[OOC] Kingmakers: The Throne Alone (A Medieval Fantasy Succession Crisis)

[sly13]

Awesome. I'll look over everything again and begin working on a character in between finals. As for the two open spots id say I lean a bit more towards Westmarsh as the location of my character.

[ClocktowerEchos]

@sly13 Ahhh, a Warden of the West. Its entirely possible for you to be partially of nomadic blood or a new house. Given how much combat they see, the death of a Great House isn't entirely unheard of in the Marcherlands.

Just as a heads up, playing a Great House of Archdukes will mean your CS will have to be up sooner rather than later.

[John F Kennedy]

Name: Filiberta-Marie II of House Marietta
Titles: Duchess of Inge (pronounce ing-ay); Countess of Lake Bruna, Gotlinde upon Ingfried, and Diemut; Lady of Lake Bruna
Description: Filiberta-Marie is 38 years old, although she looks rather young for her age like many women of House Marietta. Her face is pale and her nose is thin, her lips are somewhat pronounced while her eyes remain deep set. She carries in aura of authority without any crown or headwear, letting her curling black and grey hair tumble down. She wears a long woolen cloak with white fur as a collar, usually with some sort of cotton dress of a deep and dark color beneath.

Claimant: Anyamara

House Info

House Info: the House of Marietta
Coat of Arms: the symbol of the house, a female bear with a fish in her mouth, stands upon a blue and black checkered backgound.
Motto: "There is no beauty without fear."

Filiberta-Marie Info

Reputation: She is the Witch Queen of Lake Bruna, the dread lady of the Duchy of Inge. In the wake of Filiberta-Marie lay cruelty and opulence, her posterity being the one thing she holds high and dear. Rumors abound around the royal masques, the court of Filiberta-Marie, and the ancient hedonism she is supposedly leading.
Ambitions: Ultimately Filiberta-Marie wants two things: power and knowledge. She wants to expand the influence of her realm, but this is primarily to fund the study of her people and the history of her house. She is obsessed with the truths of the past, especially prior to the conquest by Adandum. But her vision for the vastness of this project, bringing back a past she does not quite yet understand, requires much research and wealth.
Aptitudes: Filiberta-Marie is first and foremost a master of branding, and she understands how to wear many different masks. She knows how to strike fear into the heart of any peasent or ambitious merchant, yet she knows how to grease the palms of the rich in just the right ways. Also, she is a student of social history.
Vulnerabilities: Although she uses this to her advantage at times, the legacy of her house is ultimately a blemish upon her name. Her house supposedly comes from a coven of hags, ancient and long forgotten, yet amongst the royalty her house remains ostracized for it. Also, Marietta herself, although young in her face, suffers from a frail and atrophied body that she hides beneath her furs and wools.
Additional Info: Men of House Marietta are known to often be born sickly and more commonly than not possess frail bodies and weakened immune systems. The women of House Marietta however seem to be mostly immune with the large majority of them being born healthy. The women also often appear younger than one would expect of their age. Popular superstition of House Marietta among the smallfolk says that this is a sign of their foul lineage and that their blood is cursed with the women taking the vitality of the men while still in the womb some how.

The Duchy of Inge

Domain Info: The Duchy of Inge. House Marietta has ruled the duchy for time immemorial, nestled within the lakes and rivers flowing form the many mountains of the Stormlands. She personally holds 5 baronies, while the rest of her duchy is divided amongst cadet branches of her house and burghers who earn their right to land via scholarship.
Domain Summary: In the West of the domain lie the farthest mountains and the most remote villages, forgotten upon the international border and surviving off of hunting and gathering. The East of the domain are the flooded valleys of Bolstadt, the breadbasket of the duchy. To the south lie the rich iron veins of the Lindstendt mountains, and to the north are once barren lands now the home of blacksmiths, guildhalls, and universities, kept alive by the rest of the duchy. In the center lie the wooded hills of the capital region, an ancient place in which the mist clings close to the ground all too often, and from this land the rivers flow and the House of Marietta reigns.

Major Holdings: The Mariettan Palace, Hundsbeck upon Bolstadt (major farming county), Julechton (largest city), Lake Bruna (upon which lies the Mariettan Palace and many folk tales), the Sanctum of Anacht (religious heart of the duchy)

Reputation: The Duchy is known for the military scholars and historians arising from the new universities, and the odd folk practices arising from the ancient and untamed hills.
Wealth: Economically the realm survives off of the trade of military supplies and the provision of militant generals to the greater kingdom.
Strength: The domain is somewhat thinly defended, as most military supplies are exported, but when the time comes mercenary armies are paid to fight for the realm.

