Reven
| Grim Republic of Reven
| |
| Overview | |
| Nobles | 6 |
| Council | |
| Depraved Prince | Hendrick Armsworth |
| Imperial Seneschal | Hendrick Armsworth |
| Regions | |
Contents
Introduction
Vordul Sanguin....information purged.
All information on Reven before 11/07/1021 has been purged and access is forbidden.
Politics & Culture
Vordul Sanguinis abides by the tyrannical rule of the most powerful among their peers. Through sheer strength, fear, intrigue, or connections, the power is what drives the Sanguine Empire. With ambition often rewarded, and disobedience severely punished, the Empire maintains strict order. The Vizier of Vordul Sanguinis holds the throne, and holds the power to appoint the Crimson Judge, Seneschal, and Warlord in order to lead Vordul Sanguinis through blood and shadow.
The Eternal Emperor signified that through all adversity and pain, that one can persevere and conquer all challenges. Vordul Sanguinis culture follows much the same principle by elevating those who are capable of enduring pain (physical and otherwise) and overcoming it for the good of the Empire. Those who fail to obey the commands of the Vizier and the Council are often tortured so that they main gain new understanding through pain.
Beneath the Royal Council preside the Duchies which govern large swathes of land or cities, entrusted by the Vizier and the Royal Council to adhere to the directives of the Realm. The duchies house the higher nobility which are entrusted to rule the regions of the Duchy, who in turn hold dominance over the Knights and Dames that hold estates within their regions.
Failure to listen to the command structure and obey your superiors is often met with torture (RP Torture as no game mechanic to torture your own nobles) in order to enlighten the offender, or a fine. Extreme or repeat cases of disobedience may be met with being banned or executed.
Religion - Vordulism
Vordulism was founded by Godfrey Greybrook after he joined the Sanguine Empire shortly after it's formation by Xlair Silverblade. While getting acclimated with the culture of Vordul Sanguinis, Godfrey heard stories about the new Empire's leader, and sought to find the true history of Emperor Silverblade.
Godfrey learned that the reason the Emperor wore such cruel armor, and was rumored to bathe in blood, was due to a curse from his own Family. The Silverblade Family worshipped the Old Gods, which consisted of the Masked One, the Dark Mistress, the Ice Queen, the Wolf Lord, the Ephemeral Emperor, and the Crystal Maiden. The Silverblade family, either through corruption or misguidance, saw the Dark Mistress as not only the Mother of Death, but also the power of the Undead, rather than the Crystal Maiden per the lore of the Primordial Gods. Through their cult like worship of Undeath, they idolized the undead and wished to become Liches and Priests of Death to control them to do their bidding.
Having been betrayed by his own Father due to the power struggle against the eldest son of Silverblade, and heir to the Throne, Xlair was cursed to be executed in a fashion to create from him a powerful Death Knight. He was encased in a torture device said to be possessed by the creator, Arshava, which tortures and bleeds the occupant dry until they're body can no longer function, and their tortured soul captured by the magic of the Armor.
During the ritual, Xlair's captains broke into the temple and slew the priests, carrying Xlair, who was still encased in the Armor of Arshava, from the area and to freedom. These captains were to become the first Disciples among the formation of the cult of Xlair, the Sanguine Order. Rather than dying, Xlair learned to conquer the armor, and persevere through the pain, by feeding the armor blood, and overcoming the pain through sheer force of will.
| Blood Oath |
|---|
As life has been given, it can be taken, by those whom oppose us. Through him I shall have power through his suffering. Through him I shall have immortality and rest in peace. Through him, and only him, shall I have absolution. For now, and forever. So do I swear, in sacred blood, I swear for blood eternal. |
This perseverance and strength became a core tenant and was the foundation of Vordulism faith. That through sheer strength of will, overcoming the tortures of life, one can gain purpose and strength. Xlair embodied overcoming all obstacles, and the strength coursing through your veins that could be harness with enough discipline. Those closest to the soon to be Emperor, began to willingly give a sacrifice of their blood to the cursed armor, to show their dedication to Xlair, and faith in his vision. From this ritual, the Blood Oath was formed, and those faithful to the Emperor were required to give blood, and say the Oath, in order to join the Faith.
The sacrifice is accompanied by an Oath to the Eternal Emperor, which once finished, a ceremonial silver dagger is used to cut an "X" into the left forearm, and the blood of the wound to fill a silver goblet. The "X" scar on the forearm signifies the bearer as a Sworn member of the church, and is referred to as the Mark of the Sworn.
Those Sworn to Xlair, the Eternal Emperor, believe that he has achieved his goal on earth, which was to obtain enough power to ascend to the Heavens and begin to form his new Order, and wage war upon the Dark Mistress. Those faithful to the Eternal Emperor in life, will join his Order in death to live eternally in his Empire. Once his conquest is finished, the Undead will fail to exist, and he will reign over Death itself, and provide his faithful eternal life on Beluaterra.
Military - The Frozen Blood
The Frozen Blood is commanded by the Warlord and encompasses the military strength of Vordul Sanguinis. All nobles within the Sanguine Empire are required to be within the Frozen Blood so that the Vizier and Disciples have consistent reports of each army, priest, and so on. The command of an empire seeded on pain and ambition trusts few, and it is well known that the Disciples are watching everything.
Obedience to orders is strictly enforced, and those who show strength and ferocity are quick to be recognized.
The Warlord also works in tandem with the Seneschal for coordinating infrastructure improvements such as walls and defenses.
A sub-guild of the Frozen Blood also exists, containing promising Commoners who assist with scouting of rogue camps, treasure hunting, and scouting. The Frozen Blood Guild is a promising way for both Commoners and Minor Nobility to gain recognition among the Disciples.
Laws & Infrastructure
The Sworn nobility of Vordul Sanguinis answer to the Seneschal and Crimson Judge when it comes to the internal infrastructure of the Empire. The Seneschal coordinates the food stores, gold transfers, and domestic needs of granaries, workshops, etc.. Within the Empire, the Dukes control vast swathes of lands and/or Cities, and command the Lords and Ladies who govern the regions, who command the Knights and Dames of their particular region.
All nobility, Sworn or not, are to adhere to commands of their superiors within the confines of the Laws and governance of the Empire.
| Law | Description |
|---|---|
| No Unapproved Looting | Looting or theft without the permission of a Disciple or Marshall is not allowed. |
| Disobeying a Disciple | Failure to obey, or outwardly disobeying a Disciple is illegal in Vordul Sanguinis. |
| Disrespecting a Sworn | Forsworn or Sworn attempting to slander or demean another Sworn is not tolerated as it causes a decay in the stability of the Empire. Continued offenses will result in punishment by the Crimson Judge |
| No Movement Out of Realm | Leaving realm boundaries outside of explicit orders is seen as suspicious and unlawful. |
The Vizier and the Disciples oversee the infrastructure and are above the standard hierarchy as listed below. Therefor a Disciple that is the Lord of a Region, does -not- answer to the Duke, but the Duke answers to the Disciple in these occasions. Below the Disciples, the structure is pretty standard where the Dukes/Duchesses are above the Lords/Ladies, and they are above the Knights/Dames. In the rare circumstance that a Forsworn holds a region or duchy, they are begrudgingly accepted by those beneath them, but they rarely have the respect of the Sworn.
