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Fantasy The Little Things - Lore

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Horse Doctor
Roleplay Type(s)
"Sing Sing Sing" by Massimo Faraò Trio (feat. Giampaolo Casati)
The Little
Things
Overview
Places & People
The How Tos
  • Overview
    01
    Overview
    Sed omnis una manet nox et calcanda semel via leti.
    Welcome
    all
    Hello, everyone!
    Thank you for taking the time to look through the "Lore" section of our project "The Little Things"! We know you're looking forward to reading all about the magic and gossip Tubero's inhabitants have to offer as you go on a hunt for clues. And be aware, clues have been placed here and there. But, as with all investigations, it's good to get some ground infromation. Thus, let us introduce to you the story's environment!
    History
    101
    "The Little Things" takes place in a fictional independent country that includes the entirety of the island of Sardinia and its territorial waters. This is not a strict historical role-play, which means that you don't need to know anything about Sardinia's past when applying, because all of the relevant information will be given here.

    Nevertheless, we ask players to keep in mind that the story is set in the first half of the 20th century, which comes with a variety of social and economical characteristics. Magic, magical humans and seapeople have existed for millenia, but history on the global scale has mostly stayed the same. It takes generations of thinkers, trials and errors to have both technological and cultural progress, so while you can see magic being used to clean up the street or to fix your refrigerator, the people that do those things will have troubles, mannerisms and clothing typical of that moment in time.

    This all being said, there are some events that didn't happen or happened differently. For this reason we haven't set an exact year for the role-play and prefer to leave it ambiguous. Since our characters will be situated in a small area within Sardinia, we won't go into detail about what is happening outside the fictional country, but major notes would be that:
    - the island of Corsica belongs to Spain and not France;
    - jazz and swing are a thing, albeit a little different at times from what we know for the period (think modern jazz and swing covers), and have come about under the same circumstances;
    - during World War 1 both Spain and Sardinia were neutral and signed a treaty for mutual aid, which also ensured that the part of the Mediterranean that was between them was also neutral; The war itself was shorter and ended similarly;
    - World War 2 has not happened;
    - the Spanish flu has happened and devastated the world, but thanks to magic it was much easier to treat and end.

    Now that we are clear about how blurry our background shall be, lets focus in on the Judgedom of Sardinia and its history.
    History
    202
    In ancient times, the people of Sardinia were a part of the Eastern Roman Empire. Due to the great distance between them and Constantinople, the locals enjoyed enviable freedom of governance whilst simultaneously having unhindered access to the Empire's wealth of knowledge, advancements and connections. Travel to and settlement in the then spacely populated island were encouraged and lead to an increase not only in the total number of people, but also in the percent of the magically gifted. For the people of that time, this turn of events had been not the least surprising, for it was known how nonchalant Sardinia's administration was when it came to magical safety regulations. It was the perfect little province where you could life your life without a care for your magical usage, where causing a random explosion at night in the woods might require just a written note by the end of the month. No one from the Empire had anything against it, as magic was accepted as a skill and populating the land more evenly was seen as beneficial. However, what they insisted on was that all magically gifted people converted to Orthodox Christianity and obeyed the country's laws, just like every other subject. The majority of the witches of old agreed to integrate their traditions as local Christian customs whilst abandoning their pagan gods and became protected children under the church's roof, giving Sardinia's belief a rather unique flavour in the ages to come.

    Although this caused controversy and fights within the old circles, it would come as a blessing in the distant future, when many witch communities on the continent would be persecuted as heretics, whilst those of Sardinia would be considered believers and remained untouched by the scorn of the Vatican. Their belonging to the Eastern realm would remain even during the Spanish and Italian Savoyard rule, when those in seats of power were Catholic, while the witches and the spelless commonfolk would maintain their Orthodox identities, with the spelless actively defending the witches from the government that wished to pressure and shackle them.

    Going back to those early middle ages, at some uncertain point in time, the Byzantines resigned complete control of the island to the Sardinians. It was a gradual process that happened peacefully and for a variety of reasons, one of which was difficulty in communicating with the island over that great distance, especially during crisis and war times. Under these circumstances, four independent countries called Judgedoms would arise with a semi-democratic administrative organization. Unlike the feudalism that dominated the rest of Europe, each Judgedom was ruled by a "iudex", in other words, a great judge and councils, the latter of which had the power to elect and dethrone the first.

    (Side-note: The only fictional thing until now are the witches and how everyone stayed Orthodox.)

    As structures and people changed above the water, so did those bellow it grow. In the Mediterranean sea different seafolk currents formed, their artefacts shining together like constellations as they used them to build their houses and palaces. Their ever-constant presence had long been noticed by humanity, who clashed with them on numerous occasions. For several centuries, even the magically gifted ones found themselves at a great disadvantage against the sea-dwellers, especially when alone or in small numbers out at sea. In the waters around Sardinia in particular there was one artefact known as "Siren's throat", which the seafolk lords used to enchant entire ships and send them crashing or sinking into the dark depths.

    Yet the tides of change favoured neither one, nor the other. As humanity perfected their machinations of war and magic, they began winning more and more confrontations against the lords of the sea, from whom they acquired magical items that could further be used against their enemies. Neither could those victories be properly celebrated, nor the defeats lamented, however. The humans of Sardinia faced stronger and more barbaric attacks from north african pirates who forced them to abandon many of their seaside villages, as well as interference from Pisa, Genoa and Aragon. In the meantime, the different seafolk currents warred against each other and also had to face the incoming raids from the aforementioned pirates, along with attacks from other human opportunists who took advantage of the weakened state of the Judgedoms and invaded their territorial waters.

