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 Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 5:33 pm
.:: The Nation of K'ivern ::.  
In a land to the west of the Dark Sakura Estates and the flourishing district of V'enir... There is a nation that seems frozen in time. It is a people scattered by religious wars and daker conquests, motivated by greed and lust. A medieval naition, it is a land of knights and princesses... the things that fairy tales are made of. But as everyone will come to learn, the people who dwell here do not live 'Happily Ever After'. This is not a pleasant land from which pretty worded bed time stories originate, but from these people's hardship, darker truths emerge.
The country of K'ivern is dominated by the human race. After years of war, the humans have supressed and all but annahilated the other races. Trolls, Orcs and Goblins have been pushed back to the recesses of the 'Dead lands' a barren and scared district, devastated by the Great War that took place over 300 years ago. The war lasted for 117 years, it was where the humans gained their foothold and secured their position over all the other races. Arcane magicks played a key role in offensive attacks, but areas of the nation were fullscale battles took place... were damaged beyond recovery. Centuries later, and still nothing grows in the rubble strewn districts and rocky crevices.
The Dwarves withrew after the first 50 years of conflict. They retreated to the Eastern mountain range, closer to more civilized lands, where other peoples appreciated their carving and masonry as well as their smithy skills. Fortifying their mountain range against entrance and attack against the North, South and of course the West borders, the dwarven mountains known as D'luhn are close to impregnable. They are seperatists, who refuse to aknowledge their ties to the nation of K'ivern. They act under their own trade policies and govern with their own laws. To call a D'luhnian a K'ivernian is a grave and most unforgivable offense. One that will find you run through by a blade or crushed under a war hammer.
To the south, where the seasons are fairer, the forests are populated by the elder race known as the Elves. Where Orcs and other 'monstrous' races were persecuted for being hideous, lesser beings... The humans viewed Elves as a threat to their superiority. The Elves natural beauty and flawless talents preyed on the human's insecurities. Propeganda spread the word that the elven race was a prime threat to the success and survival of human kind. It was not long 'til Elves were utterly hated, banished from all but one district of K'ivern... the Lith'less'aun forests. Now if an elf is found in human lands, he or she is beaten and murdered. Elven women are raped and sold into slavery, often as something sensually exotic. Unlike the dwarves and 'lesser beings' who have found refuge in their new territories... The humans greed has led them to wage war on the elves yet again. They covet the warm and lush lands in which the Lithian's reside. There is a plain known as 'Jiusht'an' In common tongue, the humans know them as the 'Blood Plains'... It where the elven have fortified their defences with camoflauged traps and magickal barriers and pitfalls.
Not only do the humans wage war on the other races, but they have ne'er ceased to challenge one another in the name of greed and lust. Lands, titles, women and possessions are all justified cause to declare war on your neighbours.
Religions are evolving, no longer does the main body of the populace place their faith in the plethora of Pagan gods and goddesses... The students of the Druid elders have formed a new faith called K'ivah. Named after the one god they worship. The teachers of this new sect are known as Speakers of K'ivah, for they are his voice on Earth. Any who do not convert to K'ivah's teachings are accused of heracy and thrown into jail, stripped of their possessions... even exiled and exectuted. The Druids, Ovates and Pagan peoples have been supressed into hiding. Skulking around like criminals in secret orders for fear of their lives.
Some have found an alliance with the elves who still follow the teachings of the mother Gaia also known as the Goddess, and some are fleeing for freer lands.
A new war known is breaking out, known as the War of the Stones... It is a religious crusade deigned to purge the land of heathens and sin. A side effect of so much blood letting however.. is a plague known as Incarnadine. It is an old disease, named after the bloody colour. the afflicted suffer first from a feverish hell before blood vessels in their bodies begin to burst, leaving them splotchy skin, some bleed to death internally... others pass away from the p***y open sores that fester across their bloodied flesh in the late stages of the sickness. It preys on a person's vascular system, affecting blood flow to the brain as well as the rest of the body. It's contaigeons are passed through blood, and with all the open wounds and spilt blood from the constant warring... it has spread like wildfire in the last century. An infected person has a 3 month life expectancy at most and are treated like leppers. Abandoned. The only beings with some knowledge of how to combat and protect against tghe sickness are the Pagan apothecaries... but few have come forth with their knowledge. Even facing death... the humans refuse to let go of their prejudices and be treated by a heathen.
This is the dreary reality of our land and our people. Welcome to K'ivern... A prejudiced people ruled by race, titles and class. Who are you? What is your past? And can you change your Future?
