In the Wake of Chaos
A world that has been in a state of war for thirty years now knows a fragile semblance of peace. With Aelor’s capital, Eghir, fallen to the enemy; the war has effectively ended. The Republic of Alara’s soldiers, under the command of General Kerrak, roam Eghir’s streets freely. With Aelor’s King Gebrandt in hiding; this situation is sure to remain unchanged for a long time.
The city, having been under siege for the last four months lies, literally and figuratively, in ruins. Famine is commonplace and many citizens are quick to blame the new regime for their troubles. The resistance is said to be building up their forces, so say the rumours. And religious leaders are at odds as the new rule of law brings with it its own god.
While General Kerrak tries to maintain order in the city, rumours say the remnants of the old order are regrouping to strike back. This seems like a distant problem. At the moment, the General has more than his hands full with keeping the city standing.
And what about you? Will you join the Republic and help bring about a new age of peace? Or will you remain dutiful to your old King, and do your best to drive out the invaders? Or will you reap the benefits this moment of Chaos brings? What will you do?
Spoiler: Factions(Pick one or suggest another)
Citizens/Aelorians: So you are a citizen. Only the richest of you have had it relatively easy in the last four months. Are you one of those, I wonder, or do you hardly remember when you last had a decent meal? Nearly a quarter of the city has burned to the ground. Though the invaders tried to limit hitting the residential areas, they did destroy several homes; killing many innocents in the process.
Did you fight the enemy when they did battle? How did you survive then? Are you a deserter, or just lucky? Either way, without a ruler to serve, you are nothing more than a citizen now.
Will you resist, or welcome these men who now call your land theirs? There is word of a resistance, but you do not know where to find them, and whether they would trust you if you did. Maybe you could find out, or you could always help the new rulers I guess.
The Republic of Alara: You are a soldier for your motherland, proud to serve the republic. Or maybe not, since you did go to war against the wishes of the clergy. Your country started this war, and your people have had to make sacrifices. You’ve seen many good men and women die on the battlefield; was this war truly for the best?
What army were you with? The Second had it rough, with only a thousand surviving of an initial twenty thousand. You won a pyrrhic victory over the enemy, the bloodbath of Talshar. It was this battle that won the war, but the cost…
Your commanding officer is General Kerrak. Follow his orders; patrol the streets, keep crime in check and stop your own from looting the city. Or you could join them; you’ve bled for your country and surely deserve it.
(ex-)slaves: You were a slave? Maybe you still are? Under the Republic’s law, you should now be free. With the army still busy trying to put the city under their control, they have had no time to enforce their laws to the fullest. This has left many slaves to fend for themselves for the time being.
Some remain with their masters, as death by starvation does not seem like a good option at the moment. Others have escaped, or were let go. Revenge is a popular topic among these slaves. The only thing standing between them and their ‘justice’ is the Republic’s military.
The free slaves have made the slave pens their home; a home they’d prefer to burn down, if they had another place to live.
Spoiler: Places of interest
The Central Square, which surrounds the Temple of the god Ariak, is currently a staging area for the invading army. General Kerrak realizes that if an uprising is to occur, it will happen in or around the temple. While the Republic has not yet changed the temple’s chief deity, it certainly intends to do so in time. Ariak will make way for Tordin, whose doctrine does not allow one man to own another.
General Kerrak’s decision to garrison the temple has inspired much protest from the clergy and citizens alike. Protestors clash with the soldiers on an hourly basis, but the groups are easily broken up by the Republic’s far more experienced forces.
The Industrial District was hit hard during the four month siege. Most of the district is either destroyed, or still on fire. When the attack began, the end of the war seemed like a far away dream, and the Republic’s main goal was to weaken the city’s manufacturing capabilities. Once the city is brought under control, rebuilding can begin. But that time is far from today.