    By the time the 16th century came, the four Judgedoms were no more and the island, along with its waters, were under the iron rule of the Kingdom or Aragon, the future Spain, whose king ordered the construction of magical watchtowers all around the coast to 'protect Sardinia from invasions'. Due to the different wars, the raids and the black plague, the human population had greatly declined and that of the seafolk even more drastically so. In spite of this, the two sides made one final effort to try and subjugate the other - The War of Halves. In total, it lasted around 100 years, but physical encounters could amount for only half of that time, with long periods of rest between them. In the end, the war ended with a peace treaty, according to which the Kingdom of Aragon banned the creation, usage and existence of all special equipment meant for causing all manner of harm to seapeople, while the other party locked and gave them the "Siren's Throat" so that it may never be used to cause tragedies. Ever since that faithful day of the peace treaty's signing, humans and seafolk have not once fought each other.

    A great many things happened over the centuries. The humans of Sardinia were a resilient and stubborn lot, so they quickly got back up on their feet and, under the harsh taxes and judgement of their Spanish conquerors, rebuilt their lives, picking up some Spanish customs along the way, until 1718, when their fate would change again.

    In 1718 Sardinia was handed over to the House of Savoy, which at the time ruled over the territories of Savoy, Piedmont, Aosta Valley, Nice and Oneglia. At this point, there hadn't been a Judgedom for almost 300 years. The Savoyards exerted their feudal rule over the islanders and started the process of Italianization among them.
    From 1799 until 1814 the Savoy royal family left Turin and took refuge in Cagliari as a consequence of the Napoleonic Wars, which put further pressure on the locals.
    In 1820 the Savoyards imposed the Enclosures Act on the island, which was aimed at turning the land's traditional collective ownership to private property. This provoked a wave of outrage in Sardinia, because the patches of collective land had existed from times immemorable. With this and many other injustices in their hearts, the locals launched a revolt and succeeded in pushing the Savoyards out of Sardinia. Thus, a new country was born and unified the island.

    (Side-note: Since this happened before 1860, Sardinia's forests were not cut down as mercilessly as they were in real life.)
Code by Nano
 
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"Crazy in love" by The Bryan Ferry Orchestra
The Little
Things
Timeline
Accepted
Locations
  • Timeline
    01
    Timeline
    Tu ne quaesieris (scire nefas) quem mihi, quem tibi finem di dederint
    In the
    Past
    14th May - 4 days ago
    On this day, at dusk, Sardo Ramene went around town with his full-time guard, Cicone Meloni, and his part-time guard and Jean, Alessi Piscadori.
    At an unknown hour of the night, Mr. Ramene and Alessi died.

    15th May - 3 days ago
    The bodies of Sardo Ramene and Alessi Piscadori are discovered at a secluded part of the beach on the outskirts of town early in the morning. The Guard secures the area and opens an investigation. The bodies are transported to the morgue, where they are to be preserved via magic until the case is closed.
    Despite the lack of a public announcement, Tubero is already abuzz with the news that someone was found dead. Reporters can be spotted during the day asking around for information.
    The Blue Flamingo doesn't not open that night and remains closed.

    16th May - 2 days ago
    In the morning The Custas Vegadas publishes their new issue with the headline "Sardo Ramene found shot at the beach! First big murder of the new century!"

    17th May - Yesterday.
    Act 1
    Now
    18th May
    The story has begun!
    Act 2
    soon

    The story has yet to come.
    Act 3
    soon

    Will you stick around?
    Act 4
    . . .

    Seriously?
    Epilogue
    . . .
    The end
    And they all lived happily ever after.
Code by Nano
 
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SPELLESS HUMANS
Remember to scroll on the right!

