As Solymr is working on the Handbook 2.0, it is time I announce a new FEF: FEF7! (ain't I creative, huh)
It will serve both as a playtest for the Handbook 2.0 as well as way for me to get back into this
horrendous time-devouring abomination well-established forum game series.
I plan to include about 4-6 player characters
maximum, starting with First Classes and 'maybe' promoting into Promoted Classes by end of the game, and the plot will be a cheesy one of 'young princess deals with conspiracy in standard-fare medieval fantasy kingdom' sort. As you can see, I expect it to be on the short side.
I give no estimate on OOC thread nor what kind of characters I will be seeking (although they most probably will have to be of noble birth) for this particular game.
Because I know some
super-thirsty maniacal junkies creative players will already be getting character ideas, I'm posting what lore I already have for the plot-central Kingdom (Angeborten) and several nation-states around. Be warned that there will be updates, erasings and additions on irregular basis in the coming days.
THE SEVEN SISTERS:
Native religion of Angeborten, it stems from charitable and holy works of seven sisters born of noble parentage, who traveled about the land, healing sick, supporting families in need and donating to the poor. Child-bearing, marital relationships, charity, fearlessness, compassion, healing the sick and fire-tending are seven Holy Virtues, each represented by one of the Holy Sisters: Aafja, Aldgonda, Kato, Els, Hede, Jeta and Ria.
Nowadays, the matriarchal Seven Sisters' Church is responsible for running city hospitals, orphanages, schools for impoverished noblemen, crafting of healing staves and maintainance of libraries and arcane research; in Angeborten, the Church is also performing supervisory role in manufactories producing vulneraries, concoctions and other everyday medicines used on the continent.
Sisters of the Church also officiate weddings, tend to funeral pyres and bestow blessings upon those in need. To rob, harm or violate a Sister is considered one of greatest offenses in the known lands, comparable to treason or regicide, and for which there's no pardon. Influential Sisters often receive much praise and respect from those they live with, and funerals of famous and long-serving Sisters tend to attract crowds of tens of thousands of mourners.
The head of the Church is The Holy Matriarch (currently Renate van Raginbrand) elected for life amongst elderly Matrons, who command younger Mothers and their convent Sisters, and bestow blessings of young Maidens who decide to join this most holiest of orders.
SIGISMUND THE MAN-KING:
Born out of fame and respect for Sigismund, First King of Herzgottia, his worship took on divine and ritualistic approach about five or six generations down the line. The deceased King, due to his feats of strength, unprecedented fame and heroic deeds, in the minds of his successors couldn't be anything but a god who descended into this world to bring prosperity and unity amongst the warring Herzgottians. Sigismund was The Man who was the King; The All-Caring Father; The Eagle-Eyed Hunter; The Fearless Warrior; The Master of All Wisdom, and many, many other names that were attributed to him.
SIGISMUND THE MAN-KING:
Born out of love and respect for Sigismund, First King of Herzgottia, his worship took on divine and ritualistic approach about five or six generations down the line. The deceased King, due to his feats of strength, unprecedented fame and heroic deeds, in the minds of his successors couldn't be anything but a god who descended into this world to bring prosperity and unity amongst the warring Herzgottians. Sigismund was The Man who was the King; The All-Caring Father; The Eagle-Eyed Hunter; The Fearless Warrior; The Master of All Wisdom, and many, many other names that were attributed to him.
Indeed, many of Prayers to Sigismund (of which there's approximately one hundred twenty five) are actually retellings of the tales of his adventures and quests; the Prayer for Warrior's Strength is a song about Sigismund and The Metal Bear, who terrorized the Rotflus Forest before Sigismund came and wrestled with it; Oath of Vengeance is simply recounting of the time when bandits from Subi tribe violated Sigismund's wife, killed his sons and fled with his daughters, and whom Sigismund tracked down relentlessly for forty days before catching up with them and murdering them (and then ripped their hearts out to deny them entry into afterlife).
