Inlaa

Ashes of Orvell - Setting Construction

Historical Events

Ashes of Orvell - Setting Construction

Terrain Features

Ashes of Orvell - Setting Construction

Races

Humans

Name: Humans
Playable?: Yes
Appearance: Humans normally stand between five and a half and six and a half feet tall with variation based on a number of factors (sex, nutrition, and genetics among them). They are fairly average in build, being neither particularly strong nor dextrous.

Culture: Humans are an eclectic but proud people, boasting a wide variety of heritages with differing holidays based on religion, military performances, and their aforementioned heritages. Their pride is the reason humans are so difficult to control, yet also why humans are so eager to control others. It should be no surprise, then, that Orvell, the greatest empire known to the world and the empire after which the world is named, was built by human hands.

Humans live short lives, and as such they engage in a great many worldly pleasures. Wealth, wine, incense, coffee, pleasures of the flesh... All these things are of great value to humanity, and greed is a common drive among them.

This is not to say that humans are without virtue. Most human cultures value honor, truth and courage even if they do not always live up to their own standards. Songs are sung of warriors who die valiantly on the battlefield for their brothers-in-arms, of young maidens who sacrifice everything for their lovers, and of men who deny worldly pleasures for the sake of justice and goodness. They are a romantic people and have romanticized these virtues. Perhaps that is why they are prone to fault: they set such lofty goals for themselves that it must seem impossible to be as virtuous as those heroes of legend.

Outlook: If there is one word that is embraced by human civilization, it is "Progress." Progress is a strange term with a strange idea: that humanity is always advancing, always building off of the failures of the past, and always becoming something greater.

In truth, though no human would admit this, the proper term that defines humanity is "Hubris." They are too proud to see what harm they cause, and they are all too willing to ignore the merits of other civilizations when comparing them to their own. It is typical for a human to believe there is only one right way of doing something, and that right way is always a human way.

Given that, humans are often either jealous of or looking down on other races - sometimes both. They wish for the long lives of the elder races and for the might of the orcs, yet still mock orcish society for being "barbaric" and "inferior." Such is the human way.

Humans frequently see the world as black and white. There is evil and the force of good that opposes it; there is justice which quells injustice. This makes discussion of the Orvell Empire a very divisive topic: some believe that it was a force of order and helped the world whereas others believe it was only holding humanity back. Needless to say, wars have been fought over this debate.

Strengths: While humans preach "Progress" and "the future," they are still very much bound to the oldest means of settling a debate: violence. While not individually strong in martial combat, humans shine in warfare. Tactics and strategy come easily to them.

As humans are physically average and generally have no natural attributes that make them stand out, they find themselves needing a means to prove themselves equals of the other races. They build advanced tools to accomplish such tasks - large mills with saws and moving parts and so forth - and also use that expertise to fashion weapons of war. Trebuchets are the hallmark of human ingenuity, a deceptively simple device with massive range and considerable firepower.

Weaknesses: The trouble with humans is this: all their great inventions and their tactical know-how cannot allay them of their inability to adapt to the changing times. Despite their empire based on "Progress" having fallen apart, they still tout it as their watchword. They are inflexible, having ostensible beliefs of their position as the greatest of all races. For this reason, their diplomatic relations suffer. Humans are also bad at adapting to environments not suited to them, instead trying to force their environment to adapt to them.

History: Humanity built its first great cities in what would become the Orvelli Empire, though their first years were hardly glorious. Constant warfare with each other and their neighbors marked these beginnings. There was no unity. There was no order.

But then a young warlord, Ulrich Orvell, came from the great western woods with an army at his back and the wizard Aldaban at his side. Ulrich was a tactical genius and Aldaban wielded terrifying magical powers. Together, the two of them united the disparate human cities in the west, forming the Kingdom of Orvell, which would later become the Orvelli Empire.

In the east, desert warlords and nomads settled along the rivers and coasts of what would become Eastern Orvell, bringing with them their own unique brand of culture. Though they eventually became subjects of the Empire, they held vast territories of their own, creating such dazzling cities as Arumach and Ekrech.

In this way, humans established their presence as the most influential race in Orvell. Though the Orvelli Empire has collapsed and the remaining kingdoms crumble a little more with each passing day, humans remain a powerful race on the continent. However, they no longer are undisputed, and the other races are certainly not happy with their treatment at the hands of their once-conquerors.

Orcs

Name: Orcs
Playable?: Yes
Appearance: Sometimes called "Pig-Men" for their somewhat porcine appearance, orcs are large, brutish people that stand taller than most other races, some reaching a over eight feet of height. Most, however, stand between six and seven and a half feet tall. They have green or gray skin and are considerably well muscled, hefting weapons that humans would find nigh impossible to wield. They have long, sharp fangs, a snout-like mouth, a flat nose with flared nostrils, pointed ears and bright yellow eyes. Simply put, they are terrifying.

Culture: Orcs have a warrior culture based around hero worship. They do not believe in an after life, instead believing that the only way to live on beyond death is to be spoken of in stories. It is for this reason that orcs wage war with other races so much: stories are told often of great and terrible orcish warriors, both by their people and by their enemies, so killing and conquering is the best means by which an orc may live on beyond death. So, orcs of all sorts, weak and strong, man and woman, throw themselves into battle with reckless fury, trying to secure a lasting memory of themselves that will be passed on for generations.

For the same reason, bards and storytellers are highly valued among the orcs. They believe, however, that books and scrolls rob a story of its power, thus killing the spirit of heroes, and they make every effort to burn down libraries and monasteries as a result. Better to free the hero spirits than to leave them trapped by some worm.

