A Fragile Peace

[LeviathanL]

I have removed my OOC chatter in sign-up. Also made tab thingies for some houses.

 

[The Suspicious Eye]

• Overview
• Element
• Lady Emira
• Abar
• History

• 
  
  
  House Duraqiim
  
  
  
  
  
  Continent: Vaaya
  
  
  Homeland: Shaabath (The desert section of Vaaya)
  
  
  Royal Element: Sand
  
  
  Specialties:
  
  
  • Masters Of The Saddle: The people of Shaabath are some of the most skilled horsemen Ielyth has seen. Their heavily armored Mamlukes are more than an equal match for any knight, and their light cavalry and horse archers can out maneuver almost any force, picking them to pieces while the main force draws in.
    
  • Spice Monopoly: Vaaya is the only continent where valuable spices like Saffron, Vanilla, and Ginger can be found, alongside many others. The only other kingdom with natural access is the Mayana Kingdom, but even they lack the abundant supply available to the Shaabathi. This abundance of spice allows the Shaabathito make quite a lot of money.
    
  • Hardy Folk: Being from the desert, the Shaabathi are hardy, and are more effective than most others when fighting in heat.
    
  
  
  
  Behavior: Rather isolationist, House Duraqiim does not normally involve itself in conflicts. When it does, it will not stop until whoever has dared to attack it is dead, or kneels to it's lord. House Duraqiim will normally not declare war without being attacked first, unless they are extremely desperate.
  
  
  Millitary: Strong and powerful, the millitary of the Shaabathi is able to defend itself. Its strength lies in its cavalry, superior to any other. However, their infantry are equipped in light armor and with rather light weaponry as to not succumb to the desert weather, and their archers wield short bows, which lack the range and power of other bows, such as the Longbow. Because of this, their infantry and archers are inferior to most others.
  
  
  Rulership: House Duraqiim
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  Sand
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  Usage: Manipulation of sand, sandstorms, formation of sandstone, being able to sense things through sand.
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  Limitation: Sand needs to be nearby. They cannot summon or create sand, there has to be sand already present.
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  Cost: Any use of the sand element brings fatigue. The use of the element relies entirely on the individual, so few are skilled at it, and most who are, are either blind, depth, or both. Excessive use may cause loss of senses, and loss of life.
  
  
  

  
  
  Associated Magical Creature: Sand Serpent
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
  The Sand Serphants are brutal, vicious creatures, able to burrow through sand and survive the scorching desert heat. They are the highest predators of the desert. They are normally 40 feet in length.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  • Description
  • Abilities
  • Personality
  • History
  • Themesong

  • 
    
    
    Name: Lady Emira Duraqiim "The Bastard", "The Young Serpent", "Sworddancer", Lady of the city of Duna, head of House Duraqiim, and Ruler of the Shaabatha People.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Appearance: She has a scar on the right side of her face, crossing over an eye, which is forever shut, traveling a centimeter or so away from her nose, before crossing over her lips and to her chin. Because of it, her lips are crooked on the right side of her mouth.
    
    
    Gender: female
    
    
    Age: 26
    
    
    House of Origin: Duraqiim
    
    
    Controller: SirDerpingtonIV
    
    
    
  • 
    
    
    Skills: An incredibly skilled rider, sword wielder, and tactician, honorable, honest, fearless.
    
    
    Weaknesses: Brash arrogance, quick to anger, stubborn, proud, honorable, politically clumsy, honest, diplomatically unskilled, discredited by many because of her gender, bastard blood, and physical appearance.
    
    
    
  • 
    
    
    A warrior by heart, there is little she fears, especially not stating her opinion. She is mostly honest, preferring to be quite open about her opinion of others instead of the lies and social and political games many other highborns play. After all, she is a bastard. On that topic, she is quite proud of her bastard heritage, even though her father was the youngest son of probably the worst ruler in Shaabathi history, and her mother was a lowly tavern maid. She can be kind to those she deems worth the kindness, although, like a snake, she is venomous to those she dislikes. Whether a snarky, sarcastic remark, or a scimitar through the heart, she is equally ruthless to foes. But on the down side, she is not too skilled politically or diplomatically, being easily outdone by most other nobles, or, hell, just about anyone for that matter.
    