00
Dr. Diegu Luche
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The Curadore
36 years old
Medical degree
The city of Tubero's curadore, Dr. Diegu Luche, is a pleasant, sensible type. That is what the people say and not much else. He went to university with the intention of becoming a doctor, yet after practicing for four years was called back by his father, who had chosen him as his successor for the title instead of his older brother Luca, who had become an alcoholic and left for Italy. For the past 8 years he has been governing without much fanfare, maintaining his gentlemanly appearance at key social gatherings, but refraining from taking part in those of the Provincial council. His main focus has been the maintenance and betterment of public health and safety, which is why most of his efforts were only celebrated at first, but have now become the norm and go by unnoticed. For this reason, the murder of Ramene, with whom he was acquainted, is quite scandalous. Yet Luche has not made a public appearance since that day.
art by
Unknown
00
Felicia Adesso
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A voted adviser
23 years old
Accounting degree
The lovely lady of Tubero, Ms. Felicia Adesso was voted by the people into the position of adviser for not too long after graduation. She graduated at the top of her class and worked at the capital for a time. In an interview she gave for The "Custas Vegadas" at the time she told of the opportunities she was being offered and how she was going to return home to help her townsfolk. And she did, returning and winning the election in the year that followed. She mingles in high- and middle-class parties, establishing connections between people and accepting requests of various kinds. She is quite fond of her cousin Maria Mura and has been seen chatting with Sardo Ramene on more than one occasion. Unlike those at the party, on the street people have whispered how peculiar it is for such a young unmarried woman to be at a post this high, especially when her cousin is the justice-obsessed Chief of the Guard.
art by
須田彩加
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Nigola Mura
The Chief of the Guard in Tubero and leader of the investigation on the Ramene case. He lives by the law and shows no mercy to criminals. Once he gives chase, you will be caught.
art by
Unknown
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Maria Mura
An artist working for Clear-and-Cute, she has become popular these past 2-3 years with her modern fabric design. Her older brother gives her a headache with how serious he is about his work at the Guard.
art by
TB Choi
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Florentina Ramene
The widow of Sardo Ramene. A book editor and art collector, she hosted many parties for intellectuals at the Purple Room, a small drink-and-discuss establishment of the Ramene family that has a number of exceptional paintings hanging on the dark purple walls, illuminated by dimmed ambient light. She and Sardo have 4 children.
art by
weyowang
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Danilo Lodde
A barber, hairstylist and owner of “Ghisoni Barbiere”. Skillfull with his hands in more ways than one, he's sweet-talking casanova that spends his nights as if they were his last. Odly enough, he has the habit of going to church and confessing his sins. The priests often have to bathe in holy water and light frankincense after his visits.
art by
Rrrrrrice0303
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Bubore Mannu
The tailor on Fressia street. One of the most skilful in town. He might look serious at first, but his gentleness will show immediately once you start talking. He also gives marriage and courtship advice. His wife used to stay at the shop and take orders for hats, but nowadays she has been coming in less and less, since she wants to help their daughter with the grandchildren.
art by
Unknown
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Irene Piscadori
The widow of Alessi Piscadori, with whom she has a 3-year-old daughter. They were a young family known for their love at first sight and happy marriage. She works at The Little Sweet Shop, but has taken time off since the death of her husband.
art by
木々峰右
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Efisio
A Jean and captain of the most well-known ship this side of Sardinia - the Berceuse. A man of 26-years going on 8, Efisio has a big personality, clearly heard by the thundering stomps that are his walk and the booming roars that are his speech. With big warm calloused hands he has sailed these waters since young as a capable captain, whose mastery can be disputed by none except the jealous. He takes pride in this, so much so that he fancies wearing a pair of fake lion ears and calling himself 'King'.
art by
Unknown
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Graziella
Efisio's sister, jean and boatswain on the Berceuse, although she is the de facto captain. Not so easy to read and certainly not wasting a single breath on anyone, she has likely never told a lie in her life but has been accused of such many times. She loves imitating bird calls as much as her brother loves to roar.
art by
Unknown
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Tito
Jean and crewmate on the Berceuse. He has been friends with Efisio, Graziella and Chiara since childhood and tried several times to be a couple with Chiara, but in the end the two decided to stay as friends. Tito is a man that functions on high clockwork. He's the type to jump out of bed in the morning with 100% enthusiasm 365 days a year, ranting about anything under the sun and coming up with 'the next big thing'. At the same time, he can easily get upset when you disagree with him, but he doesn't hold a grudge for long.
art by
Unknown
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Chiara
Jean and crewmate on the Berceuse. She has been friends with Efisio, Graziella and Tito since childhood and tried several times to be a couple with Tito, but in the end the two decided to stay as friends. Level-headed and unbothered by almost everything, she likes to sleep in and having a drink while watching beautiful scenery. She's usually the one to remind everyone on the ship that they have a schedule or when someone has forgotten something.
art by
Unknown
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Mauro
Captain of the “Landlocked” and a sailing instructor for the last 7 years. He came to Tubero from Bosa some time ago, so no one really knows what to think of him. Cautious and not the type to pry, he smells of the sea and never of soap or herb. He’s a frequent customer at the tailor, which makes some wonder how well-funded he is. It’s rumoured his mother was a witch and that he’s been searching for her.
art by
Unknown
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'Toni the Can'
Antoni 'Toni' Basileddu is the owner of pub Leon, a place frequented by all sorts of folks of mid to low class. Though talkative and with lots of friends, he doesn't give his info and connections to just anyone. It's also good to know that the 31-year-old boss does not pull his punches against anyone that dares to try and break even the smallest toothpick holder in his well-kept establishment. One thing people don't understand about him is why he tends to laugh at and tease this one particular black cat that sometimes shows up at the pub.
art by
Unknown



Dr. Diegu Luche - artist unknown; likely AI generated pin/370069294396021725/
Nigola Mura - artist unknown; only the pinterest pin/5629568276986261/
Bubore Mannu - artist unknown; only the pinterest pin/370069294396176897/
Antoni 'Toni' Basileddu - artist unknown; only the pinterest pin/370069294396021358/
Efisio - artist unknown; only the pinterest /pin/161144492909321348/
Graziella - artist unknown; only the pinterest pin/370069294396184125
Tito - artist unknown; only the pinteres pin/370069294396184278
Chiara - artist unknown; only the pinteres pin/370069294396041279/
Mauro - artist unknow; likely from the game Lovebrush Chronicles pin/1063131055766713110/
 
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WITCH HUMANS
Remember to scroll on the right!


