Post by ℊℓоω on Jul 13, 2020 15:09:57 GMT -5
Heyo! I've been craving lore-heavy fantasy and I think it's fun to world build with other people. I've started working on the foundations of a setting/plot, but I would love it if other people would join in and make contributions. I'm making all of this up as I go along so nothing is set in stone! Feel free to get really creative with your ideas c:
➔ Overview:
Fantasy roleplay which centers around the selection of a new generation of oligarchical leaders. According to an astrological calendar created by the gods, a new royal “circle” must be created every century. This process demands that ten people between the ages of 19-29 must be nominated by their respective institutions called the “Pillars.” The Pillars are a collection of religious, academic, and military powers throughout the country. These institutions have been in place for nearly a thousand years. They were selected by the New Governors in the first year when the country became an oligarchy/republic rather than a monarchy.
The Pillars represent all aspects of life within the country, namely cult practice, war, knowledge, industry, and mysticism. They are all regarded as equally important to the governance of the empire, which is why each is represented within the government. The candidate which is selected from each of the pillars best embodies the values of that pillar. They are chosen by the leaders within the pillar itself in hopes that the person who is chosen will be the one best suited for the role. That being said, politics is a messy business, and a thousand years is a long time for corruption to fester. Each of the leaders within the Pillars have their own agendas, and sometimes they act in their own self interest rather than in the interest of the people.
➔ Geography:
The country, called Ilenfore, is on the smaller side. Think more city state than extensive kingdom. The climate is largely hot to mild, depending on how close one is to the mountains. Most of its population lives in the main city, called Cypra. There is also a sister city called Nasso, but more on both of them later. Other than that, the other half or so of the population is scattered across the country in smaller hamlets, towns, sanctuaries, and farms. The country is split into two parts geographically. The northeastern part is forested and rather mountainous, though not the sharp-edged mountains that some other countries boast. In fact, the majority of the land is low in elevation. This part of the country is covered in predominantly deciduous forests, rolling mountains, and hidden valleys. There is also some farmland, mostly small crops and orchards. The southwestern half of the country is much flatter. Only shallow hills and rivers break up the land, which contains few forests. It is rather dry, but it has good soil for growing some crops and certain areas can be surprisingly lush. These are called the "Flatlands" for self-explanatory reasons. This is also where the military has its two largest forts and its where soldiers go to train.
⌑ Cypra: The largest city in the country and home to about a third of its population. It exists in the foothills of the mountains, in a bend along the edges of the forest. It is built mostly around the Arch House, which is the palace that the royals call home. The palace sits on a protruding hill in the center of the city. The further up the hill one wanders, the more lavish and expensive the houses get. The palace itself is named for the prominent trio of arches on the front of the large house made of pristine sandstone. The palace has four stories and extensive rooms (there are ten royals to house, after all). There is also a central garden/pool, an auditorium, and rooms for entertaining. Below the palace are the homes of the most important people in Cypra, mostly advisors and other political figures. Further down the hill are aristocrats and wealthy merchants. Below them is the marketplace, and then surrounding the city are the houses of the less fortunate, the common people and workers who make the city function. Cypra is a center of trade and it is where all of the farmers come to sell their goods. It is also the home of the Mercenaries' Guild and the Silo, both of which have buildings in the center of town. It is illegal for sanctuaries and temples to be built within the city limits, however, which is why Nasso is considered the "Sacred City" despite being much smaller and less essential to the larger economy.
