Iskiela: Unity | Signups and OOC

[fatalrendezvous]

CLICK HERE to be taken to the IC!​

Foreword History and World Info Maps Rules and Expectations Character/Nation Skeleton Character & Nation Roster Player-Created Lore Discord Posting Guide

• Iskiela: Unity is a player-driven roleplay (inspired by an old Iwakuan, Murasaki-sama) that takes place in a low-fantasy world called Iskiela. It occurs right around the time of a ritual called The Unification, a time-honored peacekeeping tradition that matches an heir from each of the Ten Nations of Iskiela with another and unites them in marriage.
  
  The catch: Heirs do not get to choose who their character will marry. This will be done at random once all Heir spots have been filled. Depending on male/female gender balance, this MAY result in same-sex pairings, but it almost certainly WILL result in craziness!
  
  Players of an Heir will be able to come up with the name of their nation, their politics, their trade specializations, etc., and are also required to pursue at least one relationship outside the one assigned for their marriage. These non-Unity relationships do not need to be romantic, and they do not need to be reciprocal - that is, if you play Character A and choose to have A fall in love with Character B, Character B is not obligated to make it easy or fun for character A to fall in love.
  
  There is a definite end for Iskiela: Unity in mind. I have plot events in place to move the story along, although I am more than willing to be flexible and to let the events of the story shape the outcome!
  
  Iskiela: Unity players can expect a story of fantasy drama, action, courtly intrigue, romance, politics, and just a liiiittle bit of off-the-wall unpredictability! If this interests you, read on!
• Iskiela: A Brief History
  
  
  Many centuries ago, Iskiela was a very different place.
  
  Ancient historical texts recount tales of a world constantly embroiled in war. Nations clashed over resources, over ideals, over religion... and sometimes just for the sake of conquest. We are told of dark and trying times, of hunger, of fear, of uncertainty.
  
  But the flames of war can only burn for so long before they run out of kindling.
  
  After countless years of warring and bloodshed, the leaders of the ten nations of Iskiela - tired and battle-worn descendants of their less agreeable forefathers before them - convened in a summit to reconcile their differences. They agreed to meet in the heart of Iskiela, in the nation of Amberholm, to negotiate terms.
  
  It is unclear how long the ensuing deliberations lasted. Some say months, others years. Ambassadors, thinkers, and scholars poured in from all reaches of the land to sit beside what had once been their bitter enemies in order to reach an agreement: to keep the peace, once every fifty years Iskiela would hold a ritual known as the Unification.
  
  Each leader of the Ten Nations would send an heir - son or daughter - to Amberholm, to be wed to the heir of another nation.
  
  ...Again, many centuries ago, Iskiela was a very different place.
  
  We now know peace, brotherhood, and unity. The Ten Nations have flourished thanks to trade and the transfer of ideas. While of course we still have our differences, they typically result in little more than border skirmishes and idle threats. It is a tenuous, delicate peace, but it is one that the Unification has helped to uphold.
  
  Now, another half-century is upon us, and once again the Nations will send their Heirs to Amberholm to be wed, so we may celebrate and honor Iskiela's past, and look forward towards the future.​
  
  
  General Info
  
  Magic
  Magic is rare in Iskiela. Ancient stories tell that it used to be more widespread and more common, but the powers of magic have waned in the centuries since the First Unification. Children are often told tales of powerful mages that could char the earth with pillars of flame, but nowadays magic is naught more than a cheap parlor trick. Few even believe that "real" magic ever really existed.
  
  Creatures
  There are legends in Iskiela of dragons, griffins, sea serpents and other fantastical beasts. Nobody alive has ever seen one, but occasionally we discover the remains of animals far larger than ones that we know currently. Animals in current Iskiela are not magical, and the largest ones nowadays are typically livestock, predators, or beasts of burden.
  
  Technology
  Roughly medieval. Iskielans commonly use swords, spears, and bows in combat, though gunpowder is beginning to find some (limited) use in cannons and in primitive explosives. Horses are still the fastest mode of ground transportation, and boats and ships rely on sails. No steam power, no gas, no electricity.
  
  Diplomacy
  Since the First Unification, war has been extremely uncommon and heavily frowned upon, thanks to pressure to keep the peace from other uninvolved nations. If war does occur, it typically results in little change in terms of land possession or border movement, and is often mediated by other nations to help resolve conflict. That said, there are some long-standing and deep-burning rivalries still in place, tenuously held at bay by the Unification.
  
  Language
  Most nations have their own native language (players are not required to come up with this, but you are welcome to if you feel so inclined), but Iskiela has adopted a global language often referred to as the General, or Common tongue.
• 
  Map of Iskiela. Unnamed nations have been numbered for identification.
  
