Teluval, or Fare Telu in the common language is a city built upon the ..
Magic & Summoning
When a spellcaster wishes to perform a magical act, they are inviting creatures and beings from other planes to step into our own world, often malicious and evil. For this reason, spells are carefully constructed to create a desired effect and then send the being back to its own dimension.
Sample Magics:
Baal A leather-winged demon from a plane of fire, Baal's magic is concerned with growing, shrinking, withering and multiplying.
Baphomet A horned goat demon from some fiery hell-plane, Baphomet is not to be trifled with. Surprisingly Baphomets magics are not concerned with fire, but rather binding and loosing.
Belphagor Not much is known about Belphagor, but its magic is used for obscuring, hiding, revealing, or locating.
Mammon An enormous giant from a distant plane, the magic of Mammon concerns wealth, money, prosperity and possibly luck.
The wizard, Bargle, paced nervously alongside the Blackoak Rill and tossing small pebbles into the water. Some of them skipped and skidded while others dipped under the water with a loud plop!.
"Where is he!?" muttered the wizard, pulling up his long purple robes, which kept snagging and catching on twigs and rocks; hardly the appropriate attire for a trek through the forest. "Fool mercenary! No, no, NO! Fool Bargle! To trust a man who works for coin alone...Bah!"
Bargle threw down his handful of stones in frustration and stopped abruptly. Voices. The wizard stroked his long black beard and squinted his beady eyes. "Just over the ridge...Perhaps I should hide...Maybe it's the mercenary? But I told him to come alone!" Bargle raced towards the tree line, still tripping over his rather large robes. He pulled up the silver trimmed hood to conceal his face as he ducked into the woods and hid behind an enormous black oak tree.
The city of Wolsey had grown over the centuries from a collection of villages and hamlets, river crossings and road-side inns into a thriving capital city. Since 1342, the simple motte and bailey fortification constructed by the ancient Azrekan invaders had grown into a palace of magnificent eloquence, nationalism and enlightened leadership. The great halls extending from the first ring-works were adorned with paintings done by masters across the continent. In the more private chambers and annexes one would find artifacts and oddities from the furthest reaches of the empire-the colonies. It was from these distant shores that vast amounts of resources were culled for the prosperity of the Gilbradian Empire. It was also from these chambers and halls that King Richard Stuart II and the Royal Ministers considered strategy and oversaw the daily operations of the empire...
"His majesty is hardly an idle monarch you see?" the gentleman was saying to a lady of some grace. Minister Peter Richards, sitting beside her adjusted his woolen collar and tugged at his scratchy black coat as he spoke. The lady was Abigail Maynard, the wife of Sir Jeremiah Maynard (the General of the small but effective Gilbradian army), come to meet him for tea once the meeting was complete.
"And you Mr. Richards?" said Abigail coldly. "How is it your presence is not required in the council chambers?" Abigail narrowed her eyes at the minister dressed in black.
Minister Richards smiled automatically, and stopped fidgeting with his clothes. "Your husband is with his Majesty at the moment, my lady. The King prefers to meet with his ministers individually before the full cabinet meeting. In this way I believe he knows the nature of each mans mind before conducting business of the state-" Blackpool stopped suddenly as the doors to the Council chambers opened.
Before the General walked two Royal guards in the dark red and black uniforms of the home guard. They carried sabers in hand and a long stabbing knife or bayonet in their belt. Behind them came Sir Maynard in full military uniform, a much embellished version of the Royal Guards uniform.
"Abby!" said the general eyes gleaming, saber rattling. Blackpool stood and helped the lady to her feet as Sir Maynard greeted the pair.
"Sir Maynard, how was your meeting with-"
"Splendid Peter. Your up next I believe. Hope your on your toes today my dear number cruncher. The King is certainly on his!" Sir Maynards' voice was full and rich, a man of excited personality. He took the arm of his wife and bid farewell to Minister Richards.
A stack of ledgers, charts, papers and notes were stacked several feet high upon the kings desk. Peter Richards entered the room carrying his own heavy stack of documents that reached up to his chin. The minister stood quietly waiting for the king to greet him. He gazed around the room wondering where the ever-present servants had scurried off too. It was quite some time before King Richard Stuart even noticed the Minister, and by that time Peters' legs had begun to ache. Eventually Peter coughed absurdly into his clenched fist to gain the attention of his Majesty.
"Thirsty Peter? There is a pitcher by the window. I sent the servants away. They are quite distracting don't you agree?" said his Majesty.
Peter nodded to his liege and gave a slight bow. "Yes, your majesty," said Richards plainly. "I have the figures for this season if your prepared to review them your kingship?" said Blackpool setting the stack of documents on the desk.
