(As part of the Victorianna Claimant Faction, formerly the Grand Principality of Ironmarch before the peasant rebellion, civil war and finally coup)
NATIONAL
-Capital: High Ironmarch -Largest City(By Population): Holy City of Justinian Requiem -Government Type: (De Jure) Imperial Principality under rule by Somnus Imperium, essentially made hollow by crusader coup and rise of the Theocratic-Stratocratic-Collectivist Victorianna faction. (De Facto)Crusader-State, theocratic-populist leadership of an Apostle/Messiah with a ruling council of religious, peasant and crusader figures, Its guiding ideology is a kind of Theocratic-Populism with communist undertones. Nearly all feudalism has been eradicated following the absorption of all the aristocracies assets and removal from power. On local levels, government in regions are determined by a combination of local clerisy and collectivist/communistic peasant councils.Also practices limited democracy, the first of its kind on the planet, through the peasant councils and peasant tribune representatives to the capital. -Currency:Somnus Vermillion -Population: -NATURAL POPULATION: 7 million -ACTUAL POPULATION (Due to Fall of High Sepulchrave and refugee's): 12 million -Realm Size: Empire (Note: When the Somnus Imperium fell, a large amount of its surviving military and population assembled in the Ironmarch and neighbouring regions, condensing its population into a small area) -Realm Size(By Block): 20
-Unique Trait #1: NEW WORLD ORDER:
The Somnus Imperium has remainded divided for two decades since the fall of High Sepulchrave, the feuding factions tearing away at each other. In those two decades, the plague, the dominion and said internal strife has laid low most of the imperium, once a superpower now at the mercy of its neighbours.
Its leadership, old dynastic families with century long lineage could not save the nation or its people, having grown corrupt and/or complacent before the plague, now incompetent, unable to do what must be done. As refugee's swarmed into the remnants of the imperium, the aristocracy closed in their remaining resources and supplies. After repeated exploitation and acts of indiscriminate cruelty, the people had enough. After constant obstructiveness, unlawful arrests of military leaders and incompetence, the crusader orders had enough. After constant snubs, open acts of decadence and pardoning of heretic nobles in exchange for military aid, the clerisy had enough. The "Apostle Incident" and "Trial of Grandmaster Jerodus" became the final straw and catalyst for a peasant rebellion, and soon after the crusaders and common-folk launched a civil war and crusade against the government of the Grand Principality of Ironmarch and associated clique members. After numerous climatic battles, the civil war ended when the clerisy launched an internal coup from within, signing the death warrant for the Grand Principality of the Ironmarch and the rise of a new order, backing a former peasant girl declared messiah as its head of state.
The crusaders, clerisy and peasant leaders, radicalized and extreme in their idealism have begun transforming the region into a new state, While crusader-states are hardly unknown of... The entity that was birthed from this rebellion has yet been seen in this world. A state without feudalism. The aristocracy was abolished, its assets taken by the crusaders and clerisy and re-purposed to solving the food and debt crisis. Their land handed over to the peasants. Serfdom dissolved and replaced by communal peasant councils led by clerics and peasant tribunes. Hundreds of nobles executed, thousands imprisoned or put under house arrest, all titles revoked. A council of crusader grandmasters, peasants, intellectuals, paladins and clerics gathers behind a chosen "Apostle", a mere peasant girl who showed DEVOTED SPIRIT of such great power she was assumed to be a Yuwanist or Red Pantheonist sorcereress by the previous government, but a saint by the peasants. Now known as "Apostle Victorianna", the girl is a messianic figure for the common people, the fanatical devotion and hero worship from the peasants has since jumped to even the crusaders and finally clerics themselves, and from there this new, anti-feudal, populist and theocratic force has declared HER to be the true claimant to the position of Kaiserin of the Somnus Imperium, so that when she takes that title and reforms the Imperium, the rotten old order can be dismantled forever.
Overall, once a decaying, broken and forsaken state with apathetic and indecisive leaders with a broken people has been reborn from the ashes of the old world. The plague, the overcrowding and food crisis from overpopulation and the cultists may never go away, but the people have regained hope. Hope, and a new order to rally behind. One to lead them to salvation and victory in the final battle against the plague and all forces of darkness...an order that is not only willing but utterly determined to do so. The true power of this land are its people, and those people have been reborn with fire in their hearts and clarity in their minds to perform a miracle in the North, A second new world order, a second Justinian victory over the world and a reborn Somnus once again. (Practical Effect:EXTREMELY FANATICAL POPULATION, DRAMATICALLY HIGHER MORALE AND LOYALTY AMONG LEVY AND MAN-AT-ARM LEVEL REGULARS, GENUINELY DEDICATED LEADERSHIP ASPIRING TO THE SALVATION OF SOMNUS AND ALL MANKIND)
[b]-Unique Trait #2: The New Model Army
Following the fall of the Principality and rise of the new order, many things changed. With the abolishment of the aristocracy, society would be changed to its very core. With the rise of the clerisy, crusaders and peasant councils... New thoughts and idea's came bursting through the floodgate. Religion was changed. The economy was changed. The culture was changed... It was only a matter of time until the military, and in extension war was too, changed.
The old Somnus military traditions tied to feudalism and aristocracy have, inevitably, been washed away with the nobles themselves. Peasants may use swords and armour (If they can afford it), secular knights have been disbanded, forced to either join religious orders (A order knight is considered legitimate because they are not gaining privileges, but rather contributing to a higher cause) or reform into professional soldiers, also meaning the knights have lost their autonomous ability to lead charges and retreats as they see fit. Levies too have been disbanded, replaced by peasant conscripts and volunteers, meaning that their ownership belongs to the army, not the lord that levied them. Field-promotions and peasant officers have become a real thing. Logistics has been overhauled.
Overall, the fall of the old Imperium traditions has allowed for a wave of military innovation to replace the forsaken traditions. Innovation that will grow and refine itself as time goes on, replacing redundant tactics and improving efficiency. There are no restrictions to this innovation. Knightly chivalry was abandoned. Religious doctrine has been radicalized itself, following the victory in the civil war. This innovation has drawn in innovators, military theorists, engineers, inventors, alchemists(Chemists) and other specialists. This fusion of new information and idea's have accumelated into one entity: The new model army.
