[OOC] Europa: Dawn of the Middle Age

[Capra]

EVROPA:
DAWN OF THE MIDDLE AGE

It is the year of our lord 893, and a new age is about to dawn on mankind.

Long gone are the days when the light of Rome shone as a beacon on Europa, now smothered by the darkness of endless civil wars and the Barbarian Invasions. Today, mankind stands divided: the remains of great empires struggle to regain their ancient glory, religious wars set entire kingdoms ablaze, and the great eastern steppes thunder with the sound of thousands of hooves, brought by the endless hordes of the east. Still, there are rumors that an even greater menace is about to appear...

---

What is Europa: Dawn of the Middle Age?

E: DotMA is an RP campaign set in an alternate history version of medieval Europe, more precisely in the Low Middle Ages: the starting place will be the city of Toletum, in Spain. The players will enjoy almost unlimited freedom in regards to the plot, while a larger overarching story will go on in the background. Fantasy elements will be present, but only in the second part of the campaign, and realism will be a must (read: no animu-style heroes with fuckhueg swords and nipple armor).

Ok, what kind of character can I play as?

The world of Europa is immense, and inhabited by dozens of different peoples and cultures. Thus, I will post here only eight of them, the ones inhabiting Spain. This doesn't mean you won't be able to play as a character coming from any other culture: simply ask, and you shall be granted all the information you need to play as an Italian knight, or a Viking raider, or a Polish hussar.

• The Arabs: the Arabs have been the last people to come to Hispania en masse, arriving in the latter half of the seventh century and conquering all the region known as Andalusia, in the south, from the bickering Gothic kings. The Arabic city of Qurtubah quickly became the greatest of all Spain, and the capital of the Omayyad caliphate. Arabic society is notably more advanced than that of the Romano-Germanic peoples (such as the Goths), and culture, science and philosophy blossom in their realms: however, they are often torn by religious strife between the different branches of Islam. Among the Spanish Arabs, the most popular Muslim current is 'Ilm Islam.
• The Basques: perhaps the most ancient inhabitants of Hispania, the Basques live in the region known as Cantabria, in the northeast. Speaking a completely incomprehenisble (at least for foreigners) language, they resisted Celtic, Roman and Gothic invasions, and today they live as a loose federation of villages united under an elective king. The Basques have earned a fearsome reputation as bandits and pirates in the Pyrenees and the Gulf of Biscay, and despite having converted to Arianism, they still worship the old gods of their tradition, such as Mari, having syncretized them with the Christian religion.
• The Celts: once inhabiting all of Hispania, the Celts have been assimilated by Roman society, with one exception: the ancient and fierce kingdom of Lusitania, which never bowed down to the Romans. Here, the old ways of the ancient Celts are still alive and well, and druids offer sacrifices to their highest god, Endovelicus. Despite their existance has been constantly threatened by Goths and Arabs alike, the Celts always managed to survive, and their oathsworn warriors, charging fearlessly into battle wearing only a torque, are feared even by the bravest Gothic knights.

More in next post!

[Capra]

• The Franks: in the times of Charlemagne, the Frankish armies came to estabilish the hegemony of the nascent Holy Roman Empire over the north of Hispania: as a result, many Franks settled in the northeast of Hispania, on the Mediterranean coast, and never left. United in the Duchy of Barcino, the Spanish Franks are devout Catholics, ready to die in the name of God and their duke. Frankish society is typically feudal, and their knights pursue ideals of chivalry and honor above all else.
• The Goths: the most numerous of the peoples of Hispania, the Goths invaded the peninsula during the Barbarian Invasions: their realms were first united by the great king Theoderic, and since then they have been united in a loose high kingdom, centered around Toletum. However, the Gothic War shattered the power of the High Kings, in favor of local monarchs and lords. The Goths are divided in four kingdoms: the Catholic kingdom of Gothia, the central realm of Toletum, ruled directly by the High Kings, and the two Arian realms of Legio and Celtebra. These four realms are often at war with each other, often because of matters of religion.
• The Romans: the last Roman stronghold in Hispania, Valentia, is not unlike a fortress, besieged from all sides. The great Severan dynasty, once rulers of all Hispania, is still at the head of the city state, and managed to withstand waves of both Gothic and Arab invasions. Valentia still holds true to the ancient Roman ways: disciplined legions of soldiers march under the banner of their kings, protected by their god, Mithras, while the city, like a beacon of light among the barbarous darkness, prospers as a trade hub on the waves of the Mediterranean.

