[Discussion] - Realmcrafting Arconis

[Mimesis]

Arconis Population: approximately 1,500 people. Most of them are humans, but there are significant populations of dwarves, halflings, and Medonian elves as well. Political Affiliation: Aelyrian Empire, Province of Enamoria Abstract: Remnants of a once flourishing city of arts and culture. Among the ruins, memories of a glorious past interweave with hope for a future - any future - for Arconis, the twice-destroyed. Geography: Arconis is nestled in the foothills of the imposing Khardran mountains. Constant winds flow up and eastward from the Sea of Diana, cooling the summers and warming the winters. There is very little snow in the city, though the Khardrans remain white-capped the year round to provide constant inspiration for Arconian artists. On the city's westward front begin the plains of Enamoria, a harsh, grassy plain which runs all the way from the moutains down to the Sea. There is very little tree growth around the city, due to the winds and its rocky ground. Background and History: Arconis has been destroyed twice in its history. The old Arconis, whose ruins can still be seen before the new city, was destroyed during the Cyraxian Wars and later rebuilt by the surviving citizens in its current location. Much of the resources and interminable dedication into rebuilding originated from House Serra-Kane, an ancient Aelyrian family of nobiles with a singular history that stretched into the very mists of antiquity during the first naissance of the Aelyrian Empire. House Serra-Kane saw the reconstruction of Arconis as a chance to amplify and further develop the Aelyrian culture of the arts and to conclusively prove that a city could live in peace with absolutely minimum martial enforcement. Arconis thus experienced her rebirth with this enduring promise: that it shall be a focal point for the peaceful pursuit of knowledge, a stage of the arts and a magnificent city of splendid beauty and tranquility. This ideal state of affairs persisted for perhaps fifty eras, until a series of events, coupled with the waning of Fel'rith's successors abruptly disrupted Arconis' idyllic existence. A rash of rumors attesting to the discovery rich mithril seams in the mountains north of Arconis by an explorer and the construction of Fortress Charisma saw quiet and peacable Arconis erupting into a flurry of activity. Strangely however, no hints of mithril or precious metals were found by those expeditions that dodged orcish or mercenary giant attention long enough, beyond a few veins of common iron and copper. Yet the mining expeditions doggedly continued, confident in the belief that one day, they will find the mithril seam that is fabled to run across the mountains. Another influence came to take root in Arconis, one attracted to the presence of so much armed conflict like a fly tracks the scent of offal. Ruthless, opportunistic and heedless of those they trampled underfoot in their bid for ascendancy, the Blavorion Family thrived like a bloated parasite on conflict. As for House Serra-Kane, intermarriage has dwindled their Aelyrian stock, and the best the current keepers of the bloodline could claim to is Half-Aelyrian. They have grown strangely reticient to act on behalf of their once favoured city, withdrawing their patronage of the arts and keeping out of the public eye for reasons unfathomed by outsiders. It was in these days of turmoil that the shadow of the pox fell across the city, to add its blight to the ominous air crawling through the streets. The internal struggle between the Duke and the Marquis also grew stronger and stronger. Finally open warfare broke out between the Duke and the Marquis, precipitated by an attempt on Duke Serra-Kane's life. Only with the arrival of reinforcements from Daltina was the SHC checked and driven out of Arconis. Meanwhile, by the grace of the Aethernians the Archmage Tyrus, Headmaster of the Academy of Arcane Arts, was able to stop the Duke and the Marquis from destroying each other and, with them, the city. The next day Thane Iseril Al'lende, the Headmaster, and their forces forced the surrender of Blavorion, yet at a high cost: Archmage Tyrus gave his life for that of Iseril, sacrificing himself on the altar of his city, for the good of his city. His memory is still blessed by one and all. Blavorion and his family escaped to the mountains, leaving his mansion scared and overshadowed by some great evil that still lives deep within. In Autumn of Era IX Iseril stepped down from his post as Thane, said goodbye to Arconis, and left the city. His position was taken over by Pescado Branch, a longtime citizen of the city, who took the official title of Lord Protector. But his leadership was doomed to be frought with peril as well. Soon after the troops from Daltina, sent to protect the city from the orcs, received orders to take control of Arconis for Daltina and its thane, Nashkel Angor. Thus forced recruiting of Arconian lads was sanctioned for the bolstering of the Enamorian war against Malice, the dark city of orcs and evil. A winter and a spring did they suffer in the protracted seige before Governor Al'lende herself allowed their triumphal return to Arconis. Weakened by the fight at Malice, the Arconian guard did not withstand the added strain of an open attack. In winter of Era XII, a host of giants descended on the city and besieged it. Arconis closed its doors