[HEADING=1]The Principalities of Mons Caelos[/HEADING]
Picture a time long ago when man grew beyond the limitations of the tribe and seized the glory days of their forefathers. Gone were the days of taking up the sword and constantly fighting for survival in a harsh world. Gone were the hunting & gathering cultures, the darkness, and the savagery. One man from another world proclaimed himself King of the realm, and ushered a golden era. The new kingdom, Mons Caelos grew under his command, expanding its borders and becoming the most powerful nation in the land. with its encastellation mankind could finally grow beyond the puny towns and militia, and truly flourish within walls of stone like a forest untamed.
Exactly like a forest untamed...
As populations grew inside these castles, so did their needs. Some expanded their walls to hold more land, while its people left their safety to seek their fortune. Those who stayed to build recieved renown from the king and became the future castellians, while those who left relived the days of warrior kings and held territory in their name. A rift was created between those who stayed inside and those who left; each had accused the other of decadence and sought nothing more but their subjugation. Yet both the castellians and landlords still swore fealty to the King and remained united.
Until his death.
The new sovereign did not carry the same allegiance as his predecessor, and with each passing generation they many opted to secede; in fact many had abandoned Mons Caelos to form their own kingdoms in the south: Sul'giat and Ancier. Were it not for their constant warring with their suzerain nation and the pirate hordes from the Golden Edge in the east, the city-states would've abandoned the king long ago. In an attempt to keep rule in the lands, the King gave to powerful castellians in the land unilateral authority to establish control in their lands by any means necessary, proclaiming them as Princes of the domain.
With this declaration, all vestiges of the King's authority were stripped and a great game between the new Princes, the landlords, and the few independant castellians had finally begun. And this game for power will not end until Mons Caelos' rotting heart beats its last.
*.*.*
To describe it simply, Mons Caelos is a confederation of city-states loosely united under the rule of a King. Back in its founding days, the king held absolute power, but now the office is only a figurehead; the real power is in the Princes, the castellians, and the landlords.
The land's history is intermingled with the Golden Edge; the founding ruler hailed from there and was the one who led Mons Caelos to its golden age. Many hold people from the ocean in high regard, prizing them for their competence, acuity, and resilience; some elevate them to working as their lieutenants and secretaries, but others prefer to keep them as quality slaves.
Slavery is legal in Mons Caelos, and consists of criminals, prisoners of war, and people from the Golden Edge. Since castles and walls were being built across the land, the nobility relied on slave labor to accomodate their needs.
Few are willing to admit it, but the Principalities are falling apart; the Princes, castellians, and landlords refuse to see eye to eye; and the only thing the king can do is lament at the state of his realm. The sun is setting fast upon Mons Caelos, with the only thing that can be done is to take power like the Princes have done.
Anything goes this RP, but to win, you'll need to fulfill these two objectives:
LEGITIMATELY CROWN YOURSELF KING
CONSOLIDATE ALL POWER IN MONS CAELOS AS KING
*.*.*
Princes - Acting to keep order in the land, the Princes became established as the rulers of the larger domains of Mons Caelos - the Principalities. They answer to nobody but the king and handle regional matters of the kingdom. By themselves, their power is very small; only enough to have the illusion of control. But most Princes cooperate with one another like a guild, and their collective might is enough to give any upstart pause.
Landlords - Established long before the Princes, the landlords are provincial rulers of Mons Caelos. No one is as well equipped for rule as the landlords; with legions of manpower, coin, and political savvy, they have ensured a degree of autonomy and freedom from the Princes whom they technically answer to. Cooperation between lords is almost impossible; their lot is a cutthroat environment where everyone wants something from them and will take it by any means necessary.
Castellians - Simply put, they are masters of castles and the cities within their walls. Most serve as retainers for both the landlords and Princes, but the most cunning of this office often pit the other groups against one another while they quietly gather their own power. Speaking of, their influence beyond the castle is small but can extend their reach beyond their province; any other power must be invested in this with a Prince or landlord backing them. (If you are looking for a challenge, feel free to play as a Castellian.)
Landlords - Established long before the Princes, the landlords are provincial rulers of Mons Caelos. No one is as well equipped for rule as the landlords; with legions of manpower, coin, and political savvy, they have ensured a degree of autonomy and freedom from the Princes whom they technically answer to. Cooperation between lords is almost impossible; their lot is a cutthroat environment where everyone wants something from them and will take it by any means necessary.
Castellians - Simply put, they are masters of castles and the cities within their walls. Most serve as retainers for both the landlords and Princes, but the most cunning of this office often pit the other groups against one another while they quietly gather their own power. Speaking of, their influence beyond the castle is small but can extend their reach beyond their province; any other power must be invested in this with a Prince or landlord backing them. (If you are looking for a challenge, feel free to play as a Castellian.)
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Appearance:
Position (Prince, landlord, or castellian):
Background:
Personality:
Describe your domain (King's Range is taken):
Age:
Gender:
Appearance:
Position (Prince, landlord, or castellian):
Background:
Personality:
Describe your domain (King's Range is taken):
The Party Line
Please be reasonable with your character design - No Mary-Sues, Trenchcoats, Godmods, etc.
Even though we'll be at each others' throats in this RP, don't do the same in real life - Be respectful and courteous to one another while speaking.
You have free reign to design your domain, from landmarks and settlements, to how you run it - Feel free to use the map as reference, be as descriptive as you want, and you are encouraged to outsmart the GM.
Having said that, be reasonable with your domain size - Don't take up half of the map.
Take some time to design your retinue: Contacts, power structure, reputation, etc.