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Welcome to The Beggar's Throne! This RP is set in a fantasy setting I have been cultivating for many years now and it is my hope that we can expand on its ever changing lore! More specifically, this RP is set on the island of Rua, a small kingdom on the brink of a religious revolution. Pop open the tabs for more details!
Note: At this time the thread is closed to applicants, but feel free to submit ideas/characters if you're really interested. I may open the RP up to new players eventually.
Other lore information is available upon request. Feel free to ask me in skype chat anything you need/want to know!
Make sure to send your sheets directly to me and/or Deborah for approval and I'll post them in the character list post below. Once all characters are in we'll start the rp!
The Beggar's Throne
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A Fantasy RP
[/HEADING]Welcome to The Beggar's Throne! This RP is set in a fantasy setting I have been cultivating for many years now and it is my hope that we can expand on its ever changing lore! More specifically, this RP is set on the island of Rua, a small kingdom on the brink of a religious revolution. Pop open the tabs for more details!
Note: At this time the thread is closed to applicants, but feel free to submit ideas/characters if you're really interested. I may open the RP up to new players eventually.
[HEADING=3]Rua Lore[/HEADING]
Rua is a small island nation ruled by an ancient royal family whose bloodline dates back three millennia, to the beginning of the Age of Man. The Rosso family resides in the nation?s capital, Ravara, a popular trade hub in the southern seas. Though they have few exports of note, the city survives by acting as a neutral trade zone, allowing foreigners unhindered access to its ports and unmonitored sale of goods. Because of this smugglers and slavers prefer Ravara, and its sister city Krosa, over any other port in the southern seas. Hefty fees must be paid to dock a ship, but beyond that trade is completely free.
However, while foreigners may do business as they please it is still illegal to own slaves as a citizen of Rua. For those who care little for this law, indentured servitude is a common alternative.
Though poverty is the norm amongst Rua?s people, they are not all too bothered by it. The frequent and splendid appearance by the royal family is an ancient tradition that has successfully deterred revolts for centuries. So long as the common folk are fed and they trust the word of their king, they are content. Considering Ravanio is their patron deity, the Ravaran Cult has managed to spin ?poverty is a virtue? successfully to the common folk for centuries.
While Ravara is the nation?s capital and the center of trade, Krosa and Lythica are also rather large cities, each ruled by their own noble house. Krosa is the birthplace of criminal syndicate Morning Star, and is one of the most dangerous cities in the world while Lythica is a center of academia. Despite Lythica?s soft exterior is not a very kind place to live as the nobility treats the common folk more like cattle than people.
However, while foreigners may do business as they please it is still illegal to own slaves as a citizen of Rua. For those who care little for this law, indentured servitude is a common alternative.
Though poverty is the norm amongst Rua?s people, they are not all too bothered by it. The frequent and splendid appearance by the royal family is an ancient tradition that has successfully deterred revolts for centuries. So long as the common folk are fed and they trust the word of their king, they are content. Considering Ravanio is their patron deity, the Ravaran Cult has managed to spin ?poverty is a virtue? successfully to the common folk for centuries.
While Ravara is the nation?s capital and the center of trade, Krosa and Lythica are also rather large cities, each ruled by their own noble house. Krosa is the birthplace of criminal syndicate Morning Star, and is one of the most dangerous cities in the world while Lythica is a center of academia. Despite Lythica?s soft exterior is not a very kind place to live as the nobility treats the common folk more like cattle than people.
3,000 Years Ago
The champions of the Seven, with a vast army of mortals at their command, fell upon the elves? last bastion of power: Tor?kathaal. With their city conquered, the last of the elves were sent beneath the earth to repent for their grave sins and the immortal champions ascended to the heavens to bask in the eternal grace of the gods.
It is said that the prophet warrior Dorian Roso led an exodus from the ruins of the once great elven city?now the capital of Zhang Yu?to the uninhabited island of Rua, or ?Prince? in Elven. Dorian established the city of Ravara as a tribute to his patron, Ravanio, the Prince in Rags, and became Rua?s first king. He also built God?s Seat Temple to welcome Throtarr to his lands on the eve of every new day. His trusted brothers-in-arms during the Great War were instructed to build their own cities and settle their families there. Today Krosa and Lythica are still ruled by the descendants of those two heroes.
1,000 Years Ago
A civil war tore Rua asunder, claiming thousands of lives in the process. Seven brothers warred with one another over the Ravaran throne, and it wasn?t until the Ragged Prince, Ravanio himself, appeared before the hosts of Roso?s legacy that their arms were laid down. He declared that the youngest brother, Yama Roso, was to take the throne and deliver his people from the chaos of war. The brothers of the new king prostrated themselves before their lord and not another drop of blood was shed between them so long as Yama drew breath.