Once mandatory religion for about half of the peoples on the continent, the fall of Herzgottian Empire and establishment of The Seven Sisters' faith greatly diminished the influence of the Cult of Sigismund. Nowadays, Sons of Sigismund are the central authority of Sigismund the Man-King's worship, located in Kingdom of Sterlitz, although there are still many churches and monasteries dedicated to Sigismund in the Grand Duchy, Angeborten, Tatalia, its influence lately spreading to Norgemark in the north, across Suderbund Sea.
Once mandatory religion for about half of the peoples on the continent, the fall of Herzgottian Empire and establishment of The Seven Sisters' faith greatly diminished the influence of the Cult of Sigismund. Nowadays, Sons of Sigismund are the central authority of Sigismund the Man-King's worship, located in Kingdom of Sterlitz, although there are still many churches and monasteries dedicated to Sigismund in the Grand Duchy, Angeborten, Tatalia, its influence lately spreading to Norgemark in the north, across Suderbund Sea.
THE INVIOLABLE LIGHT:
A religion as ancient as Gallia itself, it was founded by Lothair the Golden, a sage from about a thousand years ago. He has been a traveling soothsayer and oracle, and has foreseen the coming of Great Light, one that would shine upon Gallia and humbly ask for reverence. Nobody believed him until The Day of Light, when the sun turned from white to golden and became twice as big as it was on the sky, speaking to Gallians in unknown, but soft yet commanding tone.
Lothair the Golden was quickly hailed as 'Scion of the Light' and became the first Archpriest of the Light, putting down foundations for the Light's theology, teachings and moral codes that Gallians would follow even today.
The headquarters of the Church however moved from Gallia to Tiberrine Republic of Scolia following the turmoil of Age of Strife and The Half War, which laid waste to both Gallia and Herzgottia. Nowadays, the upper echelons of The Church of Inviolable Light are considered to be nearly as corrupt as the Republican rulers themselves, whilst lower echelons are preaching the Greatness of the Light, asking the people of both low and noble births to donate more and more into the donation baskets.
NORGEMARK ANIMISM:
Worship of Norgemarkian animal spirits and ancestral spirits. Since the spread of the Cult of Sigismund in the last century, Norgemarkian Animism has been steadily losing ground, especially in the wealthy coastal cities. However, it remains the main faith of the tribes further inland of Norgemark Island as well as in settlements on the most remote of isles in far northwest or northeast.
The amount of Spirits and Beasts in Norgemarkian pantheon is unknown, as various scholars have tried to categorize and organize the beliefs of Norgemarks and failed. Many of the Beasts and Spirits seem to be the same thing, but with regional names spelled and spoken differently from tribe to tribe. Several of the most often encountered ones are Taavu the Raven of Propechies, Singa the Doe Queen, Hahu the Sun Bear, Ige the Mountain and Tuuvomi the Salmon of Wisdom.
This religion has no organized structure, and instead is maintained on local level by native Beastmasters and Spiritspeakers, with varying amount of influence and recognition amongst the tribes and settlements. Places of worships are simple and unadorned, often a single, smoothed stone slab surrounded by smaller stones arranged in a 'holy' circle.
KINGDOM OF ANGEBORTEN:
Coat of Arms: Three oak trees silver on red field
Predominant Religion: Seven Sisters
Cultural Counterpart: Francophone Low Countries (Belgium, Luxembourg etc)
Landlocked and not very urbanized, Kingdom of Angeborten occupies the fertile valley where most of Vulnberries grow in the wild. Angeborten Valley was site of many battles, both to conquer the precious herbfields as well as secure the strategic mountain passes into Gallia and Herzgottia. After the Seven Years' War in the middle of the last century, the native Albertine dynasty was replaced with Sachsen monarch, Friedrich; his grandson, the elderly Friedrich II, is the current ruler of the nation, his only child and heiress being Princess Sophia von Sachsen-Angeborten, bethrothed to Johann Lichteisen, a son of one of numerous local noble families. The ruling family enjoys some popularity amongst its subjects, although it is constantly challenged by Seven Sisters' clergy (on the grounds of being too progressive) and plutocratically-minded merchant class (on the grounds of being too feudal in its politics), sometimes leading to domestic problems of varying size and severity.
