This looks absolutely fascinating - I'm aware you were looking for a small cast so I'm rather hoping I'm not too late to join the party, as it were.
If there were space I'd be looking to roll as perhaps a member of the Guard (Medjay, if we're blurring the epochs together a little - it also sounds rather better than being a bland Guard) or as a scholar/researcher although I fear that may cut across Rune_Alchemist's character a tad.
If nothing else it's given me an urge to go dig out some of my ancient history/myth tomes!
Not much of an update tonight - I've added the Dukedoms. They're rather expansive and are very fragile. In theory the Dukes hold great power but in reality they're not much richer than many Earls and will find it difficult to keep their subjects in line unless the other voluntarily support them.
Hopefully tomorrow I can get some more information about how the starting points system will work. As a flavour:
Each player given a set number of points (1000, as an example. The actual number I'm still working on for balance)
The player then uses these points to allocate to their ruler, the ruler's family and immediate advisors (so reflecting their skills in diplomacy, subterfuge, administration and battle - your ruler may be a mediocre all-rounder but with a skilled council, for example)
Points will also be used to 'upgrade' their holdings - just having a castle/town/monastery means little. Players can 'purchase' aspects of them (is the 'castle' just a palisade on top of a hill with a hall or is it a stone bastion? Is the town a large village with a stone church or is it a hub of commerce with a decent population? Is the monastery ruled by an abbot or a Bishop and is it wealthy enough to be important?)
Finally, your starting troops will be relatively standard but will be influenced by the holdings your realm has, what upgrades you've chosen and the skill of your leader and their advisors.
This will give us a framework within which to decide events where conflict arrives but a great deal will depend on posting - I'm still toying with the idea of allocating 'tipping point' scores in the event where a conflict is fairly even based on quality of posts. I'm mostly thinking of this when against 'NPC' rulers rather than players but it'd be good if it weren't merely a numbers game.
I've updated the OP with a list of potential Earldoms and the holdings they have by default.
I've also tidied it up a little to show what I plan to introduce to the RP (big ideas) and a little flavour for how managing your small realm will work.
Welcome to The Throneless Kingdom! This is an RP set in England during a medieval period which has deviated from our historical timeline. As per history, William the Conqueror defeated Harold of Wessex at the Battle of Hastings, 1066, and took the throne of England. He then went on to die in 1087 and this is where our history deviates from our own timeline. There was no planned succession and the realm descended into chaos, rival families vying to expand their lands or just hold onto what they had already gained. And of course, for the most ambitious, the throne of England awaits for someone suitable to claim it. In this age where legitimate claims mean little and are tenuous at best anyone could claim the throne but only the most powerful and respected can hold it.
Players will take control of a noble family, of their own creation or one based loosely on historical fact, and set their own goal. Will they merely try to survive? Will they seek to expand their lands without upsetting the more powerful Dukes who fight on much loftier planes or will they seek to claim the ultimate prize - the throne of England?
There are a very few who have legitimate claims to the throne and it is up to players to decide whether they will support one such leader or avoid the greater conflict - and of course, should their chosen leader be defeated, a player may wish to quickly change allegiances to avoid the consequences of backing the wrong family.
On the horizon conflict is brewing far away in the Middle East with successive Popes having done nothing to support the Greek Emperor in Constantinople but that may soon change. More immediately, the French king eyes lands in Normandy formerly considered part of his demesne and may attempt to retake them at any point or even go for the much larger prize of England in its entirety.
The 'History'
Seventy years on from the Conqueror's death, England is still in a state of disarray. Several powerful Dukes and even some lesser Lords claim the title of King of England for themselves, none recognised by the others and constantly attempting to established the legitimacy of their claim. Others have abandoned the idea of a united England and have taken up the ancient Kingdoms that made up England, Dukes in the North of England claiming the ancient Kingdom of Northumbria and the newly formed Kingdom of Lancaster as their own. They keep to themselves, mostly, but keep a wary eye on the struggles further South; they look for an opportunity to expand their lands or even take up the more desirable title of King of England.
Alongside this the Saxons rebel against their Norman Conquerors often, chafing under the cruel reign of their relatively new Lords who cannot and will not protect them from the raids of their rivals. Although several generations have passed few have forgotten that it was not long since a Saxon King sat on the throne and fugitive descendants of Saxon Earls still hide amongst the peasantry and foment rebellion, some with foreign backing.
Across the border in Wales, the Britons who consider themselves the original residents of the British Isles raid into the English border counties. They are unorganised with no leader and their own internal conflicts but such an opportunity to retake their lands from the Saxons and the Normans will not be ignored for much longer.
