Zendrelax

The Elder Scrolls: Aftermath of Skyrim - a Role Play/Nation RP Hybrid

Azzhlan sat again in his study, reading a copy of the Res Publica that he had recently acquired. “It is quite an interesting read Avik. A nation with no Aristocracy. It will be quite the experiment. “Assuming that they defeat the Empire, and the Dominion doesn’t sweep in and take them out. Besides, the likelihood of them approving of your rule is all but none.” “Perhaps not, Avik,” Azzhlan turned the page, “but if things work out in Skyrim, and we can convince the Direnni to secede, it could spell the end of the Empire, leaving us to deal with the Dominion in peace.” Avik smirked, “’In peace.’ An interesting turn of phrase.” Azzhlan chuckled, “Yes, I suppose it is. In any case, without their little lapdog Titus,” Avik spat at the name, “they won’t be able to come at us with anything we haven’t handled before, and this time we won’t be alone.” “Unless they’re stupid enough to try sailing all the way around Tamriel.” Azzhlan broke into laughter, “If only, Avik, if only.” There was a knock at the door. Azzhlan set his copy of Res Publica aside, marking his place with a silk ribbon, and stood. “Enter.” Talib entered the study and knelt. “Speak.” “My Lord, Cyrodiil has broken out into chaos. The Res Publica have made their move, and now control much of Cyrodiil. And are now appear to be moving for the Imperial City.” Talib paused while his King broke out into laughter. “The incident seems to have been incited by the Stormcloaks taking the Pale Pass.” “Interesting news, Talib. Very Interesting.” Now the Empire could only supply or recall their legion via the Arecean Sea, taking them right past Hammerfell. “Have they managed to secure a supply line?” “No, my Lord.” Azzhlan sighed, “Send word to the pirates in Stros M’Kai, there is now a reward for the destruction or capture of Imperial ships sailing to or from Skyrim, with the greater reward for the latter, and proof required for the former. Extra rewards are available for ships containing information regarding Imperial troop movements, Imperial flags, as well as persons of importance in the Imperial Government or Military. All other cargo will be open for those who captured it to keep, but any prisoners and the ships themselves will be forfeit.” Azzhlan paused while Talib wrote down his commands. “Furthermore, the Stormcloaks are to be notified of any troop movements we capture.” Once Talib finished writing, he raised his head to speak, “Are we not mobilizing, my Lord?” “I know that the soldiers hunger to battle with the Empire, but we must be patient,” Azzhlan said, “This war is a matter of pride for the Nords, and the morale boost that will come from taking Skyrim on their own is unimaginable. Were the Res Publica not in the middle of their uprising, I would order a full troop mobilization, but as it stands, the Stormcloaks can handle the fighting themselves.” Talib stood, “By your leave, my Lord.” With a nod from Azzhlan, Talib left. Azzhlan sat again, and eturned to reading Res Publica

The Elder Scrolls: Aftermath of Skyrim - a Role Play/Nation RP Hybrid

@Letter Bee Thank you very much.

