Hidden 7 yrs ago 7 yrs ago Post by Verse Zero
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Verse Zero

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"The only difference between us and the beasts at are doors is this thin veneer of being civil."


The Roleplay
Role players will take the mantle of an individual or house seeking to gain power in Nocturne; or hold the status quo; you may be human or vampire, or anything in between. It is a brutal world and while the façade of civilization is present in Nocturne. A good summation is, 'Being civilized is just a thin piece of glass.' Backstabbing to downright murder, raiding a persons land and people, or allying with them are all viable options. All the while internecine squabbles take place the constant threat of foreign attacks are ever present.

Now there is no magic in this world. So you cannot have magic powers, sorry, as the role play draws from the concept of transgenetics and what could be the issue with that. That despite Nocturne is a stable society (in regards to the rest of the world anyways) and doesn't go on large scale pogroms against other races it still has deep seated issues. It is nowhere near a Utopia.

The role play setting is medieval tech with no magic.

The Setting
The role play is set in 2833AD, more than 800 years after a series of post-apocalyptic events led to the destruction of early 21st Century human civilization. It all started in 2020AD with a series of atomic wars over increasingly scarce resources; coupled with the emergence of a series of anti-biotic resistance plagues which swept across the globe. These global pandemics not only devastated populations but a few even caused mutations in human/animal genomes. Leading to the emergence of savage mutants and beasts.

The first Werewolves appeared as a race in the decades following the collapse of contemporary human civilization. These first Werewolves were wild, uncontrollable beasts, that favored human flesh. Assaulting the remaining human fortress-settlements. Emerging from the shadows, were the Vampires, who with what may seem an ironic sense came to humanity's aid. Taking the fight to the Werewolves, mutants, and beasts they managed to scatter them in Europe. But in the 23rd Century the emergence of Lycanthropes, or Lycans for short, a werewolf capable of controlling their transformation and feeding on animal meat emerged in what was once known as France.

Allowing for surviving humans to found their own post-apocalyptic realms. The majority of the Vampires settled in Central Europe. Founding the city-state of Valeria in the Carpathian Mountains. From this they founded the Realm of Nocturne. Nocturne spans the Carpathian Mountains, Hungary, Austria, Moravia, Bohemia, Bavaria, Slovenia, The Alps, and North-Eastern Italy. Nocturne is a surprisingly egalitarian society given that most areas despise those not of their own kind. Humans, Vampires, and minorities of other races capable of assimilation live within the Realm. Occupying various offices, economic classes, and working in a variety of areas together. Struggling in this new harsh world.

The Known World

The Map Key
Purple: Boundaries of Nocturne
Red: City of Valeria
Maroon: Demarcations of Nocturnes Nine Provinces (Valeria is a city-state and doesn't have a province for itself)
Blue: Other known realms (surviving humans)
Black: Wilderness, barbarian, beasts, mutants...basically "HERE BE BAD STUFF"
Political Map

This is a simple political map of incase the above one is hard on certain monitors.

The Realm of Nocturne

Nocturne was allegedly founded 833 years ago (actually putting it before 2020 and well before it was probably formed) with the only truth known by the Vampire Elders who went through great pain to cover up any negative repercussions. Mainline propaganda is that the Vampires saved Humanity and that they must work together. Though the Vampires have been known to hold no qualms about crushing human rebellion or civil disobedience without question. Prizing a 'just and ordered' society above all else. As that is the only thing holding back all of civilization falling a second time.

The Realm of Nocturne is divided up into Nine Provinces in fief to the City-State of Valeria where the central seat of government sits. The Provinces while on paper are provinces they are in actuality often acting as feudal states with a wide array of freedom in their internal affairs. Valeria only directly controlling the Provincial territory it sits in, acting as a core territory or homeland. The Provinces themselves vary widely in population and economic ability. Valeria, Tyrstria, Balatora, and Magyan hold the majority of the population and except for Magyan holding most of the economic assets. The other provinces are rather undeveloped in terms of economy and population. The total population of Nocturne has not been accurately recorded via census. But on average a city, which are few and far between, usually has 25,000-50,000 living in or near the walls (if it has walls). Most villages or towns have stretches of wilderness between them. Especially in the least populated provinces.

