Fantasy The Vanguardians: An Original Medieval World

[FloatingAroundSpace]

By the people/ for the people/ with the gods above/ and the ones among us/ May Vanguard stand Vanguardian Oath

The kingdom of Vanguard is an original world that I have created that has sort of run away from me. As a result, I have been attempting to get all of my creativity out through RPing. While one-on-one RPs have been fun, I want to try my hand at an RP with a larger group.


Also please post here after you vote. I'm still somewhat new to this site and failed to press the right buttons to allow me to see who voted.


I do have a few requirements, however.

• Please have good grammar and spelling. We want to make sure everyone can read what you write.
  
• Stay within the guidelines of this site. I like RPNation a lot and would prefer if I didn't get kicked out.
  
• No godmodding, Mary-Sues, Gary-Stus etc.
  
• Be willing to OOC chat. This doesn't mean talking it out between every post, but please speak if you have a plot idea or are uncomfortable with something.
  
• Be willing to post at least once every three days, if not once every week. If a post order is needed, one will be implemented.
  
• Be alright with characters from across the LGBTA+ spectrum
  
• Not worry too much about post length. I don't want too many one-liners but I find reading through paragraphs of filler to reach a set limit to be tedious. Of course, if one is in high enough demand, I will implement one.
  

With that, here are the plot points.

• Dark Vanguard
• Magical Vanguard
• Royalty/Politics
• The Gods Among Us

• 
  
  
  Warning: This RP will involve references to incest and will involve in-text fighting, minor physical abuse, blood, and death.
  
  
  There is no Parliament or council for the common folk. The royal family has the last and first say in everything that happens and everything they do. Whoever dares stand opposite them are cut down viciously and with a brutality that many do not wish to witness. Public executions are done to warn others of the consequences of standing against the royal crown.
  
  
  Vanguard's history is blood-stained and littered with tragedy. It is a history of kings killing kings, of queens smothering children, of siblings fighting against siblings. It is a history where the common folk have lost their voices and the royal family is deaf to all it hears.
  
  
  The queen these days is a shell of her former self a result of a crippling war where the kingdom finally aided an ally. Most of the royal family perished during this battle, leaving the second eldest in command and with the pressures of caring for her newborn children and a husband that seems to also have been shattered by the war.
  
  
  The king is a much violent person after the war, lashing out and destroying things. He used to whisper to Queen Naomi that they would make Vanguard grand, that they would allow their children to rule a kingdom at peace with itself.
  
  
  After the war, the whispers stopped and the tragedy began.
  
  
  Easy to anger and quick to attack, King Raleigh seized control while his wife drowned in nightmares and memories that she could not wipe from her mind. He cut off all alliances, believing that the reason that Naomi had fallen so far was the war and that aiding an ally would give them nothing but grief. As a result, Vanguard is completely cut off from any other source of trade. The river that runs through it is closed off to most and the ports unused. Those that pass by say they hear the wails of the kingdom reaching the skies as the cobblestones are stained red with blood.
  
  
  The king keeps his iron grip on the kingdom through swift and quick action. His blade is sharp and loose and his mouth always in a decisive frown.
  
  
  The kingdom of Vanguard has not known peace. It is a place where the royal family tears itself apart like rabid dogs, where if you cannot fight, you cannot live, where the greatest tragedies do not have to be, where the most sacred of laws are defiled, and where the land runs red with the blood of the fallen and the innocent.
  
  
  A war is coming to Vanguard, a war bubbling from within and a war threatening to burst through. The allies from before are not happy with the isolated kingdom. The commoners are not happy with their king.
  
  
  And even within the royal family, the children are ready to kill to get what they want.
  
  
  There is no loyalty here.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  Magic is rooted in the elements and natural forces. For example, some people are able to manipulate fire and water while others are able to absorb and expel kinetic energy. Magic is common within Vanguard and many schools have been set up to allow people to be educated about their various powers and learn how to curb them and use them properly.
  
  
  Almost one in one thousand people in Vanguard have magic and the ability to use it is hereditary. Some people may have more than one ability due to receiving both magical traits from their parents. Magic is also somewhat spontaneous, though you have a higher chance of gaining your parents' abilities than some other ability.
  
  
  However, Vanguard is alone in this practice as witchcraft is largely banned around the rest of the kingdoms that surround it. As a result, many people seek refuge inside Vanguard in order to avoid prosecution.
  
  
  The kingdom has opened its arms to allow all that wish to learn to enter it. One of the most famous institutes is the Ulimen Institute. Even the royal family occasionally sends out their children to be taught there. The school is full of history and rich with secrets and people from all walks of life.
  
  
  This RP is the least thought out in my mind and would require substantial contribution from others.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  Sitting at the base of the mountains, just where the river forms and flows, a kingdom sits. It has never sworn an oath to another and stands as its own nation and country, teeming with life and customs that it has clung to since the old days, customs that make it too proud to marry away their precious children to those that they believe cannot offer them as much.
  
  
  The kingdom depends on trade, flourishing as it allows ships from kingdoms and nations pass through towards the lands beyond the mountain. The kingdom knows the land it settles on is fertile, knows that by being at the beginning of a river, they have the freshest water, the most prized land. It knows how to reach the nations beyond the mountain and it serves as the gatekeeper between all others, controlling the flow.
  
  
  However, pride alone cannot keep a city alive.
  
  
  The other nations are getting angry, furious at the way the kingdom refuses to bend a knee to anyone. There are rumors flying about that they will storm the kingdom with their own military.
  
  
  The kingdom is over a million strong and their army is fierce by blade and bow. Their blacksmiths work with the finest metal and their farmers plow the greatest fields. But even so, they cannot stand forever, alone.
  
  
  The kingdom has open its gates once before, sending out one of its heirs to secure a marriage in one of the nations nearby. As a result, their second daughter ascended the throne and has ruled over the land peacefully for her tenure. But as chaos brews and her own children grow, she has come to realize that she will have to be the one to ask them to make the greatest sacrifice of them all: their happiness for the safety of the kingdom.
  
