"Heavenly God,
Holy Mother,
Custodian of life,
Eternal beacon of hope,
I submit my soul to you,
And become one with the solar glow.
I ask this of you with open arms,
O flame in our souls.
Sustain me with your almighty mercy,
So I may serve for Endless Time."
- The Grand Empire of Titanus' Pledge
Joy, hope, and pride, the emotions that encompassed your entire being on that special day, the day that you rose above your fellow man and became a Senator. On that day a sense of duty and responsibility found its way into your soul, causing you to be rather eager to work and contribute to the Empire's development. Many of those among the courts would say "too eager," for you were extremely vocal with your beliefs and quite open with your dealings. Of course, the same thing happened to the other Senators when they were first assigned; you all believed that your newly granted authority would wash away all opposition due to you being above the petty courts of nobles and commoners. You were all very wrong. Looking back on those times, you were a very naive child, but those times have long since passed and you have grown considerably. Now a learned god that is fluent in the ways of statecraft and intrigue, you've come to know that you cannot simply kick and scream for your ideals, for such actions would only serve to harden your fellow Senators' stubbornness to change and turn the elites of this empire against you. You could've appealed to Elysia and persuaded her to enact your policies, but she has far more concerning matters to address and such an action would lead to a loss of face among the courts. Sadly there was no possible course of action for you to take if you actually wanted to make a difference, except the action of waiting, and wait you did.
5 years in office, and you have seen the world transform into a powder keg that threatens to blow at any moment. You see, there is something that is known throughout Titanus, something that is infallible in truth. Something that will end this peaceful age and usher the world into an era of war and death. That something is the fact that the Grand Empire of Titanus is dying.
Yes, it is true that this glorious Empire, that you've all grown to love, is dying. It is currently only held together by the love shared by all towards its Empress, and not the principles and values it teaches. Now, you are not advocating for the destruction of the Titanus Empire. It's just that you know, much like your peers, that Elysia's health has been deteriorating as time passes and her death spells the death of the nation.
"It is only a matter of time," you whisper under your breath, dreading the inevitable arrival of that cursed day.
Ironically, however, praying and wishing won't do anything to fix or even delay the oncoming catastrophe. All you can do is continue to wait for the storm to strike.
In the meantime, you have your basic duties as Senator to uphold/complete. Like finally reading all of those letters you've been tossing into a pile since your first year in office, You're going to strangle your younger self.
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Standing in your private studies, you slowly close the door behind you, doing whatever you can to delay yourself from working. Unfortunately, there isn't enough shit in this place to delay you for long, and you find yourself next to the stack of papers in about a minute.
You let out a loud groan as you realize that the paper mound reaches up to your waist. A disorderly heap like this would require hundreds of envelopes to even begin stacking. Which means you have hundreds of messages to read and respond to.
Grabbing the one at the very top, an envelope sealed with a amber sun, you nonchalantly open it and begin reading, "Dear Loyal Servant of-"
Your crucial task is immediately interrupted by one of your guards as he slams open your door, breathing heavily, "MY LORD, I BRING DIRE NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL!"
Whether you would like to admit it or not, the sudden intrusion and loud echoing noise of metal colliding with stone really caught you off guard. To make matters worse the scare caused you to fall out of your chair and land flat on your ass. Looks like you won't be able to play this one off. Quickly fixing your posture and dusting off your clothes, you clear your throat and address the rather exhausted guard, "Well now I do hope you have a good reason for interrupting my work. Especially since I remember giving a very comprehensible order of "Not Interrupting Me Under Any Circumstance!" To be honest you're quite happy that this intervention occurred, anything to delay the monotonous task of paperwork.
Regaining his breath and performing the proper salute befitting of one of your status, he speaks in a calmer tone, "I understand my lord, but the information I bring is crucial. It is in regards to the God-Empress herself, Mother Elysia."
"Now that is important soldier. I suppose I will overlook your actions this time, for any circumstance relating to Lady Elysia is well-worth my time. What is the information you have brought me?" you say with your best poker face. Unfortunately, behind the calm mask currently in place, there is a building fearful anticipation. His actions have conveyed that the news is of the bad variety to put it simply, which could only mean one thing.
"My lord, the Empress….she's…..she's d-dead. The reports say that...she was discovered in her private chambers...nailed to the wall..devoid of all life."
"Impossible,
it can't be true,
it has to be a lie,
a dirty trick,
LADY ELYSIA CANNOT DIE,"your mind keeps shouting such thoughts, practically begging for the guard to be wrong, but no matter how much you deny it or plead for it to be false, you know the words he speaks are true.
