[b]Chapter 4:[/b] World Information, Character List, & More.

[center]--Section undergoing reconstruction to prepare for the introduction of player resources & dynamic relationships--[/center]

General information is world history and culture. Nation-specific history and culture has been collectively organized into one tab for now. Expect further updates.

[b]General Information[/b]

[hider=Compacted][b]The Timeline:[/b] There are four major eras to keep in mind, though the third and fourth eras tend to be the only relevant ones for this present time, the other two can come up from time to time.

The first era began at the beginning of time and ended ten thousand years ago. It is marked with a sparsely populated world, and incredible powerful monsters, creatures, and people of legend, including Malaki Duralus, Sarah Darkhammer, Amanda the Archmage, and others. One vast empire known as the Imperium held control over what is now the Free Holds, Amazonian Jungle, Tuleria, and the Blood Sea, as well as lands to the north now locked away behind Time’s Veil. The first era ended when Amanda the Archmage brought the last Well of Power to life. This also marks the fall of the Imperium.

The second era is marked as a notable dark age of history. The few attempts at new empires to replace the fallen Imperium failed, their leaders constantly assassinated and taken down by Sarah Darkhammer and Malaki Duralus, as well as by a few others who perished as history went on. The second era is known mainly for a large burst in mortal populations, and the massive decline of supernatural creatures and monsters in comparison. The second era ended with the fall of Kingdom of Renalta to the wrath of the Gods, one thousand and ten years ago.

The third era began roughly one thousand years ago. It is known for a period where a mixture of tyrannical and benevolent gods ruled the world, hellbent on controlling the mortals that worshipped them in order to retain their own power, and protecting them from their own naivety. It ended when Queen Kouri, awoke from an ancient, magically induced stasis. Still a princess at the time she gathered those few willing to brave the journey, and banished the Gods from the mortal realm.

The fourth era began with the reconstruction of the Kingdom of Renalta, aided by magic and open arms many raced to a kingdom whose main features included most prominently tolerance and even a measure of respect for the commoner. We live in the fourth era, and depending on the choices of a select few once again, it will decide whether this era will see an ending in chaos and massacre, or unity and friendship...

--[i]???, Unknown Author[/i].

[b]Vampires & Pure Bloods:[/b] In the first era, vampires were monsters that marauded townsfolk with superhuman powers the likes of which took entire squads of professionally trained hunters to take down. Seeing as how the population during that time was limited and the Imperium’s forces were stretched thin fighting a burgeoning Gault and keeping peace over its own realms, it couldn’t spare anything to stop them. Then, the pure bloods appeared.

All in all, six mortals took down a vampire and instead of immediately burning it, found a way to take in its powers as their own. They became the first infection-based vampires, known as pure bloods, each with their own set of powers that gradually evolved over time based on what they did. Among them was the infamous Malaki Duralus, whom at the time didn’t have much of a reputation. Together the six destroyed nearly every monstrous vampire with the intent to forge their own realms within the Imperium until a great cataclysm utterly shattered the world of mortals, and the Imperium.

For the next two eras, vampires were fairly quiet, keeping to themselves unless being hunted by especially xenophobic members of the Templar Order in Rheinfeld. What is known is that one fell to such hunters under the command of Malaki’s father, Granis Darkhammer, and two more were slain by Malaki himself. Diana opted to hide within the upper echelons of society, and Garroth chose to flee far to the south in lands shrouded by mystery, now known as the Kingdom of Dreams, to surround himself with an army of undead.

As for Malaki, well, he set to occasionally overthrowing burgeoning empires for a few thousand years, and then with the reappearance of his undead sister, mostly vanished from the public’s view. What it is he does now is entirely unknown.

Vampires themselves are universally identifiable with their silver eyes, though some use magic to hide this trait. Their fangs can retract which, unless closely examined, makes it difficult to tell whether they are or are not vampires. Furthermore, Diana’s brood in particular, tend to merge well in the upper echelons of society and gain favour with others.

If I can give one piece of advice, it would be to not trust vampires. Even me. For in our most desperate state we forget who we are and revert to the monsters from whence we came.

--[i]Hanus Wolfslayer, General of Renalta[/i].

[b]Magic 101:[/b] The history of magic starts in the first era, ten thousand years ago, when the then-apprentice Amanda – myself – was living within the first Imperium, attempted to ignite five hidden, and now ethereal, Wells of Power located across the world. I succeeded, and magic flooded the world, both to the great horror and wonder of all the mortal races that lived within it... It has been this way ever since.