Further North the Scots also raid into the border counties but they still struggle against the Viking descendants who inhabit the far reaches of their ancient Kingdom and do not have the ability to organise any significant invasion into England as of yet.
Below are some very much work in progress bits and pieces as I sort through my notes and formulate it into a way that is clear on the site. Please contribute if you any ideas/thoughts/critiques.
Mechanics Currently in the Works
Wealth/points system to create balance but also reflect gains made and allow tangible progress.
Battle mechanics based on troop numbers, morale, leadership/tactics/terrain and also luck.
List of pre-set events that could be triggered at any point, individually or at once, based on dice rolls (some affected all players such as invasion from another country or a general peasant revolt, others only affecting certain players such as local epidemics).
'Big Player' information to show who the real movers and shakers are in the realm.
Powerful 'Dukes'
(Someone knowledgeable about the period will no doubt wish to point out that Dukes did not exist in England until about three centuries after this - thankfully this is an alternate history so we can do what we like here).
The below Dukes claim rulership over large stretches of land but their hold is loose as they lack the strength and legitimacy to retain proper control. They expect the Earls/Counts underneath them to pay homage but are unlikely to immediately punish those who refuse (but they will certainly seek to make an example of any 'rebel' Earls when possible, whether through military action or less honourable methods).
Duke of Northumbria - York, Northumbria, Cumberland and Leicester. Duke of Mercia - Derby, Chester, Shrewsbury, Warwick Duke of Wessex - Buckingham, Bedford, Devon, Cornwall Duke of Gloucester - Hereford, Gloucester, Somerset Duke of Kent - Kent, Surrey, Sussex Duke of Middlesex - East Anglia, Middlesex (London), Essex.
Titles (WIP)
The titles below show the generic regions that someone may choose to rule over. As is clear, some have certain advantages over others and from a balance perspective may appear unfair. There are, however, factors to take into account. For example, York as an Earldom appears to be wildly stronger than others in terms of the holdings the Earl/Comte/Count would have access to but the Harrying of the North and a particularly unruly mix of Danish/Saxon populace could make it a particularly dangerous place for a Norman to live in.
By and large the general idea for the holdings is that a Castle gives you a defensible position and Household troops (the individually strongest of your troops and your 'standing army' as it were), a city provides you with Militia and also your conscripts. A monastery will provided you with both some conscripts but will act mostly as a morale booster - if your local clergy are hostile you may find the local populace are likely to rebel. On the other hand, if you are on good terms with the local clergy you will receive boosts to troop morale, recruitment numbers and possibly even additional income.
There will be variations - not all Castles are built the same, not all cities and monasteries/bishoprics are the same. This is where I plan to introduce a 'points' system - every player will have a starting number of points to allocate to their holdings and this amount will be uniform so where you invest them will determine your strengths/weaknesses. As time goes on you will gain points (or wealth) and be able to further invest them - random events may also grant you boons (or go against you) also.
Bedford - Bedford Castle, Hertford (town), St Albans (bishopric)
York - York Castle/Town/Archbishopric, Scarborough (town) (NOTE: Richmond, although originally part of Yorkshire was split off into a separate Earldom with Richmond Castle/Town and was considered a great honour to be given, as well as being a wealthy region).
Family/House Name
Family members and relations (Family Tree - if you're up to it)
Lands/Titles (Most will start off holding Earldoms or Baronies rather than Dukedoms or large swathes of land)
Culture (Norman or a lucky Saxon who escaped the purge?)
Military (How many soldiers do you have? Made up of Household (professional) troops - perhaps as many as 80 men but you'll be poor after paying them. Local militia (semi-professional) - you'll be paying them a small sum to train and be organised but this will not be their main occupation. They may also act as a town watch. Conscripts (formerly known as the fyrd by the Saxons, simply farmers armed with whatever tools of war they could find) - these you may, or may not, pay depending on how much you wish to risk a mutiny.
History
A brief history of the family and how they got to where they are immediately (most coming across with the Conqueror and being lucky enough to gain lands)
Relations
Do they follow a more senior lord or have an alliance, whether binding or not, with one of similar rank? Any marriage alliances?
@Nightwing95 It would be the latter. Foreign nations will rarely get involved directly. You might control an entire House or just one family, for example.
As I consider the scale of this and my planned plotline, I believe it will be better off as a nation RP. I think that will give my fellow RPers more to do than just being in de facto support roles.
I've updated the OP with some more information - unfortunately both times I've been doing this after work/shortly before bed so it is far less eloquent, and perhaps coherent, than I would have liked.
This is just an interest check, mind, and as it is an 'alternate history' RP all I'm aiming for is a classic medieval based political and military struggle for survival and power without magic being involved (for a change).