The Elder Scrolls: Aftermath of Skyrim - a Role Play/Nation RP Hybrid

Azzhlan, High King of Hammerfell—or, of the Na-Totambu and the Ra Gada, to use the official title—pondered the scroll that he held in his hands as he sat in his study. It was a report from those he had tasked with seeking out the mysteries of the Ansei, and it was good. The project, though he hesitated to refer to it with such a dispassionate term, was progressing well, and the warriors involved were hoping for success in the near future. This coincided with the rumors that had filtered through of what the Moth Priests of Cyrodiil had prophesized. As usual, thoughts of Cyrodiil turned to thoughts of the Empire, and his expression soured. “Is there a problem?” Azzhlan turned his head to the speaker, one of his guardsmen—an old friend from his days in the Fighter’s Guild. “The news is good, Avik, but my thoughts turned to the Empire.” At Azzhlan’s words, Avik spat. “Precisely. It is maddening. I don’t doubt that we could take them, spent as they are in Skyrim, but we would need the whole of our might.” Avik grimaced, “And then the Dominion would pounce.” “Yes. Revenge should wait, I think. But the Empire will suffer for its betrayal, and it will be sweet in its coming.” Azzhlan sighed, setting the scroll aside, “Talib!” The High King’s personal aide, another Redguard lightly garbed and possessing a runner’s build, entered the study and kneeled. “Yes, my Lord?” “I have decided that we can afford to wait no longer, and I feel in my gut that things shall soon begin to move very quickly. Send word out that our current state of preparedness is to be maintained at the least, and heightened if possible. I shall leave it to the discretion of local governances whether or not to raise more troops, but the skills of every soldier must be kept sharp.” Azzhlan paused to allow Talib to write down what he had said. “Furthermore, I have orders for you that re more… covert, in nature.” “Whatever you command, my Lord.” “The Direnni are staunchly opposed to the Dominion, and I have heard tell that they are beginning to form a coalition against them.” Talib dropped his quill. “…my Lord, are you suggesting that–“ Azzhlan raised his hand for silence, “It I true, they are technically an Imperial Vassal. As many of my subjects seem to forget, they unofficially sent us aid when we were fighting the Dominion from our lands. As far as I am concerned, it is beneath their dignity to serve Titus Mede.” Avik spat again, and he heard several others through the open door, as well as the muttering of the guards stationed without. Talib’s face suggested that he would spit as well, were there not parchment in the way. “Nevertheless, the threat of the Dominion is far more pressing revenge for that grievous betrayal, and we will not forget to deliver it when the threat is passed. Perhaps,” Azzhlan added with a smile, “we could even help the Direnni draw all of High Rock out of the Empire’s grasp.” Grins spread on the faces of the three men within the study, and chuckling could be heard from without. “As well, send a missive to the Stormcloaks in Skyrim. Tell them that if they can take the Pale Pass, cutting the Imperial forces off from supplies in Cyrodiil, that shipments heading north may encounter an unprecedented number of pirate attacks. Furthermore, if they could secure means by which we could send them supplies without drawing the Empire’s eye, we would be more than willing to do so.” As much as he wished to do so overtly, discovery might draw the Empire’s eye to his plans with the Direnni, and potentially bring ruin to his plans in Skyrim. Azzhlan turned to Avik and nodded. The guardsman, who had been fidgeting with his weapon immediately stormed out the door and made sure the guards without knew not to spread what they heard. With numerous threats and much swearing. Avik had never been a gentle commander, but he had led the palace guard superbly. “I need not say, Talib, that these missive must not enter into Dominion or Imperial hands, sans the Direnni, of course. Though, it may be too early to speak of independence to them.” With a nod, Talib rose to his feet. “By your leave, my Lord.” “One last thing.” Azzhlan stood, crossing over to one of the bookshelves that line the walls of his study. “Our merchants have brought in news of something stirring in Anvil. Something to do with a book. I believe both are called Res Publica,” he drew a book from its place, a treatise attributed to one of his ancestors—but almost certainly written by someone else—on the history of Cyrodiil during the Interregnum, when some still called it Ald-Cyrod, “I desire a copy, and any information on the what’s going on that can be safely acquired.” Talib bowed, “It shall be as you command.” “You may go.”

The Elder Scrolls: Aftermath of Skyrim - a Role Play/Nation RP Hybrid

Hey @Letter Bee, since Tulip's going to be playing Res Publica, you might want to remove it from the "needed" blurb in the OP.

The Elder Scrolls: Aftermath of Skyrim - a Role Play/Nation RP Hybrid

Still pondering it, but I think that if you do succeed, it'll be in a few posting rounds, and you can only field a few hundred. @Zendrelax, actually, there's one other restriction; you can have Ansei, but you can't have them be near the power of the Ancient Yokudan sword-singers.

@Letter Bee

Yeah. Too many would make things so easy as to not be fun anymore. Besides, given the mastery required in becoming one, and the general attrition involved in warfare, a few hundred is probably a generous maximum. Same with the sword-singers of old. I mean, when a group of four (even if they were the four strongest to have ever existed) regularly mowing down fortresses on their own? That would be boring for me, and infuriating for everyone else.

The Elder Scrolls: Aftermath of Skyrim - a Role Play/Nation RP Hybrid

Say @Letter Bee, what's the judgement on the Ansei? Yea or Nay?

The Elder Scrolls: Aftermath of Skyrim - a Role Play/Nation RP Hybrid

Nation: Hammerfell: The High Kingdom of the Na-Totambu and the Ra Gada

The High Kingdom of the Na-Totambu and the Ra Gada

Notes on the Name: While officially “The High Kingdom of the Na-Totambu and the Ra Gada” is the official name of what once was the province of Hammerfell, Hammerfell is stil used to refer to the now-independent nation both inside and outside of its borders.

Location: The City of Sentinel on the Southern end of the Lilac Bay to the Port City of Rihad just north of the gold coast, and from the Island of Stos M’Kai to Dragonstar in the North and Elinhir in the east. Geographical borders consist of the Lilac Bay, the Colovian highlands in the south, the ocean in the west, and the far edge of the Dragontail Mountains in the Northeast.

