OOC: Open RP - A Turn of the Page (Coronation/Masquerade)

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

First Off:

This thread is designed to offer up information for players to reference if needed for more clear interaction in the ic thread to follow in the next while, and to carry on any planning, ooc coordination, arguments, etc that pop up on account of the ic thread.

Once the ic thread gets started, please lets keep the rp clean as we can. There is no need with this extra thread to make ooc notations in the other if you can possibly avoid it. If you feel such need, please try and copy the post from the ic, quote it here and add your ooc clarification.

Next line of business – what’s the story?

The idea is to potentially pass on the crown, so to speak - and to introduce the next in line to the throne after Naiya - in the form of her new sons. Nathicana will be officially retiring and leaving the rule of the Dominion in younger, willing hands. Other events may be carried out as well, but I’m waiting to see what happens in a couple other areas. I realize there's probably plenty of you I've never interacted with, and have no clue on history here - that's fine. Back in the day, we didn't need much of an excuse to show up and wish well.

When the ic thread starts, we won’t be needing the usual ‘request for arrival’ and long drawn-out landing, walking in, etc. posts. I’ll try and just write out the coronation ceremony, get it wrapped up in one post, and we’ll go to it from there. I expect a few hours time in between that, and the evening activities planned later, so there will be the opportunity for interaction with anyone wishing to be there for that.

Important things to note here: This is going to be an OPEN INVITE RP. What exactly do I mean by open invite? Let me clarify.

Everyone is invited to participate on some level or other, given I don’t limit my interactions to certain tech levels whatever you use, I’ve interacted with at some point or other, and given this is not a war thread, it really shouldn’t matter if you’re looking for something different than a war or what not to participate in, rub elbows with other delegates, and potentially expand your rp circles. Yes, everyone. There are however guidelines within this for obvious reasons.

If your government is not recognized by the Dominion officially (this does not mean ‘has not been introduced or has not had previous contact of course) then Official Delegates would not make a whole helluva lot of sense. I’ll note that there are very, very few who fall into that particular category. I don’t want to be elitist or anything here, but I am trying to keep my ic plot lines intact. If there is any doubt in your mind where your nation stands with mine, please TG me for clarification, and we’ll work something else out.

I don’t mind if you’re from a pony-fied nation, but seeing as I’ve never been able to work my head around pastel talking ponies on an interactive level, I’d ask that any representatives from your nation be humanoid at least, please.

You do not need to play a government official or delegate or representative in this rp. This is a city-wide setting, and will not be limited to what is going on at the Piazza San Bernardi where the diplomats and official guests party will be held. There are plenty of angles on this, all things considered. We tend to promote tourism. We are big on business and trade. We have a lovely little mob faction that is rather big in our culture, though we tend to understate it in the extreme. (Everyone knows about it. We just do not try to openly discuss it. You know how it goes.) Corruption exists to some degree at nearly every level of society, from the ground on up. This does not mean everyone is corrupt, mind, just that it exists in plenty.

You can play multiple characters for multiple plot lines within the thread if you like. No need to limit yourself, but at least try to be reasonable with it, so you don’t limit other’s participation by overloading yourself. After all, different aspects of rp can be fun. If you can keep your characters straight, more power to you.

Can’t think of a way to interact? Here’s some suggestions:

* Diplomatically - take your pick, there are a number of ways you can work this
* Tourist
* Businessman/woman
* Espionage
* Mob presence – outside here to cut some deals or interact with mine
* Smuggler – doesn’t need to be mob, after all
* Assassin – as noted, if you’re actually going to attempt such activities, please make sure both yourself, your target, and me agree that it’s ok to rp it out. I will not deny nor guarantee any successes that way, just want to avoid any bitching and unfairness that way if possible
* Courtesan – Oh come on now. We all know folks like to have a pretty woman or handsome man on their arm. If you know someone willing to bring you as their ‘date’, go for it. Also, prostitution is not illegal in the Dominion.
* Mercenary – there could be any number of reasons to be here. Devras is a great place for meeting, making some contacts.

What much of the above means, of course, is that your sub-plots need not have anything more to do with what’s going on than acknowledging it in the background, and using the city for your backdrop. All within the guidelines of the rp being set out here.

If you want for one of your reps to be there but don’t have a lot of time for writing, no worries!

It’s a big place, and there is no possible way you’d be able to talk to everyone with that considered – yes, even at the Piazza. If this is the case, put in some little ic post illustrating your attendance, note ‘Not available for rp right now’ in your post topic, or something along those lines, and call it good. You can claim full benefits from having come, seen, and gone home happy as far as I’m concerned. I realize such extra threads can be hard for folks, given time restraints and schedules and all. The idea here is to promote rp, open up some new avenues for people, perhaps provide a backdrop for some fun things they want to do, and offer a base for new interactions. In this case, say there’s someone attending you would like future contact with, but you don’t have time to play it out. In a future thread, you can write “I remember seeing you in the Dominion that time when ...” Voila.