00
Gavino De Vito
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A voted advisor
39 years old
Oti councillor witch with a law degree
One of the two voted advisors in the Curadoria of Tubero, Gavino De Vito does not fancy overtures and prefers to immediately get to the heart of the matter. More often than not he is in charge of matters related to finance, construction and security, while Ms. Adesso handles cultural affairs. A tall man who commands your attention when he enters the room, he is held by the public in high regard as a capable professional who would rather have a quiet evening away from the clamour of the dancefloor, but if he does attend, he'd be the last sober person standing, fully clothed, with all of the card bets in his pocket. Indeed, you would be considered brave if you challenge him to a game. And if you mention his wife, you have a death-wish. He's married to Carmillina Mannu, with whom he has three children. Notoriously difficult to meet with unless he calls for you, he has given only one statement regarding the murder, which concisely told the press that the case will undergo thorough investigation.
art by
小宮
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Gràssia Linnarbu
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Owner of Sweetrose Potionarie
29 years old
Oti infuser witch
The madam of the Sweetrose Potionarie - the leading producer of non-medical magical potions in the Province of Cagliari. Its main focus is the creation of potions for entertainment or creative purposes, but its portfolio also includes a number of essential ones that make the lives of a lot of engineers and magic artisans easier. For example, they produce both portions that can make your fingernails temporarily glow different colours in the dark and 'freeze' potions for corpse preservation in the morgue. Wearing dresses and hats of the finest quality with tasteful accent accessories befitting a woman of class, Gràssia hosts some of the best parties this side of the island, capable of catering to a variety of preferences. A strong business partner of hers was Sardo Ramene. The two could be seen conversing at parties and sometimes at restaurants or the Sweetrose Potionarie shop that functions both as a store and a place to sit down and try some drinks or food with their products.
art by
Ayn
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Dr. Natali D'Amore
Ito caster witch. Head mortician at the Tubero Morgue. She is responsible for the preservation of Sardo Ramene's corpse. Known for having little patience for the living.
art by
三毛律
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Tamara Sanna
Oti infuser witch and Jean. She and her crew on the Fortuna were hired by Sardo Ramene some years ago to help with transport and security. A captain who treats and pays well, her spirit burns with the fire of adventure. Competes with Efisio on a regular basis, whether it be sailing or drinking. The death of Alessi has rattled her up and she has vowed to find the real culprit.
art by
Unknown
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Felix Biasi
An ito caster witch and painter. He works at the counter of the shop of Sweetrose Potionerie by day and by night he either goes to The Leon to get inspiration, goes to discuss it in The Purple Room or paints. He wishes to paint the motions of life, to portray people and things for what they are, ever moving, never still.
art by
Unknown
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Bistra D'Ambrogio
The owner and first of two employees of Cafe Ambrosia. A small unassuming place that offers "some of the best coffee and snacks in Tubero", as claimed by hers truly. Chatty, enthusiastic and prone to experiment, few would assume that this cheeky woman is a fiercely capable oti councillor witch. Those that do, come with heavy envelopes to request 'inspections' of items and people.
art by
Morry
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Giovanni Frau
Ito instiller witch. A medical school drop-out who works at The Leon as a bartender. Despite having little to nothing to say, everyone loves him because he can get rid of fatigue and hang-overs. His purple hair will seemingly set on purple fire when he gets angry and if you reaaaally ask for it, he can use his magic to make his punches cause unimaginable pain. He payed enough attention at university to know where it hurts.
art by
Unknown
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Carmillina Mannu
Ito caster witch and owner of The Little Sweet Shop. She is a humble petit woman with a kind voice and gentle hands, which make sweet cakes, biscuits and delights filled with the nicest intentions. When you enter her abode, a welcoming warmth envelops you as the many treats sparkle temptingly. It's easy to forget that this lovely lady, sweet as the treats she makes, is the wife of the tall dark Gavino De Vito, with whom she has 3 children.
art by
紅木春
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'Glass-eyes-Eddy'
Eugeniu D'Amore is an oti councillor witch who works as a public inspector under the Guard. He patrols the streets, watching for lawful usage of magic, and regularly conducts broom inspections. His nickname comes from the sharpness of his eyes and tongue.
art by
Unknown



Tamara Sanna - oti infuser witch - Artist unknown; only the pinterest pin/370069294391326681/
Giovanni Frau - ito instiller witch - Artist unknown, only the pinterest pin/307863324541667440/
Eugeniu D'Amore - oti councillor witch - Artist unknown, only the pinterest pin/83668505570565688/
Felix Biasi - oti infuser witch - Artist unknown pin/370069294396191256/
 
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Seafolk
Remember to scroll on the right!


00
"Brizio"
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Trader and intermediate
29 years old
Amaranth Current
A peculiar sight know to many of the common townsfolk and an "urban legend" for both sea and land youngsters, "Brizio" is a person who flows freely through existence. Having been born in a life with many siblings in a tight-knit Pod that gossips all day every day, they have a natural understanding of people and expressions and is themselves an endless chattering record. This proclivity of theirs was what eventually got them to set up two shops, one on land and one in the sea, which function as barter houses between landfolk and seafolk. Styling themself as the head trader of their "Reliquiario", they often finds themselves gossiping more than making huge profits. Still, their knack for tinkering all manner of objects and the many conversations they have had over the years have made them quite experienced with discerning the true value of things. Their other gift for crafting jewellery has earned them some valuable customers as well.
art by
Unknown
00
"Basilia"
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For hire
27 years old
Turquoise Current currently
With a glib tongue adept in many a topic, nothing betrays Basilia's true motivations and intentions. To landfolk she is a business woman, facilitating connections between the two species, who always seems to have favour on her side. She also has the habit of getting her hair done at the Ghisoni Barbiere, often denying any of the other hair-dressers in favour of young Pietro. They have serious conversations that test her land language to its limits. Though imposing, no one pays her any mind as she is yet another player on the chessboard of law and order. The inhabitants of the sea, however, tend to avoid this Tiger Oscar. For reasons unknown, she has been banished from the Amber Current and joined the Amaranth Current, only to leave it some time after to be a part of the Turquoise Current. To top it all off, the only real information currently available about her is that she’s taken commissions from the Sanguine Current to obtain expensive blueprints for underwater buildings. Many wonder why such a disgraceful current-hopper is still a part of the Bureau of Relic Guards.
art by
gnuman12
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"Ottaviu"
A modest 25-year-old seaman who places great importance on the preservation of seafolk culture. Though more in control of his emotions since finishing his education, being born and raised in a small angelshark pod of the Azure Current still has its influence. He has admired "Ranieri" ever since he was young and did his best to follow his example and assist him. When that man left the Bureau, "Ottaviu" was deeply saddened, but nevertheless thinks of "Ranieri" as an honourable, just and outstanding seaperson.
art by
Unknown
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"Issac"
A brown blenny seaman from the Azure Current, whose passion and profession is photography. He takes paid requests, yet is also quite interested in candid photography. While usually shy, he becomes quite talkative around familiar people and when discussing favourite topics. His greatest wish is to create a camera that can capture the sea's underwater beauty. He sometimes goes to the Purple Room so he can chat with other artists.
art by
진하
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"Levi Pink"
A pilchard seawoman from the Turquoise Current, who works as a singer at the Blue Flamingo. A songstress with a strong on-stage presence, her performances are usually fun and explosive, which is why she has so many requests to be there on nights when people are expected to dance until they drop.
art by
Tasia M S
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"Astra"
A melancholic jellyfish seawoman with a lullaby voice from the Amaranth Current, who works as a singer at the Blue Flamingo. Her special number is singing a slow song with blue jellyfish appearing around her. The creatures aren't real, rather, they are the products of a special effects potion from Sweetrose Potionerie.
art by
Unknown
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"Serafino"
The man. The sea. The muscle. Serafino is a hard-working longshoreman, who sometimes gets hired to escort adventuring Jeans. Without a care for his looks or for the 'big picture', he lives by finding happiness in his day-to-day work and laughing the night away with his fellows at the pub or docks. He's a regular at The Leon, eats for 4 horses and gets drunk from a bottle cap of liquor. Though his looks don't matter to him at all, his sculpted 8-figure has been turning heads since the day he came out of the sea.
art by
Unknown
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"Neophytos"
A writer and scrivano octopus seaman from the Amaranth Current, who works for the postoffice in underwater "Tubero". As a "scrivano", he offers his professional services to the illiterate who wish to send letters or need to fill out documents.
art by
reisei_zero