The king nodded and pulled a cord hanging on the wall. A light bell sounded from somewhere beyond the chambers and two clerks dressed in royal red appeared a few moments later and began dissecting the Ministers reports. The King gestured for Peter to take a seat with him by the grand window. Although he had been appointed minister nearly a year ago, Peter was still taken aback by His Majesty's casualness.
The King was silent for a moment, staring out of the enormous window that overlooked the River Walsh. Peter felt himself holding his breathe in nervousness and tried to relax. He began to speak but the king interrupted him.
"Do you know who Wolsey was Mr. Richards?" said the King. Peter shook his head.
"Are you referring to the city or the castle M'lord?" said Peter.
The King smiled. "Neither Peter. Wolsey is from the old Gilbradian tongue. It is a dead language-a relic of our Azrecan ancestry, but it is of interest to me nonetheless. A man should know his roots eh?" said the King smiling.
"It means Wall-Sea, and it refers to this great island nation," the king spoke without looking at Richards, gaze fixed on the river and the city below. "The sea surrounding our country and our colonies. It is a wall. You understand?"
Peter could only nod, not knowing what to say.
"Sir Maynard insists we need to increase the size of our Royal Army. I disagree. I say it is the navy which needs the most support. You and I both know it costs a fortune to maintain a navy. Armies are cheaper of course but are much...riskier. Given the state of the continent I have yet to decide. Admiral Lacy wants more ships-Sir Maynard more battalions. I ask you Sir, can we do both?"
Peter was already pouring over figures in his mind. The King was asking the impossible, and, yes. Yes it was impossible to maintain the caliber fleet the Empire already possessed and increase the Royal Army. "No, my liege. I do not believe so. Unless..." Peter trailed off.
The King grimaced. "The colonies."
Peter agreed. "The colonies sir. You could sell them off or bleed them dry, but might I suggest a recourse?"
"Of course," said the King.
"It is not my place your Majesty, but there exists already adequate armies on the continent. Why should we bleed Gilbradian blood; god forbid it come to that again; when allies might do it in our stead? Speaking it aloud sounds grotesque, but when it comes to the Empire, all must come before it."
"I had considered it Peter. Neutrality may have saved this nation before, perhaps it was the sea and our navy or the tenacity of our people-but the time will come when we must side one way or the other. I have much to think on. My thanks Minister. I shall see you at the full cabinet meeting. You may take your leave."
Peter stood, bowed and left the Royal Chambers. He found himself shaking walking down the halls, having spoke so plainly with the King. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" he said aloud. Odd glances from passing servants silenced the Minister, who would whisper and gossip on the already odd behavior of Minister Peter Richards, the man who sits with monarchs and suggested policy well outside his own expertise to a king!
And yet, Peter could not help but think of his own career and the much coveted knighthood-perhaps a granting of land? Titles? All was possible in the coming years and Peter knew to his very core, that although he would not live to see it, the coming century would change the world in ways no man could anticipate.
His Majesty, King Richard Stuart II, 53 King Richard Stuart II has ruled the Empire since the age of 19, when he ascended the throne after his father passed away at the age of 63. H.M. Stuart is considered a capable, hard-working King who relies on only a handful of ministers to assist in the operation of the Empire. Critics of the King point to his mishandling of the Empires colonies, and the reliance on the Royal Navy and its heavy handed bureaucracy in dealing with Royal possessions.
Minister Peter Richards, 45 The soon-to-be knighted Minister Peter Richards, although considered somewhat of a social outcast has presided over the Royal books with finesse and thoroughness giving Blackpool the notice (and ear) of his Majesty King Richard Stuart II.
Lady Abigail Maynard, 54 Wife of Sir Jeremiah Maynard. Advocate for social progress.
Sir Jeremiah Maynard, 77 General Maynardis descended from a long line of military men, the most notable the famed Malcolm Maynard that repelled _____ invaders in the 15th century at the battle of Squall's End.
EDIT: Changed character names to reflect my nation sheet.
Accepted! And no, you'll be randomly added to the map.
Do you have any aversions to being an Empire, because you have colonies--thus ruling over multiple peoples. You can remain a kingdom if you wish, just a question--as that was the historical standard.
Nope, not a problem. Not sure I'm up for roleplaying a bunch of colonies, however. (Not sure how in-depth the RP narrative goes...)
Brief History The Empire of Gilbadia managed to stay neutral in the most recent continental conflicts. King Richard Stuart has invested heavily in the Royal Navy to protect the commercial fleet. Gilbadia is committed to the success of the Congress of Nations in order to promote economic prosperity. Meanwhile, social grievances coupled with industrial innovation are beginning to fracture a centuries old aristocracy in the Empire. (OOC: meh history. Collaboration would be great)
Bugman
Ladypug
Vampiretwilight