    
    
  • 
    
    
    Thirty years ago, a new Lord became ruler of the Shaabathi. Lord, Jaakt Duraqqim "The Foolish". He had many sons, all of them equally stupid, and with his sons, all except the youngest, he marched North, to the Mayana Mountains, to siege the Shaabathi's age-long rivals. The Mayana, heavily outnumbered and out armed, used the mountains and jungles of their homeland to ambush the Shaabathi troops, whipping them back, beaten and bruised to their home. However, several more invasions later, over after many years of war, the Mayana responded. They marched out of the mountains, with a new army of almost ten thousand men and women. The Shabaathi were beaten back all the way to Duna, their ancient capitol, where the Lord and all his sons perished. For several years, the Mayana occupied all of Shaabath, till one day, the bastard daughter of the youngest son came of age, and took her people's fate into her own hands. She arose those still loyal to the name of Duraqiim, and fought against the Mayana for their independance. In a matter of two years, the Mayana had returned to their mountains, Shaabath under Duraqqim rule once again. A true force to be reckoned with, Emira has been invited to Carranon by Davarsi in an attempt to settle her lust for battle, and her wish to break free of Carranonian rule once and for all.
    
    
    But the desert never settles.
    
    
    
  • 
    
    
    [media]
    
    
    
    [/media]
    
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  
  • Description
  • Abilities
  • Personality
  • History

  • 
    
    
    Name: Abar Duraqiim, Scribe of the Sands
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Gender: Male
    
    
    Age: 80
    
    
    House of Origin: Duraqiim
    
    
    Controller: LeviathanL
    
    
    
  • 
    
    
    Skills: Element of Sand, Knowledge, Calmness
    
    
    Weaknesses: Blindness, Old age, world-weary
    
    
    
  • 
    
    
    He is a calm and peaceful man, dedicated to the preservation of knowledge. He is quite fond of his great-niece, and will often offer her advice, whether she likes it or not.
    
    
    
  • 
    
    
    Abar is the older brother of Jaakt Duraqqim "The Foolish", making him Emira's Great-uncle. Unlike his brother, he never wanted to be a warrior or a leader, preferring the company of books and scrolls. When Jaakt became ruler of the Shaabathi and started planning the attack on Mayana, Abar argued against it, but his brother would not listen to him. Since then, he withdrew from politics, spending all his time in the pursuit of knowledge. Even after old age claimed his sight he still records the Shaabathi legacy with the use of assistants. He believes everything should be remembered, as history all too often repeats itself.
    
    
    
  
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  Even since before the Great War, its people have lived in the vast desert of Vaaya, unchallenged in their reign. They even owned a large portion of land on the mainland. However, during the beginning stages of the Great War, they were surprised attack by Carranon, and made one of its vassals. Deeper into the war however, the Shabaahi rebelled, freeing itself from foreign control, launching a counter attack against them. The two nations fought bitterly, neither able to best the other. Eventually, they agreed upon a peace treaty, Carranon kicking the Shabaathi out. but peace was ever unstable between them.
  
  
  

 



The rules kinda say only nobles can use the elements, but I'm sure you can find a way around that. Maybe give the nobility/church the power to 'bless' the soldiers or whatever.

It was one of my requirements pre-made in my agreement with @SirDerpingtonIV but yeah, I'll probably do that.

 

[LeviathanL]

@SirDerpingtonIV[/URL] but yeah, I'll probably do that.

Do what?

 

[The Suspicious Eye]

give the nobility/church the power to 'bless' the soldiers or whatever.

The blessing thing, but yeah.