Interestingly, orcs do not hate those who slay a great many of them in battle, but indeed respect them and even worship them as they do their own heroes. A great warrior remains a great warrior no matter who it is he kills, after all. So, they pray both to orcish heroes and those of humans and other races to gain power from them, hoping they can call upon their strength and wisdom to gain an edge over their enemies in battle.

Orcish celebrations are rowdy affairs full of drinking, dancing and bloodsport. They enjoy a good duel as much (or more) as any race. Whether those fights be battles of fang and fist or sword and axe is irrelevant; spilled blood lights a fire in an orc's spirit, bringing about spouts of pleasure and rage all at once. Between this, their great athleticism and their vigor, it is only natural that orcs take well to contests of strength and to gladiatorial combat.

Unlike many other races, orcs do not see women as a weaker gender but as equals. A great warrior may take many spouses, so a powerful man may have many wives and a powerful woman may have many husbands. It is also not unknown for orcs to take spouses from members of other races, though such partnerships are rarely willing...

When orcs battle in a city or town, some terrible carnal acts inevitably happen, and children are born from these unholy unions. While such practices are looked down upon by orcs - their society believes that mates should be chosen for life, not used and cast aside - young orcish warriors still do these terrible deeds. From these deeds children are born, and those children are first generation half-orcs.

Some orcs have converted to other religions, but even they cannot seem to quench their thirst for glory and battle. They are rarely content to settle in one place.

Outlook: Orcs respect strength. Orcs make every effort to become strong so that they may have more mates and thus parent more children.

While death without glory is to be feared, glorious death is a tantalizing fruit that makes orcs all too eager to throw themselves into battle. If a story lives on about them or a battle they participated in, they will survive beyond death, so they strive to forge a legend of death and destruction around themselves. This is how the stories of orcs cutting through swathes of their enemies are born: such warriors plunge themselves blindly into the thick of battle, hacking and hewing away at their opponents with a wild ferocity. While these powerful orcs are not the norm, they are common enough that orcish warriors are feared across the world.

Despite their famous bloodthirst, orcs are a relatively pragmatic people when it comes to choosing their battles. Glory is only had if one can do sufficient damage, after all, or if one's victory is great. So, while orcs are quick to anger, they are also quite capable of controlling that anger. They make for magnificent mercenaries, and they choose their battles carefully. This extends to the marketplace and to politics: patience is maintained until the moment they can move for total victory presents itself.

Strengths: Orcs are physical powerhouses, possessing a natural athleticism and incredible strength. More than that, they are trained from youth to be warriors, as battle is the best means by which one can live forever through stories. Thus, there is no such thing as an "untrained" orcish warrior; they all must learn to fight at a young age.

Orcs also possess a strange bloodlust which they are carefully taught to control. This bloodlust makes them stronger and faster, but it also removes their inhibitions and makes them act more foolishly in battle, so they must know when to release their anger and when to hold it in check. This makes them an incredibly calm and patient folk... until the time comes to party or to kill.

Weaknesses: That bloodlust and anger can very easily work against the orcs, however, should they fail to control it. It can make them reckless, see insult where there is none, and even drive them to attack their own allies in extreme cases. This reputation precedes orcs, and they are trusted by many people and are barred from several settlements in Orvell. Some towns even attack orcs on sight.

Also, orcs' great size makes them poor candidates for missions that require stealth or subtlety. Indeed, there is little about the orcish race that can be described as "subtle." They are prone to shouting before charging, to blowing war horns to announce their presence, to frightening the enemy rather than evading them.

While orcs are not stupid, their culture abhors the written word, so they are usually illiterate.

History: Orcs hail from the dunes and mountains of the east. There they have fought many warriors with the desert lords, forcing those people further and further west, leading to the settlement of Orvell's eastern coast. Upon finding this lush new land, the orcs spread out into the wilderness, constructing new encampments and villages in the woods and becoming, in human words, "A blight upon civilization."

Orcs are not always antagonistic to humans, of course. They sometimes align themselves with certain lords, proving themselves to be capable allies and dangerous enemies. It was one such alliance that led to the establishment of orcish towns in Orvell: King Ulrich, first ruler of Orvell, promised a powerful orcish tribe land if they would join him in his conquest. Orcs became an integral part of Orvell's history, serving sometimes as raiders, sometimes as allies, and once as the backbone of the Empire's army.

With the collapse of the empire, however, the orcish race is no longer given much respect. They are seen as brutes and barbarians, and while few doubt the usefulness of orcish mercenaries in battle, most prefer to keep them at a safe distance. It does not help that many orcish tribes refuse to accept any form of diplomacy other than surrender, spoiling whatever good reputation the orcish race may have had.

Half-Orcs (INCOMPLETE)

Name: Half-Orcs
Playable?: Yes
Appearance:
Culture:
Outlook:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
History:

Ashes of Orvell - Setting Construction

Settlements

Arumach

Name: Arumach, City of the Gleaming Gates
Summary: Corrupt Plutocratic City-State
Location: On the eastern coast, where the northern grasslands and the desert meet.
Type: City
Description: With walls made of pearly-white limestone and golden words etched around its gates - "Open Are Our Arms," those words read - Arumach is a dazzling sight to see. It is a large port city whose docks are rich with the scent of fresh fish, the salty sea and foreign goods. Squarish, roofless buildings are the norm, often built from sandstone. Though there is little alcohol to be found in Aurmach, the smell of coffee can be found most everywhere. The city seems to breathe during the day. People are always rushing this way and that, and shouting is common in the market, getting dirt, grass and sand on the cobbled roads (which must be swept frequently to be kept clean). Jeweled temples stand proudly atop tall hills, and the city's Prince rules over his subjects from a lofty white tower in the center of the city.