The new model army is the platform from which the Ironmarch will redefine warfare. Radical concepts are being tested in this force of 50,000 brave men and women, ranging from full-time professional soldiers comprised of former peasant rebels and sergeants, former knights now wielding guns, mass produced gun-lancers as designed by the Karkarthans, battle wagons to act as fire-support platforms and mobile and easily constructed walls and forts... and in development, a host of inventions so strange and new, they will be the first of its kind in all existence, weapons not even the Dominion in all their technological splendor could conceive. (PRACTICAL EFFECT: INCREASED TACTICAL, LOGISTICAL, ORGANIZATIONAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE LONGER TIME GOES BY THE MORE ADVANCED I BECOME. I START TECHNOLOGICALLY INFERIOR TO DOMINION BUT MAY SURPASS THEM LATER. MY GUNNERS ARE STILL LOWER QUALITY THOUGH)
-Unique Flaw #1 The Host Of The Fallen
Even before the coup, the Ironmarch was overflowing with refugee's, further crippling an already collapsing economy. Far more people than the region could possibly hold with its government shattered by the fall and its leaders corrupt and incompetent were now residing in shanty towns, camps and crammed into cities. Famine and starvation were only narrowly avoided following the coup, as the clerisy and crusaders begun en mass selling the nobles gold, jewelry, luxuries and other assets to pay off the Grand Principalities debts, begun distributing food from the nobles secret food storage's and started new food import trade agreements. This has only barely kept the country functioning as a society. While peasant revolts and food riots are no longer as daily as they were before, many refugee's can be found starved to death in slums of cities and on the side of main roads.
The plague too followed the refugee's either as afflicted or as mad cults. A constant battle rages in the background between those secretly infected finding ways to break the quarantines and the inquisition and paladins thorough campaign to exterminate them. Even without the cultists, the sheer number of refugee's makes quarantine incredibly straining, and the number of afflicted turned away or even killed causes further panic.
With the refugee's comes foreign heathens, and the heretics. Red Pantheonists, Yuwanists, Justinian Ultra-orthodoxists(Or Radical heteredoxists that aren't them) and Dryadicists creep into the nation spreading heresy and corruption in their wake, further destabilizing the already broken imperium. (Practical Effect:FOOD CRISIS, OVERPOPULATION, OVERCROWDING, ACTIVE QUARANTINE IN EFFECT, DREAM CULTS, HERETICS, HEATHENS)
-Unique Flaw #2 (Created by me, mostly to reduce min-maxing)
-World-Realm Map: (See front page link) -Geographical Trait: (created by me in consultation w/ you. Applies to nations adjacent to the Plague Lands.) -Geographical Flaw: (created by me. Only applies to nations not adjacent to the Plague Lands. Generally speaking to nations beyond the green geographical zone in the center.) - Internal -Realm Map:
~~Incorporated Somnus Imperium States Into the Holy Crusader State of Ironmarch -(Former) Grand Principality of the Ironmarch, Now Province of Ironmarch -(Former)Principality of Ruthevostin, Province of Ruthevostin -(Former)Principality of Sanguine, Province of Sanguinost -The Great Helldosthedin Marches (AKA: The Plague Marches) -The Eiesenwächter Northern Marches (AKA: The Ghulbane Marches) -The (Former)Duchy of the Arcadian Lowlands, Province of the Arcadian Lowlands -The (Former)Duchy of the Venhosten Grasslands, Province of the Venhosten Grasslands
~~Major Cities: -High Ironmarch -Low Ironmarch -Sanguinost -Ruthevostin -Hurschenburn -Baravorseburg -Holy City of Justinian Requiem -Holy City of New Sepulchrave -Grimstost -Antelance -Blackstein -Vothevaden -Victorianna -Mesterheldeim -Ostenheimban
~~Other Notable Cities: -Arcadia (Note: A ruined and near empty city ever since the Massacre of Arcadia -Tirostholt (Note: Quarantined and squalor-ridden city filled with refugee's) -Troslthet (Note: AKA "The Other Tirostholt" actually a massively over-sized refugee camp) -Remodast (Note: Quarantined and squalor-ridden city filled with refugee's) -Heathdoheim (Note: Quarantined and squalor-ridden city filled with refugee's) -Nontheheim (Note: Secure city, overflowing with refugee's and acts as primary checkpoint for refugee's) -Jamitoro (Note: Actually a large town, Jamitoro is a Sibytte stronghold in the Somnus, a Justinian melting pot with predominately Otnemarcasan culture shining through. Many Sibytte exiles and descendants of crusaders live here. Jamitoro is also the mustering grounds for both volunteers wishing to fight for the Sibytte's in their civil war as well as volunteers wishing to fight in Somnus against the plague.
