Kingmakers - The Throne Alone (GoT/ASOIF-like) (Noble Politics)

[ClocktowerEchos]

Setting the Scene/Background Lore

Once House Loyce ruled Adanion as absolute masters with wisdom and strength. They forged a kingdom out of petty feifdoms and clan holdings, turning it into mighty kingdom whose influence could even determine which king could sit on the thrones of other nations. No one dared challenge the supremacy of Adanion and those who were foolish enough to attempt were dealt with swift, and mercilessly. But that was generations ago, before the line of inept and weak rulers, barely able to control their own holdings let alone a kingdom, became masters of House Loyce, leading the kingdom to slow ruin collimating in the Mad King, Colyt II.

King Colyt II was a terror to both his subjects and his vassals. Where his forbearers were too weak to assert themselves over their vassal lords, Colyt eagerly send men and women, nobles and commoners, priests and knights to his dungeons who walls and floor were coated in blood. Forests of trees were replaced with grizzly forests of spikes which hundreds of suspected traitors and dissenters were impaled upon and the gallows were never without a new body to replace the previous brave fool who dared to speak against the mad king. King Colyt did not care for bloodlines and lineage, he only cared for blood spilled as every drop would solidify his tyrannical rule.

But all was not lost for the kingdom as his firstborn, Crown Prince Daymian Loyce, was everything a kingdom could ever want in a ruler and the first "true" Loyce King in generations. He was strong and brave to a fault, yet gentle when needed and wise enough to know restraint. The noble houses favored him for his gregarious charm and handsome looks while the common masses adored his generous charity and willingness to try and defend them from the worst predations of his mad father for even as crazed that Colyt had become, he dare not strike his firstborn. Prince Daymian was a renown warrior, an erudite scholar, a master tactician, a genius administrator and stalwart friend to many. He was the light in the darkness as many believed that no matter what his father did, Prince Daymian would heal the land and mend the scars. If he ever rose to the throne, he was sure to be remembered as King Daymian the Great.

But it was not to be.

While traveling with his father one day, a bomb of manure, pitch and exotic "firesand" exploded under a bridge the royal carriage was traveling over. In an instant, Prince Daymian's glorious reign was over before it ever began, washed away in blood down the River Eliam. The Mad King and the Beloved Heir would both be killed by an unknown assailant, some claiming it to be from vengeful peasants or nobles angered by the execution of their kin, others speak that it was the work of the Twilight Choir, a revolutionary force that wishes to upend the old order. But without the prince having an heir of his own, the throne was claimed by two people in a struggle that will surely divide the realm at a time when it is the most vulnerable. Great Houses now play a delicate game of politics and favors as they all seek a new ruler for their broken land for all of the Great Houses have the potential of being...

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K I N G M A K E R S

The Throne Alone

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Greetings your highness

Welcome to Kingmaker, a Game of Thrones-esque RP mixed with light NRP elements about a kingdom in turmoil. Based on @Wavy Wallaby's Royal Invitation, the land has been left in ruins by a mad king, the beloved heir who could have fixed it all is dead, the realm is on the brink of civil war over who will rise to the throne all while whispers speak of a rising rebellion of merchants, peasants and even the lesser nobility that threatens to raze the Great Houses of Adanion to ash in the name of revolution. Players will take on the roles of members or leaders of a Great House as they try to navigate a time of uncertainty and treachery to find a new ruler of Adanion. For the king must rule, and the country must be led.

The two claimants to the throne are Sharles of Bremerant and Anyamara, the Bastard Maiden.

Sharles is from the very distant cadet branch House Loyce-Bremerant and has no claim to the throne. However, he was very close with Crown Prince Daymian and the two were close companions and inseparable friends. He has rallied the former supporters of the Crown Prince, declaring that he will heal the realm with the kindess that separated Daymian from Colyt II. However, he has lived a sheltered upbringing and is widely seen as naive and too trusting for his own good yet stubbornly refuses to change his views. He advocates for giving power away from the Great Houses and nobles to the smallfolk. This combined with his misplaced belief that the Twilight Choir is not planning a revolution but only a peaceful petition even as their crimes mount has made some nobles uneasy and question the wisdom of such a pampered prince.

Anyamara is the bastard daughter of the Mad King Colyt II and was also close with Crown Prince Daymian, looking up to his strength and his cunning and believing him to embody all of the qualities that would have made for the greatest king of Adanion in centuries. She is staunchly against the radical ideas of Sharles and places emphasis on traditional power structures and is known to generously reward those who follow her. Despite her bastard status, she still presses a claim to the throne and claims to be a new Queen Omera for this age and while inspiring and reassuring to some Great Houses, others have also found suspicion in her utterly ruthless methods and brutal retaliations against those who oppose her, conjuring up bloody memories of the Mad King.