The City-State of Valeria, made up of Seven Districts, is a large urban metropolis holding 1.2 Million souls. No known city except for the capital of the Empire of Konstantia comes close. With the average city or town holding 25,000-50,000 people along with being few and far between.

The Government of Nocturne is headed by a Council which is the Legislative arm. The Council formed by representatives of the Nine Provinces. The Judicial Arm fulfilled by the District leaders of Valeria. While the executive arm is fulfilled by the reigning Elder or Elders should the situation call for it. The Vampire Elders take turns reigning as the chief executive authority within Nocturne, while also able to preside over Court cases and cast a vote in the Council. Additionally the Elders rotate in ruling, two slumbering while the other reigns, only all being awake when required. The Elders: Vlad, unyielding and uncompromising but able in military and by far the best in political affairs; Markusz Aurelian, the philosopher and intellectual to the core; Amelia, skilled warrior and fair of judgement but ultimately uncaring for politicking.

The Military arm of Nocturne is comprised of three groups. The all Vampire Death Dealers whom are loyal to the Vampire Elders; The all human Valerian Guard who are the city-states mainline troops; and the Provincial forces which may vary widely depending on their fighting style, tactics, and leadership.

Death Dealer appearance

Valerian Guard appearance


Currency of Nocturne
Sun: Golden coin at 24 carats
Moon: Silver coin at 12 carats with two making a Sun
Half Moon: small silver coin at 6 carats with 4 making a Sun or two making a Moon.
Copper Penny: 200 pennies make a Moon and 400 makes a Sun.
On Vampires
The Vampires are not like the typical mythos in that they do not burst into flames from Sunlight. They can walk about during the day, the caveat being that prolonged exposure or being malnourished leads to what is called 'Sun Sickness'. A really bad reaction to the UV radiation of the suns rays that weakens them, blotches their skin, and will eventually kill them like someone took being heatstroke times a thousand. In addition the Vampires are a generational race; though they can slowly reproduce sexually. The Elder Generation (the three Elders) are the oldest and most powerful, possessing the most Vampiric blood; First and Second Generation Vampires also known as "Purebloods" are sired or born from Vampires who only the Elders predate; Third Generation Vampires tend to be the run of the mill vampires; Fourth Generation or Halfbloods are weaker Vampires; Fifth Generation or Quarterbloods have the least amount of Vampiric blood.

Nocturne being an egalitarian society; at least on the surface, local lords may have their own qualms; there is no overt discrimination between Humans and Vampires or blood mixing. In addition Vampires are forbidden from feeding on a human unless it was voluntary. As Vampires do not need to solely drink human blood but may survive off that of an animals perfectly fine.
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Wraithblade6
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My vampire character would be about 1500 years old in this setting. Is that allowed? Also, what became of teh western hemisphere? America? Is it all ruled by werewolves and the like, or do wild vampires run out ungoverned outside of Nocturne?
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Verse Zero
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@Wraithblade6

Since Vampires didn't come about till after 21st Century Human civilization collapsed I would have to say no to the character being 1500 years old. Vampires have been around for about 800 years in this setting with the Vampire Elders being the eldest (or the only three to have survived the initial conflict between surviving humans and emerging vampires some 800 years prior to the current date) of the vampire race.

The Western Hemisphere presumably suffered the same fate as Europe. Basically 2020AD was when the global human civilization collapsed utterly. America and the rest of the Western Hemisphere's fate is unknown at the present.

Vampires do live outside of Nocturne. Nocturne is only different in that it's a society where Vampires and Humans manage to coexist.

Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Wraithblade6
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@Verse Zero Ah I see. So you are saying the same events that caused the mutants and werewolf monsters to happen also caused the vampires. It's not that vampires ever existed previously before the apocalyptic wars. They are just another kind of mutant.

