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Skald Song is a play-by-post medieval sword and sorcery role-play set in an original world based around the fine arts.
Contents
Rules
Getting Started
How-to - some useful information on various actions in chat.
Glossary
There are many words and terms in the world of The Tapestry that you will run into. Here's a handy reference to what they mean or refer to.
Comprimaro/a - Partner. This is a title given to someone perceived as being the significant other of the Prince or Princess.
Doge / Duce - Title for the male/female leader of a guild that holds a region and their spouse. They may go by additional titles cultural to their region.
Maestro - Grand Master. This is in reference to the original founding guild leaders anointed by The Skald. They are absolute masters in their fields and are capable of great power.
Nobile - Leaders of guilds that do not hold regions. This term/rank is given to the heirs of any guild as well. Lowest titled nobility.
Oratorio - The religious text of The Tapestry.
Prima Donna - Queen
Primo/a Figlio/a - Prince / Princess
Primo Uomo - King
Skaldborne/Strangers - People not native to The Tapestry.
Virtuoso - God/dess. These are corrupted founding guild leaders, who took to the power and created cults instead. They consider themselves almost equal to The Skald and are doing the creator's bidding. They aren't wrong, but they aren't doing it the way The Skald intended originally.
Native or Not?
Natives were born and raised in The Tapestry and it is all they have ever known, generally speaking. They are not at all surprised by the arrival of beings from other places. It is, after all, part of their oldest beliefs that the creator of the world has hand picked these arrivals. Although their comfort level with a species they haven't seen before is something best left to the player to decide. New arrivals that were already a part of a guild in their former world, we encourage you to reach out to the guild of preference and let them know, especially if you're interested in pursuing that path. The guild leaders will be more than likely happy to add you to their rosters, or may choose to remain disenfranchised despite knowing that the power of a guild can help them go far in life.
- Native characters start off with more gold than non-natives.
- If a slot is available, native characters can start with title.
Non-native characters, also referred to as Skaldborne or Strangers, find themselves in a strange land and generally in even stranger circumstances. The way they arrive into the world is up to the player's descriptive discretion, but it is encouraged that their characters should arrive with some vague and varied amounts of amnesia and may or may not lack the clothes on their back. Think of it like a floating scale, where the most extreme cases are usually full blown amnesia and on the other end they retain all their memories, but are never quite sure how they got to The Tapestry.
Because of this constant influx of Skaldborne, the natives of The Tapestry leave wrapped little packages with a change of clothes, a waxed map to the nearest settlement, and a small amount of gold to get them started. They are usually highly encouraged to join a guild for ease in assimilation into the world, plus the guilds would get quite the reputation if one of the Skaldborne proves themselves and becomes a clear representation a champion chosen by The Skald.
- Skaldborne characters will start off with a lesser amount of gold than natives, but will have the 'care package' already in their inventory.
- You can also opt to play a non-native that has been around long enough to adapt.
OOC Timeline
This is a general overview of the history of the world, where large scale events and changes will be recorded as they happen through RP. This way, new members can effectively create characters that are native and have access to all information they may need for that character's knowledge at a glance.
For a more detailed timeline for a region, see that region's page.
2017 - Meizarae released.
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1967 - Artificial Limbs using Copper Heart's puppetry mechanics first use.
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1717 - Virtuosos defeated. Monarchy established.
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1700 - Maestros become corrupted, 'Virtuoso' coined. Chanson Isole'e breaks ground.
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1050 - First Skaldborne appear.
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1000 - The Skald visits future site of Inizio D'Oro, selects Maestros, who found the first Guilds.
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0 - The Tapestry is brought to life
The "Tapestry"
The Tapestry is what the natives call their world, believing that they are just one big masterpiece on an unseen canvas. As such there are no true names of continents, with masses of land/regions simply being referred to by the main city that inhabits them. There is a distinct illusion of organized peace with the leaders of regions bowing in unison to a high king, but there is strife in many forms political or otherwise. And yet their god, The Skald, loves every minute of it.