  
  Political map of Iskiela with map elements removed, to show the borders of each nation.
  
  
  
• 
  Rules
  
  • Players may play citizens of Amberholm, an Heir, or a member of an Heir's entourage.
  • You do not HAVE to play an Heir if you don't want to. If you just want to be a part of the story, you are more than welcome and I will find a place for you!
  • If you plan to play a non-Heir character that is NOT from Amberholm, please get the okay from that nation's player first.
  • Players may not play more than one Heir character.
  • Each Heir will be engaged to another Heir. Pairings will be announced after all spots are filled.
  • Additionally, each Heir will be required to form another "non-Unity" relationship. These may be secret lovers, best friends, enemies, political allies, etc., and will NOT be predetermined. Players are encouraged to collaborate with other players on further character relationships, but every Heir must have at least one non-Unity relationship with another character.
  • All primary player characters must be human. Heirs should be age 16-30. Non-Heir characters can be any reasonable age.
  
  Posting Expectations
  
  • I aim for Iskiela: Unity to be roughly Adept to Prestige.
  • Please be proactive! Seek out character interaction, and do not be afraid to ask other players to collaborate and work with you.
  • If you are playing an Heir, you are welcome to assign names to mountains/forests/rivers etc. that lie within your nation's territory. Get creative with the map and I will adjust it to reflect changes made by players.
  • I actively encourage players to act for other characters - for example, streamlining long action sequences into a few posts, or consolidating conversations. This not only reduces the "waiting game" effect, but also helps to move the story along and can even make you a better writer. Make sure you communicate with your roleplay partners first and get their approval before you act for their character!
  • Iskiela is less a roleplay and more of a collaborative writing project. When the story begins I will share the approximate plot breakdown with all other players, and welcome every writer's input on how to shape the story.
  • This will be a roughly PG-13 or R roleplay (leaning towards R). No smut, and no excessive gore or violence.
  • I'm aiming for a post roughly once or twice a week from primary characters, but willing to be flexible depending on how the speed of the RP is moving. Please be aware that if you are gone too long (or if you flat-out disappear) I may hand control of your character(s) to another player.
  • I utilize in GMing what is sometimes called the "karma system." It is my way of keeping characters in line if/when they overstep their character's abilities or abuse power levels. The easiest way to think of the karma system is to remember that your decisions in this game matter, and the game will adjust to compensate for them. Don't expect to go on a killing spree in town without consequences later on.
• 
  Players MUST use these skeletons. I will not compromise on this. Feel free to decorate it / color it / format it / reorganize it / otherwise pretty it up however you like, but the content must not go beyond what is contained in these skeletons. Feel free to reserve Nations if you like, but be aware I may open them back up if we don't hear from you!
  
  BE BRIEF! I am not looking for an in-depth understanding of your characters; just the basics. Let the players discover all the facets of your character in the game, not at the character select screen before the game even starts.
  
  
  Characters
  
  Name:
  
  Age:
  
  Appearance: (Pictures preferred! Otherwise, be brief)
  
  Occupation: (What your character does for a living. Heirs can have an occupation too, but don't necessarily have to)
  
  Nationality: (What nation your character is from)
  
  Formal Title: (If any. Keep in mind, "Heir of [Nation]" can be a title if you want)
  
  Five Words That Describe Your Character: (Five separate, individual words, without further elaboration)
  
  Notable Skills: (4 maximum. Brief explanation allowed)
  
  
  Nation Info
  
  Because of the nature of the game, and because every nation is already well-known and well-understood by people of other nations, you can explain a bit more on nation info.
  
  Nation Number and Name:
  
  Capital City:
  
  System of Government: (This description should also include the person of power who is the Heir's parent.)
  
  Basic Terrain and Weather: (Please use the map! Nation 5 is obviously cold, and Nation 6 is desert. Use your best judgment!)
  
  Trade Specialization: (How does your Nation conduct trade with other Nations? What does your Nation specialize in that allows it to make money?)
  
  Notable or Interesting Facts:
  
  Anything Else: (Optional)
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  List of Nations/Heirs:
  These characters are the center of the RP. The character does not have to be a prince or princess, if the nation has a non-monarchical system of government; however, the person must be a child of the current leader of the country.
  
  RESERVATIONS ARE OPEN AND FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE.
  