  
  The game of politics is in play and Vanguard must learn the rules quickly lest it fall.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  Legend has it that the gods descend to the earth to walk among human beings once in a millennium. They say that the gods come to guide the family to glory and the city that they live in to fame. They say that those that work as the vessel of the gods do not know they are the vessels until a sign comes for them.
  
  
  This RP is also not the most thought out but would basically entail a group of people (up to 13, though I might lower the number to simply 5 so it's easier to keep track of people) that are the vessels of the gods. They will find themselves with powers that reflect what the gods they represent stand for and may find themselves being drawn to areas of importance in order to fulfill their godly duties.
  
  
  

If you've read this far, congratulations! Please post with any feedback or ideas you may have. The next post contains world-building notes about Vanguard.

 

[FloatingAroundSpace]

The Kingdom of Vanguard

Royal Family

This will change if Dark Vanguard is the RP that moves forward.

​

King Raleigh Primordial

Gender: Male

Height: 6'

Eye color: Brown

Hair color: Black

General appearance: A rather imposing figure, Raleigh is extremely well-built as a result from all his time training in the barracks with other army members. His skin is a rather dark color and he is well-muscled and towers over most in the kingdom, though he appears to always have a slight smile when he is out walking among the commoners. He has a scar running down his right cheek from a battle.

Duties: As the one that married into the royal family, Raleigh took his wife's family name. Originally a lesser noble from the country side, his powers are limited by his wife. He can command the army, create laws, and agree with them but his wife has the final say on declaring war, commanding the army, and has the ability to reject laws she sees unfit. Most treaties and trade agreements are negotiated through her, though he is welcome to add his own opinion.

Personality: Raleigh is a calm individual, possibly because he has had to raise six rambunctious children. His military training has made him good at disciplining those that break the rules, though he does his best to be fair and just. He is a gentle man and would much rather spend his life with his wife and children than spend it fighting a war.

Martial status: Married to Queen Naomi

Children: Wonder, Nartai, Barrin, Nataxie, Casimir, Galene

Queen Naomi Primordial

Gender: Female

Height: 5' 6''

Eye color: Brown

Hair color: Brown

General appearance: Lean and graceful, Naomi has long, elegant arms and long, lithe legs and skin as dark as her husband's. However, Vanguard's habit of training fighters has made her quite good with a sword and her long limbs and while she may not be as well muscled as her husband, she can hold her own in a fight. She is the more tight-lipped and formal of the ruling pair and neither frowns nor smiles in public.

Duties: As queen, she is the one that acts as the final word when it comes to any and all agreements. She can reject treaties, trade agreements, and can enforce laws through the use of the army as well as declare war against another. She is truly the ruling monarch, though her powers are limited by the Parliament and she is unable to make economic decisions that pertain to the kingdom without approval from the Parliament. While she can negotiate agreements, she cannot put them into effect until Parliament gives her permission to.

Personality: To many of the citizens, Naomi is a very formal and detached ruler. She does not openly show her emotions to the public, unlike her children and husband and while she always seems to be listening, whether or not this is a ruse is unknown to most that have not been in her company personally.

Among those she cares for and in the privacy of the castle, Naomi is quite affectionate towards those she loves and cherishes. She wants her children to be as happy as she was in her own marriage and family life and would do anything to ensure that they are happy. However, she also struggles with the responsibility of keeping her kingdom safe and as a result, can be ruthless in her decisions making, even when it pertains to her own family. She does not allow her emotions to overtake her and will often only break down in the presence of her husband in their own room.

Martial status: Married to King Raleigh

Children: Wonder, Nartai, Barrin, Nataxie, Casimir, Galene​

Princess Wonder Primordial

Gender: Female

Height: 5' 8''

Eye color: Brown

Hair color: Black

General appearance: Built like her father, Wonder is a well-muscled woman and is built like a brick wall. Her skin is as dark as her parents and her hair can be seen spun tightly on the top of her head with a sword in hand or a quill. She is slightly larger in girth than her parents.

Duties: As the first in line to Vanguard, Wonder is often expected to shadow her mother and watch what she does. Wonder is often spotted aiding her mother in making negotiations or running the ports down by the river. Occasionally, a low-level problem will be given to her to solve and she will be expected to figure out a solution to it. When she is not shadowing her mother, she is expected to speak with the citizens of the kingdom.

Personality: Wonder excels at quelling unrest, seemingly receiving her father's calming aura and her mother's strict sense of formality. She speaks with a powerful voice and emits enough emotion to make her seem sympathetic.

She is not much different within the walls of the castle. Wonder is not a terribly emotional person and hardly ever has a moment of overflowing emotion. Instead, she has moments when she might seem slightly angrier and raise her voice, or giddy by laughing a bit louder than usual, but never quite showing off.

Martial Status: Married to a noble from Vanguard named July, 26

Children: Daughter named Marceline, 6 years old​

Prince Nartai Primordial

Gender: Male

Height: 5' 10''

Eye color: Brown

Hair color: Black

General appearance: Nartai has always been more comfortable with a book than a sword as a result, is lean and not a particularly good fighter. While he does have some muscle mass, it is not a lot. He has the same dark skin as the rest of his family and inherited his mother's long limbs and lithe form.

Duties: As second in line, he is given much the same duties as Wonder and is expected to observe his mother and do his best to resolve low-level problems. Do to the fact that he is not as well-versed in the military and army as his older sister and parents, he spends most of his time in the Parliament, aiding in figuring out new laws and how to enforce old ones.

Personality: A quiet individual, Nartai prefers the silence. He is soft in everything he does, from speaking to moving. Nartai is a rather studious individual and dives headfirst into whatever it is he wants to achieve, so long as it is not athletic as he is rather poor at most tasks that require a lot of strength. He analyzes most situations before acting and often takes a long time to make a decision as he weighs the possible consequences of it.

