Ewin Rysell

The Empires of Terra

@Ewin Rysell in Xi'an all of the warriors are demons, who out rank humans. Since they recognize the knights as honorable warriors they sit at the same level as the lowest level of demon on the social ladder.

Since Ragnor is not a demon, or a warrior, or a high ranking official in Xi'an he is actually considered below Tyron in rank.

@Kenny1

Why does Tyron attain a higher rank than Ragnest? Both are human and Ragnest owns an estate, Tyron is simply a travelling scholar and philosopher.

The Empires of Terra

Gates of the Palace, Nanking
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"Halt!" Ordered an armed guard in Xianese as he saw the two men cross the courtyard that divided the palace from the rest of the city.

With a hard stomp on the ground the ground rose around the two men, forming four walls around them. The guard then shouted "What are you two doing in Xi'an?! I demand to see your paperwork."

(Ooc: He's asking for transportation papers, like a visa)

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Taken completely aback by the sudden hostility invoked upon them, both Ragnest and Tyron stood perplexed for a moment before collecting themselves to answer the guard's demands.

"We are mere travelers friend, we come from the Kingdom of Vaolos to seek refuge in your most magnificent kingdom and to avoid the horrors of war that would otherwise await us there" shouted Tyron, trying his best to sound domineering without outshining his master.

"We wish to seek council with your prince as is the custom for any noble of another land, in our home besides, to declare himself or else risk accusations of espionage or military intent" stated Ragnest with the utmost formality. He was standing upright with his arms at his sides as if he was about to gesture a salute. During this Tyron had reached into his pockets to produce a Knight's Seal, essentially a coin of various colours and intricately carved patterns (my profile picture). He had also revealed fine clothing to stand as proof to Ragnest's considerable wealth in his home country.

"I am Ragnest of Pharen, and this is Tyron, my greatest friend and also my mentor in matters of historical nature." Ragnest then took the coin from Tywin's hands and held it above him, keeping one finger placed across the breadth of the coin. "This is my insignia which I sincerely hope is recognized in these parts".

The Empires of Terra

Ok. Amazing post! My only note is that the journey probably would have taken a months, half of which would have been spent trying to get through the mountains.

I'll reply on my lunch break

@Kenny1

Okay, I will perform some sneaky editing. And thanks!

I will be back on in quite a while, so there is no rush.

The Empires of Terra

My character/s (depending on who you let in) are ready to enter the palace when you are ready Kenny1.

Territories of Phinoria.

IC should begin shortly, I will create my first post in a couple of days from now. :)

The Empires of Terra

Sir Ragnest Starkweather and Tyron Hearkdale set out across the dusty wheat fields to the edge of the Kingdom of Vaolos. Weary looking and carrying all manner of luggage apparel, they soldiered on, covering their faces with small brown mouth cloths to prevent the entry of whipped dust into their lungs. It was early morning and the sun was piercing through the clouds on a slant, hitting only certain areas of the wheat field due to the dust and the mist it was creating. It was a magical scene, but the participants in it were far from happy.

They had recently abandoned their estate, Ragnest had anyway, to flee the great civil war that had only recently broken out in Vaolos. But alas, they had no choice, to stay would mean killing ones brothers and sisters which neither Ragnest nor Tyron was too confident with.

"We should reach Nanking in roughly three months from now!" Ragnest shouted as he tried to be heard over the whirring mist. Glancing back over his shoulder to see a struggling Tyron he asked, "Tryon my friend. If your energies are failing I will wait behind for you".

"No m'lord" he replied, always eager to serve Ragnest whom he looked up to. "Although we should take care not to be spotted by the Xi'anese in our Vaolosian insignia, it might raise questions!".

"No, we will enter this country as honourable men as is our way of life! After all, if we forsake honour what hath we left but the clothes on our backs and our friendship. We have lost all else, and that is where it must end!"

Tryon expected to hear this; it was common for Ragnest to uphold honour, tradition and appearances at all times, but he worried, one day it would get him killed.

"What do you know of the Xi'anese m'lord!" Shouted Tryon, lifting his mouth cover up for a second to speak and then dropping it back promptly.

"Not a great deal unfortunately! I was always one for history but the Xi'anese were always a mystery, we have hardly any works on their culture and those who have entered their lands rarely return to document it! Not sure what that says about our current expedition!"

"No, I imagine it says a lot, but what other choice do we have?"

***

Three months from the aforementioned passage, and truthful to Ragnest's words they had arrived at the grand city of Nanking. They had only minor trouble along the way, passing unnoticed by a few patrols and struggling to communicate with the locals, but nothing too serious.

As they approached the magnificent pale gates they were greeted by various guards in, (what I assume is typical Japanese clothing). Gestured forward, the pair ventured into the city.

"Wow" said Tyron silently, quite unable to take in the scene that was before him.

