INTRO: The World of Zid is a Fantasy RPG noted for allowing player characters to have a major impact on the world as events move forward making it's world more of a collaborative effort then the product of a single mind. Events in previous RPs have lead up to this moment but you need not have taken part in them to be involved in deciding the future of the city of Zid. In this RP you will join one of two factions and work towards it's goals either as totally devoted to it's cause or a moderate looking for a middle path- hoping to prevent a destructive civil war. The fate of the city of Zid- is in the players hands.
BACKGROUND: Centuries ago, after the Dragon Wars, General Ethanial Zid returned to his hometown of Zid with an army and restored order where it had been lost when the Dragonic Rulers fell. With him was an egg which hatched into a blue dragon hatchling he named 'Elenor' whom he took into his family as a daughter. He became the first Sorcerer King of Zid. Ethanials Great-Grand Son, Kalcipher Zid, lead the small city state into a conquest in the name of unifying mankind. He rode into battle upon Elenor's shoulders. He was brilliant and with her conquered much of the eastern free holds- including the famed Knights of Elone. A coalition was formed against him and drove the Kingdom of Zid back to the city where Kalcipher fell. What happened next was considered it would seem such an embarrassment that no full record exists of it- only that peace was declared with Elenor being recognized as Queen of Zid.
The Dragon Queen set about restoring the city and ruling it directly but she soon became too large for the city and moved into the mountains. There she became distant, relying on the Wizards of Zid- an order of Magi- to administer the city to her specifications. The Wizards enforced the laws, and ran a bureaucratic system of governance with various circles with in the order having authorities over different realms of affairs- agriculture, sanitation, etc. The only one who could speak to Elenor without a summons was the Grandmaster of the Wizards of Zid from whom she recieved all details of state . From her came the law, and high judgement.
She gained a reputation as a benevolent mistress- allowing great liberty to her citizens and by all accounts being deeply concerned for their well being. She didn't take part in another war, having promised long ago as part of that peace to only wage such defensively. When the Alterran Empire (which formed from the coalition that formed against Kalcipher long ago) was threated she refused their request for aid as it went against the treaty that ended the war long ago. When the Dragon of Colm asked for her aid against the Alterran Empire she refused. When the Alterrans asked for her aid against the Dragon of Colm she refused as the treaty that ended the Dragon Wars forbids Dragons from slaying one another and such would go against the treaty that ended the war with Zid.
She largely sent her Wizards to find magical relics and books for her collection and the order's use. Zid's become known as the 'University City of Wizards' with a number of the order serving as advisers in far off lands. Even with all this, years of living in the mountain filled her with loneliness and she prepared to depart for the far North where most of her kind migrated after the Dragon Wars. She instructed the wall to be repaired, and discussed with Grandmaster Othello the formation of a regency council. The protection of Zid would be in her absence the responsibility of the Wizards of Zid.
When she did depart life was generally peaceful as usual until the City was attacked- and the Wizards lost a great many of their numbers. For what ever reason the regency refused to establish an army even after that, insisting the mages where enough but the damage done would show otherwise. The Wizards largely held to Elenor's laws but have passed a few of their own with legislation in their hands. For the first time in centuries the city has been ruled by Humans alone; Humans who have rose in the ranks of the order to be appointed to positions of their specialty. It was a simple evolution from the bureaucracy- and has been evolving into something of a parliament in Elenor's long absence.
But now, after decades of self rule- Elenor has returned and expects the Regency to step down. The Regency Council is refusing- the tension of this situation has trickled into the streets as the people fear what could happen. Elenor has announced that she'll be taking a more active role- having realized how distant she'd become- and taken the decades to reflect on her negligence- the attack and it's poor repulsion has convinced her that she's still needed in Zid, and can not allow herself to again go into isolation. She intends to expand her cavern chambers into a palace capable of housing a court, diplomats, and servants to maker herself more accessible not only to the Wizards but the people she cares for.
The Wizards are concerned that her direct rule will see their long held powers diminish and with that migrate power more from the people to Elenor directly. Elenor's known as benevolent but the order feels such is because she's not been active in ruling for centuries- only dictating the law and foreign relations. They see her move as a power grab the likes of which they are not prepared for and one they feel will dash their efforts at establishing a full magocracy of which they where working towards under the assumption that Elenor wasn't returning. It was something they made public not too long ago- and that adds to their concerns.
The Factions
LOYALISTS
The Dragon Queen has returned after her long absence, the regency's reign will soon end. Elenor has only ever acted in our interests, and it's because of her we experience peace. The treaties are with her- not with Zid. If we kick her out we'll be vulnerable to aggression and open to wage war with others. The Wizards hold powers immense and power has a way of corrupting a mortal heart. Elenor keeps them from having all the power they desire over us, it's her laws- not their laws we follow. The laws of ancient wisdom, not laws meant to better the status of mages into some aristocracy. She protects us not only from foreign aggression but from the Wizards who execute her will- or did before the regency. She'll have them under control soon enough. With a renewed focus on the city, efforts to rebuild it- to restore it- we can hope for a better tomorrow. The only future the magocrats are bringing is a war they can not win, they would turn on our protector who has only ever shown herself to be a caring almost maternal being.