Martial Status: Married to a noble form Vanguard named Auria, 20

Children: Twins Ilina and Iain, 15 months old​

Prince Barrin Primordial

Gender: Male

Height: 6'

Eye color: Brown

Hair color: Brown

General appearance: The image of a typical Vanguardian solider, Barrin is well-built and well-muscled, appearing like a brick wall. His dark skin is already littered in scars from practices and battles that he has been a part of. He is often seen walking around the kingdom standing tall and proud of his heritage and his role in keeping Vanguard safe.

Duties: As the third son, he is not expected to tail his mother so closely, though he is expected to learn about the way politics work. He is mostly required to wander around the kingdom, ensuring everyone is happy with his mother and is a part of the army.

Personality: Barrin is truly sweet on the inside. He enjoys making people smile and laugh and wants a calm and happy life, full of people he cares for.

On the outside, however, he can be seen walking around with an inflated ego and a sense of importance. While he is not unimportant, his perception of his role in things is a bit skewed, leading many to believe that he is full of himself and rather rude. He does his best to rid people of these fears and acts as rationally as possible.

Martial Status: Engaged

Children: None

​

Princess Nataxie Primordial

Gender: Female

Height: 5' 4''

Eye color: Brown

Hair color: Black

General appearance: Rather shapely in figure, Nataxie is rather large in bust and buttocks. Her dark skin is framed by curled hair and voluminous lips and many women and men alike find themselves attracted to her. She is, however, also somewhat muscled and is able to keep her own in a fight due to her training.

Duties: As the fourth child, she is only expected to do things like meet and greet the commoners.

Personality: A rather bubbly and carefree individual, Nataxie enjoys watching life roll by without partaking in it too much. She is not lazy but does not wish to be the center of attention either and enjoys taking a backseat to many things. She has a strong sense of right and wrong and can often be found in the courts, overseeing trails.

Martial Status: Single

Children: None

​

Prince Casimir Primordial

Gender: Male

Height: 5' 7''

Eye color: Brown

Hair color: Black

General appearance: His skin is somewhat lighter than the rest of his family's and he is abnormally thin due to the fact that he is almost constantly ill. His hair is rather dull looking and he appears to move slower than most people due to the constant sicknesses he has.

Duties: None

Personality: From a young age, Casimir has been usually kept in the castle due to the fact that he is usually ill. As a result, he has focused his energies on reading as many books as possible. He is quite knowledgeable on many things, such as the history of Vanguard and its surrounding nations as well as how to craft a sword and grow a farm. As he has grown older, his immune system as gotten better and he is occasionally allowed outside, though always with supervision. He is a sensitive and somewhat naive person, due to the fact that he has never been around crowds.

​

Princess Galene Primordial

Gender: Female

Height: 5' 11''

Eye color: Blue

Hair color: Brown

General appearance: Galene's startling blue eyes are an anomaly in her family, appearing every so often in the generations and disappearing just as quickly. Her bright eyes seem to make her dark skin even darker and her brown curls a bit lighter. Her appearance is rather androgynous at the time and her body is rather rectangular in shape.

Duties:

Keep calm and be as polite as possible to everyone and anyone who approaches her.

Personality: Ambitious, Galene has a sense of calm around her as a grown-up, similar to her father. She is relatively level-headed and plays the game of politics very well. She can be studious when she wants to and a fighter when around her older brothers. Galene has been known to take a stand and stick to it through thick and thin and is seen as a friend to the common folk, as she spends the most time with them.​

Government

This will change if Dark Vanguard is the RP that moves forward.

​

• Royal Family
• Parliament
• Councils

• 
  
  
  The royal family is the figurehead of the nation. Their main duties lie in commanding the army as well as handling the treasury. They oversee all the laws that are passed by Parliament and the councils and though they have the power to veto any laws or treaties, they do not have the power to pass them without approval from Parliament.
  
  
  While they are able to negotiate treaties, they do not go into affect until Parliament approves of them.
  
  
  The only thing they have total control over is the royal army and declaring war. All other responsibilities fall to the Parliament to approve and the councils to handle.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  The more powerful legislating body, Parliament consists of 100 people, each from one region of the very large kingdom. All laws that Parliament proposes must go through the royal family and must be approved by a majority of Parliament. They are able to levy taxes and are the ones to approve any and all agreements the royal family makes.
  
  
  They are in control of the knights that are not part of the official army but instead act as a sort of police force, enforcing laws that have been set forth by Parliament.
  
  
  Their laws can be subject to scrutiny by the councils and the royal family if Parliament is believed to be passing unjust and unfair laws or to be doing things to further someone's private agenda.
  
  
  A new person may enter Parliament whenever someone steps down, dies, or gets kicked out, another person will take their place from the council, voted on by all the other members of council.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  The kingdom is split up into several regions due to its vastness. As a result, every region has a council. These councils vary from only nine people to nearly fifty, the largest being forty-seven people, in the Boentia council in the heart of the kingdom.
  
  
  There are thirteen councils in total and the councils many pass minor laws pertaining to safety and are responsible for addressing any problems when it comes to taxes. They are able to levy taxes based on income and trade, but nothing else.
  
  
  They are also responsible for most of the public sectors in their regions, such as road conditions, public buildings like libraries, and the upkeep of school. The councils meet once every year to discuss with Parliament and the royal family any concerns that the people have.
  
  
  The people are able to elect the person they want for council by meeting up at a town hall and being read the possible candidates. It's like an election except it's done by people raising their hands, so close votes are usually decided by the already standing council.
  
  
  

Religion

Religion is not seen as a major part of most people's lives in Vanguard. Due to the nature of being a trading city, many religions can be found due to passing ships and merchants bringing their belief into the city. There are quite a few churches, mosques, and cathedrals as well as any other type of religious building about Vanguard. The most popular religion is Credisper, a polytheistic religion.

The religion does not demand much, though if one is to invoke one of the gods, they will have to present an offering pertaining to the god and go to one of the temples reserved for them. The religion also puts an emphasis on providing for ones own and to fight for what one holds dear.