[sly13]

@ClocktowerEchos I definitely like the idea of being mixed blood in some way. As for being an archduke, if it would be easier just for me to be a duke, count, or anything else I am totally fine with that. Also, is the discord only for accepted characters? Just wanted to clarify before I joined.

[sly13]

this is what I have so far. just posting it, for now, to make sure everything is working ok.
Stanislaw Krast, House Taranis

Erik Krast

"Shield of the people and protector of the lands"

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Warden Erik Krast

^{Warden of the West, Archduke of Westmarch}

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Description

Erik is the very definition of a man from Westmarch being tall, athletic, and handsome. Erik is a young man with short military-cut hair and a face absent of any scars or blemishes betraying his years of service and combat. Unlike many lords and nobles of Adanion, Erik is of mixed blood. As with most citizens of Westmarch, Erik is able to trace his family line back to the first tribes, the newcomers of Loyst, and even the nomadic tribes of the steppe. Not one to wear formal attire often, Erik prefers to wear his armor, or some variation thereof.

Claimant

Anyamara- Erik has publicly stated his support of the princess and her right to the throne over her competitor. Though she may show signs of brutality, Erik believes that it is strength and power that are required to lead the people and to protect them.

House Name: House Taranis
House Motto: "Strength forged in fire"
House Sigil:


Reputation

Erik is a proud and headstrong warrior at heart who holds his honor and duty in high regard. Being raised in a marital territory has tempered Erik to the art of war and honed him into a deadly warrior and a brilliant tactician. For all his ability and skill as a warrior and a general, Erik lacks a greater understanding of political intrigue and politicking. Though Erik understands the basic concepts of spying and the game of courts, he views many of these actions to be both cowardly and dishonorable. Erik prefers to place trust in one's own strength and that of steel to defend not only himself but the citizens he has sworn to protect. With this Erik takes his oath to be the warden of the west very seriously and believes it is the duty of those born into power to lead, rule, and defend those below.

Ambitions

Erik is not an ambitious man by normal standards. He does not seek power or wealth beyond that of which he has earned or is required for the defense of the country. This also applies to his support of the princess in her claim to the throne over her competitor. Erik does not much care for the politics of the eastern counties and would much rather keep to himself and focus on defending his people and prevent the nomads from entering from the steppe. This should not be confused with inaction however, Erik believes that should power be placed to the wrong person, the crown will not last another generation.

Aptitudes

• Martial Prowess - Being born to a noble of Westmarch means that martial skill is not a privilege but a duty. Erik took that teaching to heart and has since birth trained his body and honed his skills into the perfect soldier.
• Brilliant Tactician - Though Erik is not the wisest of lords when it comes to the sciences, arts, or math, what his brain is made for his warfare. Not simply the strategies of a one on one fight, but the knowledge of army formations, tactics, strengths, and weaknesses of armies, and the supply lines used to fuel them. Though he doesn't read much, Erik has spent hours and hours reading over the journals and tomes left by his forefathers on the art of war practiced bypassed wardens.
• Horsemanship -Like many of the highborn of Westmarch, Erik was drilled in the art of horseback riding. Though not as graceful as the nomads, Erik has learned the best methods for his heavy armor and how to best use the strengths of his horse's heavier armor. Outside of combat, Erik will usually ride his horse for travel as both a status of his position and due to his disdain for carriages.

Vulnerabilities

• Politically Naive -Erik for the most part is unable to fully understand the concept of backroom backstabbing and underhanded deals. He understands that they play a role in the courts of the capital and most holds, but he himself holds no skill for the “art”. Erik believes such tactics to be dishonorable, cowardly, and an insult to one's pride. This is exemplified in his belief that those most suited for a position should be placed in the role, not those who married into it.
• Holier than thou -The lords of Westmarch are often seen as kind and selfless for their devout practice of protecting the common peasant. This selflessness is not simply done purely out of generosity, however. The lords and Knights of Westmarch see themselves as above the common folk, believing it is the duty of the lower classes to serve the higher classes or those able to work themselves into the upper echelon. To balance this, however, the lords of Westmarch see it as their duty as higher borns to protect the lesser classes who serve them.
• Brutal -Through his reign, as Warden has been short Erik has already earned himself a reputation as a brutal military leader. Erik believes firmly in crushing one's opponents into complete submission even if that goal requires less than savory tactics. As Erik sees it the laws of Westmarch are simple, Traders and merchants are welcome to pass but any army or hostile will be met with the full force of Westmarch. And though torture is not explicitly legal within Westmarch, executions of prisoners are a common occurrence.

Misc Info

[pandapolio]

Hey this looks really interesting, I'm going to start thinking of character ideas.