and held out for months, neither side gaining the advantage. Starvation and disease rampaged through the city. Escaped refugees the following era finally convinced the Dalitinian army that it's interests lay with Arconis. The giants were reluctantly pushed back into the mountains, but not without a heavy price. Arconis was left a shambles, and almost all of its citizens fled elsewhere. The Academies, once the highest source of the Arconian pride, fell silent. The Duke Serra-Kane, who had taken ill during the seige, had died even before he could see it lifted; he left most of his money to his housekeeper, whom, it was revealed, he had married secretly almost on his very death-bed. She left the city and the once opulent mansion of the benefactors of Arconis. This wave of emigration has been called by those who stayed the second destruction of Arconis, though in point of fact very few buildings were torn down in the process. Most of the city is still standing, dead from the inside, and only a few continue to eke out an existence within the old city walls, clustered around the Templum Manus Dextri - the only light of hope and constancy remaining to them. Society and Culture: The residence of Arconis are a motley, reserved lot. Many of them have very old ties to the city which kept them there after the mass exodus, creating a reaffirmation of old Arconian values and a devaluation in outside influences. That is - Arconians have turned rather reclusive, and hold on to their past with a fiery tenaciousness that pervades every aspect of their difficult lives. They dislike orcs and dark elves, and their former dislike of giants has grown into a positive hatred of the race. Any giants that wander into Arconis have a high tendency of getting themselves lynched. On the other hand, Arconians have a lot of nostalgia toward the past they have lost as well. They like to talk about the greatness of the city in erstwhile days, the political wranglings, and the eccentricities of old masters at the Academia Arcanae. Any travellers are likely to get an earful, if not a guided tour. The city itself is built primarily of stone - either granite for the commoner buildings or marble for the richer and governmental ones - and brick. Wood is very scarce, since there are no forests in Arconian territory. All the streets are paved, though the pavements are showing signs of wear that nobody has the crowns or the manpower now to repair. Open drainage pipes located on either side of any street allow rainwater and the slops to flow down into a large system of subterranean sewers. Except for the major thuroughfares the streets are exceedingly narrow, sometimes just enough for two humans to pass side by side. The colors of the militia are Green and Black, since the time of the former Thane Pescado Branch. Major Landmarks: The slopes of the mountains upon which the city give presidence to the Regio Eruditionum Arconis, the walled sector of the city once given over to Arts and Arcana. It was once the most beautiful and popular section of the city, and still shows its former beaty in its architecture. The large park which once lay around the Collegia and the Academia is now completely overgrown. Some still come here for a walk or to see the old sites, but the student quarter of the city has been almost completely abandoned. The current inhabitants of Arconis live mostly in the northeastern part of town, between the cemetery to the north and the Templum Manus Dextri. This used to be the poorer section of town, as oppose to the rich mansions which dominated the western part of the city. Government: The citizens of Arconis are governed by the City Council. There has not been a Thane or a Lord Protector since the time of Pescado Branch, the saurid who governed the city up until, and through, the giants' siege. The Presidency of the City Council was voted unanimously to Brother Dexter, the leader of the Templum Manus Dextri of Arconis, shortly after the seige. Brother Dexter, however, refused the post, claiming spiritual duties; and thus far has only acceded to requests to be present at meetings of the council and provide his opinions on city matters. The Council, and the President, defer to his judgement, as he is the most important personage in the city and the one with the most prestige. Much of the city infrastructure is also run by the Templum acolytes. Religion: Even before the seige, Arconis had for a number of patters not been part of the Church of Faith. Many Arconians were attached to the Templum Manus Dextri, which worships Diana and used to be part of the Hands of Diana, but quietly dettached themselves and are now a distinct organization unto themselves. They retain an ancient prestige in the city, and much of the current city life depends upon the Templum for support, for resources, and to draw in outsiders. De facto, Brother Dexter is now the most powerful man in Arconis. Economy: The city imports food, clothing, and wood. Exports are made up of raw materials from the mines - uncut gems, iron, and copper. Most of the citizens are concerned with either small-time agriculture, hunting, or mining. The last makes up the bulk of Arconis' exports, though many of the former mines have now been abandoned. The City Council owns and maintains a stranglehold on these mines, through the Xaxit Company, a relic from before the giants' seige. No private mining is allowed in Arconis.

