CASSANIAMap courtesy of
Razzgriz.
Darkest green is forest, lighter green is swampland, lightest is plains. Mountains marked. The isles of Cassania are large. Stretching from the cool temperate south up towards the frozen wild lands of the north, Cassania is inhabited by numerous species of game animal, many forests, swamps, river systems and rolling grasslands, which gives Cassania its second name - the Verdant Isle. For many years, the Thonoci people of Cassania had lived peacefully. Tribes and nations on both sides of the Ancerian Strait had seen eye to eye. Some passing men had sought to own parts of the Verdant Isle, but few ever had the troops, ever less the resources, to mount more than a raid on the Thonoci of the Isle, who, in times of crisis, banded together to repel invaders and threats to their lands.
However, then came Thresu. He was a general of the Rhosan Empire, an emergent power in the south, who had invaded Anceria, across from the isles themselves, and eyed Cassania with lust for her fertile lands. Thresu boarded some canoes with his army, built by local Thonoci for fishing, and stepped onto the shores of Cassania. From there, his army raided all over the island, before turning their raids into conquests. The technological advances of the Thonoci meant that they never stood a chance. Within mere years, the Rhosan Empire controlled the east, south and centre of the island.
Many times, they tried to push westwards, to mop up the last Thonoci left on the isle, but every time, no matter where they attacked, they were repelled, sometimes by the swamps, other times by the mountains. The Thonoci west of the mountains retained their independence. But the Rhosans continued to try invading the whole island. They travelled north, finding a hostile group known as the Pitaci. Unlike many other Thonoci, the Pitaci were far more barbaric, simply swamping the invading Rhosans with numbers, as well as stealing their precious cavalry horses.
Suitably rattled by the Thonoci, the Rhosan army kept fortifications across the northern border of their lands, keeping them safe, while they spread their influence around the isles, native Thonoci in their occupied lands adopting their traditions, language and culture. It was not to last forever. A century after they first landed, many of the Rhosans in the army were called back to the city of Rhosa, to defend from barbarians, some of the soldiers having never even been to Rhosa. None of these departed soldiers were seen again, and three years after they left, the Rhosan Empire had collapsed.
The Rhosanised Thonoci, known as the Cartaci, soon split up again into warring factions, barely able to keep their disparate lords together. This continued for years, with occasional raids from the other Thonoci nations, aghast at their cousins' abandonment of their ways. And, of course, the Pitaci presented a lingering threat.
However, the collapse of the Rhosan Empire emboldened the Garcani tribes, far away from Cassania, who began raiding in their ships two hundred years ago. However, they soon learnt of the prosperity and fertility of Cassania. Many landed, invading the isles and their disparate populations, even more disparate than before the Rhosans had invaded, and, in three waves, took land from south-eastern Cassania. These three Garcani nations became the Acli, the Sassani and the Joti. Each one of them set up their own petty fiefdoms. That is the state of Cassania now. Small groups, some tribal villages, others single cities, yet others nomadic tribes of Pitaci undertaking sporadic raids into the southern lands on horseback. And with the introduction of the ever-raiding Skalvi, even further north across the seas, Cassania has become a land of opportunity - opportunity to carve out land for oneself.
NATIONS
When thinking of the nations of Cassania, one must not think in terms of unified states, nor even judicial areas. No, the nations of Cassania are merely lands unified by similar culture. They are disparate, squabbling, disunited, and without a strong figure to unite them, will remain as such until the day when civilisation on Cassania falls. However, these are the nations of Cassania:
THONOCI NATIONS:The Thonoci are, as far as can be attained, the original inhabitants of the Cassanian Isle. Since the oldest records, Thonoci have organised themselves into clans and tribes, each one nominally independent from the ones around it, with only the briefest periods of confederation, often in the wake of socio-political challenges to their lands. Possessing rather egalitarian social systems, most Thonoci have a tendency towards equality between males and females, as well as equality upwards, with lords of clans being on good terms with peasants.
