Marches of Man
“Man walks it's steps in the world, unknowing of all that is before him, behind him, and above him. All man knows is greed, for money, for land, for pleasure. And so, Man walks on, never realizing all he looks for was where he stood to begin with.”
The Setting
The setting of Marches of Man takes place in a medieval styled world, where kings and queens rule their lands as is their right given to them by the Gods, or God, depending on what faith you follow. We will be playing in the kingdom of Broacien, a harsh and unforgiving land, home to an equally tough people. The kingdom is surrounded by other kingdoms, empires and the odd tribal wasteland or southern sultanate. The kingdom's many allies and friends have brought it in a precarious situation as it lies amidst the big powers, causing Broacien to become a battlefield over the years. Many graveyards, some marked, some nothing more than a heap of bones, are spread across the kingdom.
Broacien's sustainability comes from it's flourishing fisheries, and small agricultural prowess. The Broacienians have become adept at sustaining themselves, and through that, sustaining the kingdom. Besides that they have many many woodworks, as well as iron and coal mines. Broacien isn't particularily powerful, although it stands it own amidst the other kingdoms. Most others see them as a buffer between them and any others, although Broacien has been known to allow access to military parties to move through their lands if motivated enough for it.
As per their own military, the kingdom of Broacien fields mostly militia's of spearmen, swordsmen and archers. The levy is quite large, given the fact that most people in Broacien are either farmers or fishers, labourers or work in the towns. However there is a small percentage of nobility, who are exactly what you expect nobility to be. Some are noble, brave, true warriors who protect those below them as per chivalrous code. The others are craven, barely deserve the title of nobleman, and cannot tell one end from the sword to the other. There is a broad range of nobility, each with their own small castle-keep, or with their own estates within townships. Ofcourse, there are varying ranges of nobility within the nobleman group too, based on lineage, prestige and ofcourse favor from the king.
Religion plays a big role in the area, and that is the same for Broacien, where religion depends mostly on what faith your father had or where you are from. As such, those who live in the north are mostly 'pagans' or 'heathens' following a wide pantheon of gods, of which some are cruel, war loving individuals who see worth in martial prowess, and others are gentle, nature adoring souls who tend to matters like marriage, love and pregnancies.
More to the south you will find a monotheistic religion, with accompanying branches of faiths. The faith as a whole names itself 'Monarchism', and all believe in a single entity called the Monarch. The Monarch created man, woman, animals and all other things in the world. His anti-entity is the Pretender. This pretender aims to only destroy what is built by the Monarch, to reclaim it as his and build his own 'version' of the Monarchs' domain, but would ultimately twist it. Both names are obvious in their origins, coming from the titles of a monarch, and those who have a claim to that title, the pretenders. There are numerous branches in this faith, all of which have similar, but differing visions on how the faith should be, and how it shouldn't be. The 'main group' of the religion simply believes in whatever the king believes, he is after all, Monarch on Earth.
The religion can be both cherishing and brutal at the same time, shown in the Monarchistic cross well with it's circe adorned with spikes. The faith is loving in that it promotes a good life containing generousity, being just and fair and living a pious life where you believe in the Monarch with a grand conviction. But as loving as it can be, there are cruel aspects. The faith is unforgiving towards it's enemies, such as the desert lords of the south. But it's not just external enemies, since people who oppose the Monarch, or it's church, will find themselves either beheaded in a river, or on a pyre ready to burn for their sins. Furthermore, not neccesarily a religious conviction, the Monarchistic priests promote warriorhood by stating braveness, strength and a strong loyalty are all virtues, and cowardice, weakness and a lack of loyalty are sins - an accord smithed with the king, so that the king may have better soldiers.
“A Monarchistic Cross.”
Geographically speaking, Broacien is home to a wide variety of biodomes. At the center are lush forests, covered in moss, grass and all sorts of plants. Naturally, this is where the king houses. To the north are more harsh lands, covered in snow completely three months out of twelve, and dealing with snowfall five months out of twelve. The lands are arid, but house a tough variant of people, who mostly tend to sheep, farm for sustainability and work in the wood industry. The lands here are covered in pine tree's, iced over rivers and large open fields. To the west of the center point of Broacien, there are flat grasslands, mixed with marshes and swamps every now and then. Not overly hostile or particularily friendly, the western fields provide a good neutral ground for anyone wishing to settle a farm.