The gods are anthropomorphic.​

Vither, god of the Earth

Gender: Male

Represents: The Earth's spirit, laziness, ruthlessness

Offerings to invoke: Crops that are buried within the Earth such as potatoes, precious metals, string and rope

Vither is, among the people, not a popular god. He is the embodiment of the land beneath their feet and is the one that keeps the world intact. Even so, many believe him to be lazy, as the other gods do their part to keep the beings on the Earth alive. Vither is believed to simply laze around the Earth and is believed to get up on some days when the Earth is already cracking apart to put it back together temporarily, though he can be sloppy, resulting in the Earth falling apart again. Even so, when Vither wants something, he can be vicious and ruthless in getting it. For example, he demanded the moon goddess to guard him from her brother in the sky and when she refused, wanting to be with the sun, he chipped away at her form with his magic. As a result, she was forced to comply, though every month she wishes to be with her beloved and sacrifices parts of herself to go be with them. Vither always returns these parts as he deems her useless when not at full power.

One day, when the god of water refused to expand across the Earth due to the fact that he believed that the people living on the earth would be killed by a sudden flood, Vither violently ripped the world apart, forcing the god of water to obey. Vither eventually stitched the world back together when the goddess of the sky forced him to.

Few go to Vither for anything and most only see him to ask for an enemy to be struck down by a lack of motivation.

People who are lazy are often believed to be cursed by Vither and are to be avoided at all costs.​

Riagi, the sun god

Gender: Agender, they/them

Represents: The sun, bravery, faithfulness

Offerings to invoke: Plants that are green, amber, golden metals and crystals, rings of marriage, blood

Riagi is one of the more popular gods to call upon, as it is believed that they are the first guardian of Vither and all that he keeps together. Riagi is believed to watch other the Earth and all that happens over it and is believed to have given the first humans life and granted Vanguard its optimal land. Riagi remains Vither's guardian even after all this time and Vither's many questionable actions, like ripping the earth apart in fury or taking the moon goddess for himself and torturing her to keep her with him.

Riagi disappears into the night in order to fight off any spirits that are coming for the earth and for Vither, the worse of which comes in the winter. Those monsters are believed to come from the god of the dark out of revenge and a desire to make all the humans on earth his minions.

Riagai is often called upon before a battle or war in order to bring luck and inspire bravery in the troops. They are illuminate the path to victory quite literally and shine bright on days of good fortune. On the longest and hottest days of the year, a celebration is held in honor of Riagai and on the day after winter is over, a celebration is held in order to congratulate Riagai on fighting off the spirits.​

Sapita, the moon goddess

Gender: Female

Represents: The moon, romantic love, devotion, bravery, strength

Offerings to invoke: Water from the moonlight, pearls, pale metals and crystals, birds

Sapita is largely associated with romantic love, as she is often seen as Riagi's true beloved that can never be together with them. She is largely seen as the guardian of romantic love and during the winter months, when the sun god is off fighting demons from her brother, she will watch over married couples in the night to ensure that her brother will not destroy their marriage or happiness and protects the Earth god from her brother in the dark of night, when he is most powerful. In winter months, marriages take place at the break of dawn or dusk in order to avoid fully exposing themselves to Sapita's brother but keeping her nearby nonetheless. She is widely considered the strongest of all the gods, as she has to fight in the night, when her brother's power is at its height.

Sapita is called upon before battles and war as well in order to lend strength to the troops and lead them to victory. She is believed to bless those who attack at night as they would fight under her watchful eye. She is called upon during wedding ceremonies to make the couple as happy as possible.​

Enreus, god of War

Gender: Male

Represents: War, the dark, demons

Offerings to invoke: Blood, weapons, skulls, candles

Enreus is painted as the villain among gods, always hungry for more powers. He intends to conquer the day and make the night the only thing in the universe. He is thought to be the creator of demons and invokes war in order to cause more strife and make people weaker in order to conquer them all more easily.

Even so, Enreus is called upon when the royal family declares war, to spare them of strife and instead send it to their enemies. Whether or not Enreus listens is not commonly known, though some priests claim to be able to tell what he is saying and where his blessing is gone. However, due to the fact that he is so closely associated with demons, most believe that those we can hear him are demons themselves, come to earth to speak his plan and usually avoid them. Killing demons of Enreus, however, is looked down upon as it is believed that a dead demon will summon many more in order to replace the deceased.

Enreus fights the sun god and the moon goddess in order to get at the Earth and capture all the humans as his slaves. During the winter, when the nights are longer and colder, his strength is greater and the sun god will leave in order to fight him more often. The moon goddess fights him every night, when his power is strongest and will often take parts of herself and give them to the god of the Earth in order to be beside the sun god in order to fight off Enreus better.​

Osla, goddess of the Sky

Gender: Female

Represents: The sky, victory, peace, magic

Offerings to invoke: Precious metals, feathers from hawks, grains, wool

Considered the most powerful deity of them all, Osia is one to be reckoned with. She believed to be the only one that has any control over the god of the Earth and was the one to make Vither stitch the world back together after ripping it apart. Her magic comes from the sky itself and the light in the sky. It is believed that if she appears after a battle that it means the war will be won in favor of Vanguard. However, if the sky is not clear, it is believed that Vanguard will have to struggle to win or may even loose.

She only ever shows the full extent of her powers in a crisis and can be quite fierce when one arises. She is known to be able to twist other gods into doing her bidding by twisting the sky around them and using her magic to torture them. Osia is believed to be strong enough to wrestle with Enreus himself and as she is the sky in the light and he is the night, she often aids the sun god in fighting off Enreus when he intrudes upon her domain. Her powers manifest in rainbows, as they are the combined colors of light.

Because of the fact that she is considered the most powerful of all the gods, she is called upon to lend her power to the royal family whenever a new child is born in order to instill within them a sense of duty and honor. Because she represents peace, it is hoped that if she blesses a child, they will lead Vanguard through a period of peace. Her blessing often comes in the form of a clear day after a child is born or a hawk passing overhead on one's birthday.​

Riius, god of Dirt

Gender: Agender, ze/zir

Represents: Dirt, fertile soil, desert, minerals, rocks, familial love

Offerings to invoke: Crops, especially those from the ground itself; minerals, especially those red in color; cows

Riius is believed to be a quiet god. Ze is the ground itself and is always present, no matter what. Ze grants farmers that are respectful to zir fertile soil, and curses those that are rude or cruel to their family. Riius and the god of water work together to keep humans alive by providing the most important things to them; food, water, and minerals to build shelter with.

