Old Glory (GoT-styled RP in a post apocalyptic medieval USA)

O L D  G L O R Y


They say that in the ancient times, before the Reckoning that destroyed the Earth, America had an empire that stretched from sea to shining sea, horizon to endless horizon. The Founders chose the President-King who in turn sent out armies of knights and legions of bards to spread their influence across the seas and even into the stars. Now, we're all that's left. Five kingdoms all claiming to be the heirs of an empire none of us really know much about.

I pity Old America; I'd hate for her to have to see what's become of her children.



PREMISE

Welcome to Old Glory aka "Game of Thrones but in a post apoc America based on the mod After the End for CK2". The idea is to have a sort of collective story where the adventure is in the journey and not really the end. As such, while I expect (and sort of encourage) the things and tones of GoT, none of it should ever be a sudden surprise and everyone should know what's going to happen; secrets are only in character, not out. Working together to build a connected world and all those good relationships is what I'd like to aim for. Also 18+ because politics and intrigue and war are rarely PG-13 and I don't intent to bowdlerize them too much.

Beyond GoT's stuff, the other big theme is America, or namely how its been misconstrued in this new world as you can see above. It has been at least a thousand years since the Five Kingdoms were united into one with at least a few hundred years of post apocalyptic stuff before that. Which means no guns, electricity, etc. If you are wondering why, its because like After the End, this is mostly to get a very medieval America.

I want at least four/five players to play as the major houses that would rule each of the five kingdoms, once those are filled other people can join in as either cadet branches, vassal houses or other characters within those major houses. Lore is listed below, I have more ideas but I'll add more based on interest. Character sheets will also come at a later date with enough interest or time. I'm aiming for this RP to be "high casual", there's a lot of lore and thought going on in the background but your actual posts don't need to be novellas, just enough to work with/get the point across.

The main plot is still up in the air but there is going to be an inciting incident to kickstart the RP. Right now ideas are ranging from the death of a large portion of the Ivory Throne's line of succession to a mad king to some kind of rebellion, either before, during or after.

Discord here.
LORE

The main setting is the Five Kingdoms located in what's known in-character as "Atlantica". Each is ruled by monarchy who all swear loyalty to the Ivory Throne in Washentown. They each claim legacy from America or some part of it. The main faith in the Five Kingdoms is the Faith of the Founders, a deification of the Founding Fathers into a sort of polytheist pantheon.

The Northern Marches is made of the New England states as well as New York and portions of northern Pennsylvania; known in shorthand as "Yankee", "the March" or "the North". They boast a strong industry of fishing, whaling and forestry among others and commonly viewed as having a cold exterior with a warmer interior and being more superstitious of the paranormal, sometimes to the point of heresy. As the northern most kingdom, they regularly deal with the Prince and Princesses of Quebecois and the Ursuline Church and while usually on good terms, the North has been the target of more than a few Ursuline crusades, once having even been completely conquered. Their bastards are given the surname of Frost.

The Old Dominion is made of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland and parts of North Carolina; also called "Keystone", "the Midlands" or just "the Dominion". They are often seen as the capital realm of the Five Kingdoms and one of its breadbaskets for wheat and livestock as well as having the second strongest mining economy in the realm. It comes as no surprise that many "Dominioners" are seen as self righteous and self important, often being the first to intervene in another kingdom's affairs for better or for worse. As the White Palace and the Ivory Throne are located within its borders, those who control the Old Dominion and more specifically the ancient city of Washentown are often the rulers of the Five Kingdoms. Their bastards are called Woods.

The Lakelands is made of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconson; sometimes referred to as either "the Great Lakes" or "Laurentinia". Many outside the Lakelands believe that Lakelanders are immune to the cold, very polite (although "polite" doesn't always mean "nice") and more than a little warlike due to the regular raids from the Canuck Wintermen from across the Great Lakes. While they farm and craft like any other, the Lakeland is known for one thing: Marine at Arms. Sworn knights specialized in river and water-based combat, it is Lakelanders who make up most of the Mississippi Water Watch and fight the Wintermen or the Ursuline when needed. Their bastards are called Rivers.

Appalachia is made of Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, southern bits of the Great Lake states and the northern bits of Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi; they're called "the Great Mountains" or (more derisively), "Hillmen". While outsiders see them as simple minded, Appalachians see themselves as industrious, hearty and loyal for as children they are taught to never break an oath once made and to never take oaths lightly. They mostly keep to themselves in their clan hillocks and mountain villages and mine the bounty beneath the earth for metals and coal while also making some of the finest alcohol in the Five Kingdoms. Of which they often like to use in battle as fire bombs against the Ozark Tribes who sometimes raid across the river. Their bastards are called Stone.