It was quickly discovered that there were a few curtails to magic that prevented mages from dominating the world. The first is that the more powerful the spell is, the longer it takes to cast. Even wildly experienced mages who have spent their entire lives perfecting the craft find their most powerful spells still take them time to prepare and cast. Another discovery is that mages can be detected by other mages: The more powerful the mage, the larger the radius in which they can be detected, even by other, lesser mages whose presence cannot be felt by the more powerful mage.

An additional discovery was made, much to the joking humour of halfwit children everywhere, that mages whom attempt to cast a spell that would be, say, apocalyptic in origin, often... Explode. The more magic a mage attempts to wield, the more difficult it becomes to contain. When a mage can no longer contain the magic required to cast the spell, well... The mage and sometimes half a city block will simply cease to exist.

Along with those facts, certain things are barred even from magical influence, and attempts to the contrary have always ended poorly. Chronomancy, power over time, has always resulted in horrifying, painful death for mages whom have experimented with it. Shapeshifting also seems to be out of magical bounds and is exclusively a racial trait, and that being said, teleportation tends to induce motion sickness in users at short range, and several seconds of debilitating disorientation at long range. It is also nearly impossible to “combat cast” teleportation spells.

Furthermore, anti-magic and supernatural elements can combat and dispel, or even outright ignore, magic as a whole. This is especially prevalent in the religiously charged Kingdom of Rheinfeld, whom barely tolerate the existence of mages and distrust them to an extreme, and sometimes genocidal, degree.

The rule of thumb, thus, is this: The simpler the magical spell is, the more likely it is to succeed, and the quicker it will occur. Only experience out in the field will tell a mage what they can and cannot achieve, and many find out the hard way what happens when they fail...

--[i]Amanda the Archmage[/i].[/hider]

[b]Nation-specific history & culture[/b]

[hider=Compacted][b]Kingdom of Renalta[/b]

[i]History[/i]

[b]Death and Rebirth of Renalta:[/b] During the end of the second era and the beginning of the third, the kingdom of Renalta spanned both the current kingdom's borders and the Kingdom of Liveria. They were a people united a common desire for freedom and protection from those whom would take it from them. Many races inhabited the lands, though the royalty was at times suspiciously human-dominated. Their rule was generally benevolent, though not always, and ended when princess Kouri rejected a marriage proposal from a newly inducted Archangel. The archangel, young and infuriated, gave the gods the last piece of "evidence" they needed to condemn the kingdom, which had already been a little too rebellious for their comfort.

When the kingdom fell and the capital was destroyed, those few remaining with distant royal ancestry went into hiding. Most were ferreted out and slaughtered, though a select few survived, and most remain in hiding to this day. The King's Rangers' few survivors, ever watchful, made certain to keep an eye over Kouri's resting place, making sure that not a soul would disturb it. They did what they could to aid the devastated towns and villages, but alas, there was little that could be done without jeopardizing their own safety and with it, the last remnants of the kingdom.

During the vast majority of the third era, the Renaltan villages had to contend with assaults from Rheinfelder crusaders looking to destroy witches and heretics, orc raiding bands, bandits attempting to hold villages under their "realm", and more. As some villages grew into townships, they formed a loose confederation, with towns and villages riding out to provide relief efforts and militia reinforcement wherever possible, though it was often not in time, as messengers were often targets to prevent warnings and pleas for help from getting through to the rest of the confederated towns.

During this time, the easternmost towns were most heavily affected by piracy along the coast and orcish marauders from the mountains. As they began to lose faith and seclude themselves from the confederated towns, they were harassed less. Likely a scheme to divide and conquer, but alas, it worked as the eastern half of Renalta--its entire coastline--formed a schism state and began to adopt a culture of isolationism and strength in solitude.

Just as things seemed at their most hopeless, the gods were banished, and the third era ended, giving way to the fourth era. Kouri returned as legends said she would, legends propagated by the King's Rangers and kept alive by the patriotic and fervent dreamers. Using magic, her now legendary reputation, and the King's Rangers, she recreated the capital city in all of its splendor. Towns' mayors whom also doubled as lords, formed the backbone of the aristocracy, trading in political power for financial power and political security.

Still, as this happened, the lands known as the Kingdom of Liveria refused to fold and rejoin, their culture now too disparate from Renalta's to be considered the same state.

How things shall go from here, is entirely unknown.

[i]--Scholar Vie, member of Renalta's Aristocracy, lord of Arian Village[/i].

[b]Kingdom of Liveria[/b]

None yet.

[b]Kingdom of Rheinfeld[/b]

None yet.

[b]Kingdom of Tuleria[/b]

None yet.