[pandapolio]

I am interested in making the Archduke of the Wildlands if that is ok with you.

[canaryrose]

I’ve had a character in progress for the archduke of the Wildwoods for a few days now, but I don’t know if the GM considers that to be a reservation?

[DELETED32084]

@ClocktowerEchoswhat’s the timeline on an IC?

[POOHEAD189]

Still awaiting my review, but I am also patient.

[ClocktowerEchos]

@pandapolio Sorry, but @canaryrose's claim as Archduke of the Wildwood still stands, you're welcome to play a vassal house under them though!

@Pagemaster I'll get cracking on one soon, already have an outline. Hopefully should be up by the weekend.

@POOHEAD189 Just replied, thought I did it earlier mbad >_<

As a general @everyone, sorry I haven't been active. A last rush of Finals kept me busy as well as the ability to actually to just have a day off. If you haven't already, I encourage you to join the Discord!

[ClocktowerEchos]

So I had a burst of inspiration and came up with notable alcohols found in some of the regions. Note that this isn't "canon" and more of a fun thought experiment in worldbuilding so you don't need to worry about remembering it or putting it in your sheet or anything. Consider a minor consolation for my absence.

My Hider

Mistbrew / Fogka

A type of vodka brewed in the Mistlands using their hearty roots and using the waters of the cliffside waterfalls. The highest quality labels use water condensed from the omnipresent fog and mist while aging their mash on the highest steps believing it enhances the final product. It is known for being extremely strong with outsiders who are not used to it being told not to drink more than a few shots unless they want to wake up half naked in someone else's bed with someone else's horse as even the cheapest brews have a high alcohol content than more expensive spirits found elsewhere in Adandion

Mule Ale

Also known as Rider's Ale or (less affectionately) "Ass Ale", this is a type of beer found most commonly in the Western Marches. It has its roots in the practices of some nomadic tribes who lacking a place to properly age the alcohol they sometimes plunder or trade, simply tie it to a horse, mule, donkey or other beast and have it age on their back. Known for its pungent smell and earthy, almost nutty taste, its popular among with the soldiers in the many garrisons and soldiers on the frontier, so much so that every supply caravan has at least a few dedicated animals carrying the barrels.

Winter Gin

Made of wild berries found in the Frostmark, Winter Gin is a popular drink known for a fruity, slightly bitter but strong taste that warms the belly like no other. Many stories have told of men who have survived being stuck outside during a snowstorm by virtue of drinking so much of the gin that their bodies refused to freeze. While most of the berries are gathered from the southern part of the region, many of the distilleries are located in the north by the Cradlespring Lake as its believed that the best Winter Gin with made with the purest, coldest waters of the lake.

Crimson Epolion

A deep red sour wine from the Arbormark, its name comes from the now-extinct House Epolion who once owned the vineyards where the grapes are grown and the wine is aged. Its tartness and slight acidity has found it on the tables of many a feast, perfect for cutting through rich fatty meats and thick stews. While the vineyard has changed hands, its secrets remain a closely guarded secrets with people claiming many wild stories behind its creation from the use of fairy blood to get the color to making the barrels exclusively out of the driftwood from ships made of Wildwood timber that drowned at sea for at least 4 years.

Saurorrak

A traditional drink from the Wildwoods made up of unbloomed flowers, purple roots, special tree bark and the sap and beans of select trees. It is an intensely complex spirit that evolves greatly in the drinker's mouth and whose taste can change between sips. Although it is definitely more of an "acquired taste", those who do enjoy can easily find themselves drinking far more than they can actually handle, often to devastating and regrettable hang overs the next morning so intense that its sometimes called a Saurorrak Divorce because it "hits as hard as an ex-wife".

[ClocktowerEchos]

@John F Kennedy Looks good, move it over. Long may you serve House Müller-Hohenstein with duty and honor!

[canaryrose]

Working on a CS.

[ClocktowerEchos]

And so the IC begins!

Reminder for everyone to read the rules as well as be aware that character death isn't an impossibility, its just not random (OOC at least).

[Dark Light]

This sounds awesome. Will be reading up and seeking inspiration, if you are still taking more people.

[ClocktowerEchos]

@Dark Light Still am but now there's only vassal houses to the currently existing Great Houses open to take.

[POOHEAD189]

Gonna post tonite lads and lasses. Clutch your pearls and gird your loins.

[ClocktowerEchos]

UPDATE: Due to irl commitments by the original player, the position of Archduke of the Wildwoods is now open.

[Dark Light]

While that position sounds interesting I’m kinda feeling like playing someone’s younger brother or cousin.
You know, just tagging onto another players house (can work out exact reasons later) and being less important but still of a noble family.

Anyone keen?