The Sunbelt is made of the states of Florida and the southern portions of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina; some call them "the South", "Dixon" or "the Stormlands" for the hurricanes that sometimes arrives in the area. Of all the kingdoms, the Sunbelt takes honor and chivalry the most serious, its knights are held to a strict code that is beyond what most of the other kingdoms demand. And while their love of family is sometimes overexaggerated, it is true that to a Sunbelter, duty to the family is more important than duty to others which sometimes results in maddeningly no-win scenarios. The finest warhorses come from the south, and they grow rich on farming and trade with the Carib kingdoms to their south. They also boast the most impressive castle in the realm, that of Cinderrel Castle. Their bastards are called Sun.

The Faith of the Founders (also known as Founderism, Americanism or just the Founders) is the primary faith of the Five Kingdoms. According to Congressional Canon, the Founders first found the world while sailing through the stairs and created America to enact their will. Priest and priestesses are called "Representatives" as they represent the will of the Founders on earth and the high ranking Representative is called the Speaker for the Founders speak through them. Collectively the clergy is known as the "Congress" and the temples to the Founders are also called Congresses. There are five officially recognized Founders along with the Champions who represented them in Old America.

Washington, the Father is considered to be the King of the Founders who delegates his power to both other Founders and mortal men. He is the Founder of honor, honesty, virtue and. He has no Champions as the everyone from the common lowfolk to the President-King are supposed to embody his ideals.

Lincoln, the Liberator is considered to the the Founder of change, commoners and laborers. He is very popular among the peasantry but less so among the upper class with many invoking his name when confronting unjust lords and unfair decrees. His champions are King Martin and Prince Kennedy, both great nobles who were martyred in his service.

Roosevelt, the Warrior is the Founder of battle, courage, nature and expansion and is considered the patrons of soldiers. Antlers are considered his holy symbol and thus many professional soldiers often carry a trinket of antler or animal bone in the hopes of gaining his strength in battle. His champions were Master MacArthur, who conquered the seas for America, and Cathay the Maid, a woman who disguised herself as a man to become a Rough Rider Knight.

Jefferson, the Scribe is the Fonder of writing, law, bards and community. His likeness is often found before the gates of a town and his statues and busts are the second most popular ones installed in town squares and meeting places after Founder Washington. His champions were Marquis Twain, a noble playwright, and Earnest of Hemmingway, a lowborn playwright.

Lady Liberty, the Guardian is the Founder of defense, women and the poor. Like Lincoln she is often seen to be popular among the lower classes but unlike him, she is also found near noble castles and upon house banners. Where as the previous four were said to have been first discovered upon a cliff face beyond the Mississippi, the monument to Lady Liberty was found in the harbor of Yorick. Where as Roosevelt expanded America, it was Lady Liberty who defended it and its people. Her Champions were Norton the First, a mad but devoted emperor, and Lord Monroe who saw to extend the guardianship of Lady Liberty beyond America's borders to its neighbors.

Franklin, the Inventor is the Founder of innovation, knowledge and tradesmen. It is said that he created the wonders of Old America that the faithful used in their crusades against the Red Demon and the Black Shadow. Scholars pray to him for inspiration while smiths invoke his name while working metal and any good tutor worth their salt has a medallion of his lenses on them. His Champions are Edison Lightbringer, who illuminated the darkness, and Maiden Airheart who flew across the world on wings of iron. However, some believe that Edison is a false champion and instead praise one known as Tesla of the East as his champion instead.


Zealots of the faith are called Patriots and holy order knights are often called Patriot Legion Knights. The main force which opposes the Founders are the insidious forces of the Red Demon and the Black Shadow, lead by the Arch-Traitor Benedict, who was cast out of Heaven for betraying the Founders. July 4th is a holy day known as Ascention Day, where it is believed the Founders ascended to heaven and left behind a line of great President-Kings to rule in their place. Lords and kings are coronated in the name of the Founders, sometimes all of them, sometimes just one (most often Washington).

FAQ


Q: Why are there no guns and electrity and other modern stuff?
A: For themeatic reasons and just like in After the End, its just a justification to have knights in plate armor running around in a somewhat familiar setting of America.

Q: What about other modern ideas, beliefs, thoughts, etc?
A: Same as above, keep that medieval low fantasy theme.