History:
A truly ancient city, Arumach was constructed by a dynasty of desert warlords centuries ago. These warlords had pushed as far as the swamps to the north, and so they decided to build a new city which would be the capital of their own empire. Though this Aruban Empire was short-lived (and vastly less glorious than the Orvelli Empire), it nevertheless left Arumach in its aftermath: a beautiful city in which gold become the new weapon with which wars were waged.

Arumach was one of the last cities to become part of the Orvelli Empire, more because of its location than anything. Orvelli diplomats organized a peaceful (rather than violent) entry into the Empire, allowing Arumach to keep most of its old rights - including the powers of the Pluceptic priests - rather than become yet another conquered province.

When Orvell fell to corruption, barbarians and the wrath of Wizards, Arumach was relatively untouched. The shift back to independence allowed its Prince to dictate new laws that had been stymied by Orvelli politics. These new laws increased the power of the Plucept and the Prince in almost every respect, centralizing their power. It was also an opportunity to place Pluceptic chaplains in the new nation's small military.

While trade is not as vigorous as it was in the heyday of the Empire, Arumach still thrives in the present day and remains an important gateway between the north and the south.

Governance: Arumach is a plutocratic dictatorship heavily influenced by the Pluceptic Church. Its ruler is the Prince, a wealthy merchant lord whose position is inherited via appointment. Namely, the Prince chooses an Heir Designate from among the other wealthy merchants. While this is often a member of his own family, political struggles may force the Prince to designate an influential member of his court instead. In the rare event that the Prince dies before choosing an Heir Designate, city-wide war has broken out as different families vie for rule of the city. This has happened twice.

The position of Prince is a powerful one indeed, a lifelong position with many advantages, and it requires a lot of political savvy to hold. The Prince is expected to oversee all aspects of the city's growth and expansion as well as meet with foreign dignitaries and appease the merchant lords. The Prince often delegates power to appointees, some of whom are chosen for their merit and some whom are chosen as part of a deal or political move. They, in turn, may appoint different individuals to work under them, and they likewise habitually appoint people to curry favor with others, creating a political web of corruption that keeps those with power and wealth powerful and wealthy.

The Prince directly controls the military in times of war. Some Princes choose to command it in full capacity; others choose to delegate control of the military to more war-savvy family members and friends.

The Plucept wields considerable power in Arumach, so it is in the Prince's best interest to make fast allies of the religious leader. Historically, the two offices have worked together to grease their palms, but they've been in direct competition for power as well. As the Plucept commands certain parts of the military and has sway over most of the commoners, it is the rare Prince that challenges the Plucept's power.

Crime plays a rather big part in Arumach. Though some crime is conducted independently, there are crime families (some of which have merchant families as members) that control much of the business, and so it is an organized affair. Indeed, powerful crime lords have been known to host parties at the behest of powerful merchants and are very involved in politics. They, too, bribe members of the Pluceptic Church in order to have their favorite candidate voted in (or just to make certain particular candidates are NOT voted for). While they hold no official positions, these crime families have a firm enough grip on the economy that savvy merchants hire them to act against their opponents. Others pay protection rackets to avoid being harmed by prominent crime families.

Culture: The people of Arumach, known for their elaborate robes and for men who shave their heads, are fond of large celebrations. Though most days of the year are dedicated to work, their holidays are opulent affairs during which the wealthy make grand displays of being generous folk. Some of these celebrations last for weeks, and they are often steeped in Pluceptic dogma.

Though they do not drink wine or ale, Arumachians do drink coffee - lots of it - and meet in coffee houses as often as other nationalities meet in pubs. Other indulgences, such as those of weak hallucinogens, are also imbibed in such places. The wealthy meet in such places to discuss matters of business, trade, adventure, astronomy and religion, but the poor meet to swap tales of the day's work and how the politics of the wealthy may affect their lives.

The stars have always fascinated the people of Arumach, and so the discussion of the heavens is one means by which one may pass the time. While the poor are largely uneducated, the studies of astronomy and mathematics, being so vital to sailing and to trade, are things they understand well enough, so their games often involve these subjects. Both the rich and the poor of Arumach enjoy contests of wit, especially puzzles and riddles, and the wealthy are especially fond of playing certain board games that put an emphasis on planning and strategy.

The acquisition of wealth and the maintenance of a leisurely lifestyle is first and foremost in the minds of Arumach's people. Some try to earn their money in quick and easy ways, such as by becoming pirates, sailors, adventurers or by joining crime families. Others try to pursue the slower, more "honest" path. The wealthy, of course, engage in political games and accept bribes to do the same.

Populace: Arumach is largely populated by humans, though a minority of half-orcs (roughly 30% of the population) may also be found. Pure-blooded orcs are rarer and represent an even smaller minority (5%). Members of other races are quite the unlikely sight. Most people from Arumach have darker skin than others in Orvell, having either an olive or slightly brown complexion.

Religion:The most prominent religion in Arumach is that of Pluceptism. Its religious head is the Plucept himself, the chief adviser to the Prince and a highly influential individual wielding as much power as the Prince himself. The Plucept maintains this position until death. Upon death, the Plucept is replaced by a prestigious priest, chosen by an electoral vote among the Pluceptic priests. The Electors often accept large bribes disguised as donations to the Church to sway their vote toward certain individuals that favor certain policies.

