Oh divine Providence, the fate of the winds that drive time and place in the name of the One and Only. He who shed his physical form to give rise to the world. Oh divine Providence, who washes over us in all times to direct our souls to purity and to keep us on the path to The One. Oh divine Providence, the soul of the breathing world hewn from His bones and bowls. May the Man, the Woman, and The Child; divine faces who exists in three; made to be one. Watch over us travelers. Grant our ruler wisdom and mercy. And may he be forgiven for what injustice he has done.
Oh divine Providence, I do not know this land. I do not know its water. I do not understand how children of His blood could be led so far astray. I seek His patience to weather them and their land. I seek your wisdom so I may know it. I seek your strength so I may guide my sword against my enemies and correct His creation, if you Lord are so willing.
Oh divine Providence, I beseech your judging qualities. I ask that word of our king be delivered to on high so that he may be judged, so that I may forgive him. For his wrong doings to be corrected. So that I may return home. So that I may return home to the kingdoms of Tirna and Sorset. So I may smell the flowering bushes of Baed Caray. So I may snack on the honey of sweet Foren in its west. So I may see the gullies and the orchards and the sugar sands of Tannover Shea's southern vistas. I seek to see the greatest city to ever stand with my own eyes once again, and call it my own and my home: Doulein Town. May its silver walls be my refuge against the irredeemable, and so I may leave this cursed place.
Oh divine Providence, why do I feel I will never return? Why is it I weep so? Oh divine Providence, our servant to the divine lord, our knights to man and of earth. Oh Cal Ethahn, our Highest One what is the will of your spirit?
Here I am now, a humble servant to your will. Upon the clay of a land foreign to me, but named for my home. I feel betrayed, and I feel defeated. New Tirna is not the home for me. Yet my will to fight has be surpassed. I have to survive. Another winter has passed, and hardly word from the remains of my family back home.
I curse my king. Yet I can not do a thing.
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The familiar sun rises over a strange new land. For a remote few below its gaze, the sun is the only thing familiar to them. It – like the sun and stars – are the very same they would gaze upon and bask in its glow in the old country. But this is not the old country. It is far from it. The land is unfamiliar, if even alien to them. Its wondrous beauties and terrifying depths span for miles outside the walls they have erected around their settlement, adventuring only so far out to fulfill the needs of their settlement and till the soil for this year's crops. They look inland in apprehension and silent fear of what might be beyond those hills. And they look to the sea, hoping that some day a ship bearing their flag will return to take them home, and not lump upon them a new wave of settlers or merely trade out supplies.
For these debtors, lucky criminals, and determined enemies of the old state they are alone. A first breed of a new adventurous people for their nation; whether or not they like it. A whole new hero or villain, colonists.
The settlement of Uponhill is a new experiment in exploration. Not one driven by the mercantilism of the old world or simply military conquests against familiar – if barbarian – foes. But a simple push into the unknown. And one not fueled – if initially – by the prospects of expanding the nation's wealth. No, this is a test by the despot of the United Kingdoms of Tirna-Sorset to deal with his potential enemies, debtors, and certain criminals. To those with broken social bonds and of questionable virtue. To put them out of sight and out of mind and secure for them a land so unknown and harsh that all thoughts of usurpation are defeated by not only the distance, but by the driving will to survive. And then in time these peoples will sire a whole new generation to occupy this land and expand the Empire.
And we here now are those colonists. Or the locals who must deal with them.
A brief history of Uponhill
Upponhill is a small village-size settlement, spread out roughly across ten square miles of swampy ground on the river Miller's Creek. Its citizenry are made up of the banished and exiles of their home, filling in a wide spread of the old country's social strata, ideology, race, and even religion. In some fashion these people were deemed at odds with the government of Tirna-Sorset and needed to be dealt with.
As a case and an experiment, the despot of Tirna-Sorset ordered the found and suspected enemies of his rule to be sailed across the great sea Aelaminus to establish a colonial outpost in his name. In time this town would become a center to deal with the threatening members of his land. A whole new colony, and a whole new prison. A prison of no guards, of the infinite prospect of freedom. But the harsh realities of exile and being forgotten. A penal colony.
It's been a year since the establishment of Upponhill. One so bad they were sure they would have perished if not for the assistance of some natives who fell sympathetic to the foreigners' plight, not having hardly enough resources to survive. So they helped them, to whatever effect this will have on them is a question yet to be answered. And of the original two-hundred that landed, twenty-two died from the poor weather and disease.