Neither claimant is seen as favorably as the nearly universally beloved Crown Prince Daymian, but they are the only two who have successfully managed to push their claims to the Throne of Adanion. All PCs will have to choose a side to back. How fervently and how seriously they actually support the cause can be up for debate but every noble knows one absolute rule: duty to your house above all else.

Relations and rivalries are to be expected and war is not off the table, but everyone participating should be mindful and respectful of each other. At the end of the day this is just an RP and not a great hill to die on. While in characters everyone is competing for supremacy and power, out of character everyone should be working together to tell a grand story of ambitions and consequences so please do not try to godmod or meta game. BTW: Adanion is pronounced like "ah-dane-eon" and Loyce is pronounced like "loi-se", very similar to "noice".

Great Houses and Adanion

All players will be playing as a member of a Great House or a vassal of a Great House, rulers of a realm within Adanion. Titles and positions are often held by members of the Great Houses, from ceremonial like Master of the Hunt or Attendant of the Archives, to the powerful Master Minister and Crownkeeper. While I encourage everyone to also have a nation sheet along with a character sheet, I understand that not everyone wants to make a detailed nation sheet. Thus there will only be a light requirement of a nation sheet, namely a summary and the location of a realm. For those who wish to make a more detailed break down, there will be a guide separate from the CS guide to use for it.

All Great Houses are Sovereigns of a realm, ruling under the King of Adanion. It is protected by three great mountain ranges that naturally wall it off from its neighbors as well as a long coast line (map to be coming at some point). Just like Lords Paramount in Game of Thrones, Sovereigns have control over large realms but lesser houses and vassals directly rule the land. The technology of Adanion is roughly late medieval. Gunpowder (also known as "firesand" in this world) is starting to make its way very, very slowly into the continent and ideas that challenge the feudal social structure and traditional hierarchy are starting to spread with some even calling for abolition of kings all together as ludicrous as it sounds.

Below is the guide for Nobles and their holdings. This is simply the information that has to be on the sheet, you can use any format or layout you wish so long as its readable.

Character Info (Required)

Name: (Adanion is a pretty big place so feel free to be creative with names and cultures, be sure to include their full name.)
Titles: (Everyone will start as ruler/Sovereign of their own land. Additional titles and positions should be discussed with the GM.)
Description: (A physical description of their appearance, age, vibe/aura and outfit. If using pictures, please avoid anime or real if possible.)
Claimant: (Who do they declare for, Sharles or Anyamara? They don't have to be zealous supporters but they have to pick a side.)

House Info: (Great House's name, sigil/crest and motto.)

Reputation: (The personality most people think of when your name is said, can be identical to your actual personality or completely different in private.)
Ambitions: (What do they want out of life and what is their ultimate goal? Can overlap or even clash with the ambitions of others.)
Aptitudes: (Basically their strengths or skills, can be physical ability, mental achievements or trained talents.)
Vulnerabilities: (Basically their weaknesses or shortcomings, can be something emotional, a deep secret, or something they're just bad at.)
Additional Info: (Anything else you want to say about your character like house history or important background bits.)

Domain Info: (The full name of the land they are the Sovereigns of and a quick description of their holdings.)

Domain Info (Optional)

Domain Name: (Full name of the domain.)
Domain Summary: (Brief overview of the major points of the domain)

Major Holdings: (Important castles, cities, towns, churches, natural formations, etc.)

Reputation: (What is your domain known for? Can be good or bad like harsh weather or fertile farmland.)
Wealth: (What is your domain like in terms of economic power and trade? Do they rely a lot on agriculture? Trade? Mining?)
Strength: (What is your domain like in terms of defense and military? Can they call upon large levies? Private mercenaries? Knightly Orders?)

Noble Ranks

Structure of Nobility

Adanion follows a nobility ranking structure brought over from over the mountains by the Lowyst and Adandum and are as follows:

The King of Adanion -> The High Lords -> The Archdukes -> The Dukes -> The Counts -> The Viscounts & Knights -> The Smallfolk

The King of Adnaion has always been a member of House Loyce and typically a direct descendant. Most often this is between the King and their eldest child as the crown passes via absolute cognatic primogeniture. There have been time when a sibling or an aunt or uncle takes the throne instead of a child, once there was even a case where a father passed the crown to his son who in turn passed it to his mother, a scandal that was.

The High Lords are those Great Houses given control over the regions of Adanion: the Crownmark, the Arbormark, the Frostmark, the Mistlands, the Stormlands, the Western Marches and the Wildwood. To be a high lord is to rule over the other Archdukes and Dukes of a region. Those Great Houses bestowed with the honor and responsibility are granted the titles of "High Lords/Ladies of X" (IE High Lords of the Arbormark). The title of High Lord of the Crownmark has always been that of House Loyce's and only the Western Marches breaks protocol as instead of a High Lord of the West March, there is the "Warden of the West".

Archdukes are powerful Great Houses who are under the High Lords of their region. Many can trace a lineage back to either a tribal king of the Old Land or to one of the original followers of Adandum Lowyst or his daughter Omera Lowyst. Below them are the Dukes who are majority not Great Houses, although some have become Great Houses through power or favor. There is no law saying that a Great House cannot rule another Great House, only that a Duke is to obey their Archdukes.

