House of Pentacles
26 January 2011 @ 09:17 am
Info Post: Kingdom of Pentacles  
KINGDOM OF PENTACLES

Location: Southwest corner of the empire

Ruler: King Varvenis Westerveldt

Geography: The Kingdom of Pentacles is largely flatlands, suitable for agriculture and cattle farming. There are thick forests spread throughout the territory which shelter various wildlife, and are constantly cut and renewed for logging. The majority of the population lives in the large walled city surrounding the castle at the centre of the Kingdom, though there are smaller, established villages in other areas. The main areas of trade are in the main city and at small ports around the coast.

People: 81% Native, 17% Mixed, 2% Other (noun/adj. Pentacleon)

Religion: Temperance, observed and enforced (noun/adj. Temperant)

The Kingdom of Pentacles is located in the southwestern corner of Kingston Westerveldt's empire, furthest from the battlefront on the shores of the Arcane. Prior to its annexation as a kingdom, the Pentacleon people had lived in the area for many centuries. The Pentacleons are distinguishable from their neighbours by their dark complexions and religious devotion to a deity named Temperance, and the strict laws that are placed upon their peoples in his/her name.

Temperance is a religion similar to Medieval Christianity, though there is no Christ-figure to speak of. Temperance is the One God, and his/her representative is the Ayatollah, elected for a life term by fellow religious leaders upon the death of the previous Ayatollah. The Ayatollah is second in authority only to the King. The religion is strictly followed, at times fanatically. Certain aspects of the Temperance religion that have had major impact on the history of the kingdom include the Transgressions, such as adultery and the matter of illegitimate children, drinking on Fridays, and the acceptance (or absolute lack thereof) of other religions.
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House of Pentacles
26 January 2011 @ 08:06 am
Info Post: The House of Pentacles  
HOUSE OF PENTACLES
King of Pentacles
VALOUR

PB: William Petersen

King Varvenis Westerveldt, eldest son of Emperor Kingston Westerveldt and Empress Eve Westerveldt. Upon coming of age, he was gifted with the land that would become the Pentacles Kingdom. He chose a highly-respected woman from the darker-skinned peoples of the territory to become his queen. Despite a happy and fruitful marriage, the use and abuse of power was not above King Varvenis, and he commenced an affair with one of his wife's handmaidens. When she became pregnant with his child they had to be married; even at the expense of his real love.

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Queen of Pentacles
SENSUAL/INTUITIVE


Lydia, played by Carol over at [info]acuportwo 



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Knight of Pentacles
RESPONSIBILITY


Prince Finnarch, played by Joey over at [info]thpaghettithoth 



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Page of Pentacles
MESSENGER

PB: Naseeruddin Shah

Khan Vidal Abeersarathstra, General of the Royal Guard for the House of Pentacles. The Khan acts as the head of the palace guards and personal bodyguard to the King and his entourage. He is a highly trusted member of the royal court (with good reason) and fiercely loyal to his King and his first Queen-- not so much to the new Queen, but will always act in the best interests of his monarch. He could be considered the head of the Pentacles military in terms of authority but he does not concern himself with national matters, leaving that to his colleague Khan Arif. His focus is the safety of the Royal Family.

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Ten of Pentacles
FAMILY

PB: Vanessa Hudgens

Princess Maricosa, youngest child of the King and his first wife. Despite the messy end to her parents' loving marriage, Princess Maricosa is a hopeless romantic dreamer, waiting for the day her prince will come and sweep her off her feet to make all her dreams come true. She enjoys the company of girls her age as well as older girls who can tell her of love and romance and sex and all those other things the King would rather eat glass than discuss with her. She dislikes Queen Bariah for not being her mother, but loves her half-sister just as much, if not more than her other siblings.