Silence takes hold of the room for what seems like hours indicated by the fact that your freshly lit candles are now burning low.
The guard is the first to break the deafening silence, "What should we do now my lord?"
You look at him with sunken eyes and an open mouth. With the Empress dead in her chambers, it is only a matter of time before the Grand Empire of Titanus joins her in the grave.
The whole nation will be engulfed in civil war the likes of which none have ever witnessed. While the entire nation will feel Elysia's death and mourn for the lost, it will not delay the inevitable as all will seek to fill the vacuum of power and claim the throne for themselves. From the weakest insect to the strongest god, from the deepest point of the sea to the highest mountain top, from the scorching desert sands to the wasting tundras of ice, all will live in this age of war, fighting for their ideals and their lords and their simple right to live.
Your fellow Senators are no exception to this truth, and neither are you.
If you hope to survive and thrive in this new age of chaos then you must seize control of your destiny and forge a path of your own. Whether you want to participate in this war or not does not matter, for all will come for your lands and it is your sacred duty as Senator to protect them.
The Die have been cast and war has arrived to Titanus. All will be making their move once the sun rises at the crack of dawn, and you will not be caught with your pants down.
YOU MUST MAKE YOUR MOVE, NOW!
What do you do?
[ ] You swear fealty to…
[ ] The Dread Imperium
- District 4 of the Grand Empire of Titanus also known as the Dread Peninsula, led by Isabella Blackhawk, has declared independence from the dying nation and have proclaimed the founding of the Dread Imperium. A world of undeath and eternal servitude, the Imperium is well versed in the blackened arts of magic and the lores forbidden by nature itself. A nation that houses those who have kissed death generations ago, it is home to ancient knowledge and terrifying abominations that have honed their might throughout centuries.
+ Masters of the Black Arts: The Winds of Magic are at their strongest in the Dread Peninsula. As a result, all sentient creatures in the Dread Imperium are well-versed in the dark sorceries of Titanus. The fact that everyone in the kingdom are undead only serves to encourage their lust for power and knowledge.
+/- Undead: The Dread Imperium is a nation of undying horrors and people that lust for the immortality that undeath grants. One could expect for an undead empire to be superior to its living counterparts in the sense that they need not worry about food or exhaustion, but the flaws faced by the realm would be their vulnerability to holy magics, their reliance on magic, and the hatred the whole world has for their kind.
- Divided Leadership: The government of the empire is split between two rival factions known as the Coven of Blood and the Society of Bones. They oppose each other at every turn and have made it clear that compromising is impossible. The whole nation can be plunged into civil war if Lady Blackhawk makes one wrong move
[ ] The Free State of Twilight Rock - District 5 of the Grand Empire of Titanus also known as Twilight Rock, led by Deylus Luthricien I, has declared independence from the dying nation and have proclaimed the founding of the Free State of Twilight Rock (FSTR). The FSTR is an interesting nation, to say the least. For it is a realm of nothing but whores and thugs, criminals, and outlaws, escaped slaves and petty thieves, the lumpenproletariat to put it simply. To make matters more...complex interesting is the fact that it is the only area with access to the mysterious mineral knowns as Twilight Rock. Oh, and the leader of the nation is a madman. How fun.
+/- The Color of Madness: The FSTR is the only kingdom in Titanus with access to the mysterious mineral known as Twilight Rock. No one really knows where the strange stone came from or how it's made, but people are aware of its unnatural properties and world-shattering powers. Twilight Rock is an extremely dangerous mineral to handle because of its passive ability to warp the very fabric of time itself and the corrupting madness it seems to impart on all close to it. Just imagine the potential power one could wield if they harnessed its properties!
+/- Bandit County: A kingdom built by lawbreakers and unwanted trash. The Free State of Titanus doesn't have one honest person in its borders nor a person with any actual morals. Such a nation wouldn't be conceived by normal minds, for most would believe that encouraging such sinful behavior would only breed problems. But anyone not blinded by their own moral high ground would be able to see the benefits it possesses. A Bandit County creates professionals in underhanded tactics and unfavorable practices, plus no one here is eager to accept the so-called lawfulness of other nations. However, the throne is always sought after by power-hungry warlords and anything here can be bought for the right price.
+/- The Mad Count: Does anything need to be said for Deylus Luthricien I the Mad Count of Titanus? A man with flickering lights in his mind, Deylus is not exactly right in the head. His irrational and crazy nature makes him unpredictable to all that oppose and support him. This makes it harder for people to control him or plan for his actions, but at any moment he could execute his entire staff for no logical reason.