Like a few other religions that have survived in the ashes of the Orvelli Empire, Pluceptism states there are only three true Gods: the Warrior, the Penitent, and the Sage, each representing vital and equal parts of the human spirit, together forming the Triumvirate. Its core tenets state that the strong are to protect the weak, and in turn the weak are to understand their faults and serve the strong; thus, in the plutocratic society of Arumach, this means the wealthy are kept in power so long as they provide for the poor, and the poor are to be grateful for this kindness.

In practice, Pluceptism is used as a mechanism to maintain the status quo. Pluceptism states that it would be unholy for the poor servant to rebel against a benevolent master, and as the Prince of Arumach is most certainly benevolent and divinely blessed, rebellion against him is punishable by death. As the people are largely uneducated, it is easy to maintain the illusion that this is what the holy texts say. They are mollified by holidays emphasizing charity, holidays in which the wealthy try to out-donate other nobles for prestige. These holidays do little to stymie corruption and poverty in the city.

Religion plays a powerful role in Arumach's courts. Every trial is overseen by three separate judges (each representing one of the three gods). The three parties in a given trial - the judges, the defendants and the plaintiffs - each have a symbol of one of the three deities behind them (the Sage for the judges, the Warrior for the plaintiffs, and the Penitent for the accused). This symbolism suggests the accused is inherently guilty, and thus the accused are more likely to be found guilty than not.

Pluceptism is but one of a few similar religions that espouse the firm belief in the Triumvirate, though each of these religions argues over what, exactly, the Triumvirate is. The inclusion of the Penitent in Pluceptism, for instance, is a quality no other religion like it shares. Thus, Pluceptism finds the other religions to be heresies, though it itself is a heresy of a more prominent religion.

Economy: Dyes, glass and coffee are the lifeblood of Arumach. These three goods represent the city's three major industries. Glass made from the golden sand of the desert and the white sand of the coast makes for beautiful works of art; the dyes are used in the production of expensive cloth and in certain paints; and coffee is well loved because it's coffee. Production from these goods and the sale of them raw are both very important sources of income for the city. Other important markets include fish, salt, pearls, and copper.

But none of that would make Arumach so wealthy if not for its merchant fleet. Trading vessels controlled by wealthy merchant lords, the Prince, the Pluceptic Church, and independent merchants all are vital to the delivery of Arumach's bounty to the rest of Orvell. Though there are dangers to be found at sea - pirates and sea monsters and the ferocious weather - Arumach ultimately profits from these ventures and grows stronger for the sake of it. Thus, trade is the most important business in this city.

Diplomacy: To Be Determined

Military: While Arumach's walls are not especially sturdy, it has a considerable navy. Consisting mostly of trade vessels that can quickly be converted into light war ships, Arumach's merchant fleet is one of the largest to roam the sea and is well equipped to deal with pirates and similar threats (though not to deal with creatures of the deep). Fiery pots, fiery arrows, and ballistae make for a deadly array of weaponry in naval battles; as they normally carry more valuable goods than their opponents, the merchant vessels are more concerned with destroying their enemies than capturing their ships.

That said, the land force of Arumach is comparatively weak and is largely a militia force. Bowmen and spearmen make up the mainstay of their army and are supported by javelin-throwing skirmishers. They wear relatively light armor, preferring to outfit themselves to be able to endure the heat of their homeland. Their professional troops are all cavalry, often jumped-up merchants' sons who personally outfit themselves with iron lamellar armor and swift steeds. With scimitars and battleaxes, these merchant cavalrymen are the "elite" of Arumach's land forces, which does not say very much.

As such, Arumach often hires mercenaries when faced with war. Orcish mercenaries from the east are favorites in particular; orcs are known for their ferocity in battle, and turning them Arumach's enemies is preferable to them turning on Arumach.

Plot Hooks:

• Arumach is a great port for adventurers to resupply at while on their way to other places.
• The desert to the east is home to plenty of orcs that might need to be dealt with.
• The wealth disparity in Arumach is even worse than in other places, so it may align with good characters' goals to try and fix that problem.
• Arumach is a great place for roleplay surrounding political intrigue.
• Arumachian merchant lords may be interested in procuring objects from abroad - perhaps objects kept in certain dungeons and ruins or in the hands of other wealthy people - to add to their collections.
• Lots of crimes may lead back to the crime families in Arumach...

Ashes of Orvell - Setting Construction

PLEASE NOTE: You are expected to read the entirety of this post before posting. If you've been to the interest check already, you may skip any parts that are drawn directly from there, but it is suggested you read anyway.

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Orvell

Current Map

Image Link

Welcome to the world of Orvell, or at least the known world. It is a realm of squabbling city-states, each struggling to survive in the aftermath of the fall of the Orvelli Empire. Though the previous age was called the Age of Empires, we now stand in the Age of Adventure, a time when strange and beautiful things can be found in the untamed wilderness... as can dark and dangerous beasts. This is a time when the few beacons of civilization must survive against an omnipresent shadow that cloaks the land.

But who populates this land, and what lurks in the ancient forests? Where are these beacons of light, and what shadows do they cast? What rests on those isles in the middle of the world? And, just as important as all those, what lies beyond the known world?

Those are the questions we have to answer together. What answers do you have?

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The Premise

Now that I have your attention: this is a world creation thread. You and I are going to work together to make a setting that people will enjoy playing in. Yes, I will be GMing this world later, when I decide the world creation phase is finished and have enough material to keep a thread going for a while. I may, in fact, run multiple threads based on this setting, and others are invited to do the same should they wish to. Blah blah blah, we're making a freakin' world, man.