 

[LeviathanL]

Cool, btw, I think we have enough kingdoms for now. Not every house needs 3 representatives right away, but at this rate we'll have more houses then characters.


 
As soon as the sign-up page has been properly cleaned up, we'll be able to make more 'small' characters.

 

[The Suspicious Eye]

Yeah, I think I am the last. Anyway, not everyone in my house is going to that trip. Only the Princes and Princesses.

 

[LeviathanL]

For example, @The Suspicious Eye, you have made quite some interesting concepts, but we don't have to flesh them out right away before we start. And you just said what i was going to say.

 

[The Suspicious Eye]

For example, @The Suspicious Eye, you have made quite some interesting concepts, but we don't have to flesh them out right away before we start. And you just said what i was going to say.

Good because I have a ton of complex ideas that are super full. This kingdom is something else.

 

[Paeniteo Azrael]

Yup, still sure could use a character or two in mah kingdom.

 

[LeviathanL]

[QUOTE="Paeniteo Azrael]Yup, still sure could use a character or two in mah kingdom.

[/QUOTE]
make a tab

 

[Paeniteo Azrael]

A tab?

 

[LeviathanL]

the thingies I have been spewing out in character sign-up

 

[Paeniteo Azrael]

Ah yes, the thing I originally made and used for my kingdom?


I already have one, but I suppose it is on the first or second page. I think we should put the kingdoms on the Settings page, but that is up to @SirDerpingtonIV

 

[LeviathanL]

@SirDerpingtonIV[/URL]

I lost track of who did what

 

[Paeniteo Azrael]

Just giving you a hard time - I am essentially waiting before adding any other posts. Also, I'll go through and delete all my OOC chat in the Character Sign Up.

 

[SirDerpingtonIV]

I must sleep asqell

[QUOTE="Paeniteo Azrael]Current head of the "World":
House Carranon - Element is Earth


Vassal States (Which most likely do have their own politics but owe 'allegiance' to House Carranon, as I understand it - its hard to control the entire world if you're too autocratic, ESPECIALLY if you don't encourage them to scheme against each other):


House Fiolar - Element is Water


House Daraqiim - Element is Sand


House Mayana - Element is Air


House Aeneas - Element is Life - My house!


House Elegantí Floe - Element is Ice


House Taccola - Element is Shadow


House Anguis - Element is Wind


House Evermore?Avalon? - Element is Light


So the way I understand it, and the way Feudal politics works, is this:


One person is the supreme ruler - King, Emperor, Pope, whatever. Beneath them are nobles - people either they exalt, fold into their kingdom, or parent. Land is either apportioned out to the nobles (generally pissing off LOTS of people) or conquered and given out. The head of the realm generally enjoys a personal fiefdom.


Now, different realms have different levels of centralization of power and much of this is based off the power of the state and the power of the nobility. It is a supremely delicate balancing act for almost every power - those who are successful rule for a long time, those who are not are overthrown or conquered by a neighboring power. The Tokugawa Shogunate lasted for a long time, the Caliphates of the Middle East lasted for a long time, many of the royal houses of Europe sort of came and went.


Its a top down approach:


Emperor/ess -> Immediate Vassals -> Their Vassals -> Their Vassals' Vassals and so on. All members have their own territory and their own peasants and their own section of military command (raised and paid for by themselves), but the lower level vassal you are, the more of your money/taxes and military are expected to go to those above you. A particularly low level vassal may be relatively poor and only have a few knights, whereas a king that swears fealty to an overlord may have an enormous military and its own functioning economy.


Now on to how and why rulers maintain or lose power - It is extremely difficult to maintain power against unified opposition. If your vassals have a reason to, they will murder the shit out of you (this is more prone to happening in countries which expect something of their rulers). The Han Dynasty collapsed in on itself like a black hole because of oppressive taxation and shitty governing. You don't get to be ruler by using an iron fist on all of your problems (the Empire doesn't actually work in the real world guys) - you get it by making deals and ensuring that your vassals are more concerned with their status among each other than with how they're going to give you your tribute. Demanding excessive taxes is a fast track to assassination and rebellion, and no good leader will do it. Shitty leaders will for sure, but shitty leaders lose countries.