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Nine of Pentacles
SUCCESS

PB: Shakira

Queen Bariah, second wife of the King and mother of his youngest child, Princess Imphera. A scheming woman, Bariah climbed from the lower echelons of society to become a handmaiden to Queen Ahrisat and used her feminine wiles to attract the King's attention. An affair started and she fell pregnant, knowing that King Varvenis would have to marry her and make her Queen according to the religious laws of the kingdom. It is her intent to have the throne pass to her daughter rather than the King's older children and she is slowly plotting to make this a reality. So far, the King is having none of it.

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Eight of Pentacles
SKILL


Peace, played by Becky over at [info]cutyouificould 



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Seven of Pentacles
INGENUITY

PB: Morgan Freeman

Ayatollah ben Faisal, spiritual leader for the House of Pentacles and its subjects. The Ayatollah acts as a Pope-figure for the Pentacles Kingdom; God's representative in material form, and the highest authority on spiritual matters in the kingdom. Politically, he answers to the King. Corrupted by power, the current Ayatollah plays the royal court like pieces in a chess game, manipulating them into position to further his own plans. He covets Princess Ebilene, the eldest daughter of the King, and has schemed to confine her to the church: if he can't have her, no one can.

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Six of Pentacles
CHARITY

PB: Jessica Alba

Mumtaz Princess Ebilene, eldest daughter of the King and his first wife. Is being groomed for a life in the service of spiritual undertakings. The Prophetess warned the King of great danger to befall the House of Pentacles that could only be avoided if his eldest daughter, the comely Ebilene, were to devote her life to the church and the Ayatollah in the crusade against transgressions of the faith. She longs for a life outside of the Kingdom, free of the Ayatollah's iron will. From her confines in the monastery, she can see the markets of the main town, and she watches from afar as the peasants live their lives in relative freedom; among them a blacksmith with whom she has fallen in love.

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Five of Pentacles
HARDSHIP

PB: Clemence Poesy

Faiz Veçhzma, a slave of the kingdom. Unhappy with her life in the Runes Kingdom, Faiz sought refuge in the Kingdom of Pentacles, agreeing to a harsh contract with a slave trader that would see her safely smuggled to Pentacles in exchange for a bonded debt making her essentially his property. She is an indentured whore, rented out to the highest bidder to raise the astronomical funds to secure her freedom. Despite her low social status, she is often sought out by higher members of the aristocracy as pale-skinned blondes are a novelty in the region. Their careless behaviour sometimes sees her privy to information she shouldn't know.

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Four of Pentacles
?


?, played by Sara over at [info]inrunes 


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Three of Pentacles
CRAFTSMAN

PB: Shawn Ashmore

Tarven Smith, a skilled metalworker in the service of the kingdom. An average peasant as far as social status goes, Tarven makes the finest swords and armor for the Kingdom in times of war, and reliable and long-lasting tools for agriculture and trades in times of peace. He is hard-working and kind, an enemy to none. He has struck up an odd friendship with Faiz Veçhzma, often being a source of comfort to her during her slavery. He is completely unaware of Mumtaz Princess Ebilene's infatuation with him, and would be absolutely stunned to ever find out.

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Two of Pentacles
GAIETY

PB: Jodelle Ferland

Princess Imphera, youngest daughter of the King, and only child of the King and his second wife. The King adores his little baby, and the new Queen recognizes only her as the legitimate heir to the throne. The little Princess is unaware of the drama and conflict that arose of her conception and the circumstances made necessary by her birth, and is a sweet, happy child. Her half-sister Princess Maricosa treats her as both a playmate and a pet. Her half-brother Prince Finnarch, though never unkind to her, does not extend the same warmth to her, as he knows her existence to be the reason his mother was killed.

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Ace of Pentacles
BECOME


Tse, played by Joey over at [info]thpaghettithoth 



THE ARCANE
The Hermit
OBSERVATION

PB: Sonam Kapoor

Khiresh, Spy for the Kingdom of Pentacles. Fled Arcane for the safety of Pentacles during the destructive war. Khiresh (no known last name... or first name... whatever) poses as a gypsy in the other kingdoms of the empire to gather information and develop a feel for the political climate of the areas. As the gypsies are nomadic people with few ties to places or one another, she can move from tribe to tribe quite easily. In larger cities, she will sometimes find work as an exotic entertainer from one of the far-off lands to gain access to the more established members of society and the more privileged information they hold.