Notes on Sructure: As a High Kingdom, Hammerfell is composed of smaller kingdoms—like Rihad in the south Hegathe in the west—city states—like Dragonstar in the northeast and the island of Stros M’kai— and nomadic tribes—like the Alik’r and the Ash’abah of the Alik’r Desert—that have sworn fealty to the High King, who has personal holdings of his own.

Military Information:
• Hammerfell has a standing army of about 15,000 troops drawn from all corners of the realm, with the ability to raise about 33,000 in total in the event of serious conflict. However, that 33,000 is split up between the many realms that make up the High Kingdom, and would take a considerable amount of time to raise for a broad offensive mobilization. Defense of regions left to local rulers in the short-term, giving them free-reign to defend themselves until reinforcements can arrive.
• Hammerfell possess about 7,000 ships, giving them the ability to easily transport their standing army, and up to about 22,000 troops should that man be raised.
• Unofficially, Hammerfell allows pirates to dock in its port cities unmolested, so long as they do not attack ships belonging to or trading with Hammerfell. Should Hammerfell from an official military or trade alliance, they will be forbidden targets as well. These pirates are estimated to number about 700.
• The Ash’abah tribe, numbering just under 1,000, actively pursues and represses undead activity within Hammerfell’s borders. They could be called upon by the High King to aid against any undead threat. Because of cultural stigmas related to interaction with the undead and the use of magic, the Ash’abah are outcasts, which limits their movements within Hammerfell.
• Hammerfell’s military does not officially hold any mages whatsoever. This is related to a cultural stigma against the use of magic, and those Redguards who do openly practice magic are outcasts for it. Redguard clergy, be they of the Divines or Yokudan pantheon, do not practice magic as a result of this, and are not considered combatants unless otherwise enlisted.
• Hammerfell is actively pursuing a rediscovery of the techniques of the ancient Yokudan Ansei, or “Saints if the Sword.” (Note: While this shall be pursued by Hammerfell no matter what, it will not come to fruition without express approval separate from the overall application. The lore from the games paints the Ansei as very powerful figures, able to form powerful weapons from their own spirits. I am more than willing to role-play without being able to field any, but I would like to know if I could do so in a limited fashion)

Icon:
Source
(Note: This guy has some pretty awesome stuff, which some of you may want to snag for your own flags. Either way, I recommend checking it out.)

History: For centuries, the Crowns and Forebears of Hammerfell have been in a state of tension and conflict. When Hammerfell rejected the White-Gold concordat, and the Aldmeri Dominion invaded the desert province, they, for the first time almost since the destruction of Yokuda, found unity. To solidify this unity in a way that would last for the duration of, and after, the war with the Dominion, King Vird-si of Rihad, who ruled a predominantly Forebear realm, married his daughter to King Azzhlan of Sentinel in the North, a Crown. The union of these, the two most powerful Forebear and Crown realms, is credited by many as the only thing that has kept Crowns and Forebears from once again breaking out into civil war.

With the death of the old king Vird-si in the war, and his son and heir of the same name being untested, Sentinel was widely considered the strongest realm of all the holdings in Hammerfell. This, and the guaranteed allegiance of Rihad from the aforementioned marriage, led to King Azzhlan becoming High King of a united, independent Hammerfell.

This united realm is an exercise in compromise between the traditionalist Crowns in the north, and the metropolitan forebears in the south. The name itself comes from the Yokudan names for the two groups: Na-Totambu refers to the Crowns, and Ra Gada (from which the word ”Redguard” originates) refers to the Forebears. The Name is an example of how the High Kingdom has many traditionalist trappings. Given tensions between Hammerfell and the Empire, after the White-Gold Concordat officially ceded much of southern Hammerfell to the Dominion, as well as Hammerfell and the Dominion even after the signing of the Second Treaty of Stros M’kai, even the metropolitan Forebears have been reluctant to pursue international trade on the scale of the Third and Early Fourth Eras.

Character Sheet: Azzhlan, High King of the Na-Totambu and the Ra Gada

Name: Azzhlan, High King of the Na-Totambu and the Ra Gada

Appearance: Like most Redguards, Azzhlan is dark-skinned and wiry of hair. He is muscular, though no more so than the average Redguard swordsman, and is almost as tall as an Altmer. His formal attire consists of silk robes billowing around brightly polished steel chain. At his hip is a scimitar made of the highest quality ebony.