That history strikes me quite differently, as it seems now that the vampires ARE no different than the other monsters. In fact, why would they be sentient while the rest of the mutants and beasts that were made were not? Could a player chose to be a non-vampire kind of being? Do you have shifters? Dragons? Elves? I'm just trying to decide on a race if I decide I don't like the vampires.
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Verse Zero
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@Wraithblade6

Indeed, the Vampires are more or less a sub-species that came about by the human genome mutating. Creating various new 'races' with humans being the common ancestor.

Vampires are really not different, especially in the eyes of many humans living outside of Nocturne (or even to some groups in Nocturne) who basically have a policy limited to "Kill everything not human." However, Vampires did ally with the humans that would go on to forge Nocturne. Being the one race to actually attempt at coexistence to such a degree as seen in Nocturne.

There are other sentient mutants. Lycans, which emerged after a second mutation in the Werewolf strain, became sentient Werewolves. Werewolves and Lycans while seen as the same are different in that werewolves cannot control themselves while Lycans can. Werewolves cannot change back into human form either, while Lycans can.

There are a bewildering array of options to choose from besides Human, Vampire, or Lycan. The Dwellers (similar to Dwarves) evolved from surviving humans living underground and are broken down into two groups: Watchers which have retained their sight, and Blinds which lost the use of their eyes after living underground for so long. There are the Sidhe who hail from the British Isles and arrive in trade caravans and are analogous to elves (they have fairy like facial features but are normal sized and not tiny). There are the Saharaans who hail from African, their skin having mutated into scales allowing them to blend into the sand. Dragons and other large lizards do exist but are very rare (usually hunted down) but not sentient.

The ones listed above will be featured in my first IC post should this get that far. So you could pick from them.

Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Claw2k11
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I wish to make my character as a First Generation Vampire, is that allowed? Because I assume they command a great deal of respect and have much stronger powers than most humans and vampires(other than the Elders of course).

Also, may I still claim Transylvania or should I make another a sheet for another province?
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Verse Zero
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@Claw2k11
Yes you may be a first generation vampire.

Amelia is the Duchess of Transylvania, so unless you want to be a noble like a Count or Baron possessing a part of Transylvania as a vassal to Amelia you'd have to claim another province.

Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Claw2k11
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@Verse Zero

I see, then I will be a First Generation Count within the territory of Duchess Amelia. I will get up a character sheet for both my character and my territory. May I create the name of the capital of my county? I'm going to use a Romanian inspired name(after all I am from Romania) for it's name.
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Verse Zero
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@Claw2k11

Yes of course feel free to be as creative as you want
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Claw2k11
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@Verse Zero

One final question, may my character be a close confidante to Amelia? Meaning that he is someone who she trusts quite a bit?
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Verse Zero
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@Claw2k11

Of course!
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Claw2k11
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@Verse Zero

Thank you very much, now I have a perfect character in mind!
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Verse Zero
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@Claw2k11

Awesome! I look forward to reading your character!
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Fetzen
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@Verse Zero

Started work on a CS.
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by MadCowful102
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Is their an more information regarding the Saharaans?
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Verse Zero
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@MadCowful102

I'll PM you shortly
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by XenoCyanide
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Assuming this is still open, I'd love to throw my hat into the mix. :)
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Assuming this is still open, I'd love to throw my hat into the mix. :)


As far as I know, it is.
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by Verse Zero
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@XenoCyanide

It is indeed still open
Hidden 7 yrs ago Post by XenoCyanide
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Excellent! In that case, just a couple of questions:

How much of the 21st Century is still present such as buildings or gadgets or artifacts?

Do vampires and werewolves and the sort follow the traditional mythos in terms of strengths and weaknesses, aside from the already stated facts?

Due to the atomic wars in the past, how has this affected the climate, earth, and/or general appearance?

I'm trying to paint a better picture of your world in my head. Is it akin to Mad Max meets Dracula or is it more Penny Dreadful meets The Tudors?

Love the idea!
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