Riius shares a very close relationship with the god of water and as a result, the two are very close. They are not usually depicted as lovers and are instead seen as either family or friends, bound together to work together and create a better place for humans. Riius is generally considered the one that puts more emphasis on family and is the guardian of happy ones. Whenever a couple celebrates the first birthday of a child, a cow is sacrificed and eaten in hopes that Riius will deem the family worthy of happiness and good fortune. Sacrificing a cow for happiness has fallen out of favor with most social groups, though farmers continue to do this in hopes that Riius will make their crops grow better each year.​

Ulios, god of Water

Gender: Male

Represents: Oceans, rivers, streams, lakes, any body of water, love between friends, platonic love, protection

Offerings to invoke: Fish, water (though only after being used in an oath), bones of sea animals, chickens

Ulios is a fierce and relentless god, as demonstrated by his relentless pounding of the seas and oceans as well as the fact that he carved the river that runs through Vanguard. He is commonly depicted to be standing up to Vither for the god of dirt when Vither unfairly punishes zir by ripping the Earth apart. Ulios is believed to be the ultimate protector, as water is necessary for all things to live and therefore flourish. He is, therefore, the protector of life.

Ulios has fought with the god of the Earth many times over the years. Ulios hates the fact that the other gods have to work so hard while Vither simply sews when he feels like it. As a result, whenever Vither asks of something, Ulios refuses to do it until Vither does something for them in turn. Vither often throws a fit but ultimately caves, especially if Osia gets involved. The only time Vither defied Ulios was when he demand Ulios expand across the landscape in order to make his sewing easier. Ulios was concerned for the safety and health of all the beings on land and in response, Vither tore the Earth apart.

Ulios and Riius are depicted as very close though hardly ever as lovers. Ulios represents love between friends or platonic love and his ferocity is derived from his love for the other gods, save for Vither, and his desire to protect and nurture them. When two friends make an oath to one another, it is commonplace for them to call upon Ulios to solidify the oath. Water is usually poured over the hands of the two taking the oath in order to grant this blessing.​

Torbuh, god of the Hunt

Gender: Male

Represents: Hunting, blood, death, animals

Offering to invoke: Pelts, bones of hunted animals, an object that belongs to the deceased

Torbuh is the god of death and the hunt as these two things are seen as closely tied together. Before a hunt, Torbuh is called upon by using a pelt from a hunt prior and asking him to bless the hunters with good fortune so that they may succeed that day. Torbuh, if he approves of the hunt, will send out animals to be hunted down. After the hunt, it is in good form to thank Torbuh for granting a good hunt by skinning an animal and leaving the bones behind so Torbuh may bring the animal back or lead it to the afterlife.

Torbuh is the god that watches people as they die and leads them to the afterlife, though he does not live there. His siblings, the god of the cycle of life and death is instead in charge of the afterlife.

Torbuh is prominent in the life of hunters but not many other people. As a result, hunters are very faithful to Torbuh and believe him to be their patron god.​

Actune, god of the cycle of Life and Death

Gender: Fluid, all pronouns used

Represents: The underworld, the passage of time, the cycle of life and death

Offerings: The body of the deceased

Actune is not often called upon or mentioned, as they remain in the afterlife, kept quite busy by their role as the one to keep the cycle of life and death spinning. Whenever someone is brought down to the afterlife, Actune sends them through a trail in order to see what their personality truly is. If they are corrupt and twisted, they cast the being into the darkest pits of the afterlife to crawl out of, tormented by the errors of their ways. If the being repents or manages to crawl out, Actune will send them on their way to live in the fields of the afterlife. From there, some people who grow tired of the afterlife are granted the opportunity to leave and be reborn. However, they must go through another set of trails to show that they are worthy of walking on the earth once more. Those that are not worthy are sent to fight beside the sun god and the moon goddess for an eternity to become worthy. Afterwards, they are put through the trail again and if they are worthy, are sent to walk the earth again and if not, they are sent to fight again.

Actune does not interact with the other gods much except for Torbuh. Torbuh and Actune are usually seen as siblings and the two are sometimes depicted as working together to keep the cycle of life and death going.

Actune is sometimes seen as the patron god of embalmers as the body of the deceased is usually prepared and buried or burned by embalmers and they are therefore the closest to them.

Actune is usually prayed to after a loved one has passed away in order to ensure that Actune will give them a just and fair trail.​

Yla, goddess of Military

Gender: Female

Represents: The military, soldiers, knights, parents

Offerings: Blood, bones of the enemy, the smoke from the flag of the enemy

Yla is the guardian of Vanguard's military. There is a shrine to her in all of the barracks and before soldiers go off to war, they are expected to pray to her for safety, honor, victory, and glory.

Yla has participated in wars among the gods and is usually depicted as being the one that wins the battle for the side she is on. Yla is also seen as a fierce protector as well, as she protects those that keep Vanguard its own safe nation. Therefore, her protection extends to parents, who are expected to do everything in their power to keep their children safe. If a parent fails to do so, Yla will curse them to have bad luck for shunning their children.

Yla is seen as a caring and strong individual, as she will only fight for causes that are just and worthy of her strength. Because she is the only god to have been on the winning side of all wars, she is highly regarded by all and is seen as having great honor and glory. Royals will often pray to Yla that they are doing something worthy of her time and respect and it is believed that if one burns the flag of the enemy, the smoke will reach Yla and she will send victory.​

Febenta, god of Metal

Gender: Fluid, he/she

Represents: Metalworking, metal, minerals, armor, weapons

Offerings: The armor of the enemy, the weapons of the enemy, smoke from burning coal, smoke from burning wood

Febenta is arguably the patron god of the blacksmiths and the metalworkers. She is commonly depicted to be the one that is constructing the armor and weapons of Yla and the two are sometimes depicted as lovers, though more often as simple friends.