Places
Lore
The religious text of The Tapestry is called the Oratorio, a series of chants that explain the very basics of the world's functions and has been around since early creation. While other religions can and do exist across the land, The Oratorio is 'true', whether its people really believe it or not. It is hard to prove what only a handful have seen many years ago.
Politics and Guilds
The political theater of The Tapestry is always on the brink of a shift despite the illusion of peace carried by its people. Guilds are a major part of the world of the Tapestry. They can help your character rise in rank and power, as well as open many doors to quests and opportunities.
In character they are as potent as family ties / clans but have leniency in that they do not have to operate by bloodline.
Profile Perks to Guilds
- Members of guilds will have the banner displayed in their profiles, and titles changed accordingly if they hold power within the guild.
- Guilds will have their own slot on the forum to use as they see fit, as well as a 'group' that will color member's names in the online list.
- Leaders of guilds will gain a lump sum of gold: 5k for basic guilds, 10k for region-holding guilds.
Joining a Guild
If you feel your character would be a good fit for a guild, or that they would be interested in joining it, seek out a representative of the guild. Depending on the guild's structure that may be all you need to do.
Have a character that is a 'native' and you would like them to already be part of the guild? Talk to the leader OOCly to confirm. Make sure you save yourselves both time and hassle and check to make sure that the history of the guild can align with your character's simply enough (ie, timelines).
Archive of Past Guilds
Starting a Guild
To create a guild you must:
- Have a specialty
- Have 5 members (including yourself)
- Have the approval of where you would like to be located.
Specialties do not have to be unique, to encourage rivalries.
You will have control on how it is run in terms of how you initiate or promote people and the rules within.
Becoming a Head Guild
In each territory there can be many guilds, but only one has the political weight to be considered in charge of the territory as a whole. To become the head guild of a territory one of two things need to happen:
- The current head guild submits to your guild
- However it happens! The former head guild will need to let the Staff know.
- A new territory is created (spotted).
- Usually a guild is already selected for this oocly, but...
- Petitioning or a competition may be held.
Prima Famiglia
The royal family. A single bloodline has carried the crown through many centuries, supplemented by the marriages with worthy guilds or heroes as decided by the Primo Uomo (King). The royal seat is Inizio D'Oro, the city believed built on the spot that The Skald had made their one and only appearance.
Proper forms of address is by their title only, unless given permission otherwise. It is acceptable to shorten the title to just Primo or Prima, as well.
Titles:
Primo Uomo (King, 'First Man')
Prima Donna (Queen, 'First Lady')
Primo Figlio (Prince, 'First Son')
Prima Figlia (Princess, 'First Daughter')
Trivia: The Primo/a titles come from the term Prima Donna for 'first lady' in reference to music/ballet.
Doge/Duce
The titles belong to the Guild Leaders who have the double duty of running entire regions. Based on their service to the royal family can determine if they will marry in and have the honor of adding their family to the line of the Prima Familia.
Heirs enjoy a lap of luxury in the manor with the royal family. They do not have to be blood-related to the guild leader that sent them.
Proper nomenclature for addressing Doge/Duce are varied and more normalized, with Guild Leaders going by either their internal titles, their name directly, or as their title.
Nobile
Other guild leaders, despite not holding land, are still recognized as one of the wealthy. Their children are often sent to Inizio D'Oro to be personal servants to the royal family and their superior guild heirs. This title may also reference heirs of all guilds as well, as it is the lowest title of nobility.
Nobile Heirs also do not have to be blood related to the guild leader that sent them.
Possessing no additional fancy titles, Nobiles are typically referred to by their names, but are recognized as being of a superior class than the rest of their peers.
Renowned
Exceptional heroes may be recognized directly by the royal family as prospects to the line, earning a private title that has them at the same 'level' as a Doge/Duce without the land. These are few and far between, designed to humor the belief that even the pig keeper can become a king, a mantra said to encourage people to not feel bound by their station.
This level of rank could also apply to villains. They are respected, as without them there would only be half the opportunities for heroes to appear. Still, they probably would not be excited to have one as their leader or suitor!