Cartaci:Language: Cartaci
Religion: Rhosanism
Specialisation: Sword infantry, heavy cavalry
The Cartaci are the prosperous descendants of the Thonoci tribes who submitted, willingly or not, to Rhosan rule during the Imperial era. As such, they gained much knowledge from the Rhosan Empire. They learnt to build larger stone structures, such as forts and castles, in their territory, and adopted somewhat the Rhosan military traditions of a semi-professional army. While now organised into petty fiefdoms, the Cartaci way has always been to defer to Rhosan beliefs where it would not disregard their own culture too heavily. Their language is softer than Caithri, but they can understand some of it. They specialise in sword infantry and heavy cavalry. They follow the Rhosanic religion, unlike their
Caithri:Language: Caithri
Religion: Thonoci Shamanism
Specialisation: Spear infantry, bowmen
The Caithri are the wild cousins of the Cartaci, from the western lands over the mountains, never tamed by the Rhosan Empire in its day. Crimes of Rhosan aggression, however, still play on the hearts and minds of the Caithri people, as their culture was pushed to the edge of the continent by war and bloodshed, and their Cartaci counterparts still launch raids into Caithri territory from time to time. Their language is harsher than Cartaci, though they can understand some words from each other in passing. Caithri are entirely tribalistic, organising into villages and small towns with only the most basic hillforts for defence, and specialise in spear infantry and bowmen, most lightly armoured.
Vaithi:Language: Vaithi
Religion: Thonoci Shamanism
Specialisation: Boats, spearmen
The Vaithi are similar to the Caithri in many respects, descended from similar Thonoci to they. However, the Vaithi were relegated to far southern lands, separated from the main Thonoci tribes and never fully overtaken by the Rhosan Empire. As such, they are similarly wild, but with a history of living on the coast, rely more on the sea for trade, resources and warfare, Vaithi navies being comprised of primitive warships and fishing vessels. The Vaithi tongue is almost identical to Caithri. They specialise in primitive naval warfare, as well as spearmen.
Pitaci:Language: Pitaci
Religion: Thonoci Shamanism
Specialisation: Light cavalry
The Pitaci are less settled even than the Caithri. Contacted by the early Rhosan Empire, early attempts to invade their lands resulted in spectacular failure, as the Pitaci, now infuriated, raided Rhosan camps in retaliation, moving down South for the first time, and finding horses, which now make up a major part of their culture and military. The Pitaci have been nomads from then on, moving camps whenever possible and never staying too long in one place, raiding as they go and razing settlements. The Pitaci tongue is far further removed from Caithri and Cartaci, though the odd word here or there can be understood. The Pitaci specialise in light cavalry, arming themselves mostly with stolen weaponry, and seldom wearing armour, or some even clothes at all, while riding on horseback.
GARCANI NATIONS:The Garcani are newcomers to the land, arriving only after the last of the Rhosans left. They brought with them odd customs, already existent clan and tribe divisions and a sheer ferocity that made them formidable in the early years of their conquests. They do keep slaves, though of late have not gone for many raids to take any from nearby lands, instead raising a slave caste below theirs descended largely from the original Thonoci inhabitants of the land, while the men and women of the Garcani tribes remain largely equal, but with lords having a high status amongst the tribe.
Acli:Language: Acli
Religion: Garcani Paganism/Rhosanism
Specialisation: Spearmen, heavy cavalry
The Acli are the most civilised Garcani nation on Cassania. They arrived first, taking land from the native Thonoci tribes and pockets of Rhosan influence still present. They inhabited fertile plains, soon coming into contact with the Kingdom of Anceria. They adopted much from the Ancerians, including cavalry, castles, and some (but by no means all) have even adopted the Rhosanic Faith. Their language is has a certain sing-song quality to it, though they can understand most other Garcani well enough. They specialise in spearmen and heavy cavalry.
Sassani:Language: Sassani
Religion: Garcani Paganism
Specialisation: Swordsmen with shields, bowmen
The Sassani arrived a while after the Acli, and settled further south, avoiding much contact with the Anceri to the east. They continued to develop even so, however. They copied some basic ideas of Acli castle-building and architecture, but never quite to their extent, and they maintain their tribal lifestyles moreso than the Acli. The Sassani tongue sounds harsh and powerful, but they too can understand most other Garcani tongues. They specialise in swordsmen with shields.
Joti:Language: Joti
Religion: Garcani Paganism
Specialisation: Axe infantry, bowmen
The least prosperous Garcani nation, the Joti were the last to arrive in Cassania. They have settled with the basic necessities, but are known for their ferocity. Much of the land they now call home had already been taken by the Sassani when they arrived, and so they fought them for it rather than local Thonoci tribes, making them unlikely allies to the Cartaci groups nearby. They are the most conservative of the Garcani also, preserving their traditions fiercely, including a heavily oral tradition. Their language is surprisingly soft for such a harsh people, though they understand other Garcani languages fairly easily. They specialise in axe infantry and bowmen.