Brizio: Artist unknown.
Astra: Artist unknown. Only the pinterest pin/370069294396238154/
Serafino: Artist unknown.
Ottaviu: Artist unknown. Only the pinterest pin/370069294396178559/
 
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UPDATE
3rd May 2024
Hey, everyone!
I hope you're all well. As Silver said, given the requests we've received and the unexpected downtime of the site, we'll be extending the deadline to Monday. Any last-minute entries are welcome, but they will have to be in full and not WIPs.
During the server maintenance, I also had the time to sit down and create a small update for the Lore Thread. Ranieri's and Rado's sheets have been moved down in favour of opening space for tracking the timeline, the newspaper issue and an updated version of the Witch and miscelaneous segments. While I don't expect the new info on witches to be necessary for the actual in-character play, I felt inspired to give you all a better picture of how they grow in society. Information regarding them and the extras will eventually be added in their respective places in "Places & People", while the timeline and paper will be entered at a later date.



Humans, not just in Sardinia, can be born with or without the ability to tap into the primal energy of the world, which in simple terms is referred to as 'magic'. Those that are incapable of doing so are called 'spelless', while those that can are called 'witches'.

From a young age magically attuned children display a strong natural tendency to either draw energy from outside of their bodies or from within themselves, hence why, while the end result of a spell may be the same, the source of energy, as well as the method, requirements and potential side-effects of casting can be different. In The Judgedom witches whose magic stems from 'the outside' are called Out-to-Ins or Oti witches, while those whose magic comes from 'the inside' are called In-to-Outs or Ito witches.

education.png
In accordance with the country's law of education, all children must attend school starting from 7 years of age and the elementary school program must have "World energy" - a subject dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of the life-force. Spelless and witches are never separated for this class, so that everyone may gain a basic understanding of what magic is. The only time the two groups are split is for "Magic and crafts", during which the students are still not divided based on energy source type and are taught elementary yet essential magical techniques, such as how to stay in control and focused, magical safety and some basic survival and handy spells, such as how to light a flame, how to purify water, how to make a small source of light by glowing, how to assess their condition, etc.

Once children finish the 7th grade, they would have turned or be turning 14 years of age, at which point they can stop attending school and join the work force or continue their studies. If they want to proceed with going to the 8th grade, they have a variety of options, with high-schools being either Liceo or Tecnico.

Liceo, or lyceums, predominantly teach theory and, in addition to core subjects like mathematics or Sardinian literature and language, will also have subjects related to their focus. For instance, the Lyceum of Nature and Mathematics will delve into scientific fields like biology, chemistry, advanced mathematics and physics, while a Sports Lyceum or a Music Lyceum will teach several sports or musical instruments respectively. Of these, The Lyceum of The Classics is usually considered to be the most elite and difficult, as it explores in detail Sardinian and World history, philosophy, rhetoric, ethics, Latin, Ancient Greek, religion and law.

Tecnico, or technical schools, also teach core theoretical subjects, but primarily focus on practical or job-oriented education. Here, witch students are taught magic in a highly specialised manner in relation to the line of work they will be qualified for after graduation. Examples would be Technical school of architecture, geodesy and related magic, Technical school of Veterinary science, pharmacy and related magic, Technical school of cooking and related magic, etc.

High-school lasts until the age of 18-19, with summer breaks between 16 and 18 including a few weeks of mandatory apprenticeship for those in technical schools. Students in lyceums don't have organised internships, but many parents of magically gifted children like to find a tutor for them.

At the end, all graduates will have a diploma of the same level - secondary. Those from technical schools will also have a qualification and witches will also graduate with a "witch trade" at "First" level.

According to law, secondary education, be it Liceo or Tecnico, must offer a list of mandatory elective subjects for each year, many of which are always magical.
Those in the 8th grade serve a mostly for orientation and are general in nature.
From the 9th grade onwards witch students have the opportunity to chose one of two trade paths. Each path includes classes specific for one of the four recognised witch trades in the Judgedom of Sardinia, two for Oti witches and two for Ito witches. A student has the freedom to change their path at any time during the 9th and 10th grade, but it must stay the same during the 11th and the 12th. They can also chose to avoid taking a path altogether, opting for other non-magical mandatory elective classes. Once they graduate, they will receive a diploma for the trade they had in the last two school years at "First Level" or none, should they have not taken a trade path.

Just like the spelless, witches can further their knowledge by going to university, while their whimsical abilities can be honed at a magical college. The two can be attended either simultaneously or one after the other, but there are also those who just chose one because of personal preferences or circumstances.

