Kingdom of Pólemos || Pólemos, Pólemesian/Polem

King Stavros Kokinos, King of Pólemos
Age: 51 years
Notes:
--- is loved by his people
--- believed in expansion, but did not think the navy needed expanding
--- personally requested Princess Agatha when Pólemos demanded the province of Lea, having fallen in love with her at first sight
--- only really allows gender equality to keep peace; is himself somewhat misogynistic and elitist
Queen Agape, Queen of Pólemos, deceased
Age: 27 years (she would be 47 now)
Notes:
--- died in childbirth
--- she was renamed Agape, but was born Agatha, and was originally a princess of a neighboring country called Durham who was betrothed to Stavros at 16 to stave off war (as well as Pólemos being given the province Lea); they were married the following year when Stavros was 21
--- was beloved

Red, Bright Red, Black, and Gold, but most people wear white or light blues or pinks to deal with the heat || #A72D03, #D63903, #030303, #FFBE65

strong military, somewhat weaker navy, bathing, being predominantly polytheistic, tradition, ruins of a coliseum (ended in 1674 by Prince Elias Kokinos’ namesake, King Elias Mávros)
— They are highly traditional, but the tradition is far more open than one would think:
— — Pólemesians still believe dying in combat or dying in childbirth are the most honorable ways to die
— — proper funeral rites include having one’s body burned and the ashes done with as either the deceased has requested or as the family wishes, whether that be stored in urns with the rest of the family or mixed with other ashes or spread in various places
— — mourning/grieving lasts two months and is denoted by wearing darker colors; deep reds, dark blues, or black are the most popular colors
— — all men must serve at least five years in the military, and you can start serving at the age of 18 (upped from 16 in 1949); most men have completed their mandatory service by 24
— — if a draft is imposed, all able-bodied and able-minded men (and sometimes women, too) between the ages of 18 and 30 are asked to fight for their country; however, seeing as women are the only sex capable of repopulation, drafts typically do not include women unless a special regulation is added, which usually limits the age range as 18 to 24 (men are essentially viewed as expendable in this equation)
— — women can choose to take on military careers/services if they so choose, and are trained just as hard as men; a woman in the military is oftentimes more skilled than the men in her company, and held to twice the regard
— — as to be expected, the military is one of the noblest professions, with primary glory being reserved for the army, followed by the marines, then the navy, then coast guard
— hair is still considered a sign of status; it is not at all surprising to see both men and women alike with long hair, and the royal family holds pride and even rankings in their hair length, with kings and crown princes being allowed to have the longest hair, with any other princes typically keeping it at shoulder-length (queens and princesses can have their hair at any length)

— millennia old, dating back well into BC/BCE
— bloody expansion period in the early 1200s, with most territories and old reclaimed countries being given back to their people in the mid 1400s
— past royal family names include Thálamos, Syfirí, Docheío, and Mávros, and the current ruling house is Kokinos
— became a version constitutional monarchy with the Senate taking more power and giving the people more power as well in 1865
— 1949 marked massive strides for gender equality, including giving women the right to vote, equal pay, and access to legal and safe abortions (something that had been outright outlawed in 1865, after having been available in ancient times through the long-extinct plant silphium and other plants and herbs; while not classified as illegal back then, there were times when an abortion back then would have been illegal, as in when the landowning husband died without an heir and the wife was pregnant at the time of death)
— 1949 also marked massive strides for workers’ rights and child labor laws, including raising the age of adulthood to from 16 to 18; this also increased the legal drinking age
— 1987: the then-Prince Stavros Kokinos makes a bold move by convincing his father to demand a temporarily-weaker neighboring country, Durham, to hand over a province, but when they went to negotiate, Stavros came up with another idea: no battle, but marriage to their Princess Agatha the following year when he turned 21 and the province of Lea; it was agreed, and Lea now is considered a Pólemesian territory
— 1998: Queen Agape (formerly Princess Agatha) dies from complications during childbirth while giving birth to Princess Dafni

Amaranthine Carinae Loveridge

council member (Perse doesn’t have royalty per se), heiress to the Loveridge legacy (therefore essentially an unofficial princess of Perse)