Welcome to The Throneless Kingdom! This is an RP set in England during a medieval period which has deviated from our historical timeline. We follow the story of a fictional noble family with lands in the English Midlands and their struggle to survive, and perhaps prosper, in the middle of chaos. Players will control the head of the family's immediate advisors - the Captain of the household troops, the spymaster, the local Bishop, the Chancellor (and any other credible suggestions). I will (sometimes privately) feed information at times to those inhabiting these roles and leave you all to decide what you will do this information and how your characters will act to further their own interests alongside the family's.
The twist? The world is not as history remembers it - after William the Conqueror died the throne did not pass to William Rufus and no true King of England has succeeded him. In our story the first Norman King had no heirs and planned no succession resulting in a power struggle for the throne.
I am not expecting everyone to have intense historical knowledge of this period - the benefit of an Alternate History is that a deal of flexibility is allowable. I would ask that anyone expressing interest have (or research) a general knowledge of medieval culture, technology and maybe just check out a map of England to see where's where. I can provide any information to fill in gaps but I'd rather avoid situations where conflicts arise from a post which is wildly inaccurate for the period.
Once there's enough interest I'll type up the specific details I have down which will add some more meat to the framework above.
The 'History'
Seventy years on from the Conqueror's death, England is still in a state of disarray. Several powerful Dukes and even some lesser Lords claim the title of King of England for themselves, none recognised by the others and constantly attempting to established the legitimacy of their claim. Others have abandoned the idea of a united England and have taken up the ancient Kingdoms that made up England, Dukes in the North of England claiming the ancient Kingdom of Northumbria and the newly formed Kingdom of Lancaster as their own. They keep to themselves, mostly, but keep a wary eye on the struggles further South; they look for an opportunity to expand their lands or even take up the more desirable title of King of England.
Alongside this the Saxons rebel against their Norman Conquerors often, chafing under the cruel reign of the Lords who cannot and will not protect them from the raids of their rivals. Although several generations have passed few have forgotten that it was not long since a Saxon King sat on the throne and fugitive descendants of Saxon Earls still hide amongst the peasantry and foment rebellion.
Across the border in Wales, the Britons who consider themselves the original residents of the British Isles raid into the English border counties. They are unorganised with no leader and their own internal conflicts but such an opportunity to retake their lands from the Saxons and the Normans will not be ignored for much longer.
Further North the Scots also raid into the border counties but they still struggle against the Viking descendants who inhabit the far reaches of their ancient Kingdom and do not have the ability to organise any significant invasion into England as of yet.
The Detail
As briefly mentioned above, the plot of this RP will focus on one noble family and their struggles to survive/prosper.
The specifics of this matter are that the current family head, Guillaume d'Avranches married one of the surviving children of Harold Godwinson, the King of England killed at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Gunhild Haroldson (or Gunhild of Wessex) was only eleven at the time of her father's death but her betrothal was quickly arranged to Guillaume to prevent a Saxon Lord gaining any ties to the throne. As a result, Guillaume's only offspring, a daughter by the name of Eleanor, has a very tenuous claim to the English throne.
The family do not have enough power or allies to press this claim but the existence of it has made them a potential threat, or tool, for others and they must step very carefully just to retain their current position. Guillaume holds the title of Earl of Gloucester and his household retinue consists of ninety men, courtesy of the relative affluence of the city of Gloucester. He can, of course, raise troops locally but they will merely be peasants wielding weapons they have little to no training to use.
Players will control characters in specific roles. Those below are just some examples and I am more than happy to entertain any suggestions, these are just to give an idea:
Captain of the Household troops - Guillaume's lead retainer who is both his military advisor and responsible for security of the family and their modest castle (which is still under construction)
Steward - manages diplomatic niceties. The steward will be the administrator who ensures that guests are suitable entertained and that any festivities go off without a hitch. They will also be aware of the Castle's general needs and requirements. In this scenario the role of steward will also include advising on diplomacy and keeping up to date with events in the country and feed the required information to the Lord when necessary.
Spymaster - self explanatory. While the steward will have access to information widely known as well as some high-level gossip, the spymaster will often be in the field personally to find out the enemy's dirty secrets. They'll have a better idea of how things are on the ground, amongst the serfs and in times of war may be required to enact some subterfuge, such as destroying enemy supply lines.
Bishop - although unable to draw blood, bishops during these tumultuous times were often war leaders in their own right. The Bishop of Durham was famed for riding into combat with a mace against Scottish invaders many times. Aside from this they were of course influential amongst the priesthood who ministered to the local populace and could spread, or stop, certain ideas or news. They were also well connected and could be a useful source of information for a Lord whom they were willing to advise.