[Capra]

• The Suevians: native to the deep forests of Germania Magna, the Suevians arrived in Spain, together with Goths, during the Barbarian Invasions: differently from them, however, they never converted to Christianity, and kept steadfast to their old gods. Inhabiting the dense woods and hills of northwestern Hispania, the Suevians are an indomitable people, often raiding the Gothic kingdoms of the east: their warriors throw themselves into the fray without fear, knowing that Valhall awaits them.
• The Vandals: yet another people who came to Hispania during the Barbarian Invasions, settling the southernmost part of Andalusia, near the Pillars of Heracles, and creating the kingdom of Tingis, ruled by the Wisimaring dynasty. When the Arabs conquered the region, they were quick to convert to Islam, and were allowed to exist as a vassal kingdoms: since then, the Spanish Vandals introduced many Arabic elements into their society, without forgetting their Germanic roots. Their warriors are something between housecarls and mujahideen, ready to give their life for their lord and for Allah.

[Inlaa]

Oooh, Spain. This works really well for the character I had in mind.

I'll chew on exactly how to present the concept, but I think I want to play a traveling Moorish prince with no real chance of ever owning land. He's disguised himself as a simple scholar. He's probably had a proper Andalusian education, but after being caught in the midst of all the religious strife he's decided he wants to go and travel the world to see what sort of secrets it has to offer. He won't ever be a king, so his goal is to rule the world of history, myth and literature rather than the physical world.

Assuming the old lore you posted in the interest check is all still in place, this guy's going to be fascinated by the Wizard Kings of yore. I'm assuming magic is one of the fantasy elements not available to players at the start, so he's just going to be looking to find any old relics of theirs.

As far as working with a group goes: I expect this guy to fit in just fine with a band of mercenaries or adventurers. I don't see him getting along with thieves or bandits or the like.

EDIT: Did a bit of research on your site. I noticed that Berber Paganism is a thing, so I want to ask: would the ruling class of Mauretania - or, say, a kingdom to its south - be practitioners of Berber Paganism or Ilm-Islam? Or Maraboutism?

(Map I'm looking at: here.)

I'm also happy to play a Suevian or Arab character and have ideas for them, but this is my first choice.

EDIT 2: Yeah, definitely leaning toward playing a traveling Marabout priest that happens to be a landless prince from Maurentia or Tingis if that's allowed. <Character> gets sent to Andalusia to become educated and ends up realizing he hates being shut behind walls. Youngest son sort of situation, zero chances of inheriting a throne of any sort. Sensible choice?

[Capra]

I like that idea! As for Mauretania, the land is divided between Arabs (all Muslims), Vandals (Muslims, see kingdom of Tingis) and Berbers (some Muslim, many still pagan).

[Beach Burrito]

Csakan of Korson

Name: Csakan of Korson

Age and Gender: 43, Male

Appearance: The very image of a campaign hardened Kuman horse raider if Csakan is not the genuine article he is at the very least a convincing forgery. Born to a saddle with a back broadened by bowstrings he is tall, solidly built and agile, the sort of man that can cow a riled dog with sheer physical presence alone. A ferociously quiet individual Csakan speaks only as he must, his blue eyes prone to mirroring the militant expression that conceals his face proper, recognized more for this metal mask than what lay beneath. Perpetually congested, prone to nosebleeds.