Counts, Viscounts and Knights make up the rung of lesser nobility or the "Minor Houses" and are by far the most numerous compared to the other ranks above them. They administer smaller counties, provinces, shires and areas for their Dukes. Viscounts and Knights are not always considered nobility as they are simply titles granted in recognition of great civil or administrative achievement and great acts of martial skill or valor respectively; two sides of the same coin. Viscounts and Knights often do not have any land for themselves aside from their own homes, although Landed Viscounts and Knights can rival the power of Counts. Unlike most titles, each new generation of Viscounts and Knights must have their titles "reaffirmed" or hope to be promoted to Counts. In this, Knights are typically more often reaffirmed than Viscounts.

Court Council

The king does not rule alone and sits atop a large bureaucracy of scribes, ministers and inspectors. The most important are the Council Court, a powerful body made of advisors and delegates. Being granted a position is seen as a great honor, and being forced off is also seen as a great insult in most cases. While nobles of Great Houses are the most often picked if for no other reason than politics, sometimes lesser nobles or even talented smallfolk have been elevated to the council, much to the chagrin of the Great Houses.

Positions

• Crownkeeper - Chief Advisor and Hand of the King. They speak with the authority of the crown and acts as their proxy in everything from council meetings to overseeing major developments. They are also chief law keeper, enforcing and enshrine old laws or new decrees. Its name comes from the tradition of the Lowyst where when the king was on campaign away from home, he would leave his crown behind with a trusted second to ensure the stability of the realm while he was away.
• Master Minister - The Minister of the Interior who deals with the administration of the kingdom. They keep track of the vassals and their feudal obligations, ensure that the court scribes aren't messing up and the finances of the realm is stable. The nature and power of this position has often lead many Master Ministers to subdivided their duties with a trusted friend or family member.
• Grand Marshal - The military advisor to the throne who trains soldiers, selects candidates for the Crownguard, keeping track of censuses for levying peasants and inspecting defenses of the realm. Most often a Warden of the West is Grand Marshal, given the environment that the western lords are in.
• Master Archivist - The Royal Archives is a place where all the knowledge known to Adanion is kept, collected and recorded, including secrets and whispers on the wind. While the Master Achivist was once a lowly position of library custodian, overtime they became spymasters and keepers of clandestine information who operated networks of agents across the kingdom. The best Master Archivists were the ones that people didn't even realize had such a network.
• Royal Cleric - A religious advisor and spiritual guide for the king and the court as well as liaison for the Church. Their duty is simple, to tend to the good morals and faith of the court to ensure wise and just rulership of the realm. How often this actually happens is up for debate as many kings find the most devout and zealous clerics to be a nuisance while the Church refuses to simply let anyone take up the cloth in the court.

MAP

Regions aren't the same as Archduchies. There can be multiple Great House and Archduchies in one region but only one can hold the title of ownership of the entire region. The house who controls the whole region is given the title of "High Lord of X" (IE: High Lords of the Arbormark), the only place this is different is in Westmarch whose rulers have the title of "Wardens of the West".

Quick Guide: White = Natural Terrain, Blue = Body of Water, Green = Region

Labelled Map

Raw Map

Map Lore

Mistlands - The northern most region of Adanion, it is a hilly tundra where few animals venture and only the heartiest of roots and oats can grow in the poor cold soil. What little farm land there is can be found in pockets of ground where the frost can melt or on the lower levels of the Misty Cliffs. The Cliffs however are much more bountiful than the eastern Mountains, providing ore, minerals and stone allowing for the construction of much tougher castles than their poor economics would otherwise allow. There are more castle along the border of Westmarch, officially there to protect the lands from the occasional nomad warband that wanders northwards.

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Frostmark - The coldest land bordered by the Great Bastion Mountains and sharing the vital Cradlespring Lake that feeds the most important river in Adanion with the Mistlands. It is a boreal tundra with interspersed boreal bogs, sharing in the poverty with the Mistlands, its economy relying on the trade of furs, hides, pelts and ice to other noble families who are willing to pay great sums for it during the summer months. Its people survive on fish and snowberries they plant around their fields of tough roots and oats to ward off herbivores who find its strong scent overwhelming.

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Crownmark - The most centrally located region and the seat of power in Adanion, sitting between the Splitstream and the Farwater rivers. It is a trade hub of the kingdom and where much of its wealth is funneled into. It has fertile land for vegetables, grain and fruits that are turned in famous wines and vintages while its ability to access all the raw resources of the kingdom grants it the largest population of tradesmen and craftsmen in the realm, even if most of its production is split between military equipment for Westmarch and jewelry for the Great Houses. Uniquely its roads and bridges are paved and well kept, an obvious sign of the capital's wealth.