  

  #	Nation	Heir	Writer
  1​	Fairlea	Echo Astraea	Fiona
  2​	Bocaccia	Nero Di Acuto	Hecatoncheires
  3​	The Dominion of Praxus	Elendi Vasernas	Mglo
  4​	Aurum, the Golden Dawn	Gilead	unanun
  5​	Sor Kal	Moira En Mar	ItariChan
  6​	OPEN
  7​	Matžem Dag	Caoileann Ó Deághaid	Lesbingus
  8​	Romorant	Apollonia Rehn	Ariel
  9​	The 13 Melodies	Loros Lumenstile	rissa
  10​	Amberholm	Helene Meriva	fatalrendezvous

  
  
  Non-Heir Characters:
  
  • Nanette "Nan" Sharr, Stewardess of Amberholm (@fatalrendezvous)
  • Ether Astraea, Echo Astraea's twin brother (@Fiona)
  • Kester Lachlan Vasernas, Royal Advisor to Elendi (FrostedCaramel)
  • Murdoch the Protector, Protector of Vasernas (@Mglo)
  • Miah, a Scholar from Aurum traveling with Gilead (@unanun)
  • Sanik, Scholar First Class (@unanun)
  • Howl of En Mar, a Bard from Sor Kal (@Falcon)
  • Isadore Amanstelle, sworn guard to Loros Lumenstile (@Falcon)
  • Lauretta Tassinanti, Queen of Bocaccia (@Hecatoncheires)
  • Valora Ospin, personal servant to Apollonia Rehn (@Karo)
  • Gyrard Mallart, Captain of the Amberguard (@fatalrendezvous)
  • Holden Meriva, Helene's older brother (@fatalrendezvous)
  • Briar Rose, a maidservant of Amberholm (@Fiona)
  • Blazh Mac Giolla Rus, Caoileann's bodyguard (@Lesbingus)
  • Dalibor Helha, Caoileann's bodyguard, Master of Assassins (@Lesbingus)
  • Elowen Slette, a scholar from Aurum (@Karo)
  • Kilan Praxus, a scholar from Aurum in service to the nation of Praxus (@Mglo)
  • Carina De Braose, a noblewoman and brothel owner (@Fiona)
  • Orchid "Fairlea", a, um, "scholar" supposedly in service to Fairlea (@Fiona)
  • Others. Guards, merchants, knights, servants, etc. Whatever you feel is necessary to help fill in this world!
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  Any player-created lore, either of their own heirs / nations or of their interactions with other nations, will go here. Reach out to the other heirs and plot!
  
  While you certainly don't need to go out of your way incorporate these things, nations DO often know about other nations so it makes sense to reference a thing or two every now and then - it helps give this world life!
  
  People from each nation are referred to as:
  Fairleans
  Bocaccians
  Praxians
  Aurochs
  Sor Kali
  Valorado/a
  Matzem
  Romorantin
  Melodites
  Ambers
  
  

  Nation 1 - Fairlea

  
  

  • Fairlea exports mostly wools and crops, the most well-known of which is a... well, a plant, of sorts, with a sweet smell and taste, called mama lulu. It is often used to soothe anxiety and relieve tension. Most effective when smoked or steeped in a tea. WARNING: Overuse of mama lulu while pregnant can result in the children being born with pointed ears.
  • Receptiveness towards the recreational use of mama lulu varies by nation and culture.

  
  

  Nation 2 - Bocaccia

  
  

  • Nothing yet!

  
  

  Nation 3 - Dominion of Praxus

  
  

  • The Dominion of Praxus is a highly militaristic nation. This often causes tensions and is seen by some as open disrespect towards the Unification.
  • Praxus is also well known for producing excellent horses.
  • Many of the world's finest ores and minerals come from Praxus.

  
  

  Nation 4 - Aurum

  
  

  • Aurum is well-known for offering its services on a sort of contract / outsource basis to any person of any nation. While anyone in Aurum can be leased for their services, the nation is best known for its logicians, arithmeticians, and specialists in other highly educated fields.
  • Considering Aurum's heavy focus on education, its universities are some of the finest in Iskiela and are world-renowned.

  
  

  Nation 5 - Sor Kal

  
  

  • Nothing yet!

  
  

  Nation 6 - Las Valoradas

  
  

  • Nothing yet!

  
  

  Nation 7 - Matžem Dag

  
  

  • Nothing yet!

  
  

  Nation 8 - Romorant

  
  

  • Nothing yet!

  
  

  Nation 9 - The 13 Melodies

  
  

  • Nothing yet!

  
  

  Nation 10 - Amberholm

  
  

  • Because of the nation's centrality, Amberholm is a trading hub and many people of different nations reside in Amberhall to make a living off of selling their nation's primary goods in the city.
  • As a result of the nation's relative wealth and abundance of exotic goods, the nation has a bandit problem outside the walls of Amberhall. The forests and rivers can be treacherous during the night time, due to river pirates and rogues from other nations looking to make a quick profit. Travelers going to and from Amberhall are advised to stick to well-trod paths in the daytime.
  • As a nation, Amberholm claims fairly wide borders. But the vast majority of Ambers either live within the city of Amberhall proper or in the farmland immediately outside its walls. For this reason, the names Amberholm (the nation) and Amberhall (the city) are almost interchangeable.
  • Men from Amberholm and Romorant tend to clash in the regions along the river, mercenaries or brigands from either side meeting swords over squabbles or petty thievery.

