Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2016 13:03:59 GMT -5
The Clans of Certamine
The city of Certamine is a wealthy place, surrounded by vibrant land including mountains, forests, plains, and swamps, and connected to the sea by a great river. For many generations it was ruled by a king, the dynasty of Manus. Upholding his law in the Certamine lands, were the five families, or as they preferred to call themselves, clans. Each one was given a territory to protect and work, that they may send tribute to the crown. Acquos, was given the lands around the river and the shores of the sea. Petras was given the foothold to the mountains, to protect the mountain passes. Fulgur was given the planes and sandstone spires. Nox was given the deep pine forests and marshes by the sea. And Arbor was given the old growth forests of oak and yew and maple. For many generations the city of Certamine, surrounded by its spokelike territories of clan land, lived in peace and harmony. Everyone congregated in the city, it was a place of peace, where no clan held sway.
Until the last heir of the Manus dynasty passed. Now, faced with an empty throne, and five factions competing for it, the clans have become fiercely competitive. Trade has slowed tremendously as the clans are wary of each other’s intentions. Each clan has put forth a contender for the throne, and the only person who has the authority to decide, is the widowed elderly Manus queen. As the factions war for her approval and consent, things start to get more and more dangerous.
In the end, who will triumph?
Clan Acquos-
Masters of the water, Acquos has an armada of ships, from merchant ships to dangerous galleons. They trade mainly in fish, both fresh and salt water, as well as clams and the pearls they carry. Their unique monopoly is the dye trade, which they cultivate through their own resources as well as what they bring back from further lands. Foreign trade is common for them, usually of things such as silk and wine.
This clan is known for their strong family ties, even within the clan, and will often tattoo their skin with designs relating them to their family and their clan, and showing their own personalities. These tattoos also serve as symbols of rank among them. Usually they are known for being very colorful, with bright outfits and jewelry of shells and conches, which only increases their flamboyant reputations. Shrewd businessmen, Acquos is often painted as thieves to the poor honest folk dealing with them.
For appearance they usually range in skin tone from light olive to bronze, and usually their hair is in the darker spectrum, such as browns and black. Eyes vary widely, but also include a charming golden hazel.
Traditional rivals are Clans Petras and Nox, their neighbors who compete with them in trade and resources.
Clan Petras-
Smiths and Knights, this clan has a stronghold in the mountains, guarding the main pass against invaders, while mining and trading in precious stones and quality metalwork. Their silversmiths and weaponsmiths are highly prized, and almost any good steel weapon around was made by them at some point. Occasionally they trade across the pass, but most often they trade domestically, especially to Fulgur, who seems to need their coal and raw ore more than anyone else.
Petras has a penchant for sternness tied to extreme conservatism, but are known for their loyalty and strength of heart. They dress in patterned fabrics, but their main indication of rank and status are their weapons. Every person in the clan lands who is actually related to the family and common folk, owns a weapon of some sort, usually at least a dagger, which is given to them on their tenth birthday. To carry a sword, one must complete training as a knight. Their dedication can make them seem intense and sometimes dour to other clans.
As for appearance, they usually rage in lighter skin tones, up to a light bronze or medium olive. Their hair follows the fairness trend, usually in tones of blond and light brown, with also a fair number of redheads among them. Unlike most clans, black or very dark brown eyes are not seen as evil, and are in fact quite common in this clan, although not to the point where they outnumber the other eye colors.
Their traditional rivals are Clans Aquos and Fulgur, particularly Fulgur who often sees fit to take land or trade shipments without pay.
Clan Fulgur-
Unlike some of their neighboring clans, Fulgur has less desire to be rich and renowned, instead they develop new technologies and raise horses. Those two are actually very distinct niches of society, to the point where the Fulgur leader at any point if he/she be from one class, must have a second in command from the other, in order to balance out priorities. Most exports include horses and services including installing pipes for drains and gunpowder or crude chemicals. Also, of all the healers in the city, Fulgur healers are considered the most skilled.
