It is the year of our lord, 1399.
In the dying days of the fourteenth century, mankind has had very little to look forward to. Barely recovering from a devastating plague that killed millions, a deadly famine, and countless wars - it is as though God himself has cursed mankind to a miserable and wretched existence. But there is little time to fret about these matters. After all, one must look forward to the next day - that is, if they'd like to survive. And it is in our best interests to like to survive, especially in Ensalas.
The city-state of Ensalas is a burgeoning place. It is home to countless people - countless families. Characters of different walks of life and wallets too. Merchants, bankers, craftsmen, patrons, thieves, mercenaries and so many other people call this place their home. And they continue to do so despite its current state. Led by a corrupt, decadent Prince, Ensalas sees an uncertain future, surrounded by menacing rivals in other city-states, kingdoms, emperors and even the Papacy. No one knows what will be the fate of this place - not even its inhabitants. But, ultimately, it will be these inhabitants - the families - who change its future. And may they change it to an outcome favorable to them.
What will you do? Will your family consist of virtuous beings who spend every living moment helping the poor and needy? Or will you be unscrupulous and unforgiving in order to achieve your political ambitions? The choice is yours. Do what you desire with your bloodline, but beware of what happens in the city - because it may be deadly.
A SHORT HISTORY OF ENSALAS
Ensalas has existed for a long time. First as a village during the era of the Romans, and then a town barely surviving the turbulent Dark Ages under Charlemagne's empire. Following the fall of the empire, Ensalas had switched hands between many rulers, growing slowly and slowly into a hub full of commercial activity. It would be in 1053 that Gianfranco Riari would proclaim the settlement a city-state and named himself its Prince.
Under the Riari dynasty, the city-state would enjoy immense economic growth caused by the inflow of merchants and warriors moving towards the East due to the Crusades. The Riaris would encourage mercantile policies that would enable merchants to grow immensely wealthy. Families and dynasties started taking form - many of the Riari's relatives would form bloodlines of their own, tracing back to Gianfranco Riari himself, and they became the noble families of Ensalas. Other families distinguished themselves through merit, be it through commerce, diplomacy, arts, science, or battle.
However, it would be in the fourteenth century that Ensalas would see significant decline. The Black Death would wreak havoc on the city-state, which would see a fall of its population to 80,000 by the end of the century. It would cause the death of the main Riari line, and the throne soon fell upon the secondary line in 1362, to Matteo Riari, a nobleman who had no interest in stewardship, and focused on maintaining a life of pleasures. His careless nature resulted in his resignation of most affairs of state to families in the Princely Council, who began to possess the most power in the state.
It is now 1399. The Princely Council will be beginning its elections soon, as the Prince begins to show signs of ill health. The future is uncertain for Ensalas. With a dying prince with a twelve year old boy for an heir, and a council that threatens to seize power in the city, what is to happen? All eyes remain firmy on Ensalas, even the eyes of powers menacingly watching from not very far away...
MAP
Legend
1. The Princely Palace - this is where the Prince and his family live, and where the Princely Council convenes. It is the center of the defense and political matters of the city.
2. Golden District - this is where noblemen, advisors, and close allies of the Prince live. Alongside these houses, barracks, guardhouses, armories and most extensions of the city-state are located here.
3. Silver District - this is where the wealthy craftsmen and merchants live, and the center of affluent trade and living for those who aren't particularly royal.
4. Docks - the docks is the entry point for trade in Ensalas, home to several ships and dockside warehouses.
5. The Maw - the largest district of all, the Maw is home to a majority of Ensalas. Everyday people and craftsmen live here, and it is the demands of these people who matter the most. The Maw is also the location of the city's main gate.
6. Gianfranco's Rest - this large field is the site of where Gianfranco Riari declared the establishment of Ensalas as a city-state, and is generally a center for announcements and declarations.
7. Outer Ensalas - the poorest district of all, home to nobodies and beggars. Full of crime.
HOW ENSALAS WORKS[/hr][/hr]Essentially, think of Ensalas as an Italian city state the likes of Florence or Venice. It is full of families and guilds who work in every trade, and these families and guilds tend to fight with one another and be very powerful.
Politically speaking, Ensalas is a monarchy, led by a Prince - currently Matteo Riari - who is supported by an advising Princely Council, comprising of 15 people who are elected by the Prince for a term of ten years. There is also the Inner Princely Council who essentially call the shots in Ensalas consisting of 5 of the 15 people, and the members of this council are chosen by the main body. The Prince has resigned much of his power to the Princely Council, who carry out affairs in a democratic manner, although executive powers remain in the Inner Princely Council who control matters such as war and diplomacy.
Surrounding Ensalas are several powers - Milan, the Papal States, the Holy Roman Empire - who desire to control the prosperous state. There are also far away adversaries, such as the Muslims of the South and in the Holy Land, who may be targeted by the Pope. These parties often will have an interest in Ensalas. They may be peaceful, and carry out trade in the city, or they may rally for war. It depends on the actions of the city - and the families in it.
Ensalas has a docks, and is built on the banks of a river, and so transportation through ships is used quite a fair deal. The city boundaries also extend to nearby countryside, where one may possess vineyards, villas, farms or hideouts. Any other questions? Post it here and the OP will answer.
REGISTRAR OF FAMILIES
None so far.
Note: the OP plays all of the following:
- Nature - OP may introduce natural events such as plague, earthquakes, storms, etc.
- State NPCs - All state NPCs, such as the HRE and other states, are under OP.
- The Riaris - OP will be playing as the Riaris. Riari app to be added soon.
SIGNUPS
- Code: Select all
[b]Family name:[/b]
[b]Family trade:[/b]
[b]Family history:[/b]
[b]Family assets:[/b]
[b]Family location:[/b]
[b]Family members (as well as a brief description of each member such as their appearance, occupation and personality):[/b]
[b]Family goals:[/b]
Note: Sorry - I'm back to NS after a while so this page may be quite crappy. If you have any suggestions / anything I should add or fix, let me know! IC will be up once we have a good deal of people signing up, and if the RP feels ready.