[b]The Free Holds[/b]

None yet.

[b]The Goblin Holds[/b]

None yet.

[b]The Amazons[/b]

[i]Culture[/i]

[b]Matriarchs:[/b] Where most societies are either gender neutral or male-dominated, this civilization has traditionally been ruled by women. Each tribe has a head mistress, and in turn each of these report to the royalty of the Amazons during times of conflict or desperation. Of note: Where most societies determine royalty purely by heredity means, the Amazonian Matriarchy determines it both through hereditary means and mastery of the art of passion. Passion in this case referring to any strong emotional act: War, artistry, lovemaking, and more. Thus, someone can "earn" their way into royalty through sufficient skill and emotional display.

Men in this society, whilst not entirely a secondary citizen group, tend to the more passive and submissive roles in society, such as basket-weaving and knitting, child care, and more. While warrior men are not entirely unheard of they're a definite rarity, as the Amazons tend to look down on them as being unreliable for long-term familial bonds.

[b]Passionate People:[/b] There is nothing more important to this society than seeing passionate emotions in others. Whilst they respect power and discipline, passion is what they live and die for. Passion as defined by them is putting great emotional investment and pride into one’s works. If there is a blemish in a piece of artwork, they repair it. If there is a flaw in a fighting technique, it must be remedied. There is no such thing as “good enough” to these people, there is always room for improvement.

The more emotionally stirring the act is, the more likely it is to be labeled as a passionate act.

[b]Names:[/b] There are no family names in this society. Just a person’s chosen profession and a first name. Examples include Queen Moira, or Hunter Lyra.

[b]The Imperium[/b]

None yet.

[b]The Underdark[/b]

None yet.[/hider]

[b][center]Character List[/center][/b]

[u]Numbers not up to date![/u]

[i]Stats[/i]
[b]Living PC's:[/b] 28.
[b]Dead PC's:[/b] 1.
[b]Men (Living Only):[/b] 14.
[b]Women (Living Only):[/b] 14.

[b]Inactive & Dead PC's:[/b] 10.
[b]Men:[/b] 8 Inactive, 1 Dead.
[b]Women:[/b] 1 Inactive, 0 Dead.

[b]Updated to page 65![/b]

[hider=Active][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=1#post-9570]Alhvaharyis[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/594]Sathanas Rex[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=1#post-9871]Kasim Amibilus[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/322]Jorick[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=1#post-10043]Rayvon Krayvitch[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/650]Tempest[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=1#post-10867]Esyllt Boudica[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/154]Kestrel[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=1#post-10951]Erasmus[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/7]Kangaroo[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=1#post-11131]Aneura Shivan[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/742]Asuras[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=1#post-12648]Eins Nimgrud[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/548]GreenGoat[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=1#post-13512]Laenaia Erltana[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/237]Alphakoka[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=2#post-13696]Kraith[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/129]Kadaeux[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=2#post-18062]Lothar Wolff[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/1298]Heyitsjiwon[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=2#post-18299]Andrea Llolth'Allin[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/657]Andrea[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=2#post-18654]Naream Baenre[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/651]Sarzu[/url]. 

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=3#post-27604]Saul[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/117]Slade[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=3#post-32885]Traxilus Fremuliaun[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/1256]Icarus[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=4#post-34983]Jellial, the Wind[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/197]LimeyPanda[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=4#post-36681]Thailen Vicarris[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/1976]Herzinth[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=5#post-40413]Draza Zorya[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/6]Elendra[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=6#post-41054]Ceann[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/655]Selvi[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=6#post-43780]Alexander Lyre[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/878]Desert Zephyr[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=7#post-47389]Cristoff Whitemarch[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/1551]Tan S Link[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=9#post-52914]Auric[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/1096]Maxim[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=10#post-55788]Rayne Walker[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/2285]PCSutfin[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=15#post-63625]Maher Adonai[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/743]Gat[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=15#post-64003]Nadira Adonai[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/2496]Genais[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=44#post-268143]Ethyssa Abhorsen[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/2304]Brand[/url]. 

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=50#post-465069]D.H.[/url] [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/5888]Raen Elvarasi[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=28#post-95822]Mathew[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/10]Alex[/url].[/hider]
[hider=Inactive]Note: Inactives tend to be turned into NPC's or killed off after a while.

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=5#post-39318]Erwin Schwarz[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/373]Heisenberg[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=8#post-50691]Garren "The Imperial Lion" Halthar[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/325]Azathoth[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=1#post-12401]Tromund ‘Trom’ Five-blade[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/1018]Commander Kalic[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=6#post-43496]Gahrul the Tower[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/14]Hank[/url]. [b]Note:[/b] (Puppet-status)

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=8#post-51516]James Schatten[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/373]Heisenberg[/url]. 