  
  

  
  
• 
  Join the Discord!
  
  Joining the Discord server is not required, but it helps to keep informal chatter and plotting in one place where it's easy to comb through and search later.
  
  
• 
  HELP! WHAT DO I DO!?
  
  As a general rule: Don't be afraid to move scenes forward. Collaborate with your co-writers! Don't just react to previous posts; act as well! Assuming you aren't doing something absolutely bonkers, I'll probably roll with it.
  
  Chapter 1 Survival Guide
  
  • Chapter 1 is loose and easy and is meant as an intro chapter.
  • Heirs arrive to Amberhall and are received by a welcome party, namely Nanette and possibly Helene.
  • The main roads are like a parade. Everyone wants a chance to see the pretty nobles. Do your characters bask in the glory or do they hide? Did they maybe arrive days ahead of time in secret specifically to avoid the pageantry? Are they late? Why?
  • Once at the Keep, Heirs will be escorted to their quarters, which are furnished and will have most of the comforts of their home nations.
  • How do your heirs feel about the unification? Excited? Disgusted? Nervous? Do they need some mama lulu to relax?
  • Settle in and explore. Feel free to help worldbuild the city of Amberhall if you like. I will follow your lead on most things. Amberhall is like a slightly less shitty version of King's Landing from Game of Thrones.
  • Non-heirs can also take this time to start some antics as well. With all the city's attention turned upon the arrival of the Heirs, I'm sure you could get away with a lot of unsavory and/or illegal things...

 

[fatalrendezvous]

@MaryGold any interest in a character, possibly?

 

[Killassi - LASSI]

Why do they treat me like I'm stupid?​

Nation Number, Name: Six - Las Valoradas

Capital City: San Isidro

System of Government: Monarchy. As much as participation and the joining of national relationships through events like the Unification are important, the government of Las Valoradas - as is much of the nation's inclination towards policy on immigration/emigration, and the general political climate - is incredibly exclusive. Hesitance towards foreigners is apparent in discussions of introduction to power and permanent residence of immigrants, though in settings like social and tourist circles the conversation hardly exists. Still, the royal family does its best to maintain its favoured status among its citizens; in such a climate as theirs, no one lives if anyone dies. Las Valoradas typically rules in a loose matriarchy; the current Queen, Yolanda Concepción Navarez Rubio de Las Valoradas, is recognized as the highest force.

Basic Terrain and Weather: Sitting at a heatsink valley of the continent of Iskieka, Las Valoradas is consistently hot and humid. Its blazing sun offers 50° days and 30° nights in its summers, and its tropical environment prevents winter nights from ever dropping below 20°. Most of Las Valoradas resides on or near its beaches, where the burning climate meets the cool ocean and paradise is perfected, and the coastal areas are reliably flat and predictable for anyone hoping to travel across city lines. However, deep inland, near the centre and northern areas of the nation, lie stretches of dramatic mountains where the chilling altitude is combatted by the blazing inland nature of its location. The only people that occupy the inland areas of Las Valoradas are farmers who labour day in and out through the unforgiving climates to cultivate plants and animals that thrive in those environments; even the capital city of San Isidro, which is tucked way up in the north where the edge of the climate is split by the mountains to Amberholm, resides near a river where they and their surrounding cities can enjoy their own private version of the coastal life at the water's edge.

Trade Specialization: Las Valoradas prides itself on its incredibly rich and powerful cultural influence. For its unique climate and a culture obsessed with good vibes, it's a hotspot for vacations and tourist attractions, and its trade with the world is primarily reliant on such. When the people can't come for the Las Valoradas experience, however, there's also work to bring the Las Valoradas experience to them, exporting the nation's array of cultivated native goods to the rest of Iskiela most often branded as an exotic tropical touch to the at-home lifestyle. Though few of any individual commodity has ever become a staple outside of Las Valoradas, so much of its fruit, meat, grain, and art has all weaved its way into the life of the average Iskiekan that it would be a spiritual tragedy to attempt life without them.
Notable or Interesting Facts

-Water is a prominent and venerated symbol in Valorada culture. Sweat is a praised image of life and labour; shots of oasis water are common ways to begin parties, celebrations, and other events; and it's common to find displays of water to accompany art, especially in depictions of important and notable people. Fire is also used as a symbol of the new age, and is representative of pride and power. It is common to see streets lined with torches and lanterns, and often parties at beaches and organized formal events will feature bonfires; there are even people whose occupations are to light street torches at sundown and put them out at dawn.