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Westmarch - The largest of all the regions and important in the defense of the realm. Houses of Westmarch are typically called "Marcher Lords" or "Marquis" instead of simply "Lords" as they are charged with defending against the many nomadic tribes who raid and assail the kingdom. Every settlement has fortifications and defense for this reason, from the largest of towns to the smallest of hamlets, its martially minded people can live great distances from each other. While okay for farming, its vast empty spaces are more commonly used for herding animals, while it manages trade with some of the more hospitable nomads or even the rare and exotic merchants from the distant rajas, kingdoms and empires beyond the Timeless Steppes.

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Arbormark - Despite its name, the majority of its forest are actually the overflow of the forests and jungles of the Wildwood. Instead, Arbormark is known its farmlands that are even more bountiful than Crownmark and the banks of the Farwater River which they use to grow sweetreeds and collect clay for bricks and pottery. Arbormark nobles have long standing feuds with nobles of the Wildwood, some stretching back before Adandum's conquest, usually over control and ownership (and taxation rights) of the Archgates.

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Stormlands - Named for the seaborn storms that routinely wash over the land or even flood it, the Stormlands can flip between a beautifully sunny coast to a terrifying thunderous storm in minutes. It is the second wealthiest region (and also thus the most heavily taxed) in Adanion due to a combination of good soil with plentiful rain (or too much rain), the minerals and ores of the Dragon's Graveyard and the ports that connect the kingdom to the world beyond the Starry Sea. Unique among the kingdom, its said that almost everyone from beggar to noble in the Stormland knows how to swim and they field specialized "Marine-at-Arms" to protect the ships and trade ports.

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Wildwood - The region that held out against House Loyce the longest due to its easily defendable terrain; the Archgates are a defender's dream and the waters around it are treacherous at the best of times. Due to the pocket of mountain it exists in, its radically different than the rest of the kingdom. Hotter and wetter due to trapped moisture, the entire region is covered in dense forests and jungle. Some of the villages are built on stilts or even in treetops to get off the wet, marshy and often dangerous ground. Many believe the Wildwood to be too different than the rest of the kingdom for its people and nobles to be considered Adanion, a claim the Wildwoods disputes through loyalty to House Loyce time and time again. Trade with the outside world however is much more limited than in the Stormlands, largely because the same dangerous waters that defend its coast makes trading difficult especially with the much calmer (and richer) Stormlands close by.

Misty Cliffs - Sheet rocky cliffs with natural terraces and plateaus going up like giant stairs. Popular legend states that once they were stairs leading up to the palace of ancient giants. Its slightly warmer than the Bastion Mountains with waterfalls and rivers commonly rushing over ledges to make a beautiful sight. Its currently unknown how many "levels" there are, the most populated levels are the first three with the highest inhabited level being the 5th while explorers have found ways up to the 22nd level but the cliffs stretch above the clouds.

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Timeless Steppes - A seemingly endless grassland steppe dominated by nomadic tribes and their herds who have changed little since the time of Adandum's Conquest. Named so as its said a non-nomad who ventures into it will quickly loose any sense of time or direction as they get lost in the seemingly infinite flat steppes.

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Dragon's Graveyard - A smaller yet even more brutal range of mountains than the Great Bastions. According to myth, once dragons lived in the mountains, hoarding vast riches until they offended an old god of stone who in revenge raised the mountains into sharp points to tear the dragon's wings and gore them midflight while dragging their treasure hoards into the earth. A fanciful tale for sure but it has been used to explain the mineral wealth in them as well as the giant, mysterious "magical" bones that are routinely dug up. (Actually just dinosaur bones.)

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The Starry Sea - A vast blue sea, named so as during the clearest nights one can see the entire heaven of stars reflected upon its surface. Sometimes, stars will even fall from the sky into the sea and its said that those who find the fallen stars will be granted their greatest wish.

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Bastion Mountains - Vast, impassible mountain ranges that completely cut off Adanion from the other side. Few Adanions even realize there are other kingdoms beyond the mountains but even those who do can't agree on which Adandum was exiled from. The Lesser Bastion Mountain is also called the "Mountain Arm" as it splits off dramatically from the rest of the range.

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The Archgates - A trio of huge natural rock formations that leave massive openings in the mountains that are easily defended and heavily fortified. Some of the most defensible castles are built into the Archgate and are fought over fiercely by both Arbormark and the Wildwood as they are the only reliable routes out of the Wildwood. They are also the reason why the Wildwood was the last region added to the kingdom, unable to be bested in combat, House Loyce would eventually bring it into the kingdom through marriage instead.

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Cradlespring Lake - Perhaps the most important waterway in Adanion, its entirely encapsulated by the impassable mountains. Fed through underground springs and mountain streams, it feeds the Farwater and Twinsplit Rivers. Nearby hotsprings have made for excellent winter lodgings and even saunas. Just like with the Archgates and Arbormark and the Wildwood, both Frostmark and the Mistlands contest the few bridges over the Farwater River that divides their territory.