⌑ Nasso: About fifteen miles to the south of Cypra, toward the Flatlands, is the city of Nasso. It is impossible to miss the city as it sits in the center of a very large floodplain on a bed of red clay. "This is not the most practical place to build a city," one might think to themselves, and this is true, however the precarious nature of the city is what lends itself to being considered sacred. The land it occupies is very flat and at the base of the hills, where water from heavy rain can create countless shallow streams which feed into the river. For that reason, during the monsoons, the city can find itself in up to six inches of water. Thankfully this is usually only for a matter of days before the water dries or drains into the river. This is also why there is little to no vegetation in the city itself. Instead, it is occupied only by stark marble structures and streets that have long since been blanketed in red clay. Nasso was originally constructed by the New Governors in year one as the designated place for all religious activity. Its prominent buildings are temples and treasuries dedicated to the gods, all of whom are represented by at least one structure, if not multiple. The structures are inevitably eroded over time. Some are maintained. Others must be rebuilt every few years by the Architects who not only replicate the beautiful architecture, but add newer and more elegant elements each time, only to see them fall once more. The city is also guarded by colossal clay statues of the gods. The ankles of such statues are slowly eaten away until they topple, only to be reconstructed by the many artists who call Ilenfore their home. There are a good number of people who live in Nasso permanently, namely the very poor who are tasked with maintaining it. But it is also the birthplace of several cultural bedrocks including the University, which is about a mile outside the city on higher ground, the Cult of the Burned Hand, and the Architects.
➔ The Pillars:
(These are names that I came up with, but I haven't fully fleshed out what each pillar entails. If one strikes your fancy, feel free to adopt it and do some world building around it. In the parenthesis, I've designated whether the royal from that pillar will be male or female. If it says "rigid" then it means that that pillar will only ever have royals of one gender. The army, for example, is comprised entirely of men, so they cannot pick a female to represent them. )
• Cult of the Blue Moth (f, rigid)
⌑ There is a shared religion in the country which worships ten gods. The Cult of the Blue Moth is dedicated to only one of those gods, called Ysella, who is the goddess of a number of things namely prophecy, fertility, and "feminine virtues." The cult is a coveted aspect of the culture, and it is an honor for any young woman to be welcomed into the ranks. The cult is very mysterious. Girls can be sent there for initiation as early as age seven, and once inducted they usually attend ceremonies once or twice a year. The cult is based in a sanctuary in the mountains. Some of the known practices include ritualized bathing, sacrifices, and the planting of blue flowers in a sacred garden. Women of the Cult of the Blue Moth live among regular society however they are considered particularly suited for special duties such as lucrative marriages and specific religious duties. The best among them are chosen to live at the sanctuary, which is a beautiful and serene estate tucked into the guarded embrace of the forest. A common image of the Cult of the Blue Moth is women in white gowns wading into water. No one knows why water is so sacred to the cult, or if they do, they will not say for fear of angering the gods.
• Army of the Osprey (m, rigid)
⌑ The Army of the Osprey is a branch of the military that is considered the most prestigious. The men who comprise it are specially selected and trained starting at the age of five following aptitude tests in school. It is much more strict than any other branch of the military as its soldiers are forbidden to have families or to live outside of the barracks until they have been discharged (this only happens once they graduate to higher ranks or if they are permanently injured). The Army of the Osprey teaches precision, duty, sacrifice, etc. Its troops are the secret weapon in any battle, and they are best known for riding with the cavalry on all silver horses. They wear winged helmets and at the age of nineteen they are awarded their special armor of shining silver. Soldiers are expected to keep their hair shoulder-length and maintain many other standards such as daily shining of their armor and strict diets.
• The University (f)
⌑ The University was founded early into the country's origin. It is the place where many of the well-bred, educated families send their children to get an education in countless subjects. It offers a variety of specialized knowledge such as astronomy, mathematics, history, science, and religious studies. The University actually has a reputation across all the continent, and a significant portion of their students come from other countries. It is the place in Ilenfore with the largest percentage of foreign people who come from many cultures, however most of them are wealthy and privileged. Another thing that makes the school unique is that it accepts both male and female students and faculty. Ilenfore is considered progressive in the sense that women are viewed as equally capable of working in specialized fields. Otherwise, the University is more or less what one would expect. It is just outside of Nasso, though it is not on the floodplain. The campus is large enough to house a student population of approximately two thousand. Questions have begun to arise about the quality of the ownership, however, as the school faces growing accusations of being more involved in politics than they perhaps ought to be. Some rumors even claim that the headmaster is a member of the Burning Hand and has his own religious agenda.
