Le Chevalier Silzieth
Le Chevalier Silzieth
Welcome. This is the second game I am thinking of running. mostly because actually running this in a forum will be a nightmare. On the other hand, I want to run it in person, so, if you'd like to help me flesh out a campaign, I'd appreciate it.
Re: Le Chevalier Silzieth
This game focuses on the courts of Xeiare (ZIE-air), a city-state at the very far edge of Choinxeia*, ruled by the Cani King Blyn Theodrin Farring Powyn (Reffen, Mnorryn). It's a fairly large city, with two walls and a citadel of world-tree amber. (Supposedly, the citadel was created through direct divine intervention, but nobody knows for sure.)
Xeiare is the center of a loose coalition of 11 city-states; two of them (Epacha and Phyrisae) are direct vassal states (forming a small kingdom that is - of course - also called Xeiare); the other eight are merely allied.
Of particular note, Xeiare boasts the Academy of the Bazinion** Flame, the only magic university within 400 miles. Many mages within the area owe the Academy allegiance - especially smiths. Some mages do go walkward to get an education at more prominent or more central university, but they find themselves seen as outsiders, and are often treated as less than other mages - especially in the smith's guild. In effect, the university is a guild in itself (though closely allied with the smith's guild), and it does not like the competition.
This massive center of education has ensured that the leaders of Xeiare are either powerful mages, powerful duelests, or both. For many generations, both education at the university and service in the military were required for all heirs of the throne.
This lead to a recent tragedy, told in a dozen stories, operas, and other public works. About 6 years ago, all three of King Blyn's sons were killed within a one month period by various invaders or monsters. The king fell into a deep depression when this occurred, until about four months later when he happened upon an abandoned Zi Ri child. The exact events of that day are lost to legend, the current version states that Hren Tzen zirself gave this child to Blyn. As a result, King Blyn decided to adopt this Zi Ri as his child, which has lead to both outrage and speculation among the local nobles.
First, Blyn has decreed that his devotion to the gods has been rewarded and he has been given an heir who will be eternal. Second, in a bout of what has been described as madness, Blyn declared the worship of Reluu was forbidden, and all temples to him should be torn down and rebuilt to honor Hren Tzen. Thankfully that last proclamation was never implemented, as various members of court were able to talk Blyn down. It is rumored that Hren Tzen showed up to decline such an action, but no accurate records were kept.
Despite these recent issues, King Blyn is (mostly) still loved and respected. Many of the locals pray for him to overcome this test the gods have put before him. Others pray that a true successor arrive, to heal Blyn and claim rightful ownership of the throne. A few - particularly cani - scheme to arrange a choof that would put the king out of his office entirely.
* For reference, Choinxeia is a branch off the main trunk that the Cyarr (hyenoid centaur-folk) once claimed, and has been the site of numerous devastating wars; every so often some ancient sorcerous weapon turns up, often with disastrous consequences. And abandoned ruins are much more of a thing around here than they would be on other branches.
** Brazinion is a blue metal, in the sense that copper is orange or gold is yellow; it is nearly as hard as iron and considerably heavier. The Academy campus does, indeed, contain a sculpture of brazinion that dances and flickers as if it were solid blue fire; it is heavily enchanted, in complex knots of magic that defy easy analysis. (One student drinking game involves trying to guess the flame's purpose, with each student being required to come up with a more ridiculous explanation than the one that came before.)
Xeiare is the center of a loose coalition of 11 city-states; two of them (Epacha and Phyrisae) are direct vassal states (forming a small kingdom that is - of course - also called Xeiare); the other eight are merely allied.
Of particular note, Xeiare boasts the Academy of the Bazinion** Flame, the only magic university within 400 miles. Many mages within the area owe the Academy allegiance - especially smiths. Some mages do go walkward to get an education at more prominent or more central university, but they find themselves seen as outsiders, and are often treated as less than other mages - especially in the smith's guild. In effect, the university is a guild in itself (though closely allied with the smith's guild), and it does not like the competition.
This massive center of education has ensured that the leaders of Xeiare are either powerful mages, powerful duelests, or both. For many generations, both education at the university and service in the military were required for all heirs of the throne.
This lead to a recent tragedy, told in a dozen stories, operas, and other public works. About 6 years ago, all three of King Blyn's sons were killed within a one month period by various invaders or monsters. The king fell into a deep depression when this occurred, until about four months later when he happened upon an abandoned Zi Ri child. The exact events of that day are lost to legend, the current version states that Hren Tzen zirself gave this child to Blyn. As a result, King Blyn decided to adopt this Zi Ri as his child, which has lead to both outrage and speculation among the local nobles.
First, Blyn has decreed that his devotion to the gods has been rewarded and he has been given an heir who will be eternal. Second, in a bout of what has been described as madness, Blyn declared the worship of Reluu was forbidden, and all temples to him should be torn down and rebuilt to honor Hren Tzen. Thankfully that last proclamation was never implemented, as various members of court were able to talk Blyn down. It is rumored that Hren Tzen showed up to decline such an action, but no accurate records were kept.
Despite these recent issues, King Blyn is (mostly) still loved and respected. Many of the locals pray for him to overcome this test the gods have put before him. Others pray that a true successor arrive, to heal Blyn and claim rightful ownership of the throne. A few - particularly cani - scheme to arrange a choof that would put the king out of his office entirely.
* For reference, Choinxeia is a branch off the main trunk that the Cyarr (hyenoid centaur-folk) once claimed, and has been the site of numerous devastating wars; every so often some ancient sorcerous weapon turns up, often with disastrous consequences. And abandoned ruins are much more of a thing around here than they would be on other branches.
** Brazinion is a blue metal, in the sense that copper is orange or gold is yellow; it is nearly as hard as iron and considerably heavier. The Academy campus does, indeed, contain a sculpture of brazinion that dances and flickers as if it were solid blue fire; it is heavily enchanted, in complex knots of magic that defy easy analysis. (One student drinking game involves trying to guess the flame's purpose, with each student being required to come up with a more ridiculous explanation than the one that came before.)