Febenta does not usually fight in wars, instead choosing to stay behind and craft weapons and armor for the other gods to use. This is seen as just as honorable and important as actually fighting, as without a metalworker or blacksmith to craft weapons and armor, the other gods would be defenseless and possibly loose. Febenta is regarded as highly important when it comes to war and most metalworkers and blacksmiths have an image of her in their workplace and some have a shrine, praying to Febenta that the equipment they create is worthy of her praise.​

Loohr, goddess of Medicine

Gender: Agender, they/them

Represents: Medicine, healing, health

Offerings: Flowers, incense, burning rope, holy water

While Vanguard is very deeply entrenched in the belief that all should be ready to fight for their kingdom and focus a lot on physical strength, the kingdom also acknowledges the importance of a community of people that are skilled in other things like healing. Healers are almost in constant demand due to Vanguard's tendency to get into fights and the general rowdiness of a large kingdom. As a result, Loohr is often prayed to by many in hopes that they will inspire more people to go into the trade.

Loohr is the patron goddess of healers and a painting of Loohr healing the god of the sun and the goddess of the moon after a war with the god of the night can usually be found in every hospital, symbolizing Loohr's great responsibility in keeping the other gods alive so that they might fight and protect humanity. Many who begin on the path to be a healer or physician go to a temple for Loohr and pray that they might guide them to great knowledge.

Loohr has a patron flower known as the enople flower. It is purple in color and has a sweet smell and is often used to bandage up wounds and splits. It is known to aid in speeding up the healing process.​

Purbuk, goddess of Knowledge

Gender: Female

Represents: Knowledge, curiosity, imagination, power (through knowledge)

Offerings: Bear pelts, wolf pelts, feathers from ravens

Purbuk is the guardian of knowledge and the thirst for it. She is often found in school buildings, standing before the other gods telling stories. She is the greatest strategist of the gods and is often used to aid in planning out strategies in order to win. She and Yla are usually on the same side, though it has been shown that Purbuk has lost wars before due to sometimes being reckless and craving more knowledge and power and aligning herself with the wrong side in order to gain something from it.

Purbuk is, however, considered to be a great goddess and is usually prayed to by scholars. It is believed that she has vast stores of knowledge scattered across the globe. Bears, wolves, and ravens are her patron animals as ravens are often seen as the most intelligent of birds and bears are seen as fierce and powerful as well as crafty. Wolves are thought to be Purbuk's children, created on the planet in order to show humans how successful one could be in a pack.

Purbuk does not give out direct blessings and instead gives hints for people to find the knowledge that she has so carefully hidden. Purbuk does this in order to ensure that those who pursue her knowledge are the ones that are doing so to learn more and better humanity rather than doing it for power.​

There are many other lesser gods that can be found throughout Vanguard, like patron deities of certain trades such as merchants, messengers, and herders. Some are more specific, like the god of childbirth, Tatmis or the goddess of growth, Dekra. All in all, the gods may be called upon on occasion by Vanguardians, though they are not commonly depended upon due to the fact that they are also flawed and never perfect and their blessings may come later than desired.

​

Traditions

• Burial
• Weddings
• Holidays

• If someone dies in battle, they are taken to an embalmer after the fact where there bodies are covered in an oil made of crushed flowers and plants before they are wrapped up in rope made from more plants and buried. The reason why rope is used is so that it degrades in the earth and the body is able to return to the soil from where it came and contribute to Vanguard, even in death.
  
  
  If someone doesn't die in battle but instead dies within the city, their body is mourned over for about a day after the oil is applied to them before the embalmers cover them in the same rope and bury them. Most families have plots for their loved ones and the royal family has an entire tomb where the body is kept for a week before it is taken out and buried in the fields.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  Weddings are major events in Vanguard. Entire communities will come out to celebrate a wedding if they are small and all weddings, no matter how poor the bride or groom, are huge events. Communities come together to buy food such as large turkeys, chickens, whole cows, seafood, pastries, vegetables, and many more. Weddings are usually held in a house and are confirmed when they make an oath to one another. Some make an oath to Sapita as well. A wedding will be officiated when the pair exchange rings and at least three witnesses confirm this.
  
  
  The wedding is then reported to the council, who will mark it down in their books and the celebrations usually begin. Depending on how wealthy the wedding goers are, these celebrations range from a simple feast to an elaborate parade and dance.
  
  
  Strangely, the royals tend to keep it mild, with a simple and fairly private celebration and a public announcement the next day.
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  There are few holidays that the entire kingdom celebrates, due to the sheer vastness of it and the diversity of people within. However, there is one that is almost always celebrated as an overall holiday: the Yearly Bringing, their interpretation of the new year. On the shortest day of the year, the entire kingdom turns out to each of their region's main hall to feast and dine together, as well as light fires and sing songs to keep away Enreus. Each region has specific ways of celebrating the Yearly Bringing, but there are some customs that are similar.
  
  
  The celebrations almost always consist of sacrificing animals to the gods in order to allow them to feast alongside humans. Sometimes, these animals are cooked and consumed by the people while some regions bury them in the ground in order to allow the gods to feast alongside them. Bonfires are always lit and the entire city seems aglow. Vanguardians believe that Riagi will see the light from their kingdom and realize that they have support to continue their fight against Enreus.
  
  
  The Yearly Bringing is not only a celebration of the new year and a sign of support to the gods, but also a day and night to plant and sow the seeds for another fruitful year. Some regions go down to the river and throw the bones of fish and the shells of various sea life back into the river in order to allow the creatures to be reborn. Similarly, bones of hunted and pasteurized animals are usually buried back into the ground in order to be reborn. Farmers may throw the peels of their previous crops out into the field to hope that the next year the crops will grow larger and stronger while merchants and other craftsmen will burn candles and incense in hopes of cleaning the air of old bargains and grudges in order to have a better trading year.
  