Bio: Azzhlan was the second born-son of the Crown F’othta, King of Sentinel. The city of Sentinel, capital of the realm of the same name, was a center of trade, bringing in great wealth to its merchants, who were then taxed by F’othta. This brought in great wealth to the northern realm, and Azzhlan was immersed in it as he grew up. As a result of his Crown heritage, he was also immersed in Yokudan history and language. He has been fluent in the latter from a young age, and was enamored with the old Yokudan heroes as a boy—the Ansei in particular. Being second-born, he was not in line to inherit his father’s throne, and when he came of age, asked his father’s leave to join the provincial branch of the Fighter’s Guild to seek a glory of his own. F’othta consented, and had a scimitar crafted from imported ebony for his son to use.

As a member of the Fighter’s Guild,Azzhlan traveled all around Hammerfell alongside his guild mates, vanquishing those monsters that even Hammerfell’s hearty populace could not handle on their own, and occasional ventured forth into the surrounding provinces. As a Crown, he had been raised with a dep respect for the past, and to follow the traditional Yokudan pantheon. However, the vast majority of his guild mates were Forebears—the traditionalist Crowns often frowning on those who joined such Imperial institutions. Initially, there was great distrust between him and them, but as he did battle and shed blood alongside them, a bond was formed, and Azzhlan acquired a respect for the Forebears that would last for years to come.

Azzhlan journeyed far. He vanquished giant scorpions, exterminated bandits on trade routes into Cyrodiil, fought off an incursion by the Foresworn into Hammerfell, and even worked with the infamous Ash’abah to bring down a necromancer. In these travels, Azzhlan acquired a respect, not just for the Forebears, but for the broader spectrum of cultures in Tamriel, and came to see the isolationist tendencies of most of his fellow Crowns as more then antiquated. He also built up a good deal of fame, not only for being a Crown in the Fighter’s Guild, but also for how effective he and his compatriots were.

This time, though, came to an end. Disease swept through Sentinel, and both his father and elder brother, who remained childless, grew deathly ill. Knowing what was to come, he quit the Fighter’s Guild to return to Sentinel. The Guildmaster assigned his closest friends to accompany him on his journey, as bodyguards. They arrived after much of the city was in better health, but covertly, so as to avoid fanfare. His brother had already passed, but he was in time to see his brother interred. F’othta barely clung to life, and having just enough time to great his returned son, he bade him farewell for the final time.

Azzhlan ascended to the throne of Sentinel to a world on the brink. Close to home, tensions were high between Crowns and Forebears, though this worldly Crown gave both sides pause. Abroad, the Aldmeri Dominion was embarrassing the Empire, and all eyes could see that war was drawing close. When at last it broke out, Azzhlan led the forces intended to relieve the besieged south, only to be pushed into the Alik’r Desert by the Elven aggressors. It was here that Vird-si, Forebear King of Rihad, proposed a strategic marriage. If Crown and Forebear tensions should break out into infighting, Hammerfell would be lost to the Dominion, so Vird-si thought that a marriage between Sentinel, the mightiest of the Crown lands, and Rihad, the mightiest Forebear realm, would bring strategic unity to the province. Azzhlan married Vird-si’s daughter, Nisira, the day that the Imperial city was captured by the Dominion. It was not a marriage of love, but Azzhlan and Nisira respected each other enough, and found each other attractive enough, that it was hardly a miserable marriage.

As the Imperial City was recaptured, so began the campaign to retake Rihad. It was a hard-won victory, and cost Vird-si his life. Despite this, morale was high. With the Imperial City retaken, and the Dominion on the back foot in Hammerfell, things were looking up for the Redguards. Then Titus Mede II signed the White-Gold concordat, ceding much of southern Hammerfell to the Dominion. Natually, all of Hammerfell rejected this idea: the south may largely be Forebear land, but even the Crowns would see it ruled by Redguards. Then the Emporer denounced Hammerfell as an Imperial Province, which all felt as a stinging betrayal. The Fighter’s Guild in Hammerfell was soon defunct, as all of its Redguard members—including the Guildmaster—deserted. Azzhlan soon found all of its old friends at his side.

Then the full might of the Aldmeri Dominion fell upon Hammerfell. A lack of hostility was hardly enough to guarantee Redguard survival, they needed total unity. The only ruler acceptable to both Crowns and Forebears was Azzhlan, the worldly crown joined to the Forebears in marriage. The thought of being ruled by a Crown was not something that almost any Forebear relished, and Crowns did not like the idea of following prospective heirs of Forebear blood, but all acknowledged that he was the only candidate both sides found palatable. What’s more, he had enough experience in battle that Hammefell-at-large felt hopeful that they had a chance under his command.