There are four magical colleges in the Judgedom: the College of Councillors and the College of Infusers in Cagliari and the College of Casters and the College of Instillers in Sassari. They offer 2-year-courses that grant the "Advanced Level" of a witch trade, after which another 2 years can be optionally attended to attain the "Proficient Level". Each college typically has some sort of division within itself that grants better attuning to the profession the student is pursuing and a connection to one or more of the universities in the city. This is most obvious at the College of Instillers, since it's building and that of the Department of Medicine of the University of Sassari are on the same plot of land, with students and teachers coming and going between them all the time.

A witch is not required to have a witch trade by law, given that they have the right to end their formal education after graduating from the 7th grade. Many students in rural areas prefer to do just that in favour of helping out their parents at their jobs or at home. Such children often receive additional tutoring from family members or their community, becoming highly skilled at times in a niche set of abilities.

As for those that continue studying, the vast majority have a First, less - an Advanced and not many - a Proficient level of trade. The reasoning behind this has to do with the small number of colleges, two of which are at the northern side of the island, while the other two at at the southern side. It is a struggle they share with their spelless friends as well, because the universities in the Judgedom are but two: one in Cagliari and one in Sassari. Fortunately, the distance between the two cities can be traversed for no more than 4 hours by train or bus and a lot of young folk of the new century can be seen travelling to or between them, some even going so far as to using their brooms either alone or with a spelless friend who needs a ride. This high drive for entering an institution of higher education, and experiencing all the thrills of youth that come with it, has prompted manufacturers to create even more elaborate broom models, but they have yet to become as wide spread as to be a frequent sight outside the main cities.

When it comes to employment, employers can add a trade level as a requirement. It is almost always either a First or, in big cities, Advanced, while the Proficient level is usually asked for in some government structures, including universities.

oti witches.png

An Oti witches draw energy from the world around them in order to cast spells. In an attempt to give this phenomenon a visual representation, it is described as a pipe with different end diameters. The magical current enters through the wider end, transforms as it is directed by the will and exits through the narrower end in a manner that obeys the witch's command. The energy can be taken from previously charged objects, certain plants or stones that need to be tempered in order to lend their magical potential or from what appears to be thin air, but is actually the natural invisible flow of magic.

Since they need to take and mold from 'the outside', Oti witches usually take longer to accurately cast their spells and are a bit unpredictable when they are beginners, which is why it has become a cultural habit to tell them to work harder and longer. As they grow and gain a better focus and understanding of their powers, these setbacks can be overcome and they can quickly cast with ease. An advantage they have over Ito witches is that their limit doesn't depend on their bodies, but rather how long their mind can keep thinking before getting tired.

In the Judgedom of Sardinia there are two recognised Oti witch trades: Infuser and Councillor.
- Infuser: Practitioners of this trade concentrate their efforts into learning, making and inventing various concoctions with the use of worldly ingredients. Their creations, usually but not always in liquid form, can be used on their own or with other objects that have been refined to be capable of containing or utilising such infusions. Teachers of this trade consider it a direct continuation of Oti practices of old and are quite resistant to change or any suggestion of specialisation. This is why the Infuser trade has maintained a broad spectrum of disciplines that a disciple must learn, including mastery of the elements of fire, water, earth and air. In spite of this, in recent years its range of use has only been expanding outside of traditional applications, with a lot of youths being interested in making machines infused with magic.

- Councillor: A historically more recent trade, it branched off from the Infuser in order to give its students specialised skillsets for what can simply be described as "detection". Its basis lies in understanding the intricacies of the finely woven energy patterns of the world, which allows the practitioner to perform analyses of the environment and living beings.
Interpreting a person's aura, tracking energy, detecting hidden traps and appraising objects are on their list, along with considerable proficiency in the usage of one or several magical tools. Among the witch trades, the Councillor is the one most commonly seen wielding a tool for casting, the method ranging from discrete to sensational. Regardless of the chosen item, be it something ordinary or more whimsical, like a tarot card, magical rod or crystal ball, it can only be used to scan locations and interrogate people that are in front of them, while telling the future is a myth for most. In modern times, Councillors are sought after by employers as auditors, quality control and personnel management. A good portion are also typically interested in becoming writers, lawyers, teachers, investigators and psychologists.

While some witches have gone to great lengths to learn their respective trade, their innate Oti witch abilities to draw energy from the world. A Councillor can still create a light source with the a card of theirs and an Infuser can still sense that something may be amiss in a room.

ito witches.png

Ito witches draw from within themselves in order to use their magic, their body functioning as a sort of energy core or battery. Because of this, they have the advantage of always having their magic at their disposal, as well as a faster recovery time in comparison to Oti witches and spelless, because their body will prioritise their own health whenever they are wounded or fall ill. Unfortunately, it is this inner healing mechanism that often plays a cruel joke on them. When they are young, Ito witches will usually have a faster and more predictable casting, yet they all too often exhaust themselves rapidly precisely because they don't sense that they are running out of energy before it's too late. Should a witch attempt to push beyond their limitation, they will truly get hurt. Depending on the magic that had been used and the witch's personal preferences, recharging their energy can be something between having a nice meal to several weeks or even months of recuperation with ceremonies.

In the Judgedom of Sardinia there are two Ito witch trades: Caster and Instiller.

- Caster: Practitioners of this trade learn how to skillfully use their internal energy onto inanimate objects. Whether it's a charm that will burst into flames in seconds upon being activated, having things fly around them or making a shirt change colour, it's up to the witch's imagination and ability to convey their desire clearly. While it's the main stem from which the Instiller branched off from, the Caster society is more keen on having its members divide and specialise, unlike the Infusers, as they have a lot of diverse options to chose from when deciding on how to direct and perfect their magic. A traditional profession of this trade was charm craftsmanship, but nowadays young people seem to be more interested in becoming professional chefs and fashion designers.