HERZGOTTIAN EMPIRE (defunct):
Coat of Arms: Sitting golden lion on black field
Predominant Religion: Sigismund the Man-King
Cultural Counterpart: Germany
Once a large nation-state comprised of many feudal townships and noble holdings, it was ruled by the ambitious and greedy Bayernlohe family for almost a hundred years, the backbone of its army always the mighty and terrifying Wyvern Riders. Often, Herzgottian Empire clashed with Kingdom of Gallia, and one of the exhaustive wars, know as 'The Half War' saw collapse of Herzgottia; Grand Duchy of Herzgottia, Republic of Nurn and Kingdom of Sterlitz are its current-day remnants.
GRAND DUCHY OF HERZGOTTIA:
Coat of Arms: Field divided silver and black, diagonally upper-left to lower-right
Predominant Religion: Sigismund the Man-King
Cultural Counterpart: Central Germany (Hesse)
Whatever did not become independent or was annexed by Gallia or the Tiberrine City-States, remained with Herzgottia, which ruler was now elected amongst the Lords of the Grand Council, the greatest monarchs of all time like Karl Sober or Ulrich von Altenburg rising to power only due to the Lords' support. Over the decades, however, the Council lost its influence and its main job nowadays is to affirm the basically-hereditary rule of von Sachsen family. Currently, Maximillian I von Sachsen rules the Grand Duchy, and has family ties with Angeborten Kingdom; King Friedrich II and Grand Duke Maximillian I are uncle and nephew, respectively.
KINGDOM OF TATALIA:
Coat of Arms: Silver pegasus rearing on blue field
Predominant Religion: Seven Sisters
Cultural Counterpart: Netherlands
Tatalians were always a peoples similar yet different from the Herzgottians; whereas Herzgottians looked proudly upon their Wyverns and prefered conquest of land, Tatalians cultivated their maritime ties and maintained their prized Pegasus stables. First a close affiliate of Herzgottia, it was then bound together in marriage, then in vassalship, before being integrated into the Empire; after its fall, Tatalians gained independence once more. Currently the maritime kingdom is known for its trading prowess and of course the Pegasi mercenaries. In Tatalia, the King (of Diest dynasty) and his family wield mostly ceremonial power; the ruling power lies within the Lord-Protector and Tatalian Plutocrats.
REPUBLIC OF NURN:
Coat of Arms: Black lion on golden field
Predominant Religion: Seven Sisters
Cultural Counterpart: Southern Germany (Bavaria)
A small republic, ruled by Council of Lords, which numbers are determined both by elections and hereditary appointage. Considered 'the trade hub' of Herzgottian Empire, its wealth allowed not only to buy itself an independence from Gallian occupation, but also to raise and maintain a defensive force. Nurnians consider themselves 'successors' of Herzgottian Empire, leading to certain dose of hostility (fortunately, often cold rather than hot) between them and the Grand Duchy. Otherwise, the Republic keeps to itself, albeit the Council keeps amicable ties with the Kingdom of Angeborten.
KINGDOM OF STERLITZ:
Coat of Arms: Green fire-breathing wyvern on silver field
Predominant Religion: Sigismund the Man-King
Cultural Counterpart: Northern Germany (Hannover)
Proud and ancient Kingdom, first ruled by Sigismund the Man-King, Mountain-Eater and Dragon-Slayer, himself. The first dynasty long gone, its successor rulers were Bayernlohe family, who came to wield great power and rule Herzgottian Empire. After the fall of Empire, the reverence of Sigismund diminished across the continent, but people of Sterlitz remain his most faithful of worshippers. Agricultural in its makeup and peppered with thick forests and uncharted mountains, it would be considered a backwards land of poverty, fortunately 'Sons of Sigismund's' (Man-King's theocratic council) charitable donations as well as the income from local gold mines keep Sterlitzian peoples well fed.