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 5:36 pm
Reserved for Map & Layout of K'ivern
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 5:37 pm
Reserved for a list of Key NPC's and Nationwide Plot Developments
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 5:39 pm
Reserved for Traditions, Holidays and Historic Dates
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 5:40 pm
Reserved for Doctrates of K'ivah & Religious Decrees
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 5:43 pm
=============== =============== ===============
Reserved for Pagan/Druidic Teachings
=============== =============== ===============
.:: The Universal Druid Prayer ::.
Grant, O God, Thy protection;
And in protection, strength;
And in strength, understanding;
And in understanding, knowledge;
And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice;
And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it;
And in that love, the love of all existences;
And in the love of all existences,
the love of God and all goodness.
===============
.:: Herbal Vocabulary ::.
===============
Anaphrodisiac: A substance that cools the sexual drive.
Aphrodisiac: A substance that acts as a sexual stimulant.
Bane: That which destorys life or energy; poision
Bontanomancy: divination through the use of herbs
Chaplet: A wreath or crown of flowers and herbs, worn on the head to promote energy or healing
Charm Bag: sachet, medicine bag
Hallucinogen: mind-altering substance
Herb: A plant used in magickal, culinary, or medicinal arts
Macerate: to make a soft by soaking in a liquid
Narcotic: a drug or herb that dulls the senses, induces sleep or stupor.
Sachet: a small packet filled with herbs and /or other objects
Simple: an infusion made from a single herb
Steep: to soak an herb in hot liquid
Tincture: herbal infustion made with alcohol instead of water
Wortcunning: Herbal knowledge; the use of herbs
===============
.:: Chants ::.
===============
A CHANT FOR PROTECTION
Powers of Protection, I beseech thee, hear me.
Powers of Goodness, I beseech thee, hear me.
Powers of Light, I beseech thee, hear me.
Inner Pilot, cast thy protection over me.
Guides and Guardians, cast they protection over me.
Master all, cast thy protection over me.
=============== =============== ===============
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 5:49 pm
Reserved for Folklore and Songs
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Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:41 pm
*The soft morning's rays of light play across her cheek as she sprawls lazily in bed, the luminous tendrils dappling her golden tinged skin. Her waist length locks cascading about her, flowing o'er her pillow in a honeyed amber radience. Full, thick lashes flutter open, parting to reveal the starbirst orbs of emerald and gold.
Outside, perched on her balcony a morning dove coos softly... fluffing her feathers up against the slightly chilly spring breeze.
Arienh glances about her room idley, unwilling to give over fully to the state of wakefullness that beckoned her. She had been out late last night... At banquet 'til 1 am and then she had finally managed to steal away into the embrace of night, to pay visit to her handful of secretive clients.
She had snuck back into the castle just as dawn was breaking and exhausted... she was alseep before her head hit the pillow.
She hazards a guess that it's nearly 12 and that the noon meal is soon to be laid out. Having slept through breakfast, her stomach growls in neglected anticipation. Reaching a slender hand upwards, she rubs her right temple wearily and groans as she sits up. How she longed for a full night's rest!
Getting to her feet, her eyes rest on her dresser a moment and her lips twist into a frown of dissatisfaction. Laid out upon it was a fresh boquet of flowers... Her own arrangement that she had picked herself, replaced. Beside it, a manilla envelope and a small wrapped box. She ignores them pointedly... What it was and from who mattered not. It was the same thing day in and day out... Gifts from suiters who saught to win the lovely lady Arienh. To her parents ever increasing annoyance... She would have none of it.
She had danced for hours last night... Danced until she was sure her feet would fall off. Forced to move to the music of her father's hall.... hands clasped with narrow minded, muscle bound meat heads who could make nothing of conversation... except to lavish her with compliments or brag of their vallient deeds. So many men... and always the same monotenous conversation.
One man last night had been particularily persistant... One of her father's captains. A Lord Mrithas. She despised how he had looked upon her... like she was a gem to be appraised and auctioned... sizing her up and undressing her with his every glance. He had cared nothing of her as long as she was on his arm at every moment posible. Actively he sought her out only to ignore her... If she looked, she was sure that the note on her dresser would be from him.*
"Good Riddance."
*Picking up a brush, she proceeds to tidy herself and adorn a simple yet beautiful gown sewn of yellowed and brown silks. When she was satisfied that her appearance was at least presentable... she makes her way to the Dining hall to take part in the noon-meal.*
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 6:29 pm
Andrew Fallon strode around the small town outside the fantastical palace. He was somewhat tired, having attended a royal party the night before. The young man couldn't even figure out how he managed to get invited. Well, he knew how: He had been invited by a captain of the royal family for helping out with the town discipline. Drew didn't know what to think, since all he did was bust up some guys for trying to rape a girl. He himself was a bit of a law breaker, but whatever. He got to eat and drink for free.
