Europa: Dawn of the Middle Age

[Capra]

Ladies and gentlemen, I happen to have a problem.

To be more precise, this problem has the shape of an alternate version of the medieval (the end of the ninth century A.D., more precisely) world, with a focus on Europe (with Europe defined as everything from the Atlantic to the Urals, and including the northern African coast, the Levant, Arabia and Persia). And I need some players to put it to good use.

It is a kind of alternate history, ridiculously huge and detailed in fact, with a few tens of different cultures, religions, and dozens of kingdoms and realms and feudalism oh my. Fantasy elements are also present, but will tend to play an important role only in the latter half of an eventual campaign, as the world is very low magic. I solemnly swear to not railroad, and I am actually going to leave immense freedom to my players: wanna explore the deep, uncharted forests of Africa? Sure, why not. Wanna investigate claims of a strange, new continent far to the West? I ain't gonna stop you. Trust me, when I say that the world is really huge, I'm not kidding, and if you don't believe it, put it to the test. I am open to all kinds of characters, be they Sarmatian riders, Anglo-Saxon housecarls, or Greek hoplites, as long as they belong to Adam and Eve's kin. Before I begin posting walls of text of lore and maps, I'd like to see if somebody is interested, so don't be shy, and let history remember your name.

[Inlaa]

I might be interested, but I'd like to know:

How often do you want players to post?

Can you give us a glimpse of this alternate history before we confirm interest?

Is this roleplay based around a small group of travelers, then, or individuals doing things around different parts of the world?

If it's based around a small group of travelers, is there a reason they'll want to stick together rather than separate due to conflicting cultures, worldviews and potentially religious friction?

I'm a huge fan of alternate histories, but I'm honestly not sure right now how often I can dedicate to posting if I join another roleplay. That said, I do have a character concept in mind already (an old Moorish warrior that's tired of the wars in Iberia), but I'd like to know the answers to these questions first.

EDIT: Alternative concepts, by the way, include a Moorish scholar and a bandit from the Black Forest in Germany.

[Capra]

How often do you want players to post?

As long as the flow of the roleplay can reasonably continue. Once a day or even once in a few days is fine, once every month isn't.

Can you give us a glimpse of this alternate history before we confirm interest?

Oh, I have much more than a glimpse. Warning: TL;DR

General history of the world: http://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding/comments/2xydhn/monthly_critic_thread_march_2015/cp6i42w
History and geography of the Viking world: http://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding/comments/30695f/vikingligr_veldi_a_complete_history_and_geography
Short history of Greenland: http://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding/comments/2wq4vu/tell_me_about_the_controversial_topics_you_have/cotlc9h
Periplus of the Eastern Sea: http://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding/comments/2yholh/periplus_maris_erythraei_or_periplus_of_the
Traveller's Guide to Alexandria: http://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding/comments/2x50hs/a_travellers_guide_to_alexandria_and_a_map_to_the
History and geography of the British Isles: http://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding/comments/2wx6a8/a_map_of_britannia_in_893_ad_and_the_most
Map of the Mediterranean: http://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding/comments/2wlamz/a_map_of_europa_in_ad_893/
And a general encyclopedia of the world (WIP): http://www.terrachronica.com/worlds/715

Is this roleplay based around a small group of travelers, then, or individuals doing things around different parts of the world?

If it's based around a small group of travelers, is there a reason they'll want to stick together rather than separate due to conflicting cultures, worldviews and potentially religious friction?

A small group of travelers. About the relationships among them, we'll figure them out as actual characters are submitted: players could be even in competition with each other.

[Inlaa]

Going to take some time to read all of this. I can post once every couple days at the least, for sure.

I'll have a clear answer later.

[Inlaa]

Well, I've read the general history of the world and most of the Viking page. I've also given the maps a good, long look for a while. I'd be interested in participating if you can get a few more players.

So, King Arthur existed, eh...? Or at least a couple Artorius fellows. Eire is still a bunch of warring clans struggling with Viking raiders, right? Or is it actually a unified place in this timeline?

Out of curiosity, what does C.E. represent (since it's taking the place of A.D.)?

I find it very interesting that both halves of the Holy Roman Empire exist in 893 A.D. in this timeline. That's a game changer...

Are there Pagan pockets of worship in non-Pagan lands?

Oh, and I'm supposing we'll be adventuring to a backdrop of the forces of Chaos rising up at about the time we start adventuring? So all the creatures from myth and lore start appearing before we start our travels?

[Capra]

So, King Arthur existed, eh...? Or at least a couple Artorius fellows. Eire is still a bunch of warring clans struggling with Viking raiders, right? Or is it actually a unified place in this timeline?

Magnus Artorius is whom most refer to as King Arthur, yes. Eire is a loose kingdom divided between petty lords and lands taken by Vikings.

Out of curiosity, what does C.E. represent (since it's taking the place of A.D.)?

Common Era.

Are there Pagan pockets of worship in non-Pagan lands?

Indeed, but the various local churches might be trying to suppress that.

Oh, and I'm supposing we'll be adventuring to a backdrop of the forces of Chaos rising up at about the time we start adventuring? So all the creatures from myth and lore start appearing before we start our travels?

The effects of the rise of Chaos will become noticeable only some time after the campaign has started. For a while, it will be just rumors.