[ ] The Church of Elysium - The Elysion Faith of the Grand Empire of Titanus also known as the Church of Elysium, led by Grimlock the Cruel, has declared independence from the dying nation and have proclaimed the Church of Elysium has its own sovereign entity in Titanus. A world of steel and faith dedicated to the teachings of Elysia, the Church is well versed in the holy arts and the lores taught to them by the Goddess herself. The Church houses those who have devoted their entire lives to the Empress, it is home to zealous warriors that hold the secrets to devastating crafts unknown to most.
+ Elysia's Chosen: The Church of Elysia is the only organization in Titanus that the Empress invested time and effort in personally. Yes, she saw to the problems of the Empire and fought to keep it afloat, but whenever she had free time she would spend it in the Churches throughout the land. This special treatment has caused the Church to become fanatics in Elysia's teachings and have been given access to the secrets of holy miracles and runic crafting.
+/- Scrambled: The Church of Elysia has no concrete powerbase or headquarters. At their disposal are nothing but churches, temples, monasteries, and cathedrals that are all scattered throughout Titanus. Truly a boon for Defenders of the Faith, for any foe of the heavens to break through their rivals and assault all of the temples guarded by the Church will find it a costly decision. Truly a curse for the Children of Elysia, for without a united front to organize them each temple stands alone and such isolation makes them weak and divided, giving way for radical sects and heretical cults to form and usurp the true faith.
- A Broken Faith: The whole of Titanus will mourn the loss of their God-Empress, but the Church suffers the most from her apparent death. With the Celestial Dragoness deceased, all wonder if the Elysion Faith still holds true or if it has expired much like its patron. This shattering blow will no doubt spread discord and give rise to apostates. A reformation of the religion is mandatory if it hopes to survive these troubled times, but not all will go along and accept the new doctrine.
[ ] The Kingdom of Aquilia - District 3 of the Grand Empire of Titanus also known as the Bright Sea Region, led by Tesshin Kurou, has declared independence from the dying nation and have proclaimed the founding of the Kingdom of Aquilia. A nation of science and progress, the Aquilians are the founders of the enlightenment movement and the discoverers of gunpowder. People of liberty and equality, the Aquilians are ready for this age of war, for they have broken the shackles of the Empire and are free to liberate their comrades throughout all of Titanus.
+ Masters of Industry: The Kingdom of Aquilia holds the title of being the only industrialized nation in Titanus. The encouragement of rational thought and self-determination has allowed the nation to experience numerous technological breakthroughs, resulting in the construction of massive factories, steam-powered contraptions, and specialized machinery. Everyone in Aquila is a worker that knows more than the common peasant in the other kingdoms, so things are very likely to get done on a national scale.
+/- Birthplace of Enlightenment: The Enlightenment was a philosophical and intellectual movement in Titanus that favored rationalism, individualism, and skepticism over religious beliefs and superstitions. Truly a double-edged sword for the traditional governments of Titanus. Having a population that values liberty, life, and equality is useful for promoting innovation, a competitive economy, and fierce soldiers ready to die for their independence. However, the people aren't exactly fond of religion, superstitions, and absolute governments, so expect passive-aggressive behavior toward monarchs, magic, miracles, oligarchs, etc.
- The Iron Circle: The most powerful organization in the Bright Sea Region. The Iron Circle is a massive company formed from all of the guilds in the region on the day of its industrialization. A society of corrupt power-hungry businessmen that only seek to deepen their pockets, the circle is in complete control of the kingdom's economy, preventing Senator Tesshin from executing his power and aiding the development of the nation. As long as the Circle controls the money of Aquilia, nothing will happen without their say so, and they're more than happy to doom the lives of everyone else if it means making a profit.
[ ] House Stormweaver - District 2 of the Grand Empire of Titanus also known as the Stormlands, led by Ammon Stormweaver, has declared independence from the dying nation and have proclaimed the lands of House Stormweaver as sovereign nations under them. Devout followers of the blade and men of iron, all servants of House Stormweaver are Master Swordsmen that uphold the sacred traditions of their ancestors. A nation connected by the bonds of family and brotherhood, the empire is strongly united under the rule of the Stormweavers and seeks to show all of Titanus their superior might and unrelenting will.