It was about noon when he looked overhead at the bright blue skies dotted with cottony undefined clouds. Reminicing, Drew could recall laying on a small knoll just staring up at the sky for hours on end. That was back when he was a child. Now, he was twenty and too old to just be laying around. That fact never stopped him though. He strode over to a small wooden bench, returning some waves from a few people who knew him. Most of the people who knew him were the women who flirted with him or the men who worked with him. That, or the shady people he met in local bars.
Drew flopped himself down on the bench and made himself comfortable. One elbow on the seat, his head propped up by the palm and his legs in a casual, yet somewhat sensual position: One up with the knee at top leaning against the back of the bench and the other sprawled out next to it. Closing his ice blue eyes, the punky boy tried to remember everything about the party the night before.
There wasn't much to remember. He had to wear a nice outfit, not the casual pants, vest-shirt, and white long-caot he had on today. Drew even had to fix his hair, slicking it back instead of tucking it into the stree-beanie cap he usually wore. Everyone was in the fancy suits, dresses and armor.
The young man had no idea that royalty and high-positioned people could be so dull. No one in the whole court could hold a decent conversation. They simply went on about being rich, powerful, and brave. All they did was give him a reason to scoff and detest them moreso than before. The women kept hitting on him, married or not. The men kept trying to one-up him with their tales of power. Drew wasn't sure why he came at all. Of course, it was for the food.
Although the royal court was full of rather.. uninteresting people, Drew was able to spot lady in particular. She was the heir to the throne, so he didn't waste time approaching her only to be shunned by the girl. Though, he did watch from afar. She was beautiful, no doubt about that, but she looked very unhappy. Men from all over the continent were present, just to hit on her and try to woo her for their own. It made Drew sick to see all the idiots try to move in a poor young lady like that, but he didn't say anything. It wasn't his place.
To him, the young lady looked very distrought and unhappy. She looked like she was tired of all these suitors bugging her. At that, Drew remembered smirking a bit and thinking, 'Bet I could show her quite a time.'. It wasn't that he was looking to bed the girl, but he figured that he was much more interesting than these royal buffoons.
A cloud flew lazily by and the sun shined down on Drew's little bench, causing him to snap out of his memories and reopen his icicle eyes. Looking about him, he sat up and stretched out on the bench, both feet on the ground. He gave a deep sigh and realized that he ad a very slim chance of ever experiencing that again. He a dejected look, he stood up, stuffed his hands into his pants pockets, and continued his walk about the town. He had nothing better to do.
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Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 10:18 pm
==========
"WHAT?!?! Hiiiiiim?! My husband?! I'd rather lock myself in a cell and take a vow of celibacy than to lay near him or let his letcherous hands near my flesh!"
*Arienh had been abhored at her fathers proposition. She was known to those nearest her, as a hot-tempered woman and rumours suggesting such had long ago made their ways to the deepest reaches of the keep. But for the most part... she managed to play the role of the gentile and good natured daughter, the dutiful heiress and the lovely noble lady that she was SUPPOSED to be. But this... If her father had retained any hopes that she'd do so now, she would accuse him of still being influenced by last night's drink! No way in all of K'ivern would she bind herself to that intolerable fraction of a man!*
"Arienh, please. DO lower your voice."
*Her father mopped at his brow with a handkerchief and restrained himself from muttering curses.*
"I will NOT. I have let my tongue lay idle too oft' if you think me so complacent as to wed such a half-wit captain as your Lord Mrithas!! The man is dispicable! He sees no trace of a partner in me! He sees a trophy and a wife, to be saddled and submissive. He looks only to the gain in this union not at it's alleged sanctity! A sanctity that would be gravest mocked were we trapped in such a cursed union!"
"Arienh... You are my daughter. I am not growing any younger my dear. As your father it is my duty to see you well matched before I die. I will give you to the man that I think will do best by you and take care of you after I am gone--"
*Arienh's eyes flash as she rounds on her father, her skirts whirling in her angered movements.*
"Then I am ashamed father... that you think so ill of me as to call HIM my match! If you think that he will do well by me then your mind borders danerously close on the brink of a dangerous precipice as you journey into senile agedness!"
*A CRACK, the heavy sound of flesh on flesh as her father's hand connects with her cheek.