Did I mention, the overall theme for the night party (after the coronation) will be a Masquerade?

Yes, you read correctly. Those wishing to participate may. Those not wishing to dress up, do not have to. And yes, many of the general populace will be dressed appropriately and having fun. This is, as I said, a big city-wide celebration, and folks, the Dominion does like a good party. So, start thinking costumes and all. One thing that is traditional with this is the masks – so bear that in mind. Masks will be removed at midnight, not before if you can avoid it. Please try to respect fellow rp’ers abilities to hide their identities unless they are blatantly not trying to do so – it will keep things just that much more interesting. If they arrive in costume and masked, and there is no painfully obvious indicators of who they are (tattoos that you know about and are shown boldly, identifying marks that could not possibly be anyone else and the like), and they do not introduce themselves directly … consider them incognito.

I will be trying to keep the night moving on at a relatively reasonable pace. Watch for occasional notations of time estimates in post titles to help folks judge. Bear in mind, time is fluid, and I don’t expect characters in the middle of a negotiation or fight or the like to be jumping in and out of the timestream just to keep with that – this is more geared for those actually at the Piazza and participating directly in the Masquerade for the removal of masks time. I don’t want times to interfere with rp, simply be available for ‘enhancement’ of it so that all sense of time passage doesn’t get lost. Don’t let that screw with your sub-plots if they glaringly conflict – go with the flow, finish your interactions before moving forward. As rp’ers, we understand how such things can go.

As noted, I am trying to keep this as open as humanly possible for people. Promoting good rp and having fun are the goals of this thread. My ic agenda consists of but a couple of things, most of which will be taken care of in the opening ic post. Other than that, I have no plan, no set way things need to go. There are some hard rules that I’m going to stick to all the same:

* No blowing up/bombing/wiping out the city.

* No mass extinction of large portions of the populace or foreign dignitaries.

* No bio/chemical/nuclear weapons unleashed here, in case the previous two were not clear enough.

* Any political assassination attempts (or non-political come to think of it) need to be cleared with both myself, and the players involved in it. Ooc courtesy is encouraged here.

* Other dirty dealings including black ops and the like need to be cleared with both myself, and the players involved in it. See above.

* Weapons will be allowed – to an extent. Personal arms, bladed weapons, standard issue or traditional regalia for your nation fall under this rule. We respect the need for leaders to feel safe, and will not deny them their bodyguards. All legally-imported weapons of this sort will be registered with Dominion Security. This factor comes into play with later rules governing violent conflicts. It can also be used for some intrigue if folks find a way to ‘frame’ someone else – which is a situation requiring mutual agreement from both parties. Private citizens, spec ops, illegal activities will require other arrangements. Clear it with me here in the ooc thread – there’s all sorts of possible ways to manage it.

* Please keep such bladed weapons peace-bonded, and guns and such put away, whether out of sight, or in their holsters. Obviously, ceremonial/traditional weapons such as glaives or axes and all are a bit harder to manage – if you don’t mind, capping the blades to avoid any ‘accidents’. These rules are for party-goers, in the Piazza or out. I’d think anyone operating more shady deals wouldn’t be so obvious in their weapons choice after all. Again, with those, please clear such actions ahead of time here oocly.

* Subtlety is encouraged. Obvious actions will have consequences. You start shooting out in the open, it will attract attention. Keep this fact in mind – security tends to be tight in the best of times. Security is going to be insane for this event given the potential for Bad Things ™ to happen.

* If you happen to run afoul of the Law, all my enforcers will be using weapons designed for stunning – in other words, non-lethal force will be used first. My advice – if you get shot, stay down. All that will happen to your character, diplomatic or otherwise, unless we cannot find out your nation of origin, will be a speedy deportation and some words with your government over the issue. If you get caught in something bigger, say, an assassination attempt on a foreign diplomat on our soil, you will be detained and your nation contacted. This sort of situation would be something for a later rp. For clarification, I will not be trying to outright kill your characters without prior ooc discussion with you. If you insist on continuing to cause problems (I’m thinking the Winter Ball incident with flying God-Emperors and the like springs to mind - which many of you may not recognize these days, come to think of it) then my soldati will shoot to kill, no more questions asked, if the situation warrants it. This only after clear warnings – word to the wise.

* If you run into trouble with Dominion characters not enforcing the law, no such guarantees are offered, though as noted, this thread is for working out those little problems. I still insist I will not be ‘gunning’ for people’s characters – that isn’t my goal for this thread. Screw up badly enough, and the likelihood of survival or evading damage drops significantly. Play it smart, and you’ll be surprised what you can get away with.