To the north-east is an ocean called the Crashing Gulfs. The sea here is particularily rough due to it being an inlet towards mainland, before the coastline retreats again to it's natural course. There is many kinds of fishes here, and even whales if the time is right, giving Broacien a wealthy source of food, and even walehides. Sailing in the sea here is possible although there have been a great many ships swallowed by the water's hungry mouth.
Then to the south of Broacien, the lands slowly turn into a red sand, with the occasional irrigated farm with grassy plains here and there. These southern areas of Broacien border a sultanate that follows a foreign fate, and who have engaged Broacien and the others in many holy wars over the years, never fully succesful at claiming lands and converting infidels, but always doing a great job at murdering innocents in the name of their God.
Furthermore there are numerous kingdoms surrounding the kingdom of Broacien. Ofcourse, to the south, is the ibn-Wahad Sultanate, but they are more commonly refered to as desert lords by any who doesn't live in the sultanate. They follow a different religion than any other kingdom currently known to the Broacienians. Their beliefs is that of the Sawarim. The Sawarim believes in God and his wife, who both have similar powers to the Monarch. It's said, in songs of the Sawarim, that God rides over the skies with his black desert horse, and his wife rides on the white desert horse. This symbolises the good and bad, or the 'cruel' and the 'good.' The ibn-Wahad sultanate is led by sultan Kalim al-ibn-Wahad. The throne rules here focus on the sultans' many many children, of which the youngest receives the throne, and the others are expected to either be generals or bodyguards for him, in case of brothers, or become political assets or spymasters, in case of sisters.
To the north is, well, the North. There is no real name for this place, since it's home to tribal federations who believe in a pantheon of multiple gods, much alike with the Northern believes in Broacien. These tribes are always feuding, for one reason or another, with the most common reason or casus belli being hunting lands. Food is scarce in the region, so it's a warlord's duty to preserve old grounds, and obtain new hunting grounds. There are tribes that were completely wiped out, not because of war, but because of starvation after they failed to amass enough grounds to hunt on. Because of this, a major offense is poaching. It's punishable with immediate execution on the spot if you're caught, without as much as a single word to be said. To many of those in the civilised world, this is very strange, since poaching is only a minor offense. But in the North, it means you take away a valuable animal for yourself without the right to do so. Especially important since killing a single animal might mean the death of a whole family of those who had rights to that animal.
There are numerous more kingdoms that are very alike Broacien, to both the east and west. Some are more sophisticated than others, while others are.. rudimentary at best, and a kingdom only in name. There is abundant trade, although only in low value commodities such as wicker baskets, foods, pots, weaponry and armor and ales. For high value commodities, you'd have to either directly order it, since no tradesman is wealthy enouhg to afford these, only to trade them away at a market.
Ooc Stuff
So after reading that, welcome to my OOC. I hope that I kept you reading long enough to get interested, but not too long so that you lose interest. I guess this thread will tell me if I succeeded or failed. Regardless of that, I feel like I should atleast give you all a list of things to expect and not to expect. It's only fair you know that, before you delve into this too deep only to find out it's not what you want.
What to expect?
- A GM who wants to create content for the roleplay as much as you do.
- A GM who is active on a day to day basis, and doesn't shy away from posting.
- An RP focussed on interaction, which is in the GM's opinion, the lifeblood of an RP.
- A world that is still open for creative freedoms, but that is filled in enough so that you can work with anything you want.
- A (hopefully) friendly community.
- An RP that is open to additions, lore and criticism.
What not to expect?
- A GM who will constantly put up with 'I'll post later this week' if you've already said that 5x.
- A GM who will see it as his sole purpose to create your entertainment whilst sacrificing his own.
- An RP where you can roleplay on your own, in your own corner, without anyone saying 'hey, stop.'