-The tradition of the Las Valoradas royal family is to have two children. One is to be offered to the Unification to maintain peace and relationships with the other nations of Iskiela, and the other is to be wed by another at home to maintain the traditions of Las Valoradas and rule alongside with a native knowledge of life and the land; other children are appointed to whatever positions are necessary in the current order. Unfortunately, beneath the noses of its population, the current royal family has been struggling to have even one child, and Ignacia's relentlessly stubborn tendencies have not been a good omen for the legacy of Las Valoradas.

-Despite their forgiving good-vibes culture, the population of Las Valoradas is fiercely patriotic. Soldiers live among their civilian neighbours, and even the common person has an iron heart to defend their life and their land if it comes to it. The society of Las Valoradas has become a thriving paradise thanks to the tireless efforts of a caring crown and a disciplined population; no one is going to simply give it all up to the enemy like that.

-Though Las Valoradas is heavily inspired by cultures in Central America, a notable difference lies in their language, where the feminine gender is instead the dominant gender. A group of varied-gender people are referred to by the feminine term, whereas in real life, they would be referred to by the masculine term. This is reflected in the ruling system, where the Queen most often bears the majority of the crown's responsibility - the King rules more similarly to the nation's top military leader.

---

Name: Ignacia Miranda Navarez Santana de Las Valoradas (short. Ignacia Navarez)

Age: 20

Appearance: See image; brown eyes.

Occupation: Heir, supposed scholar.

Nationality: Valorada

Formal Title: Bearer of Honour of Las Valoradas (Bearer of Honour: title given to anyone from Las Valoradas offered to the Unification)

Five Words: Boisterous; Flippant; Perfectionistic; Exuberant; Anxious


Notable Skills

Sketch The Skies - Being constantly crammed in a room for personal tutoring has given Ignacia quite a lot of time to doodle and mess around doing everything except the material itself that she's meant to learn, and through it came an impromptu skill that she's grown fond of practicing. Even if she's inept at the General, all those tutoring classes seem to be paying off... somehow.

Sail The Seas - Sneaking down to the riverbank, Ignacia found a passion in the many sports and activities that the diet shore life offered. The most prominent of these activities is windsurfing, which she often sneaks down to the popular beaches at the southern bend of Las Valoradas to perform during royal vacations and tours, and even at home she's grateful to have a community to surf with down the stream.

What The Fuck - Easily the most affluent of Ignacia's skillsets, it's a marvel every time it happens. She needs not to try, to put any effort into performance, and yet she does it flawlessly every single time, to the amazement of all that observe her. Truly, getting distracted is her vocation above all.

Why is it so hard for me?​

 

[MaryGold]

@MaryGold any interest in a character, possibly?

For creation? If so, I was thinking I could make a younger sibling, personal guard, and/or concubine for any of the heirs if anyone wanted?

 

[Ariel]

Hey @Ariel, how do you feel about tensions between Romorant and Amberholm in the lands along those borders?

Would Romorantin mercenaries or bandits roam about there possibly, looking to surprise travelers and earn an easy score?

Oh, absolutely. The interesting thing would be that there'd be both mercenary bands and brigands, the former ostensibly there to keep the latter under control, but in practice there's not much to choose between them. Membership would be fluid with individuals crossing the line in either direction as they felt the need or desire to. And the Romorantin authorities would be happy to play along with either as long as they're useful or at least not too much of a liability.

 

[Karo]

This looks so cool! I immediately had an idea for a servant character. Is anyone interested in having a servant?

Apollonia wouldn't mind if said servant is competent.

She's very competent! I'll have the CS up in the next few days.

 

[Karo]

Name: Valora Ospin

Age: 28

Occupation: Personal servant of Apollonia Rehn

Nationality: Kulvulcan

Formal Title: None

Five Words That Describe Your Character: Loyal, hard-working, reserved, skeptical, protective

Notable Skills:

• Mending and sewing: Before they were servants, Valora's ancestors were seamstresses. This skill has been passed down from mother to daughter for centuries. She is also adept at weaving seasilk.​
• Perception: Trained to make sure everything is perfect, Valora is an expert at catching when things are amiss. This has made her quite skilled at detecting lies and ulterior motives.​
• Blending into the background: The role of a servant is to be unseen and unheard until needed. This has made Valora a master at disappearing in plain sight, moving stealthily, and remaining undetected.​

 

[Ariel]

Hmm... yes, I can see how Valora might prove... useful.