There are of course additional colonies on this coast. Some foreign, built by powers from the homeland. But none so near to Upponhill to be of any direct and immediate importance. For the colonists here, they are a distant dream to trade distantly with. Or for the impatient and jumpy: a target to raid.
Old habits die hard.
A history of Tirna-Sorset
The United Kingdoms of Tirna-Sorset were not always a unified kingdom, instead being two separate kingdoms separated by five miles of ocean water. Tirna, once ruled from the city of Doulein. This ancient and rugged kingdom of warriors and of ancient druidic ritual was at times in conflict with the much more passive and diverse kingdom of Sorset - ruled now from the once palatial complex of The Warrens - is a kingdom that had been built up by generations of migration and invasion that changed its face and make up. As with all kingdoms, they had fought each other. Or their rulers sought avenues of peace through marriage with each other.
Four-hundred years ago the faith of Ethahn – Ethahnism - arrived to their kingdoms' doorsteps. A concept long developed out in the east, the cult of the god Ethahn promoted a sense of unity. It talked about powerful themes of temperance, modesty, and fidelity to one's self, your partner, and your liege-lord. It introduced a refined and broad set of social rules. It was a shake up. The next several decades to a century saw the rough inclusion of the God Who Sacrificed Himself To Make Creation into both their societies.
Ethahnism as it met local pagan mysticism did change and evolve. Ethahn adopted the ancient title of Cal – or lord – and several other titles: Highest One, Lord, etc. In addition it absorbed the concept of the mid-level spirits of local Paganism, the so-called Providences, often nameless spirits who conduct the divine will of heaven and “Fill creation's bones with spirit”.
Ethahnism's introduction and mutation on the western shores of the Old World facilitated an evolution in politics between the two nations. The concepts of fidelity burned in the noble houses. There was a stronger sense of union between the two and a series of jointly signed declarations and the gradual absorption of one house into the other merged the two kingdoms into the entity of Tirna-Sorset. The United Kingdoms continued to revise and strengthen their bond to the point that in many aspects the kingly titles of either state had become one, and effectively began preserving the multitude of ethnic and tribal groups in both states as Ethahnism proliferated society and numerous ideological interpretations of its teachings – The Coda – blossomed.
Thirty-five years ago Tirna-Sorset involved itself in a war against the kingdom of Antoinne in a dispute of inheritance concerning the small principality of Bruge. The king of Tirna-Sorset at the time – Brandon Aeloy – declared that his son and heir Ilroy was the legitimate heir to the death of the prince of Bruge. The Kingdom of Antoinne, fearing growing Tirna-Sorsetian hegemony and having their own legitimate claimant to the throne of Bruge like-wise declared their contender the heir. All the while the principality passed to the first cousin of the former prince, catching themselves in the middle of the two armies. Bruge resisted the conflicting interests of both nations but was eventually defeated by both within the year, forcing the ruling family to flee the country and acquire assistance of the neighboring kingdom of Loran-Nailes in order to reclaim the new prince's lost territorial claims, being married to the king's daughter.
What followed was an immense thirty year long war between three powers. Though Antoinne amassed a larger alliance, Tirna-Sorset was able to outmaneuver and divide their Seven Nation Army at the battle of Rouge. However at the conflict, under the blare of cannon and musket fire the fates wouldn't be kind to their victory and decided that to have it a sacrifice would need to be made. And so King Brandon Aeloy stepped out onto the field to lead his cavalry against the enemy. And though his armor was heavy and his sword true, when he and his men fell upon the enemy lines a shot from his own cannons struck him directly and pulped the king against the enemy's musketeers.
Though painful, the battle was one. One final engagement was had at the River Tirus. Though fought mournfully it was commanded by the former King Brandon's top commander Aenda Kelendea of Tull. The victory shattered Antoinne and Loran in a bloody victory and they conceded peace. Signing a peace with Ilroy recognizing his claims to Bruge.
There was considerable celebration, but also mourning for the fallen king. Across the diverse kingdom people came out to honor their fallen king, recognizing this victory as his more than his son or even Aenda's. It was also a victory that would not last longer than a month.
Known to be a fond drinker, Ilroy was a dangerous man to his self. So it came as a disaster, if not one secretly whispered that it would happen, that he would do something incredibly dangerous. It came on one warm spring night as he roamed the towers of his family's palace with a bottle clenched in his fist. By the next morning he had disappeared, and was later discovered the day after dead on the palace roof, having fell from the window and breaking his neck in the fall.
His body was recovered, and a funeral held. According to the recognized laws of inheritance Bruges left Tirna-Sorsetian control, and Ilroy's five year old son Micheal inherited the throne.