• House of the Swans (m)
⌑ The children of the royal families. As one of the Pillars, they represent Bloodlines and Prestige within the country. They live in a sanctuary just outside Nasso. It is regarded as the most beautiful place on the continent. It has white architecture and is centered around a man-made lake called The Looking Glass (which is the home to a number of swans, which is where the house gets its name). All of the direct progeny of the royal family live in the House of the Swans, which is really a collection of houses on a large plot of land. They hold no official titles or government power, though they inevitably have become entangled in politics because of their bloodlines and because they have so much wealth. Only direct descendants of royalty (within the last two generations) are permitted to live in the estate. The public perception of the House of the Swans is that they are meddling elitists who do nothing to earn their substantial allowance from the state. But there is nothing the people can do to disrupt the tradition as Royals are the ones who get the last say about where their children end up. The estate includes a large library, a tutor for the children, and a temple dedicated to Xenire, God of Blood.
• The Architects (m)
⌑ The city of Nasso is known across the continent for its ephemeral beauty. Existing on a floodplain means that the city is constantly being washed and renewed by water. This is what makes the city sacred: the gods are constantly washing it clean of waste and fragility. In order to maintain the temples, sanctuaries, and other buildings within the city, constant construction and rebuilding is required by a guild of workers called the Architects. What began as a relatively small group has grown to a collection of dozens of men who are tasked with rebuilding, redesigning, and conceptualizing the buildings of Nasso. These are not simply construction workers, the Architects are among the most respected and essential people in all the city. They are on the level of the priests and priestesses, for they too carry out the will of the gods. Along with designing buildings, some of the Architects also design the colossal statues that surround the city, all of which are made of clay and typically only last 1-2 years due to the floods. All members of the Architects guild must be born in the city of Nasso. They come from all walks of life and are trained for many years. Their services are paid for through taxation, though some argue that it is a waste of money to be constantly rebuilding structures that will inevitably topple.
• The Silo (f)
⌑ Farmers in many cultures considered to be on a lower rung of society. This is only half true in Ilenfore. As will many places, the farmers are mostly self-sufficient, salt-of-the-earth people who live in rural areas. And for much of history, they had little political power or influence. This changed when the Pillars were instated. Now, all the farmers in the country collectively make up one of the Pillars. This means that once every century, they are allowed to nominate one among them to be considered royalty. That person then represents the Farmers in all political matters and advocates on their behalf. This is less idealistic than it seems, however, given the royal farmer is often outnumbered by their equals of aristocratic and wealthy backgrounds. That being said, the royal farmer is usually considered a champion of the people and are sometimes worshiped like gods by the common people. They, along with the Weavers, come from poor backgrounds and have typically advocated for the rights of working class people.
• Church of the Burned Hand (m, rigid)
⌑ The counterpart to the Cult of the Blue Moth is the Church of the Burned Hand. Both are religious groups steeped in a certain amount of mystery and elitism. While the Blue Moth is exclusively for female citizens, the Church of the Burned Hand is only for men. Boys are recruited starting at the age of thirteen. Not much is known about what exactly the Church does. Their members all wear black cloaks lined with orange, bearing the sigil of a hand in flames. They are a large sponsor of the Architects given they have a large presence in Nasso. Mostly they can be seen at religious gatherings, typically travelling in a group of three men roughly the same age. Some rumors claim that the trios are involved in romantic relationships, which is supported by the fact that none of the men are allowed to marry (unless they leave the church). Polyamory is actually celebrated in Ilenfory culture as it is something that exists in mythology. It is also heavily speculated that polyamory is regularly practiced among the Royals, who are encouraged to have children but only within their group of ten and who are also never allowed to marry. Another rumor claims that the Church practices necromancy. Again, not much is known about what the members of the cult take part in. They are known to worship Valkire, the god of fire, rebirth, and justice. They also worship is godly son, Alinar, who is god of ash, death, and ceremony.