EMPIRE OF GALLIA:
Coat of Arms: Five golden stars on blue and black checkered field
Predominant Religion: The Inviolable Light
Cultural Counterpart: France
Since time eternal, Gallians were ruled by Sanspeur family. Through numerous branches and marriages between cousins (always at least thrice-removed), the ancient dynasty was kept both healthy and alive. The internal stability led to economic prosperity, and that economic prosperity allowed foundation of powerful military giant. In Age of Strife, Empire of Gallia fought often with Argeboten, Tiberrine City-States and Herzgottia, finally leading to collapse of the last one. Nowadays, Gallians have to contend with some nomads from beyond Southern Deserts, preoccupying the minds and armies of Gallians for the time-being. They're also renowned for their rich vineyards and literature, with repetitive epics, 'les mysteres' and vengeance dramas being renowned across entirety of the continent, with current Gallian Emperor, the square-faced and hairy Jean XIV Sanspeur, being an active patron of arts, and even a playwright, himself.
TIBERRINE ALLIANCE:
Coat of Arms: varies (Nicca: Two silver winged spears crossed on black field; Floria: Red rose on silver-and-blue checkered field; Vancia: Four silver circles arranged into a cross on red field)
Predominant Religion: varies; The Inviolable Light in south and west, Seven Sisters in northeast
Cultural Counterpart: Italy
Comprised of twenty-one republics varying in size from city-states to expansive nations, the Tiberrines live on a peninsula rich in fertile farmlands and rich hillsides surrounded from three sides by Tiber Sea. Sometimes, Tiberrines fight against each other over petty issues, but when presented with outside threat, they are capable of quickly putting aside their differences and fight alongside each other. After dissolving Herzgottian Empire, the Tiberrines next dealt a crushing defeat to Empire of Gallia, establishing 'Hundred Years Truce'. Nowadays, the lands of Tiberrines are lands of milk and honey, arts and sculpture, gold and jewellry... but internal politics of the alliance are shaky at best, with rampant corruption and mysterious murders, the peninsula became a battlefield for three most influential of republics: Nicca, Floria and Vancia.
KINGDOM OF NORGEMARK:
Coat of Arms: Divided into four parts, three golden wyverns on blue field in top left and bottom right, a red longship on silver field in top right and bottom left
Predominant Religion: Sigismund the Man-King (coastal cities), Norgemarkian Animism (inland)
Cultural Counterpart: Scandinavia (Denmark)
Back in the days of Herzgottia, Norgemarks were considered lowly island dwellers who had nothing to offer but fish and furs. But once they mastered shipbuilding and begun raising Wyverns, boy, the Tatalians and Herzgottians were in a bad time. For past two centuries, Norgemarks raided the coasts, with tales of the conquests, pillaging and fearsome strength scaring many people as far as Gallia. Nowadays, Norgemark has changed; its ruling dynasty, the Sjeborg family, tracing its roots to Bayernlohes of Herzgottia, it also adopted its culture and religion, albeit wildsmen and hunters of inland Norgemark keep true to worship of divine beasts and ancestral spirits. Coastal cities are not very different from ports on Herzgottian side of Suderbund Sea; Temples of Sigismund are surrounded by thatch-and-brick townhouses, whilst Wyvern hatcheries bring tons of profit into local merchants' pockets. Norgemark is currently ruled by King Faldmar VI 'the Iron Fist'; the nickname comes from the fact that, during a hunting trip gone wrong, Faldmar, then in his teens, had to wrestle a wild Wyvern to death, losing his left hand (and left eye, for that matter) in the process, and had it replaced with an iron-cast replica.
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