Looters of both nations roam these streets. The invaders do not patrol this area, as it was judged too dangerous. Instead, soldiers guard the exits to make sure the criminals do not spread. Some citizens still try to save what they can, but the district has truly turned into a hive of scum and villainy. Tread at your own risk!
The Slave Pens are now under control of the ex-slaves. They have actively tried to arm themselves, with mixed results. The slaves have been allowed to do this by the Republic, if in return they’d allow the homeless, poor citizens of the city to live with them. The Republic sees the slaves as the only friendly factor in the city and has started, though carefully, recruiting among them.
The slave pens should be considered a neutral ground to any party. The people living there have their own set of laws, and have grouped together under a single rule, known as the Free Council. While the Republic is displeased that this council exists, it does not wish to alienate the slaves and allows it to exist. For now…
The Resistance’s hideout is an enigma, unknown to even exist. Rumours abound that it does, but its location is a closely guarded secret. The Republic disavows any knowledge of its existence, and insists that it does not. Either way, it will be extremely hard to find if it even exists.
The Residential District is the main part of the city, set apart from the northeast Industrial District. It has been left virtually untouched during the siege, with only stray shots from the Republic’s siege engines hitting the buildings. People lay dying in the street not too long ago, and the soldiers are rounding up the bodies that are left to be burned.
The Republic’s forces actively patrol the district, leaving the area relatively orderly. On occasion, the small alleys intersecting the buildings have been used for criminals to rob passersby, or by civilians to ambush the invader’s forces. These instances are rare though, and the general has refused to instate a military crackdown as is the case in the Noble District.
Civilians are advised that anyone found wandering the streets after nine a clock will be arrested and interrogated. Any civilians carrying arms will be held indefinitely.
The Noble District, where the rich citizens lives. The area has been rife with looters and bandits since the siege ended. The General has ordered the area off limits to anyone but his own men. The rich living in the district are supplied with whatever they need, by the army. The general insists this is for their own safety, as much as for the poorer civilians.
Even though a military crackdown is in full effect, both slaves and poor citizens can be found roaming the streets in groups. The military prefers not to interfere, and rather herds them out by advancing on them in greater numbers while leaving them only one route of escape; back to the Residential District.
The Palace of the King stands at the center of the Nobel District and has been garrisoned by the Republic’s army. The general has made the palace his home, while awaiting the arrival of an Alarian official to take charge of the city. The Republic is in full control of the palace and its surrounding gardens.
No trespassers are tolerated, as was made abundantly clear when the first and only group that did were executed by colonel Vandi. Though that colonel was imprisoned after this rash action, it has left a bleak impression in the minds of the citizenry.
Spoiler: The main Cast (NPC’s)
General Kerrak is an aged and wise soldier. He was ordered to lead the fourth army against the city’s defenses. He himself was the first to protest the decision, claiming that only the citizens would suffer from the siege. After much deliberation, he took command anyway, knowing full well that any other commander wouldn’t have taken pity on them.
This is, according to the resistance, propaganda. They describe him as a bloodthirsty man; citing examples as the bloodbath of Talshar, or his decision to garrison the temple, as proof that he is no man of honour. They happen to forget however, that he was not present at Talshar. It is unclear which of the two is right, but the citizens will soon find out.
King Gebrandt of Aelor is nothing more than a coward to many. After the bloodbath of Talshar there were no reinforcements left, and his first action was to flee the city. Some say he is trying to recruit an army from the villages to the west that are still loyal to him. Others claim he has been killed by his generals. Speculation runs rampant, but no one truly knows what happened to him.
Colonel Vandi is the only officer to have survived the bloodbath of Talshar. He was Kerrak’s right hand man, until he executed over fifty civilians who had trespassed onto the palace grounds. While the Republic says Kerrak took pity on him, the resistance claims this was all a ploy. Either way, he has been imprisoned in the dungeon underneath the palace and is awaiting court-martial.
