Development Blog 1: Scenario & Factions
May 10, 2024 19:53:06 GMT
Post by Jones on May 10, 2024 19:53:06 GMT
Dear community members,
We'd like to share with you the main story behind the region and provide more information about what you can expect from the factions. This is simply to establish a basic understanding of the politics and the factions involved. The scenario is set in the early 900s just east of the Gulf of Charas, between the imperial lands of Onica and the Aserai city of Tubilis. Here, there's a village that plays a crucial role as a neutral meeting point. It's right in the middle of the map, with a tavern on the outskirts and an Imperial base and busy trading post at its center. To the south, the Aserai have their stronghold next to an oasis. Meanwhile, the Vlandians have set up a keep by the Qirhaat River.
A storyline is planned for this server, as in previous ones, but the main difference here is that the storyline is meant to complement the roleplay rather than lead it. That's the beauty of a border scenario—it generates enough conflict for players to interact with, and the storyline enriches the roleplay experience as intended. However, in a border scenario, there are often expectations of off-map influence. We aim to address this by implementing a system that will prevent such influence, offering a true sandbox experience with minimal off-map interference. This will primarily be achieved through the war ticket system, which will establish the groundwork for any conflict, hopefully minimizing voided scenes. We will share more details on the war mechanics in a future development update.
Faction leader and noble applications will be opened by the next development update. We also invite people to apply for special characters to lead the pre-established organizations, which we will share more about in the next update. Additionally, we encourage you to come up with your own unique ideas for organizations. We aim to facilitate and bring your ideas to life, provided they meet our expectations.
Finally, if you're interested in contributing to the development phase by assisting with mapping, lore writing, event preparation, or refining mechanics, we encourage you to apply for a staff position here.
Let's take a look at the main factions
The faction's name/history may be changed by the FL's behest if they wish to do so.
Under the relentless sun of the coastal lands, the Aserai people thrived, guided by Sultan Nazaral into a golden age of wonder and progress, becoming a hub of scholarly and research advancements. However, their rule over the desert realm was always contested. The Calradic Empire, content with manipulating Aserai affairs through schemes and proxies, now coveted the region's wealth.
Facing this formidable challenge, the Aserai Sultanate encountered the mighty Calradic Empire, seeking to expand its influence into the desert territories. Despite the empire's past strength, internal strife and external pressures had weakened it. Yet, even in its fragmented state, it posed a significant threat to the Aserai.
When the empire attempted to invade the coastal lands, the Aserai resisted fiercely. Although the city of Quyaz faced siege, the harsh desert conditions and logistical challenges thwarted the empire's efforts. Drawing strength from their deep knowledge of the land and resilience to its harsh climate, the Aserai repelled the imperial forces and negotiated a peace settlement. In exchange for relinquishing territory along the Qirhaat river, the empire agreed to respect Aserai sovereignty and refrain from further encroachment.
But as one conflict waned, another arose with the arrival of Vlandian missionaries seeking to spread their faith in the desert. Under the firm leadership of the Sultan, the Aserai resisted these efforts, refusing to let their sacred homeland become a battleground for foreign beliefs. Despite the missionaries' zeal and eventual militarization, the Sultan remained determined to preserve Aserai traditions. Yet, despite their staunch defense of their way of life, the Aserai showed remarkable tolerance towards other faiths, often favoring coexistence over conflict.
Today, the delicate balance between the Vlandians and the Aserai is upheld by Imperial garrisons. Their formidable military strength and economic interests act as a buffer between the two factions, maintaining peace in the desert sands.
Chieftains and lords of the arid lands, their heritage deeply entrenched in the sands, their way of life shaped by generations of nomadic tradition. Tracing their lineage back to Asera himself, they evolved into renowned traders and fierce warriors, mastering the desert's ways and expanding their influence.
Yet, the recent conflict with the empire dealt a heavy blow to the Qaydari. The land ceded to the empire by the Sultan had been theirs, and they bore the brunt of the conflict. Despite this adversity, they stood firm, resisting with pride. The name Qaydari now resonates throughout the region as a symbol of desert pride and defiance.
The Vlandians
The kingdom of Vlandia, invigorated by recent triumphs against the Calradic Empire, casts covetous eyes upon the wealth of the Aserai. Though the Empire wanes, it remains a formidable adversary. Thus, Vlandia shifts its attention to the Aserai, initially seeking to expand their influence through peaceful missionary endeavors rooted in the Makerist faith.
The Aserai's steadfast resistance to conversion stems from a decade-long crusade led by the Vlandians a generation ago. Despite the passage of many years and changes in rulership, the memory of the violence lingers. However, peace has prevailed since those turbulent days. Now, with the ascent of a young and ambitious king, he attempts to emulate his grandfather's legacy and once again pursue the Aserai's bountiful riches.
