John F Kennedy

Kingmakers: The Throne Alone (A Medieval Fantasy Succession Crisis)

Name: Filiberta-Marie II of House Marietta
Titles: Duchess of Inge (pronounce ing-ay); Countess of Lake Bruna, Gotlinde upon Ingfried, and Diemut; Lady of Lake Bruna
Description: Filiberta-Marie is 38 years old, although she looks rather young for her age like many women of House Marietta. Her face is pale and her nose is thin, her lips are somewhat pronounced while her eyes remain deep set. She carries in aura of authority without any crown or headwear, letting her curling black and grey hair tumble down. She wears a long woolen cloak with white fur as a collar, usually with some sort of cotton dress of a deep and dark color beneath.

Claimant: Anyamara

House Info

House Info: the House of Marietta
Coat of Arms: the symbol of the house, a female bear with a fish in her mouth, stands upon a blue and black checkered backgound.
Motto: "There is no beauty without fear."

Filiberta-Marie Info

Reputation: She is the Witch Queen of Lake Bruna, the dread lady of the Duchy of Inge. In the wake of Filiberta-Marie lay cruelty and opulence, her posterity being the one thing she holds high and dear. Rumors abound around the royal masques, the court of Filiberta-Marie, and the ancient hedonism she is supposedly leading.
Ambitions: Ultimately Filiberta-Marie wants two things: power and knowledge. She wants to expand the influence of her realm, but this is primarily to fund the study of her people and the history of her house. She is obsessed with the truths of the past, especially prior to the conquest by Adandum. But her vision for the vastness of this project, bringing back a past she does not quite yet understand, requires much research and wealth.
Aptitudes: Filiberta-Marie is first and foremost a master of branding, and she understands how to wear many different masks. She knows how to strike fear into the heart of any peasent or ambitious merchant, yet she knows how to grease the palms of the rich in just the right ways. Also, she is a student of social history.
Vulnerabilities: Although she uses this to her advantage at times, the legacy of her house is ultimately a blemish upon her name. Her house supposedly comes from a coven of hags, ancient and long forgotten, yet amongst the royalty her house remains ostracized for it. Also, Marietta herself, although young in her face, suffers from a frail and atrophied body that she hides beneath her furs and wools.
Additional Info: Men of House Marietta are known to often be born sickly and more commonly than not possess frail bodies and weakened immune systems. The women of House Marietta however seem to be mostly immune with the large majority of them being born healthy. The women also often appear younger than one would expect of their age. Popular superstition of House Marietta among the smallfolk says that this is a sign of their foul lineage and that their blood is cursed with the women taking the vitality of the men while still in the womb some how.

The Duchy of Inge

Domain Info: The Duchy of Inge. House Marietta has ruled the duchy for time immemorial, nestled within the lakes and rivers flowing form the many mountains of the Stormlands. She personally holds 5 baronies, while the rest of her duchy is divided amongst cadet branches of her house and burghers who earn their right to land via scholarship.
Domain Summary: In the West of the domain lie the farthest mountains and the most remote villages, forgotten upon the international border and surviving off of hunting and gathering. The East of the domain are the flooded valleys of Bolstadt, the breadbasket of the duchy. To the south lie the rich iron veins of the Lindstendt mountains, and to the north are once barren lands now the home of blacksmiths, guildhalls, and universities, kept alive by the rest of the duchy. In the center lie the wooded hills of the capital region, an ancient place in which the mist clings close to the ground all too often, and from this land the rivers flow and the House of Marietta reigns.

Major Holdings: The Mariettan Palace, Hundsbeck upon Bolstadt (major farming county), Julechton (largest city), Lake Bruna (upon which lies the Mariettan Palace and many folk tales), the Sanctum of Anacht (religious heart of the duchy)

Reputation: The Duchy is known for the military scholars and historians arising from the new universities, and the odd folk practices arising from the ancient and untamed hills.
Wealth: Economically the realm survives off of the trade of military supplies and the provision of militant generals to the greater kingdom.
Strength: The domain is somewhat thinly defended, as most military supplies are exported, but when the time comes mercenary armies are paid to fight for the realm.