~~Major Castles: -Ironmarch Citadel (Central HQ and Headquarters of the Knights Iron Sepulchre ) -Eiesenwächter Citadel (North HQ and Headquarters of the Knights Iron Bulwark) -Sanguinost Citadel (West HQ) -Ghulbane Border Fortress (Eisenwächter Marches) -Paladins of Krax Border Fortress: Rendoux (South HQ, Provincial Capital of the Great Plague Marches) -Grimstein Citadel (East HQ, Headquarters of the Inquistion and Knights Sacrosanct) -Helldosthedin Border Fortress (Helldosthedin Plague Marches) -The Gotha Border Fortress (Helldosthedin Plague Marches) -Victorianna Keep, Castle of the Order of the Paladins of the Victoriannan Rite -Antelance Castle, Castle of the Order of the Paladins of the Gloriannan Rite
-Buildings of Interest: -The Ironmarch Palace (Now a tribunal council room for peasant council tribunes) -Paladins of Krax Foreign Legion Chapter house -The Blackstein Blackpowder Mine & Processing Workshops -The Ironmarch Blackpowder Processing Workshops -The City of Arcadia (Ruins and mass grave, also site of the Arcadian Martyr's Square) -The Mausoleum of Apostle Septimus -The Mausoleum of Apostle Victorianna(The First Victorianna) -The Great Stockade (A stockade/palisade wall separating quarantined cities and safe cities)
-Geographic Features of Interest: -The Ironmarch Ranges -Mt.Blackstein (AKA: Mt.Blackstone, The Blackpowder Mountain)
-Holy Relics In Possession: -The Holy Sword of the Apostle Septimus I (Wielded by the Apostle Victorianna) -Apostle Victorianna (Living relic, messiah and apostle) -Justinian's Tablet of Salvation (The Declaration of the Salvation of Somnus, From Justinians holy war era)
- -Holy Sites Under Control: -Holy City of Justinian Requiem -Holy City of New Sepulchrave -The Northern Path -The City & Mausoleum of Apostle Victoriannia (The First) -The Mausoleum of Apostle Septimus
-Total Military Size: 232,000 (Using Justinian army rules) -Military Details:(Military Numbers Distribution)
Knightly Order List: -Order of the Knights of the Iron Bulwark (Somnus-based) -Order of the Knights of the Iron Sepulchre (Somnus-based) -Order of the Knights of Somnus Victoria (Formerly Knights of Somnus, Somnus-based) -Order of the Knights Sacrosanct (Sacrosanct-based) -Order of the Knights Awakening Dawn (Somnus based, Charlin-origin) -Order of the Knights Carrion Song (Somnus-based) -Order of the Knights Sanguine Crest (Somnus-based) -Order of the Knights Idyllic (Somnus based, Charlin-origin) -Order of the Knights Justinians Wrath (Sacrosanct-based) -Order of the Knights of the Dragon (Somnus based, Karkarth-origin) -The Paladins of Krax (Charlin-based) -The Paladins of the Glorianna Rite (Somnus-based) -The Paladins of the Septimus Rite (Somnus-based, High Sepulchrave-origins) -The Paladins of the Victorianna Rite (Somnus-based) -The Paladins of the Justinian Rite (Sacrosanct-based)
Rogue(Loyalist) Orders: -Order of the Knights of Saint Iridus (Ten Barons Somnus-based, Ironmarch Somnus-origin)
: 50,000 locals -1500 paladins -5500 Professional Standing-Army (Former knights that did not join orders) -3,000 Rangers -12,000 Sergeants and Man-At-Arms -28,000 Peasant Conscripts/Volunteers (Levies no longer exist)
: 50,000 NEW MODEL ARMY (In process of being trained and equipped) -5000 New Model Army Professionals(Former Knights)-In-Training -20,000 New Model Army Sergeants-In-Training -25,500 New Model Army Peasant Conscripts/Volunteers-In-Training
: 80,000 Crusader knight order members -2000 paladins -10,000 crusader-order knights -68,000 crusader sergeants and man-at-arms
-Head of State/Monarch:NOTE: OLIGARCHIC COUNCIL WITH PARTIALLY CEREMONIAL FIGUREHEAD (De Jure): Proclaimed Apostle, Messiah of Justinian and Kaiserin-Claimant of the Imperium, Cecilia Anne "The Girl Saint" Victorianna (De Facto #1): Grandmaster of the Knights Iron Sepulchre Seneca Byronus II of Wyverncourt-Cassentine (De Facto #2): Grandmaster of the Knights of the Iron Bulwark, Oronn "Grimface" Bonaventure (De Facto #3): Holy High-Servitor of The North Justinians, Septimus Justus I (De Facto #4): High-Servitor and Master Pilgrim of the Northern Path, Hadrian Luxitancus (De Facto #5): Grandmaster of the Knights Somnus Victoria and Master-Paladin of the Victoriannan Rite, Clement Trajan Hectorian (De Facto #6): Grandmaster of the Knights Sacrosanct and Master-Paladin of the Gloriannan Rite, Valerian Quinatus III (De Facto #7): High-Servitor Inquisitor, Vespasius Ophedius (De Facto #8): High-Servitor Healer and Grandmaster of the Knights of the Carrion Song, Favian Favinius (De Facto #9): Master Paladin of the Paladins of Krax, Venox Steelskin Lrich (De Facto #10): Grandmaster-Paladin Horace Guntherum Magnus of the Gloriannan Rite (De Facto #11): Grandmaster-Paladin "Justinian's Own Hammer" of the Victoriannan Rite (De Facto #12): Marshal, Constable of the Army and High-Servitor, Daelus "The Conqueror" Omar (De Facto #13): Peasant Tribune Representative, Gregory Shieldsmith -Ruling Dynasty:N/A -Constable Of The Army: Marshal, Constable of the Army and High-Servitor, Daelus "The Conqueror" Omar -Religious Head: The Holy High-Servitor Septimus Justus of The North Justinians and Keeper of the Sepulchrave Tomes ------------------------------------------------
Persons of Interest
Proclaimed Apostle, Messiah and Kaiserin-Claimant to the Imperium, Cecilia Anne "The Girl Saint" Victorianna
Age: 14 (turning 15) Gender: Female Occupation/Rank: Apostle/Messiah, Head of State of the Ironmarch Religion: Heterodox Justinianism (Victorianna Sect) Race: Human Culture: New Somnus (Post-Fall Remnant) Born: Haurnhelst (Town), Ironmarch, Somnus Imperium Currently Located(Note: May become outdated quickly): North Ironmarch, Somnus Imperium
Bio:Victorianna, real name Cecilia Anne, is the messianic figure of the new Ironmarch Crusader State and beloved saviour of the people. Merely a peasant girl, she was the indirect cause of a peasant rebellion and later civil war after the former Grand Prince, the former Lord-Servitor and the Prince's government attempted to have her executed as a witch due to suspicions of her powers not being Justinian in origin or nature. The peasants (and eventually crusaders by the civil war and clersiy by the coup) rose up to defend her, escalating into what would eventually cause the destruction of the Grand Principality of the Ironmarch.
Since early childhood she has had strange lucid dreams of her own past where a voice speaks to her. These dreams were first reported when she was five years old and had her arrested by the local clerisy for suspicions of being afflicted by the dreaming plague. After numerous weeks of observation and study, it was deemed she was not afflicted and let go.