That said, this won't be a "first come first serve" thread. I am the GM. I am going to be very selective about what becomes a part of this world's history, and there will be guidelines you will have to follow. Those guidelines are as follows:

1) Don't play to "win," but to create a setting that's fun to play in.
2) Adhere to the themes of the setting (which will be listed shortly).
3) Make certain your submissions adhere to the formats provided (which will be listed in the Characters tab).
4) Be ready to make changes based on my critique.
5) And generally don't be a dingleberry, okay?

Hopefully this seems pretty straightforward. Now, you may be thinking "Inlaa, this thread is starting to sound a little totalitarian." Well, yes: I am claiming complete rights to approve or disapprove of whatever pieces are submitted. Still, I am a friendly totalitarian dictator, so that makes it okay.

Jokes aside, I'm going to be selective, but anyone may submit material and I will give everything a serious critique. I only ask that if I tell you "No" you accept my answer rather than argue.

When I eventually create a roleplay based on this thread, I will allow people who participated in world creation the first opportunity to join. As with this thread, however, there will be no "first come first serve" basis for acceptance. If a potential player submits a character that I do not want in my thread, I will simply refuse them. So long as the character is acceptable, however, that player will have a spot in the roleplay.

Finally, please note that I am not going to rush the creation of the world. It will be done when it is done. It's as simple as that.

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Categories and Formats

So, if you want to submit something to be part of the world of Orvell, you need to use one of the seven formats included below. These seven formats represent the seven categories:

• Settlements - The bread and butter of most settings, these are places where people live: towns, cities, city-states, villages, hamlets, etc. They can be built just about anywhere based on who lives in them: in the mountains, on a volcano, around a lake, in a forest, whatever. There will be certain limitations, but we'll talk about this soon.
• Races - Every setting has different races in it. Sometimes these races aren't bound to any one place. They might be monsters for killing or something you intend to be playable in the future. Either way, you can write up a race - even if it's just dwarves or elves or kobolds - if you like.
• Terrain Features - Perhaps you want to talk about a certain mountain range, forest, or river. Perhaps there's a wetlands area that's been floating around in your head that you want to write about. Or, perhaps, you want to make something more fantastic: a crystal lake, a wall of obsidian, or floating sky islands. Stranger things have existed before, so why not make them here?
• History - Sometimes, the past is more important than the present. Maybe you don't want to add something onto the map, but instead want to talk about something that happened in the distant past. Was there a great war between the dwarves and elves? Were the orcs once a proud civilization that was rumored to have been ruled by an almighty wizard-king? Why is that ruin in the woods abandoned...? History is part of world building.
• Adventure Sites - These are places that people can go and explore. Dungeons, dark forests, forgotten tombs, strange portals - whatever would make for an interesting story. When writing these places, DO NOT spell out everything in these places; instead, be vague and talk about what the history and what the denizens might be.
• Important Characters - Important characters are people that have impacted the world in huge, powerful ways. This might be an elusive wizard that's spoken about only in legends, a legendary hero - either past or present - that has slain not one but three dragons, an ancient ent that has been around since the dawn of the world... etc. NOTE: Do not use this to make a character you want to play. Characters made in the world-building stage are NPCs ONLY.
• Important Organizations - Again, these organizations are important to the world in some way. Religious sects, the fantasy equivalent of the Illuminati, a secret demon-worshiping cabal, a thieves guild that spans several cities... Etc.

As stuff is finished and approved, I will add it to the relevant posts in the Characters section. With luck, enough content in all seven categories should be added over time until we have a large, fun-to-explore world in our hands.

I am going to make an example for each category for you to inspect. These examples will be found in the Characters section under their respective sections (one post per category). If you aren't sure where to start when creating a submission, it may be worth looking at my work (and the works others have made as they become approved) for an idea of what you're supposed to do. As of now, these examples are not complete, but they are being constructed at a fair pace. I will delete this message when I have finished making them all.

You will find the format you need to use in the hiders below. If you are unsure how to make your format look like mine, simply open the "No Parse" hider for a given format, then copy its contents and paste that into your reply.

Remember that anything you write here may be used by other players to add more to the world. You might make a nation of elves, for instance, and another player may use that nation as the birthplace of a character, the home of a criminal organization, or the antagonist in a piece of history. It's best to communicate with people whose material you want to use, and I will, as always, be the final arbiter when the time comes to approve or disapprove a submission.

PLEASE NOTE: Refrain from using trademarked material from other settings. Halfling, for instance, is NOT a trademarked term, but Hobbit is. Use Halfling, not Hobbit.

Settlement Format

<Picture - Completely Optional - Erase this is you do not have a picture>
Name: The name of the settlement. Just don't call it Pooptown or something, guys. Okay?
Summary: A few simple words that describe what your settlement is all about. For instance: Warlike Orcish Encampment, Beautiful but Corrupt Merchant Republic, and The City On the Edge of the Haunted Woods are all good summaries.
Location: Where is this place? You may describe its location on the map, post a picture with a clip from the map showing its location, or leave it up to me to decide where this place should be.
Type: Metropolis, City, Town, Village, Hamlet are all standard options for settlements. Fort and Fief are also options. If you have another idea for something, such as a monastery or mead hall, feel free to use that as the type instead. Keep these simple rules in mind: safety and numbers. First, settlements are generally "safe" places to be. A town may be crime-ridden, but at least a weary traveler can seek shelter there if they haven't angered the guards. Secondly, a settlement consists of multiple people, not some lonely ranger's hut.
Description: What does the place look, smell and sound like?
History: If there's anything historically relevant you want to mention, such as how this place came to be, let us know. If there's a History submission that relates to this, name it here.
Governance: Who rules this place? What system of government is there?
Culture: What do the people do for fun? What festivals or holidays do they have? What do the people want out of life? What is their art like if they have any?
Populace: Who lives in this place? What races can be found here?
Religion: Whom do the people worship? Do they pay homage to a specific deity? Are they highly religious or do they largely offer only lip service?
Economy: What do these people do for a living? What keeps the community afloat? Is it staying afloat?
Diplomacy: Do these people have friends or enemies among the other settlements? This is something you should discuss with other players, perhaps.
Military: How do the people protect themselves? Do they have a military force, perhaps?
Plot Hooks: What makes this place an interesting place to visit? What sort of adventures might someone expect to find in this settlement? What makes this a fun place for a GM to steer the story towards? Are there any important events that take place here or certain individuals / groups of notice lurking around?