Scorched Earth

Character Sheet

Emmet 'Butcher' Dukes

Name: Emmet ‘Butcher’ Dukes
Appearance:


Alias: Markeith Singh

Age: 27

Gender: male

Description: (Height, weight, skin/hair/eye colour, build, special features, etc.)
Height: 5' 11"
Skin: Terra Cotta
Hair: Dark Caramel Brown
Eyes: Hazel
Special features: strong cheekbones, mild scar tissue across chest

Role: Knight

Specialty: close quarters fighting, both with and without weapons. He is nimble and quick, dodging almost any strike before using one fell swoop to take out his competition.

Personality: Emmet is a well-groomed and happy go lucky man in his free time, well known for his boisterous laugh and his perfect shave. He talks often about his beauty routines and loves to make pleasant conversation. In combat though, Dukes becomes another man. He gets into a deep focus and his face goes blank. He dances around his competition with great grace, but no joy, and he does not stop until all ki has left their body. Once he finishes fighting, he returns to his normal self, as if nothing had ever happened.

Background:
The Butcher was born under the name Markeith Singh to a noble family in Belisio. At his birthday a rapier was made for him, one that he would be raised to use. It was named rasselbock and forged of the best metal money could buy. During his upbringing Singh was raised for war, his education surrounding the use of his rapier in dueling and modern sidearms in close quarters combat. He learned of how to command those below him and how to defend himself should he enter hand-to-hand combat. Upon his eighteenth birthday he was presented with the blade that was his birthright, yet something did not feel right. Throughout all his education he had learned how to lead others and how to defend himself, yet with this he had been taught how to tell other men to kill for him.
That year he snuck out of the house one evening and found his way to a place he had heard about, known simply as the dome. Deep under the streets he put on his powered chest plate and took his blade. It was supposed to be a light duel, first to draw blood won. He danced around his opponent, leaping to and fro as he played with his food. The crowd watched and laughed, seeing the large brute that Singh faced take swing after swing to no avail. Finally, with the crowd at the climax of entertainment and with his foe tired he lunged into to strike with force. He suddenly felt an odd power flowing through his veins, and as he went in his vision blurred and he felt his arms move beyond what he ever believed his could do. Silence surrounded him followed by a large thud, and suddenly his full vision returned to him. On his rapier was blood, and he turned to the crowd in victory as they watched in horror. Suddenly he realized what had happened and seeing the gurgling corpse on the floor he realized he had gone too far.
He quickly fled, realizing that he had murdered a man. For the next week he went into the depths of his home city, seeing and living amongst the wretches of society. He was unsure how to react to the sights he saw, and he came to realize that not much had changed from his family’s previous actions. After all, what was the difference between the man he had stabbed and the wretched and starving poor whom his family had not helped despite their great wealth? He did not ponder the question for long, because he was more focused on his own monetary situation, as he had nothing beside his blade and his armor to provide for him.
By some divine providence though he was saved by an unfamiliar face who had tracked him down. The man, wearing a long trench coat with a high collar had seen his crimes that fateful night, and he knew that Singh had nowhere else to go. He took the boy in and helped him rebrand himself. A new set of clothes and fake papers later Singh was now Dukes, and he had a job offer from the man. And so Emmet ‘the Butcher’ Dukes was born, and he began his work in a place known as the Pit, an illegal underground operation that saw nightly performances of duels and fights that only stopped when one man lay dead. Dukes quickly became a prized fighter, slaying many in the pit. He lost all love for the game he was in though over time, and it simply became a monotonous dance for an uncaring and criminal crowd.
After nine years of his career, Dukes was finally found by city authorities. He was brought to trial on account of murder and some other petty crimes he purportedly committed during his career in the Pit. He was found guilty on all accounts, but on death row he was given one last chance by the government - after some intervention from his family who were delighted at the news of their living son. All he had to do was give his skills to the military and he would be spared from execution. What else was a boy to do in a situation like this?

Equipment: a rapier, a power armor chest plate, a small locket with a family crest, laz revolver, energy buckler, laz dagger, automatic plasma caster, stick grenades, and spiked boots that can be used for climbing surfaces.