She eventually gained strange powers of incredible scale that convinced the local servitor (Aelius Velmnus) to adopt her into the clerical order there, the man convinced she really was blessed by Justinian. Her powers and renown grew, until she was eventually declared an apostle by rebel clerisy during the rebellion, and eventually accepted as a messiah and claimaint to the imperium by the clerisy following the civil war and coup.
Victorianna is an incredibly powerful fighter and bizarelly skilled for her extremely young age. Guided by the voice, augmented by her powers and mentored by numerous individuals in clerical and martial studies she has gradually become a genuine legend, capable of enormous feats categorized to pre-divine Justinian, or, like her proclaimed title, Justinian's retinue of warriors and agents. Beyond being a living relic for the Ironmarch, she wields the Sword of the Apostle Septimus, a legendary blade wielded by the Justinian hero Septimus, the Somnus Imperium's national hero and brother in arms to Justinian himself before his death in battle during the Holy War for Somnus.
Today, Cecilia Anne deals with the stress of being held to similar standards as the god Justinian while possessing only a mere fraction of his wisdom, experience or age. As Victorianna, she stands as the greatest hope mankind, or so the Ironmarch proclaims, has gained since the rise of Justinian himself.
Grandmaster of the Knights Iron Sepulchre Seneca Byronus II of Wyverncourt
Grandmaster of the Knights of the Iron Bulwark, Oronn Bonaventure
Grandmaster-Paladin Horace Guntherum Magnus of the Gloriannan Rite
Grandmaster-Paladin "Justinian Own Hammer" of the Victoriannan Rite
Grandmaster of the Knights of Somnus Victoria and Master-Paladin of the Victorianna Rite, Clement Trajan Hectorian
Marshal of the Central Forces, Constable of the Army and High-Servitor, Daelus "The Conqueror" Omar
General and Marshal of the Northern Forces(Ironguard Citadel), Octavian Balonus Rowwan
The High-Servitor of The North Justinians and Keeper of the Sepulchrave Tomes, Septimus Justatus II
Servitor and Master Pilgrim of the Northern Path, Hadrian Luxitancus
High-Servitor Healer and Grandmaster of the Knights of the Carrion Song, Favian Favinius
-Pre-Plague History(The Breaking of the Moon, The Holy Wars for Somnus)
Nop, WIP!
-Post-Plague History(The Fall of High Sepulchrave, the Peasant Rebellion, Civil War, Coup)
(10 years ago) Ironmarch: A five year old girl is arrested by a local town clerisy for suspicions of possessing the Dreaming Plague. She has shown irregularities while sleeping, claims of possessing knowledge gained through her dreams and causing strange effects in people, creatures and plants. She is held for three weeks in a dungeon observed by Servitor-Healers and a single member of the Knights of the Carrion Song before being let go due to lacking the correct symptoms of a person with the plague or developing further symptoms. She continue's to be observed by the local Clerisy. This girls name is Cecilia Anne.
(9 years ago) Ironmarch: Cecilia Anne begins gaining unusual powers, local peasants are afraid of her, however the cleric who has been observing her, Aelius Velmnus, begins theorizing her powers are of a different nature than the occult. The cleric talks with her family and invites her into working a the local clerical office as a page. The cleric begins a more thorough observation.
(8 years ago) Ironmarch: Following the local clerisy's acceptance of Cecilia, the peasants become accustomed to her strange powers and start calling her "Little Paladin".
Ironmarch: Visiting clerics from the near by city interview the girl. They are highly sceptical of the local clerics claims and leave. They eventually return with a Paladin, who interviews the girl while checking her for signs of corruption or taint of any kind. What he finds confuses him. She is so pure from Yuwanist, Red God or Plague taint that it should not be physically possible, almost inhuman, even like negative taint. The incomprehensibility of this finding leaves the paladin speechless and simply reports "Inconclusive", saying her powers are neither from taint or from conventional origins. The local cleric takes this as proof that he has found a Justinian hero, one like the god himself. The visiting clerics take it as a sign that she is being influenced by some eldritch force of unknown origin. The paladin is too confused to make an opinion on the matter.
(7 years ago) Ironmarch: A number of witch-hunters arrive, believed to have been hired by the city clerics, and hunt down the local cleric. before they are able to kill him, the 8 year old Cecilia Anne in the attempt to stop them unleashes a physically visible form of devoted spirit, almost like magic. A stick turns into a flaming sword and she mortally wounds two of the three witch-hunters. After this, the cleric is entirely convinced, and outright calls her an apostle, or Justinian Hero. The villagers who watched this soon spread the story, and her legend was born.
(5 years ago) Ironmarch: The extremely powerful child formerly known as "The Little Paladin", "The Girl Saint" or simply her real name, Cecilia Anne is named "Victorianna" by the peasant population, named after a Justinian Crusade-era apostle and hero, one of Justinian's own retinue. The Grand Prince's Lord-Servitor finally orders her arrest for witchcraft and collusion with Yuwan and collusion with the Red Gods.
Ironmarch: In response, the local cleric and popular community leader declares Victorianna an apostle (He had already done so privately but now done so publicly), He declares her the reincarnation of one of Justinian's own retinue of great heroes. He is excommunicated by the Lord-Servitor and declared a heretic.
Ironmarch: The Knights of Somnus are ordered by the Grand Prince to apprehend the heretic leader and execute the witch-child. They mobilize, however during the apprehension they talk directly with the cleric... The knights after this meeting refuse to continue the apprehension or execution.
Ironmarch: Trial of Grandmaster Jerodus and other knights of the order of Somnus for allegations of heresy and collusion with the witch-child, Jerodus is executed by burning at the stake. His second-in-command, Clement Trajan Hectorian, orders the Knights of Somnus to retreat to their order castle. He fortifies the orders castle and begins a passive rebellion.
Ironmarch: "The Apostle Incident", beginning of religiously inspired peasant rebellions. Peasant leaders are burned at the stake. The Knights of Saint Iridus are sent in. They briefly capture the witch-child before the Knights of Somnus rescue her, doing battle.
Ironmarch: First battle of the Lioddiel Plains, peasant rebels are crushed by legionnaires and knights.