MAGOCRATS
The Dragon has returned after her long absence to have found our city in poor condition. Many blame us for the failed defense but they ere. We failed because we have become too dependent on the She-Dragon for protection. She will not live for ever, she will pass eventually. We cannot continue to rely on her. If we do not break our dependency what will happen when she passes? It'll be worse then the attack we have experienced by an unknown foe. Far worse, it will be the fall of Zid for our decedents will be even less prepared. The ignorant believe she's beyond our vice, they do not consider what she was - what she could be again. Anyone can fall back into old habits. Our path weather they understand it or not is giving them power- anyone with enough study can become a Wizard with the best leading us. If one is using aristocracy for 'rule of the best' you are correct, but otherwise you are very mislead regarding our governance and what we are striving for. A public rather then private government of learned specialists overseeing the legal, judicial, and executive functions of our state. Is that not better then a state governed from a distance? She left the city to her cave before, she'll do it again- she's too large to be involved in more practical ways and that's best for us all.
KEY FIGURES
The Dragon Queen Elenor of the Kingdom of Zid
Elenor is a massive blue-silver dragon who has ruled Zid for centuries. Her head alone is 3 meters from snout to back and 2 1/2 meters from jaw to the top of her head. Elenor has had legislative power and power over foreign affairs having migrated other powers to the Wizards before the regency was established. She''ll now be restoring her old powers and reclaiming the ones she had bestowed upon the Wizards long ago- effectively destroying the power the Wizards have over the city. Elenor is know for her religious tolerance, while officially a Traditionalist herself (having been brought up in such a faith by the old Sorcerer Kings) she's tolerate of the Righteous and Naturalist. But her reluctance to embrace the high position set upon her by the Dragon Cutlist makes her off putting to them. Her laws forbid Necromancy (speaking with the dead, raising the dead, and other manipulation of the dead) and the Order under her followed such but would from time to time bring up a case for it's regulation- a lifting of the total ban and implementation of forbidden and permitted acts of the art. But despite how useful it could be in investigation and judicial proceedings she's stayed firm- insisting the dead rest. Taxation under Elenor was collected, as it presently is, by the Wizards. She owns an expansion of pasture for her own sustenance, which has been kept by a hired tenant. Debters can donate livestock to the state (Elenor) to forgive some of the debt. As Elenor has grown so too has the size of the pasture, and thus some lands have had to be acquired for such expansion. Her presence alone has kept other states from assaulting the City of Zid, and the treaties currently are bound to her- with her personally. Elenor has mostly kept to her cave save to feed in those fields (she realized that hunting the forests only damaged them and scared game away from the local hunters), and to patrol the skies. Only the Grandmaster of the Order or those summoned by her have been allowed to meet Elenor- until now. Due to the recent split she's open her cave to - anyone brave enough to address her. It was one of the announcements she made upon her return. The rest regarded her plans for furthering her powers and influence.
Othello, Grandmaster of the Wizards of Zid- Head of the Regency Council
Once Elenor's favorite Grandmaster Othello has along with the combined resistance of the Council displeased Elenor. He lost many of his students during the defense of the city, and working towards the creation of the new Magocracy has been a way of copping. Now that Elenor has returned he feels his students died for a dream that will never be if Elenor has her way. Othello has lead the Regency for decades now- as head of the council. During his time in such a role the use of necromancy has been permitted and used for investigation and trial; as the Order has long been wanting to broaden it's craft. With Elenor gone the ability to have debt forgiven by exchanging livestock has been suspended. The religious tolerance of the state has remained but to take on the legislative and foriegn powers of Elenor (during her absence) the council had to create political bodies to handle both functions. They did not dare give in to requests for objects form Elenor's collection, and thus an issue with the state of Elone has continued. The identity of the attacks still remains unknown despite the powers of the Magi suggesting more at work with that attack. Elenor takes this as a sign of incompetence, some people see it as apathy, and a number are concerned what it could mean.
Character Application
- Code: Select all
[b]Race[/b]: (most of the natives are Human but as a university city others do join the order and thus you can find Elves, Half Elves, and Spritling among the population. Alterran students who took to living here brought a population of Kobolds with them. Other races are a hardly notable minority in the population)
[b]Faction[/b]: Loyalist or Magocrat
[b]Reason for Side[/b]:
[b]Name[/b]:
[b]Gender[/b]:
[b]Personality[/b]: (While not required it's suggested one incorporate two virtues and one fatal flaw into the personality in order to create a rounded character)
[b]Bio[/b]:
Player Character List
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LOYALISTS
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- Kaziimar - Ananda Howard - Human Wizard