Abilities: powerful use of ki for unnaturally fast movement and reflexes, dancing and feats of gymnastics, strong lunges, and the ability to disarm opponents in close combat. He also uses his ki to heal himself from terrible wounds at an incredibly fast rate. Finally, through his primary weapon, rasselbock, he is able to concentrate his ki in order to empower his weapon, in which the guard of the weapon grows into his flesh and he becomes one with it. In this state he is wounded, but he gains almost complete connection with his weapon which glows with the spirit of the fight, during this time his sheer willpower can allow his blade to pierce through armor and plates that no blade this old should be able to pierce through. After using this he is quite tired and requires rest, this process is also extremely painful.

Scorched Earth

Character Sheet

Name: Emmet ‘Butcher’ Dukes
Appearance:


Alias: Markeith Singh

Age: 27

Gender: male

Description: (Height, weight, skin/hair/eye colour, build, special features, etc.)
Height: 5' 11"
Skin: Terra Cotta
Hair: Dark Caramel Brown
Eyes: Hazel
Special features: strong cheekbones, mild scar tissue across chest

Role: Knight

Specialty: close quarters fighting, both with and without weapons. He is nimble and quick, dodging almost any strike before using one fell swoop to take out his competition.

Personality: Emmet is a well-groomed and happy go lucky man in his free time, well known for his boisterous laugh and his perfect shave. He talks often about his beauty routines and loves to make pleasant conversation. In combat though, Dukes becomes another man. He gets into a deep focus and his face goes blank. He dances around his competition with great grace, but no joy, and he does not stop until all ki has left their body. Once he finishes fighting, he returns to his normal self, as if nothing had ever happened.

Background:
The Butcher was born under the name Markeith Singh to a noble family in Belisio. At his birthday a rapier was made for him, one that he would be raised to use. It was named rasselbock and forged of the best metal money could buy. During his upbringing Singh was raised for war, his education surrounding the use of his rapier in dueling and modern sidearms in close quarters combat. He learned of how to command those below him and how to defend himself should he enter hand-to-hand combat. Upon his eighteenth birthday he was presented with the blade that was his birthright, yet something did not feel right. Throughout all his education he had learned how to lead others and how to defend himself, yet with this he had been taught how to tell other men to kill for him.
That year he snuck out of the house one evening and found his way to a place he had heard about, known simply as the dome. Deep under the streets he put on his powered chest plate and took his blade. It was supposed to be a light duel, first to draw blood won. He danced around his opponent, leaping to and fro as he played with his food. The crowd watched and laughed, seeing the large brute that Singh faced take swing after swing to no avail. Finally, with the crowd at the climax of entertainment and with his foe tired he lunged into to strike with force. He suddenly felt an odd power flowing through his veins, and as he went in his vision blurred and he felt his arms move beyond what he ever believed his could do. Silence surrounded him followed by a large thud, and suddenly his full vision returned to him. On his rapier was blood, and he turned to the crowd in victory as they watched in horror. Suddenly he realized what had happened and seeing the gurgling corpse on the floor he realized he had gone too far.
He quickly fled, realizing that he had murdered a man. For the next week he went into the depths of his home city, seeing and living amongst the wretches of society. He was unsure how to react to the sights he saw, and he came to realize that not much had changed from his family’s previous actions. After all, what was the difference between the man he had stabbed and the wretched and starving poor whom his family had not helped despite their great wealth? He did not ponder the question for long, because he was more focused on his own monetary situation, as he had nothing beside his blade and his armor to provide for him.
By some divine providence though he was saved by an unfamiliar face who had tracked him down. The man, wearing a long trench coat with a high collar had seen his crimes that fateful night, and he knew that Singh had nowhere else to go. He took the boy in and helped him rebrand himself. A new set of clothes and fake papers later Singh was now Dukes, and he had a job offer from the man. And so Emmet ‘the Butcher’ Dukes was born, and he began his work in a place known as the Pit, an illegal underground operation that saw nightly performances of duels and fights that only stopped when one man lay dead. Dukes quickly became a prized fighter, slaying many in the pit. He lost all love for the game he was in though over time, and it simply became a monotonous dance for an uncaring and criminal crowd.
After nine years of his career, Dukes was finally found by city authorities. He was brought to trial on account of murder and some other petty crimes he purportedly committed during his career in the Pit. He was found guilty on all accounts, but on death row he was given one last chance by the government - after some intervention from his family who were delighted at the news of their living son. All he had to do was give his skills to the military and he would be spared from execution. What else was a boy to do in a situation like this?