Like a horse and its saddle he is seldom seen sans armor, the leather, felt and iron that layer his silhouette having faded from former glory during decades of service. An ornamental hilt and several inches of swept iron fill his scabbard before abruptly stopping, the broken blade of little use as anything beyond a memento.

Equipment in the order it is put on:

*Brocaded silk trousers. Blue with white and yellow. Faded
*Sturdy horse-hide boots. Calf height. Comfortable in a stirrup. Worn.
*Brocaded silk Kaftan. Sleeveless, ankle length. Blue with white and yellow. Faded.
*Goatskin cuirass. Thin. Scratched.
*Short-sleeved mail hauberk. Iron. A few knicks.
*lamellar cuirass with felt disks reinforcing the chest and back. Iron. Weathered.
*Sturdy horse-hide gloves. Mid-forearm length. Comfortable gripping reins.
*Conical Iron helmet with chain aventail and ornate iron face mask. Enameled, white. Embossed with mustache. Pristine.
*Belt and harness to carry bow case, quiver and sword at his hips and small almond shaped shield on his back.
*A particularly sturdy spear.
*A swift mare from the steppes, saddled with blanket and bags, several javelins.

Culture and Religion: Altiac (Western-Khanate Kuman, Kochoba Clan), Tengrism

Backstory:


Csakan omits much of his life before Toletum from discussion, the ex-nomad having settled in the Gothic capital after a lengthy westward pilgrimage. In the three years that followed he has amassed modest wealth in the service of a notorious money lender. Fulk, Csakan's employer, plagues the smallfolk of the capital with his predatory loan practices and murderous goons, buying blind-eyes when he needs to, plucking them out when he can't. That's not prose, a jar of these 'medical oddities' adorns his desk, ever the boon in negotiations.

The name this former Kochoba clansman has made for himself is not a kind one, often whispered to misbehaving children in lieu of a more fitting bogeyman. Hervey Ironface, the Blue dog of Toletum and the Alley-plucker ranking among the more inventive monikers cooked up by his unadoring public. The deeds that garnered them however are nowhere near as whimsical, murder the very least of his crimes. Driven and merciless the more superstitious members of the community attribute his inhuman tolerance for pain to eastern mysticism which has admittedly made debt collection marginally easier. Of particular note he was stabbed in a tavernside altercation last solstice and it stands on rumor he didn't so much as flinch, let alone cry out in pain--since then gossip persists that his armor is empty. Nonesense and exaggeration surely.

[Capra]

Very well then, the time has come to post a CS template. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Character Template

Name:

Age and Gender:

Appearance:

Culture and Religion:

Backstory:

Character pics are not obligatory but welcome.

[Inlaa]

I'm not good with names for the region this character is from, so if I do a bad thing... help me make it not a bad thing.

EDIT: By the way, is sorcery a thing at present date? The page on Maraboutism mentions them being magicians. If it is, I'd like Izem to know some very basic magic of some kind. Perhaps some control over fire, as typical as that is?

Izem ibn Tarif

Name: Izem ibn Tarif

Age and Gender: 24, male

Appearance: Izem is a tall young Berber man wearing a simple but well-made robe. He has a full beard, bright brown eyes, and an easygoing look. He's a little plump and definitely eats well, but a quick look at his arms shows he's strong, though not Herculean.

Izem has a leather satchel stuffed with books, a light backpack with a bedroll, various traveling supplies on his belt, and a well-made Suevian falcata dangling from his sash.

Picture

Izem's Falcata

Culture and Religion: Berber, Maraboutism

Backstory: As the fifteenth son of a virile Mauretanian warlord, Izem had no real hopes of possessing any real authority among his people. His brothers, uncles and cousins were already vying for as much power as they could obtain, whether it be control of the people or control of the warriors, so Izem felt it wisest to separate himself from those squabbles. He wanted to live a long life.