19

female

demiromantic heterosexual

Slender and rather unassuming in appearance, one wouldn’t expect Amaranthine to hold as much power as she does. In fact, she rather looks as if she could be blown away by a strong wind. Some might even say it looks as if there’s fairy blood in her, but that’s just from the more fanciful Perseans (of which there are several hundreds if not thousands who fit that description.).
With blonde hair showcasing caramel undertones and green-hazel eyes that often appear darker/nearly brown at times and lighter green in others, there is a sense of intrigue to her appearance, as if it changes with every moment. The fact she prefers simplicity over the many layers and accessories of the others in Perse adds to the sense she’s from another time.

sweet, innocent, curious, rebellious, determined, introverted, secretive, intelligent, trusting, trustworthy, mysterious, impatient

Under the gentle and sweet exterior of Amaranthine’s demeanor flows a river of steel. Not only that but she’s a study in contrasts, to an extent: introverted and secretive, yet also determined and with a streak of rebelliousness to herself that she rarely shows to anyone. Instead, people see her intelligence and wit, tempered by her innate innocence to seem entirely palatable and generally want to be by her side. It doesn’t hurt that she could probably tell them their futures if they so wished. Not only that but it’s likely that she’d be curious about that information anyhow, especially if the person was dear to herself or from a country outside of Perse. However, the only time she shows any sort of true patience is when she’s using her cards and it can be particularly difficult to get through her walls. People have tried, yet she has yet to actually fall in love with anyone.

Likes: blackberry wine, classical music, the Tarot, violets, stories about other countries, silk, jewels (only on accessories), scarves, velvet, loose dresses, helping people, fresh air
Dislikes: being the center of attention, waiting, arguments, corsets, greed, impatience (yes, even her own), hurting people, pain, blood, being told what to do, enclosed spaces, suspicion

From the time of her birth, there was no question who Amaranthine would be. In fact, some people say she’s the reincarnation of Carinae, and there isn’t much that her family could say to dissuade the rumors. In fact, there is a lot to the young girl that is similar to her ancestor. She’s always had a healthy curiosity for what’s outside the borders of Perse, but she’s also never been able to deny her birthright either. The women of the Loveridge family have always been members of the council. Her sister couldn’t escape that, and neither could she as she took her place on the council as soon as she turned sixteen, which in Perse stands as the age when a child becomes an adult. The streak of rebellion in her is tempered by her introversion. The thought of refusing what was expected of her has never crossed her mind, even as she has retained the curiosity toward the other countries surrounding Perse.
In general, family lines in Perse are matrilineal, especially in the Loveridge family, and Amaranthine knows that she’s expected to continue that tradition. The problem is that she’s never had reason to consider romance, although she has no difficulty suggesting it to others in her readings. From a young age, she was taught about the Tarot and how to read the cards, and she’s become rather adept at the skill, yet her preference has always been more internal, focused more on her dreams and analyzing them. For a part of her has always wondered what is outside of Perse, yet she’s never had the courage to try and see what is out there. As far as anyone else can see, she is content with what she’s been given, although she has no difficulty using some of her power to help those less fortunate than her. Any desires beyond helping her people are secret. She hasn’t found any reason to prove otherwise, but that doesn’t stand to reason that one day her curiosity might come to the forefront and throw Perse into a new way of life.

Face claim: Remi Bennett; color code: 662d91

TBD

Skills: cartomancy, gaining people’s trust

Perse

There is no absolute ruler of Perse, but the country is governed by a council made up of 22 citizens representing the cards of the Major Arcana, although unofficially the ruling family is the Loveridges, of which their head is currently Hyacinth Loveridge, Amaranthine’s mother and the council member representing the Empress card.