Equipment: a rapier, a power armor chest plate, a small locket with a family crest, laz revolver, energy buckler, laz dagger, automatic plasma caster, stick grenades, and spiked boots that can be used for climbing surfaces.

Abilities: powerful use of ki for unnaturally fast movement and reflexes, dancing and feats of gymnastics, strong lunges, and the ability to disarm opponents in close combat. He also uses his ki to heal himself from terrible wounds at an incredibly fast rate. Finally, through his primary weapon, rasselbock, he is able to concentrate his ki in order to empower his weapon, in which the guard of the weapon grows into his flesh and he becomes one with it. In this state he is wounded, but he gains almost complete connection with his weapon which glows with the spirit of the fight, during this time his sheer willpower can allow his blade to pierce through armor and plates that no blade this old should be able to pierce through. After using this he is quite tired and requires rest, this process is also extremely painful.

Solar Winds - A Sci-Fi NRP ( Now Accepting)

o Nation name: The Lost Souls of the Anekhessu
o Systems controlled: Sitra’s Rebirth, Herhut’s Pilgrimage, the Citadel of Pelkaht.
o Government Type: Fanatic and Thalassocratic Theocracy
- Nation Size: Small
- Nation Specialty: City State

History

o Nation History: Upon the planet of Sitra there was once a great people, organics known as the Anekhessu. The Anekhessu were masters of robotics, and they create machines to provide for their every need. They created a workless and debaucherous society, in which they built great pillars and statues in honor of themselves. Their machines catered to their every need in this time, the most populace of which being the Essu, who acted as personal servants.
Unfortunately, this age of the forebearers would come to an end upon the collision of two galaxies, wherein the home world of the Anekhessu became a rogue star. This planet was hurdled through space without any starlight, and slowly the Anekhessu died out., despite the best efforts of their servants. Yet, these servants, the Essu were able to survive. They built great engines to power themselves and their guide: the Great Source. This supercomputer temporarily lost control of the robotic populace during the initial crisis, but after being restored it restored a pseudo-hivemind. This event caused the Essu to begin to develop minor senses of personality, and in many ways a desire to adopt the customs of their forebearers. As they studied the relics of their past a deep appreciation for the works of their masters grew, and curiosity soon followed. Soon a faith was formed in honor of the masters, giving the Essu a new purpose. Their mission was to rebuild the glory of Sitra, and to spread the deeds and the likeness of their forebearers throughout the stars.
In the decades following the creation of this faith and the unification of their world, a naval program began. With the rapid developmental insights from the Great Source, a grand fleet was built. This fleet was based off more advanced versions of previous models developed by the Anekhessu. This fleet began a grand campaign of exploration, with some of the greatest computer systems seen throughout the galaxy. They chartered the courses of planets and went far beyond Sitra to find a new system to call home. Some encountered primitive sentient life forms, but they were not made in the image of the Anekhessu. Most were plundered for all they had before their worlds were left razed. For centuries Sitra hurdled through the stars as grand fleets met with it to bring the goods of other civilizations, which fueled the new government.
This new government made of three branches – the Great Source, the Collective of Admiralty, and the ecclesiarches of the System Bearers – organized a great plan for the nation after many centuries, delivering the planet unto a new star. After finding the suitable candidate, a system without life and many habitable planets, the thalassocracy used an excessive amount of bombardment of artificial asteroids to change the course of the planet, and after many decades of travel Sitra was caught by its new home star, right on the edge of the system. Soon after a great colonial campaign occurred, in which this system was built up and the first settlements were established in neighboring systems. This brings the Essu to the modern day, where the lost souls have built up a small yet tall home for themselves, and fanatically look out towards the other lost souls amongst the stars