LORE

HISTORY OF ADANION

My Hider

The phrase "House Loyce is Adanion and Adanion is House Loyce" is more literal than some people realize. House Loyce traces its origins to the legendary warrior-king Adandum of Lowyst, a prince from over the Great Bastion Mountains. He and his people had been exiled from their homeland, sent to die in the cold and snow of the mountains but managed to find a passage in the impassable mountains. Leading his people through, Adandum sealed the pass behind him and proclaimed that he would either "carve a new home or carve a grave in the ground" in the new land.

The land was already home to a hundred tribes and clans, having lived for untold generations in the area yet none of them were able to conquer enough of their enemies and the few that did never had their realms survive past succession if that. Adandum would have been just one of another many yet he brought something vital to the unnamed land from his homeland, administration. A great warrior and conquer, Adandum proved just as adept at managing his new conquests and peoples, capable of mustering huge armies while keeping his civilians fed. By the time he was on his death bed, Adandum had fought every tribe and clan, sometimes even massive confederations and alliances, and won, claiming nearly all of the land between the mountains. He named his new kingdom after himself, Adanion.

His eldest daughter, Omera, would succeed after him as Adandum's eldest son had fallen in battle. She took a husband from one of the local tribes unlike her father, a man from a tribe called the Yorice she completed her father's work and was crowned the first High Queen of Adanion, Queen Omera Lowyst-Yorice, a name that would eventually melt together into the modern House Loyce. She would prove instrumental in the long term stability of her family's future rule, expanding the royal court and government, granting titles to her father's followers and those tribal leaders who had bent the knee and codifying the myraid of local legends and beliefs into the Twin Faith, appointing the first Pontifex and Meratrix who in turn granted House Lowyst-Yorice legitimacy to their rule. The Kingdom of Adanion had been built on warriors, but House Loyce kept it through ministers.

tl;dr - The founder of House Loyce was a legendary warrior from across the mountains who most important ability was good governance, a trait passed on to his daughter who ruled after him that solidified the gains and laid the foundations for modern Andion and House Loyce.

THE TWIN FAITH

My Hider

The Twin Faith is the religion of Adanion, codified by Queen Omera and formed from the many old myths, faiths and beliefs from the original tribes. It believes in a world of balance by complimentary pairs: the Sun and the Moon, a Man and a Woman, a Noble and a Commoner, a Warrior and a Minister, the Heavens and the Earth. They imagine a great scale on which everything is to be balanced upon so that the world does not fall into chaos and disaster. They believe in a Sky Father and an Earth Mother who worked together to create the world and the people on it. Also known as the Master and the Mistress, it is the Master who can create things but it is the Mistress who preserves them, both equally important and complimentary.

Just as with their gods, the faith is lead by a pair, a male Pontifex and a female Meratrix. The faith is ministered to the masses by priests and priestesses from lonely hamlet shrines to bustling village churches to grand, regal cathedrals. Clergy are allowed to marry and have kids, but they are not allowed to hold or inherit titles, a loophole exploited by some Great Houses to rid themselves of eldest children in favor of their more capable younger sibling in the name of faith.

tl;dr - Think Christianity in terms of aesthetics without Jesus and with Daoist/Incan ideas about balance.

THE TWILIGHT CHOIR

My Hider

The Twilight Choir is a political and social movement that gained traction during the reign of weak kings and exploded during the rule of King Colyt II the Mad. It is seen as an almost revolutionary movement against the abuses of the monarchy, the great houses of Adanion and even the Church made of peasants, merchants and even some lesser nobles. Their name stems from a rejection of the "corrupted" Church as Twilight is between both Day and Night, a blending of both sides just as how their movement blends different social classes together. Although the Pontifex has declared this idea of blending over balance to be heretical, some clergy have joined the movement seeking church reforms.

Disgruntled peasants, having long suffered under inept rule, previous famine and the abuse by those above them wish to better their lives by overthrowing the power structure that has kept them repressed for centuries. Wealthy merchants whose power only grew as trade increased seek more power and presence in the politics of the kingdom as according to ancient decree, only those of noble blood are allowed into politics and only the lowest of lords are willing to marry merchant families, believing their role in economics is the only reason why the kingdom didn't bankrupt itself even during the age of weak monarchs. They seek a radical new form of republican oligarchy, where the old monarch and Great Houses are removed so that (according to them) "only the people who have helped the kingdom can rule it".

As for why the lesser knights and noble families also support the Choir is because during the reign of the Mad King, it had been the nobles of the lesser houses who bore the brunt of the madness. While the Great Houses complain of loosing a child or family member, entire lesser houses have been erased, their only remains being the bodies that hang in cages on the sides of roads. They accuse the Great Houses of forsaking their feudal vows and failing to protect them from the mad king despite their loyalty and vows to them. They side with the merchants in their radical new ideas believing that they can do a better job of ruling justly and fairly than the Great Houses can and tired of the apparent weakness in House Loyce.