Archon Medin is the speaker for Ariak, his god that is bound to be removed from the city’s temple. He has taken refuge among the populace still loyal to Ariak, as he fears for his life if the invaders found him. Some say he is the leader of the resistance, but no one can be certain of this. All anyone knows is that he is wanted for questioning by the Republic.
Spoiler: Rules
1. All RPA rules, naturally, apply.
2. Any disputes will be settled by the GM. My word is law.
3. Your character is not a god. Your character will take responsibility for their actions, no matter how cool (you think) s/he is.
4. You may not control another character unless its owner gives permission in this thread.
5. Try writing at least a paragraph of four lines, or two paragraphs of three. Make an effort. Feel free to write far more if you wish.
6. For now, I will allow two characters per player, but keep their posts clearly separated within your post. Do not just jump from one to the other and expect people to follow.
7. Please try to enjoy yourselves, it is all I/everyone wants.
Spoiler: Events that are afoot
While it is unsure in what order, these things are sure to happen in the near future. Any of these events could mark the resurgence of the old order, or the fortification of the new.
The removal of Ariak’s statue from the temple. This is sure to cause commotion among the populace. The city is already buckling under the pressure that it might happen soon. Still, it is some time away, the general is sure to wait until things around the temple calm down.
A military intervention in the Industrial District. Surely the general cannot let the current events continue. In the next few days, when the forces can be spared, the Republic will move in an attempt to contain the situation.
The disassembly of the Free Council. The slaves their Free Council can be seen as both a weakness, and a strength to the Republic’s grip on the city. They could either remove this new group from power, or integrate it into their own structure. Either way, the allegiance of the ex-slaves is a primary objective. If not done gently, the results could be catastrophic.
Crackdown on the resistance. Whether they already exist or not, a resistance is sure to be formed in the future. Spies will be put into play to find them, only to send in the army and utterly destroy any sign of resistance. Failure in this endeavor, is not an option.
Unrest in the Residential District. The last reports state that the population will have to make do with rations for the next three weeks. There is no food to spare, and conditions in the Residential District are sure to get worse. Not only this, but some citizens may be a bit annoyed at the curfew that has been set, and the seemingly random arrests.
Unrest in the Noble District. This is currently underway, with the invaders hoping that it will slowly die out. They need the aid of the rich to finance rebuilding the city, but the slaves and the poor want to see blood. Things are bound to get worse, unless the general can find some solution to this problem.
The Court-Martial of Colonel Vandi. The Butcher of Talshar, the executioner of the Red Garden, the psychopath of Alara, and it goes on… The colonel will soon be court-martialed, and no one expects anything less than a summary execution. He is a close friend to the general though, who believes his actions were caused due to shock. Only time will tell how this will end.
Spoiler: Character sheet
Name:
Age:
Species: human (Do not change this)
Gender:
Nationality: Aelorian/Alarian/other (Will not allow many ‘other’)
Faction: See the list above. (Do mention poor/rich/ex-soldier if citizen)
Appearance: A description is mandatory, pictures allowed but would prefer if kept to a minimum.
Personality: Allowed but not necessary, you may simply portray this through roleplay if you wish.
History: same as above.
Character’s stance on the war: same as above.
Please be aware that magic is extremely rare. There are no more than fifty mages on the entire world. I will be the one to decide who, if any, will play one.
Spoiler: Player CharactersSpoiler: Belnazar's characterName: Serinus Darvoelin
Age: 25
Species: human
Gender: Male
Nationality: Aelorian
Faction: ex-slave.
Appearance: Rather handsome, he is of moderate height, neither being too tall or too short. He has curled golden hair and radiant blue eyes that many have said are "enchanting" to gaze upon. His skin is bronzed and he is well toned while not being overly muscular.
Personality: He is charming to a fault, and a fortunately quick thinker. Generally speaking he is good with people and is often able to engage with them emotionally and intellectually. However after the war he feels out of his depth and has become somewhat with-drawn, not knowing who to trust or really what to do. He is a pretty shallow person, caring more for how a person presents themselves than who they might be.