  
  

Regions

Alemwood

Population: ~100,000

Council size: 10 people

Most commonly found jobs: Hunters, shepherds, herders

Social standing: Generally lower middle-class

Geography: A grassland bordering on a forest towards the eastern side of Vanguard, almost out of the kingdom.

Lifestyle: Because of the grassland, there is very little fertile soil. As a result, most of the people within Alemwood are hunters, leaving for the forests that border their land to hunt down prey. Shepherds and herders are often seen out in the grassland with sheep, cows, and goats. Some have dogs to aid in rounding up their livestock, though most are simply run by families. They usually sell the milk and meat produced by their livestock though some sell the livestock itself to other farmers to use on their farms. Some shepherds that specialize in herding sheep make cloth from the wool, though there are not many.​

Brulsey

Population: ~75,000

Council size: 9 people

Most commonly found jobs: Fishermen

Social standing: Lower middle-class

Geography: Located on the southern tip of Vanguard along the river, before the ports.

Lifestyle: This region is noted by other merchants as constantly smelling of fish. The people here are usually found working by the river, pulling fish in. Some fishermen focus on fish while others also bring shellfish. Most of the time, they sell their wares to merchants and cooks though some have made a living out of carving necklaces from various shells they find along the river.​

Cloni

Population: ~110,000

Council size: 15 people

Most commonly found jobs: Maids, housekeepers, sanitation workers

Social standing: working-class

Geography: Located on the northern side of Vanguard, along the border of the kingdom.

Lifestyle: The closest thing to slums in Vanguard, Cloni has houses stacked on top of one another to conserve space with several people all living in the same building. It is the fifth largest region with the second largest population and as a result, many people crammed into a small amount of space. Most people leave during the day to go to Flendburg, Giore, or Prosa to keep homes for the wealthy. Some work by the ports, sweeping up old discarded trash. Most people in the working-class live here.​

Flendburg

Population: ~115,000

Council size: 23

Most commonly found jobs: Merchants, scribes, teachers

Social standing: Middle-class

Geography: City-like and urban, in the midst of the kingdom. It is about a twenty minute walk from the heart of Flendburg to the ports.

Lifestyle: Flendburg is home to the best schools and some of the grandest buildings in Vanguard. Mostly an intellectual hub, the population of Flendburg is mostly merchants that sell to those that come through the city clothes, foodstuffs, and books. Flendburg is also where a majority of the religious leaders live and work, though there are not too many of them. Most of the time, scribes double as teachers in some of the schools in order to spread the knowledge they have garnered to more of the public. Most of the buildings are rather compact and living spaces are relatively small, though most families are only three person and occasionally four person families.​

Giore

Population: ~90,000

Council size: 16

Most commonly found jobs: Knights, soldiers

Social standing: Middle-class

Geography: Urban, towards the southern side of the kingdom

Lifestyle: Giore is the military hub of Vangaurd, located near Prosa and in the shadow of the great castle. Giore is the second largest region of all, mostly because a majority of the barracks and training grounds are located within the region. Most knights and soldiers live in Giore and leave the region every day to police the other regions, staying in the smaller barracks there before trekking back. Giore does have some spots to allow the families of the knights and soldiers stay with them, though most knights and soldiers that have families will simply live with their families elsewhere. Giore are where the single or coupled knights and soldiers live.​

Icray

Population: ~95,000

Council size: 18

Most commonly found jobs: Merchant, knights, scribes

Social standing: Middle-class with some upper-middle class

Geography: Right along the river, mostly ports

Lifestyle: Icray is the lifeline of Vanguard. It is the port region of the kingdom, running along the river that gives them life. Most people here are merchants, buying wares from the ships that come into the ports and selling them to the general public of Vanguard. Icray employs a few bridges to cross the river and head over to Jaea, where most of the farmers live as well as the largest grouping of knights outside of Giore. Most knights in Giore serve as port-inspectors, checking to make sure all those that come from Icray have the proper certifications and quelling any nasty arguments that the merchants get into. Scribes are required to record the amount of wares and the selling that goes on in Icray and are commonly seen walking along the ports, scribbling down something.​

Jaea

Population: ~90,000

Council size: 18

Most commonly found jobs: Farmers, seamstresses, tailors

Social standing: Working class, lower middle-class

Geography: One of only three regions across the river, mostly fields of crops.

Lifestyle: Jaea is a relatively isolated part of Vanguard, located across the river from the rest of the kingdom. It is mostly fields and is the largest part of Vanguard, mostly because of the sheer amount of food it takes in order to sustain the people of Vanguard. Most people are planters, though some are seamstresses that use the wool from sheep that are raised to create cloth. Cotton, milkweed, and hemp are the three most commonly grown fibers in Vanguard and the majority of seamstresses and tailors grow their own crops for their own clothes.​

Oding

Population: ~85,000

Council size: 12

Most commonly found jobs: Miners, blacksmiths, metalworkers

Social standing: Working-class

Geography: One of the three regions across the river, Oding is located on the northern side of Vanguard, near the mountains. There is more dirt than grass.

Lifestyle: Oding is a mining region. Most of the people work in the mine fields, covered in dirt. Some work as craftsmen, mostly as blacksmiths and metalworkers that make armor and swords for the army as well as creating delicate pieces of jewelry if the miners come up with precious minerals and stones during their time in the mines. Most of the miners dig up coal to use.

Oding itself is a good distance away from the mines where their population works at. As a result, the region itself isn't as dirty as one would expect, though the people who live there have to get up very earlier to make their way to the mines and their various shops.​

Prosa

Population: ~30,000

Council size: 10

Most commonly found jobs: Political, merchants, specialized workers

Social standing: Upper-middle class, aristocrats

Geography: Urban, Prosa sits in the middle of Vanguard on relatively flat terrain covered in stone.

Lifestyle: The very heart of Vanguard, Prosa is where the royal family lives and where Parliament gathers. Every year, the councils make the trek to Prosa to speak with Parliament. The region is rich in architecture and most of the people who live in Prosa are wealthy. The greatest houses and the regal castle of the ruling family are located in Prosa and tower over the rest of the kingdom.​

Qinves

Population: ~75,000

Council size: 11

Most commonly found jobs: Craftsmen, healers, soldiers

Social standing: Middle-class

Geography: The third region across the river, Qinves is the one region that seems to relate to the more urban feel of the main part of Vanguard. It is relatively flatland with forests on the outer edge.