Ironmarch: The Massacre at Arcadia, peasants are butchered by the Grand Princes legionaries. the Knights of the Iron Bulwark and of the Iron Sepulchre refuse to continue to take part. A trio of paladins switched sides in the massacre but were later executed for treason. The death toll is numbered at around 40,000. The city of Arcadia is a mass grave. The massacre would later see many of the survivors of the massacre join the rebellion later, including Daelus Omar, the High-Servitor of the city. Omar became the first high-ranking cleric to join the rebellion, and was immediately branded a heretic.
Ironmarch: Peasant revolts erupt in the north while refugee revolts erupt in the south. The food crisis reaches its peak. Noble begin assembling their knights and sergeants and partition the clerisy to mobilize the inquistion. Daelus Omar conquers the the city of Sistinius for the peasant rebellion, becoming known as "Daelus the Conqueror".
Ironmarch: The Grandmaster of the Iron Bulwark is arrested. The Grandmaster of the Iron Sepulchre disappears before he can be arrested. Due to the sheer size of these two orders, their numbers are not arrested but put under the command of Knights of Saint Iridus, essentially absorbing the two orders. This causes infighting and struggles among the knightly orders and outrage among the non-involved order leaders. Numerous clerical leaders express doubts on the validity of the actions taken by the Grand Prince and Lord-Servitor and some form a partition to the Lord-Servitor to have the Grandmaster of the Iron-Bulwark trialed fairly.
Ironmarch: The battle of "Skeleton Hill" (Formerly Essedus Hill), An army of 10,000 knights and sergeants fight off 26,000 militant refugee's before a small band of 3000 plague bearers begun attacking both sides at random. While the knights won the battle, many of the refugee's and their own troops were executed on the hill to quarantine the plague.
(4 years ago) Ironmarch: peasants are starving to death in the cities and roads regularly. Enraged and nihilistic refugee's (Without the plague!) begin burning villages, temples and crops in an attempt at suicidal destruction of everyone, while peasant mobs swarmed noble estate and begun looting, destroying and raping what they found. Suicide's become highly common in the south. The Inquistion responds by mass burnings and hangings. This period becomes the norm of post-fall Somnus living, and even following the current new order, the rest of the world see's Somnus as a permanent and universal state of this.
Ironmarch: The nobility in response (and partly out of revenge) institutes totalitarian edicts, including placing knights in major villages, towns and food producers, redefining the feudal contracts between serfs and landlords to essentially Drathan slavery and begin mass conscripting the sons of peasants to send them to fight against the peasant rebels.
Ironmarch: The Battle of the Jaddon Fields, 30,000 peasant rebels fight 14,000 legionnaires. The legionnaires near victory before 2,000 Somnus knights enter the battle, becoming the first time the peasant rebels and Somnus knights fight together rather than as co-belligerents. The Legionnaires still win, however take far heavier casualties than usual and are forced to halt their advance.
Ironmarch: The Lord-Servitor and Grand Prince put together a 45,000 man army of knights, sergeants and legionnaires to siege the Somnus Knights Castle, manned currently by 10,000 knights and sergeants.
Ironmarch: The Inquisition's war against corruption and heresy and the Grand Prince's and Lord-Servitors war against the rebellion collide when a number of Inquisitors arrest nobles involved in a Red Pantheon cult. These nobles were chief members of the league of nobles fighting the rebellion, so the Grand Prince demands their release. The inquisition demands their trial and state they have abundant proof to label them traitors, heretics and cultists. Eventually the Lord-Servitor while agreeing with the inquisition states they require their manpower, so agree's to release them into carefully watched house arrest. This causes an uproar among other clerical leaders, even from those who publicly denounce the peasant rebellions as heretical. The Inquisition agree, however also secretly begin opening up under the table talks with the peasant rebellion ringleaders.
Ironmarch: The Orthodox Servitor Lucius Aetaenius walks out on a clerical council, declaring both the peasant rebellion and the Grand Prince's government and clerisy comprised entirely of heretics and insanity. He leaves the country and makes his way to Charlin.
Ironmarch: The Heterodox Servitor and Master Pilgrim of the Northern Road (Servitor in charge of Pilgrims to the holy places of Somnus), Hadrian Luxitancus leaves shortly after, stating that the Clerisy at High Ironmarch is beyond redemption. He is found later in the peasant rebellion, assisting in their organization and working with Daelus Omar. He calls upon all those faithful and true to Justinian to put down the corrupt government and heretical leaders of the Grand Principality. His call to arms starts what is called "The Peasants Crusade". He is shortly thereafter declared a heretic by the Lord-Servitor.
ALL SOMNUS: The pilgrim road to Somnus is blocked as the region falls into further conflict. Sacrosanct sends out an inquiry as to what is going on.
Ironmarch: Battle of Blackstone, renown peasant commander Gregor Shieldsmith and rival to Daelus Omar in victories captures a city, though only briefly. His peasant army is forced to retreat shortly after by a combined force of legionnaires and knights, however his raid is successful in gaining guns and cannons for the peasant rebels.
Ironmarch: The former grandmaster of the Order of the Knights of the Iron Sepulchre is revealed, now a member of the rebellion leaders, helping organize and reform the peasants into a real military force. The knightly orders begin self-destructing as members begin deserting, resigning or killing each other in duels. The inquisition continue's arresting, however simultaneously continue talks with the rebellion.
Ironmarch: Following this reveal, the Grandmaster of the Knights of the Iron Bulwark is executed. Preempting a rebellion by the Iron Bulwark knights, their citadel in the north had sufficient legionnaires placed inside to assist the Knights of Saint Iridus secure it.
(3 years ago) Ironmarch: The Battle of Herredasius, 24,000 peasant rebels led by Daelus Omar and aided by 3000 Somnus and Iron Sepulchre knights defeat an army of 29,000 legionnaires and 1200 Knights of Sacrosanct, Saint Iridus(Including Sepulchre and Bulwark knights) and Idyllic. The peasants are becoming increasingly organized, forming professional formations and archer and even units armed with blackstone muskets. The peasants, inspired and fanatical seem to refuse to break their formations, even when taking huge causalities.