The streets were filled with people running, trading and conversing all in magnificent colours of various shades and fabrics. The street itself looked as if it was almost paneled along the walls with the occasional shop or apartment filling in the windows and facets that sprung out from the otherwise flat edges of the street. The colours of the buildings themselves were rather pale, cream almost, but what stood out the most was the grand way up the palace. These were brick lanes, each continually paving their way up the palace which stood majestically over the city, its height and grandeur seen from every possible corner.

Both stood in amazement for at least a minute, this was quite different from their rural humdrum houses and manors. Even Vaolosian cities were relatively dull compared to the architecture here.

"3000 years and quarter of a million people" remarked Tyron, still unable to take his eyes from the great palace gleaming in the sun.

"Quite right my friend, but we must declare our presence to the king before we embark upon wild discussion and exploration of the city" replied Ragnest, once again inclined to follow strict rules of formalities.

"Then let us go m'lord, I for one am happy regardless of my place within this city. But, I do not like the bricks so much, I prefer gravel due to the sonic impression it makes on my mind" Tryon mentioned, giving Ragnest a mildy humorous look to which he returned.

The Empires of Terra

<Snipped quote by Ewin Rysell>

Ya the topographic map is below the political one. Your country looks like Louisiana with all those rivers. Lols
But we can say that the rivers are either badly polluted or during the way down the mountains they dissolve toxic levels of salt.

You can enter the IC however you want. Just leave someone at the court, so that we have an easier time following the story line.

It's fine life happens. I just wanted to make sure you were OK.

@Kenny1

Haha thankyou. Yeah I think I will put someone on the court in my first IC.

The Empires of Terra

@Ewin Rysell Just an observation about the plot that you picked. There are a lot of rivers running through the mainland of your country, including three major rivers. But in your nation description you mentioned being short on water?

@Kenny1

There are rivers there?! XD I guess they could just find it difficult to harvest the water (salt-water/sea lagoons etc.)

*Sorry about the absence, uni work and stuff. And I would like to follow my own story leading up to the Xian'se court if that's okay?

Territories of Phinoria.

Country CS

Formal Name: Federated Tribes of Dankun.

Informal Name: Dankuni.

Government System: Tribal Council.

Species: No overwhelmingly dominant species.

Population: 140,000 Centaursi, 70,000 Flori, <17,000 mixed.

Species Types

Centaursi
Flori

Nation Advantages:
- Has considerable knowledge about the potential crossings on the surrounding rivers. Ultimately this makes Dankuni more defensible.
- The Centaursi are quick travelers which has allowed Dankuni to become a burgeoning trade state among its surrounding territories.

Nation Weaknesses:
- There is considerable contention between the Centaursi and Flori over who should rule dankuni on the Tribal council. At present, the council is 100% composed of Centaursi, much to the dismay of the Flori.
- Dankun lacks most strategic resources such as iron, salt, fruits and coal increasing its reliance on foreign powers.

Culture: The culture of Dankun is incredibly varied differing slightly or considerably between each separate tribe within the federation. Here I will mention the two biggest tribes, the Qentilla and Honol tribes:

Quentilla Tribe (Culture, but also a look into history)
Perhaps one of the earliest known communities to settle in Phinoria, the Quentilla, are incredibly ancient tracing their ancestry back with a detailed historiography to neighboring island chains are masses of land. The fact that land-based passages no longer exists to these areas, and also that the Quentilla have never needed a use of ships, is testament to their long heritage.

With regards to their culture, the Quentilla strive to be "one with the Earth and the skies". This passage, quoted from an ancient chief of Quentilla transfers a message of humility and inner peace with the world. This message has been passed down through generations and is now at the centre of the community, presenting itself in the form of meditation schools and long arduous pilgrimages to see the surrounding mountains and valleys; once found, also followed by meditation.

Honol Tribe (A look into their military culture)
The original founders of the federation and the largest contributor to the federation army, it is not surprising that Honol would become the federation leader. It is also not surprising to reveal that in Honol military service is viewed as necessary to facilitate a good lifestyle, including the women. Thus, it has not been uncommon for the entire population of Honol to become conscripted into the armed forces - although not necessary, there were always enough volunteers.

Brief History: The Federated Tribes of Dankun were not always so federated, in fact wars were a common occurrence before its unification into one, and the tribe which led this was the Honol tribe.

Historically militaristic, the Honol tribe was the perfect candidate to lead the formation of such a momentous collection of states. The way in which this was achieved was through a simple divide and conquer strategy. Honol would wait for a war to begin, and when the two states had worn each other down far enough, they would invade both powers at once; the powers themselves often divided through the machinations of Honol. Through this the federation was born after 100 years of repeated wars and was chosen as a federation over a consolidated centralized government form in an attempt to placate the recently conquered tribes, which to some degree, has worked considerably well.