RHOSAN NATIONS:The Rhosan people are descendants of the citizens of the Rhosan Empire which came to Cassania centuries ago. They came as conquerors and statesmen, possessing complex systems of governance still extant within the Cartaci lands to this day, though not to the same extent. They came to the island, raised the Cartaci to rulers within their lands, expanded north, met the Pitaci who quickly made them very afraid, and the rest of the Rhosan presence was largely an attempt to mitigate Pitaci raids. Eventually, they departed back for their homeland, finding it in ruins after invasions and raids, with the few Rhosans who remained clinging hard to their traditions. They have a hierarchical structure, with lords, priests, citizens, freemen and slaves all part of the established system, as well as a stratified distinction between males and females.
Anceri:Language: Anceri
Religion: Rhosanism
Specialisation: Heavy cavalry, heavy infantry
The Anceri are the cousins of the Garcani who were subjugated by the Rhosan Empire centuries ago, who also colonised the land which is now Anceria and left it as they collapsed. The Empire left the Anceri with many great structures and a system of ruling. An individual named Cholesrith united the disparate Ancerians, and formed the Kingdom of Anceria, with a feudal monarchy, as well as adopting a far more Rhosan tongue. Anceri is now a major language of learning within the Kingdom. They specialise in heavy cavalry and infantry, though are more sedentary and cautious than the Cassanian nations. To this day, the Ancerian nation is the only one with any form of unity.
Low Rhosan:Language: Low-Rhosan
Religion: Rhosanism
Specialisation: Heavy cavalry, heavy infantry
The Low-Rhosans are the descendants of Rhosan freemen and citizens who settled far into Northern lands, yet were not recalled back to Rhosa as the Empire fell. They now inhabit tiny pockets within Cassania and Anceria, preserving their traditions in a lesser form. The term 'lower' implies their status - not as "true" Rhosans in the eyes of anyone, despite the fact that they have preserved a lot that the Rhosan-descended populations have lost elsewhere. Regardless, they exist in such low numbers that, without a miracle, they might simply die out as a people. They specialise in heavy cavalry and infantry, making them a very efficient fighting force, should they survive and spread their dying culture.
NOSARI NATIONS:From some far off northern continent, the Nosari are descendants of those who could deal with the cold temperatures and did not choose to immediately return south after venturing so far north. That cold climate, in some places it being always winter, has hardened the Nosari, who continued to thrive in their region away from intrusions. However, as their population increased, they found it ever more necessary to raid into southern lands. Men and women are equal, with women often being the ones to choose a spouse, not men, and the penalty for rape is death.
SkalviLanguage: Skalvi
Religion: Nosari Paganism
Specialisation: Boats, axe infantry
The Skalvi arrived to Cassania only recently from somewhere across the sea. They arrived in longships, originally coming to trade with locals and engage in diplomacy with Garcani and Thonoci alike. They brought strange ways, but were tolerant of the ways of others. Some remain that way. However, tales of Skalvi arriving in their longships, burning down villages and murdering many are becoming much more common, and one cannot truly tell whether a ship on the horizon brings good tidings or ill. Their language is incomprehensible on its own, though many Skalvi make effort to learn the tongues of others, as they travel more than most. They specialise in ship design and axe infantry.
RELIGIONS
There are various religious traditions throughout the entirety of Cassania. Most nations have their own ethnic religions, that are held simply by virtue of population, while the prosperous religion of Rhosanism has a large following throughout the known world, and has a presence on Cassania throughout many groups.
ORGANISED RELIGION:Rhosanism:Rhosanism, or Rhosan Kuric, is the faith brought by the Rhosan Empire to the people of Cassania. Founded in the lands of the Rhosan people, an advanced civilisation who had made great advances in philosophy, the Rhosanist faith revolves around four cardinal virtues, said to be universal - wisdom, temperance, fortitude and justice. All of these are aspects of the soul, with the hierarchy thus placing soul above the others in that regard. They have a defined priestly class, and build great temples in their lands, standing tall over the landscape. They have a holy text, known as
The Liber. 'Kur' is the Rhosan word for 'faith', and so 'Kuric' refers to that.
The following gods make up the Rhosanic pantheon:
- Aesus - God of the soul, the natural world, all humans and animals.
- Euetus - God of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, literacy and art.
- Inuatus - God of temperance, preservation, safety and good deeds.
- Siualus - God of fortitude, determination, war and human endeavour.
- Teisus - God of justice, fate, duty and the right to rule.
