Info post: Ascella

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:06:12 GMT

Ascella

Location: Orbiting Circinus

Geography: Abound with varying vegetation and wildlife, Ascella is the verdant playground that Circinus used to be. There is one central city set at the edge of the wetlands; smaller dwellings (for the very brave and perhaps foolhardy) dot the low lying mountains up until they reach the deep forest where no one dares to live. The far side of this moon is covered in rainforest and jungle.

Ruler: Being handpicked by the emperor means that the top spots change when someone doesn't prove as loyal or pliable as he likes. Some positions are still handed down through family lines, even when the head of the family has been displaced, but it's difficult to earn political favor again.

People: 100% Circinian

The people of Ascella are all transplants from the home planet of Circinus. They are considered protectors of the wildlife and produce on the moon. They have been handpicked among the emperor's favorites.

Religion: There is no official state religion, though some practice the dark arts in secret.

Military: The military was supplied directly from Circinus to guard the moon from other invaders looking to cash in on the crops. Sometimes these forces are pulled for campaigns against Rastaban, but more often than not they are left to defend Ascella against pirates and thieves.

Rights: The people of Ascella observe the same sort of rights as those on Circinus, but since they are further from the Emperor's eyes tend to get away with a bit more. However, he does have his spies and word gets back that one of his favorites is bending the rules too much there are heavy sanctions.

History: Ascella was uninhabited until Circinus decided to expand their empire. Kingston picked his favorites among his lower cabinet, those he could do without on Circinus, but would carry out his will on Ascella. He sent them and their families to colonize.

Every so often Kingston sends new recruits to fill the ranks of his Ascellan army and nobility. Not everyone chosen to go sees it as a good thing to be sent away, but no one would dare speak against such a nomination.

Info post: Libra

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:41:20 GMT

Libra

Location: Orbiting Circinus

Geography: A mountainous moon with great deposits of minerals. There are several temperate valleys which are perfect for habitation and trails that lead from these areas to the mining camps dotting the mountains.

Ruler: Archduke Isamu Kimura.

People: 68% Native, 26% Refugee, 4% Mixed, 2% Other

The people of Libra have always been very welcoming, which accounts for the high number of refugees, many of them from other moons, particularly the war besieged Rastaban.

Religion: There is no official state religion, however it is commonly accepted that everyone practices the Kimura favored religion. It's something akin to Zen Buddhism and I'll come up with a name for it when I'm feeling a little more creative.

Military: The Librals military has always been very strong. Women fight as well as men, both train daily to maintain their skill. Their skill and constant upkeep might help explain why the Librals tend to fare well in times of conflict.

Rights: For the people, rights are fairly progressive. Women have mostly equal rights. It's totally acceptable to be openly gay. Adultery and unmarried sex aren't generally accepted either, though neither are considered a crime. Women are socially frowned upon when they have children out of wedlock, but they are not ostracized.

In terms of succession the title to rule falls to the first born, and then onto their first born child regardless of sex.

The people are invited to come to forums held monthly to discuss problems they may have with the current ruler. Emi has taken over these forums since her father's recent bout with illness.

History: Libra had been established long before Circinus set up its empire. It did them well to engage in trade with the planet they orbited and before long it became an almost unspoken agreement that they were a jewel in the crown of the empire. The nobility of Libra had long been working under the titles of Archduke and so forth down the line, and were allowed to keep their titles when subsumed into the empire.

Recently Archduke Dastun has taken ill and his daughter, the Grand Duchess Emi has taken over affairs of state as his proxy. However some conflict with the mining trade have cause the Countess Midori Tanaka to rise in favor with the people and she may prove a challenge to Emi's rule of Libra.

And thus it begins

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:39:25 GMT

Circinus
The Empress
Eve Wasserreiche

In her youth she was secretly trained by the Prophetess Orché in the dark, old, pagan arts. She holds the prophetess in high regard and often seeks her advice when she believes something is afoot.

Eve was a grasping, devious little beauty from a very young age. It was clear that she'd make a fine candidate as wife to someone of power and was groomed from the time she could walk until she was fifteen. It was then that Kingston Wasserreiche was of an age to marry and no time was wasted seeing that Eve would become his wife. She gave birth to two sons and a daughter: August, somebody, and somebody.