Ironmarch:The Great Assembly of the Peasants Crusade occurs. Peasant rebel ring-leaders, merchants, smugglers, rogue knight band leaders, mercenary leaders, numerous clerics gather in a large hall. The meeting achieve's bringing all the primary peasant leaders into proper communication with each other. This meeting is organized by the Grandmaster of the Iron Sepulchre, Seneca Byronus Wyverncourt-Cassentine; Gregor Shieldsmith, one of the most charismatic of the peasant leaders and Servitor Hadrian Luxitancus. Other important appearances include Oronn "Grimface" Bonaventure, a senior knight of the former Knights of the Iron Bulwark; Pyrun Lewel, Hectorian's representative for the Somnus knights; ex-High-Servitor Daelus "The Conqueror" Omar, now one of the rebellions most famous commanders; in secret, Vespasius Ophedius, High-Servitor Inquisitor(Master of the Inquisition), and both the original town servitor as well as 'heretic' Aelius Velmnus and the Apostle Victorianna herself, the girl meeting many of these rebel leaders for the first time (Not all the rebel leaders actually liked her however, particularly the Inquisitor, who seriously doubted the claims of her powers origins and Bonaventure, an otherwise orthodox Justinian who was only here because his grandmaster had been executed for no reason). The final and most dramatic arrival for the assembly, even outdoing the Girl Saints appearance was the Master Paladin Venox Steelskin Lrich who's appearance possibly changed the appearance of the war in the eyes of the Justinian world when he stated he and his order could no longer follow his code of honour in the Princes army, and he could not justify the actions taken by his armies while holding the title of master paladin.
Ironmarch: Shortly after the assembly, the Peasant Rebellion, now having a huge influx of knights, sergeants and even paladins is renamed to the Ironmarch Civil War.
Ironmarch: The Grand-Prince retaliates by sending out a call of arms to the other Somnus Imperium states, particularly after peasants started revolts on their land bordering the Ironmarch Grand Principality. Most refused and continued their wars against each other, however some agreed, seeing the rebellion as too dangerous to allow to continue and hoping the rebellion may even act as a catalyst to unite the lords and pretenders together against a common enemy.
Foreign: Servitor Lucius Aetaenius in Charlin finds out about the Paladins of Krax's activities. Disgusted, he leaves Charlin and journey's to Sacrosanct itself.
Ironmarch: The rebellion forms an army, dubbed the Victoriannan Crusade (The peasants would not go under anything else) numbering at a colossal 123,000 men. Ironmarch: The Victoriannan Crusade defeats the 38,000 army sieging the Somnus Knight's castle. The 7000 remaining defenders are added to the army and 4000 of the attacking army switches sides due to being encircled.
ALL SOMNUS: An army of 170,000 is put together from the remaining legionnaires, loyalist knights and paladins, levies and foreign reinforcements from the other Imperium states.
ALL SOMNUS: The two armies march on each other. word of these two armies being formed reaches the other Justinian nations and through spies, even the Dominion.The Dominion sends aid to the League forces, hoping for the League forces to retreat further west with the goal of influencing the forces closer to the Dominion borders.
Foreign: Servitor Lucius Aetaenius brings his case to the Sacrosanct's clerisy, requesting a crusade be formed on Somnus to bring order, claiming that all factions involved are heretical.
ALL SOMNUS: The nameless "Justinian's Own Hammer", a paladin and mysterious hero and legend of Somnus appears before the Apostle Victorianna, and gifts her the Sword of the Apostle Septimus, the sword of the ancient hero and member of Justinian's own retinue during the Somnus crusades and war against the Yuwanist's. The successful wielding of the sword is to the rebellions clerical leaders all the proof needed, and they 'officially' declare her an apostle, a messiah come again to save the Imperium from the darkness, arriving just in time for the final battle over the fate of Avara.
ALL SOMNUS: The Battle of the Three Armies(AKA: Second Battle of the Lioddiel Plains) occurs, the Victoriannan Crusade(134,000) and the Somnus League Army(its current official name ans numbering 170,000) face each other. They begin the battle, however following the initial cavalry charges and paladin duels, the battle is interrupted before the main formations can clash. An army of Ghûls from the north arrive and begin causing general chaos among both armies. Eventually the two armies cease fighting and attack the third army. The battle ends inconclusively, and both armies retreat, Notably during the event, the Apostle Victorianna battled for the first time using the Sword of the Apostle Septimus. Despite being a child, she was essentially unstoppable, demonstrating awe-inspiring power. The paladins in the league's army recognized the sword-relic she was using, and concluded that this civil war would soon be over.
ALL SOMNUS: After the battle and following the paladins observations, the Inquisition and clerisy concluded that the civil war must end immediately and with minimal losses. So begun the "Crusaders Coup". But a week after the Battle of the Three Armies, the Knights Sacrosanct, Carrion Song, Idyllic, Awakening Dawn, Sanguine Crest, Justinian's Wrath and of the Dragon supported by the Paladin rites of Glorianna, Septimus(Particularly) and their order sergeants and man-at-arms left the League army, switching over to the Victoriannan Crsade. Simultaneously, the Clerisy in the capital of High Ironmarch led by High-Servitor Septimus Justus and the High-Servitor Inquisitor officially overthrew the Lord-Servitor and had him arrested, their levies and men-at-arms took over the city.
ALL SOMNUS: the remaining 100,000 men of the League army was now facing an army of 200,000, including most of Ironmarches crusader knights and paladins. The Knights of Saint Iridus turn on each other, the Iron Sepulchre and Iron Bulwark knights and their order sergeants attacking the Saint Iridus knights and sergeants. Convinced that the league was a lost cause, the foreign armies left soon after. Now with only 40,000, consisting entirely of legionnares and the retinue's of nobles and his major cities, palace, citadel and family in the hands of the enemy, the Grand Prince realized his defeat. Before he can negotiate an end to the war, he is assassinated by his own men. Rather than fight the Victoriannan crusade, the nobles and legionnaires break apart and flee, the 40,000 man army fracturing to nothing but 2000 legionnaires left, who immediately surrender. Ironmarch: The civil war's main phase of conflict ends with the capture of High Ironmarch, death of the Grand Prince and arrest of the Lord-Servitor by his own council. The clerisy and inquisition assumes total power until the Crusade arrives at High Ironmarch. The 10,000 man garrison and army within are told to let them in, and the Crusade leaders and the Clerisy negotiate an end to the war.