ETHNIC RELIGIONS:Thonoci Shamanism:Thonoci Shamanism refers to the ethnic religion practiced by the Thonoci people. Practiced in all of the Thonoci lands, which have been reduced to mainly in Cassania, the faith includes many aspects unusual to others, such as the veneration of animal and tree spirits, believe in reincarnation, sacrifice both humans and animals to appease their gods (often burying these offerings in the ground), and has a defined priestly class, many of which act as healers, prophets and other vocations of a somewhat "mystic" nature. The veneration of various spirits has discouraged some Thonoci from settling at all, fearing that they would damage, and thus anger, the tree spirits of forests by doing so.
There are no gods in the Thonoci faith, instead with spirits playing roles of various importance. Generally, the Wolf Spirit is considered most important, though that is largely because of the connotations it brings to the minds of many Thonoci people.
Garcani Paganism:Garcani Paganism refers to the ethnic religion practiced by the Garcani people. Practiced in Old Garcania, where the three Garcani peoples in Cassania were from, the Garcani faith revolves around numerous gods pertaining to aspects of the natural world. They do not commit sacrifices to their gods, nor do they have a particularly distinguished priestly class. They consider temples far too menial to dedicate to gods, instead dedicating forests and trees, often by inscribing runes upon the trees as they dedicate them.
The following gods are the ones which most Garcani tribes consistently worship, though it can vary drastically.
- Hreoh: God of thunder, storms, tides, sea travel, war, humanity, weather in general and the Head God.
- Gleawn: God of wisdom, sight, understanding, knowledge and the giver of writing.
- Cynden: God of nature, hunting and feasting.
- Bisceoth: God of labour, work and duty.
- Elyna: Goddess of love, fertility and agriculture.
- Aldora: Goddess of fate, truth, law and justice.
- Fritha: Goddess of the sun, bringer of the dawn and goddess of time.
- Beada: Goddess of death, Lady of the Under-realm.
Nosari Paganism:Nosari Paganism is the ethnic religion of the Nosari people. Practiced in the ice-bitten northern lands that the Nosari call their home, the Nosari faith is based on the worship of gods of natural forces. The Nosari belief is of a single great god with two aspects that begat all other lesser gods, which govern over many varied aspects of nature, often with a male and female counterpart for these concepts. Nosari people venerate their ancestors, burying them with many honours. They tend to build great stone barrows into the ground where their ancestors lie, as well as monuments to their gods across the landscape.
The following gods are the ones which most Nosari tribes consistently worship, though it can vary drastically.
- Bjaupan: Progenitor of the gods, god of snow and ice.
- Charnipan: Dark aspect of Bjaupan, god of rain and thunder.
- Prava: Goddess of justice, fate and punishment.
- Pravmazh: God of lawmaking, duty and reward.
- Maka: Goddess of fertility, love and family.
- Oichen: God of parental duty and courtship.
- Zhika: Goddess of life and rebirth.
- Shekim: God of death and necessary loss.
- Tokie: God of the three realms - the underworld, where the dead live, the world of humanity, and the land of the gods.
- Obrona: Goddess of protection, fire, safety and sanctuary.
RULES
- Applications are for tribes, settlements and individual characters only. I define a settlement as between 2,000-10,000 in population, with very few being as high as 10,000 people. If there is a distinct reason in the app to go above that, I may consider it.
- To begin with, there will only be one (1) space for a Low-Rhosan settlement. That may grow over time, but remember that Low-Rhosans are a dying culture in Cassania, and without player intervention, will die out entirely.
- No-one roleplays as any King or high lord of a large tract of land from the beginning. That includes the King of Anceria, who will be an NPC until such point as they die. People can RP as lords with ambitions to become Kings of places, but not from the get-go.
- Exploration may be possible, but that will probably occur later.
- If roleplaying as a current-invader (i.e: Skalvi or Pitaci), then keep in mind that your population will not be permanent so far. You may settle, but for both, may lose out on some of those cultures' unique features.
- Technology is to be strictly limited to 5th-7th Century Western/Northern European, other than for Low-Rhosans, who have some influence from Roman-era.
- To begin with, I will accept one independent settlement/tribe app per person. If that person makes three decent-length-and-quality posts in the IC, that limit will be lifted.
CULTURE EQUIVALENTS:Each culture and nation has its roots in a real-life culture, for ease of use:
- THONOCI
- Cartaci: Romano-British
- Caithri: Mix of Irish and Welsh
- Vaithi: Cornish/Breton
- Pitaci: Picts mainly
- GARCANI
- Acli: Angles
- Sassani: Saxons
- Joti: Jutes
- RHOSAN
- Low-Rhosan: Mix of Latin, with Etruscan flavour
- Anceri: Early French
- NOSARI
- Skalvi: Mix of various Slavic cultures, with Viking influences