Eve is clever, a quick study, and quite gifted with the Black Arts (which is her little secret). She uses everything at her disposal to ensure that she gets her way, unless of course Kingston disagrees (in which case she attempts to sneak around and get her way anyway).

The Emperor
Kingston Wasserreiche

Kingston was groomed from a young age to replace his father as Emperor. He was not the strongest of his brothers, but he was certainly the most cunning. When something was presented to him he did everything in his power to get it and keep it.

He was married to Eve and the pair began producing more heirs to the throne. He loves Eve, mainly because she is such a good match to his own ambitions. He has an odder relationship with his sons and daughter however, because they pose an active threat to the power he has amassed.

The Schemer
Fiona Seward

Fiona Seward is the sole daughter of Azrael. She was raised as the heir apparent to her father's business (interrogation and execution), at which she has exceeding skill (though this is entirely on the hush hush).

Fiona's mother died when she was 9. Prior to that point she'd been raised to be a perfect lady, a future wife. As soon as her mother was buried Azrael began her training with a secret career in mind.

The High Inquisitor
Azrael Seward

Azrael Seward is an old friend of the Emperor. He served as a General in his many campaigns on Rastaban (and was quite often state executioner, coming up with the most gruesome ways to punish traitors and turncoats). He's very skilled at manipulation and torture to get what he wants and has been used to question informants and prisoners of war. Azrael's past is something of a mystery, one he intends to keep for himself.

He has one daughter, Fiona. He trained her in the art of manipulation and deviation. Even though he takes much pride in his daughter, he feels a bit hand tied in that it's tradition to betroth her to someone of power and marry her off. He sees her as an accomplice to many of his deeds and doesn't feel she has reached the end of her training.

Libra

The Patriarch
Archduke Dastun Kimura

Dastun held the Duchy of Libra for many years against the typical onslaught of the empire's reign. He kept his forces always at the ready and groomed his daughter to rule when his time was finished. His wife died during childbirth, leaving him to raise their two children. His only other child, Kaji, died in battle at the age of 34. His brother once challenged him to single combat for the title of Archduke, but the other man failed and exiled himself to Ascella.

Dastun has recently fallen ill and his recovery is entirely uncertain.

The Widow
Grand Duchess Emi Kimura

Emi is an open and sympathetic woman. She is a calming force among the nobility of Libra. As the first born child of Dastun she was groomed to take over his rule.

She had a very even hand in raising her two daughters. Even so, her daughters turned out drastically different, Aiko as the picture of innocence and obedience and Yukiko as a scheming conniver.

Emi is still dealing with the loss of her husband, the Grand Duke Malcolm. He was previously a Marquis on Ascella. Their marriage was to help cement a trade treaty, and they eventually grew to love one another. He died in one of the Emperor's campaigns on Rastaban.

The Neglected Sister
Viscountess Ume Tanaka

Ume is the younger sister of Midori Tanaka. The girls grew up among the nobility of Libra. When Ume was still young, they were orphaned. Midori was much older than her little sister and with a child of her own to care for Midori didn't feel like she could care for her sister too. Ume was sent into the service of Duke Isamu, who essentially raised her.

This has created a lot of tension between the sisters; Ume never quite forgave Midori for abandoning her. On the other hand, being raised by Isamu provided her with tremendous opportunities and she used them to her advantage. She greatly admires Isamu and agrees with his values and morality.

The Wronged Man
Duke Isamu Kimura

Isamu is the nephew of Dastun. He still pines over his former lover Nimue, who left him after an argument over their unborn daughter. He mourns her death, which occurred a few years ago. He assumed his daughter was stillborn after Nimue wrote him a letter; he doesn't know that she's still alive and grown. The woman goes by her mother's last name, Brita Hale and grew up in the brothel with her mother.

To fill the hole in his heart where his daughter might have been he adopted Ume Tanaka. After the death of her parents and her elder sister's inability to care for her, Isamu took the girl in. Despite that his personal life has been a mess, he has always been a wonderful Duke.

The "Innocent"
Duchess Aiko Kimura

Being the first born child of Emi, Aiko is expected to take over should anything happen to her mother. Aiko herself is quiet and well behaved, but her mind is quick. She pretends that she has no interest in the duchy, but quite the opposite is true. She has been quietly manipulating her way into power, attempting to direct her life in a way that will ensure her the position. Since the death of her father and recent illness of her grandfather, she has worked very hard to maintain her mother's control over Libra. Ultimately she wants to claim that control for herself.