Some have also taken the death of Crown Prince Daymian, the man thought to be the savior of the kingdom, as a sign of divine proof that the Master and the Mistress no longer grant their blessing to House Loyce to be rulers of Adanion. While the Church at large dismisses this claim, some individual priests preach it to agitated churches and rumor says there are those higher in Church leadership who believe as well, if for no other reason than potential political gain.

Of the two claimants, only Anyamara recognizes the true threat the Choir possesses to both the status of the noble houses as well as to the stability of the realm as she can see that even if they succeed, the Choir will split into smaller factions who will continue to fight among one another. Sharles, having grown up in ignorant comfort, believes the Choir is simply asking for better living conditions, refusing to believe they are actually seeking a full revolution of the social order.

tl;dr - Think of a mix of a peasant revolt, a republican uprising, a communist/socialist revolution, a noble rebellion and the Yellow Turban rebellion (loosing the divine right to rule) rolled into one.

If you are interested, say so below! While this will be an Advanced RP in terms of lore and moving parts to plots and relationship, actual writing requirements will be more Casual. I know that writing a 400 page novel for a post isn't fun and reading seven posts like that can be overwhelming quickly. If you have any questions, ask away below!

[ClocktowerEchos]

@Saix@Pagemaster@DegenerateThree@Xol Raiyel@Artemis Arts

I call upon thee to heed thy summons!

The CS stuff is a bit different so keep aware of that but otherwise you can still use the same characters if you want. Also, if someone wants to help me find a map that me much appreciated ily.

[Songster Gecko]

If you don't mind waiting, I can whip up a map over the next few days or week. I've just got other commitments to follow-through on first.

[ClocktowerEchos]

@DegenerateThree Go for it. I don't think we'll need it initially since the start is probably going to be funeral for the king and crown prince, big ol' gathering of somber mourning and absolutely zero attempts at subtly influencing people via politics and promises because why let a good tragedy go to waste?

[rush99999]

@ClocktowerEchos

I have two questions.

Question One: Are humans the only race allowed or can we be other things?

Question Two: What's your beef with neutrality?

[Artemis Arts]

I was summoned @ClocktowerEchos??

[ClocktowerEchos]

@rush99999 Right now I'm thinking of keeping it human although I'm still debating about allowing mixed blood (things like dwarves, elves and orcs once existed but are all now extinct or missing and their only ancestors are the humans who interbred with them and thus have dwarf/elf/orc blood in them).

As for staying neutral, the struggle between Anyamara and Sharle is just the inciting event of the plot, I don't have personal issue with it. IC the reason that someone would stay neutral is because they think the risk of war in their land isn't worth whatever support the claimants could give but risk being sidelined by Houses who proved to be more loyal to the winning side.

@Artemis Arts I just pinged everyone from the old RP, just in case they wanted to hop over.

[DELETED32084]

@ClocktowerEchos Any issues with me using what I’d already put together?

The Five Valleys (Steinland)

Coat of Arms

Landscape

Looking toward the Razoredge Mountains

Kingdom: Steinland (The Five Valleys)
Location: Wherever there are mountains to serve as one border, the ocean on others.

A Description of Steinland:

Steinland is a picture of ancient rounded mountains, lush river valleys, endless castles and stunning vistas. Bordered by the Razoredge Mountains, and by the Ocean on all others, there is a certain sense of peace and security to be found here.

The name Steinland, or the Five Valleys, comes from those same geological features, though they are not the intense savage mountainscape one might expect. Deep and wide rivers snake down from the mountains and the soaring peaks of the south quickly give way to rolling hills, rounded ancient mountains, and a certain sense of walking into antiquity. The mountains here are old, far older than those of the south, and thousands of years of rain and wind have battered them into a pleasing undulating landscape.

Deep forests are common here, but unlike the marshy Forest of some other lands, they are filled with mighty oaks, colourful maples, and delicate aspens. This is a land poets and bards sing of when they bring forth songs of beauty and prosperity.

Castles dot the landscape from small strategic holdings to the massive citadel at Steinbach. The Nobles here fight each other as often as they have external enemies and no lord is to be caught without a formidable redoubt to call home.

The People of Steinland:

Steinlanders are a fair folk, tall, well fed, and great fans of ales, meads, and violent sport. Often considered dour and studious by their neighbours, that is a reputation gained from those who have come from behind the natural barriers that protect these fine people.

Those in Steinland love as much as they fight and the population has remained strong for many years. The abundance of water and resources has allowed for a comfortable lifestyle, even for the peasant classes. It is no surprise then that Steinland considers itself the true heart of the nation.

The Economy of Steinland:

Steinland draws much of its wealth and strength from the Razoredge Mountains, and the ancient mineral deposits found throughout the land. High quality coal and plentiful iron have allowed Steinlanders to make their mark as the finest blacksmiths in the land, producing incredible armour and weapons. It is a true status symbol to be equipped with Steinland plate.

