ClocktowerEchos

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

Court Council

The President-King while powerful, does not rule alone and so has a council of individuals to advise and delegate tasks for him. Being appointed to the Court Council is usually seen as a great honor and recognition for either skill, trust or power within the realm. Being on the Court Council however demands that the individual live within Wasentown, sometimes even within the White Palace or the Grand Courthouse, forcing those on the Council to hand control of their holdings over to someone else who can manage it while they are away.

Vice Prince

The Vice Prince/Princess is the most powerful position behind the President King and is directly appointed by them. They speak and act with the authority of the President themselves in their place. Such an office is incredibly prestigious and grants a person great power with Houses boasting about ancestors with the assignment. If the President is strong, the VP is an agent of their will who can let them execute multiple plans at once without being present everywhere. If the President is weak, it is often the VP who is the true power in the Five Kingdoms. Beyond their duties as right hand of the king, the VP is also the chief diplomat who speaks on behalf of the President with other lords of the realm or with outsiders.

Master at Arms

Also known as the Chief Commander, they are responsible for organizing and training the militay forces of Atlantics. They organize muster rolls, manage levies, keep track of all the mercenaries, free companies, men at arms and knights in the kingdom. Workshop and smithies that produce the weapons of war are also under their preview as armories and the strongholds of the River Guard must be kept at fighting condition. They also are responsible for the Honor Guard, sworn bodyguards of the President King. While many Masters at Arms have been exceptional fighters in their own right, it is not required for the office; there have been Masters at Arms who could barely hold a sword but proved incredibly adept at their job regardless.

Master of Law

The chief minster of laws and regulations. They are usually well studied individuals who give advice on legal matters, managing the dungeon, organizing feudal contracts, keeping track of bloodlines and claims and giving the king reminders on local customs when they visit the different crowns of the realm. Although at a first glance it seems like a simple job, claims to the throne can very quickly become very messy and local lords are sometimes known to implement laws that are wildly different than their surroundings. Sometimes the best skill for a Master of Law to have isn't reading or even knowledge of law, but patience and willpower to get through all of the bullshit their job inevitably runs into.

Master of Coin

Although rich in its own right, the kingdom still requires an individual skilled with money to manage its finances. Anything related to the economy and resources is the domain of the Master of Coin who manages the king's household finances, internal and external trading, public works projects, maintaining resource stockpiles and managing harvest quotas. Becoming the Master of Coin is notoriously difficult and usually a sign of great trust as there is a common (if not well founded) fear of the Master of Coin syphoning off the king's coffers to enrich themselves.

Director of Information

The Spymaster who lurks in the shadows like a spider. They inform the king on matters of sensitive information and espionage, both foreign and domestic, and are always on the look out for plots and schemes as well as more nefarious secrets which can be used for blackmail. The Director of Information is the King's ears although sometimes they go just a little bit deaf. They command the Secret Service although they're also called the "Black Orchestra". The Director can be the single most powerful individual on the council, even more so than the VP or king themselves, so great trust is invested into the position and more than once it has been filled by the President's spouse or secret lover.

Court Representative

The religious advisor of the Faith for the king who represents the Congress of Founders in court. They serve equal parts spiritual advisor and scholarly record keeper and unlike the other positions, it is not directly filled by the king. Instead, the Speaker of the Faith presents a list of candidates that he believes are pious and suitable for a life at court advising the king. While most of the time the candidates are Representatives, sometimes an especially devout noble or lord can also become a candidate.

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

Big post since a few things need to be put down for the record.

RP Starting Event: A House Divided

So this is based on whats been going on in the Discord and what the opening events of the RP will be. So far its been decided that Franklin is going to die and his two sons will start a civil war over the throne and players will pick who between: George and Alexander.

George is the older and thus claims the crown by right of inheritance and age. He is loud, brash, brutish, narcissistic, arrogant and quiet likely some degree of insane but he's also a fearsome fighter. He is focused on the military and defense of the realm. He does not believe that any peace treaty signed by outsiders will last so it is better to bring war to them first before they bring war to the kingdom. He also wishes to expand the realm by conquest believing in a "manifest destiny" prophecy he was told and say how he will establish a link to far off California.