NoParse

[IMG]WhateverYourPictureURLIs[/IMG]
[color=LightGreen][b]Name:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Summary:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Location:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Type:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Description:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]History:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Governance:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Culture:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Populace:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Religion:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Economy:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Diplomacy:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Military:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Plot Hooks:[/b][/color]

Race Format

<Picture - Completely Optional - Erase this is you do not have a picture>
Name: Your race has a name. At least, it should.
Playable?: Is this race meant to be playable or non-playable? Simply put "Yes" for playable or "No" for non-playable.
Appearance: What does the typical member of your race look like? What are the ranges of hair color, skin color, scale color or whatever? Do they have certain smells? What size are they? What is their build? Etc.
Culture: Are there any universal constants for your race? For instance, is your race typically warlike? Do they have certain religious trends? Are their ancestors important to them? Music? Values? Etc.
Outlook: How does your race view the world? How do they judge others? Obviously this is not a universal trait; not every member of this race will think this way. However, there should be common views held by these people.
Strengths: What are the strengths, typical skills, and special abilities of this race?
Weaknesses: What are the unique flaws and weaknesses of this race?
History: Present a rough history for your race, especially with some regard to how they fared during the existence of the Orvelli Empire. If there's a History submission that relates to this, name it here.

NoParse

[IMG]WhateverYourPictureURLIs[/IMG]
[color=LightGreen][b]Name:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Playable?:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Appearance:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Culture:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Outlook:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Strengths:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Weaknesses:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]History:[/b][/color]

Terrain Feature Format

<Picture - Completely Optional - Erase this is you do not have a picture>
Name: Terrain Features have important naming conventions. Namely, I'd rather not see a forest named something like The Kithsuuri Wood. Instead, call it The Black Forest, The Shadowed Wood, or The Ivory Elms. Names for terrain features should be descriptive like that. A mountain range may be called The Daggers for its dagger-like shape; perhaps a lake is called Winewater Lake because it has a sweet flavor that's useful when making wine. Maybe some orc-infested steppes are called, I'unno, The Orcish Steppes. Be creative! (Also, if you want to make some stranger terrain features - a lake made of crystal or a desert of red sand - then feel free to submit such a piece.)
Summary: A few simple words that describe what your terrain feature is all about. For instance: Cave-Covered Mountains, Hellish Desert, and Bounteous Lake of Fish are all perfectly good summaries.
Location: Where is this place? You may describe its location on the map, post a picture with a clip from the map showing its location, or leave it up to me to decide where this place should be.
Description: Describe this place to me, dawg. What's it like? Smells, looks, etc.
Denizens: Who might you find in this territory?
History (Optional): Some terrain features have some important history behind them. Feel free to explain it. If there's a History submission that relates to this, name it here.

NoParse

[IMG]WhateverYourPictureURLIs[/IMG]
[color=LightGreen][b]Name:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Summary:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Location:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Description:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Denizens:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]History (Optional):[/b][/color]

History Format

<Picture - Completely Optional - Erase this is you do not have a picture>
Name: What is the name of the historical event?
Time Frame: How long ago was this? A century? A decade? Did it predate the fall of the Orvelli Empire? Has the exact time frame been forgotten?
Description: What happened in this event? Who was involved?
Causes: What are some possible reasons this event happened? (For instance, a war might have started over a sex scandal or a political assassination.)
Significance: Why is this event so important and noteworthy?

NoParse

[IMG]WhateverYourPictureURLIs[/IMG]
[color=LightGreen][b]Name:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Time Frame:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Description:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Causes:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Significance:[/b][/color]

Adventure Site Format

<Picture - Completely Optional - Erase this is you do not have a picture>
Name: Names, man. Whoa. If you're making a terrain feature that happens to be an adventure site, it should have a descriptive name like The Smoldering Hills (for hills that always burn) or The Shivering Peaks (for really freakin' cold mountains) rather than, say, The Hills of Karthal or the like. Unless your adventure site is named after a historical event or legendary figure. If so... have at it.
Summary: A few simple words that describe what your adventure site is all about. For instance: Haunted Forest, Pirate Cove, Ruins of an Old Castle and Goblin-Infested Mountains are all good summaries.
Location: Where is this place? You may describe its location on the map, post a picture with a clip from the map showing its location, or leave it up to me to decide where this place should be.
Type: Abandoned castle? Deep, dark forest? Ancient battlefield? Whatever it is, tell me what type of adventure site this is. As with terrain features, feel free to submit something strange and weird. Remember: not all Adventure Sites are places you travel to when you want to kill monsters and find loot. Some have other, non-violent challenges to be overcome, such as riddles, traps, or difficult terrain. Others are not dangerous at all, but are still incredibly interesting places to visit...
Description: What does the place look, smell and sound like? What will you find in this place?
Denizens: Who - or what - lives here?
History: A brief (or long) history of this place. If there's a History submission that relates to this, name it here.
Plot Hooks: What makes this place a cool place to adventure? Be descriptive. Make me want to run an RP that takes you here.