And so the war raged. For five years there were gains and losses, but the united Redguard forces eventually forced the Dominion to sign the Second Treaty of Stros M’kai, pushing the Dominion from Hammerfell. However, none believed that the Dominion would hold up their end of the Treaty should Crowns and Forebears again break out into violence, so all the realms of Hammerfell swore fealty to Azzhlan.

Age: 32

Skills:
• Sword Combat
• Diplomacy
• Resource Management
• Military Strategy and Tactics

Personality: Azzhlan is a proud man. He has pride in his accomplishments, pride in his people, and pride in his country. He is under no illusions about his people’s abilities, and acknowledges their limits, but sees the good as outweighing the bad. This leads him to a position of optimism in regards to his people, and his realm, that has spread to the rest of his life. His pride also extends to his history—specifically, the history of Yokuda. Azzhlan has, over several years of fighting defensively, developed great patience. It is his way to wait for something until the opportunity arises to strike. Azzhlan has a long memory, and is aware of disrespect and dishonor. Large scale betrayal, humiliation, deception, and other despicable actions inspire great anger in him. It can easily be said that he is over-sensitive to these things. When he feels that he has been wronged, forgiveness does not come easily to him, and revenge, while hardly ever his highest priority, is always a part of his strategy.

Faction: By Blood, he is a Crown.

The Elder Scrolls: Aftermath of Skyrim - a Role Play/Nation RP Hybrid

@Letter Bee Huzzah! Now begins the wait.

The Elder Scrolls: Aftermath of Skyrim - a Role Play/Nation RP Hybrid

Nation: Hammerfell: The High Kingdom of the Na-Totambu and the Ra Gada

The High Kingdom of the Na-Totambu and the Ra Gada

Notes on the Name: While officially “The High Kingdom of the Na-Totambu and the Ra Gada” is the official name of what once was the province of Hammerfell, Hammerfell is stil used to refer to the now-independent nation both inside and outside of its borders.

Location: The City of Sentinel on the Southern end of the Lilac Bay to the Port City of Rihad just north of the gold coast, and from the Island of Stos M’Kai to Dragonstar in the North and Elinhir in the east. Geographical borders consist of the Lilac Bay, the Colovian highlands in the south, the ocean in the west, and the far edge of the Dragontail Mountains in the Northeast.

Notes on Sructure: As a High Kingdom, Hammerfell is composed of smaller kingdoms—like Rihad in the south Hegathe in the west—city states—like Dragonstar in the northeast and the island of Stros M’kai— and nomadic tribes—like the Alik’r and the Ash’abah of the Alik’r Desert—that have sworn fealty to the High King, who has personal holdings of his own.

Military Information:
• Hammerfell has a standing army of about 15,000 troops drawn from all corners of the realm, with the ability to raise about 33,000 in total in the event of serious conflict. However, that 33,000 is split up between the many realms that make up the High Kingdom, and would take a considerable amount of time to raise for a broad offensive mobilization. Defense of regions left to local rulers in the short-term, giving them free-reign to defend themselves until reinforcements can arrive.
• Hammerfell possess about 7,000 ships, giving them the ability to easily transport their standing army, and up to about 22,000 troops should that man be raised.
• Unofficially, Hammerfell allows pirates to dock in its port cities unmolested, so long as they do not attack ships belonging to or trading with Hammerfell. Should Hammerfell from an official military or trade alliance, they will be forbidden targets as well. These pirates are estimated to number about 700.
• The Ash’abah tribe, numbering just under 1,000, actively pursues and represses undead activity within Hammerfell’s borders. They could be called upon by the High King to aid against any undead threat. Because of cultural stigmas related to interaction with the undead and the use of magic, the Ash’abah are outcasts, which limits their movements within Hammerfell.
• Hammerfell’s military does not officially hold any mages whatsoever. This is related to a cultural stigma against the use of magic, and those Redguards who do openly practice magic are outcasts for it. Redguard clergy, be they of the Divines or Yokudan pantheon, do not practice magic as a result of this, and are not considered combatants unless otherwise enlisted.
• Hammerfell is actively pursuing a rediscovery of the techniques of the ancient Yokudan Ansei, or “Saints if the Sword.” (Note: While this shall be pursued by Hammerfell no matter what, it will not come to fruition without express approval separate from the overall application. The lore from the games paints the Ansei as very powerful figures, able to form powerful weapons from their own spirits. I am more than willing to role-play without being able to field any, but I would like to know if I could do so in a limited fashion)

Icon:
Source
(Note: This guy has some pretty awesome stuff, which some of you may want to snag for your own flags. Either way, I recommend checking it out.)

