[center][sub][sub][url=https://www.artstation.com/artwork/vgwlv]Art by Guillem H. Pongiluppi[/url][/sub][/sub][/center][img]https://i.imgur.com/s0aMjVc.png[/img][right][sup][h2][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvNZeh6f8vE]π…ž[/url] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U62YkXZNs8M&list=PLAE502D4A62E2441A&index=82]π…Ÿ[/url] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mxCiIXRaWY]𝅘𝅥𝅮[/url] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyeXnF_WQrM]𝅑[/url] [url=https://discord.gg/ca9wJNkMyB]Discord[/url][/h2][/sup][/right][hr][h1][u]King's Decree[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h1] [b][u]First: The Story[/u] |[/b] Welcome to Oriflamme: a low fantasy RPG set in the same world as [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/187336-the-hourglass-order/ooc]The Hourglass Order[/url]. Taking place eight hundred years prior, during the Dark Ages, it shares much of the same lore and deals with the coalescence and founding of the nation of Perrence. This takes place against the backdrop of merciless and persistent raids and invasions by the southern 'barbarians' known as Eskandr. Yet, this is not a story without nuance. Within Parrence, as it is then called, exist a great many nationless, including the non-human yasoi and the steppes people known as Tourrare. These often exist in tension with an increasingly hierarchical state. The 'heathen' invaders face issues of their own, as well. Their northernmost brethren - the Drudgunzeans - are increasingly forsaking their ancient ways and the faith of their fathers in favour of the Perrench religion of Quentism. You'll be playing warriors of a great many sorts who have answered the young king's call to fight for their country or else those who resist or even the very barbarians who seek to destroy it in order to preserve their ascendance. [b][u]Second: Character Creation[/u] |[/b] This RPG involves magic and a handful of fantasy creatures, but is more concerned with a degree of realism than most fantasy. To that end, you'll be playing human (or yasoi) characters. You are allowed a concurrent maximum of two. These should be setting-appropriate, which means no clockwork tinkerers, half-elves with violet eyes, unusually tall emo kids, rebellious princess-knights, or anime main characters. The people that you create don't have to revel in their outward uniqueness simply for its own sake. They can be archetypes but still be compelling if thought, nuance, and heart go into making them. Good Dark Ages character art is also [i]very[/i] difficult to find, so I'll be allowing some leeway, but this is not a D&D campaign or an anime. Characters' attire should be practical and reflect their setting and role. [b][u]Third: Conduct[/u] |[/b] This will be a fast-paced game with plenty of action, intrigue, politics, and exploration. It will have a clearly defined goal and ending. Players will be expected to adhere to the standard rules on powerplaying, metagaming, and 'asspulling'. Play this game in good faith and it'll be rewarding. If you find yourself very focused on 'winning' against other players as opposed to telling a collaborative story, then I'd ask you to look elsewhere. In terms of activity level, I'm looking for at least two paragraphs per post a minimum of once per week. If you don't think that you can keep up with that activity level, then this isn't for you. If you go inactive on the forum and on discord without prior notice for more than a week, I will ping and Direct Message you. If you fail to respond after a second week of inactivity... your character will fall in service of the kingdom or join the Visitor in GrΓΈnhal. [b][u]Fourth: Deaths[/u] |[/b] As participants in a wartime game, you run the risk of character death. These will not be random acts of the Gods, but risky choices are, well... risky. That is not to discourage risk-taking. There may be sizable rewards as well, but ill-advised decisions (and you will always receive a warning of the risks and possible benefits if you would like one) can also result in the maiming or death of your character. You are free, however, to re-enter with a second character if your first is taken by Echeran. You'll only be permanently kicked from the game in instances of counterproductive behaviour or extended inactivity without notice. [b][u]Fifth: Character Roles[/u] |[/b] There are four Loyalties (otherwise known as factions) and eleven Callings (otherwise known as classes). Some are fairly unique and there will be caps on how many characters are allowed of these types. For the sake of realism, if your character is going against the societal grain, I would like to see good, nuanced, developed reasons as to why. If you're rebelling