Thread: (Rules) The City of Iron

Reposting the advert, for reference. Kriedsvael The City of Iron City Picture Sorry If any of this has typos. I'm working on my phone. This is also my first ad for a game here, so if this sucks, I did something wrong, or this is just WAY too much info, I apologize. Also sorry if any pics are giant or tiny. Again, it's hard to tell on the phone. System Pathfinder, all Paizo books allowed in addition to Path of War. Some classes will be better fits than others, but all are open to conversation. However, races will be restricted to human, at least at the start... Tone, content and Notes This one is gonna get gritty. I'm taking a good deal from many of my favorite fantasy novels, as well as my knowledge of history for this one. Think of Kriedsvael as a sort of mashup of historical Russia, Germany, Britain and Scandinavia, with some of the traits of Rome and Athens, set in a world that's a sort of cross between Joe Abercrombie's First Law books and Berserk. That said, it's going to be very light on supernatural material at first. Some of the more bizarre classes might have a hard time finding a natural spot here, but everything is on the table if we can find a creative way to do it. The world is going to be a mostly amoral one, probably best for characters somewhere between LN and NE on the alignment spectrum. You could try to be good, but you might have a pretty rough go of things. I plan to start you out as criminals, after all. And no one likes CE. Just saying. Slavery will also be a thing, engage in it, abolish it, be enslaved, that's gonna be on you. Obviously, this is a fantasy world, but I'm looking to create a tone of very low fantasy, similar to stuff like Game of ThronesSong of Ice and Fire. So there should be an element of realism in character building. I may put a low level cap on things, E6 style? But I'm not sure yet. There are things I could do to make it cool at higher levels. The game is going to have some early missions directed by me, and some things will happen no matter what you do, but I'm leaving the planning loose, because I want it to feel a bit sandboxy. I'll also be introducing more factions than the two I have presented here, but I didn't want that to be the a whole day's work. Now, I haven't talked a ton about sexy times RP yet, and for good reason, as it's not going to be the primary focus, but I still expect smut to be a good bit of it. You could seek it out and any time, and I plan to include plenty of chances for it in the narrative. Personally, I lean towards FxF pairings with heavy BDSM content, but I'm down to play almost anything. I can do things for others. I'm nice like that! Anyone with any tastes that could feasibly happen in the setting can apply. But talk to me if it's something you think I might be hesitant about, and consult my F-List. Though, one of those things is there because I have no desire for it, but I could still play it out. For others, respect their wishes at all times, and all site rules apply. Also, it should be noted that this will be a very harsh world, and therefore many people may be real jerks. They may have awful viewpoints, and you may meet people who are terrible sexists, racists, homophobes and other things I hate. I in no way am happy that any of those things exist, and would strive to never present them in a positive light, unless that is something that is EXPLICITLY a desire for a player experiencing it in a sexual context. But people are complicated, and in a nasty setting like this, I didn't want to shy away from any of that. Setting Kriedsvael is a city situated atop hills rich in iron ore, and placed between the sea and a series of tall, nearly impassable mountains. It is somewhat isolated geographically, and this has resulted in its technology and culture evolving at a somewhat slower rate than the rest of the civilized world. While the rest of their continent has progressed into enlightenment thinking, Kriedsvael if still firmly feudal. They control a fair degree of the surrounding lands as well, but the farming and weather conditions have always been such that expanding further beyond the mountains, or establishing a naval empire hasn't been an option. But in the current age, they are finally modernizing coming further into contact with the surrounding lands through the maneuvers of their Queen, Sofia. Due to the fear of the populace, magic is a strictly regulated and loathed art. The only practicing mages are supposed to work directly for the government, but this has been difficult to enforce. There is a thriving underground in the mage clans of The Twisted Knot. Religious magic is more common, but also on a tight leash. Royal Family Ruler Queen Sofia Vaerhoff The Bladed Rose Queen Picture When elderly King Lukas VI finally passed away from his wasting sickness, it was initially his longtime counselor Evon, not his young queen, who was expected to bare the burden of rule until his infant heir came of age. But on the cusp of his first council meeting as regent, he mysteriously disappeared. The queen was only sixteen at the time, but she had been raised amongst the intrigue of nobility and groomed to be a cunning politician from a young age. Thus, rumors of her involvement have always persisted. Nevertheless, over the course of her nineteen year reign, she has proved herself a capable, if ruthless, monarch. Not content to slowly milk the rich veins of ore that have long sustained Kriedsvael, her first act was to empty the prisons and put the criminal population to work in the iron mines, expanding them at a historic rate. Even minor crimes in the city still carry the penalty of hard, often lethal labor, and new charges are often invented by the various foremen to keep prisoners deep underground until they're worked to death or uselessness. Still, these measures have increased the wealth of the city-state dramatically, first from the crafts created by the ore itself, then from the trade treaties she was able to negotiate using them as leverage. Under her rule, Kriedsvael is not only difficult to assail because of its geography, but because it is simply too valuable to lose as a trading partner. Queen Sofia has capitalized on this by suggesting to anyone who will listen including several known spies that if anyone were to attack the city for its mineral wealth, those that come to her aid would receive dramatic favoritism in future dealings. Since her son has become an