• Mercenaries’ Guild (f)
⌑ wip
• Prison of Sands (m)
⌑ wip
• The Weavers (f, rigid)
⌑ think criminals can't be royalty? well, think again
➔ Royalty:
➔ The War:
➔ Overview:
Fantasy roleplay which centers around the selection of a new generation of oligarchical leaders. According to an astrological calendar created by the gods, a new royal “circle” must be created every century. This process demands that ten people between the ages of 19-29 must be nominated by their respective institutions called the “Pillars.” The Pillars are a collection of religious, academic, and military powers throughout the country. These institutions have been in place for nearly a thousand years. They were selected by the New Governors in the first year when the country became an oligarchy/republic rather than a monarchy.
The Pillars represent all aspects of life within the country, namely cult practice, war, knowledge, industry, and mysticism. They are all regarded as equally important to the governance of the empire, which is why each is represented within the government. The candidate which is selected from each of the pillars best embodies the values of that pillar. They are chosen by the leaders within the pillar itself in hopes that the person who is chosen will be the one best suited for the role. That being said, politics is a messy business, and a thousand years is a long time for corruption to fester. Each of the leaders within the Pillars have their own agendas, and sometimes they act in their own self interest rather than in the interest of the people.
➔ Geography:
The country, called Ilenfore, is on the smaller side. Think more city state than extensive kingdom. The climate is largely hot to mild, depending on how close one is to the mountains. Most of its population lives in the main city, called Cypra. There is also a sister city called Nasso, but more on both of them later. Other than that, the other half or so of the population is scattered across the country in smaller hamlets, towns, sanctuaries, and farms. The country is split into two parts geographically. The northeastern part is forested and rather mountainous, though not the sharp-edged mountains that some other countries boast. In fact, the majority of the land is low in elevation. This part of the country is covered in predominantly deciduous forests, rolling mountains, and hidden valleys. There is also some farmland, mostly small crops and orchards. The southwestern half of the country is much flatter. Only shallow hills and rivers break up the land, which contains few forests. It is rather dry, but it has good soil for growing some crops and certain areas can be surprisingly lush. These are called the "Flatlands" for self-explanatory reasons. This is also where the military has its two largest forts and its where soldiers go to train.
⌑ Cypra: The largest city in the country and home to about a third of its population. It exists in the foothills of the mountains, in a bend along the edges of the forest. It is built mostly around the Arch House, which is the palace that the royals call home. The palace sits on a protruding hill in the center of the city. The further up the hill one wanders, the more lavish and expensive the houses get. The palace itself is named for the prominent trio of arches on the front of the large house made of pristine sandstone. The palace has four stories and extensive rooms (there are ten royals to house, after all). There is also a central garden/pool, an auditorium, and rooms for entertaining. Below the palace are the homes of the most important people in Cypra, mostly advisors and other political figures. Further down the hill are aristocrats and wealthy merchants. Below them is the marketplace, and then surrounding the city are the houses of the less fortunate, the common people and workers who make the city function. Cypra is a center of trade and it is where all of the farmers come to sell their goods. It is also the home of the Mercenaries' Guild and the Silo, both of which have buildings in the center of town. It is illegal for sanctuaries and temples to be built within the city limits, however, which is why Nasso is considered the "Sacred City" despite being much smaller and less essential to the larger economy.