+ Masters of Integrity: The Stormweavers are a proud clan, with a long history worthy of their pride. They are the greatest warriors Titanus has ever seen because they embody the virtues of honor, glory, and unity. A united nation with virtuous citizens is truly a force to be reckoned with, for all stand firmly united in the face of adversary and are willing to sacrifice their lives for the great good.
+/- Path of the Warrior: The Stormweaver Clan is a militarized society that lives and dies by the way of the sword. All are taught from birth to adhere to the Path of the Warrior and to hold the interest of the collective above their own selfish ambitions. A nation that thrives in times of war, House Stormweaver is filled to the brim with skilled swordsmen, ferocious berserkers, elite soldiers, and mighty warriors that are all more than happy to test and better their skills on the field of battle. Expect the nation to be united in times of conflict, and to be far more acceptable about the consequences of war. Do not be surprised if the diplomatic and intrigue branches of government are largely ignored due to them being...unhonorable acts of cowardice. And when peace dawns upon their land they will need to change….drastically.
- Prideful Arrogance: The Stormlands have stood united under the Stormweavers for 10,000 years. For 10,000 years they have weathered the everlasting storm. 10,000 years of repelling relentless attacks from ancient rivals that could shake the very earth. The House was only brought to its knees when the God-Empress herself challenged the first King of Storms to a duel of honor and emerged victorious. Having such a grand and noble history is prone to create some arrogant little shits that believe themselves superior to everyone else. This obnoxious egotism is going to cause serious problems when it comes to abandoning tradition in favor of superior tactics, or simply trying diplomacy with other kingdoms that may or may not have insulted the Stormweavers by suggesting an alliance.
[ ] The Emerald Kingdom - District 6 of the Grand Empire of Titanus also known as the Veiled Regions, led by Tamaris Geldari, has declared independence from the dying nation and have proclaimed the founding of the Emerald Kingdom. The people of the Emerald Kingdom are unique compared to the rest of the world, for they are the true sons and daughters of Titanus. They are one with mother nature in both a figurative and literal sense. The Emerald Kingdom is a nation of the natural order, all that call the Veiled Regions home can hear the beating heart of Titanus, they can see the spirits of old that soar throughout the lands, they know of the suffering dealt to the world by those that call it home and of the love it still harbors for them. They follow the ways of the world and seek to restore the olden ways that have been forgotten for generations.
+ Followers of the Old Ways: Shamanism, Animism, Totemism, and Ancestral Worship are all powerful beliefs and practices that dominate the Emerald Kingdom but have been abandoned by the rest of the populace. Yet this is a massive boon for the Kingdom because they are the only place where druids and shamans are encouraged, which allows them special access to the realm of souls and a solid connection to the spirits that have been around for generations. Masters of all things natural this District of Titanus is home to expert rangers that guard the forests and monstrous beasts that roam the land.
+/- One with Nature: All who call the Veiled Regions home are one with nature both literally and figuratively. The people of the Emerald Kingdom are connected with nature in both body and mind. They are the ultimate life form because of their mastery of all terrains and their natural resilience that shields them from all forms of weather and climate that are native to Titanus. They know beasts better than their "civilized" brethren and are able to hunt and tame them easier. Being a child of nature does have its drawbacks, unfortunately. The citizens' bodies and minds move in perfect harmony with Titanus which means that they act in accordance with nature. Spring is the season of rebirth and renewal, the time where nature grows and begins its brutal cycle of life and death all over again. Summer is the season of the sun and action, the time where nature is the most active, energetic, and passionate. Autumn is the season of decay and fatigue, the time where everything slows down and begins to erode away. Winter is the season of the cold and death, the time where everything dies and lives in eternal stagnation.
- Rejection of Technology: A strong sense of hatred toward the modern technologies of Titanus is embedded within all who live in the Veiled Regions. Steel, factories, artillery, masonry, etc are all frowned upon in the nation and seen as an act of impurity. A belief like this severely hinders their technology and forces them to rely on their magic and beasts. It will surely going to hinder relations with neighbors that do not share their love for Titanus.
[ ] You proclaim a New Independent Kingdom!
[ ] A Sovereign Nation
- The Grand Empire of Titanus is no more! It ceased to be when the Empress was murdered, but you have not faded into nothingness! The imperial shackles have been destroyed, and you are free to control your own destiny and the future of all those who swear fealty to you. There is no greater power than yours, and you will bend your rivals to your will much like the Empress did so long ago! You are an independent monarch, a warlord in Titanus with a whole nation to command and control any way you see fit, but beware brave hero for enemies beset you from all sides and none are eager to kneel before the youngest of the Senators.