 

[unanun]

We need some warriors here ...! And masters of assassins, people who feel like their profession is becoming obsolete and are just waiting for a spark ...

 

[Ariel]

We need some warriors here ...! And masters of assassins, people who feel like their profession is becoming obsolete and are just waiting for a spark ...

Why do you think Apollonia would find Valora useful? Not on the basis of her weaving skills, surely. Unless it's to weave a web of deceit.....

 

[unanun]

Plz open IC OTL

 

[Falcon]

And then you have the Hot headed Isie who might start a fight for her own amusement XD

 

[fatalrendezvous]

Pairings have been decided! The last time I ran Iskiela I admit I manipulated the dicerolls HARDCORE so this time to keep myself honest I did it with a bot in Discord. The records are in a thread on the discord server if anyone wants to verify, but I promise this was done in a fair way and a bunch of people were present for the dicerolling lol

Spoiler

Echo (Fiona) / Elendi (Mglo)
Apollonia (Ariel) / Loros (rissa)
Moira (Itari) / Nero (Hecky)
Helene (fatal) / Gilead (unanun)
Ignacia (Lassi) / Caoileann (Les)

If you would rather not see them so you can be surprised, that is totally up to you!

 

[rissa]

Very much a WIP

Name: Apollonia Rehn

Age: 27

Appearance:

Occupation: Heir of Kulvulcan/ Mercenary captain

Nationality: Kulvulcan

Formal Title: Serenissima of Kulvulcan; The Black Princess

Five Words That Describe Your Character: Ambitious; Perceptive; Cunning; Ruthless; Charming

Notable Skills:
Administration - It may seem boring, and it certainly is tedious at times, but paperwork is crucial to the functioning of a nation. And it grants a deep and subtle power to those who can grasp and wield it. Apollonia understands this and has dedicated long hours to mastering the dark arts of bureaucracy.
Generalship - Almost an extension of administration (and not the other way, as most of her men would have it), the leading of armies is an art unto itself, and one that Apollonia has been steeped in since childhood. She has grown up with the smell of saddle leather, sore feet and iron, and knows well how to organise and lead military forces. For all her fabled ruthlessness, she is well respected by her troops, because they know that they rarely go hungry and always get their back pay, as well as copious opportunities for looting. Flowery speeches and battlefield brilliance may read well in the history books, but they take a back seat to a well-fed, well-paid and well-drilled army.
Dissembling - Part of leadership is being all things to all men. And this is a skill that can be studied as well - "To look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't". Apollonia has been schooled in hiding her own feelings and presenting the image that the outside world wants and needs to see. That can be an inspiring leader, a serious governor, a cruel despot, a charming host, or whatever else will answer the demands of the moment.
Fighting - Once in a while, a leader needs to get their hands dirty. They might have to lead a crucial charge, storm a stronghold, or even defend themselves against an assassin. When that happens, they'd best be able to handle themselves. Apollonia is as much a warrior as any of her dogs of war, skilled in the use of lance, pollaxe, sword, dagger, or even bare hands. Her fighting style is direct and brutal, based on a vicious form of grappling that doesn't shy away from breaking legs or putting fingers into eyes.


Nation Info


Nation Number and Name: 8; Romorant

Capital City: Kulvulcan (see below)

System of Government: Federated monarchy - Kulvulcan is a city-state that has acquired a hinterland by virtue of being the main player in the region. It is situated on the island of Romorant, which has traditionally been fractured and fractious. But Kulvulcan has become the effective leader and capital of the island by becoming the richest polity. It has not sought that leadership, especially since trying to get the Romorantin states to get along is a fool's errand. It simply goes its own way, and the others follow along if they know what is good for them. That has been a surprisingly effective strategy for a couple of generations, and Romorant is well on its way to developing a stronger and more comprehensive union, alongside nascent island-wide institutions such as the Bank of Kulvulcan and the Black Company, a mercenary company that is essentially the federal Romorantin military.

Kulvulcan itself is led by a semi-hereditary monarchy. The King is theoretically elected by a council

Basic Terrain and Weather: Romorant is composed of two parts - the mountainous East, which covers two-thirds of the island and is characterised by windswept gorges and valleys, with small and isolated settlements of rugged fisherfolk and miners; and the flatter West, where most of the population, agriculture and industry reside, with a much more amenable climate. Even so, the island as a whole is often rocked by earthquakes and typhoons, making for a stubborn and resilient people.