purple, gold, and silver

Officially, Perse is known for being the land where anyone is welcome, and where anyone can find out their future or experience fantasy for a price. There is a deep sense of culture in the country, and a belief in myth and legend and a focus on the more theatrical aspects of stage magic and divination seems more de rigueur than unexpected.
Motto: “Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give”
Values: unusual, creative, psychic, humanitarian, selfless, fantasy, the future
Religion: Wiccan
Style: The style of Perse is very eclectic, ranging from fantastical fairy dresses and heavy embroidery in the lower castes, occasionally the upper as well, to silks, satins, sequins and jewels int he upper castes. There is also a heavy focus on jewelry as well as scarves and other accessories. It isn't uncommon to find people in the cities wearing flower crowns speaking with someone covered in jewels.
Main Export: information (especially when it comes to those interested in their futures), berries, flowers, amethysts
Gemstone: amethyst
Animal: the Purple Emperor butterfly
Flower/Plant: violet

The country of Perse was founded 175 years ago, when Carinae Loveridge traveled beyond the boundaries of the existing countries and found a land deep in the mountains where it was fully believable that all things mystical still existed, as opposed to what she’d been used to back in her homeland, where her skill in precognition via the Tarot and other less magical forms of divination was seen as nearly useless and most certainly strange as there wasn’t a large population of people who practiced that. (i.e. Not a lot of Romany-like citizens there)
Anything seemed possible in this new land of amethyst mountains and fields of flowers, and soon enough, she had convinced others to join her there. All people with similar abilities and cultural beliefs as she had, and all looking for somewhere they were accepted. The capital city of Persepolis quickly grew near the center of the country, surrounded by small settlements and both flower and berry fields that soon became part of the few exports the country began sending elsewhere. Amethyst mines were dug into the mountains as well, and soon enough the new country became a bustling center of all things mysticism and, to an extent, psychological. The ruling council soon followed, created via vote at first, although afterward the positions passed down along family lines. Understandably, Carinae held a high position, and her descendants still hold positions on the council, along with the descendants of those first families who followed Carinae there.

Demonym: Persean
Government: republic
Population: 800,000
The Council:
None (0 or 22): The Fool (Loki Clayton, Andy Serkis)
1: The Magician (Casamir Boswell, Timothy Omundson)
2: The High Priestess (Madeleine Lee, Miranda Richardson)
3: The Empress (Hyacinth Loveridge, Gillian Anderson)
4: The Emperor (Darrik Clayton, Neal McDonough)
5: The Hierophant (Mychal Lovell, Gary Oldman)
6: The Lovers (Echo Buckley, Emma Dumont)
7: The Chariot (Byron Lovell, Harry Lloyd)
8 (or 11): Justice (Veronica Stanley, Jessica Brown Findlay)
9: The Hermit (Cecil Buckley, Liam Cunningham)
10: Wheel of Fortune (Nico Buckland, Grey Damon)
11 (or 8): Strength (Iris Ayres, Rose Leslie)
12: The Hanged Man (August Gray, Alan Tudyk)
13: Death (Aidan Gray, Charles Dance)
14: Temperance (Delphinium Lee, Michelle Fairley)
15: The Devil (Solomon Elliott, David Gandy)
16: The Tower ( Celia Lee, Kathleen Robertson)
17: The Star (Amaranthine Loveridge, Remi Bennett)
18: The Moon (Wisteria Lovell, Juno Temple)
19: The Sun (Terenei Loveridge, Vlada Rosylakova)
20: Judgment (Samson Elliott, David Strathairn)
21: The World (Elinoire Loveridge, Maggie Smith)

Delia Arachne Heraclius-Nikephoros

Crown Princess and Heir to the Throne

17

Female

Heterosexual

Fairly tall for her age, standing at a respectable 5'11" (180 cm) in height. Long russet brown hair, often styled into a strict braid-bun for public outings; in more private settings, she leaves it loose.

Delia takes immense pride in her looks, necessitating hours of preparation when presenting herself to the public, and following a strict diet and exercise regime. As a result, she's also not as dainty as her appearance suggests, her body lithe yet sturdy - the body of an athlete, if the said athlete was also a model in her spare time.

In terms of wardrobe, she's been given nothing but the best. Publicly she prefers to wear dresses and though the designs vary, the colors involved are consistent: dark blue, red, and gold - The national colors of her Empire.

