A War of Kings Interest/Discussion (Open., Low fantasy).

[Wolfmanne]

1. That's something good to work with, but how is the Jalist faith structured? Is there a large, all-encompassing church ran in an episcopal fashion (similar to Catholicism, the Orthodox Church, Roman Paganism etc), or do religious leaders have a lot of autonomy from each (similar to Protestantism, Islam, Buddhism etc)? Are there different sects and denominations proclaiming different beliefs?
2. It's just something to consider, to add a bit of depth the RP. Think a bit about the culture too.
3. As I'd expect.
4. Right.
5. Why is the South poorer than the North? How are the Gora/Seamen different from the majority in terms of culture, faith, language etc?
6. What minerals? Limestone? Clay? Gold? Where else?

1. Catholic like.
5 and 6-I am no expert on Medieval economy or minerals. Sorry.

Also, so I don't confuse you two, are you the one from Malta or the one that makes Polandball flags?

I'm the half Maltese, half Nicaraguan one residing in the UK with dual British/Maltese citizenship, but for the most part is British.

[Zeinbrad]

1. Catholic like.
5 and 6-I am no expert on Medieval economy or minerals. Sorry.

Also, so I don't confuse you two, are you the one from Malta or the one that makes Polandball flags?

I'm the half Maltese, half Nicaraguan one residing in the UK with dual British/Maltese citizenship, but for the most part is British.

Okay. I get you two confused.

[Wolfmanne]

I'm going to add a suggestion regarding succession. Personally, I find it highly unlikely that all of a sudden the realm would be plunged into chaos just because of the death of the King, as the crown would simply pass onto the nearest successor. Perhaps consider adding in a complex succession law involving 'Jal's crown' and have several claimants to the throne who can RPed by different people. Just a few suggestions for some claimants:

Bastard Son of Alfus: The son of Alfus and Alfus' intended heir, legitimised after Alfus' legitimate heir was <killed in battle, fell off his horse etc>. However, he is opposed by the Church and the more zealous Jalists who do not recognisehis status of legitimacy, as they believe that the King of Athura can only rule if he is non-baseborn and remains the oldest legitimate son alive of a descendent of Jal, for bastards do not receive the Royal Blessing of Jal, the absence of which would doom Athura to perpetual civil war and famine. Despite Alfus legitimising him in order to cement his claim, many nobles are using this piece of theology to declare this legitimisation void in their ambitions to see themselves or their intended successor on the throne. Being baseborn, he faces the stigma associated with it and the rumours have spawned resultantly: people claim that he killed his elder half-brother, the original non-baseborn legitimate heir, to become heir to the throne, they claim that he killed Alfus before he had another son, they claim that he has conspired with foreigners, that he eats babies etc. However, those who were close to Alfus wish to see him on the throne, out of respect for the decreased man.

Daughter of Alfus: The daughter of Alfus, who claims her right to the throne by being the last legitimate offspring. Once again, issues relating to faith arise; she and her offspring won't receive the Royal Blessing of Jal, as she is a woman, therefore making her claim to the throne illegal according the laws of succession. There is also a great deal of conspiracy behind her too, for her husband wasn't the man that Alfus had bethrotled her to, but whom she married anyway when he made her pregnant to ensure that she would not have any bastards. Alfus, enraged by this, ordered his death. In response, the two rose up against Alfus in rebellion. When that failed, the two disappeared, believed to have left the realm. She and her husband obtained a 'heroic' status for opposing Alfus, who ruled through strength and might yet commanded no true love from the people. There are those who speculate that those with sympathies for her had ordered the King to be assassinated so that she could return to her homeland with her family safely after cementing her claim. There are also those who do not want to see the Kingdom fall into the hands of another dynasty for whatever reason, for her children would be of the same house as the her husband.

Brother of Alfus: The younger brother of Alfus never really liked his elder. He lived away from him, but nevertheless served the realm as a Prince of Athura and carried out the will of his elder. The death of Alfus and complications with the other two successors has made the younger brother declare himself King. In terms of simple agnatic primogeniture succession, the crown would pass to his brother, and that would be the end of that. But once again, he would rule without the Royal Blessing of Jal, being a younger brother of the original King. However, there are no issues regarding gender or legitimacy, and with Jal's Crown, the Church would accept his claim to the throne, plus Jal's Dynasty would continue to rule over Athura for the ages. A plurality of the Church would find it preferential for him to be King, provided he has Jal's Crown, whilst his supporters already see him as King.

Elected successor: The alternative that many nobles have been advocating is that the successor is elected in an election, with the elligible voters being the decreased Alfus' vassals. Various factions within the court have arisen pushing their own candidate, whether it is one of the above or a noble who has a certain degree of support. Of course, whether the vassals would respect the results of the vote is different matter altogether. Even for those wishing to cement their claims militarily, participating in the election could be a way to gain some support, at least before the fighting begins. The Church opposes this election in the absence of Jal's Crown, but would support it once they obtain Jal's Crown.