[Alexis Sapientia]

Arconis is open?

but the student quarter of the city has been almost completely abandoned.

This is distressing news...though I suppose that old Pox that killed Alexis' elven friend, not to mention the Giants occupation, may have had something to do with it...

[Mimesis]

yup! there's been a lot of killing... and dying...

though I'm sure you'll recognize some old faces.

[Motito Gil'dae]

Speaking of, When Tito is making his rounds to refresh his memories of corporeal life and finds Arconis in such a state, he'll probably be compelled to help out in some way. Perhaps the purchase of a business or three and kick-starting them again... Any decent ones up for sale, Mims?

[Mimesis]

~ Hardaxe Village (Overview) ~

Geography: Hardaxe Village is located some thirty miles away from Arconis, deep within the Khardran mountains, in a low valley surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs that protect the village both from sentient and from non-sentient dangers. The weather in Hardaxe is even more brutal than in Arconis, and for the winter months the village is basically inaccessible.

Appearance: Nestled into the valley floor, the mines where the dwarves of Hardaxe work, located in the cliffs above the village, are the first marks of civilization which a traveller sees. The village itself is nothing more than a series of low, circular one-storey buildings made of well-fitted stones and thickly-thatched roofs. There is no particular arrangement to the houses, but two of them, which stand at the center of the village, stand out by their sheer size: the house of the Laird and the House of Priest of Cetheron. At the center of each house there is a firepit, and smoke rises through angled openings in the thatched roofs to prevent snow from falling directly into the buildings. The roofs are supported by a series of stone pillars.

Politics: To be determined.

Demographics: The Hardaxe Village is dominated by the Hardaxe clan and the Laird is a member of the Hardaxe clan as well. Nevertheless, there are also families that hold allegiance to other clans in the village, namely members of the Stonedun and Redbeard clans as well. The village is made up almost entirely of dwarves, except for a very few half-dwarves who have sworn themselves as allies of the Hardaxe clan. In its entirety, the village has a population of about two hundred.

Exports and Imports: The dwarves of Hardaxe support themselves on a diet made up mostly of meat, supplemented by whatever wild fruits and vegetables they can find over the summers and what they can harvest from a few gardens. Most of the work centers around the mines, which are rich in quartzes as well as smaller veins of sapphires and diamonds. Some of these they export in exchange for foodstuffs, clothing, and other goods, but many more they store for the future. The village also supports a few blacksmiths, all of them of the Stonedun clan, who create weapons and tools of dwarven steel.

Opportunities: Hardaxe, while relatively open to itinerant travelers and other dwarves, is not a place for a non-dwarf to spend too much time in. The only way the villagers will accept a non-dwarf who wants to stay for more than a few brightenings among them - or who wants to learn their secrets - is if they swear allegiance to the Hardaxe Laird in a formal ceremony. For dwarves and allies of Hardaxe, opportunities might include access to the stores of wealth the Laird of Hardaxe allegedly has hidden away beneath his house, training in the secrets of dwarven mining and blacksmithing, as well as access to the local Priest of Cetheron, who is said to be able to do fabled and ancient magics long lost to the outside world.

ooc: rough sketch of Hardaxe Village.. full description in the works. Comments are welcome and much appreciated.

[Leafsong]

*Makes mental notes for further discussion on Hardaxe* Dwarf development... berry niiiice. Seriously. I like dwarves, too. Alot.

I was wondering if there was an outline for Hands of Diana, giving the overview and technicals, as well as a structure for the Temple, and the philosophical 'why' behind it all? I was also thinking it might be cool to have a small sub-culture profile for the genuinely devout practitioners of Arconian Dianics, whether they're members of the temple or members of the community in attendance. Something of a dossier that illustrates an insider view of the Aelyrian realm, particulars, politics, factions, races, and other faiths, and how the Temple, as well as the local fellowship view and address these topics. It might also include some common rituals, celebrated articles and doctrine, description of current and past private lobby's and supporters with diverse needs, requiring diverse response and comprise to maintain a broad influence, as well as a time line of significant developments to add motive and dovetail other plots and interests into the web for later use. Open ends.

Why is a beaten down populace so faithful at all? What does Diana seem to give them that makes her worth loving, let alone believing in? It would help me develop an understanding of how the temple works to maintain a fellowship, and through its doings, manage to also become a cultural fixture where people make religion, ceremony, faith or spirituality a common (and practiced/emphasized) aspect of their life. Is it the temple at all, or is it the enigma of Brother Dexter that conveys the metaphor of Diana to the people? Is he conveying Diana, or has he taken the faith of Diana and put so much of himself into it that maybe the people love him, and the gestures are all subconsciously indirect?

[Bruce]

Hmm, just read through the description for Hardaxe and I cannot help noticing the term "half-dwarves"........this is the first time I am hear of them, so I must ask, half dwarves of what?

[Mimesis]

Leafy: http://www.playbypost.com/forums/religi...us-dextri.html hope that answers a lot of the questions there.

Bruce: half-dwarf... half-human? I guess I freely extrapolated from half-elves. but they're possible, right? ..I can always get rid of them, too.

[Alexis Sapientia]

Mimsy,

Check this out. The Domesday Book - Medieval Demographics Made Easy

Got it from:

http://www.playbypost.com/forums/geogra...-crisis-3.html

[Mimesis]

thanks Alexis! yep, I've seen it before... but it's good to have the link back again... *goes to doodle*