As far as this relates to our RP, from what I understand - King Carranon is the ruler of a vast empire. He has, through conquest or deals, folded other powers into his own. The nobles of those other countries, who are, for all intents and purposes King/Queen in all but name of their homelands, are gathered in the capital for intrigue, plots, and dealings to keep everyone from revolting and tearing down the current institutions. We can work together to bring him down, or try to fuck each other over (or work for House Carranon, of course) - really, whatever we want to do, is fair game, so long as we do it in character.




Now on to me!


I will make another character, just give me a bit - I might make two more, but I haven't decided what houses I will make those characters in. I don't want to play another member in my house, but I will if no one else plays a member of my house.

[/QUOTE]
thank you for this. And thank you guys for all your contribution.

 

[LeviathanL]

Mayana's element is a bit in the air right now (hah). Wind and air are a little too similar for me, maybe fire or lightning?


 
We have some nice contrasting elements: shadow-light, life-death, should keep that up.

 

[SirDerpingtonIV]

Mayana's element is a bit in the air right now (hah). Wind and air are a little too similar for me, maybe fire or lightning?
 
We have some nice contrasting elements: shadow-light, life-death, should keep that up.

Yah

 

[LeviathanL]

Let's sum up the locations we have:


House - Continent - Climate


House Carranon - Carranon- heartland


House Fiolar - Nomadic- Ocean


House Daraqiim - Vaaya- Desert


House Mayana - Vaaya- Mountain/Great variation in temperature


City-state of Taccola - Vaaya - Between Mayana and Daragiim/Good Traderoutes


House Aeneas - Aldar - Forest/Temperate


House Elegantí Floe - Aldar - Abnormally cold


House Anguis - Anguis - Lowlands


House Evermore - Somewhere North - Forest/Temperate


Pending approval


House Yamaguchi - Isolated/hidden - Mountains/ regular cold


House Lonaneyal - Aldar - In a valley surrounded by mountains/next to House Evermore


Based on this I think the southern hemispere may be best for the story, but we'll work it out.

 

[SirDerpingtonIV]

Let's sum up the locations we have:
House - Continent - Climate


House Carranon - Carranon- heartland


House Fiolar - Nomadic- Ocean


House Daraqiim - Vaaya- Desert


House Mayana - Vaaya- Mountain/Great variation in temperature


City-state of Taccola - Vaaya - Between Mayana and Daragiim/Good Traderoutes


House Aeneas - Aldar - Forest/Temperate


House Elegantí Floe - Aldar - Abnormally cold


House Anguis - Anguis - Lowlands


House Evermore - Somewhere North - Forest/Temperate


Pending approval


House Yamaguchi - Isolated/hidden - Mountains/ regular cold


House Lonaneyal - Aldar - In a valley surrounded by mountains/next to House Evermore


Based on this I think the southern hemispere may be best for the story, but we'll work it out.

This would make sense

 

[LeviathanL]

This would make sense

4 continents, Carranon has his own continent, Fiolar are nomads and Taccola is very small. 6-8 countries divided over 3 continents, that's not very hard.

 

[SirDerpingtonIV]

4 continents, Carranon has his own continent, Fiolar are nomads and Taccola is very small. 6-8 countries divided over 3 continents, that's not very hard.

Heheeheuehehehehheheehuehe

 

[The Suspicious Eye]

So @SirDerpingtonIV Is Lonaneyal Accepted?

 

[SirDerpingtonIV]

Yes, accepyed

 

[LeviathanL]

@SirDerpingtonIV[/URL] Is Lonaneyal Accepted?

Have you decided which character you want to control at the start?