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[indent][color=darkgray]Before Ardall the Great arrived, Ardacia was a secret to the world, known as "Nokulikulk" to the hut-dwelling natives that called it home. It meant "Dirt Which is Precious" in their harsh tongue, a fact Ardall would only learn as an old man after conquering their precious dirt, appointing scholars and pacified natives to the task of translating his subject's language. Ardall's conquest was a relatively quick ordeal -- The natives of Nokulikulk, while having tales boasting of troll-slayers and dragon-chasers among their rank, had never seen the steel, formations, or horses Ardall brought with him, and were smashed in every engagement until Ardall's forces had reached the frozen northern shores. Since this conquest, the sons and grandsons of Ardall have been the emperors of Ardacia, maintained through the imperial house of Arda, stewards of Verania. So it has been for five hundred years.

The Ardacians, as they are now known, are comprised of many kingdoms under the banner of an empire. While more or less the same in culture, following the faith brought to the continent by Ardall and following the same social conventions from coast to coast, there are still a great number of differences from kingdom to kingdom. In the imperial city, lords drink spiced wine out of crystal goblets while they gaze out at the Conqueror's Sea, while clans on the northern coasts past the Valley of Tears tell thousands-year old stories in Oldtongue in torchlit caves. It is not the similarities or alliances between kingdoms that has held Ardacia together for half a millennium -- kingdoms come and go in marriage alliances, petty feuds blown into wars, or trifle arguments over acres of land. It is the power of the House of Arda that has maintained the Empire, and the times they have used this power to serve its people.[/color][/indent]

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[hider=Sheets][hider=Character Sheet][pre][CENTER][h1][color=#000000]NAME[/color][/h1]
[img]IMAGE[/img][/center]

[color=000000][sub][ ◉ ]Appearance[/sub][/color][hr][indent][color=7e6e75]A description of how your character appears, smells, acts, speaks, and other things you'd only know by being in their presence.[/color][/indent]

[color=000000][sub][ ◉ ]Personality[/sub][/color][hr][indent][color=7e6e75]A list of traits with individual explanations. This should line up with their history and reputation.[/color][/indent]

[color=000000][sub][ ◉ ]History[/sub][hr][/color][indent][color=7e6e75]A list of important events with individual explanations. These events should be catalysts that have shaped them as well as recent events.[/color][/indent]

[color=000000][sub][ ◉ ]Power[/sub][/color][hr][indent][color=7e6e75]How much sway does your character hold? Do they command armies, or the knights of a single keep, or nobody at all? Are they a skilled warrior, or do they need protection? Could they afford protection? How big of a deal are you?[/color][/indent][/pre][/hider]

[hider=Nation Sheet][pre][CENTER][h1][color=#000000]NATION NAME[/color][/h1]
[img]SIGIL IMAGE[/img][/center]

[color=000000][sub][ ◉ ]Culture[/sub][/color][hr][indent][color=7e6e75]A list of cultural facets unique to your nation with individual explanations. This should line up with their history and geography.[/color][/indent]

[color=000000][sub][ ◉ ]History[/sub][/color][hr][indent][color=7e6e75]A list of important events with individual explanations.[/color][/indent]

[color=000000][sub][ ◉ ]Geography[/sub][hr][/color][indent][color=7e6e75]An explanation of your nation's climate, as well as flora and fauna unique to your nation.[/color][/indent]

[color=000000][sub][ ◉ ]Trade[/sub][hr][/color][indent][color=7e6e75]A list of things your nation exports with short, individual explanations.[/color][/indent]

[color=000000][sub][ ◉ ]Great House[/sub][/color][hr][indent][color=7e6e75]The royal family of your nation. House _______.[/color][/indent]

[color=000000][sub][ ◉ ]House Specialty[/sub][hr][/color][indent][color=7e6e75]The skill, proficiency, genetic trait, or business that makes your house special.[/color][/indent]

[color=000000][sub][ ◉ ]House Artifact[/sub][hr][/color][indent][color=7e6e75]The ancient magical artifact held by your king.[/color]

[color=000000][sub][ ◉ ]House Keep[/sub][hr][/color][indent][color=7e6e75]Your house's base of operations. Include any significant details.[/color][/indent][/indent]
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[hider=Map][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/458604525931200533/460285770570399754/colors.png[/img][/hider]
[hider=Rules]
I. The most important thing is to respect and follow the rules of our host site, which is no question. The themes are undoubtedly mature but we need to understand what we can and cannot write blatantly. Prose has many techniques referential and subtle where we can show the idea without outright being overtly over the line. If there’s sexual content there is always “fade to black”, if it is a particularly dark and questionable scene it can be referenced or hinted at instead of shown.

II. Respect fellow role-players. This is a collaborative project in nature so we shan’t dismiss or patronize those we should be working together with—lighthearted humor is fine but remember not to insult outright or start flame-wars; generally you know the drill so don’t be a dick and things should be kosher.   

III. No meta-gaming—in Game of Thrones Robb Stark wasn’t prepared for the Red Wedding, so by good logic you shouldn’t be as well. The characters can’t know things outside of their timeframe, knowledge, and so on.

IV. Characters can and will die in this role-play. This means if five armed swords surround an unarmed individual there will be certainly a terrible end. Although, this is not to say GM’s or other players can kill others outright and without consultation—the characters in your house sheet are your de facto legacy characters and you have a say in plot progression but do remember this is a game of collaboration.

V. This is a role-play of interaction, character development, story progression—not one that fits the sub-forums of arena or nation RP. While yes, as rulers we have militaries and soldiers we should remember the sole purpose is not to do so. Interaction should be diverse and dick-measuring contest should be absent or at least kept to a minimum.[/hider]