Too young to rule on his own a regent was swiftly appointed, the victorious commander Aenda was named Regent, ruling in Micheal's stead. And over time, Aenda began to take more control. Using Micheal's name he wrote the youth out of power slowly, granting himself more privileges to spite the dynasty he served and was forgotten to. He courted the young king's widowed mother Joan and eventually married her. And then finally in unfortunate circumstance the young king was found dead in the countryside, presumably having fallen off a cliff after dropping his walking stick; having been known to have a club foot.
Aenda was quick to seize power, initiating a civil war with the nobility. But with the army at his side he was quick and merciless against them, squashing and destroying the noble houses that resisted them. For those that remained he captured and imprisoned, declaring enemies of the state. To the artists and poets that responded with criticism for his cruelty they were detained or executed. And for those who still had outstanding war debts he seized their property and threw them in shackles. Prisons swelled, and he continued his ironfisted reign.
He garnered support from militant ultra-conservatives amid the church of Ethahn and with them at his side he found the power to dispense with the faiths of minorities, shutting them away or discouraging their practice. He continued to isolate many groups considered a threat to his power, his claim, and the nation's stability. He became ruthless. Titling himself as despot and an emperor more than a king.
And finally, just a year prior it was suggested he go abroad to the new lands discovered by the Libirians across the great sea. His colonists would be those he shut away. This would be his first show of mercy and the restoration of grace for the nation. Those that could not contribute would be sent away to do just that. And those that questioned his rule would be put far from their ability to resist. They would be autonomous, this was true. But they would not find paradise.
_________
And now the RP.
To keep myself from drowning the RP and stifling what I feel would be player determination for many aspects of this RP I will stop there and go onto the RP.
So what will be Colonial? If not keyed in already, it is one where we will assume the role of a colonist at the end of their first winter in Upponhill. As a whole, we will be charged with developing this colony and expanding it and to conquer the wilderness. As a unit we will be in command of the colony. Its growth, its personalities, its politics, and perhaps even military ambitions with its colonial militia.
The previous winter has been harsh and reminding. Now separated by many miles of ocean travel from their comfortable coffee houses or warm family farms they crawl out of their homes reminded at just how cruel nature can be. And with so much unknown out there, it is sure they'll find much more cruelty.
The colonists come from a diverse background. Many are debtors or simple criminals sentenced to be thrown from their homes to across the sea. Yet many more are former nobles or their families forced to leave their homes with as much as they can carry on their backs. Some are considered heretics by the church at home and sent west where their heretical fires might be stifled out by the harsh unforgiving landscape of the unknown continent. And the rest are in general a representation of every person who might pose a threat to Aenda; liberal and conservative alike.
While writing, it is good to know this RP is on set in a 17th/18th century equivalent.
Local Map
The regions illustrated here are involved directly in the RP. Of course as said earlier there are colonies further abroad belonging to foreign powers, but they are not in this area and are not a focus of who a writer may claim identity to.
Applications
Please post applications in the character tab of this thread. It's there to be used so use it. Anyone who's posted an app in the interest check should repost them here.
Name:
Description: <including age and gender>
Background:
Keeping it simple since forever.
It's what ultimately makes 80% of an RP when you get down to it.
I should probably throw down my character. But I feel more compelled to go shoot robots.
Keep in mind this from the same people who brought you Sexy Captains of Industry!
This is the shit they show in between the marathons of aliens and the pawn shops.
Keep in mind this from the same people who brought you Sexy Captains of Industry!
This is the shit they show in between the marathons of aliens and the pawn shops.
I almost expect these trailers to turn into an add for fucking Sam Adams beer or something. Or it turns out they're sponsored and funded in someway by Budweiser, Ford, or something else.
Keep in mind this from the same people who brought you Sexy Captains of Industry!
This is the shit they show in between the marathons of aliens and the pawn shops.
At least it is a step in the right directions. Sexy history is better than no history at all.
And really, I think they've done pretty well with Vikings, considering how crazy low budget it is.
I think the saddest part is they do what they do because it's what gets them views. There is a majority of people out there that fuckin' loovee watching shit being pawned off.
From what little bit I've seen of Vikings, it seems pretty good. Although I'm not well versed in Norse history, so I can let stuff slide that I can't when it comes to the history I know more about.
I should probably get my character posted and I should probably issue a PM to the folks who showed interest but haven't floated over here yet. I don't feel comfortable starting this with three-four people.
The regions illustrated here are involved directly in the RP. Of course as said earlier there are colonies further abroad belonging to foreign powers, but they are not in this area and are not a focus of who a writer may claim identity to.