History: Serinus was bred specifically to be beautiful and charming. A long going programme by his rich master to produce only the most exquisite slaves to serve the household. He never knew his parents, and doesn't really consider it to be much of problem - his master and siblings were family enough for him. Growing up he was taught all manner of skills that he would need for his station in the house.
He is skilled in writing, singing and playing a variety of instruments, as well as being a master conversationalist. Despite being a slave he led a comfortable life, as he was essentially, a decoration or ornament for his master. Then the war happened and everything changed. Unfortunately his master was slain during the fighting which left Serinous left without a home, given "freedom" by the invading forces. He does not feel free however, and finds life difficult.
His past as a slave marks him as inferior to many, but his pampered lifestyle leaves him at odds with the other slaves. As a result he finds his new place in the world a troubling one, he is an outcast from all angles and realises just how unprepared he is for this life outside of his master.
Character’s stance on the war: He feels anger at the invading forces, his life was easy and comfortable before they came along and ruined everything. However he is not particularly skilled with conflict and doesn't really know what to do with himself.
Spoiler: MarchinThunder's characterName: Raues Eolus
Age: 22
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Nationality: Aelorian
Faction: Nobility & Military
Appearance:
Striking, that is the usual first impression of Raues most people have. Due to a rare recessive genetic trait, Raues has bright platinum hair as well as slightly darker silver colored eyes. Her hair is generally just past shoulder length and most all of which past her ears is kept pulled up in a reasonably high ponytail while her bangs are left free to frame her face. Her skin is fairly pale, though not unhealthy and refuses to tan, owing to the far northern heritage of her mother. Raues comes in at the height five feet five inches and just a hair over a hundred pounds, most of which is muscle. Her body is still fairly shapely and she looks very appealing in a ball gown though she is most often seen in her armored clothing. When carrying a weapon, Raues is often armed with a custom shield on her right arm that has an extendable spike at the front and sharpened edges.
Personality:
Brisk, rough, and unyielding is the most initial summary of Raues's personality. With the position she has held in life and the up hill struggle she has often had to wage to accomplish anything, Raues rarely spares any time for political bull that most nobles entertain. Rather, Raues hardly suffers fools and instead associates among those of the military as she finds the all business attitude far more refreshing. Occasionally she can be stubborn, but Raues generally supports actions that she believes will support the moral right and the general peace, as such she changes positions often enough given proper information.
History:
Raues is the only child of the second queen of Aelor. Both the youngest of the royal children as well as the child of the second queen, Raues was placed out of line for succession of the throne with her siblings and as such moved into a different path of advancement in life. By entering the military, Raues found her own place in the Aelorian society, far removed from the standard of her family as she grew older. To differentiate herself from the royal family during her military service, Raues has used her mother's maiden name in stead of her usual last name in order to avoid to much grief from her fellow soldiers.
When the war came, Raues was recalled from her position near the front till the capital came under siege at which point she lead her own contingent of troops in several weeks of hard fighting before being captured shortly before the complete fall of the city. Now she awaits whatever fate has been chosen for her by the the Republic.
Character’s stance on the war: Wasteful. As a soldier that has seen conflict first hand, Raues truly wished more diplomacy had been played out and sees the war as being nothing more than a wasteful expense unless dramatic changes come about of it.
Additional notes:
This is semi-FFRP. I will allow players to do their own thing while controlling any NPC’s. I will keep all actions in mind to decide what the outcome will be. The Republic may indeed lose control of the city, should your actions cause enough unrest to make this happen. On the other hand, you could inspire an age of peace. So have fun with it.
Also, even though I am fairly sure I can do this on my own, I could certainly use someone willing to co-GM this thing. I have been reading a lot, and am fairly sure I know how things work. Still, I could use someone to help along.
I know this is quite ambitious, for someone with my post count, and I hope people won’t be deterred from joining because of it.
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