Lifestyle: The people that live in Qinves are craftsmen and specialized workers, doing anything from healing to making jewelry. Because they are right by the mines and the farmland, they are able to seize a lot of the freshest crops and the rawest minerals to make their elaborate and fanciful crafts.​

Tipha

Population: ~85,000

Council size: 13

Most commonly found jobs: Metalworkers, specialized workers

Social standing: Middle class

Geography: Surrounding Prosa, so urban with towering buildings

Lifestyle: A relatively quiet part of the kingdom, Tipha is where most families live. There are small, thin buildings lining the street that allow many families to live close by one another and some buildings have larger rooms and floors so several families can live in one building together to save space. Most people go to Ulimen to work in the schools or head over to Zirco to work in the various shops available there.​

Ulimen

Population: ~50,000

Council size: 12

Most commonly found jobs: Teachers, scribes

Social standing: Upper middle-class

Geography: To the west of Tipha, so fairly urban

Lifestyle: Most people that actually live in Ulimen live near the great libraries and schools that have been built there. Uliment is the intellectual beacon of Vanguard, drawing in eager scholars so that they may browse the extensive library that Ulimen has. Most of the people that live there do not have families and are fairly young, though that does not mean that all are. There are plenty of elderly scholars and teachers that oversee some of the libraries with rarer scrolls and books and instruct at some of the more elite schools.​

Zirco

Population: ~65,000

Council size: 12

Most commonly found jobs: Craftsmen, specialized workers, merchants

Social standing: Middle-class

Geography: To the east of Tipha, also urban

Lifestyle: Zirco is full of businesses, whether it be restaurants, clothing stores, trade posts, bookstores, or the like, Zirco is where a lot of trade and monetary exchange happens. Most people that work here work in the various businesses as craftsmen, making the meals or sewing the clothes, while some work as managers. Some are blacksmiths and other metalworkers in their own shops and some are healers that give out their own pieces of wisdom and cures.​

Miscellaneous facts

Bolded points are up to be removed should the RP demand it.

​

• It is believed that children born after another has died are cursed to live a half life full of misery.
  
• Most sexualities and gender orientations are normalized, including bisexuality, pansexuality, asexuality and their romantic counterparts as well as agender and gender fluid people.
  
• All genders are on a relatively equal footing.
  
• Around a tenth of all people are in the military or part of the knights, compared to around a fiftieth being healers of some kind.
  
• Vanguard is relatively self-sustaining, having plenty of fields that they toil on as well as several mines closer to the mountains that they use to extract minerals.
  
• The kingdom doesn't have a particular standard on sex or what a normal relationship is. So long as all parties are consenting and of legal age, no one really cares so long as you keep it between you and your partner(s).
  

 

[AceSorcerer]

I'm up for a combination of "Dark Vanguard" and "Magical Vanguard," as well as individually.

 

[FloatingAroundSpace]

I'm up for a combination of "Dark Vanguard" and "Magical Vanguard," as well as individually.

Cool! Enter your decisions into the poll so I can kind of have a ballpark idea.

 

[AceSorcerer]

Consider it done.

 

[Bluee]

I'd be interested in either the dark vanguard or Royalty/politics

 

[FloatingAroundSpace]

I'd be interested in either the dark vanguard or Royalty/politics

Alright, noted

 

[LeSoraAmari]

Oh my god, these ideas are awesome!


I'd be interested in either the Dark Vanguard or Royalty/Politics plots.

 

[FloatingAroundSpace]

Oh my god, these ideas are awesome!
I'd be interested in either the Dark Vanguard or Royalty/Politics plots.

It seems like everyone is interested in Dark Vanguard xD

 

[LeSoraAmari]

It seems like everyone is interested in Dark Vanguard xD

Well it is a great idea, much like all the others. But it stands out a lot more.


To me at least xD


For some odd reason, it reminds me of Game of Thrones. Although, I couldn't tell you why xD

 

[ArcaneUnit]

I luv the idea and the detail. YOU sure attracted a hoard of young men.


I am interested in joining. If I am welcome.

 

[FloatingAroundSpace]

I luv the idea and the detail. YOU sure attracted a hoard of young men.
I am interested in joining. If I am welcome.

If you limit text talk to OOC chat, then you're more than welcome!

 

[ArcaneUnit]

If you limit text talk to OOC chat, then you're more than welcome!

That sounds about right. BUt I only joined yesterday. Do u wanna send me a link?

 

[FloatingAroundSpace]

That sounds about right. BUt I only joined yesterday. Do u wanna send me a link?

I'm not sure I understand? You're voting in a poll for which one you want...

 

[gogojojo331]

I'm down for whatever. Gods among us sounds a lot like a comic I read called The wicked+The divine

 

[FloatingAroundSpace]

@AceSorcerer @Bluee @LeSoraAmari @gogojojo331


As I am still learning this site, I completely failed to realize that in order to ensure I knew who was voting on what I needed to check a certain box. As a result, I have no clue who else voted beside you four but it's clear that Dark Vanguard is really the one that everyone wants to do.


However, Royalty/Politics and Magic are tied for the secondary part of this RP. So I figured, since there's an even amount of you, you should just post which one you want. If all else fails, we'll just combine them.

 

[AceSorcerer]

Magic.

 

[FloatingAroundSpace]

Up

 

[Giovanni Favehari]

Im very interested. I would be up for dark Vanguard also and gods among us.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

I am interested in the gods among us and dark vanguard.

 

[FloatingAroundSpace]

Up

 

[FloatingAroundSpace]

Up

 

[FloatingAroundSpace]

Up

 

[FloatingAroundSpace]

Up

 

[WanderingJester]

Interested in the Royalty/Politics branch, especially if includes both domestic and foreign politics (vicious like Game of Thrones style).