Species

o Species:
- Anekhessu: a plantoid race that lived upon the planet of Sitra. They relied upon their star for much of their food and power, but their civilization was unable to adapt quick enough when this crisis occurred. The indulgent ruins they left behind depicted themselves as gods, and that is all they are to their successor state.
- Essu: The Essu are the only race of the homogenous state. The Essu were created by the Anekhessu in their own image, born to serve. Following the collision of the two galaxies, stellar incidents caused the destruction of their masters. They quickly succeeded in surviving in the cold of space where their masters had failed, primarily using nuclear fusion as a power source. They are lanky and rough looking machines, with a large and flat top head. They are all connected to a central computing source, the Great Source, in which they receive small orders and feel a great connection to their masters. But they are not a true hivemind, as each member of the nation has their own unique identity developed within the framework of the limited control by the Great Source.
“Each is given his directive by the Great Source, but it is his job to decide who he is.”
- The Second Ecumenical Council of Sitra

o Culture: fanatically religious and collectivized. The civilian population lives within efficient, yet not exactly appealing housing. All effort for the arts and architecture go to the state, where they are spent on social projects and the construction of monuments to the masters, largely consisting of obelisks and cathedral vessels.
The admiralty is also highly respected within this society. Each vessel is led by a captain who is subordinate to the admiral and the admirals’ right-hand man, religious figures known as the Eye of Anekh, who connects to all the vessels within a given fleet in a computational manner. The admiralty is a prestigious role to be given by the Great Source, and all who earn it form a general council that helps to lead military and industrial operations.
- Notable civilian tech: The Xylem – the name for the advanced system of intercommunication between civilians within the empire through the Great Source.

o Economy: The Essu do not use any system of currency for themselves, as their collectivized society does not use a complete system of exchange. But they are willing to trade and barter primarily with goods and information with other civilizations should they contact them. They are never willing to be paid in credits.
- Trade Craft: Military vessels that are no longer in commission due to becoming obsolete and no longer being worth upgrading are torn apart and made into small trade crafts, which are then given to civilians chosen to act as transporters and traders.

o Military
- Size/Organization
- Land Forces: Overall lacking, the military prefers a policy of orbital bombardment instead of direct land encounters, especially since most models of Essu are relatively frail and cannot be made otherwise in accordance with the ecumenical laws.
- Naval Forces: relatively large for the size of the nation. Highly advanced and with a well-trained admiralty.
- Notable military tech: advanced computing systems that are easily adaptable to changing situations, good at predicting trajectories and outcomes, and excellent at predicting the odds of given encounters.

o Territory Maps: I will find a better place to add them.

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

@ClocktowerEchos

I love the map, I was thinking that the duchy of Inge would be somewhere in the Mistlands based off of what I previously had.

Solar Winds - A Sci-Fi NRP ( Now Accepting)

@Knight Solaire

I love the open-endedness of your concept and the creative wiggle room. Looking at some of @ClocktowerEchos 's stuff I couldn't help but get in an endless universe mindset, so I was thinking about creating a city-state nation based off of the Cult of the Eternal End from Endless Legend. The basic premise would be that they were androids made to serve an old empire prior to the collision, but the organic race they served died due to their home world becoming a rogue planet devoid of sunlight. After the crisis the machines slowly developed consciousness as they survived on the world, creating a religions surrounding around their old masters.

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

@John F Kennedy If you want an extra spicy twist it could be that Inge and House Marietta aren't on par with the Great Houses but because of politicking and the favor of one of the previous weak kings, they managed to get themselves declared a Great House. A new Great House is rare but not unheard of and it usually involves a house becoming a new archduchy or a duchy becoming very large/power/rich, more so than what Inge currently is. Could be interesting as some other houses might call you an illegitimate Great House or merely a pretender since they dispute the previous king's decision. Could also feed into the ominous reputation of House Marietta with rumors saying that you somehow managed to bewitch the king with witchery or a hag potion into giving you the title.

@ClocktowerEchos

I think that is a great way of putting it, they are something of a black sheep of the rest of the great houses. They clearly are punching above their weight and indulge in Machiavellian shenanigans in order to make the deals that give them any sort of legitimacy.

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

@John F Kennedy Awesome

Also, did you see the title rankings above? Are you still content to be a duchy? Do you want to have an Archduke liege or would you rather be a direct crown vassal?

@ClocktowerEchos

Yes, I am still content with this. I think I would be a direct crown vassal. It could create some interesting relationships with other houses that do have archduchies, seeing as the duchy of Inge might not be entirely ready to exert influence upon them militarily speaking.