- Magic. Or atleast, not the fire-ball from my hand kind of magic.
- Dragons. Dragons are no fun.
- Assasins who will fly through the air, throwing knives at 4 targets, pulling three (yes three!) swords from nowhere and stabbing everyone to death right as the throwing knives kill people. I hate assasins like this. Especially if they have a name like 'Dark Wolf' and have a, how could it be anything else, black wolf as a companion.
Ground rules
- RPG rules apply. I don't really need to say it, but really, I kinda do.
- A GM will have the final say. That doesn't mean you can't argue with me, but if I say no, don't continue.
- Don't be an ass. If you're posting 'sarcastic' comments all the time, ripping into other people's characters, don't think you are slick and think we don't notice. I notice. Other's notice. Just don't.
- If there's a discussion, that is fine. That is good. If there's an argument it's different. Just don't do it.
- If you decide to break above rule and argue with people, have the decency to do it over PM, so I don't need to read the storm of.. whatever.
- If it escalates, please don't continue in the OOC, IC and whatever. If you want to meet up in real life to fight, that's not my issue or problem, just don't make it my problem by putting it in the thread.
The Story
Two companies of the king's finest men were recently murdered out in a skirmish against Cherwin, and as a result the king has ordered the dispersion of these two companies, the White Oaks, famed defenders of Broacien whose lineage goes back several centuries, and the Old Hounds, veterans who work in close relation to wardogs to strike fear and cowardice into the hearts of their enemy. But now, the veterans return home with a sorrow in their hearts, the company that they lived for disbanded as there were not enough men available to refill either of the two companies.
Similarily, princess Erica is reaching an age where she has to be betrothed away to a man, and preferably a powerful and influential one to secure alliances. There are many suitors currently, including some foreign lords who wish to secure an alliance with a foreign king, in order to strengthen their position in their own kingdom. However there are also suitors from within the realm, such as young noblemen, sons of lords and, more noticeably, the heir to the grandmastership of the Servants. This has put the king in a precarious situation on whom he shall select - choosing one person, is bound to upset many others. And the king wouldn't want to risk upsetting the Servants, stout protectors of the Monarchist faith, especially since he was once upon a time amongst their ranks.
Here we are now, at the stage where a new company must be formed to reform the army as it was before - a company that can be used on all occasions and for all tasks that can ever exist. And so, a message was sent out from the king, through his many messengers and scouts, to the villages, towns and hermitages in his realm.
By decree of the king, all men, able bodied and fit for battle, and with a wish to earn good coin, a fulfilling life, support from the Monarchists and a good training in combat, are to converge in the camp of Rot Donar, and sign up with the ensign. Lay down your life in name of the good king, Gregar Barin Grochain, the only true king in Broacien, and find you will be treated with honor, dignity and respect!
Camp followers are also required, and as such cooks, servants and squires are required for those of noble blood, as well as cooks and other personnel for the general populace of the company. Do not hesitate to support your kings armies, as good coin and a passage into the heavens awaits you.
Do not wait! Sign up for the Black Shields now.
Recruitment starts on November 12th, the buying of slaves starts on November 14th.
A small note is scribbled underneath every message, not written by the king, but added on by every single ensign. Women of pleasureable lifes are welcome, too.
The Black Shields, that will be us. We will be in service to the king and will be involved in the rise, fall and turmoils of the realm. Will we side with the king if treason strikes? Will we side with the pretender? We must battle or maneuver our way through the political maze that is Broacienian courts, all the while being wary of the Cherwen kingdom, as well as the Sultanate. To the east await exploration, of lands yet unknown to us, but it is said that nobody can cross the mountain range to get there. And to the North, a chilling cold awaits those who venture too far. We will have to deal with situations, that much is sure. But how we deal with them? That is a choice.
To avoid overstretching the OOC, I decided to place the CS skeleton in the very first post of the characters tab. Hence, this way anyone that wonders where it is will find it there - read thoroughly. It seems like a lot to read but it really isn't. Take some time. Or don't, it's your call. Makes life easier for both of us, though. :)