in some way, it needs to have a compelling internal logic and thoughtful emotional justification. In general, to ensure a balanced spread of characters that reflects the spirit of the game, we'll be using a quota system. If there are too many characters submitted for a particular quota, the one best suited to the direction of the narrative will be taken. The other player may submit an alternate character if they wish. You may find the current quotas and roster in the Zeroth post of the Characters tab. [hr][hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/oSATD6S.jpg?1[/img][/center][hr][hr][h1][u]The World[/u]_________ __ __ _ _[/h1][sub][i]For a higher resolution view with more details, right click the image, open in a new tab, and magnify. To view the world 800 years in the future, click [url=https://i.imgur.com/epFg740.png]here[/url] (warning: spoilers).[/i][/sub] [img]https://i.imgur.com/IXSPzOC.png[/img] The world of Sipente, where our story takes place, is vast and complex, governed by the laws of nature and magic but, to its people, by those of the divine Pentad as covered in the holy Menanne. All Parrench and many Drudgunzeans believe firmly that it was through the will of the Gods that all things were brought into existence, by their leave that man flourishes, and by their wrath that he fails. Distinct from most fantasy settings, this world is very much in its equivalent to the Dark Ages (though the later part of them). Tactics and technology are simpler than in later medieval times: castles humbler, siege warfare in its infancy, good steel more valuable, and mounted knights a relatively new innovation. Full plate armour does not yet exist. The trebuchet has not been invented. Still developing, too, are the social codes that will come to define the middle ages: chivalry is a mere idea that some people have, nobility is still as much a state of being and behaviour as it is a status that one inherits. Magic has become less schooled and more arcane, still widely used but with much of its written form and finer points having been lost. Kingdoms are generally small and evanescent in nature. Parrence is the first truly large one to form north of the Asquelle since the fall of the Avincian Empire. Its success or failure may very well determine what the continent's future will look like. Many are the peoples, places, beasts, and legends of this world. In the guides below, only those that may play a role in our story will be covered. While it is not essential, if you'd like a more in-depth understanding, it is recommended that you engage with the portions of the posts below that are labeled 'A Deeper Understanding'. You can also look at the extensive lore of [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/187336-the-hourglass-order/ooc]The Hourglass Order[/url]. Finally, you are strongly encouraged to join our [url=https://discord.gg/ca9wJNkMyB]Sipenta Discord[/url]. For your convenience, you'll also find a character sheet template below, as well as in the Characters tab. [hider=Character Sheet][code][color=6B8E23][h1][u][color=A52A2A]C[/color]haracter [color=A52A2A]N[/color]ame[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h1] [img]Character Image[/img] [sub][h3][u]A G E[/u] | [u]G E N D E R[/u] | [u]L O Y A L T Y[/u] | [u]G I F T[/u] | [u]C A L L I N G[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] [sub][h3][u]C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] [i]A description of your character's appearance, motivation, and personality.[/i] [sub][h3][u]B A C K G R O U N D[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] [i]A description of your character's life, experiences, and circumstances up to this point.[/i] [sub][h3][u]I N V E N T O R Y[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] [i]A description of items regularly in your character's possession or owned by them.[/i] [sub][h3][u]T H E G I F T[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] [i]A description of your character's abilities with The Gift, Five Wheels rating, favoured schools, and how they're used.[/i] [sub][h3][u]S T R E N G T H S & S K I L L S[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] ❖ [i]Three[/i] ❖ [i]to four[/i] ❖ [i]of these[/i] ❖ [i]go here[/i] [sub][h3][u]W E A K N E S S E S & F L A W S[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] ❖ [i]Three[/i] ❖ [i]to four[/i] ❖ [i]of these[/i] ❖ [i]go here[/i] [sub][h3][u]C O L O U R C O D E & O T H E R[/u]__ _ _ _ _[/h3][/sub] [i]Your character's hex code and any other miscellaneous information. Feel free to use bullet points.[/i] ❖ [i][color=A52A2A]hex code[/color][/i][/color][/code][/hider] [hr][hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/yN27AZO.png?1[/img][/center][hr][hr]