Two major ports, Steinbach and Ostfelsen, allow a steady flow of trade with the rest of the continent, as well as those across the sea. Not lacking for agricultural goods or the bounty of the sea, Steinland is loath to part with much of its homegrown wealth.

The names and locations of fortresses are to many to count, but the major citadels are listed below.

WIP

Steinbach:
Steinbach is an ancient and soaring city that has spread across the mouth of a major river and up the sides of the mountains that embrace it. Stunning architecture, powerful industry, and a studious, if at times ridiculous people, make this city a true powerhouse in the realm. The finest swordsmen and armour come from this region.

Unlike some of the frozen hellholes, Steinbach enjoys a mild year round climate with the temperature rarely dropping below freezing while the summers are pleasant and most desirable.

Ostfelsen:
Ostfelsen lies to the north of Steinbach along the coastline and straddles a series of rivers and canals that make it a wonder to visit. Unlike Steinbach, with its heavy industry and love of weaponry, Ostfelsen is popular with craftsman and makers of liquor.

The architecture here is less brutal and formal, allowing it to attract folk from far across the seas as a place of learning and study.

Further Information:
It is an open secret that Steinland considers itself the best part of Adanion. With the death of both the King and the Crown Prince, the Arch Duke is widely known to favour the Princess Anyamara but there are rumours he may simply declare independence and shun any holder of the Crown completely. Any faction that counts the Arch Duke among its allies would surely take the Crown.

Arch Duke Karl Müller-Hohenstein

Character: Karl Müller-Hohenstein
Title: Arch Duke of Steinland

Claimant: Princess Anyamara
Reputation: Known for being brutally honest and to the point.

Age: 25
Height: 5’8
Description:
Karl was once a tall and proud young man but the injuries he suffered at the hands of pirates has left him bent and twisted. His shaves his head completely, and never permits himself to grow any stubble on his face. His teeth are either gone or broken, painful to the touch. His right leg is bent and gnarled, forcing him to use a cane. Both his feet are badly mangled and angle inward causing him to walk duck footed. His once broad shoulders have shrunk to little more than the that of a youth. His fingers, all broken before healing into a gnarled mess, had to be rebroken when he was rescued, healing again into some approximation of claws.

It is his eyes that still give life to an otherwise piteous being. They are a pure and hate filled black. Like two pools of evil that try to draw you in and drown you.

Notable Traits:
Spymaster: Spies, assassins, mercenaries, all of it falls into Karl's purview and he wields those resources with terrifying skill, both within Steinland and abroad.
Cunning: Those who cannot wield swords, wield words, and Karl has proven himself time and time again to be a skilled negotiator. To those paying any attention, a sudden cessation of local feuds hints at a unification within Steinland.
Useless fighter: Karl couldn't fend off a child.

Personality:
Karl is cunning and cruel on a level that very few people can imagine. The cruelty that he suffered at the hands of pirates following his capture at eighteen left him scared and vengeful. The once handsome and confident young Prince has become a twisted and evil person, driven only be the desire for revenge and to make his enemies suffer as he suffered. Many of those in Steinland, where martial prowess is so highly valued, have come to respect him for his intelligence and common sense. Among the cheerful folk of Steinland, Karl is considered a serious person. He rarely smiles, never laughs, and is known to enjoy inflicting pain on others.

Karl loves one person, his twin sister Michaela. To what extent this love goes is anyones guess, but he dotes on her and she has forever accepted him.

Duchess Michaela Müller-Hohenstein

Character: Michaela Müller-Hohenstein
Title: Duchess of Steinland

Age: 25
Height: 5’10
Description:

Description:
Michaela stands taller than most women of Steinland with a height of 5'10 with skin so pale that she doesn't bother with whitening it with makeup like most other women and thick hair as red as a sunrise that reaches her lower back. She has a slender, but muscular build, as she trains daily in various combat styles.

As cultural standard demands, Michaela is often stoic, playing the graceful and polite hostess. In more private settings or when provoked, she'll show more raw feelings. When in the field, she'll wear men's clothing over women's, taking comfort and ease of movement over beauty and societal standards. Because of this, she will also have her hair up in a high ponytail, so that is stays out of her face, rather than spend time on some elaborate up-do.

After her brothers capture she began to train in martial skills and wears a longsword and a short stabbing dagger strapped to her hip for most occasions, showing her status to others as a Knight. The only time she is without either of those blades are when she has to be in a formal setting dressed in a flowing dress of green or blue, but she will always have dagger on her person for protection.

Notable Traits:
Artist: Michaela is a talented artist, capable of recreating any scene or object from memory with great detail. As a daughter of a King, she is trained in the proper etiquette and customs of her people.
Average Swordswoman: Michaela had to modify her sword style to accommodate for the fact that most of her opponents would be able to easily strike her down if she relied on strength alone. Thus, she focuses her training on speed and her ability to parry strikes.
Poor Archer: While she can string a bow and nock an arrow, she has poor aim and will often miss the target.
Adept Strategist: While on the field - Michaela is able to analyze the battle in front of her and make decisions accordingly. She shows promise and will flourish under guidance.
Adept equestrian: Kanna has a love for horses and rides well. Her skill in fighting from the saddle is well known.