⌑ Nasso: About fifteen miles to the south of Cypra, toward the Flatlands, is the city of Nasso. It is impossible to miss the city as it sits in the center of a very large floodplain on a bed of red clay. "This is not the most practical place to build a city," one might think to themselves, and this is true, however the precarious nature of the city is what lends itself to being considered sacred. The land it occupies is very flat and at the base of the hills, where water from heavy rain can create countless shallow streams which feed into the river. For that reason, during the monsoons, the city can find itself in up to six inches of water. Thankfully this is usually only for a matter of days before the water dries or drains into the river. This is also why there is little to no vegetation in the city itself. Instead, it is occupied only by stark marble structures and streets that have long since been blanketed in red clay. Nasso was originally constructed by the New Governors in year one as the designated place for all religious activity. Its prominent buildings are temples and treasuries dedicated to the gods, all of whom are represented by at least one structure, if not multiple. The structures are inevitably eroded over time. Some are maintained. Others must be rebuilt every few years by the Architects who not only replicate the beautiful architecture, but add newer and more elegant elements each time, only to see them fall once more. The city is also guarded by colossal clay statues of the gods. The ankles of such statues are slowly eaten away until they topple, only to be reconstructed by the many artists who call Ilenfore their home. There are a good number of people who live in Nasso permanently, namely the very poor who are tasked with maintaining it. But it is also the birthplace of several cultural bedrocks including the University, which is about a mile outside the city on higher ground, the Cult of the Burned Hand, and the Architects.
➔ The Pillars:
(These are names that I came up with, but I haven't fully fleshed out what each pillar entails. If one strikes your fancy, feel free to adopt it and do some world building around it. In the parenthesis, I've designated whether the royal from that pillar will be male or female. If it says "rigid" then it means that that pillar will only ever have royals of one gender. The army, for example, is comprised entirely of men, so they cannot pick a female to represent them. )
• Cult of the Blue Moth (f, rigid)
⌑ There is a shared religion in the country which worships ten gods. The Cult of the Blue Moth is dedicated to only one of those gods, called Ysella, who is the goddess of a number of things namely prophecy, fertility, and "feminine virtues." The cult is a coveted aspect of the culture, and it is an honor for any young woman to be welcomed into the ranks. The cult is very mysterious. Girls can be sent there for initiation as early as age seven, and once inducted they usually attend ceremonies once or twice a year. The cult is based in a sanctuary in the mountains. Some of the known practices include ritualized bathing, sacrifices, and the planting of blue flowers in a sacred garden. Women of the Cult of the Blue Moth live among regular society however they are considered particularly suited for special duties such as lucrative marriages and specific religious duties. The best among them are chosen to live at the sanctuary, which is a beautiful and serene estate tucked into the guarded embrace of the forest. A common image of the Cult of the Blue Moth is women in white gowns wading into water. No one knows why water is so sacred to the cult, or if they do, they will not say for fear of angering the gods.
• Army of the Osprey (m, rigid)
⌑ The Army of the Osprey is a branch of the military that is considered the most prestigious. The men who comprise it are specially selected and trained starting at the age of five following aptitude tests in school. It is much more strict than any other branch of the military as its soldiers are forbidden to have families or to live outside of the barracks until they have been discharged (this only happens once they graduate to higher ranks or if they are permanently injured). The Army of the Osprey teaches precision, duty, sacrifice, etc. Its troops are the secret weapon in any battle, and they are best known for riding with the cavalry on all silver horses. They wear winged helmets and at the age of nineteen they are awarded their special armor of shining silver. Soldiers are expected to keep their hair shoulder-length and maintain many other standards such as daily shining of their armor and strict diets.
• The University (f)
⌑ The University was founded early into the country's origin. It is the place where many of the well-bred, educated families send their children to get an education in countless subjects. It offers a variety of specialized knowledge such as astronomy, mathematics, history, science, and religious studies. The University actually has a reputation across all the continent, and a significant portion of their students come from other countries. It is the place in Ilenfore with the largest percentage of foreign people who come from many cultures, however most of them are wealthy and privileged. Another thing that makes the school unique is that it accepts both male and female students and faculty. Ilenfore is considered progressive in the sense that women are viewed as equally capable of working in specialized fields. Otherwise, the University is more or less what one would expect. It is just outside of Nasso, though it is not on the floodplain. The campus is large enough to house a student population of approximately two thousand. Questions have begun to arise about the quality of the ownership, however, as the school faces growing accusations of being more involved in politics than they perhaps ought to be. Some rumors even claim that the headmaster is a member of the Burning Hand and has his own religious agenda.