- Instiller: Such witches cast their internal energy as an intention onto living beings. A historically more recent trade, it too branched off in order to have its practitioners focus on a more specific calling - helping the living. This also includes themselves, as a witch may create a protective barrier or make themselves stronger or faster for a period of time. Whether it is on themselves or someone else, their ability will highly depend on their medical knowledge, which is why children who wish to take up this trade most often enrol into a lyceum with a focus on biology and pursue a university degree. Even after graduating with a Proficiency level and a master's in medicine, however, magic will always be incapable of marionetting the mind. A spell might make a person or animal breathe easier, relax their muscles and lessen their pain, but it will not necessarily make them more honest, calm or inclined to work with you.
 
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He's one in a million, sweetheart!
  • Basics
    Радо Димов Костов
    Costa
    "The Italian"
    . . .
    Real name
    |
    Rado Dimov Kostov (RA-do DI-mov KOST-ov)
    Pseudonym
    |
    Costa (KOST-a)
    Species
    |
    Human - spelless
    Age
    |
    26 years
    Gender
    |
    Male
    Occupation
    |
    Barista, cook and server at Cafe Ambrosia
    Appearance
    Height
    |
    176 cm (5'9")
    Weight
    |
    72 kg (159 pounds)
    A silhouette of a man's back, his shoulders wide as from their edges a black coat falls, seemingly melting with his equally dark trousers. Rado Costov is a figure that can easily vanish once mingled with the crowds of Tubero. Standing firmly at 176 cm in height, he possesses a robust build that serves him well, though these days it's out of sight, concealed under finely tailored clothing, no longer pushed to its limits and wrestling opponents great and small. His movements carry a certain weight and tranquillity, like a ship sailing in the gulf on a moonlit night, and his voice is deep, with a slight rumble, like a distant waterfall cascading down several levels of a stony slope. What seems to stay in most people's memories, however, is his face. Controlled at all times, with green eyes and thick low eyebrows that hang above them, calmly measuring your lines, trapping your image in their unblinking emerald prism. But when he smiles, those eyes will "take you in, to a place far away from here, under the dappled forest shade, where birds sing in summertime".

    When it comes to attire, Rado is not one to wear anything excessive and, for the past year, has also been avoiding bold and bright colours. His current wardrobe consists predominantly of white or black shirts and plain suits of dark or medium grey, dark green-grey and navy blue. Like most men of the modern 20th century, he owns several hats, namely, caps that are considered casual, and fedoras, which are brought out for appearances. Bistra would rather have him wear a fedora to match his refined server outfit, yet Rado has never obliged, saying that the hat would only get in the way of his work and become dirty. If it were entirely up to him, he'd rather never wear a hat at all, as he thinks of them as constraining, yet society requires it and not complying at times would make him stand out.
    Personality
    "Him? Hard-working young man. Helped my son and me the other day with some lights. Not like today's lot. He be doing none of that spicy gellyfish alcohol or whatever they call it."
    a man of a seasoned age

    If there were two things that anyone on the street had to pin on "Costa the Italian", they would be 'correctness' and 'diligence'. When he offers to help or get something done for you, rest assured, that it will be done and you will know the details of 'when' and 'how'. At his workplace he makes sure that all customers receive the best service he can offer, from the cleanliness of their front door to the delightful taste of their small sandwiches.

    Keep in mind, however, that he is not a man of pleasantries, nor will he tolerate anyone who wishes to swindle or guilt him into accepting a request. If you so much as dare to, he will unapologetically look at you with his sharp green eyes and direct you to the door. And if you're pushy enough, he may just yank you by the collar and throw you out. 'Correctness' does, after all, infer that one ought treat others in the same manner that they do. As for approaching him for favours, you will be listened to quite attentively, but that doesn't mean he will comply. Convince him with good reason and he might just drop everything, but he'd usually rather introduce you to someone else.

    "Such a good boy, that one is. A little shy, but you just need to know what to say and he'll open right up! Oho, last week me and my husband went to have some coffee there. The old fossil started complaining again about how the guards confiscated his brewing barrel. Costa passed by our table and told him straight to his face that it was illegal to put the barrel so close to the house! My husband turned as red as a tomato! Haha, he knows his way around the law books, doesn't he?"
    a fine respectable madam

    Towards people he isn't well-acquainted with, Costa is your typical polite gentleman who doesn't say more than necessary and doesn't poke his nose in others' business. However, every so often, it happens that his old love for justice resurfaces in the form of pointing out what is legal and what isn't. If you are baffled by the latest news in the paper while reading your morning coffee and grumble about how it didn't make sense, he will, as if by instinct, give you an explanation, even if he was on the other side of the table section with his back turned to you and had to speak loudly for you to hear him. As someone who did not have an easy start in the Judgedom, one of the things that got him to even open his eyes for long periods of time was the thick law codex that Bistra brought one day. If he wanted to live, he had to understand how this part of the world worked, the side-effect being becoming popular with a lot of older folks that liked getting informed, to the point that some people even went to him for unofficial legal advice. He has a bit of a soft-spot for the elderly, who remind him of his grandfather, parents, uncles and aunts, all of whom he does his best not to remember. The thought of never seeing them again is one that evokes a deep sense of sadness and regret.

    "My little kitty~? He's as wonderful as can be! Works from dawn to dusk by choice! Doesn't need much. His coffee drinks and snacks are some of the best in Tubero! Hmm~? Not much of a talker? Hahahaha, oh, you lucky thing~"
    the charming owner of cafe Ambrosia

    If you manage to enter into his circle enough to be considered a 'close acquaintance', you will discover that 'Costa' is a rather talkative person. He simply doesn't want to waste his time with just anyone or so he would like you to believe. In truth, he'd rather not waste other people's time with himself. There is a lot that goes on inside his head, but these days it's gone from black to lighter shades of grey. Once he feels comfortable with you, he himself will bring up various things from his day, the news or a book he has read and discuss anything you wish with his honest thoughts. Whilst he would never belittle you or dismiss your views, he usually bases his decisions and opinions on laws and facts, so don't expect him to voluntarily go on a wild adventure or daydream with you. If you successfully drag him into one, however, he will immediately jump into action and both plan and be your front line of defence.