Yet, the Aserai's resilience to conversion poses a formidable challenge. Despite the Aserai's non-confrontational reception of missionaries, often engaging in theological debates rather than resorting to violence, Vlandia, stung by frustration, chooses to militarize its mission. Additional soldiers arrive, and a strongholds is soon erected. Those old enough to remember the past dread the return of the hellish days of crusade, fervently praying they never come to pass again.
Despite the escalating militarization, the Vlandians proceed cautiously. Engaging in war with the Aserai appears daunting, especially after witnessing their successful defense against the Calradic Empire in recent conflicts. Furthermore, with the Empire's trading hub acting as a buffer between the two factions, the Vlandians opt to bide their time, consolidate their strength, and pursue peace for the foreseeable future.
Word of the Makerist missionaries' setbacks spread widely, a source of embarrassment for all of Vlandia, particularly for Bishop Aldric. In response, Lord Vargoth journeyed south to the Qirhaat river at the bishop's urging. Despite House de Vargoth's long history, their ties to Vlandia's past never translated into significant success.
Now, however, they find themselves presented with an opportunity to rise. With the bishop's influence at court, House Vargoth is granted land and authority on the kingdom's outskirts, tasked with achieving what the missionaries could not. Devoted to their king and their faith, their mission is clear, spread Makerist influence throughout the region. Yet, alongside their religious mission, the Vargoths seek to expand their own influence, setting them at odds with the noble Aserai tribes, who resist their every advance.
Beneath the facade of prosperity, trouble brews within the Empire's borders. A tide of religious zeal sweeps across the land as many forsake their old gods in favor of the Makerist faith. This shift in religious allegiance rattles the Empire to its core, challenging age-old traditions and unsettling the established order
Moreover, the recent conflict with the Aserai left the Empire's coffers depleted, exacerbated by its fragmentation into multiple factions. Despite the strain on its economy and military might, the Empire remains a formidable force.
Currently, they welcome the peace they've secured with the Aserai, as their attention is urgently needed on the northern borders. The Empire finds itself in a precarious state, teetering on the edge of collapse. However, their adoption of the Makerist faith, once seen as a burden, now proves to be a source of strength. By forming a separate church from their Vlandian counterparts, they have severed outside influence and bolstered their control over religious matters within their domain.
Established in the aftermath of the recent conflict with the Aserai, the hub arose from an agreement wherein the Aserai relinquished the land to the Empire in exchange for halting further territorial expansion. Thus, what was once a modest village flourished into a thriving trading post strategically positioned to access the Gulf of Charas. Surpassing the influence of both the Aserai and the Vlandians, the Empire meticulously maintains a delicate balance between the two realms, primarily driven by economic interests.
However, relying solely on reputation is insufficient to maintain the status quo. Therefore, the Empire deploys a seasoned retinue of soldiers dedicated to safeguarding the hub. Though seldom visible within its confines, these veterans patrol the roads between the hub and the port, ensuring safe passage and protecting vital trade routes.
We'd like to share with you the main story behind the region and provide more information about what you can expect from the factions. This is simply to establish a basic understanding of the politics and the factions involved. The scenario is set in the early 900s just east of the Gulf of Charas, between the imperial lands of Onica and the Aserai city of Tubilis. Here, there's a village that plays a crucial role as a neutral meeting point. It's right in the middle of the map, with a tavern on the outskirts and an Imperial base and busy trading post at its center. To the south, the Aserai have their stronghold next to an oasis. Meanwhile, the Vlandians have set up a keep by the Qirhaat River.
A storyline is planned for this server, as in previous ones, but the main difference here is that the storyline is meant to complement the roleplay rather than lead it. That's the beauty of a border scenario—it generates enough conflict for players to interact with, and the storyline enriches the roleplay experience as intended. However, in a border scenario, there are often expectations of off-map influence. We aim to address this by implementing a system that will prevent such influence, offering a true sandbox experience with minimal off-map interference. This will primarily be achieved through the war ticket system, which will establish the groundwork for any conflict, hopefully minimizing voided scenes. We will share more details on the war mechanics in a future development update.
Faction leader and noble applications will be opened by the next development update. We also invite people to apply for special characters to lead the pre-established organizations, which we will share more about in the next update. Additionally, we encourage you to come up with your own unique ideas for organizations. We aim to facilitate and bring your ideas to life, provided they meet our expectations.
Finally, if you're interested in contributing to the development phase by assisting with mapping, lore writing, event preparation, or refining mechanics, we encourage you to apply for a staff position here.
Let's take a look at the main factions
The faction's name/history may be changed by the FL's behest if they wish to do so.
The Aserai
Facing this formidable challenge, the Aserai Sultanate encountered the mighty Calradic Empire, seeking to expand its influence into the desert territories. Despite the empire's past strength, internal strife and external pressures had weakened it. Yet, even in its fragmented state, it posed a significant threat to the Aserai.
When the empire attempted to invade the coastal lands, the Aserai resisted fiercely. Although the city of Quyaz faced siege, the harsh desert conditions and logistical challenges thwarted the empire's efforts. Drawing strength from their deep knowledge of the land and resilience to its harsh climate, the Aserai repelled the imperial forces and negotiated a peace settlement. In exchange for relinquishing territory along the Qirhaat river, the empire agreed to respect Aserai sovereignty and refrain from further encroachment.