[dreamshell]

Well, I'm definitely impressed! I read through the 'general history' thread and looked over the Periplus and Britannia ones and the degree of worldbuilding is staggeringly dense (which I say as a compliment). While I like to call myself a bit of a history buff and know at least the bare bones of much of what you touch upon in the aforementioned links, you thoroughly blow me out of the water, which is actually kind of exciting when you're used to being one of the few people with any in-depth knowledge of these subjects. Have you ever been to alternatehistory.com? Because this is exactly the sort of thing I would expect to find there.

Anyway, I did some snooping and it seems you've tried to run something like this before prior to "Guildfall"? I didn't see any mention of a sudden influx of fantastical races or any historical background on magic in that version, though. Are those new additions for this attempt?

I typically enjoy the opportunity to brush up on the minutiae of different eras and cultures for RPGs, but I must admit I am a bit ambivalent about actually signing up. For the time being, I simply wanted to gush a bit and salute your ambitions.

I do have one question, however. Do you mean for the non-human races to be NPCs? I would certainly support going that route, but just wondering. Otherwise, it would seem you'd have to dedicate at least a fraction of the same detail to their cultures and histories in order to play them, which may be more than even you're up for outlining (then again, maybe not).

[bakugou]

Consider my interest piqued - I do love extensive worldbuilding. You've certainly invested a staggering amount of effort into planning out the setting. It's impressive, to say the least.

[Capra]

Do you mean for the non-human races to be NPCs?

Yes, humans will be the only playable race. I actually have lore for non-humans, but most of it is in the form of either notes jotted down in various places or thoughts floating around in my head, and this is one of the reasons why the players will most likely meet them long after the campaign has started.

Consider my interest piqued - I do love extensive worldbuilding. You've certainly invested a staggering amount of effort into planning out the setting. It's impressive, to say the least.

Thanks! Do you already have an idea for a character?

[bakugou]

@Capra

I'm toying with a variety of concepts, although I don't have any concrete characters yet. Rest assured, however - I do plan to join.

[Capra]

The thread's been silent for way too long: the time has come to revive it with the introduction of the most likely starting place for the campaign.

Knights, dames, I introduce you to...

Toletum

Capital of the High Kingdom of the Goths

_{The Royal Palace, as seen from Theoderic's Square}

In the center of Hispania, lies the second greatest city of the Hiberian Peninsula, founded before the Roman age, conquered by the Goths during the Barbarian Invasions and turned into the capital of their great kingdom. Toletum lies on the banks of the Tagus river, is highly fortified, having withstood numerous Moorish attacks, and in Spain its economy is second only to that of the Moorish capital Qurtubah. The city is under the direct control of the High King, Reccared III of the Liuving line of the ancient Theuding dynasty: since the Gothic Wars, however, the Gothic high kings have rarely been able to have any kind of authority over their nominal vassals, and have ruled as figureheads, all the power in the hands of the local nobles. Toletum is also the main centre of the Adoptionist branch of Christianity, while the rest of Hispania is divided between Arians, Catholics, Muslims, and heathens of various kinds.

[Beach Burrito]

Interest piqued, swimming through the lore and I'll surely drop by any OOC you put up. Just wanted to know a few things:

*How severe would you rate the sort of value dissonance we'll be encountering? If a zero means modernish values and a ten would be calling a rapist 'quirky'

*How hard are you playing the realism of combat and such (despite the low fantasy elements to be introduced) Would you say it's more historical non-fiction or heroic fantasy?

*I'll admit I haven't zipped through the source material you've provided anywhere near its entirety but I've a quick question. How are we going to be communicating with each other? I assume there's going to be no easy-fix of a 'common' language? Do we just have varying levels of fluency in a specific, prevailing language?

*To the same end will their be some sort of galvanizing goal or threat keeping us either at each other's sides or throats? Some noble's designs on a missing McGuffin/Relative, the suppression of a secretive cabal or routing out this 'Chaos insurgency'

[ForeverBWFC]

I like a nice, detailed world! Consider me interested!

[Capra]

*How severe would you rate the sort of value dissonance we'll be encountering? If a zero means modernish values and a ten would be calling a rapist 'quirky'

My attempt is to portray society as realistically as possible, so value dissonance, to a certain degree, will be inevitable.

*How hard are you playing the realism of combat and such (despite the low fantasy elements to be introduced) Would you say it's more historical non-fiction or heroic fantasy?

Again, realism is a goal.

*I'll admit I haven't zipped through the source material you've provided anywhere near its entirety but I've a quick question. How are we going to be communicating with each other? I assume there's going to be no easy-fix of a 'common' language? Do we just have varying levels of fluency in a specific, prevailing language?

There are some languages which are common to much of Europa: since we'll most likely be starting in Spain, two examples that come to mind are Latin and Arabic.

*To the same end will their be some sort of galvanizing goal or threat keeping us either at each other's sides or throats? Some noble's designs on a missing McGuffin/Relative, the suppression of a secretive cabal or routing out this 'Chaos insurgency'

I'm not hostile to characters being in competition with each other: each player will be free to pursue his own goals, either cooperating or competing with others, while I work towards a larger overarching plot.

The first OOC will be up in minutes.

[Capra]

LO AND BEHOLD, THE FIRST OOC!

[Blubaron45]

Wow, I must say I am very impressed with this! You have my interest.