Q: What do you mean by low fantasy?
A: Again, think of GoT, "magic" doesn't really exist according to most people who believe magic died with Old America. However you still have stuff like near-magical not!Valyrian swords, one on one duels in combat, questing, "magical" creatures/monsters that are actually just mutants and everyone speaking the same language.

Q: What exists beyond the Five Kingdoms?
A: The Mississippi River divides "civilization" from the rest of America which most believe to be filled with wandering nomads and petty tribal kings among vast stretches of nothingness but there are rumors of a "Celestial Empire of California" in the west filled with riches and wonders. Only a few have made the journey and even fewer have returned. Canada is divided up between the Canuck Wintermen tribes and the Quebecois Princes along with the Ursuline Church. To the south there is the Carib islands rich for trade and then the kingdoms of Mextiqa. Rumors say that even further south there is an empire born from the jungles that never truly fell during the Reckoning.

Q: Can I play as these? Why are we limited to east of the Mississippi?
A: No you can't play as them, they're basically world building and fleshing out. If you're in the northern kingdoms you could have had some ties to Canada like blood or relationship or trade, ditto with the southern kingdoms and the Caribbean. I'm limiting the playable area to keep things focused on one area and the conflict within it.

Q: What happens to cities and other major constructions? How long as it been since the Reckoning?
A: Its been close to 2,000 years since the end of the world happened. The only thing that might remain of a city or high way would be especially stony ground filled with concrete and asphalt. Of course, new cities have been built on the remains or ruins and still serve as major centers.

Q: Why did you spell Washington as "Wasentown"?
A: Something I want to try out and I'm not fully on board with just yet. Basically it would be changing names to show that their original names have degraded over the years. So New York might become Yorik, Atlanta might become Atalana, Richmond might become Rikmount and so on. In addition you might have new phrases or words like "gunning" someone would just mean "to kill from range", baseball would become strikeball, football could become bloodbowl, President could mean "high king", and a jayfekayer might mean "an assassin" among other things.

Q: I am from one of the irl areas of the Five Kingdoms/I have lore ideas I'd like to contribute, can I do that? 
A: Yes! Please! Do contribute your own lore whether that before for interactions between Houses, possible history, local customs or whatever. I wrote this mostly based on stereotypes I could find and stuff from After the End.

CS Stuff


[b]House Name:[/b] (Self explanatory, just don't use the bastard names for a region.)
[b]House Words:[/b] (The slogan, motto or catchphrase that describes your house or its values.)
[b]Coat of Arms:[/b] (Pictures or words, doesn't have to be complex.)

[b]Seat:[/b] (Where is their main seat of power/castle? Can be region or old state/city.)
[b]Titles:[/b] 
[list][*] (Crowns of the five kingdoms are called "Lords/Ladies" as they are all sworn to the King. Lord is also used to refer to whatever castles they control.)
[*](The title of Sovereign is equivalent to Duke and Governor of an area, typically based upon a state of Old America.) 
[*](More honorific titles like "Wardens of the North" and "Chamberlin of the Mountains" are given out in recognition of service or achievement.)[/list]
[b]History:[/b] (Short bit on the backstory of your house, are they an old, established lineage or an upstart cadet branch?)

[b]Head:[/b] (Who is the head of the family at the moment? Just a name and maybe titles or epithets, don't describe them here.)
[b]Heirloom:[/b] (Every great house has at least one valued artifact from a mythic weapon to a crown to something exotic. Try not to have too many.)
[b]Traits:[/b] (What are some common traits in your house, physical or personality wise?)

[b]Misc: [/b] (Other stuff you want to put down like traditions, alliances, rivalries, historic claims, cadet branches, vassal houses, number of living members, etc.)
[b]Quote:[/b] (An in character summary quote that should be about your house and how people perceive them, can be an outsider or a member of the house. Entirely optional but fun.)


House Name: House Ironwit
House Words: "Strength beyond arms"
Coat of Arms: The golden Bell of Liberation of the Founders on a blue background (the Liberty Bell).

Seat: The Old Dominion, Washington, the White Palace
Titles: 
King-President of Atlantica
Sovereign of Maryland
Protector of the Realm
Lord of the White Palace
Lord of Seiyah

History: House Ironwit has ruled over the Five Kingdoms for nearly three centuries, taking the throne from House Deveram. They claim to be descendants from Jefferson Ironwit, Spymaster of King Maximall Deveram and Lord of Seiyah who took the throne after King Maximall went mad. Jefferson in turn claimed lineage from noble house of Old America that survived the Reckoning.