In private, she prefers clothes that are more comfortable, such as dressing gowns or robes.

Critical and severe, with a stubborn personality that does not easily bend to others reasoning - no matter how good their intentions may be. She has a strict set of beliefs that she does not easily compromise.

As critical as she is with others, so she is to herself - an overachiever and an unforgiving taskmaster, she will work herself - not to mention others - rigorously to ensure that her standards are met. Most find that those that do no meet them often find her to be as unforgiving as she is stubborn.

Conservative in her beliefs but nonetheless her revolutionary blood shows itself clearly; traditions that stand in the way of her Empires prosperity are easily thrown away. Her single-minded pursuit of her goals have earned her a reputation for ruthlessness and fears that she may become a tyrant worse than her father.

It is difficult to get on her good side, but those that do find that she is a stalwart and loyal ally. Though not exactly "friendly", she nevertheless is defensive and more compliant with those she considers allies.

Even more difficult than earning her goodwill is her friendship. Those that earn earn her friendship will find that she is trusting to an almost naive degree, and may even find themselves graced with one of her rare smiles.

Of course, on the flip-side, it is startlingly easy to earn her enmity - provided one pushes the right buttons, and nothing irritates her more intensely than the shirking of ones responsibilities.

Likes:
+ Spicy food
+ Classical music
+ Books (of the trashy romance kind)
+ Discipline
+ Exercise
+ Success
+ Being praised
+ Hardwork
+ Ice-cream

Dislikes:
- Cheaters
- Liars
- Irresponsibility
- Marshmallows
- Tabloids
- Gossip
- Failure
- Coffee & Tea w/milk

The darling daughter of the Emperor of Megara. She was born into an era where chaos had ended, but its death throes still left lasting effects on a ravaged kingdom. She was not raised as a typical royal - though she was not poor, and in fact was as wealthy as royalty was expected to be - spending on frivolities was impossible, not while all the money was being funneled into the stabilizing of what would soon prove to be a fledgling Empire.

As such, she spent much of her youth in the company of the lowborn, her subjects, particularly soldiers, who passed through the palace 24/7. This ground her to the reality of what the denizens of what would be her Empire had faced, and would face, should they once again be brought low.

This, combined with the accomplishments of her practically legendary parents, taught her that leaders - in particular, royals must be different from commoners. Noblesse Oblige was not merely a code of conduct, it was a fact of life for her, a natural consequence of royalty being better than all others. Her drive to improve the livelihood of her subjects did not go unnoticed, and at 9 years old she was made to shadow palace officials and watch them work. By age 11 she was tasked with assisting with their work. By the time she hit her teenage years, she was given a place as a ranking official - though her regular schooling continued, albeit she . By the time she hit 17, she was given the rank of General Logothete, with personal power and jurisdiction over the taxation and funds of the entire Empire.

Accusations of cronyism would not have been unexpected at this point - the teenaged daughter of the Emperor put in charge of the money? It would seem like blatant corruption to the uninformed - however, those that had worked with her noted her sterling record, and her unnatural drive to succeed. Coupled with a prodigious talent with numbers, she was every bit as capable as those 20 years her senior. Her improvements to the laws and process of licencing for business in particular endeared her to the masses, who greatly benefited from the influx of local businesses and job opportunities.

Nevertheless, her sterling record is not without its blackmarks - her increased taxes on Muslim-owned businesses have earned her a considerable number of detractors, as well as her diverting the budget to military expenditure.

In time, the invitation to Aciras, as well as her intended betrothal, were made public. Her reaction to the announcement was debate with her father on who should take her place in the government.

(Face claim not required; color code

REQUIRED if you changed from original)

(TBD)

(add anything you want; fun

aesthetic-y stuff; please use hiders for any of these, pets, fun

facts, etc)

Megarian Empire

(include names, at the very least. can

also include pics and personality, but it's optional)

(if you have specific color code in

mind, include it here)

(what is it famous for? any

stereotypes we should be aware of? etc)

(try to keep this concise/include a

TL;DR if you end up writing more than a couple paragraphs-this is

meant for quick, easy reference)

(add anything you want)