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The Lovers
TRUST
PBs: Zuleikha Robinson and Oded Fehr

Nahema al-Dinar, a fierce warrior whom acts as a safeguard or banker for the kingdom in times of peace. She was betrothed to Nazim Arif at birth, and as they grew to know one another in their mutual service of the Kingdom they fell in love. Nahema is one of the most decorated and respected warriors of the Kingdom of Pentacles, both fearless in battle and strategically clever in planning. She is a good person, but a warrior at heart and can be stiff and blunt to the point of apparent rudeness to those who are not used to her demeanour.

Khan Nazim Arif, General of the Royal Guard for the Kingdom of Pentacles. Approximately equivalent in authority to Khan Abeersarathstra, though the elder general is senior in matters of disagreement. Khan Arif acts as head of the Pentacles military, leading warriors into battle and maintaining the security of the Kingdom and its people in times of peace. He is a loyal man, utterly devoted to his wife and their union despite the many women who would throw themselves at his feet to serve a handsome, respected member of the state nobility.

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The Chariot
CONTROL

PB: Melissa Jaffer

The Prophetess Orché, adviser to the Crown. Despite the religious nature of the Pentacles Kingdom, the pagan prophet is still called upon for her wisdom. Approximately older than creation itself, Orché practices the old, forbidden arts of the dark ages including augury and spellcraft, with varying degrees of apparent success. A most trusted source of advice for the Crown, however, should gold cross her palm her loyalty can be bought. The Ayatollah uses her to steer his agenda, and she hides behind him from religious persecution.

OTHER HOUSES
Four of Swords
PERSPECTIVE

PB: Gerard Butler

Ráimundr Kjærstad, husband of Princess Alexandra of the House of Swords. Originally a Rune, Ráimundr fled to the Swords Kingdom shortly after war broke out. He never showed any interest in military training, preferring a rational and diplomatic outcome to quarrels. However, he never harboured any political ambition either, just wanting to settle down and start a family. He thinks his wife worries and schemes too much and wishes she were a little more inclined to have his children.

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Nine of Cups
ACCOMPLISHMENT

PB: Ken Leung

Itsuki Hideki, not-entirely-dedicated zen monk. Hideki finds the best meditation to be gardening, and has become quite the talented landscaper after devoting many years to his craft. Discovered creating the perfect zen garden in the Cups Palace by Princess Rikku, the two soon became close friends as he amazed her with his artistry and brought some of her eccentric visions to life with endless mazes and topiary animals, and beautiful flourishing flowers. Rumours abound about their relationship, but Hideki is the ascot-wearing type. They laugh about it over tea in the gardens.

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Two of Staves
STRATEGY

PB: Paul Walker

August Westerveldt, third son of Christoph and Odilia Westerveldt, brother of Erich, Sascha, Pascal, Kaspar, Hanne and Hilde Westerveldt. August is next in line for the throne of the Staves Kingdom, after the death and disappearance of his two older brothers. Always a notoriously unreliable playboy, his partying ways have only become worse since his elevation in rank. So many women want to be the future Queen of Staves. So few ever get further than his bed. He's quite close with his brother Pascal, and the two of them terrorize the ladies together.

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Wunjo
JOY / BERSERKER
PB: Missy Crider

Siri Haugaard, a Runic mercenary currently siding with the High Chieftain in the Great War. She takes great pride in her skill as a warrior, finding joy in the art of battle and in the rewards therein. As she is a paid fighter and not a member of the military, for her those rewards are more than simply serving the Gods. She seeks to make a prosperous life outside of being a soldier for hire, as she knows that her body will not keep up to the strict standards of warfare forever. When things do not go according to plan, she becomes a furious, unpredictable nightmare, much like the berserkers of Runic lore.