Head: King Franklin "Four Finger" Ironwit 
Heirloom: The Crown of Atlantica, "Truth" the Axe of Founder Washington, Fragments of the First Declaration
Traits: Ironwits are usually known to have straight brown hair, piercing eyes and the ability to talk like a walking book, never lying but making liberal use of half-truths and technicalities.

Misc:  
As King-President, every year they make a "State of the Realm Adress" before all of the assembled lords of the Five Kingdoms.
They have two major cadet branches, House Ironwit-Verna in the Sunbelt and House Ironwit-Shore in the North.
After a civil war between the house for the Ivory Throne, half the house was banished across the river. Legends say that those banished became the Windstorm Kings and that they seek to one day reclaim their throne.
Most of the house is actually lactose intolerant or "milk shunned".

Quote: 
"Careful what you say about the Ironwits lad, they say even the shadows listen on their behalf. Some claim that the last Deveram king went mad not because of the voices in his head, but the voices in the shadows."
- Minor lord to their heir

"The Iron in Ironwit is not hyperbole, for it takes men of iron will and great ability to rule. Lesser folks will claim power corrupts. Power only corrupts if you are weak enough to let you. Our reign has proven thus for only has two of our numbers ever succumbed to that temptation. And none ruled long enough to produce an heir. We have made sure of it, personally.
- An Ironwit King to an unnamed Lord


Name: (Use whatever title would announce your presence if you were to go to a feast or tournament.)
Age: (Duh. The oldest people live to now a days is about 65-ish, 16-18 is considered adult depending on where you are and you can drink, marry and fight starting at that age.)
Sex: (Duh)

Appearance:
(What do they look like? Most fashion is a medieval version modern clothing made of cotton, flax, wool or leather. Local fashion might also influence things like the Old Dominion using a colonial-style of dress, Appalachian nobles might still wear rugged worker-ish clothes and the northern nobles may like fur lined rough weather cloaks while the south wears lighter and more breathable fabrics.)

Lineage: (Their parentage and what houses they descend from. While patrilineal inheritance is most common, matrilineal inheritance isn't uncommon especially for houses with powerful women or female founders.) 
Background:
(Short history of major events that shaped their lives and what they've been doing up until now.)

Personality Traits:
(Their personality but in traits instead of long sentences. They are what they MOST OFTEN display, think like traits in CK3 if you've played that game. It should be obvious that they will not like people with opposite traits: cynical vs zealous, kind vs cruel, just vs arbitrary, brave vs cowardly, etc.)

Ambitions:
(The goals of your character, their driving motives.)

Achievements:
(Major personal achievements like increasing revenue, slaying a great beast or monster, fighting in a battle, dueling a known champion, establishing a new trade route or treaty.)

Relationships:
(This can include family, marriages, friendships, rivalries, etc. Talk with other players to see if you can connect your houses and characters with each other!)

Misc:
(Other stuff you'd want to put in like habits, mannerisms, fears, personal belongings, etc)


Name: President-King Franklin Ironwit, Protector of the Realm
Age: 51
Sex: Male

Appearance:
Franklin Ironwit is a well aged man with old eyes and a white beard. He is no longer the energetic young man he once was but has morphed into a wise, if not slightly arrogant, king. While once he lived in his armor, he now wears mostly fabrics of Sunbelt cotton and Northern furs, woven into colonial-style jackets. As is custom within the Old Dominion, he wears a white wig under the Tricorn Crown of the Five Kingdoms. He carries a walking stick made of Brazilwood with the symbol of Founder Roosevelt on it.

Lineage: Father was Jefferson Ironwit II and his Mother was from House Lostpine, Sovereigns of Maine
Background:
Franklin Ironwit was raised as many Ironwits are by private tutors in Wasentown. Much of his formative years was within the halls of the White Palace on in the surrounding town. At age 19 he joined his aunt in the defense of Appalachia when the Ozark tribesmen launched an invasion over the river, driving them off and slaying three pagan champions in single combat. When he was 23, he was wed to a woman from a lesser house to cement an alliance, siring two boys and a girl with her. Now however, he is becoming ill from old age or some old wound and despite his vigor, the constant flow of doctors, apothecaries and alchemists in and out of the White Palace is a worrying sign as he does his best to make sure his youngest son Alexander will inherit the throne instead of the older but more volatile George. 

Personality Traits:
- Dutiful
- Arrogant
- Honest
- Stubborn

Ambitions:
- Maintain the position and prestige of House Ironwit
- Keep the realm at peace
- Make sure his youngest son gets the throne instead of the less capable eldest son

Achievements:
- Made a truce with the Ursuline Church, preventing another Crusade into the North

Relationships
- Has two sons, George and Alexander. Alexander is the younger and the favored heir while George is the older but less capable (and stable) son
- Married to _____ of House _____, cementing an alliance with them.
- Has two sisters, both married off to other houses. Had a brother but he was killed in a "hunting accident".
- (More to be added?)