adult, there have been some in traditionalist quarters that have suggested she abdicate and allow him his rightful place. Many find this a terrifying thought, however, as they worry that Prince Lukas is far more concerned with his own pleasures and appearance than he is with the administration of Kriedsvael. The Bladed Rose has given no indication that she intends to vacate the throne. Heir Prince Lukas VII Prince Lukas Picture Notoriously vane and prideful, Prince Lukas is nonetheless a force to be reckoned with in certain respects. A fierce competitor at sporting events such as horse racing and fencing, he's prodigiously talented at both. His handsome features have also created a great deal of notoriety. This has aided his mother in attempting to find a political match for his hand in marriage. However, such efforts have been stalled by the dark rumors of kidnapped young ladies and abused prostitutes in the night. On a personal level, he seems content to simply enjoy himself for as long as possible. Younger Son Prince Erik The Wight Prince Erik Picture Supposedly conceived very shortly before the death of King Oskar, there are whispers that the albino the people of Kriedsvael derisively call the Wight is not actually the old King's son. He's certainly little like his brother. Quiet, introspective, but very quick to anger and displays of fury, Prince Erik carries with him a sinister edge. He's studied warfare heavily and is said to be an exceptional archer, and his hands are undoubtedly stained with blood. When bandits have arisen in nearby farmsteads, Erik has often insisted on leading the guard out personally. His tactics in dealing with such outlaws, typically the sort sent to the mines, includes grisly acts such as crucifixion and breaking upon the wheel. Regardless, he has some sympathizers in the nobility and the guard who would prefer him as heir to his brother. Advisor Lady Nataly Rosearde Lady Nataly Picture Amongst the foreigners whom the queen has periodically brought in to aid in the modernization and and industrialization of Kriedsvael, Lady Nataly of the kingdom of Evarte to the east has been both the most successful, and longstanding. Through her connections, gunpowder has been made available to the people of the Vael for the first time. Though, thus far, firearms are still rare, dangerous, and mostly considered a novelty in the area. Some in court believe her to be a spy, which may have some truth to it, but if so, it's an arrangement the Queen seems comfortable with. The Twisted Knot The Twisted Knot is less an organization, or even a faction, and more a sort of republican order established amongst many different such organizations. Broadly, the three largest threads of the knot are the thieves, the assassins, and the mages. Those are broad classifications, and some are more specialized gangs, but generally, these folk stick to their own. Within those groups, there are dozens of clans. For centuries, the clans tended to keep to themselves, then slaughter each other when there was competition. More recently, Speaker, a mage who's services had often been purchased by different thief clans, formed a small coalition of different clans that eventually spread to the whole city. Individually, the clans still have their vendettas, blood feuds, and backstabbings. However, the knot provides a place where some petty squabbles can be dissolved over drink and entertainment, and votes that concern all of them can be handled by the chosen representatives of each clan. Interestingly, both historically and during the modern era, the different threads of the knot get along swimmingly compared to the different clans within each thread. This is most likely due to the relative lack of competition. Speaker Fayrlo Amardi Speaker Fayrlo Picture The new head of the alliance of the city's cobbled together bands of thieves guilds, assassin's guilds, and secret magic practitioners, Fayrlo took the pseudonym of his predecessor as his own title. Thus far, he's been extremely competent. Though, some seem to think he's been using the position to enrich himself far more than the first speaker ever did. He claims to have big plans for the Knot. In person, he's coy and self effacing, cool in the face of pressure, sarcastic, and willing to compromise to make whatever deals he can. Some have accused him of being bloodless compared to Speaker, but that's only from those who didn't witness his rise up through the ranks of the Quiet Dogs assassin clan. Those who did don't speak of him much, but don't dare question his methods. According to tales, his noble mother and father fled the land of his birth, the southern metropolis of Beloevenda for hoarding collected taxes from the emperor. Faith While there are other deities in the world, two are most associated with Kriedsvael. The Lawgiver, Raghsvare LN An ancient deity from the people who inhabited this area long before the Vaelfolk, his religion has been a useful one for those in power, as his faith is founded upon a natural order, submission to one's superiors, and the honoring of commitments. He is depicted as a skeletal judge. The Smiler, Walast CN A demonic dragon trickster, and the patron of the Twisted Knot. Not a terribly cruel god, but capricious, greedy, and sly. He preaches cleverness above all. He is depicted as a burning, smiling dragon. Crunch and Character Flavor 1st level, 20 Point Buy, 2 Traits 1 per drawback taken to a maximum of 2, Human only for now, nature based characters may not get a ton of love, magic is persecuted. You may play a member of the Knot, or an associate. Even a noble if you feel like, but be ready to get your hands dirty. They don't have to all start out as buddies, but you likely know each other. If you can find others willing, put yourselves in a clan together, maybe. Could be fun. Rolls will be on the honor system. I won't be a jerk about it if you don't. Be mature. Even death isn't the end in games, and is sometimes awesome. All characters start with the following feats, because I hate feat taxes and the people who make them! And I mean, come on. Everyone can hit stuff harder. Weapon Finesse Power Attack Point Blank Shot. I'm sure I'm leaving things out, so feel free to ask about whatever. I'm likely going to want 3-5 strong roleplayers. I don't need huge posts all the time, but I would like every post to advance things, even if it's just a conversation, and I enjoy fleshed out character concepts. Wow me with them.