    At the moment, there are only two people in Tubero, whom he considers friends - Bistra and Toni. Both of them enjoy his 'no-restrains' moments of lecturing, nagging and groaning over their stupid reckless behaviour. But it's also around them that he feels most at ease and can talk about his experiences, both from the past and his 'condition', even enough to crack a joke. They, along with Nigola and a few others from The Guard, are the only ones that know his real name is Rado Dimov Kostov.

    "That guy? He's a regular. Not a heavy drinker, though. Just likes the feel of the place. Lots of people like that. The sailors have him at the table for a game of cards so he can tell them about land news. Doesn't cause trouble and will stop trouble if he sees it. That's all I got. Oh! By the way, have you seen my black cat? No? Darn it, I just got some nice grub for him." he whistles "COME 'ERE BOY!" he whistles "COME 'ERE OR YOU AINT GETTING ANY!"
    the owner of pub Leon

    Being a cat has been quite the experience for someone who's used to standing at 176 cm in height. At first, he found it bothersome and lied around all day, waiting for the moment when he could turn back. But that quickly changed as he realised the possibilities of the transformation, namely being able to go anywhere without anyone noticing or questioning your presence. It was as if he could be in town without being a participant in reality. These days, he takes pleasure in walking around and making full use of his abilities, even allowing people to pet and feed him. Witches in particular seem to adore him, which he finds funny, because they essentially turned a made-up story by their opposition into fact. What remains a bit troublesome is how Bistra can never settle on a name to call him by while he's a cat. Toni, however, is far worse, as he deliberately goes out to find him so he can pinch his cheeks, flatten his ears and swing him around.

    ". . . He's legally registered. If he doesn't want to tell you his full name, that's not my problem."
    the Chief of The Guard

    In every waking moment Rado does his best to be a good unassuming member of society, yet there will always be times when doing one's best is simply not enough. The curse continues to dig its sharpened claws into wounds old and new, tormenting his mind, reminding him that, at the end of the day, he is one trigger away from becoming a murderous monster. Whether it be while lying in pain on the floor, in the evenings when he ties himself to the bed, when he's up on the fence as a cat or when he looks himself in the mirror, he knows he should have been gone long ago and prays that no one will be there on the day he finally leaves this world. The fact that he hasn't done so already sometimes makes him angry. It frustrates him that, in spite of everything that has happened, there is still a part of him that wants to keep on living, a part that believes in justice and wants to serve as a witness and evidence for the Cuoculo murder. And even deeper still, there is a little boy who wishes he could see his family and friends again. Living in Tubero has made him realise how many things he missed before, so nowadays, between Bistra's energetic antics and the peaceful clanking of cups as they are placed or lifted from the tables, he tries to keep himself occupied and exist in this slow uneventful present.
    +
    Likes
    The ambiance of a small street full of life; Spices; Hot peppers; Fish; Banitsa; Wrestling; The feeling after a long exercise; Romance novels; Discussing the lore and motivations in books; Songs performed by "Astra"; Seeing magic; Justice; Criminals being put in their place; Being alive
    -
    Dislikes
    Octopus; Squid; Snails; Being made to wear a hat; Being touched on the chest; Little bells; The sound of gunshots; Being asked about his 'condition'; Being helped or seen when his 'condition' gets worse;
Code by Nano
 
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He's an outstanding professional. Composed and respectful. He always seems to keep his eyes down, but that's because they’re very sensitive to light.
  • Basics
    "Ranieri"
    . . .
    Full name
    |
    "Ranieri"
    Species
    |
    Seafolk
    Type
    |
    Amaranth Current
    Gender
    |
    Male, pan
    Age
    |
    30 years
    Occupation
    |
    Relic guardian, reporter and non-official local Ambassador.
    Appearance
    Height
    |
    180 cm (5'11")
    Weight
    |
    78 kg (172 pounds)
    Ranieri is a man of tall stature by locals standards, 180 cm to be exact, but his presence is anything but towering. His long black hair, which can often be seen in a convenient low pony-tie or braid, has a deep blue sheen when the light hits just right and tends to tangle easily, which is why frequent visits to the Barbiere are a necessity. There are a few ‘scorch marks’ on different parts of his pale body - likely due to testing his limits under direct sun for too long. His eyes are blue and somewhat clouded, always unbothered as he humbly walks through the crowd. His relationship with hats… Is… Complicated. One struggles to keep it secured underwater.
    “You’d be shocked how difficult it is to shape one out of water.” Ranieri, sitting on a balcony signs. He switches to Spoken words and rests his hands, looking a little bashful. “I envy mileners and haberdashers. I wish to know how they achieve their craft. One day, perhaps. One day. For now, I’ll admire other people's hats.”
    Personality
    Ranieri is a gentleman. He’s never once raised his tone in public or caused a scene on land, nor underwater to the knowledge of his peers. Those who work with him see his work was perhaps not made for him- but he does it to the best of his ability. As someone from a Current with an honorable reputation, Ranieri by association rarely encounters questions of his morality, which is proven to be sincere and well-meaning. When work gets boring or tiring, he’ll often take time to take in the sights of the seaside city, sit in a Cafe, and listen to music. But everywhere he goes, there’s always an edge about him that he isn’t totally willing to relax.
    +
    Likes
    Candy, specifically hard candy that lasts longer. Chilly breezes, getting his hair done, music, book repairing, organizing, sleuthing, long chats that get too personal at some point, stargazing.
    -
    Dislikes
    Conflict, tight places, fully grown pigs (skill issue), people who shout too loud, overly sunny spots, strong smokey smells.
Code by Nano
 
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