Alexander is the younger and claims the throne as he believes George is unfit to be king due to his madness and abrasiveness (which is entirely plausible). He would prefer the peace that his father created and would rather focus on trying to develop the realm internally; he's likely the one who would start a renaissance of learning and culture by the building of Congresses and schools. He believes that trying to establish permeant ties with California would be an expensive fool's errand and instead looks to the south, hoping to "obtain" a Caribbean island or two for the crown. However, his birth is highly disputed and some believe that he is in fact a bastard with no actual claim to the throne and thus supporting him would be going against House Ironwit.

Map

There's two version of a map that I'm currently debating about using and give a better idea of the territory of each crown.

Map v1

Map v2

Ties to House Ironwit

This was mentioned in my previous post but because its at the end of the page, I want to repost it here.

So as of right now, none of the house are really connected to one another. In an effort to remedy that (and to make writing the opening events of the RP more interesting and easier), I'd like to point out that right now President-King Franklin Ironwit is married to an unnamed woman of an unnamed house and has had two kids. He also has two sisters who have been married off that could form alliances and have become mothers.

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

So as of right now, none of the house are really connected to one another. In an effort to remedy that (and to make writing the opening events of the RP more interesting and easier), I'd like to point out that right now President-King Franklin Ironwit is married to an unnamed woman of an unnamed house and has had two kids. He also has two sisters who have been married off that could form alliances and have become mothers.

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

Character sheet. This is for the main PoV you'd be playing and thus has the most info. Again, don't have to use this exact format, just the information mentioned. If you want to have other characters, feel free to make smaller CS's for them

Character Sheet

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!)

Quotes:
(This can be something your character had said or something someone else says about them.)

Example Character: President King Franklin Ironwit

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?)

Quote:
"You say I am not giving you an option but I am. Either you do your duty or I will do it for you and you will not have a second chance to do it yourself."
- King Franklin threatening an official of his court

"Oh yes father is great and all but he's too afraid of war and thinks pen and ink can replace steel and blood. Sure he's signed a peace with the Ursulines but what, does he think he can sign a peace with the Wintermen? The Ozarks? The Windrunners? I suppose next he'll try to make peace with the storms and hurricanes so they stop landing in the Sunbelt."
- Prince George Ironwit criticizing his father's treaty with Quebec and the Ursuline Church

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

@Paradoxial Looks interesting, here's somethings I'd like to point out.

You have a lot of titles, the ones that are listed in the House CS aren't the ones also personally assigned to the Head of the House/individuals. I don't know what each one exactly means but I imagine that Slayer of the White Bear is more a personal achievement. You'd also definitely have "Lord of Appalachia" as one of your titles since that would be a crown given one to signify your rank and ownership of the territory. I do like the idea that you have some titles that implies a sort of disconnect/isolation from the rest of the Five Kingdoms (Mountain Mother and the Digger ones especially).

The Five Kingdoms formed into their most modern incarnation around 1000 years ago just as an fyi. If you want to stick with the 400 year date, it would likely be some other clan that unified the mountains first. As an idea (don't have to take it), maybe 400 years ago the old Lord of Appalachia rebelled or sided with House Deveram during House Ironwit's coup but House Delver sided with the Ironwits and as a reward for supporting them, the Delvers were given Lordship of Appalachia instead.

Also, I'd doubt that House Delver would be the ones to "kickstart" the mining industry since it'd likely be going on even before the clans unified, but they could have easily been the ones to do major reforms like organizing the mines, giving special rights and sending out survey teams of "Stonewhispers" or "Mountain Priests" (re: geologists) to find more veins.

Sum up your week in roleplaying in just 3 words

Lots of Lurkers

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

@Infinite Cosmos I'm still a bit confused on how exactly the Brewers rose to power. It seems like that they married someone who could see into the future who gave them a prophesy that told them they would rule and unite the lakes so they built a new castle and some how that gave them the title? Also, you won't be reestablishing a collage based on an ancient manuscript, its been nearly 2000 years and just scraps remain. Even the Constitution which has had been taken care of with incredible care is now reduced to scraps and shreds.

Also this a much more minor but Shedd House doesn't sound... regal? It sounds like a port side business and not really a castle. Maybe Castle Shedd or Watershedd? Again, tiny thing and ultimately its your call, I'm not going to hold you to this part as much compared to the stuff above.

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

@Infinite Cosmos

Yeah Warden of the Great Lakes works fine. As for history, don't be afraid to stick it all in a hider.