The Church: It is the religious aspect of the succession law causing the main issues. Succession law decrees that the heir to throne must be the eldest born non-baseborn son of the previous King in the absence of Jal's Crown, as the Royal Blessing of Jal can only be transferred to that person. The only other way to pass it onto the preferred heir is through Jal's Crown, which is very much absent in this day and age. The stubborn nature of the Church has lead to accusations of being obstructionism. Their official line is that they will recognise the person that they crown with Jal's Crown, with the problem being that they don't have Jal's Crown, and they are actively searching out for it. In the meantime, during the Interregnum, they have appointed an Interrex to serve as Regent and Protector of the Realm, and have asked for the nobles to swear fealty him. Internally, there are those within the clergy who argue for the law to be changed to allow a certain claimant to become King, but the Church is dominated by traditionalists who aren't willing to give leeway.

[Utceforp]

I have some ideas to add on to this.

Cadet Branch: One or two generations ago, a feud similar, but smaller in scale, to the current succession crisis occurred. The victor became king, and Alfus is his descendant. However, some recognize one of the other heirs as more legitimate, and are willing to take advantage of the current crisis to put the descendants of one of the losers on the throne.

The Regent: Before Alfus was assassinated, he impregnated his wife with another child. A few months after his death, the child was born. Since he was born after the king died, the church decided that technically somebody had already inherited Alfus' titles. That, combined with the fact that the child is a few months old, at best, means that few if anyone supports him. However, a powerful figure has stepped in as regent for the boy, and wishes to gain power by placing the baby on the throne.

[Zeinbrad]

I like these ideas.

[Utceforp]

Hello? Anyone home?

[Apto]

This is why discussion threads are useful.

I'm thinking we should probably leave the assassination as distant, mysterious and mostly unbiased, though. Tying it into the story too much feels like it'd push the plot one way or another. And the housecarls aren't meant to be the main feature, I don't think.

I'm mostly trying to give the Housecarls a reason for existing and why they're like that. I mean, they're supposed to be this imposing mercenary group right? Why would they work for someone else if they really are that strong?

No one really knows who killed the King, as far as the Lanson and Housecarls are concerned they're responsible, but since they hired different assasins they just might have killed doubles. For all they know the King just might be resting in his hidden castle before reminding everyone why he was king in the first place.

[Alleniana]

I think the Housecarls/Huskarls/whatever are more Viking-inspired than Hunnic.

Speaking about Housecarls. Here's what they look like.

Dem legs. And the archer is posing.

I have some ideas to add on to this.

Cadet Branch: One or two generations ago, a feud similar, but smaller in scale, to the current succession crisis occurred. The victor became king, and Alfus is his descendant. However, some recognize one of the other heirs as more legitimate, and are willing to take advantage of the current crisis to put the descendants of one of the losers on the throne.

The Regent: Before Alfus was assassinated, he impregnated his wife with another child. A few months after his death, the child was born. Since he was born after the king died, the church decided that technically somebody had already inherited Alfus' titles. That, combined with the fact that the child is a few months old, at best, means that few if anyone supports him. However, a powerful figure has stepped in as regent for the boy, and wishes to gain power by placing the baby on the throne.

I would remove the regent, since that kind of direct legitimacy kind of makes it regent v everyone else

[Utceforp]

Speaking about Housecarls. Here's what they look like.

Dem legs. And the archer is posing.

CANNOT. UNSEE.

I have some ideas to add on to this.

Cadet Branch: One or two generations ago, a feud similar, but smaller in scale, to the current succession crisis occurred. The victor became king, and Alfus is his descendant. However, some recognize one of the other heirs as more legitimate, and are willing to take advantage of the current crisis to put the descendants of one of the losers on the throne.

The Regent: Before Alfus was assassinated, he impregnated his wife with another child. A few months after his death, the child was born. Since he was born after the king died, the church decided that technically somebody had already inherited Alfus' titles. That, combined with the fact that the child is a few months old, at best, means that few if anyone supports him. However, a powerful figure has stepped in as regent for the boy, and wishes to gain power by placing the baby on the throne.

I would remove the regent, since that kind of direct legitimacy kind of makes it regent v everyone else

Yeah, good point. I tried to make him as not-legitimate as possible though, by making him born after Alfus kicked the bucket. Perhaps one of the other roles could be combined with it, by making Alfus' bastard/daughter/brother very young, and backed by a powerful noble.

Also, I have another suggestion:

The Old Church: Jalism has taken hold in Athura relatively recently, a few generations ago. Thus, the followers of the pre-Jal deities still exist and while they may not have the political power of the Jalists, the nobles who still worship the old gods have a lot more influence among the peasantry in the non-Jalist regions of Athura. Thus, some have taken the opportunity of the succession crisis to band together under a powerful leader and attempt to expel the followers of Jal from the realm and restore the original church.

[Utceforp]

*coughs*

[Zeinbrad]

*coughs*

I am still here.

Just lurking in the shadows.

[Alleniana]

*coughs*

I am still here.

Just lurking in the shadows.

y u lurk ur own rp