NoParse

[IMG]WhateverYourPictureURLIs[/IMG]
[color=LightGreen][b]Name:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Summary:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Location:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Type:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Description:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Denizens:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]History:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Plot Hooks:[/b][/color]

Character Format

<Picture - Completely Optional - Erase this is you do not have a picture>
Name: Might come with a moniker or epithets. Y'know, "Marcus Maximus, The Bull of Rome" or something. Just don't use Rome. We're not on Earth. We're on Orvell. Duh.
Summary: A few simple words that describe what your character is all about. For instance: Reclusive Wizard, Paranoid King, Powerful Merchant and Corrupt Elven Bishop are all good summaries. A legendary monster, like a rampaging dragon of special note, may also be a character.
Appearance: What does this person look like?
Personality: What makes this person tick? (I bet they're a jerk.)
Background: Everyone's got a story. What's theirs?
Goals: What goals does this person have?
Abilities: A quick summary of their skills abilities.
Magic Spheres (Wizard ONLY): What sort of magic does this wizard wield? For more information on magic and Wizards, see the Themes section. Erase this line if you are not making a Wizard.
Role: What makes this person so important? What is their role in the world?
Plot Hooks: What are some plot hooks surrounding this particular individual? What would be a good reason to have them appear in an RP?

NoParse

[IMG]WhateverYourPictureURLIs[/IMG]
[color=LightGreen][b]Name:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Summary:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Appearance:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Personality:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Background:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Goals:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Abilities:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Magic Spheres (Wizard ONLY):[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Role:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Plot Hooks:[/b][/color]

Organization Format

<Picture - Completely Optional - Erase this is you do not have a picture>
Name: Look. It's a name. I think we're clear on that by now.
Summary: A few simple words that describe what your organization is all about. For instance: Thieves Guild, Wizard Cult, Workers Revolution and Secretive Multinational Manipulators are all good summaries.
Description: What is this organization like? What do they do? Is their existence common knowledge or secretive? If secretive, be sure to leave some details vague.
Areas of Influence: Does the organization have bases around the world? Where at? Who do they have the most influence over? Where is their headquarters?
Goals: What does this organization want?
History (Optional): What brought about the existence of this organization? What has it been involved in? If there's a History submission that relates to this, name it here.
Plot Hooks: What would make this organization fun to include in an adventure? Would it be an antagonistic or helpful force? Give me reasons to use this organization.

NoParse

[IMG]WhateverYourPictureURLIs[/IMG]
[color=LightGreen][b]Name:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Summary:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Description:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Areas of Influence:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Goals:[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]History (Optional):[/b][/color]
[color=LightGreen][b]Plot Hooks:[/b][/color]

Please remember: You are creating a world for yourself and others to play in. Don't make something because you want to see the halflings wiped out by dragon-men - make something because it would be interesting and engaging to interact with. Don't just make races and cities you want to play - make races that you want to fight, places you want to explore, or mysteries that you think others would like to solve. Again, do NOT "play to win." Instead, "play" to make the world a more interesting place.

Themes

There are several themes you should keep in mind when submitting content. They are as follows:

• Medieval Fantasy - Swords, axes, bows, crossbows! Dragons, manticores, wyverns, hydras! This is a world where mortals face off against each other and fantastic creatures with medieval era equipment.
• Points of Light / Fallen Empire - Our world stands upon the ashes of a once great empire. Much of the world is unexplored and dangerous. Bandits wait in ambush along the roads; dragons hoard gold in ancient halls; the restless dead rise from haunted battlefields. Still, civilization clings on; though the old Imperial Highway may be difficult to traverse, people yet live in city-states and small realms scattered about the continent. Nobody travels alone in these days: adventurers form companies, merchants travel in well-guarded caravans, and anyone that wants to settle a new village is careful to make sure they settle near other villages for defense. Wars are waged between neighboring city-states as they vie to procure new lands, but the threat of a monstrous invasion lurks in the back in the minds of the rulers of the frontier kingdoms...
• Magic Users Are Rare - Wizards are not a dime a dozen. Wizards are, in fact, incredibly rare and powerful beings, similarly to how rare they are in the Lords of the Rings series. Mages are famous people that wield considerable power and strictly are not playable. You should feel free to make them as characters, but don't expect to play that mage. Furthermore, remember that mages are incredibly powerful, moreso than mortals, and some may even be worshiped as deities.
• We Must Have Faith - There are no clerics calling down the wrath of the heavens. The Gods themselves do not walk the land, nor do their avatars. No: much like in the real world, a person that believes in a God must simply have faith that they exist.
• One Continent - Everything we're building will be on one subcontinent. There may be other continents out there, but we don't know where they are or what exists in them. We're sort of backwards like that.
• Hope - This is not a grimdark setting. Yes, the world is pretty awful. Yes, the mortal realms are ruled by self-serving monarchs; there are bandits and monsters; even the dead cannot always seem to find rest, as proven by how they rise from tombs and graves at the beck and call of some supernatural force. Still, we press on. Still, we keep our eyes to the sky, hopeful that a better, brighter future awaits out world. The world may be against us, but adventurous heroes can make the world a better place. They have to.

On Wizards

In the world of Orvell there may only ever be thirteen Wizards at a time. These Wizards are supremely powerful individuals that command enough power that people sometimes confuse them for gods. And perhaps they are gods: they wield such powers, beautiful and terrible, that the world is changed by their presence. Monsters fear them. The most ancient of races appeal to them for help and guidance. Some travel the world as simple wanderers, others as adventurers, and some prefer to stay locked away in solitude. A few make themselves protectors of others or deign it fit to rule cities and kingdoms.