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

House Brewer of the Lakelands

House Name:House Brewer
House Words:"Praise be the Harvest"
Coat of Arms: A golden frond of wheat, on a background of blue (Pantone 2905 U, to be specific)

Seat: The Lakelands, "Chicago", Shedd House (Old Shedd Aquarium)
Titles:

• Lord of the Lakelands
• Sovereign of Illinois
• Warden of the North
• Marine Masters of the Mississippi

History: House Brewer, or rather, the Brewers, has been around for ages. The Brewers have always served the old lord in the North, working as laborers and occasionally men at arms. Over the centuries, Brewer men have always worked hard and, when necessary, fought bravely. However, even with their hardy nature and tireless work ethic, the Brewer's as a house did not amount to much.

Until one faithful campaign.

The lands to the West of the Lakelands, namely Minnestar and the Dako Plains, were considered strategically important and some were even fertile farm lands. The old lords in the North oft waged wars against the tribes in the North to seize the lands for themselves and the kingdom as a whole. These campaigns were mostly successful, but often at the cost of men and war beasts alike. One campaign, aptly named "War of Grains" saw the lords of the North, along with Brewer men at arms, wage a costly war against the tribes of Minnestar. On the morn of the decisive battle, one Camden Brewer was a common man at arms, fighting under the banner of lords of the north. The battle raged on around him. Arrows loosed from drawn bows and men cleaved at each other with crude iron swords.

Camden, knocked from his horse, rose to see that he was one among a few. One of those was the lord of the north. A tribesman was about five paces from the lord and had an arrow drawn. A sudden burst of courage overcame young Camden. He charged forth and tossed a nearby spear at the tribesman while diving in front of the lord. A whizz was heard. The lord, unharmed, pulled Camden to his feet but noticed that he was wounded. An arrow stuck out from his left shoulder like a grotesque branch from a tree. The action of Camden, however, served as the rallying cry for the rest of the troops, as the act of a young soldier in the face of danger is oft to do. The battle, and the rest of the campaign, was theirs. The lords of the north took over the fertile lands of Minnestar for their own.

For now.

Young Camden, for his bravery, was given a title and a minor land to hold as his own, in Illinois. Now, as lord of Wind Castle, Camden's family finally was able to settle and prosper. As a port on one of the great lakes, Illinois had plenty of commerce and trade. Over the years, House Brewer moved on from simple laborers to merchants and traders. Of course, their men at arms still fought for the lords in the north. The campaigns west never quite stopped, or were they as successful for the lords in the north as War of Grains. The foothold they gained west of the Mississippi were eventually ceded back to the tribes of Minnestar, in order to forge a peace treaty...

This was about 100 years ago now. Over the century, House Brewer grew strong. From simple farms, to knights, to lord, and now Warden of the North. Camden II has ready the stories and saw the relics. He knows the history, and his place.

Head: Lord Camden Brewer II
Heirloom: "Jewel of the North Star" A prize given as a sign of peace from the Minnestar Tribes. An aquamarine gem of flawless quality, found in one of the great lakes. Currently inlaid into the pummel of the great axe used by Camden II.
Traits: Brewers are known to be fair-skinned, golden haired with piercing blue eyes. Typically, they are quiet friendly and are known to be great hosts of feasts.

Misc: Given the fact that half of House Ironwit was banished into the Badlands of the Dako Plains, House Brewer often serves as the first line of defense against the would be usurpers. Brewers are also known as clan of hardy people, unafraid of the cold they often endure.
Quote:
"Ah, the Brewers. They surely live up to their name. The ales they brew are known far and wide for their subtle honey taste, and a refreshing finish, like a quick dip in a lake on a hot day"

-The blabbing of a local drunkard.

"What we know of the Brewers are that we have a peace treaty with them. We gave them our L'Étoile, they gave us His helm. But, if I had to wager a bet, I'd bet they're readying themselves to take our lands and harvest again..."

-Whisperings of Minnestar tribal chiefs, said with a slight tinge of contempt.

@Infinite Cosmos

Looks good although I have two things:
1) The Lakelands aren't the "true north". You could keep the title of Warden of the North, but whoever takes control of the Northern Marches will likely want that title for themselves.

2) History is interesting although how did the Brewers go from holding a port and castle to becoming the Lords of the Lakelands? Intrigue? Coup? Rebellion? Marriage inheritance? Did the Ironwits name the Brewers the new Lords after the old house did something?

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

@Infinite Cosmos Its in the OP under the premise but here it is again: https://discord.gg/QFMgSQtT