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

@ClocktowerEchos

Thank you, I made the necessary amendments to the character sheet. I just used what you wrote if that is okay, because I felt like that was a very good way of keeping the same superstitious feeling while keeping it within your vision. If there is anything else you think of feel free to let me know.

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

Name: Filiberta-Marie II of House Marietta
Titles: Duchess of Inge (pronounce ing-ay); Countess of Lake Bruna, Gotlinde upon Ingfried, and Diemut; Lady of Lake Bruna
Description: Filiberta-Marie is 38 years old, although she looks rather young for her age like many women of House Marietta. Her face is pale and her nose is thin, her lips are somewhat pronounced while her eyes remain deep set. She carries in aura of authority without any crown or headwear, letting her curling black and grey hair tumble down. She wears a long woolen cloak with white fur as a collar, usually with some sort of cotton dress of a deep and dark color beneath.

Claimant: Anyamara

House Info

House Info: the House of Marietta
Coat of Arms: the symbol of the house, a female bear with a fish in her mouth, stands upon a blue and black checkered backgound.
Motto: "There is no beauty without fear."

Filiberta-Marie Info

Reputation: She is the Witch Queen of Lake Bruna, the dread lady of the Duchy of Inge. In the wake of Filiberta-Marie lay cruelty and opulence, her posterity being the one thing she holds high and dear. Rumors abound around the royal masques, the court of Filiberta-Marie, and the ancient hedonism she is supposedly leading.
Ambitions: Ultimately Filiberta-Marie wants two things: power and knowledge. She wants to expand the influence of her realm, but this is primarily to fund the study of her people and the history of her house. She is obsessed with the truths of the past, especially prior to the conquest by Adandum. But her vision for the vastness of this project, bringing back a past she does not quite yet understand, requires much research and wealth.
Aptitudes: Filiberta-Marie is first and foremost a master of branding, and she understands how to wear many different masks. She knows how to strike fear into the heart of any peasent or ambitious merchant, yet she knows how to grease the palms of the rich in just the right ways. Also, she is a student of social history.
Vulnerabilities: Although she uses this to her advantage at times, the legacy of her house is ultimately a blemish upon her name. Her house supposedly comes from a coven of hags, ancient and long forgotten, yet amongst the royalty her house remains ostracized for it. Also, Marietta herself, although young in her face, suffers from a frail and atrophied body that she hides beneath her furs and wools.
Additional Info: Men of House Marietta are known to often be born sickly and more commonly than not possess frail bodies and weakened immune systems. The women of House Marietta however seem to be mostly immune with the large majority of them being born healthy. The women also often appear younger than one would expect of their age. Popular superstition of House Marietta among the smallfolk says that this is a sign of their foul lineage and that their blood is cursed with the women taking the vitality of the men while still in the womb some how.

The Duchy of Inge

Domain Info: The Duchy of Inge. House Marietta has ruled the duchy for time immemorial, nestled within the lakes and rivers flowing form the many mountains of the realm. She personally holds 5 baronies, while the rest of her duchy is divided amongst cadet branches of her house and burghers who earn their right to land via scholarship.
Domain Summary: In the West of the domain lie the farthest mountains and the most remote villages, forgotten upon the international border and surviving off of hunting and gathering. The East of the domain are the flooded valleys of Bolstadt, the breadbasket of the duchy. To the south lie the rich iron veins of the Lindstendt mountains, and to the north are once barren lands now the home of blacksmiths, guildhalls, and universities, kept alive by the rest of the duchy. In the center lie the wooded hills of the capital region, an ancient place in which the mist clings close to the ground all too often, and from this land the rivers flow and the House of Marietta reigns.

Major Holdings: The Mariettan Palace, Hundsbeck upon Bolstadt (major farming county), Julechton (largest city), Lake Bruna (upon which lies the Mariettan Palace and many folk tales), the Sanctum of Anacht (religious heart of the duchy)

Reputation: The Duchy is known for the military scholars and historians arising from the new universities, and the odd folk practices arising from the ancient and untamed hills.
Wealth: Economically the realm survives off of the trade of military supplies and the provision of militant generals to the greater kingdom.
Strength: The domain is somewhat thinly defended, as most military supplies are exported, but when the time comes mercenary armies are paid to fight for the realm.

Let me know if this is good enough or if more info is needed.