Trade Specialization: Romorant has historically had to be largely self-sufficient, but it is well known as a source of craft goods and warriors - both mercenaries and privateers. While it does not produce large amounts of goods for export, it has a large merchant marine, and much of the trade in the Eastern seas (and indeed beyond) is carried in Romorantin hulls. This has brought in a large amount of ready cash for Romorant in general and Kulvulcan in particular, allowing the Bank of Kulvulcan to become the most influential commercial lender in the region. If a noble or polity has a loan, it is more than likely held by the Bank of Kulvulcan, either directly or through intermediaries. Alongside the still-secret development of double-entry bookkeeping, this has kept the coffers of Kulvulcan burgeoning.

Notable or Interesting Facts: The Romorantin language is a fluid, musical tongue, and gives its speakers a distinctive lilting accent when they speak Common. It has many different dialects, but they can be broadly classified into East and West Romorant.
Romorantin crafts are justly famous. They include fine ceramics, jewellery and textiles. Seasilk - woven from threads derived from seaweed - is soft but strong, and can be made into a dense, thin but light cloth that is cool in summer but warm in winter. Seasilk scarves and shawls are much in demand among the wealthy far and wide.
Romorantin culture is deeply concerned with appearances and propriety. The forms of courtesy and respect must be observed, regardless of one's actual feelings. This has given the Romorantin a reputation for being duplicitous; they claim they are simply misunderstood, and that it's not their fault if the vulgar and uncouth cannot grasp the subtler points of social interaction.

Anything Else: (Optional)

heya!

i sent everyone in the discord a questionnaire-type thingy and i forgot u werent in there, feel free to ignore if u want, its just optional brainstorming/plotting/worldbuilding stuff!

Spoiler

Kulvulcan

Are you only claiming the islands attached to Kingdom 8? Sorry if I'm misunderstanding, you just keep referring to Kulvulcan as an island as a whole.

I had the idea that the 13 Melodies would have a very fluid and melodical mother tongue, so I wonder if the Melodite language was at one point in time an offshoot of Romorantin language!

Going along with my previous tirade of past Melodites thriving on raids, I assume, with their militaristic and naval expertise, they would have often been at odds with one another, and even with the Unification and the absolvement of the Melodite raids, I bet their cultural differences would keep the tension alive between them!

@Ariel hey there! i was wonderin if you wanted to give this a second look :^) maybe we can hash out some details!

 

[unanun]

What I have so far:

- Would like if Scholars were present in some way in most nations! I'm happy to work with you on details, whether they've gone native or retain their loyalty to Aurum, and can provide reference pics as well.

- Miah's a firestarter, so I'm keeping an eye out for any opportunities as the IC unravels.

- @Mglo and I confirmed that Praxis invaded or had a border skirmish with Aurum in the past. Maybe the same with @Hecatoncheires as well? That is when Aurum realized money can't always buy safety.

- In relation to the point above, Aurum will be a long time patron of any nations that offer professional mercenaries. Possibly @Ariel ?

- Aurum's development of universities is relatively recent. It's original (and still is) main source of wealth is the levies on the canals and other trade routes. Since Aurum gate keeps the western access, I suppose it has cordial relationships with the western nations, and neutral/friendly ones with eastern nations.

- I've cast Sanik as a lazy genius, who is available to enable anyone or anything. I won't introduce Sanik until later.

 

[fatalrendezvous]

Name: Ser Gyrard Mallart

Age: 58

Occupation: Captain of the Amberguard

Nationality: Amberholm

Formal Titles: Gyrard the Gallant, Gyrard the Red, Gyrard the Geriatric (pejorative)

Five Words: Honorable. Pensive. Dedicated. Demanding. Perfectionist.

Notable Skills:

Master-at-Arms - Gyrard is an artist who paints using a sword instead of a brush. While he is most fluent with the sword, he has trained dozens of soldiers in the use of a variety of weapons.

Honor Above All - There is nothing more important to Ser Gyrard than his honor. Certainly not his life.

Storied Warrior - Songs have been sung about him. Histories have praised him. His reputation precedes him, and this can sometimes intimidate opponents into surrender before a fight has begun.

Pressure Makes Diamonds - Years of experience and conditioning have taught Ser Gyrard to focus and excel in even the most dire circumstances.

 

[fatalrendezvous]

Name: Holden Meriva

Age: 30

Occupation: Freeloader

Nationality: Amberholm

Formal Titles: Ambersbane

Five Words: Cunning. Cocky. Self-serving. Opportunistic. Charming.

Notable Skills:

Expert Duelist - Much to Armsmaster Gyrard's dismay, Holden is one of his best pupils (possibly THE best, but Gyrard won't admit that) in the sword and rapier.

Friends in Low Places - Well-connected with the less-glamorous underbelly of Amberholm. Keeps the company of sellswords, bandits, and whores, which his family members find quite distasteful.

It's not Lazy, it's Efficient - Will find the easiest and/or fastest way to accomplish a task, with little regard for consequence.