History: For centuries, the Crowns and Forebears of Hammerfell have been in a state of tension and conflict. When Hammerfell rejected the White-Gold concordat, and the Aldmeri Dominion invaded the desert province, they, for the first time almost since the destruction of Yokuda, found unity. To solidify this unity in a way that would last for the duration of, and after, the war with the Dominion, King Vird-si of Rihad, who ruled a predominantly Forebear realm, married his daughter to King Azzhlan of Sentinel in the North, a Crown. The union of these, the two most powerful Forebear and Crown realms, is credited by many as the only thing that has kept Crowns and Forebears from once again breaking out into civil war.

With the death of the old king Vird-si in the war, and his son and heir of the same name being untested, Sentinel was widely considered the strongest realm of all the holdings in Hammerfell. This, and the guaranteed allegiance of Rihad from the aforementioned marriage, led to King Azzhlan becoming High King of a united, independent Hammerfell.

This united realm is an exercise in compromise between the traditionalist Crowns in the north, and the metropolitan forebears in the south. The name itself comes from the Yokudan names for the two groups: Na-Totambu refers to the Crowns, and Ra Gada (from which the word ”Redguard” originates) refers to the Forebears. The Name is an example of how the High Kingdom has many traditionalist trappings. Given tensions between Hammerfell and the Empire, after the White-Gold Concordat officially ceded much of southern Hammerfell to the Dominion, as well as Hammerfell and the Dominion even after the signing of the Second Treaty of Stros M’kai, even the metropolitan Forebears have been reluctant to pursue international trade on the scale of the Third and Early Fourth Eras.

Character Sheet: Azzhlan, High King of the Na-Totambu and the Ra Gada

Name: Azzhlan, High King of the Na-Totambu and the Ra Gada

Appearance: Like most Redguards, Azzhlan is dark-skinned and wiry of hair. He is muscular, though no more so than the average Redguard swordsman, and is almost as tall as an Altmer. His formal attire consists of silk robes billowing around brightly polished steel chain. At his hip is a scimitar made of the highest quality ebony.

Bio: Azzhlan was the second born-son of the Crown F’othta, King of Sentinel. The city of Sentinel, capital of the realm of the same name, was a center of trade, bringing in great wealth to its merchants, who were then taxed by F’othta. This brought in great wealth to the northern realm, and Azzhlan was immersed in it as he grew up. As a result of his Crown heritage, he was also immersed in Yokudan history and language. He has been fluent in the latter from a young age, and was enamored with the old Yokudan heroes as a boy—the Ansei in particular. Being second-born, he was not in line to inherit his father’s throne, and when he came of age, asked his father’s leave to join the provincial branch of the Fighter’s Guild to seek a glory of his own. F’othta consented, and had a scimitar crafted from imported ebony for his son to use.

As a member of the Fighter’s Guild,Azzhlan traveled all around Hammerfell alongside his guild mates, vanquishing those monsters that even Hammerfell’s hearty populace could not handle on their own, and occasional ventured forth into the surrounding provinces. As a Crown, he had been raised with a dep respect for the past, and to follow the traditional Yokudan pantheon. However, the vast majority of his guild mates were Forebears—the traditionalist Crowns often frowning on those who joined such Imperial institutions. Initially, there was great distrust between him and them, but as he did battle and shed blood alongside them, a bond was formed, and Azzhlan acquired a respect for the Forebears that would last for years to come.

Azzhlan journeyed far. He vanquished giant scorpions, exterminated bandits on trade routes into Cyrodiil, fought off an incursion by the Foresworn into Hammerfell, and even worked with the infamous Ash’abah to bring down a necromancer. In these travels, Azzhlan acquired a respect, not just for the Forebears, but for the broader spectrum of cultures in Tamriel, and came to see the isolationist tendencies of most of his fellow Crowns as more then antiquated. He also built up a good deal of fame, not only for being a Crown in the Fighter’s Guild, but also for how effective he and his compatriots were.

This time, though, came to an end. Disease swept through Sentinel, and both his father and elder brother, who remained childless, grew deathly ill. Knowing what was to come, he quit the Fighter’s Guild to return to Sentinel. The Guildmaster assigned his closest friends to accompany him on his journey, as bodyguards. They arrived after much of the city was in better health, but covertly, so as to avoid fanfare. His brother had already passed, but he was in time to see his brother interred. F’othta barely clung to life, and having just enough time to great his returned son, he bade him farewell for the final time.