Fulgur, with its odd dichotomy, is really a clan almost at war with itself. Many of its actual warriors come from the horse lords, but its commanders and battle innovations come from the engineers. In general, the horse lords are seen as open, welcoming and transparent people. Because of the way the scholars unintentionally hide things from their brothers, the horse lords prize honesty and openness. The scholars are usually people who are very dedicated to their work, with great intelligence, but unfortunately usually great bias. Many see the other clans and even their own family horse lords as inferior. Their status markers are in the jewelry and accessories they wear, usually incorporating different colors and aspects depending on your place. Scholars usually make their out of metal and colored glass, and horse lords usually make their out of leather and amber, including hairs from all the horses they have trained as proof of status.
For appearance, Fulgur is the most diverse, with very dark skin, to light olive, and this shows in their hair as well with the greatest variety of hair color in the clans. However, unlike Petras, red hair is almost literally unheard of.
Their rivals are Petras and Arbor, although with Arbor they maintain a cordial relationship, they share equal enmity with Petras, who they see as having robbed them for unnecessary profit.
Clan Arbor-
Old forests and plentiful wildlife lead Clan Arbor to live healthy and fulfilled lives. They trade in timber, meat, and the dogs they raise for protection. Most of the healing herbs which can be distilled into medicines come from Clan Arbor, and the best wood work in the city is made by their carpenters. Unlike most clans, they are almost self-sufficient, and tend to meddle less in other clans affairs unless provoked.
Jolly and down to earth, Clan Arbor is sometimes derided for being too uninterested in politics. However, when their family is threatened they respond like wild bears, and will stop at nothing until whoever hurt them is thoroughly punished. Justice is important to them, and thus they treat everyone n their clan, and any peasant underneath them, with the same measures. They wear simple and practical earth-toned clothes, but which last long amounts of time. Their symbols of status are woven leather armbands, which increase in complexity and size according to rank. Also, their signature weapon is the longbow and their longbowmen are terrifyingly good at what they do.
In appearance they are similar to Petras, ranging in the middling spectrum of skin tones, but with occasional few people on either end. Their hair is usually blond to ash brown, with very few black haired people and a few redheads. Green eyes are seen as a desirable trait in this clan.
Their rivals are Clan Nox and Fulgur, usually they avoid the former like the plague, but have tolerable relations with the latter.
Clan Nox-
The smallest of the clans, Nox has always been behind in certain areas, particularly trade. While the family and clan itself is small, they have the largest number of peasants working for them. Their land is relatively fertile and flat, and thus Nox is the clan which produces most of the food for the region. However because the marshes are constantly encroaching most of the money goes to keeping them at bay. Nox also raises cattle in small amounts to provide a bit of competition for Arbor’s venison market. Otherwise Nox is basically agricultural.
Since Nox has always been rather elitist, it rarely adopts children into the clan, being a very pureblood society. As such it is seen as a bit disdainful of other clans and people that are in anyway below them, for their muddled blood. But they are cunning and incredible with politics and wordplay, and thus even though they are small present a significant obstacle. Advancement and success are prized highly, and parents push their children to become successful. This leads to a culture of high stakes and pressure.
In appearance, Nox is the most uniform. Almost everyone has very very dark hair, even some with deep red, and the palest skin tones. Their unique trait for purebloods is piercing icy blue eyes, but grey and hazel are also possible.
Their rivals are Arbor and Acquos, although it is mostly with Acquos which they contend with.
Information on Society and rank:
As part of the social system, there are various ranks-
Highest is the King/Queen of course, but then you have
Leaders of the clans (depending on the clan hereditary or chosen)
Seconds-in-command
Healers (very prized people, a lifetime of service)
Clan-blooded (these can hold various different professions within their own clans)
Independents (professionals and businessmen outside of the clans, though usually affiliated with one for safety)
Clan-bonded (peasants)
Clanless (vagabonds and completely unaffiliated)
Professions:
Honestly basically any medieval profession you can think of, and possibly a few others.
Courtiers are important, each clan would send some of its members to court.
Like I mean I bet someone from Clan Nox could be a ninja if they wanted.
Umm I can add more info if people are interested? Or we can Brainstorm?