called the Gardinâ, an assembly of designated representatives of each and every tribe, known as Tênuars. In truth, the Gardinâ holds little sway over the daily workings of affairs in Yuravia, and it is up to the responsibility of each Tênuar to affirm the agreements made at each congregation to their respective chieftains. Failure to adhere to dictums made in the Gardinâ widely varied based upon their severity; If there were no consequences to their neglect, or if the legislature in question was extremely minor, it is customary for the offending tribe to give compensation to other tribes. In more severe cases, however, the response is universally swift: War.

In times of great importance - or, more commonly, when tribes are united together during war - a singular leader is elected through the Gardinâ to serve as the de jure ruler of Yuravia. This ruler is known as a Čévdinčévi, or a "Chief of Chieftains". The meeting and subsequent election of the Čévdinčévi must be approved by consensus and not simply a majority vote, meaning delegation can last for quite some time before a leader is finally chosen...or not.

Economy:

Yuravia lacks complex systems of bureaucracy or guilds because, simply, there is no need for them. The majority of Yuravians continue to practice a system of self-sustenance to pair with their semi-nomadic lifestyles, and as a result, agriculture has a tendency to be limited in scale, although animal husbandry is quite popular. Trade is quite vibrant due to their culture of wanderlust, and goods from Yuravia can be found all over Mycoria.

Military:

With a highly mobile culture and a long-held affinity for the martial, the hordes and armies of Yuravia make for a fierce fighting force. Possessing a wide body of knowledge in the art of war, Yuravian warriors are swift, cunning veterans of several campaigns. Children often learn how to use at least one weapon from a young age; Typically, these include the bow (Yuravian: Arča), the saber (Yuravian: Çabre), or a chained set of hammerheads which are thrown, similar to a bolo (Yuravian: Čevrotïe). It is virtually unheard of for a Yuravian not to have access to horses, though in many cases, warriors dismount in the face of difficult terrain.

Warriors can be divided into two distinct camps, depending on professionalism. The first of which are known as Katiora, who dedicated professional to the martial arts roughly equivocal to a man-at-arms. Katiora regularly travel throughout the continent in service to others, acting as mercenaries in exchange for payment and experience. In times of tribal warfare, or when the convening of the Gardinâ for an appointment, it is expected that Katiora return home for attendance. Each Katiora is well armed and armored, acquiring their own equipment throughout campaigns, which is typically either purchased with their payment or scavenged from vanquished foes. Particularly famed Katiora prove their mastery at tournaments, where, if victorious, may earn the title Mâitru, or "Master". These veterans are expected to take up responsibilities in leading Yuravian armies, in addition to providing tutelage to younger Katiora, ensuring that their knowledge gained through their times is never lost to the ages.

In addition, an unprofessional title of warriors exist, known as Taçinara. Somewhere between conscripts and volunteers, Taçinara are called upon by Chieftans or Katiora during calls to arms. Despite their unprofessional status as soldiers, Taçinara are of vital import to a Yuravian force, for each Taçinara are expected to lend their expertise in their other trades in the war effort, such as medicine, construction, or chronicling. In calls to arms, the leader of the force, known as the Čaptâin, issues a need for men-at-arms, where each server is promised a share of the battlefield spoils. Often, an experienced or well-connected Čaptâin will first acquire arms and armor for each respective Taçinara force, who, in turn, will likely own light weapons of their own.

As a Yuravian force will often acquire additional arms along their warpath, a veritable assortment of weapons will be in the hands of their newfound masters. Yet, of every weapon in their employ, none is more important than the bow. Of compound make, the Yuravian bow is ubiquitous throughout the military, for swarms of arrows fired from fast-moving targets regularly soften up their opponents before a decisive charge is called. A weapon indigenous to Yuravia is known as the Bombe Din Feu, an incendiary device ignited via spark or torch with ceramic composition. Slung from rope either in singles or conjoined pairs, on contact with its unsuspecting foe, they are coated in a noxious burning tar, liberally peppering their foes in incendiary and engulfing their nearby allies in an acrid smoke. Such tools are employed as a means to break up infantry formations at close range before or during a charge.

Territory:

Factions:

To be developed...

Characters:

To be developed...

@Milkman This is what I got thus far. Thoughts?

[Milkman]

@datadogie Good luck with the wedding, hope it itsn't too painful!

@milkman I was wondering if it'd be appropriate to add a part to my economy about a sort of early tourism industry? Since the Skekarii consider their western coast to be a gift from Senald, I figured it'd make sense that it'd be a fairly lush/pretty shoreline. I recognize modern tourism doesn't really work in this setting, but I was thinking maybe some sort of medical tourism, like in early modern Europe where Mediterranean Spain was a popular location for people suffering from tuberculosis. Perhaps on a regional level, since travel beyond the surrounding area seems like it'd be a bit difficult in this world. I edited it in, but I'm more than happy to remove it if it seems iffy.

@Blandina

Well, when I am in doubt about this kind of aspect I bring out the history books. There definetly was some form.of tourism during the Middle-ages in Europe. Most of it was tied in with religious practises or Medical reasons (wich was pretty much an religious activity too). So best way to implement tourism is to tie certain tourist hotspots to religious/mythical aspects. During the classical area the Romans and Greeks valued their leisure time. They Romans had summer houses, frequented hotsprings, colloseums, theaters and such. The Greeks traveled for the Olympic games and various religious sites as well.

The scale of it will most likely be small because traveling still requires a very big time investment. Some person from the north might be traveling for 2-3 months to visit a mythical beach in the south and back home again. There will defenetly people around the world who could afford the time investment and money involved in such an endevour. But they will mostly consist of the wealthy upoer classes, their servants and guards. As far as this setting goes tourism is plausible but small in scale.

[Blandina]

@Milkman Okay, good! I was just wanting to make sure that it woulnd't be an issue with your world building, I appreciate the quick reply. I was planning in my head a sort of aesclepiad healing temple system, positioned on certain stretches of coastline that are tied into their mythos. In mind was a sort of "holy health retreat" catering to the wealthy, with maybe some regional recognition.

fun side fact, I'm actually heading into a MA for early christianity/later empire, so I've got a couple borrowings from history that I'm planning on working into the Skekarii.

[Milkman]

@Yam I Am Looks good so far. Do you have a character/position that would handle foreign relations? Someone that could be invited to the capital of Arkron?

Maybe do something with the betrayal? Yuravia proberbly has lost good warriors. But that are details we can also work out once more nation sheets are submitted. Apart from these two points I'm really happy with what i've read :)

[Yam I Am]

@Milkman The responsibilities of foreign relations was handled through an appointee of the Gardinâ, which was usually only done on a need-be basis. Typically, this would be a merchant from the same tribe or clan as the designated tribe responsible for tribute toward the Arkronian crown, or if this message was extremely important, a tribal chieftain. If Arkron requested diplomatic action from Yuravia, a courier could be dispatched to a Tênuar who in turn would call for the meeting of a Gardinâ.

Also, the death of Aurielin is less THE BETRAYAL! and more The Betrayal^{[Citation Needed]}. While everyone were all clearly aware that the cause of Aurielin's death was via poisoning, it remains to be known how this was done, by whom, or for what reason. It's more of a great mystery with multiple theories than something that is clear-cut. Because of this, there is a much greater emphasis in Yuravian Historiography on the aftermath and fallout of her death than her death itself.