Territories of Phinoria.

Country Character Sheet

Formal Name: Kingdom of Vaolos.

Informal Name: Vaolos.

Government System: Absolute Monarchy.

Species: Homo Fortemus.

Population: 320,000 Homo Fortemus, 30,000 Homo Sapiens and <1,000 minor species.

Settlements: Vaolos (capital); Andor, Jornin and Teir (cities/towns); Haffan, Unost, Yaras, Engris, Levendall, Pharen and Rectyon (villages/prominent estates).

Nation Advantages:
- Vaolos has access to a number of strategic resources including coal, tin and salt.
- The predominant species, Homo Fortemus, all posses a natural hardiness and resistance to the environment to a much greater extent than the majority of their contemporary species.

Nation Weaknesses:
- The territories occupied by Vaolos lack plentiful water resources making droughts and water pollution all too often disasters.
- Vaolos is currently locked in a guerrilla civil war between the monarchists and the republicans.

Culture: Quite similar to the Ancient Romans but instead of classical villas and gladiatorial arenas dominating the landscape, Vaolos should be pictured instead with an European medieval architecture (see below).

architecture

Brief History: Founded roughly 110 years ago by the colonial empire of Tearth under his majesty emperor Numas, Vaolos was founded as a colonial state tasked with creating new colonists to further settle the surrounding lands. The current leader and monarch, King Campania, is from an old prominent family settled in Tearth, the Aolosians. From the time of founding until present day the Kingdom of Vaolos has been kept under a blanket of fear inspired by the monarchy, however campania has gone some lengths to end this.

However, such an attempt to end the reign of fear has led to a great many Vaolosians seeing the monarchy for what it really is, thus explaining the current dire state Vaolos finds itself in. The forces of The Republic and Aolosian Monarchy are evenly matched and only fate will reveal the true victor of the engagement.

Character Character Sheet

Name: Ragnest Starkweather.

Title: Sir Starkweather, Lord of Pharen and Member of The King's Council.

Species: Homo Fortemus.

Age: 22.

Gender: Male.

Orientation: Closeted Homosexual.

Appearance:

Personality: Often described as courageous and noble, Ragnest has a good heart and constantly strives to improve the conditions of the people of Vaolos; for this is he well known and loved among the peasantry. Taught by his father in history, astrology, philosophy and agriculture when young and further studied through the help of famous individuals, Ragnest is also relatively intelligent for his age among Vaolosians, largely explaining his presence on the King's Council. Last but not least, Ragnest is also an explorer at heart filled to the brim with wanderlust. He is rarely at home and more often than not exploring distant foreign cities and valleys, leaving his peasants in his stead to run his estate.

Short History:
Early life
Born and raised on his to-be estate with his father, Ragnest gained the best possible start in life with every manner of luxury available to him. His father, Sir Egriwn Starkweather, was a powerful man holding a respected place at the court of King Campania (the now current king). However, as luxurious as his life could have been, Ragnest was instead given an austere upbringing away from the fanciful events of nobles and fine dining; in fact, Ragnest and his father often ate with the peasants of their estate. This idea of peasant and noble equality easily found its way into Ragnest's thinking and is one of the main reasons for who his is today. At a young age, he was also subject to precise instruction by his father, a benefit not afforded to a great many other nobles of his status, and while his father was away on royal duty he was often taught by a peasant schoolteacher of the local village.

Adult life
After reaching adolescence, Ragnest's life took a new turn after the death of his father when he was only 17. As per the traditions of the land, Pharen was now his inherited estate with which he could do what he liked. His first action, which gained him the unquestioning loyalty of the local peasantry, was to upgrade the school where he was often taught and add on several extensions including an observatory, library, stables and dining court. Such luxuries that those peasant children now had was unparalleled elsewhere.

Later, Ragnest began to look to politics to pique his interests and applied for the court of the new king, to which, he was almost immediately accepted due to his father's unquestioning loyalty of the previous king. Here Ragnest's philosophy and history came as great boons to the king's reign and both Ragnest and King Campania shared a great bond of friendship. During this time, Ragnest also sought to further his learning. So, after returning from a long campaign in a neighboring province he set about searching the courts of the land, purchasing individuals who he believed he could learn from. One of the closest friends he made out of this endeavor was was Tyron, a reputable historian, who shared almost all of Ragnest's outlooks on the contemporary world.

Current
Upon hearing news of the outbreak of civil war, Ragnest's worst nightmares were met. He was both a good friend of the king but also a great ally and friend of the peasantry whom he regarded almost as his family. His only possible option therefore was to leave, accompanied by Tyron, and to hopefully return when the war had subsided.

Other: It is worth noting that homosexuality is frowned upon in Vaolos, hence the 'closeted gay'.