Everyone Has a Price - Believes there is no problem money can't solve.

 

[Fiona]

Name: Briar Rose
Age: 18
Appearance: Per image.
Occupation: Maidservant
Formal Title: N/A
Nationality: Amberholm

Five Words: Caring. Free-spirited. Musical. Friendly. Dreamer.

Notable Skills:

Siren Song – Briar Rose enjoys singing while she works and has an utterly enchanting voice; in the past, she's sent a distracted soldier or two walking into walls.

Stuff of Fairytales – local corvids present Briar Rose with various trinkets, pretty things, and shiny objects they've found. The kitchen pets help her with chores. What, yours don't?

 

[fatalrendezvous]

The IC is now open!

If you're not sure where to start / what to do, here are some ideas! (This list is not exhaustive!)

• Chapter 1 is loose and easy and is meant as an intro chapter.
• Heirs arrive to Amberhall and are received by a welcome party, namely Nanette and possibly Helene.
• The main roads are like a parade. Everyone wants a chance to see the pretty nobles. Do your characters bask in the glory or do they hide? Did they maybe arrive days ahead of time in secret specifically to avoid the pageantry? Are they late? Why?
• Once at the Keep, Heirs will be escorted to their quarters, which are furnished and will have most of the comforts of their home nations.
• How do your heirs feel about the unification? Excited? Disgusted? Nervous? Do they need some mama lulu to relax?
• Settle in and explore. Feel free to help worldbuild the city of Amberhall if you like. I will follow your lead on most things.
• If you have any characters who AREN'T in Amberholm for the Unification, possibly show us what a day in your character's life is typically like.
• Non-heirs can also take this time to start some antics as well. With all the city's attention turned upon the arrival of the Heirs, I'm sure you could get away with a lot of unsavory and/or illegal things...

 

[Ariel]

@Ariel hey there! i was wonderin if you wanted to give this a second look :^) maybe we can hash out some details!

@rissa Hi! Yeah, there's probably a good bit of history between the Romorantin and the Melodites, with factions from either side clashing or allying as circumstances dictated. Neither group is very centralised so there would have been lots of people doing their own thing, claiming territory or the rights over certain trade routes or whatnot.

I also think the dynamic between Loros and Apollonia might be quite interesting. From what I can tell, he's a bit of a dreamer and a scholar, while she's intensely worldly. But Apollonia has her thoughtful side as well, and she has a great deal of time for learning and intelligence, which Loros has in spades. Real respect and even affection might grow between them, although the issue might be that she will constantly be looking for ways to apply his talents to the real world.

What I have so far:

- Would like if Scholars were present in some way in most nations! I'm happy to work with you on details, whether they've gone native or retain their loyalty to Aurum, and can provide reference pics as well.

- In relation to the point above, Aurum will be a long time patron of any nations that offer professional mercenaries. Possibly @Ariel ?

As mentioned, Apollonia would be very eager to recruit any Scholars available into Kulvulcan service. And Kulvulcan specifically might have a longstanding agreement with Aurum to provide mercenary forces - indeed even the Black Company might have served with them once or twice, possibly even under the command of Apollonia herself. There might well be a bit of backstory here if you'd like to make that a plot point.

 

[rissa]

@Ariel hey there! i was wonderin if you wanted to give this a second look :^) maybe we can hash out some details!

@rissa Hi! Yeah, there's probably a good bit of history between the Romorantin and the Melodites, with factions from either side clashing or allying as circumstances dictated. Neither group is very centralised so there would have been lots of people doing their own thing, claiming territory or the rights over certain trade routes or whatnot.

I also think the dynamic between Loros and Apollonia might be quite interesting. From what I can tell, he's a bit of a dreamer and a scholar, while she's intensely worldly. But Apollonia has her thoughtful side as well, and she has a great deal of time for learning and intelligence, which Loros has in spades. Real respect and even affection might grow between them, although the issue might be that she will constantly be looking for ways to apply his talents to the real world.

What I have so far:

- Would like if Scholars were present in some way in most nations! I'm happy to work with you on details, whether they've gone native or retain their loyalty to Aurum, and can provide reference pics as well.

- In relation to the point above, Aurum will be a long time patron of any nations that offer professional mercenaries. Possibly @Ariel ?

As mentioned, Apollonia would be very eager to recruit any Scholars available into Kulvulcan service. And Kulvulcan specifically might have a longstanding agreement with Aurum to provide mercenary forces - indeed even the Black Company might have served with them once or twice, possibly even under the command of Apollonia herself. There might well be a bit of backstory here if you'd like to make that a plot point.

Just got to work but I'll shoot ya a reply to this when I get home!