Since Izem was a healthy youth, he was schooled at an early age in swordplay and warfare. He took faster to books than to battle, however, and expressed an interest in becoming a Marabout. He was educated by those storytellers of his people. The stories he learned were a mixture of the old ways and of Islam's teachings, and he became very familiar with both of those worlds, hearing of both distant lands and close lands. He drank from this font of knowledge as much as he could.

When that was done, the young prince approached his father again, expressing a desire to go to one of these places told of in the stories: Hispania. Izem had heard stories of the splendor of their cities, much larger and grander than Marrakech or Sijilmasa, and he knew it was not far from his home. Eventually, after much arguing, his father relented, but warned him not to let himself be changed by the place. Izem was fourteen.

Izem spent the next several years in and around Qurtubah, studying science, history, and really any subject he could. He knew better than to speak of magic, and he studied the tenets of Ilm Islam though he did not embrace it (even if he pretended to do so).

Izem enjoyed a strange feeling in Hispania: it hardly mattered that he was a chief's son whereas it was a matter of much discussion and interest in Mauretania. He felt liberated, like shackles around his feet had been cut away. It was a good feeling.

While Izem returned to Mauretania every year for Ramadan, he came back to stay at twenty-two years of age, having learned Latin, Arabic, complex mathematics and much more while abroad. At home, though, he felt stifled. Even though he was traveling the Dunes once again, he felt like he wasn't going anywhere, like he was only seeing things he had already seen. So, over the next couple years he prepared himself for a journey abroad, careful to keep it a secret from his father, who believed Izem would stay in Mauretania to an adviser to one of his brothers.

About a year after he began his preparations, Izem was back in Hispania. He equipped himself with a sword he bought from a Suevian merchant and set off someplace new and different: Toletum.

Izem is a scholar, priest and prince searching for a means of making a living while on the road. After all, a Marabout should wander rather than remain in one place. He is a capable enough swordsman, highly educated in science and history, and he speaks three languages (the Berber tongues, Latin and Arabic). With such skills at his disposal, he believes he can find easy employment as a mercenary or find a band of adventurers looking for another sword arm. He tries not to reveal his bloodline to strangers, both because he does not want perceptions of him to be skewed and because he feels it could prove disadvantageous to him.

[Capra]

Nice! Just a few things to fix about the backstory: Berber society is semi-nomadic in nature, so there's no unified kingdom of Mauretania, and the "inheriting land" thing doesn't make too much sense, as there are no "lands", just clans and tribal chiefdoms. Also, Berbers are either pagans or Marbouti Muslims, as there are no other currents of Islam which are widespread among them. Some basic level magic is fine.

[Inlaa]

Okay, I'll make those changes momentarily. I wasn't sure as it was referenced as a Feudal or Semi-Feudal society according to the map key.

[Inlaa]

Done. See old post for edited version.

[Capra]

Very nice - now we shall wait for at least another char to be posted, then we can start the dances.

[Beach Burrito]

Nearly done my CS. Been a bit stripped of time with work as of late. Just filling in backstory.

EDIT

Updated my first post to be a CS. Redacted some info that won't be public knowledge, the full CS is waiting for you via PM Capra.

[Capra]

Very good. We shall start soon.

[Beach Burrito]

Really thought there'd be more interest by now...

[Austronaut]

I'm interested. Are you planning on enforcing historical gender roles?

[Beach Burrito]

The way I read it is:

* You can make a woman/man that goes against the cultural/societal grain ((Which is very different depending on where you come from and where the RP takes place READ: Toletum - Capital of the High Kingdom of the Goths.))
** People will and -should- remark on how odd/unacceptable this is to varying degrees depending on who they are, just like they would if you followed a different religion/hail from another country/are a visible minority. You'll certainly stick out to say the least.
*** You -can't- fill a position that class/caste structure of your society rigidly forbids. These systems have teeth and -will- bite. (Impersonating a noble/church official etc.)

Just my notion mind, I can't speak for Capra.