But as one conflict waned, another arose with the arrival of Vlandian missionaries seeking to spread their faith in the desert. Under the firm leadership of the Sultan, the Aserai resisted these efforts, refusing to let their sacred homeland become a battleground for foreign beliefs. Despite the missionaries' zeal and eventual militarization, the Sultan remained determined to preserve Aserai traditions. Yet, despite their staunch defense of their way of life, the Aserai showed remarkable tolerance towards other faiths, often favoring coexistence over conflict.
Today, the delicate balance between the Vlandians and the Aserai is upheld by Imperial garrisons. Their formidable military strength and economic interests act as a buffer between the two factions, maintaining peace in the desert sands.
Aserai Faction: The Qaydari Tribe
Yet, the recent conflict with the empire dealt a heavy blow to the Qaydari. The land ceded to the empire by the Sultan had been theirs, and they bore the brunt of the conflict. Despite this adversity, they stood firm, resisting with pride. The name Qaydari now resonates throughout the region as a symbol of desert pride and defiance.
The Vlandians
The kingdom of Vlandia, invigorated by recent triumphs against the Calradic Empire, casts covetous eyes upon the wealth of the Aserai. Though the Empire wanes, it remains a formidable adversary. Thus, Vlandia shifts its attention to the Aserai, initially seeking to expand their influence through peaceful missionary endeavors rooted in the Makerist faith.
The Aserai's steadfast resistance to conversion stems from a decade-long crusade led by the Vlandians a generation ago. Despite the passage of many years and changes in rulership, the memory of the violence lingers. However, peace has prevailed since those turbulent days. Now, with the ascent of a young and ambitious king, he attempts to emulate his grandfather's legacy and once again pursue the Aserai's bountiful riches.
Yet, the Aserai's resilience to conversion poses a formidable challenge. Despite the Aserai's non-confrontational reception of missionaries, often engaging in theological debates rather than resorting to violence, Vlandia, stung by frustration, chooses to militarize its mission. Additional soldiers arrive, and a strongholds is soon erected. Those old enough to remember the past dread the return of the hellish days of crusade, fervently praying they never come to pass again.
Despite the escalating militarization, the Vlandians proceed cautiously. Engaging in war with the Aserai appears daunting, especially after witnessing their successful defense against the Calradic Empire in recent conflicts. Furthermore, with the Empire's trading hub acting as a buffer between the two factions, the Vlandians opt to bide their time, consolidate their strength, and pursue peace for the foreseeable future.
Vlandian Faction: House de Vargoth
Word of the Makerist missionaries' setbacks spread widely, a source of embarrassment for all of Vlandia, particularly for Bishop Aldric. In response, Lord Vargoth journeyed south to the Qirhaat river at the bishop's urging. Despite House de Vargoth's long history, their ties to Vlandia's past never translated into significant success.
Now, however, they find themselves presented with an opportunity to rise. With the bishop's influence at court, House Vargoth is granted land and authority on the kingdom's outskirts, tasked with achieving what the missionaries could not. Devoted to their king and their faith, their mission is clear, spread Makerist influence throughout the region. Yet, alongside their religious mission, the Vargoths seek to expand their own influence, setting them at odds with the noble Aserai tribes, who resist their every advance.
The Western Calradic Empire
Moreover, the recent conflict with the Aserai left the Empire's coffers depleted, exacerbated by its fragmentation into multiple factions. Despite the strain on its economy and military might, the Empire remains a formidable force.
Currently, they welcome the peace they've secured with the Aserai, as their attention is urgently needed on the northern borders. The Empire finds itself in a precarious state, teetering on the edge of collapse. However, their adoption of the Makerist faith, once seen as a burden, now proves to be a source of strength. By forming a separate church from their Vlandian counterparts, they have severed outside influence and bolstered their control over religious matters within their domain.
Impirial Faction: Byzaris Post
Nestled amidst the fertile coastal plains, the Imperial Trading Hub thrives as a bustling center of commerce and cultural exchange. Its lively markets and bustling streets serve as a testament to the enduring influence of the Empire in the region.
Established in the aftermath of the recent conflict with the Aserai, the hub arose from an agreement wherein the Aserai relinquished the land to the Empire in exchange for halting further territorial expansion. Thus, what was once a modest village flourished into a thriving trading post strategically positioned to access the Gulf of Charas. Surpassing the influence of both the Aserai and the Vlandians, the Empire meticulously maintains a delicate balance between the two realms, primarily driven by economic interests.
However, relying solely on reputation is insufficient to maintain the status quo. Therefore, the Empire deploys a seasoned retinue of soldiers dedicated to safeguarding the hub. Though seldom visible within its confines, these veterans patrol the roads between the hub and the port, ensuring safe passage and protecting vital trade routes.