* As thread originator, I reserve the right to eject troublemakers, to have offensive or inappropriate posts removed, to be the final arbiter in any conflicts that players cannot take care of themselves (no bitchfesting, please – with something this open obviously I prefer you settle your differences without my involvement, and do it here in the ooc thread, unless it’s me you’re arguing with, in which case I hope we can come to an accord with minimum snarkiness). In other words, oocly I’m taking the place of GM here, house rules apply, and all decisions are final. I’m not a hard core game nazi, and I want to encourage players to have fun with this and be creative, but some sense of order has to be maintained. That is, after all, the whole point of doing this.

Reference and Resource Materials:

I will be posting some maps for reference – use them as you see fit to coordinate movements and all if you like. I will also be posting images and descriptions of the city to give you an idea of what things look like to help you get a feel for Devras, should you have any questions that way. It’s a big city – there’s lots of room for interpretation. I hope to offer a base to work from while leaving things as open as possible to individual interpretation. I will also be posting some links to great images of more traditional Masquerade costumes, for those needing inspiration. It should also help get a feel for the overall ambiance. This post however, is long as is, with a lot of info, so … others will be shorter and more concerned with more defined details, ie: Setting, Culture, Maps, etc.

Some notes on Ignores:

If someone ignores you - don't force your character into interaction with them - it's rude. If you ignore someone - ignore them, don't make snide remarks ic to be snarky about it. Ignoring after all, means to you - they do not exist. Please act in accordance with that. Please don’t choose not to participate just because you see a nation playing that you do not acknowledge. Again, it is a big place. There is no reason many people cannot participate and realistically never even see one another.

In Closing:

I’m trying to provide as much information as possible to let folks do whatever they’d like (within reason) and have as much fun as we can with this. It should be a great opportunity for involvement with folks that don’t usually associate in a place not usually accessed by many, with a backdrop I hope offers a lot of choices for plots to take.

I will not be starting the ic thread immediately, which gives folks time to ponder whether or not they’d like to participate, and plan for themselves, and with others, what they’d like to accomplish with it.

If you feel you can’t generally get along with folks, stick to the guidelines as much as possible, and have an agenda just for stirring up as much trouble as possible, this probably isn’t the thread for you – nothing personal. I’m looking to have this be as much of a cooperative rp effort as I can, and such attitudes generally do not lend themselves to that sort of thing.

By taking part in the rp, it will be assumed that you have read and accepted the rules and guidelines set forth here - I don't want anyone starting a ruckus with the usual 'but I didn't know' sorts of things we so often see. Yes, hence the detail and length of this and subsequent posts.

If you have any questions, post them here or TG me with them and we’ll go from there. Hope this turns out to be fun for whoever decides to take advantage of it. Thanks!

--Nathi’s Player

IC Thread Link

[Reploid Productions]

Ooh, I may have to dust off a few of my old characters and jump in on this one!

[Solont]

Count me in, for what it's worth. It might be fun to bring James out of mothballs.

My home life has reached some sort of stability, and I expect it to remain so for the next few months, so there's no reason for me not to join in.

[New Edom]

Hey there, a few questions:

1. Do you take it as read that people have ambassadors, or do you prefer for that to be set up in advance?

2. Do you mind if players have their own internal storylines going on? I sometimes prefer to start out that way as I observe how the thread is going, to build up my own IC reasoning for being involved.

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

Woot - sounds good so far, folks. New Edom: Individual lines are encouraged for any who want to run them. I only ask that you don't take advantage of my npc's or the like, and keep it in the rules. If there's something out of the ordinary that might be borderline, just check it with me via tg and we'll work something out.

Like I said, I'd like for this to be fun, and an opportunity for players to interact with people they may not have before, if they'd like to take advantage of it.

Ah, I remember the days when we'd toss one of these up, and people would be all over it ... and yet, they complain about not enough open threads, not enough opportunities, too many cliques ... Alas, alas.

No worries. I'm happy to rp with whoever wants to give it a go, to whatever extent they'd like to. Think of it, folks - masquerade in the big city of Devras - my own version of Venice - where loads of opportunities for fun, shenanigans, and all manner of entertainment.

[Astrolinium]

Count me on board.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Hmm...it's a good idea, but not sure if I have the time.

Let me finish reading through all the spoilers and I'll check my calender.

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

No pressure, no fuss folks - I doubt this will be a hard-driving sort of rp in any case, and truth, the main thrust is fun. You're more than welcome.

Up next, some references and flavor to the place.

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

An Introduction

Ok. I'll be setting the tone in the IC thread once I'm ready to open this up - but for now, allow me to try and set some ground rules so that everyone is on the same page, and no one can say ‘but we weren’t told’. PLEASE don't let this overwhelm anyone - it's simply for reference, and often saves lots of trouble and questions for those not used to rp'ing in and around my stomping grounds. I've just been doing this a long time, and it's pretty simple to reuse things in locations, and gather info into one place.

You will all be given ident cards on arrival – consider them ‘tourist visas’ for all intents and purposes. They will contain whatever information you choose to give the authorities, and unless you hail from a nation the Dominion has on close watch (unlikely in most cases), there will be no odd notations or colored dots on them to denote potential problems. Generally any special abilities/talents/augmentations are asked to be registered. Anyone with such, you may want to ah … skip that part if you're planning on any shenanigans. Your honesty is your choice. Anything out of the ordinary tends to be noted and monitored, which makes getting around more or less unnoticed more difficult. Bear that in mind when weighing your good judgment against your moral quibbles. The Dominion tends to force one to do that now and then.

The Dominion is a nation with heavy Italian and a smattering of other local influences, as can best be seen here more easily.

Old City Devras is out on the water, jutting into the bay. Canals, old buildings, lots of bridges and crazy turns, blind alleys, dead ends, plazas and the like. New City Devras is on solid ground, streets still often twist, areas of industry, high-rise buildings, and residential areas mixed. You’ll find all sorts of architecture in the city, echoing the styles of Italian Gothic mingling with high Renaissance, which flow seamlessly into Byzantine and Romanesque.

No few areas in the Old City show a strong Muslim influence, especially about the windows and doorways. Walkways paved in red or grey paving stones and brick seem to be the norm, though the colors of the buildings vary wildly. Old mixes with new, though there is a decided jump in new to old ratios once you hit the New City, obviously. One thing that doesn’t change – people like their gardens, trees are in abundance where they can be, there are parks and small spots of green throughout, and hanging baskets or planters are not uncommon everywhere but the most industrialized sectors. (For an immediate feel of the place, picture Venice, with the newer parts of the city reflecting the rising technology, color, and light of a more futuristic age.)

• Such weapons as have been accepted will be allowed. HOWEVER – be aware that out in the general public, especially in places where such things shouldn’t be going on, the use or brandishing of said weapons will draw attention. Drawing attention can be Bad. Be mindful of where you are before making a violent choice, and be mindful of how you go about it. Trust me, I will describe the settings so you will be able to tell what is a good situation, and what is not.
  
• Subtlety is encouraged. As mentioned above, actions and choices will have consequences. Think before you sna—act. Law enforcement will be using stun weapons – I don’t intend for anyone to get killed that way, and will not be deliberately gunning for anyone. Criminal elements, I make no such guarantees on weapons, but again maintain that I myself will not be deliberately trying to kill you. Play it smart, you should do fine, and will likely be surprised what you can get away with. Pull something incredibly thoughtless, your chances of getting out unscathed decrease significantly. Pretty straightforward.
  
• As thread originator, I reserve the right to eject troublemakers, to have offensive or inappropriate posts removed, to be the final arbiter in any conflicts that players cannot take care of themselves (no bitchfesting, please – with something this open obviously I prefer you settle your differences without my involvement, unless it’s me you’re arguing with, in which case I hope we can come to an accord with minimum snarkiness). In other words, oocly I’m taking the place of GM here, house rules apply, and all decisions are final. I’m not a hard core game nazi, and I want to encourage players to have fun with this and be creative, but some sense of order has to be maintained.
  
• Security Cameras are common in the Dominion for most public places - don't be surprised if antics in the open are caught on tape. (And no, not everywhere is covered, and yes there are ways around - just a heads up there.)
  
• The Dominion does not recognize ‘Diplomatic Immunity’. A little something I forgot to mention earlier, though it was perhaps implied. For anyone with any question of that whatsoever, there you have it. We are no respecters of persons or status if you muck with things in our nation. (That being said, I stand by my original statements that it is not my intention to mess with anyone’s characters unless by their actions they make it all but impossible to do otherwise. We do have a national reputation to uphold, after all.)

Some things are easier to show than others I suppose, and me, I always like to have some visuals when I can. As you can see, I’ve borrowed heavily from Italy, and for Devras – Old City – very much from Venice. I won’t even try to make any excuses for how I’ve blatantly ganked stuff that way. When I began, I was of the impression that we weren’t playing ‘real’ nations, and so, thought nothing of borrowing things I liked. I have had the good taste to change names, and anyone familiar with these places will know immediately that while ‘borrowing heavily’ has been a constant, things don’t always match up perfectly … which for rp and creativity in my book, is just fine.

Culture, Language, etc.

Quick link to National Standards – drinking age, legality of various things, etc.

As mentioned before, I’ve borrowed heavily from the Italian, and a smattering of other influences. Italian is of course the official language, and no, I don’t expect anyone to rp using it.

Additional Languages and Ethnicities – While Italian is the main spoken language, ‘English’ close following, there are others commonly understood and spoken in the Dominion, depending where you are.

Latin – mostly used or understood by the more educated, historians, clergy, though by no means limited to those groups.

Greek – A smattering primarily in the northeast portion of the nation, and thus, Devras itself.

Arabic – A very small percentage, descendants of historical invasions. Small sectors with strong Arabic influence can be found in Devras, and in those areas, these dialects would be common

Teutonic languages – Mainly to the north, in the mountains and along the land border. The usual blending due to historical boundaries shifting.

The history of the Dominion is a mixed one as well, and in many points (surprise) it mirrors early Italy. City states, Doges, heavy Catholic influence and all. There was a period of unification during the Renaissance, and the Dominion saw a huge leap in advancement then in culture, as with many other nations of the day. We've always prided ourselves in our culture, our arts, our wines (oh my yes, big on wines) and the like. As one goes through Devras one is able to pick out many of the various influences that shaped the country over the years. Invaders, settlers, trade and the like - all have had a hand.

Given our colorful and varied past, that is the very reason the Dominion was chosen for a name, to encompass all the many groups and heritages that made up the nation. Power was gained by those able to take it, and those unable to hold onto it, were thrown down. It has been that way for the past hundred and fifty years or so. As for the church, it grew weak, and was rife with corruption. It was simple enough to topple as a base of power. Each new leader has either taken or been given a title at their ascendancy to power, and that title has in some way been connected with the Dominion for the length of their rule.

As for how it all works, well: We rule here by strength, intimidation, and no small amount of awe where it can be managed. Those in positions of power are all working both to keep the nation prosperous and stable, and to get themselves a bigger share of the power. Given that, there isn't a lot of trust among the various 'factions'. We work keep our citizens employed, happy, and successful. Those who involve themselves in politics know the score. Those who don't tend to be working other angles. There are many, many aspects of this nation that are difficult to lay out properly, as has been noted in different rp’s, so I’ll do my best to illustrate as we go along. Ordered chaos, I’ve referred to it on occasion. Imperfect but we manage to make it work for us.

The Mafia is a big influence in the Dominion, though it is subtly downplayed. Everyone knows it exists. Many are a part of it. The Dons and the Government have an ‘understanding’ and the Government gets a cut of the action while the mob keeps their trouble internal and prevents it from spilling over into the general populace as best they can manage. They each serve a purpose to the other, and it goes right along with the Dominion mindset of spin, corruption, and gain.

Dominion folks value subtlety, the ability to truly be a smooth operator, diplomatic skills, politeness, a backbone, and intelligence. (Granted, being individuals, there are all sorts out there – this is a general overview.) Insults are not taken lightly, but don’t expect there to be an instant reaction. These folks know the value of patience, and grudges have been known to last for generations. Trez has often talked about ‘not letting your morals get in the way of doing the right thing’ – not an uncommon mindset. Replace ‘morals’ with ‘emotions’, ‘relationships’, or any other such intangible, and it works as well. It wouldn’t be surprising for someone to embrace another with true honest to god love, while driving the knife through their heart – just because it was the right thing to do at the time. Vengeance and Vendetta are alive and well, and while not easily offended at the least slights, once damage is done, it takes a bit to undo.

We’re big on hospitality here. Shared meals tend to be big ones, with plenty for all – better an overabundance than to have a guest go away hungry. Wine is a big part of the culture, though it isn’t an ‘alcoholic’ sort of excess per se. Serious business is traditionally carried out over dinner and sealed with a glass of fine wine. Read what you will into it – Dominion folk have several reasons. And no, they are not insulted if you refuse to drink – live and let live. Can’t force a person to enjoy the finer things in life after all.

The Dominion uses its armed forces to police the nation as well as defend it militarily. There are different branches under different Ministries, but the majority get the same training. What matters here is that being a dictatorship, however friendly, we keep a tight rein on the nation. The illusion of freedoms, rather than true freedom itself is the rule of the day. Give the people enough that they don’t complain overmuch, and let those that do make too much noise, disappear. It isn’t emphasized, except in times of trouble, and then it becomes clear just how things are handled – efficiently and without mercy where such is called for.

Soldati who will be on patrol are armed with Treznor rifles that are adjustable from stun levels all the way up to ‘killdeath’. As mentioned previously, stun will be what they are set on, and no one will be shot at a higher level without ample warning.

General Layout of the Piazza San Bernardi – and the accompanying details (granted there is much more there than simply this, just giving some highlights)

S <------> N for direction ref.

1: Prigioni Scura – Old Jail. First floor open for tours and a look at how prisoners were handled back in the day. Upper areas are closed to visitors. One more gruesome area of interest is the section showing old torture implements and detailing the history of the Inquisition in Devras.

2: Giardini Ex Genovese – Large garden area with a view of the Canale Grande, located between it and the government offices. Trees, flowers, bowers, grass, statues, and fountains in a beautifully groomed setting. An excellent place for a quiet rendezvous, and large enough with enough little tucked-away corners to accommodate whoever needs it.

3: Gianfigliazi Building – Dominion Government Offices. All but the ground floor common areas tend to be closed to visitors.

4: Procuratie Giustinian – Old Magistrates Apartments. The main floor of this building is a grand ballroom. The second floor contains private ‘boxes’ not unlike those at a theater, open to the ballroom below, where guests can retire for quiet conversation. The third floor, contains the preserved portions of the apartments, open to tours during the day.

5: Shops, Ristorantes, etc. – Here is where visitors can find a plethora of items from clothing to trinkets to jewelry to blown glass to food, all in the Dominion tradition. Most of the ristorantes have tables and chairs out front where guests can enjoy their meals under the stars, many with a view of the Canale Grande on the far side of the Piazza. The most famous of these is the Caffè Rialto, a favorite gathering place of poets, artists, and philosophers in the Dominion over the past two hundred years.

6: Libreria Sansovino – This is, obviously, the Devras Library, one of the older buildings on the Piazza. This building is open during regular business hours to those wishing to look through the rows and rows of old and current books, though the more ancient manuscripts and such are available only by appointment or special dispensation.

7: Campanile di San Bernardi – This is the old bell tower, rising over the Piazza and the surrounding areas at a height of 100 meters, fallen and rebuilt in the early despot years of the Dominion. The bell, while damaged in the fall, has been restored as best as could be managed, and is heard only at times of high celebration. This tower is open to visitors during the usual daylight hours, and locked at night.

8: Palazzo Ducale – The Doges Palace, old seat of power for Devras dating back to the times of city-states and warring factions. The sumptuously appointed suites in this three-storied building will be where diplomatic guestrooms are available. Given the more sensitive nature of the place, it is closed to the general public, save for the ground floor where guided tours are given. The inner courtyard has a fountain, and greenery, and there are columned, arched balconies around both the outside and inside of the structure.

9: Bascillica di San Bernardi – The main Catholic cathedral in Devras, and among the most old and opulent in the Dominion. The cathedral itself is open both to the faithful and those wishing to visit for the historical significance and yes, the usual draw for tourists. The out buildings belong to the Church, and tend to be closed to the public unless by appointment, or of course, to members of the clergy.

10: Torretta delle Ore – The Clock Tower. Built during the high Renaissance, this tower (now set in the middle of accompanying buildings) is a masterpiece of clockwork mechanisms, showing the time, the phases of the moon, the seasons, and the movement of the sun from one sign of the zodiac to the next. The tower itself reaches a height of 5 stories, the buildings it is now a part of. Said buildings contain some apartments and smaller businesses – all private, and doubtless, closed to the general public save for the shops.

11: Ale Tagliate – Broken Wings. This is a rather popular club, and the only one of its kind to be situated on the Piazza, even if it is at the back corner. One of the old buildings, formerly housing the moneychangers offices, this place has been redesigned on the inside, using what old architecture they could, and adding to it to keep the gothic feel and dark brooding ambiance. Several dance floors, copious amounts of alcohol, and yes, small private rooms that can be rented by the hour, can be found here with music covering a broad range of interests depending on the night – from modern to a little retro – all of it pretty damn good, or thus say the locals who frequent it.

12: Gardini Ex Spero – A smaller garden, named for Hope, just outside the club. While not nearly so spacious as the other, this one lends itself a bit more to privacy, with close-growing groves of shady trees that work almost like a natural maze, scattered with occasional floral accents.

Inside the Piazza

A: This is the area where the bar and appetizer tables will be set up, just outside the ballroom. First two drinks there are free, after that, it’s a matter of payment. Tips are, as always, appreciated. The food on hand will as noted, be more of a light fare, with finger food, antipasti, and delicate desserts. No limit there.

B: This corner of the Piazza has a dance area set up for more casual music, much of which is the vibrant ‘Gypsy’ styles of a more rustic Dominion. The sort of music that makes the blood run hot, titillates the senses, and inspires a sense of … naughtiness in the revelers. (No, nothing forced – just setting the mood.) Musicians are, as with all the officially sponsored areas, live.

C: Gambling tables will be set up in this area, with ample chairs and comforts for those simply wishing to observe. You know a card or dice or spinning game of chance that’s fairly well-known, you can play it here. Going to leave this one a bit open as well, for obvious reasons. Those people running the tables will, for the record, not be actively trying to cheat the guests – just in case anyone wonders that. Nor am I going to let you just arbitrarily walk off with all the money. If it’s a game several players can figure out how to play among themselves, find and well. Otherwise, we’ll work something amicable out.

D: This is the area where stages will be set up for live entertainment, and where most of the wandering performers will be plying their trade. Firebreathers, jugglers, acrobats, small animal acts (no, no elephants, large horses or the like), wandering troubadours … you get the idea. Another place open for a lot of interpretation.

E: As mentioned along this area are outdoor tables and chairs from the eateries in the buildings. A nice place to sit back, have a quiet glass of wine, a cup of cappuccino or toss back a shot of sambuca (mind you don’t choke on the coffee beans) while you watch the festivities and visit with folks. The food is great too – enjoy.

F: In the paving stone courtyard of the Doges Palace, a small live orchestra will be playing selections of classical music. Nothing usually quite so robust as at the ballroom, but more suitable to soothing, pleasant, background music. Yes, you would be surprised how much noise those tall, thick walls can keep out. Not everything, but enough to remain pleasant.

All seven bridges leading from the Piazza will be heavily guarded - checkpoints at each. Every diplomatic guest and their entourage will have the proper papers, so no worries there. If you leave, not a problem - just present them again coming back. The Canale Grande, the big open place on this map where the water is (to the left) is also closely watched, and is where the main landing for the gondoliers is located - yet another fun way to travel in Old Devras. The belltower will be occupied by Dominion forces as well, overseeing the Piazza.

More Detailed Coordinates:

Grid Version (big)
Non-Grid Version (clearer)

Anything beyond (to the right of) the canale in S-14 thru S-18 and the lower arm of the city in T-18 & T-19 is closed to automobile type traffic. Bikes, small scooters, rickshaws, boats, your own feet, skateboards, rollerblades – all such things are used to get around.

Obvious should be the docks and warehouse districts along the waterline – not going to outline each one. Also along the waterline are various marinas for personal and rental craft. Though not shown on these maps, there are various islands of differing sizes out in the bay, several with hotels or other developments on them, others kept as natural as possible, still others as maintained park areas, and some too small to bother with doing much.

CDEF-24 thru 26: Cambria Academy – Millitary school and campus, named after a famous general from back in the times of city-states, known for his tenacity and tactics.

D-15: Granny Slag’s Regional Headquarters

D-3: The Della Corte Equestrian School – Home to some of the finest horses and breeding programs in the Dominion, and the premier riding school of the region. Longstanding history, centuries old. Public areas close at 8.

G-18: Genovese Security Headquarters. A front for the Genovese Family (see Mafia), and one that enjoys a healthy stipend from the government.

I-11: Scuola della Arti – School for the Arts

J thru N, 10-17: City Center – New Devras

K-11: Dante’s Inferno (you knew there had to be one somewhere). Nine levels of Hell for your dancing pleasure. One of the preferred spots for local nightlife, some private rooms for secure meetings and the like. Younger mafioso types have been known to frequent it. Always open.

K-14: Galetto Shopping Center/Mall. Usual hours 10am-10pm.

KL-13: Devras Recreational Park – it is what it sounds. Pools, waterslides, even a skate park (half-pipe, ramps, you name it) and grass and trees on the premises. Arcade, DDR machines … you get the picture. (Usually closes at midnight)

KM 1-2: Academia di Medici – University campus

L-15: Gallerie delle Arti – Museum collections of famous works of art, both native and from around the world, from a number of ages. Closes at 11.

O-23: Eidolon Technologies Inc. Headquarters. Frontrunners in aerospace design and off-world shipping. Government and mob connections.

O-8: The Straw Ibis – coffeehouse and weekend karaoke club. Open all night.

P-2: Marchetti Living History Museum – think big, let your imaginations take you, though bear in mind, our history is sans magic and other humanoids and such. (closes at 11)

Q-14: Teatro di San Fernado – Oldest Opera House in Devras. Opera ends at 10, doors close at 11.

QR-13: Giardini Ex Toscano - Historical site. Rallying point for the first official Dictator of the Dominion - public starting point for his bloody rebellion.

R-18: Scuola di Brunellesci – Architectural College.

RS-14&15: Devras International Airport. Yes, those with aerospace shuttles and the like can be easily accommodated here. Diplomats and dignitaries and the like have a small out-of-the-way section of the airport where they are taken care of and given what they need. All commercial traffic is handled through the rest.

S-17: Benvito’s – Nathi & Devon’s fave lil ristorante, scene of many an interesting event. Treznor mob connections. Open all night for the occasion.

S-18: Ponte del Galetto - One of the rare wooden bridges, and the largest of its kind, in the Old City.

S-21: Docks and warehouses held by the mob. Not common knowledge, controlled by the Genovese.

T-14: Ca’ De Negri - De Negri Family holdings, palace. Old City.

T-15, Q-24, F-20, E-8, M-6, P-12, K-16: Police Station – main hubs.

TU-18: Embassy Row (for lack of a better term) Nice palazzos and such along the canale. Assorted sizes and types, all with their own lil compounds and security, obviously.

U-15: Ponte del Orisino - one of the larger bridges in the Old City, rebuilt in stone 100 years before to replace the previous iron version.

U-19: Piazza san Bernardi – historical site, center of gov location.

U-20: San Servolo – International University campus, out on its own island across the way from the Piazza San Bernardi

V-16: Ca’ Valenti - Valenti Family holdings, palace. Old City.

V-17: Palazzo di Gonzaga - Gonzaga Family holdings, palace. Old City.

V-18: Ponte del Vidali - the largest of Old City's bridges, rebuilt several times over the years, the last being in the early renaissance period, in stone. Its span measures 29 meters, and at its highest is 7.8 meters above the water. Several shops have been built along its length, with pedestrian areas to either side of them.

X-1: Devras Maximum Security Prison. Obviously not open to the public.

X-15, C-12, L-23, I-6, N13: Major Hospitals

X-18: Giacomo’s – Another ristorante, old established one frequented by the more mature Mafia folks, and indeed, Family owned and operated, very traditional in look, service, food, and style. Neutral ground – violence and bad behavior very much frowned on. Secure room in the back set up for meetings, though not the only location for such. Open all night for the occasion.

X-27: Zoo & Marine Center (pretty self-explanatory, closes at 10)

Y-18: Campo delle Alessi - Historical site. Square where the last of the Doges, Agostino di Alessi, was chased down, and executed by an angry mob, stirred up by the dissatisfied militia.

T-20: Hotel Cipriani – where the team will be staying.

As you may have well guessed, along with these highlights are many other such places, and the usual things needed in a city – grocery stores, car dealerships, fast food, mini-marts, movie rental places, clubs, dance halls, theaters, parks, you name it. If you can find it in a city, you can find it here. I’m not gonna label every little thing – feel free to have fun with it. Especially in the New city, I’m just not gonna fuss over some of that. And I’ll apologize now for the quality, but I’m not gonna go back and redo it all right now either. Just for basic ‘where are we, and how long might it take to get to any one given place, and what is around in relation to it’, no more, no less.

I also have government sites tucked here and there all over the place, but no, not about to just offer up all that on the map. Can come out in rp if/when called for.

Also, yes, especially in the Old city, there are numerous palazzos (palaces), campos (courtyards/squares), giardini (gardens/parks), more old churches than I can imagine and historical sites, but damned if I can think of naming every little last one. I’m hoping what’s given here can at least offer an idea, maybe get some thoughts going.

An example of the nicer gondolas parked and waiting.

A view from the rooftops.

Streets can be very narrow, especially in the older city.

Did I mention narrow streets? And decorative grilles for windows and doorways abound.

Looking out into the lagoon.

Typical of entryways into various palazzos and living quarters, often leading to little courtyards and outer bits before going into the actual living spaces.

Open-air markets are just part of the charm.

Where there is waterways, there are bridges.

And along some, back entrances to the various buildings.

A typical campo, or courtyard where little neighborhoods are centered around.

Giardinis come in all shapes and sizes.

And of course the sunsets can be outright gorgeous.

Of course not everything is sunshine and roses.

And some places are less welcoming and public than others.

Some just less dressy.

At night, things look different.

Some places are well-lit.

Some keep busy a good part of the night.

Some not so much.

Most of it all has a unique beauty to it, all the same.

Though not even light, nor picturesque is a guarantee in this city of safety.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

the main thrust is fun.

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

the main thrust is fun.

Well ... and all those thereafter, but we know this, neh?

[Midlonia]

Welp. You can count me signed up for obvious reasons.

[New Edom]

Thanks. What about the ambassador thing I asked about?

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

Sorry, thought I'd included that in - it may not have been on a governmental level, but s' all good. You can have an ambassadorial contact if that works for you.

[Midlonia]

Who else do I send? I think the Midlonic all decked out for Partaaaaaaaaay and lights and such will be called for, obviously.

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

Well, we're on a coast and we've got the lagoon, the bay - behave your damn self, Jim. Other than that, there's whatever you want to do, however you want to participate. Part of, or separate from things - all good.

[The Freethinkers]

OOC: Hitting it like a red headed stepchild!

[Northrop-Grumman]

OOC: Ok, sure. I'm game.

The quantity of characters will probably be anywhere from 2 to 4, depending on various things of variousness.

[Seathen]

I'm interested

[Kouralia]

I'm incredibly tempted to say that I'm in, but I realise that I'm one of the newest/youngest nations to register interest... I hope that's okay?

^_^

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

No one has to be a certain 'age' on the forums, have any particular group or status, or any other ridiculous sort of divisor to participate, folks - I said 'open' and I meant 'open'. If you have friends you know on here you'd like to bring in and use Devras as a playground, that's fine too. Participation in the actual coronation or masquerade is optional - it's simply the reason for starting the rp.

This is a different sort of situation to some, without some of the rigid lines and such that some have. Yes, I have some rules outlined, but that's more to keep it fair across the board, and to make with full disclosure for those who want to try and skirt the line - which is not something I discourage. For those not familiar, we have ample room for mischief, mayhem, and no small amount of corruption on a number of levels - from the top to the bottom.

So hey - have fun with it, on whatever level you want to give it a go at. That's the point of playing, after all. I think far too many end up forgetting that these days.

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

Right then. Going to toss up the IC bit, and see what works for folks. I've updated the maps section here with more details to draw off of for things you may want to do. There's no rush on any of this, we'll see how it goes.

[Heirosoloa]

Posted. I've essentially sent the Heirosoloan equivalent of a Southern gentlemen; in addition to whatever official business the Council of Foreign Affairs tasked him with, he's discretely on the hunt for support for a monarchist revolution in Heirosoloa. I made the most out of the maps I was given, but I might have gotten some things wrong.

[New Junk City]

tagged

[Damien Vesper]

I'm in