Azzhlan ascended to the throne of Sentinel to a world on the brink. Close to home, tensions were high between Crowns and Forebears, though this worldly Crown gave both sides pause. Abroad, the Aldmeri Dominion was embarrassing the Empire, and all eyes could see that war was drawing close. When at last it broke out, Azzhlan led the forces intended to relieve the besieged south, only to be pushed into the Alik’r Desert by the Elven aggressors. It was here that Vird-si, Forebear King of Rihad, proposed a strategic marriage. If Crown and Forebear tensions should break out into infighting, Hammerfell would be lost to the Dominion, so Vird-si thought that a marriage between Sentinel, the mightiest of the Crown lands, and Rihad, the mightiest Forebear realm, would bring strategic unity to the province. Azzhlan married Vird-si’s daughter, Nisira, the day that the Imperial city was captured by the Dominion. It was not a marriage of love, but Azzhlan and Nisira respected each other enough, and found each other attractive enough, that it was hardly a miserable marriage.

As the Imperial City was recaptured, so began the campaign to retake Rihad. It was a hard-won victory, and cost Vird-si his life. Despite this, morale was high. With the Imperial City retaken, and the Dominion on the back foot in Hammerfell, things were looking up for the Redguards. Then Titus Mede II signed the White-Gold concordat, ceding much of southern Hammerfell to the Dominion. Natually, all of Hammerfell rejected this idea: the south may largely be Forebear land, but even the Crowns would see it ruled by Redguards. Then the Emporer denounced Hammerfell as an Imperial Province, which all felt as a stinging betrayal. The Fighter’s Guild in Hammerfell was soon defunct, as all of its Redguard members—including the Guildmaster—deserted. Azzhlan soon found all of its old friends at his side.

Then the full might of the Aldmeri Dominion fell upon Hammerfell. A lack of hostility was hardly enough to guarantee Redguard survival, they needed total unity. The only ruler acceptable to both Crowns and Forebears was Azzhlan, the worldly crown joined to the Forebears in marriage. The thought of being ruled by a Crown was not something that almost any Forebear relished, and Crowns did not like the idea of following prospective heirs of Forebear blood, but all acknowledged that he was the only candidate both sides found palatable. What’s more, he had enough experience in battle that Hammefell-at-large felt hopeful that they had a chance under his command.

And so the war raged. For five years there were gains and losses, but the united Redguard forces eventually forced the Dominion to sign the Second Treaty of Stros M’kai, pushing the Dominion from Hammerfell. However, none believed that the Dominion would hold up their end of the Treaty should Crowns and Forebears again break out into violence, so all the realms of Hammerfell swore fealty to Azzhlan.

Age: 32

Skills:
• Sword Combat
• Diplomacy
• Resource Management
• Military Strategy and Tactics

Personality: Azzhlan is a proud man. He has pride in his accomplishments, pride in his people, and pride in his country. He is under no illusions about his people’s abilities, and acknowledges their limits, but sees the good as outweighing the bad. This leads him to a position of optimism in regards to his people, and his realm, that has spread to the rest of his life. His pride also extends to his history—specifically, the history of Yokuda. Azzhlan has, over several years of fighting defensively, developed great patience. It is his way to wait for something until the opportunity arises to strike. Azzhlan has a long memory, and is aware of disrespect and dishonor. Large scale betrayal, humiliation, deception, and other despicable actions inspire great anger in him. It can easily be said that he is over-sensitive to these things. When he feels that he has been wronged, forgiveness does not come easily to him, and revenge, while hardly ever his highest priority, is always a part of his strategy.

Faction: By Blood, he is a Crown.