Wizards have control over specific spheres of power. These may be elemental spheres (earth, fire, water, air), or they may be abstract spheres (life, death, chaos, order). The elemental spheres are usually very visible and physical whereas the abstract spheres are often less so. Fire, for instance, allows a wizard to whip up great balls of fire, choke people with ash and emit blinding flashes of light. By contrast, Order can revitalize the morale of fearful warriors, turn the tide of a battle and make a realm more peaceful. This is not to say that there are no physical manifestations of the abstract magics; far from it. Death can spread disease and decay and is the source of the undead; Life can heal and banish the powers of Death; Chaos can make arrows fly in ways that defy the laws of nature and cause strange hallucinations; and Order can manifest itself as bolts and barriers of raw magical power.

When designing a Wizard, choose two spheres that Wizard has control over. Their magical powers are a mix-and-match of these spheres. A Wizard that controls Fire and Water, for instance, has control over both of those elements and may mix them to create steam magic or to boil someone's blood. Stuff like that.

Wizards may be members of any race... At least, they appear to be members of one of the other races. It is believed they are another species in and of themselves; after all, they are immortal beings, able to live for all eternity. They can be killed, however, but when they are killed another Wizard is born somewhere in the world. Thus, there are always thirteen Wizards, never more and never less.

Wizards are NPC characters ONLY. You will not play a Wizard.

Final Notes

Since you have read this far, you may begin submitting things. You may want to read the Characters Tab to see what's already been posted (I'll have seven sections and constantly edit in content there). You should try to make both things you want to play and things you think would be fun to face in an adventure. If you plan to write but not to join the roleplay thread, that's fine as well - just make whatever you think is interesting and I'll tell you if I accept or deny each given piece.

Some of this information may already have been stated, but I'll say it all again:

The first roleplay for this setting will begin when I feel the setting is complete.

The setting will be complete when I believe it needs no further submissions.

Submissions may still be made after the setting is finished, but I may be less likely to accept them.

I expect some decent quality from your submissions and will critique them as they're presented. I reserve the right to refuse your submissions.

Anything I accept for use in this setting may be used by other players for their own submissions.

You are expected to cooperate with your fellow world builders to create a vibrant setting.

Dark dungeons, ferocious monsters and bandits that plague the roads are all just as desirable as city-states, legendary heroes, and so forth.

Sometimes, it's better to make something small than something big. You don't need to have vampires, dragons and demons to have a cool adventure site. Some goblins ruled by a warlord can be just as threatening and interesting as a vampire lord ruling his lonely keep.

It pays to be vague, sometimes. It can be better for the details of an Adventure Site or non-playable Race to be a little vague and uncertain, for instance, and it can make them better opponents.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Organized Setting Building

I'll get right on that!

EDIT: Are there any color codes I should be aware of?

@Hansa

Pretty straight-forward:

The green on most of the map is plains/grasslands. The slightly darker green is hilly grasslands. The really, really dark green is forest.

You'll notice there are some gray-green areas with lots of water running through them. Those are swamps.

Light gray is the start of a mountain. Dark grey is higher altitude mountain. White is snowy peaks.

Yellow = desert. Slightly darker yellow = hilly desert / dunes.

Blue = water. I'm pretty that one came out of left field. ...That's a joke. It's a bad joke, but a joke nevertheless.

EDIT: As an aside, light / thin forests do exist in the grassy areas, but they're thin enough that they don't need to be mapped. Dark-dark green = dense forest.

Organized Setting Building

Also, just a thought for the distant futre, this continent and Sophias could be part of the same world.

@Pripovednik

No, those are two very different settings with very different themes. They are separate worlds.

Also understand that I am going to be very selective about what I allow to be part of this world. Some people will inevitably either be told "No" or "Go edit your submission in these ways and I'll consider letting it in." That's just how it is.

Also when will a thread be up? I would probably be ready to write up some stuff r/n

@Pripovednik

As I've said a few times, it will be up some time today (Tuesday). I can't say precisely when as I've got quite a bit to do today.

Do The Eagles Circle The Mountains? - A Eastern "Middle Ages" Fantasy RP

So, I've gotten part of a post hammered out (finally, I know) and will be posting it tomorrow some time. I wanted to make sure I'd read stuff thoroughly enough to be caught up, and the roleplay seems to be moving slowly, so I felt safe in taking my time.

But yeah: post is coming tomorrow and is about 1/3 of the way done.

The Silver Dagger

Somehow, the overburdened woman's struggle brought a massive grin back to Ayla's face. It was too much. She burst out laughing as the shouting woman answered Alexander's question for him, and she strode on up to the door. There, she set her keg of rum down, giving the deer-toting woman as serious a look as she could muster - which is to say she was barely able to hold back further laughter and tears - and opened the door, just like that.

"Just in time," she replied, knowing fully well just how long the woman had been waiting there. "We'll have something to sup on along with our liquid courage. Get you in, then; we're all looking to join this lodge!"

And, being the sort of woman she was, Ayla stepped on in first, hefting her barrel back up as she went, letting out a happy sigh as she breathed in the smell of what was soon to be venison. She wondered idly if there'd be a mess on the floor, but that was probably someone else's job. Perhaps the dark-skinned woman would clean it, given she'd not lugged a barrel into the building. That seemed fitting.

"Oi!" she called as she entered the common room. "Thaler, sir! We've a grand feast to present, we do!"

Faction:Martian Front (The Luna Wars Were a Thing)

Agreed. I'd rather not make a second post in a row.

That said, I'll stick around with this RP if it takes a month for the next post to come, etc. I enjoy it a lot.