Pepperm1nts

Empires of Sand

Unapproved

-Faction name: Great Qarthine
-Faction Type: City-state
-Flag/Banner: TBA

NATIONAL
-Capital: Qarthine
-Government Type: Monarchy led by the Sorceress-Queen Amidasura, but effectively a Triarchy ruled alongside her constable Relan Kil, and arcanist Salas Athal.
-Currency: Qarthine currency comes in the form of golden chain links, and are referred to as 'links'.

Currency

Qarthine currency carries some subtle symbolism. The city was founded largely by slaves, who now pay with broken chain links.

-Population: 250,000~
-Unique Trait #1: TBA
-Unique Trait #2: TBD
-Unique Flaw #1: TBA
-Unique Flaw #2: TBD

GEOGRAPHICAL
-World-Realm Map: TBA
-Major Cities: Qarthine
-Major Castles: TBA
-Buildings of Interest: TBA

-Geographic Features of Interest:

The Sea of Giants -

Sea of Giants

Great Qarthine sits at the heart of the Sea of Giants; a vast desert expanse littered with the colossal remains of metal constructs. The colossal beasts of metal jut out from the desert sands like the half-buried carcasses of long-dead giants.

The River of Sorrows/The Sorrow -

The River of Sorrows

The Sorrow is a river running through the Sea of Giants. When Sorceress-Queen Amidasura led the freed slaves of the Drathan Union to Qarthine, their tears formed The River of Sorrows.

RACIAL
-Majority Race: Human
-Minority Races: TBD

NATIONAL DRAMATIS PERSONAE
-Head of State/Monarch: Sorceress-Queen Amidasura
-Ruling Dynasty: N/A
-Constable Of The Army: Relan Kil
-Religious Head (If Applicable): Lorespeaker Salas Athal
-Persons of interest:

Sorceress-Queen Amidasura -

Sorceress-Queen Amidasura

A Drathan, Sorceress-Queen Amidasura is a powerful master of the arcane, and the ruler of Great Qarthine since its founding almost five-hundred years ago.

Relan Kil -

Relan Kil

Relan Kil is the leader of the Inheritor Guard. In the days of the Telavin Empire, the Guard protected the heirs to the Telavin throne. Now, the Guard protects Great Qarthine and the Sorceress-Queen Amidasura.

Lorespeaker Salas Athal -

Lorespeaker Salas Athal

Salas Athal is an adviser of Sorceress-Queen Amidasura and the leader of the Lorespeakers, an influential monastic order of academics and arcanists loyal to Qarthine and its Sorceress-Queen.

CULTURAL
-History:

-List of Historical Grievances: Having been founded largely by freed slaves, Qarthine is extremely hostile to slavers and states in which slavery is practiced. In particular, the city has had a long-standing rivalry with the Drathan Union.
-Relations TBD
-Cultural Notes

Slavery and Masks -

Slavery and Masks

Great Qarthine was founded by the freed slaves of the Drathan Union, led there by the Drathan sorceress Amidasura. This has shaped Qarthine society in many ways, as is reflected in their disdain for all forms of forced servitude.

Another cultural aspect linked to its slave founders is the use of masks. Residents of Qarthine are almost never seen without their masks on, and to show their face is a sign of great trust. This custom has its origins in the Drathan Union. There, slaves were forced to wear metal masks tightly locked around their heads; a harsh form of deterrence against the organizing of slaves for rebellious purposes.

The masks worn in Qarthine today are not so harsh, however. Often, they only cover the eyes, and are made of light materials like ceramic or wood. Wealthy citizens wear more ornate, colorful masks made of more expensive materials like gold.

Qarthine Steel -

Qarthine Steel

Qarthine Steel is an unusually strong metal characterized by its iridescent, grey-blue appearance that is often shaped into weapons and armor. The metal is made from the same material found in the Sea of Giants, but the secret to reforging it is closely-guarded by the Lorespeakers. The methods used are unknown but wildly speculated to involve magic.

RELIGION, MAGIC and ARCHEO-TECH
-State Religion: Cult of Amidasura
-Religious Information TBA

-Religion Demographics: TBA
-Holy Relics In Possession: TBA
-Holy Sites Under Control: TBD

-Magical Information TBA
-Archeo-Tech: TBA

MILITARY
-Total Military Size
-Military Details

Empires of Sand

Yeah, the speed boosts and cloaking stuff was the kind of stuff Flagg said we should avoid. Magic in this is mysterious and rare, and more shamanistic than the usual fireball slingin' stuff.

Empires of Sand

@Flagg I'm still working out details for my faction. I'll be trying to avoid merchants and tucked-away fortresses, because we have a few of both already. It will probably be a city-state, but that's about the extent of what I have "written in stone".

As for someone good with paint maps - Gorgenmast is pretty damn good.

Empires of Sand

My only opposition, personally, would be the whole "hidden away in a fort" thing. It seems like everyone always has to be hidden away in a fort, and it gets repetitive. That's just my opinion, though.

Empires of Sand

My critique so far (for the purpose of trying to guide the RP down th right path) is that maybe we ought to tone down the merchant/trader states. If we have too many, it's going to be counterproductive to the theme of a harsh, desert world where everyday survival is a main priority to most people. As far as I can tell, we have two, with a third being considered.

[Advanced] Empires of Sand (fantasy NRP)

Very interested in this.

EDIT:

Responding to the request, I'll say that I am in. However, I need to know right now, that even if there's an emphasis on world-building that there will also be a greater one on actual role-playing. I want to join this for interaction, I don't want to spend 2-3 weeks with five people carefully crafting an intricate backstory, only to have it all fall apart and an IC never truly begin.

@Darkmatter

Also, a billion times this.

Precipice of War - We Write Under The Sign Of The Goat

<Snipped quote by Dinh AaronMk>

I added that back in November and I've been waiting to see how long it would take anyone to say something about it.

@gorgenmast

Vilage pointed it out to me weeks ago but we assumed Aaron had added it for laughs or something.

[Advanced] The Fall of an Empire: Space Opera NRP

Also, [@everyone/Pretenders], who will be the one to have sacked Almata?

@Durandal

Considering this is the capital we're talking about, It'd probably take a coalition to take it down. Multiple pretenders could have been involved, and once the smoke settles, they would probably turn on each other over who gets to be emperor.

Or at least I think that would be the coolest way to go about it.

[Advanced] The Fall of an Empire: Space Opera NRP

Just agree to something easy to explain and roll with it. No need to get caught up with details. That's how RP's die with dozens of pages of OOC and zero IC posts.

Precipice of War - We Write Under The Sign Of The Goat

Joining the Foreign Legion doesn't get you banned from the US dingaling.