The Deceitful
Duchess Yukiko Kimura

Second born of Emi. Yukiko enjoys scheming and one day hopes to surpass her older sister to become Grand Duchess and perhaps one day, Empress.

She is the most devious of duchesses, absolutely the most grasping. There are few things that Yukiko wouldn't do to gain power. She's spends time in the same social circles as Fiona Seward.

The Ambitious One
Countess Midori Tanaka

Older sister of Ume Tanaka and mother of Kenshin. Her life is a road map of disappointments. Recently she has gained favor with the people after a workers' revolt at a mining camp. She worked well with the people to see that their needs were met and that the work began again quickly and smoothly. In the face of the Archduke's illness, this seems like a very a good publicity boost for the Tanaka family.

Hydrus

The Tart
Lydia

Lydia was groomed to be a Priestess to the Prophetess Orche when it was discovered that she had a touch of the gift. She trained for several years, but the spark of intuition that she carried never grew. She can sense the whims and emotions of others, but she has no gift at proper vision.

She did not have the talent to remain in service and was turned out. She didn't see this as a personal failing, simply that she was not a good fit. She decided instead to explore life and find her own way. She found that she was an excellent entertainer and began to work at the palace, helping to arrange parties (for Queen Bariah).

A sensual creature, Lydia seeks a suitable partner to engage in her bed. Of course, her eyes are set on King Varvenis.

The Fugitive Brother
Emir Nazim Harith

Emir was the consummate soldier, always obeying orders and falling into rank. But during a break from a recent campaign, a woman from another moon caught his eye and Emir decided he'd rather chase after this woman than stay in his rank and file life. He has left the service of the reigning family of Hydrus without notice and is presently on the run.

Ascella

The Knight
Sir Annegret Dahl

Annegret, otherwise known as Anne is the older sister of Jessika and Joanna.

She serves in the Emperor's army and is frequently on call for the next campaign. She earned her title of Knighthood and has done everything in her power to maintain the nobility that comes with it.

She is a headstrong, confident warrior. She has a strong sense of what is right and what is wrong. She lost one of her eyes in an old campaign on Rastaban, but hasn't let it stop her. She trained and practiced regularly to balance the sudden loss of her depth perception and change in vision.

The Pilot
Baron Courtney Vance

Gifted pilot, more so than he is at being a baron. He feels it to be an empty title and has sought to put some meaning back into his life. He learned to fly at a very young age, first to transport goods off Ascella to other planets, and later as a combat pilot in the Emperor's army.

He's engaged to Princess Maricosa Vandherre, but he dreads the actual wedding. He hasn't explained to anyone in his family that he's gay; he had planned to flee to Libra where sexuality is more openly accepted, but his parents began arrangements for an advantageous marriage.

The Drunk
Jessika Dahl

Jessika, usually known as Jess, is the younger siser of Annegret and older sister Joanna. She fought in the war alongside Anne under the service of the Emperor. Jess developed a reputation as a skilled warrior and a fearsome drunk in this time. A few bad decisions on the battlefield lost her the title of Knight, which had been earned. This lead to more frequent bouts of drinking and may result in her being removed from service completely.

Rastaban

The Spy
Joanna Dahl

Joanna is the youngest of the Dahl sisters. She dyed her hair, practiced her accent, and changed mannerisms and dress so as to appear like a local. She worked her way into one of the tribes of Rastaban and has been living there for several months.

Joanna has a sneaky side, an ability to listen and seem as if she's not paying attention at all. Very few details escape her grasp. She particularly loves listening to the ladies gossiping in the kitchen.

She has been a spy for some time, but in whose service it's not clear.

The Hero of the People
Ívarr Randarson

He fights with the tribes of Rastaban against the empire. He has a knack for surviving the most unbelievable situations, in which anyone else would definitely have died.

He is at present unmarried and not certain if marriage is a good condition for a military man to be in. He adores his nephew however and would one day like to have a son of his own.

He became a hero of the people when he blew up a command carrier of the empire. Though he tried to explain that it was a fluke, a very lucky happenstance which lead to the explosion, the tribes have continued to celebrate his success.

The Libral Agenda

Info post: Ascella

Info post: Libra

And thus it begins