TJByrum
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Some of you may remember the short-lived Isle of Dracos. As most of you might know, I'm currently running The Hallows Inn RP, so if I do decide to revisit the Isle of Dracos, just know that it will be on indefinite hold for the time being.
But that doesn't mean we can't talk about it. I have some new things I'd like share, and it'll end up being very different than the original IoD. I'd like to see what you guys thought of it.
I'll go ahead and say that the inspiration and background for the new and improved IoD comes directly from the British Isles, the Norman Conquests there, Roman Occupation there, the construction of Hadrian's Wall, and the Wars of the Roses. I want to try and fuel a plausible and valid reason for a conflict to erupt instead of "let's conquer for the heck of it". First things first, the actual Isle itself. Secondly, I'll give you guys some (rough) background.
The Isle is roughly the same shape as the British Isles, higher than it is wide. Up north it is cold, down south it is more temperate (perhaps even a desert, if some players are interested in that). I've been thinking of including another, smaller island next to the Isle, similar to how Ireland sits beside the mainland of Britain. This Isle has been inhabited by its indigenous population since the beginning of the human race. Migration, immigration, trade, etc may have brought more cultures here, and some may have died out completely. It's location makes it a prime spot for trade, especially the east - where ships can leave to go to other continents.
The Isle has been divided into many small kingdoms and tribes for millennia. These kingdoms eventually came to be ruled by the Northern King and the Southern King; to this day, there's a fierce rivalry between the north and the south. All of the land was eventually united by a Southern King after the Northern King swore fealty to him. At some point, the Reman Empire invaded the Isle of Dracos from the a southern continent. The unsuspecting southerners were forced to submit to the will of their new imperial lords, of fight them. Those who fought them pretty quickly lost and it didn't take long before the Reman Emperor wrested control from the natives and claimed the south as his own. The Southern King was forced into exile, lest he be executed, and fled south to another continent; he was ridiculed and became known as the Exiled King. The Empire's next target was the north. The problem with the north was that they were prepared to fight a the weary Reman soldiers; though they were part of the Southern King's united kingdoms, they had remained mostly indepdent in thought and culture. Initial forays into the north were not very successful. A few gains were made later on, but the north always reclaimed the lost land. Eventually the Empire decided that it wasn't worth the trouble and constructed a large stone wall that separated the north from the south; the land north of the wall belonged to the new Northern King and his men, while the south belonged to the Empire.
Fast forward to modern days. The Reman Empire has fallen. The southern kingdoms wrested control from the Empire's forces there a few decades ago and claimed much of the land as their own - which in turn created a lot of small fiefdoms. With the 'civilized' culture and technology they adopted from the Empire, they might actually be able to subdue and conquer the north, who still remain their bitter rivals. Unfortunately, the southern kingdoms fight each other over who should be the new Southern King.
Now a young man, claiming to be the descendant of the Exiled King - and having every notion to prove it - has sailed to the Isle of Dracos with a large force of mercenaries and loyalists. He has already obtained the loyalty of many noble houses, and proven himself to be a battle-hardened, iron-fisted, noble, and just king. He need only secure a few more allegiances with the south before heading north and taking that land as well - rebuilding the lost kingdom of his forefathers. But he is met with bitter rivalry by the northmen. The Northern King doesn't want to give in to the Southern King again like his ancestors did; the Northern King has ruled the north with a stern and just rule, and his people love him. Northern and Southern armies have marched to the Empire's Wall with their armies and a battle is on the horizon.
Those who fight for the south believe:
-The Isle should be ruled by the rightful King.
-All Kingdoms and Vassals should swear fealty to one King.
-A problem for one Kingdom on the Isle is a problem with all Kingdoms on the Isle. Everyone follows the same rules set by the King and his council.
-In other words, they favor a strong centralized government, ruled by a single King, who makes all the decisions. Mind you, the Southern King is a noble and just man who rules fairly.
Those who fight for the north believe:
-The north is the north and should be ruled by a Northern King, not some Southern King.
-Northern lords and vassals should swear fealty to the Northern King, not the Southern King.
-Northern lords and vassals should be able to make their own laws, follow their own ideals and customs, and not have to abide by the rules and regulations of the other kingdoms.
-In other words, they favor individualism, localized government, the Northern King only intervenes when absolutely necessary. The Northern King is required to keep the peace and allow everyone to operate the way it should.
You'll either be from the north and swear fealty to the Northern King, and you're marching with him to the wall to make sure your way of life, customs, and beliefs aren't controlled by the Southern King and his laws. Or you're from the south, swear fealty to the Southern King, and you're marching north because you support his decision that the entire realm needs to be united under a single rule, and everyone should be treated equally and fairly. On the other hand, you may disagree with both and are planning to secede from the North/South and create your own faction.
Everyone also has a single Paragon. The Paragon is like the most important piece on a Chess board. He's your fighter, your commander, the man or woman everyone in your faction looks up to. The only other characters he/she could not beat in a duel would be another Paragon. No other person in your faction can inspire as much loyalty as your Paragon. They can drastically turn the tide of battle. But your characters CAN and WILL die - that's for sure, so watch out.
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