Claims


@Nallore of House Forgefyre, the Steel Lady of the Old Dominion
@Infinite Cosmos of House Brewer, Lord the Lakelands
@DX3214, Lord of the Sunbelt
@Paradoxial of House Delver, Lord of Appalachia
 - The Northern Marches

House Name: House Delver
House Words: "Hands of Mole, Backs of Bear, Hearts of Stag"
Coat of Arms: A golden painted mountain range, backed by stripes of verdant green and dark red

Seat: the Great Mountains, the Low Lands, the Ashen Pit (Clingmans Dome)

Titles: 
* Foremost-Man of all Diggers
* Lord of Appalachia 
* Protector of the Great Mountains
* Favored of the Mountain Mother  

History: House Delver has been the unflinching, stalwart leader of the Great Mountains for around 400 years, and shows no sign of stopping. Long ago, when House Deveram called for support against the righteous revolution, the lazy and drunken once-lords of House Stiller decreed that all noble Appalachian clans take up arms with the loyalists. The matriarch of clan Delver at the time, the great Mountain Mother Anastasia Delver declared that they would have no part in defending such a callous and cruel empire, and brought many other clans into an alliance which would oppose any support of House Deveram. House Stiller paid little mind to those who refused to sally to war, and brought forth the Great Mountains antiquated military at the time, ill trained knights and conscripted foothill-men to battle. When the majority of the “knights” of Appalachia had left, it was then that the great alliance of clans struck. Sneaking through the mountain forests, at home in the cliffs and trees, the clansmen led by Anastasia slew the fat lords of Stiller, and declared that Appalachia would no longer be a place of intoxication and gross laziness. Under the watchful eye of the Mountain Mother, and due to her blessings, the mining industry was revitalized due to the rise of Stone-Whisperers, who could commune with the earth and discover places rich in ore and gold. It was also House Delver who instituted the “Bear in Cave” doctrine, which led the military of the Great Mountians into one of less than significant offense, but frighteningly efficient and deadly defense, utilizing guerrilla tactics and extremely well trained archers. 

Head: Foremost-Man, Amicus Delver. 

Heirloom: The Plucking Whistler, The 4 Ores Necklace, the Metal Mole

Traits: Delvers are typically quite tall and broad shouldered in stature, but perpetually hunched over slightly due to being in the mines more often than not. All are brown or black haired, with dark colored eyes ranging from dark brown to a verdant green. Delvers are quite honest and typically polite, but are not trained in matters of decorum or state craft most often. They manage to be quite brusque, and also proficient businessman as well, using uncompromising tones and supreme confidence in their wares (usually because they dug it up themselves.)

Misc:  
 
* Delvers, as a matter of tradition must always have a pair of working gloves either on, or somewhere on their person, even when dressing nobly. 
* Foreigners are generally prevented access to the actual mountain range, as a matter of principal. Little is known to even the common folk of Appalachia about the locations of fortresses, or particularly important mining locations within the dense forests and tall cliffs deep within the range. 
* Alcohol is widely available and widely traded, and known to be the best in all the kingdoms. However it is against the law to bring “Shine” into any mining site. 

Quote: 
"I know that when I was a young lad, I too wondered just what the Mountain Men were hiding in those tall, misty peaks of theirs. But I’ll tell you boy, I’ve known a few who stepped to close to those wooded trails, and arrows appeared at their feet as if by magic, no archer in sight. Best to stick to the foothills anyhow, all the Shine you could barter for and besides, the ore from the mountains will end up in the lower markets come it’s time."
- A trader speaking to his apprentice

"The House Delver is blessed by the Mountain Mother, you all remember that now. It was them who’s drove out the Stag Tribes, it was them’s who started digging into the ground, and sure as the Foremost-Man done Pluck the Whistler, they’ll be leadin this’un kingdom till we’re all minerals ourselves.”
- An Appalachian Learner, speaking to a bunch of Little’uns
@Paradoxial

Old Glory (GoT-styled RP in a post apocalyptic medieval USA)

ClocktowerEchos Friendly Neighborhood / Landmine Enthusiast

Paradoxial Leroy Jenkins reborn

ClocktowerEchos Friendly Neighborhood / Landmine Enthusiast

Paradoxial Leroy Jenkins reborn