• House of the Swans (m)
⌑ The children of the royal families. As one of the Pillars, they represent Bloodlines and Prestige within the country. They live in a sanctuary just outside Nasso. It is regarded as the most beautiful place on the continent. It has white architecture and is centered around a man-made lake called The Looking Glass (which is the home to a number of swans, which is where the house gets its name). All of the direct progeny of the royal family live in the House of the Swans, which is really a collection of houses on a large plot of land. They hold no official titles or government power, though they inevitably have become entangled in politics because of their bloodlines and because they have so much wealth. Only direct descendants of royalty (within the last two generations) are permitted to live in the estate. The public perception of the House of the Swans is that they are meddling elitists who do nothing to earn their substantial allowance from the state. But there is nothing the people can do to disrupt the tradition as Royals are the ones who get the last say about where their children end up. The estate includes a large library, a tutor for the children, and a temple dedicated to Xenire, God of Blood.
• The Architects (m)
⌑ The city of Nasso is known across the continent for its ephemeral beauty. Existing on a floodplain means that the city is constantly being washed and renewed by water. This is what makes the city sacred: the gods are constantly washing it clean of waste and fragility. In order to maintain the temples, sanctuaries, and other buildings within the city, constant construction and rebuilding is required by a guild of workers called the Architects. What began as a relatively small group has grown to a collection of dozens of men who are tasked with rebuilding, redesigning, and conceptualizing the buildings of Nasso. These are not simply construction workers, the Architects are among the most respected and essential people in all the city. They are on the level of the priests and priestesses, for they too carry out the will of the gods. Along with designing buildings, some of the Architects also design the colossal statues that surround the city, all of which are made of clay and typically only last 1-2 years due to the floods. All members of the Architects guild must be born in the city of Nasso. They come from all walks of life and are trained for many years. Their services are paid for through taxation, though some argue that it is a waste of money to be constantly rebuilding structures that will inevitably topple.
• The Silo (f)
⌑ Farmers in many cultures considered to be on a lower rung of society. This is only half true in Ilenfore. As will many places, the farmers are mostly self-sufficient, salt-of-the-earth people who live in rural areas. And for much of history, they had little political power or influence. This changed when the Pillars were instated. Now, all the farmers in the country collectively make up one of the Pillars. This means that once every century, they are allowed to nominate one among them to be considered royalty. That person then represents the Farmers in all political matters and advocates on their behalf. This is less idealistic than it seems, however, given the royal farmer is often outnumbered by their equals of aristocratic and wealthy backgrounds. That being said, the royal farmer is usually considered a champion of the people and are sometimes worshiped like gods by the common people. They, along with the Weavers, come from poor backgrounds and have typically advocated for the rights of working class people.
• Church of the Burned Hand (m, rigid)
⌑ The counterpart to the Cult of the Blue Moth is the Church of the Burned Hand. Both are religious groups steeped in a certain amount of mystery and elitism. While the Blue Moth is exclusively for female citizens, the Church of the Burned Hand is only for men. Boys are recruited starting at the age of thirteen. Not much is known about what exactly the Church does. Their members all wear black cloaks lined with orange, bearing the sigil of a hand in flames. They are a large sponsor of the Architects given they have a large presence in Nasso. Mostly they can be seen at religious gatherings, typically travelling in a group of three men roughly the same age. Some rumors claim that the trios are involved in romantic relationships, which is supported by the fact that none of the men are allowed to marry (unless they leave the church). Polyamory is actually celebrated in Ilenfory culture as it is something that exists in mythology. It is also heavily speculated that polyamory is regularly practiced among the Royals, who are encouraged to have children but only within their group of ten and who are also never allowed to marry. Another rumor claims that the Church practices necromancy. Again, not much is known about what the members of the cult take part in. They are known to worship Valkire, the god of fire, rebirth, and justice. They also worship is godly son, Alinar, who is god of ash, death, and ceremony.
• Mercenaries’ Guild (f)
⌑ wip
• Prison of Sands (m)
⌑ wip
• The Weavers (f, rigid)
⌑ think criminals can't be royalty? well, think again
➔ Royalty:
➔ The War: