Court of Flowers & Flames
The Palace of Tvirtore in Vysla, Liegalla
“Peace and Justice” those are the words of House Ojeras, which as ruled the Kingdom of Liegalla since its inception at the command of King Vytautas the Great, who through force of arms unified a thousand disparate lords and fiefs into a singular nation. Now, over a century later, his dynasty, famed for their purple eyes and silver blond hair continue to sit the famous Dragonfire Throne. Yet it is not the family words that come to mind when one gazes upon the Ojeras— instead it is that of Flowers and Flames, for every one of that house is said to be either a lily, or a dragons the charges of their coat of arms. And some are as fierce as they are beautiful, a dangerous reality when the royal family finds itself in a surfeit of competing branches.
And it is Queens and mothers who play the dangerous game, and pull the levers of power. Beyond the borders of the realm in the Celestial Empire, in the greatest palace on the continent, Ameliehall, the exiled queen dowager, Dziuginta and her son Prince Dovydas plot the prince’s restoration to his late father, Vytautas III’s throne. Left penniless and with few friends, and possessed of a bastard child of the prince, Jane, the exiles look for those strong enough and bold enough to help them retake a kingdom.
Just outside of the capital in the dark halls of Vakaru Castle, the infamous Widow’s Cloister, the twice widowed Queen Dowager Brigita is determined to secure the throne for her son, the young Prince Juozas by her murdered first husband, the hated usurper Vytautas IV the Bastard, and fortunes for her infant twins, Leona & Leonas Wynters, by her late second husband through whatever means necessary. Adept as secrecy, subterfuge and sowing the seeds of chaos, while the beauty of his royal flower is fading, the danger she poses grows with every day.
But it is within the capital, from the soaring walls and towers of Tvirtore Palace that the greatest of power lay, here firmly in the hands of the king. King Juozas II, known as the Hammer, has proven a strong leader, destroying those who might rebel, and reforming the administration of the realm with his loyal wife, Queen Gouda and his wise mother, Queen Mother Jurgita at his side. A soldier king, there are few who would dare directly opposite this august and intimidating figure. But while the question of succession remains an ever present headache for the king.
Possessed of two beautiful daughters, the elder, Princess Julita has retired to a convent, after giving birth out of wedlock to the infant Lady Vavya; whilst the younger Princess Zieda has somehow managed to cause even more scandal. Considered of the greatest of beauties, even called the Helen of Vysla, the beauty of Zieda, and her potential inheritance, moved countless suitors, lords, dukes, princes and even kings to shower her with praise, gifts, and fortunes in their vying for her hands. Zieda however rejected with all for Princess Catherine, sparking outrage from her enemies.
Suddenly disinherited, as the realm deemed it could not handle both a female and a bisexual heir, the King attempted to push his younger brother, Prince Stanislavas into that role, arranging a strong marriage alliance with an even stronger bride would have secured the next generation of Ojeras royals… only for it to all come undone when an epidemic carried her and many others away just before the wedding. Fearing the crown and not desiring, Prince Stanislavas, now freed from the chains of engagement has fled into the countryside, leaving the king to recall his controversial daughter back as his heir.
Nor is the drama of the royal family the only issue on the plate of King Juozas II. In his attempts to modernized the previously feudal system of Liegalla, he had caused mass upset in the social order, and the recent epidemic has left many lordships and their castles vacant, with houses at their helm, and with the rural peasantry anxious of the King’s reforms. In the cities meanwhile mass internal migration has caused an ongoing refugee and overpopulation crisis in the capital city of Vysla, while the unemployment rate remains frightenly high.
Meanwhile those noble families who do remain each hold with them their own schemes, dreams and ambitions. In the north, where the king most famously— or infamously— brought the proverbial hammer down, the king is both feared and disliked. Most lordships were obliterated, with new hated royal seneschals sent to represent the king’s interests. Of three great families that survive, Lord Leskys is but a teenager— terrified of the king but also hating him, while Lord Veiverys is but a boy, his guardian and older sister Lady Marcelle no friend of the king, while Lord Petrauskas, whose house was once the greatest in the realm, rivaling the Ojeras, remains in the capital, depressed and under the watchful eye of the king.
In the south, the Four Great Loyal Families have found themselves toying with the flexibility of the world the Ambrazaites, the wealthiest family since the downfall of the Petrauskas have adopted for neutrality in their Provençal estates, while the careful Kveragaite Brothers, grandnephews wait to see which way the wind will blow. The Nervonyte, lead under the command of their matriarch, Queen Dowager Gintare, mother of Queen Gouda, remain fiercely loyal to king and Princess Zieda— if disapprovingly—with Lord Nervonyte’s religious fervor only outmatched by his skill at handling money as the Lord Treasurer.
In the Archbishopric of Voersk, Archbishop Mecislovas attempts to reform the staunchly traditionalist Catholic Church in Liegalla, making him an ally to kinsmen the king, and an enemy of many of his fellow priests. Last, and perhaps much to their annoyance, least, is House Kundreckas, lead by the bitter, unpleasant and ever scowling Lord Kundreckas, whose grasping ambition has made him the most vocal ally of Queen Dowager Brigita, and amongst the few daring enough to challenge the King— from the safety of his own castle walls of course.
Within the court itself, filled with retainers, courtiers, civil servants, and foreign diplomats however, a fascinating new culture is rapidly growing as King Juozas II opens the doors of the palace to the world, inviting diplomats to discuss trade deals, hosting parties to celebrate cultural figures, and even allowing those who, if willing and if capable to the king’s liking, to join as a permanent member of the royal court. In truth it marks a truly unprecedented time in Liegalla as intrigue, court politics, and diplomacy intersect as never before.
And you can join in it.
Rules
1- General Roleplaying Rules, no godmodding, metagaming, etc.
2- All Liegallan characters and NPCs will be controlled by me
3- This is to create a centralized thread around events regarding both the Liegallan Government (the Royal Court) as well as the broader branches of House Ojeras, in regards to both international and domestic affairs, continuing off of various other threads.
4- Try to keep Out of Character conversation to the OOC Thread
5- An application per character
6- Be kind to one another
7-Rules subject to change as needs be
8- I am OP
Applications
For those coming to visit or potentially stay at the Royal Court there are different application sets: ones for Heads of State/Government, Diplomats, Courtiers, and Artisans.
Heads of State/Government
This application is for fellow heads of state and/or government, monarchs, presidents, etc. who wish to have a meeting with a King Juozas, or wish to have a formal state visit and dinner
Diplomats
This applications is for ambassadors, envoys, consuls, etc, those in the diplomatic mission whether temporary or formal in the service of a foreign government. This application also applies to foreign royals who are visiting but may or may not be acting as a diplomatic representative.
Courtiers
This application is for noble or gentry persons seeking to visit to stay at court, and look to potentially join the royal court and holding some sort of position within it. Commoners may apply and attempt to join as well. However unless they are exceptional or very wealthy, don’t expect to get far.
Artisans
This application of for artisans: painters, artists, sculptors, architects, musicians, poets, writers, etc. looking to work for the royal family or members of the courts as patrons and have their work displayed or performed.