The backhand staggers her a moment, her slender hand going involuntarily to her face. It hurt... And she was damned sure it was going to bruise... already her mouth felt puffy and akward in it's swollenness. So too would her speech she suspected. *
"You overstep yourself Arienh. I am lord here, of this keep and of you. You WILL wed Lord Mrithas, I have already accepted his proposal. You will NOT shame ME."
*Shaking off the feeling of disorientation she turns on her heel and storms out of the room, the chamber door slamming closed behind her with a thunderous boom. Startling the servants in the hall who'd been trying to catch snatches of the conflict to fodder their gossip.
Arienh should have known that when her father cleared out the didning hall so that he might speak with her, it wasn't going to be pleasant. But this surpassed anything the old man had ever tried to force on her before.
She would NOT SUBMIT.*
==========
*An hour later... Hoofbeats rang through the out-laying city as horses tore through the streets in persuit of a cloaked rider on a stunning Black Bay. If one had sharp eyes, they might catch a hint of golden skirts and ambered locks... or maybe even be pierced by the startling gold-green glance that she cast about. It would seem... that a certain young lady was fleeing the castle's keep, and in hot persuit of the woman, was 12 or so of her father's mounted guard.
The guards kept fair pace with her, but she managed to keep just enough ahead of them. The pursuing mounts were encumbered by their armoured burdens, while the lady and her travel pack were quite light.
Her mind racing, Arienh willed herself to beat them to the grove with enough distance between them that her knowledge of the woodlands hidng places, would help her to elude recapture.*
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Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 5:28 pm
Andrew made quite a few stops on his little lazy walk about the town. He was completely bored and had nothing to do but to waste time slowly. Lucky for him, he had time to waste. Many people in the kingdom couldn't afford to waste a second on pointless drifting such as his. There were days when he was worked to the bone, and days such as this, where he was just an obsucure person in the background of life. The only interesting thing that had happened lately was the party just last night. Even that wasn't very big, seeing as how the reason for the party, the young daughter of the king, wasn't to happy with the part herself.
The market was his first stop, where he earned a few coins by moving around a few crates and stock from the back of the carts and such. With that money, he bought himself a little bit of food and a small beer. After all, alcohol was one thing that kept him going. Drew wasn't perfect, you know. After the market, he stopped by a few other small stores and did a few other odd jobs for a few more coins. It was always a few of this and a few of that; Just a few at a time.
The young blonde man found himself wondering what it would be like to be an aristocrat, not having to work for a few of anything. Always being waited on and lazing about with nothing on their mind. Although that life sounded appealing to him once in awhile, Drew figured that it would be quite boring. He loved life on the streets, sometimes having to fight to get by. He remembered how his father used to joke around. Closing his eyes, he remembered one funny little tid-bit of a night.
"Dad? What's for dinner?"
The old man simply chuckled and handed a bow to the small blonde boy. "It's catch-it-yourself night."
Drew let a grin cross his face and continued on his pointless trek. He missed his old man dearly, but there was nothing he could do to bring the geezer back. he was long gone; buried in some unknown battlefield far away. Or, he might be still alive, but Drew would never know. It was his dream to go out and find his father, but he was poor and destined to stay in the little town for life. Or so he thought.
His mind was rattled as the thundering pound of a dozen or so horses raced right passed him, nearly taking his head with them. They were in pursuit of one lonely figure. He was sure, but he could've sworn it was a woman, and a finely dressed one at that. The only thing that crossed his mind was, Damsel In Distress.
The sun glinted off the royal guard armor, and Drew had to sheild his eyes for a moment. Looking around, he marked where the rider was headed: the forest. Grinning madly, as he was happy to finally have some action, Drew raced to the stables, where his friend worked and owned all the horses. Finally reaching it, he was out of breath, but too excited to notice.
"Hey, Uly! Let - me - borrow - a - horse.." He gasped out and looked up at the young man expectantly.
"What's tha rush, Drewby? Run inta some trouble and tryin ta shake tha guard?"
"Somethin' like that.." Drew said, grinning at the irony. He wouldn't be running from them, they would be running from him. "Please?"
"Well, Okay.. You can take Teddy."
The next moment, Drew was racing out of the stables on a light brown steed, determined to catch up with the royal guard the mysterious female rider. His set his icicle eyes on the entrance to the dense forest..
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2006 8:37 pm
The scene that Andrew was about to walk into was nothing short of chaotic. As he broke through the treeline, directly before him would be a small glen. One soldier stood trembling before his captain. The captain, Drew might recognize as the sod who'd been persistantly persuing Arienh the night before. Apparantly... Not much had changed since then, for once again, the lady had given him the slip!