The Descent of Man

Terra della Voci (The Land of the Voices, Informally: “Vocia,” Demonym: “Vocian.”) Culture and Beliefs: Terra della Voci is centered around “Religio della Voci,” after which it was named, which incorporates the voices heard by its founder Antal Lucretius as gods and spirits. Though some suspect that these voices are nothing but hallucinations, the relative prosperity since Terra della Voci’s founding, and the strangeness of the world around them have made many open to the idea. Accustomed to strife, the Vocians have banded together into communities, which often serve as a center for people’s lives. Rome, while not targeted by any successful strikes, has been reduced to all but rubble, but serves as capital, and is the only settlement within Terra della Voci’s borders that could be considered a city. Place on map: The Northern Apennines to Capua and Benvento. Image forthcoming. Old World Connection: There is none, beyond the ruins that surround them. Population: The population of Terra della Voci is about 50,000 strong. One quarter of that officially resides in the rebuilt capital, and the rest spread out over the countryside. One third of the population is on active military duty, guarding against insurgent groups. Up to nother third can be called upon in the event of war. Government: A Theocracy led by Antal Lucretius, who founded both the state religion and the state itself, which he rules as “Signore Profete,” or “Lord Prophet.” Those ruled by Terra della Vocia are parts of three level of society, “Cittadini,” “Cittadini Non Credenti,” and “Non Credenti.” Cittadini are restricted to those who follow Religio della Voci, and possess the full suite of rights protected by Vocian law. Non Credenti are those who do not follow Religio della Voci, and must pay an additional tax and face extra civil penalties for violating religious law. Cittadini Non Credenti (often simply called “Cittadenti”) are individuals, or decendants of individuals, who are not followers of Religio della Voci, but have served Terra della Voci exceptionally, through willingly serving in the military longer than is required by law, being approved for working on a merchant caravan, or saving the life of one of the Cittadini, but can be declared Non Credenti if found guilty of serious crimes (murder, high treason, etc.). Cittadini Non Credenti are not required to pay the Non Credenti tax, and are charged for all crimes as Cittadini. Beyond Rome, the settlements of Terra della Voci are small, no more than villages. Each region, small and numbering about three dozen, is entrusted to a political and religious official (“Signore Governatore,” plural: “Signore Governatori”) to manage. Each of these officials reports directly to the Signore Profete. Only Cittadini are permitted to become Signore Governatori. Spoken language: The teaching of Italian to newborns in mandated by Vocian law, but the teaching of other languages by those with the means and time is encouraged. Economic System: Actual trade between communities, outside of the central hub of Rome, is in the hands of merchant caravans that peddle wares at prices that vary from open to strictly regulated. Membership of these caravans, which also serve as the main line of communication between settlements, is strictly regulated by the state. Exports: Salt, metals. Imports: Timber, bricks, and other such construction materials. Food/Water Sources: The Apennines were largely untouched nuclear and biological warfare, and rivers from there are as clean as any in the world. While Terra della Voci cannot subsist on farmed foods alone, their proximity to the sea and rivers allows them to supplement their diets with fish, creating a net food surplus. Strengths: The Fruit of the Sea The rivers of and waters off Terra della Voci are bursting with life, providing enough food, if strict controls are put in place, and in conjunction with stored farm goods, to feed its people for years should farming become unfeasible. Furthermore, simple contraptions devised by the Vocian people allow them to bring much water out of the Mediterranean Sea, which can be set out to dry to leave behind salt, which can be used to preserve meat. The Fruit of the Earth The north-most edge of Vocian territory lies on the northern Apennine Mountain Range, in which a number of settlers have begun mining. The State has taken a vested interest in these mines, and regulates the flow of ore from these mines. All coal is guarded jealously for its potential as fuel, and a limited amount of metals are traded with other lands. Weaknesses: Religious Instability While many Non Credenti are content to live their lives under the order and relative prosperity provided by the Terra della Voci, there are some who view the new State with disdain. These groups, primarily Christian, believe that the policies toward the Non Credenti as abhorrent discrimination (whether this is from Old World sensibilities, or religious fervor varies from person to person), and—while small—are capable of doing serious damage. There is also the prominent “Nova Roma” group, which is obsessed with the Roman Empire of old, and seeks to recreate it—starting with Rome itself. Total Ruin While Italy’s status as a minor player on the world stage made Rome a low-priority target for Nuclear and Biological weapons, the simpler-to-manufacture bombs, as well as end-of-civilization rioting conspired to level the city and the surrounding area. Few structures remain from the Old World, those that do being in total ruin, and little of the areas technology remains. The Vocians have had to build what they have from the knowledge and expertise of the people that remain, and it has put them behind in terms of fortifications, weaponry, and medicine. Mutants and Major Hazards (WIP): Information Forthcoming. History: Like much of the rest of the world, chaos followed the end of the Old World in what once was Italy, and lasted all throughout the Nuclear Winter. Some sizable length of time after the Winter’s end, a man came, seemingly from nowhere, speaking of a new path. He called himself Atal Lucretius, and said that gods and spirits spoke to him. He proved a charismatic figure, and soon amassed enough support to enforce his rule. With the government established, people converted for convenience’s sake, and out of fear. While that fear was misplaced, the prosperity brought by order was something they had not tasted since the death of the Old World. So the Religio della Voci spread, and the Terra della Voci with it.