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=6#post-45050]Seraphina Whiteblossom[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/587]Esper[/url]. 

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=11#post-60226]Count Richelieu (Edmond Daring)[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/982]Athos[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=19#post-72953]Hector Thanos[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/618]Teancum[/url].

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=1#post-12027]Jason Drake[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/554]Aerandir[/url].[/hider]
[hider=Dead or Corrupt][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=2#post-15136]Renaldo Ysattara[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/961]Griever[/url]. [b]Death:[/b] Riddled with arrows.

[url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/1215/posts/ooc?page=3#post-25802]Tristan Whitemarch[/url]. [b]Author:[/b] [url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/users/1774]Pseudonym[/url]. [b]Death:[/b] Did not buy defusal kit. Terrorists win.[/hider]
[hider=NPC Body Count]Lets just see how many lives our wonderful player characters end up destroying or failing to save. Horrible.

None yet? Fantastic![/hider]

[b][center]Special Thanks[/center][/b]

Special thanks go out to the following people, for being good friends, and long time role players that were around for the original’s four year long story, and whose characters are now ingrained in the world itself.

[hider=Special Thanks][b]Tempest:[/b] For being an amazing friend who has kept me... Somewhat sane all these years. You are my best friend... And words cannot express the roller-coaster of a life we have been through together. I’m glad you made it to the other side of the raging rapids with me.
[b]Played As:[/b] Elsha Raines (K.I.A.), Brent Basset (K.I.A.), Alexandria Sumera Nabecasar (Queen of Renalta), Taigyn (Leader of the Templar Order), Paige (Only Tempest will know her fate), Aedil Brand (Mage's Guild member).
[b]Created:[/b] The Kingdom of Tuleria, including all of its culture and characters.
[b]Is a Co-GM of LoR 2![/b]

[b]Kadaeux:[/b] For always being the rival I needed to constantly compare myself to, and constantly attempt to best in friendly jests... Without you I don’t think LoR would have been quite the same.
[b]Played As:[/b] Xixis Madheart (Emperor of Goblin Holds), Zix & Xiz (Both K.I.A.), Breakre (K.I.A.), Gatheron (K.I.A... Hilariously so. :hehe)
[b]Is a Co-GM of LoR 2![/b]

[b]Andi:[/b] Again, for being a great friend, and those slut sisters really did bring in a whole new angle... Cough. In all seriousness though, you went out of your way to have your characters save a sixteen year old girl and give her hope in the world. You’re beyond admirable.
[b]Played As:[/b] Jamiahl (Legendary Assassin), Salini (Legendary Assassin), Mesharra (K.I.A.)

[b]Gat:[/b] What can I say man? I’d be hard pressed to say anything foul about you considering your immense patience and unorthodox ideas gave everyone a few smiles and lasting memories.
[b]Played As:[/b] A forgettable lizard (Ha!), Os’Falan (Renaltan Court Bard)

[b]Slade:[/b] Again, a good friend... It seems I am surrounded by them.
[b]Played As:[/b] Sisera (Renaltan Clamaint, Royal Adviser), Insane Creativity (seriously never stop being creative.)

[b]Sarzum:[/b] You and your Drow always had me guessing. Always had me wondering when the knife would come out. You pretty much embodied what the lightness towards morbidity was all about with the Drow... Again. Irreplaceable, just as all the others on this list are.
[b]Played As:[/b] Harrad (K.I.A.), Naream (Apprentice Necromancer), Shade (Unknown Fate).

[b]Orion (AKA: Icarus):[/b] You were with me in the original LoR. You were with me in its remake. You were with me when I was sick, when I was injured, when I was in pain, even when I hated myself, you were there, ready to role play, ready to go on epic adventures, even as Dean took Godsplitter, your first act was to look at me and ask for your next duty.

You are quite probably the most loyal role player I have ever met in the 10+ years I have been role playing, you glorious son of a bitch.
[b]Played As:[/b] Dean (Legendary Warrior).

[b]Genais:[/b] You joined in and despite the several times where I had a hard time trying to coordinate posts with you, you stuck through. Even when the RP had a couple month-long hiatuses you stuck through, and you provided great interactions with Teila and her demon. The RP would not have been the same without you, and the fact that I forgot to add you to the special thanks is a shameful display on my part.
[b]Played As:[/b] Teila (Mentor), "The Cripple" (K.I.A.)[/hider]