The captain seemed bulkier than he had the night before, dressed in full plate armour. He held his helm beneath one arm and rubbed his temple with the other. His hair was braided, a cascade of honey that fell to his waist. Angry eyes flashed as Mrithas dropped the helm and grabbed the young soldier by the collar, hauling him off his feet and holding him inches from the ground as he seethed
"You mean to tell me that a WOMAN gave some of MY BEST MEN the slip? One girl against the lot of you?! And NOW you CAN'T EVEN FIND HER?!! Your incompetance is both a humiliation and a revolting thing to behold! You're to bring my fiance back by nightfall, or it's YOUR HIDES!"
Dropping the trembling man in a rumpled heap, the captain storms towards Andrew, headed back toward the forest's edge where his mount was tethered. Noticing the peasant Mrithas glares and snaps
"You, peasant! Did you see a Lady come through here? Eh? ANSWER or BE GONE!"
While the other members of the guard were searching frantically for Arienh, the captain muttered as he awaited a response from this filth before him.
"Curr."
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:52 pm
The bright blue sky and lazy clouds seemed like a crazed blur as Drew raced through the town and came to the edge of the woods. His brown steed snorted and stopped moving as they just hit the treeline. Drew had the horse turn a few times and wondered why Teddy had a very strong urge to stay out of the forest.
"Hey, hey now Ted. I want to go in there. Not stay out here. You can do that for me, right pal?" Drew said, leaning to the side in the saddle so he could look the brown beauty right in the eye. "Now.. I know you're not scared to go in there right? Don't be a chicken, Teddy."
Now, the young blonde was simply teasing the horse. A normal person would just scream at it, since people thought animals had no emotions whatsoever. They were just beasts after all. But Drew thought differently. He knew that all things ad emotions, whether they could speak your language or not. So instead of snapping at Teddy, he simply took advantage of the young steed's feelings.
All at once, Teddy stopped his foot and snorted in a sassy sort of way. He did this as if to say. "Oh hell no.. You did not just call me chicken. I could throw you off right now, Drewby.. But i'll sophisticated and simply go in. I tried to warn you though. That commander guy is one big idiot.."
The horse strode through the treeline, Drew praising him all the way. As soon as they broke through, the young blonde saw a glade with a bunch of soldiers searching around. A horse was tethered up beside him, and he just looked around, continuing to stay seated in the saddle. He stared straight forward and saw a huge bulky iron-clad man stride up to him. When his attention was suddenly cast on Drew, the young man dropped from the saddle, took the reins in his hands and crossed his arms in front of his chest, ice blue eyes staring in those of Lord Mrithas.
Drew wasn't one to judge harshly, but this guy looked like a total p***k. He was the one giving that poor girl all her grief last night. He didn't like the look that the 'respected' commander was giving him. It was one of complete disgust, as if Drew were the scum of the land. Well, Drew knew better than to enrage someone so powerful, so he urged himself not to retaliate.
"If ya don't mind, i'll take the 'Be Gone' Option. Sorry to intrude on your little game of.. Hide and Seek, is it? Whoever she is, she must be pretty good at the hiding part, eh?"
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:02 pm
The captain made a jerking motion as if he were about to haul Drew from his mount and pummel him there and then... but the foul tempered man checked the motion and thought better of it. Shrugging he pulls his helm back on and strides by haughtily.
"We do but induldge her."
With that, he stomps back to his mount and gallops off.
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Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:38 pm
As the commanderleft haughtily, Drew spat on the ground where he had previously stood and remounted Teddy. Shaking his head, ice eyes burning, he smirked and motioned for Teddy to gallop on, passing the guards. Now he was in a very high state of mind, almost more determined to find that girl than before. She must've been that one that the commander guy was bugging the other night.
As brown and green whirrled by him in crazy hazes, Drew came to the small stream that supplied the garmlands with what little water they could obtain. It was a very large stream, more of a calm river. It wasn't that it wouldn't supply water, it was just that the villagers couldn't build a good enough irrigation system without more money. He dismounted and led Teddy to the river where he sat and watched the horse drink.
Splashing some water into his own face, the rebellious young blonde couldn't help but look at himself in the water. His rough reflection stared back at him. Street clothes, blonde hair covered by a black beanie-hat, ice blue eyes glaring at the world around him, tight muscular body; he was every inch attitude. He found himself getting angrier and angrier with his own reflection, cursing the royals for not being more helpful to their villagers.
Sitting back, Drew wondered, once again, what it would be like to be royalty. What could it possibly be like to be rich and waited on everyday?
"It must be good.."
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