(2 years ago) Ironmarch: The clerisy accept the rebels claims concerning Apostle Victorianna, and proclaim her not only an apostle and messiah, but the true inheritor of the Imperium. The clerisy, crusaders and rebel leaders begin negotiating a new government for Ironmarch.
Ironmarch: The civil war continue's as the Crusade begins putting siege to nobles castles. A number of them surrender, however others fight to the death, starve or attempt to flee. A number of them flee their castles and run to other locations in Somnus or Charlin.
Ironmarch: The Victoriannan crusaders and the clerisy negotiations end with a new order being formed. The council is a representative government, representing the interests of the kngiht orders, paladins, clerisy and peasants.
Ironmarch: The council begins undoing the nobles edicts on labour. The inquisitions interrogation and investigation of nobles determines that the vast majority of them were hiding assets like food and gold from the clerisy. A smaller number of them were also members of Red Pantheon cults and were in collaboration with the Dominion, who was funding their war against the faithful. This information combined with the peasants demands for justice lead to the arrest of all available nobles, the revocation of all nobles titles legally, the execution of ringleaders involved in cults, the Massacre at Arcadia, other massacres, negotations with the Dominion or other acts. The aristocracy is officially abolished. Their land is handed over to peasant councils, their castles to become military and order forts and their palaces and manors become community and government buildings.
Ironmarch: High-Servitor Septimus Justus is declared "Holy High-Servitor", essentially the new title for Lord-Servitor. Following this, all lord titles are removed from offices, including lord-general, lord-marshal and so on.
Ironmarch: The Holy Crusader State of the Ironmarch is born.
Ironmarch: Remnants of the Knights of Saint Iridus attempt to rescue a number of nobles however are driven off. The Knights continue a weak resistance, however their power fades rapidly with the lose of the aristocracy and the rise of peasants.
Ironmarch: Oronn "Grimace" Bonaventure is promoted to the new Grandmaster of the reformed Knights of the Iron Bulwark. He joins the council.
Ironmarch: The Knights of Somnus rename themselves to the Knights of Somnus Victoria, representing their new position as 'the' knight order representing the interests of the Apostle. Likewise, a new Paladin rite, the Victoriannan Rite is reformed with "Justinians Own Hammer" as its grandmaster, he too joins the council.
Ironmarch: Daelus "The Conqueror" Omar is made Marshal of the Central Forces and Constable of the Army. He begins adopting a "New Model Army" innovating heavy armour and guns. This army is being assisted by a defecting Union Arcanist Physical, the man is assisting in the optimization of the Blackstone manufacturers to produce imitations of gradually closer quality to the Dominions famed muskets, as well as bringing western inventions to the east, as well as working on his own designs, available now with this new states patronage (This patronage being one of the primary reasons for his defection, alongside disillusionment with the Union's magical hierarchy and inaction).
Ironmarch: Grandmaster Jerodus, Grandmaster Titus(Former Grandmaster of the Iron Bulwark), and numerous key peasant leaders are declared martyrs and saints.
Ironmarch: The council begins selling the aristocrats former assets to foreign and local bourgeoisie. Jewelry, paitings, clothing, old decorative urns/sculptures/etc, gems, heirlooms, non-religious artifacts, ancestral swords and Armour(Too ornamental to use). They use take possession of all gold. They begin buying huge quantities of food and other supplies to deal with the food crisis and quarantine. ALL SOMNUS: Remnants of the nobility of Ironmarch form into the Ten Barons League (Or simply, the Second League) claimant faction, however the crusader state continue's it war against them, sieging their castles.
-List of Historical Grievances -The Dominion -The Somnus Imperium -The Ten Barons(Somnus Faction) -The Plague -Relations
SOMNUS IMPERIUM FACTION #1: SOMNUS IMPERIUM FACTION #2: SOMNUS IMPERIUM FACTION #3: SOMNUS IMPERIUM FACTION #4: SOMNUS IMPERIUM FACTION #5: SACROSANCT: KARKARTH: OTNEMARCAS: CHARLIN KINGDOM: DOMINION:
The Dominion and Somnus have been at odds for nearly 500 years. First, it was the red pantheon forces that led the Somnus on a path of destruction aimed at the Dominion but as things began to settle down, again, the Somnus begins a beserk rage with a new god at their reigns, Justinian. It is the classic blood feud, families that long ago were one, seem to still cling to strange hate from long ago. After the "Ironmarch" was formed a mere four years ago, the two sides have reached a sort of unofficial peace. The Dominion however, doesn't view the Ironmarch as an independant soveriegn nation but rather a state in a still crumbling Somnus Imperium. This has led to many diplomatic problems.
As I already discussed in the chat, I am back. I will be playing something small, and I can't promise to stay for reasons you obviously understand.
For those of you who don't know why I disappeared: My mother got Ovarian cancer. She survived through chemo, but then got it again. It started spreading to other parts of her body so it was expected she would die. I left because in the event of her death I would be put in charge of looking over finances for the family and doing bills/bookkeeping. I had no time and probably would have no time.
There is some good news: After doing numerous scans, it turns out the cancer skipped her stomach (Which would essentially be the end of the line) and has only entered her lungs. The chemotherapy operations is expected to have a 70% or so survival chance, which is very high considering. Also, a number of things cleared up and the general panic died down, so I can return to some form of normalcy, for now
My concept is in the chat, Flagg has mostly already approved the general concept.
Celeste and Darkspleen have been given their GM traits and flaws. Both are essentially accepted, however Celeste has actually posted in the accepted area.
@Everyone #2: A second wave of IC posts shall be coming soon I believe, however I would like to ask everyone in the OOC how their IC posts are coming?
@Everyone #3: Those who are still not done or are done and waiting for their GM traits/being accepted: Can I have a progress report?
Alright, the IC has begun and I have posted to intro. Two days late and the intro was cut up to make multiple posts over a time skip, however done nonetheless.