From that point on the people took solace in the benevolence of their kings. They were, after all, blessed by their god.
Present
Divine Right is still widely accepted among the common folk and is zealously preached by the Ravaran Cult, the official religion of Rua.
Belief System
The Ravaran Cult subscribes to many of the basic principles of the Church of the Final Flame, the dominate religion in the North. Like the Northmen, they believe Throtarr is the king of the gods, but revere his prince and son, Ravanio, far-and-above his divine brothers and sisters. Unlike the Northmen, Ravarans do not preach the racist doctrines that condemn orcs and elves, and do not believe the world is built on a cycle of immortality. In fact, they don?t even believe the elves created humans, and claim that vast human empires existed thousands of years ago but were conquered by elven warlords. When it seemed like there was no hope for humanity the gods intervened, giving mankind the strength they needed to topple their evil masters.
Cursed with dark skin and pale eyes, the elves are now forced to live underground and are not worthy to bask in Throtarr?s glory (the light of the sun). They do believe, however, that the elves will someday find reconciliation, and will be absolved of their sins.
Despite their stance against genocide, they do believe humanity to be above other races and treat orcs and half-elves as second class citizens. As with most other cultures, dwarves are an exception due to their novelty and skill. This double-standard is lost on most.
Perhaps due to their reverence of Ravanio and his domains, or because of their materialistic nature, the Ravaran Cult asks little of its followers so long as they pay their weekly tithes to the church. All but the gravest sins can be forgiven if you?ve got the coin. If you don?t, sinners are expected to work off their debt to the gods either through indentured servitude or by fighting for glory on the Grand Stage. The Grand Stage is not like a normal gladiatorial arena and is not used primarily for entertainment. No one can be forced to battle, and participants only ever fight for two reasons: to settle a dispute with another who has accepted the challenge or to absolve one of their sins. Anyone who claims victory on the Grand Stage is said to be favored by Majettah, and if they be a sinner they are one no longer.
The champions of the Seven, with a vast army of mortals at their command, fell upon the elves? last bastion of power: Tor?kathaal. With their city conquered, the last of the elves were sent beneath the earth to repent for their grave sins and the immortal champions ascended to the heavens to bask in the eternal grace of the gods.
It is said that the prophet warrior Dorian Roso led an exodus from the ruins of the once great elven city?now the capital of Zhang Yu?to the uninhabited island of Rua, or ?Prince? in Elven. Dorian established the city of Ravara as a tribute to his patron, Ravanio, the Prince in Rags, and became Rua?s first king. He also built God?s Seat Temple to welcome Throtarr to his lands on the eve of every new day. His trusted brothers-in-arms during the Great War were instructed to build their own cities and settle their families there. Today Krosa and Lythica are still ruled by the descendants of those two heroes.
1,000 Years Ago
A civil war tore Rua asunder, claiming thousands of lives in the process. Seven brothers warred with one another over the Ravaran throne, and it wasn?t until the Ragged Prince, Ravanio himself, appeared before the hosts of Roso?s legacy that their arms were laid down. He declared that the youngest brother, Yama Roso, was to take the throne and deliver his people from the chaos of war. The brothers of the new king prostrated themselves before their lord and not another drop of blood was shed between them so long as Yama drew breath.
From that point on the people took solace in the benevolence of their kings. They were, after all, blessed by their god.
Present
Divine Right is still widely accepted among the common folk and is zealously preached by the Ravaran Cult, the official religion of Rua.
Belief System
The Ravaran Cult subscribes to many of the basic principles of the Church of the Final Flame, the dominate religion in the North. Like the Northmen, they believe Throtarr is the king of the gods, but revere his prince and son, Ravanio, far-and-above his divine brothers and sisters. Unlike the Northmen, Ravarans do not preach the racist doctrines that condemn orcs and elves, and do not believe the world is built on a cycle of immortality. In fact, they don?t even believe the elves created humans, and claim that vast human empires existed thousands of years ago but were conquered by elven warlords. When it seemed like there was no hope for humanity the gods intervened, giving mankind the strength they needed to topple their evil masters.
Cursed with dark skin and pale eyes, the elves are now forced to live underground and are not worthy to bask in Throtarr?s glory (the light of the sun). They do believe, however, that the elves will someday find reconciliation, and will be absolved of their sins.
Despite their stance against genocide, they do believe humanity to be above other races and treat orcs and half-elves as second class citizens. As with most other cultures, dwarves are an exception due to their novelty and skill. This double-standard is lost on most.