[ ] An Empire in Exile
- The Grand Empire of Titanus still lives! The death of Mother Elysia, while devastating, is not the end of the nation. House Weijermars, Rodier, and Ebonwing still stand firm in this chaotic age, for they fight to save their home and put down the traitorous upstarts that have turned on the Empire for their own nefarious purposes. The three great houses profess that their noble lineages date all the way back to before the Empire was founded, and they state that it was their forefathers that aided Elysia in uniting the world and creating the Grand Empire of Titanus. They claim that with Elysia's sudden death, it is their sacred duty to protect the empire as its inheritors. Whether you believe their assertions to be true or not doesn't really matter. You have sworn loyalty to the royal family and have declared your kingdom as the rightful heirs to the Imperial Throne of the Grand Empire of Titanus. With the backing of the Imperial Family, you're the only nation with an ounce of legitimacy causing you to have the backing of the loyalists. Now only if the families weren't all trying to kill each other. Would help if you weren't just a Regent adhering to the status quo of the Empire.
[ ] A Bounded Kingdom
- The Grand Empire of Titanus is dead, but fools throughout the land believe their oaths of loyalty to the throne are still relevant and binding. They believe the "royal" families' claim of being the inheritors of the Grand Empire of Titanus and that it still lives through them. These imbeciles would make good pawns in this game of thrones. You will bind them to your will and imprison them in your lands, for the belief that you are protecting the royal families and support their claim will cause the loyalists to flock to your banner. You must be careful not to let your true intentions be known to the public because all of your enemies will use it to justify war against your nation.
Questions and Feedback are appreciated and welcomed.
Note: The Next Post will be Kingdom Building! The following list shows the amount of control and freedom you have when customizing the nation corresponding with the choices:
Most Control and Freedom to Least Control and Freedom:
1. You proclaim a New Independent Kingdom - A Sovereign Nation
2. You proclaim a New Independent Kingdom - A Bounded Kingdom
3. You proclaim a New Independent Kingdom - An Empire in Exile
4/ You swear fealty to - Any of the options
[X] The Church of Elysium
Hard to kill, if hard to mobilize, let's enjoy the soft power and choose the winner of the war!(Who will want to support what will be their truest ally and the actual winner, I.E Us!)
4 votes for an empire in exile
3 votes for a sovereign nation
2 votes for swearing fealty to the church of Elysium
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would you guys mind telling me the appeal that those choices have to you all? I'm interested to know why you chose them and what you're looking for out of them/what you hope to do with them.
[X] You swear fealty to…
[X] The Church of Elysium
I want to swear fealty because I prefer to start the game with a nation with an existing ideology -with all the positives and negatives that it entails, - rather than craft something from the grounds up. The pre-defined options have character that the customized options have less of by their very nature. Of course, it comes with certain restrictions, but those are called roleplaying.
One of my all-time favorite games, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, has become a cult classics in part because it had very distinct factions with clear-cut agendas and deeply flawed ideologies that made each of them play differently from the others.
Of course, the Church of Elysium wouldn't be my first choise - I'd rather have a go at 'enslaving nations through necromancy' under the Dread Imperium, or try for the shaman-land - but those have a snowball chance in hell of winning, so I am voting for something that may be in the running. Still, fanatical devotees of a dead Goddess, scattered, shattered and with a crisis of faith on their hands, yet possessing the potential to unite the nation once again under a new, reformed religion... that sounds like it could provide a fun experience.
[X] You swear fealty to…
[X] The Church of Elysium
I want to swear fealty because I prefer to start the game with a nation with an existing ideology -with all the positives and negatives that it entails, - rather than craft something from the grounds up. The pre-defined options have character that the customized options has less of by its very nature. Of course, it comes with certain restrictions, but those are called roleplaying.
One of my all-time favorite games, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, has become a cult classics in part because it had very distinct factions with clear-cut agendas and deeply flawed ideologies that made each of them play differently from the others.
Of course, the Church of Elysium wouldn't be my first choise - I'd rather have a go at 'conquering nations with necromancy' under the Dread Imperium, or try for the shaman-land - but those have a snowball chance in hell of winning, so I am voting for something that may be in the running. Still, fanatical devotees of a dead Goddess, scattered, shattered and with a crisis of faith on their hands, yet possessing the potential to unite the nation once again under a new, reformed religion... that sounds like it could provide a fun experience.
Interesting...Interesting.
Do note that if the cards are played correctly you guys to be the leading member of the reformation, or you could coup the religion and create on dedicated to a god of your choosing or have it worship you.