Now that I have officially begun the IC, I expect accepted players to begin posting in the IC, and achieve at least 5-10 IC posts by the end of next week.
@ALL THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET BEEN ACCEPTED: I will need a status update on your sheets so you can be accepted for the IC. If you are missing your GM traits, please announce this and I will do so. if you are having issues with history, lore or rules, ask me. I will also be sending out PM's to remind people.
The Grey Road, West Ironmarch, 17th Heroic Age (17HA:13) Arc 1: Without Faith - I
The dreary fog, drenched mud, drenched paved stone and merciless rain of yet another Ironmarch morning was all that signified the arrival of men from the old western “Crusaders” road to Ironmarch, welcoming all those from the west to the new reality of the borderlands. The milestones had since been eroded away, and the signs destroyed. Skeletons of dead animals and occasionally a human being now acted as landmarks to determine distance.
Beside the road was a single barred wagon, holding within a band of chained, weathered and broken prisoners. A Single woman sat within, in the corner silently glaring upon the floor, dirty face obscured by filthy tangled dark hair. The voices were still speaking. She still heard the voices. The darkness whispers. She was an astralomancer, trained and though young, experienced, now imprisoned.
The voices. She heard voices. They came to her, they whispered and whispered. She was a magi, a herbalist and a camp follower of numerous crusaders.
Dreams, she saw dreams half remembered, growing in clarity every cycle of the sun and moon. She had fought and helped fight for too long.
Darkness, it had taken her, and there was no hope.
“I submit to thy saviour O’Justice” a fellow prisoner begun mumbling, calling for Justinian’s salvation.
“Without thy will I become dust” Another spoke.
“Without thy strength I shalt fall” Yet another spoke, with almost fanatical zeal.
“Without thy faith, I am lost” The women finished the prayer, dejected and empty. The whispers grated at her mind. Creeping along her skull.
“I am lost!” An old man on the opposite side of the wagon screamed.
“Lost! Lost lost lost, lost, lost-lost-lost-lost---“The old man yelled hysterically, bashing his head against the bars, forcing the exhausted and half asleep guard outside awake.
“SILENCE!” the guard shouted, bashing an axe against the wagons bars. The inhabitants of the wagon went silent or returned to quiet mumbling. The woman however glared at the guard, her bloodshot eyes filled with silent madness. If it were not for the mages defending the wagon and the whispers that ate at her mind, she would have easy killed the foolish man and left.
The guard, now sensing his imminent demise quickly withdrew, quietly walking back towards the camp. He moved to speak with the mages sitting by the smouldering and near dead fire, however before he could speak excuses to swap the guard early, the mages suddenly all stood with sudden alarm.
“Up! Everyone up!” One yelled, just as a loud horn blew in the distance. The horn had done more work waking the camp than the man yelling, and dozens of soldiers were rushing forward. The prisoners had also become alert, many of them shouting gibberish and clawing their hands through the bars.
Two horsemen appeared, galloping down the road from the direction they had come. Two mounted sergeant acting outriders, one caring a flag.
It was yet another crusader flag, the other, a courier, bearing word from yet another crusader army coming to die in the Sacrilege War. The soldiers and mages had stood in a line, the group’s leader walking up before the courier. What the two said was too faint for the woman to hear over the rambling nonsense of the other prisoners; however whatever happened caused the two to nod and the courier and flag-bearer left back the way they had come.
About twenty minutes later, the crusade arrived. A retinue of fifty knights escorting a collection of warrior-vicars, lords and a crusader-general trotted down the road on horseback, bringing forth a constant line of marching spear sergeants, crossbowmen and more knights both mounted and on foot. The Sacrosanct banners and flags were not waving in the stagnate air, but there were so many of them it still turned to column into looking part fabric.
The wagon was to follow the crusade further east to Grimgaunt Citadel, this miserable lands functioning capital. The women knew she would be executed there; this thought alone increased the throbbing noises, the whispers growing in intensity. She called on her magic, but the whispers ate at it, they sapped her power.
“Onward, soldiers of the ordered god! Onward to salvation!” the shouts of a warrior-vicar echoed down the road, inspiring a wild cheer from the column of men in response. The servants of the Ordered God, like all other mortals bound by blind faith and zeal marched eagerly to certain doom, unaware and willingly ignorant of the truth of this war.
-Introducing the Ironmarch (Part 1) -A sacrosanct (NPC-West-Navy Blue) crusade of 15,000 men are marching eastward into Ironmarch -An execution of Darkness-afflicted individuals will soon begin
Here is the current map with additional NPC's (Dark brown and Dark/Fleshy Pink to the immediate west of the Darkness) and Monkey's eastern half added. With this done, I will be moving towards making the first IC post (Finally)@Darkspleen: Still open and we stay open until that land is filled up xD.
@Jeddaven: 1: Yes and no. They would not be able to use heroes (Mortals with direct magic given to them) as no god would be willing to give your misotheist people magic, however you would still be able to use mages and magical objects (Or trickle effect magic users) because it is magic gained from being descendants of previous heroes(mages) or from being in the proximity of high concentrations of ambient magic (Magic that is distributed to a location or object instead of a person).
2: Steampunk is generally not allowed as I don't want to set a precedent of tech creep (Players gradually increase the tech level of the RP over time), however through special traits I can allow things like technology that is 100 or so years advanced (E.g: Isotope's use of 1500's-1600 galleons) or I could allow you for example to use some of the more esoteric designs of Da Vinci as practical weapons (AKA: Clockpunk to an extent would be allowed with special traits).
3: You could make the nation, however the gods would be pretty pissed. You would be having an even harder time than DAWNSTARS revolutionary (merica!) republic in terms of aggressive deities and fanatically theocratic states.
Monkeypants and Missy have been added to the player list on the OP.
@Sigma, Tatsua, Captain & Isotope: Can I have a status report on your sheets?
@Everyone: Today I am going to be posting my own main sheet and I will also be checking over the inactive players (Rex, Wanderer, etc) to see if they are still in on this.
@Lurkers: We still require more players to fill the blank lands! particularly in the west.