Perhaps due to their reverence of Ravanio and his domains, or because of their materialistic nature, the Ravaran Cult asks little of its followers so long as they pay their weekly tithes to the church. All but the gravest sins can be forgiven if you?ve got the coin. If you don?t, sinners are expected to work off their debt to the gods either through indentured servitude or by fighting for glory on the Grand Stage. The Grand Stage is not like a normal gladiatorial arena and is not used primarily for entertainment. No one can be forced to battle, and participants only ever fight for two reasons: to settle a dispute with another who has accepted the challenge or to absolve one of their sins. Anyone who claims victory on the Grand Stage is said to be favored by Majettah, and if they be a sinner they are one no longer.
Rua?s most recent king, the beloved Savos Rosso, succumbed to illness and died in his sleep several months ago. Caius Rosso, heir to the Begger?s Throne, was to be crowned in a ceremony one week after his father?s death. The night before the ceremony he vanished from the palace and has been missing for five months. Wracked with grief and paranoia, the citizens of Ravara became unruly, forcing the grieving queen to abandon the search for her son and put a new king on the throne. Now Adrian Yama Rosso, Savos? second son, is to be crowned.
It is this young boy?s hope that he can bring his people some peace of mind in these troubled times. Unfortunately he is naive, and knows little of the shadows that lurk within his own court? and his own family.
It is this young boy?s hope that he can bring his people some peace of mind in these troubled times. Unfortunately he is naive, and knows little of the shadows that lurk within his own court? and his own family.
The Court of Rosso ? The court of the royal family includes all family members who share Dorian?s blood as well as those noble families that are intrinsically tied to the Rosso line. The court is vast, spoiled, and many members lust for power and influence.
Other Noble Houses ? Those not tied to the royal court have limited power and generally get by as wealthy merchants. This does not apply to the Krosan and Lythican families as they rule over their own cities. Generally the lesser nobles are willing to take bigger risks than those in the royal court or the other two major families.
Morning Star ? Morning Star was first formed a century ago as a mercenary organization. Operating out of Krosa, they would sell their swords to foreign warlords across the sea, but most of them would work within the borders of Rua as guards, escorts or assassins. Forty years ago the organization shifted its focus and cultivated a more heroic reputation. Though that reputation remains today, those who truly know them understand it couldn?t be further from the truth. They are, in fact, a powerful criminal organization whose network dwarfs that of small countries. They are the true power behind the Begger?s Throne.
The Ravaran Cult ? The official church of Rua. Led by the grand cleric, he and his clergymen wear simple pilgrim robes in order to reflect the humility of their god. Despite their charitable nature, the cult is in bed with Morning Star and those high up in the clergy embezzle the majority of tithes paid to the church.
The Apostles of Oonen ? An underground group of heretics who subscribe to the theories of the long dead scholar Oonen, who claimed the Beggar?s Throne is not blessed by Ravanio. Though they started as a peaceful, academic organization; their swift and brutal persecution has forced them to evolve into something much more.
Other Noble Houses ? Those not tied to the royal court have limited power and generally get by as wealthy merchants. This does not apply to the Krosan and Lythican families as they rule over their own cities. Generally the lesser nobles are willing to take bigger risks than those in the royal court or the other two major families.
Morning Star ? Morning Star was first formed a century ago as a mercenary organization. Operating out of Krosa, they would sell their swords to foreign warlords across the sea, but most of them would work within the borders of Rua as guards, escorts or assassins. Forty years ago the organization shifted its focus and cultivated a more heroic reputation. Though that reputation remains today, those who truly know them understand it couldn?t be further from the truth. They are, in fact, a powerful criminal organization whose network dwarfs that of small countries. They are the true power behind the Begger?s Throne.
The Ravaran Cult ? The official church of Rua. Led by the grand cleric, he and his clergymen wear simple pilgrim robes in order to reflect the humility of their god. Despite their charitable nature, the cult is in bed with Morning Star and those high up in the clergy embezzle the majority of tithes paid to the church.
The Apostles of Oonen ? An underground group of heretics who subscribe to the theories of the long dead scholar Oonen, who claimed the Beggar?s Throne is not blessed by Ravanio. Though they started as a peaceful, academic organization; their swift and brutal persecution has forced them to evolve into something much more.
Other lore information is available upon request. Feel free to ask me in skype chat anything you need/want to know!
Make sure to send your sheets directly to me and/or Deborah for approval and I'll post them in the character list post below. Once all characters are in we'll start the rp!