Personality:
Michaela is a confident young woman and takes after her father in some ways. She is cunning on both the battle field and when dealing with others, often catching her opponents off-guard due to their misogynist views of the capabilities of a woman in a position of power. She has the capacity to be ruthless and will be so when it comes to her twin brother and upholding her father's wishes.

However, underneath it all is a compassionate woman who cares for her people and will try to find a fair middle ground when possible, but only if it doesn't interfere with her father's orders. If one is fair with her, she will respond in kind. Offer anything less, and she will respond with malice. She is not generally swayed by emotions and handles most situations with a calm perspective. After a long demanding days, she enjoys taking a nice hot bath followed by some quiet time with a canvas and some brushes.

Michaela is closest with her twin brother and will do anything for him to a fault. Her biggest fear is to lose her other half on the battlefield and not being able to do anything to stop it. Her next fear is sharing the same fate as her mother, married to a lord who will keep her locked away from the world and all it's wonders. After those two things, there isn't much else she has come to dread on this earth. While Michaela is mostly a calm woman, once she is set off she can have the most terrible temper and act without regard for her own safety or to her limits.

Important Note:
It is largely believed that any future heir to Steinland will come from Michaela. Rumours circulate suggesting that Karl cannot produce any children following his torture.

[POOHEAD189]

I might join actually, my old clockie chum

[canaryrose]

Ooh, this is interesting. Might just join.

[ClocktowerEchos]

@Pagemaster All of the info you have is good, the biggest thing to add is who they are supporting. I would also say try to rewrite them to better fit the new thing of ambition, aptitudes and vulnerabilities but honestly? That's just me being pedantic.

@POOHEAD189@canaryrose Welcome, welcome! If you have any initial ideas I encourage you to share and ask questions as you need! Also:

I might join actually, my old clockie chum

@POOHEAD189

:'D
ily poo <3

[TheRedWatcher]

Mind if I join in on the fun?

[Songster Gecko]

Now that I think about it, if I bring over the Sjamyyk-Kuunkoe from the original idea, I might make them neutral at best, since they're the sort to not care too much about who rules, so long as they're left alone. Even if everything goes to shit, they're capable of packing up and returning to the sea. Not easily, but it's an option for them at the very least.

[ClocktowerEchos]

Welcome aboard @TheRedWatcher! Any insperations?

[TheRedWatcher]

Welcome aboard @TheRedWatcher! Any insperations?

@ClocktowerEchos

Well I was wondering what your opinion would be on having a disabled character?

[ClocktowerEchos]

Now that I think about it, if I bring over the Sjamyyk-Kuunkoe from the original idea, I might make them neutral at best, since they're the sort to not care too much about who rules, so long as they're left alone. Even if everything goes to shit, they're capable of packing up and returning to the sea. Not easily, but it's an option for them at the very least.

@DegenerateThree

Fair enough, SK is probably the only ones who have the best shot of actually being neutral because they could hypothetically move while everyone else can't. There's a chance they still might end up being forced to take a side, but if they stay neutral I could see them becoming a sort of safe haven for refugees and other nobles who are either fleeing one side, fleeing assassins or fleeing because an army just burned down their castle and they really don't want to have to try and build another one right now. Could be interesting to see the cultural and economic impact.

[ClocktowerEchos]

@TheRedWatcher Mind if I ask what kind of disability?

[Songster Gecko]

<Snipped quote by DegenerateThree>

Fair enough, SK is probably the only ones who have the best shot of actually being neutral because they could hypothetically move while everyone else can't. There's a chance they still might end up being forced to take a side, but if they stay neutral I could see them becoming a sort of safe haven for refugees and other nobles who are either fleeing one side, fleeing assassins or fleeing because an army just burned down their castle and they really don't want to have to try and build another one right now. Could be interesting to see the cultural and economic impact.

@ClocktowerEchos

Oh, I won't make things easy for them, that's for sure! I'm going to play with the angle that you have some of the sub-clans who are just plain ambivalent, those who are actively eager to get moving again, and then those who have gotten a little too comfy with a sedentary lifestyle. That way, they're 'neutral', but might also prove to be a hotbead of intrigue where you have both sides trying to influence the SK as a whole to pick one side. That, or to just convince them to stay fully out of the conflict. Their decentralised and rather simple political apparatus would also make them pretty vulnerable to these actions.

[DELETED32084]

@TheRedWatcherread my CS, he’s a cripple. So…. Fill your boots I reckon.

[Songster Gecko]

Also, am I right in guessing 'firesand' is some form of gunpowder or can be used as such? The temptation to make Normans but with guns is running high...