• Lore • [Rynmere] Lore

[Kingdom]

Rynmere Lore

Contents

The Kingdom
History
Timeline
Legend
The Cities
Andaris
Travel & Villages
Geography
Climate
Surroundings
Culture
Demographics
Religion
Holidays
Marriage & Divorce
Food
Music
Language
Society
Education
Employment
Economy
Politics
Government
Combative Force
Law
Crime & Punishment
Factions
The Seers
VII
The Seekers
Qe'Dreki
Opinions
Race Relations
Views on Arcana
Slavery

Welcome To Rynmere

Whilst Idalos is split into distinct "Regions" and islands, and many cities share alliances, said cities are still considered to be individual "city states", with their own governing bodies, laws and cultures. The island of Rynmere is slightly different, in that it is ruled by a King, with a capital city and a number of satellite towns and villages. The whole island is a nation, and all living in it pay deference to the King, no matter where they live. To emphasise the link between all locations on the island, there is one OOC forum for the entire island, though there are individual threads for some. So please be careful where you're posting!

For players new and old alike, in this thread, you will find anything you wished to know about in-character life in the capital city of Rynmere. Please, read on! This is an incredibly important resource and, as all Prophets will tell you for any city, reading these posts will give you the best insight into the city that you could ask for. Ignorance as an excuse doesn't really fly on this site, especially when you have all the information right at your fingertips, so please read this before beginning your roleplay within the city, and refer to it should you ever have any niggling questions. If there is something you believe is missing, feel free to fling a local Prophet a PM, as we are constantly updating the information available to players!

As well as reading the lore, you should be able to find a lot of information 'Behind The Throne' regarding The Iron Hand, Housing in Rynmere, Noble Houses, and much, much more.

Useful Links

• Storyteller's Office: Pegasus
• Storyteller's Office: Whisper
• Developer's Office: Munchkin
• Advocate's Office: Rumour
• Advocate's Office: Golem
• Site-Wide Rules
• New Player: Starting Guide & Starting Package

[Kingdom]

History

The Symbol of Rynmere

The Ouroboros (or in this case a Jacadon eating its own tail) is the symbol of the Kingdom of Rynmere, significant because the people believe the land is a large sleeping Jacadon (dragon), that curled up and turned to stone after it was defeated by Ser Verne Andaris, the first Knight Lord Commander of Rynmere. To this day, they still fly the flag of the Ouroboros, both within the city and on the battlefield.

Rynmere was discovered and settled around the year 180 and almost fifteen generations of the royal family have held the throne since that time. It goes without saying that the crown has often been challenged and the land ransacked, which led to the building of an army Idalos has never seen before. Knights, Skyriders, and Sailors patrol land, air, and sea day and night to ensure that the city remains unchallenged, as it has since their founding almost two hundred years ago. Of course, Rynmere has always had Knights, a profession held and continued by the first men that ever reached these shores, but the addition of sailors, and especially Skyriders is still in its infancy.

The city itself was built up around a large, mountain of earth, which the people of Rynmere cut to fill in the gaps around the great expanse of stone walls they erected within the first fifty years of construction. Two large moats complete the work of art, and a large, flat barge ferries horse and carts to the main gates, while up on the top level behind the third set of walls a small passenger ferry sails between the castle and the monastery, zipping the royal family and their guests, or guards back and forth. Since its completion in 487, no outside forces have been able to penetrate the city walls. The location of Andaris City was skilfully planned out by Lord Andaris, his War General, Warrick, and his guide Gawyne, to sit high enough to see to the shore and a vast stretch of the surrounding land either side, but also keep it far enough from the beach to avoid direct attack from the sea.

Andaris has seen war, hardship, and lived on the edge of starvation throughout its construction, but today it is home to many different races who all reside in collective peace under one banner and one religion. The city’s laws and military help maintain the peace and the walls that make it possible. Andaris is a vibrant place to live, providing warmth, food, education, shelter, and protection to those who seek it. After one year of living in Andaris, people can apply for residency as long as they have committed no crimes during such time. Residents are able to compete in the annual games, attend the prestigious university, join the army, and start and run their own businesses. Rynmere is a land of opportunity, come make the most of it.

Timeline of Rynmere

178: Rynmere is discovered by a group of men and women numbering some 150 strong.
179: Construction of Andaris City begins.
181: Work on the walls begins.
200: What little progress the people of Rynmere have made on the city is near destroyed by attackers who have sailed from distant lands.
202: Lord Commander Verne Andaris dies from his wounds four months after a successful campaign to kill or enslave any who linger unwelcome in the Kingdom of Rynmere.
211: The Creed of Silence is discovered.
234: Construction of the three walls is complete.
273: The construction of Andar castle is finally finished.
314: Work on the Monastery begins.
320: The city is attacked by foreigners who sailed up river to Lake Krome.
321: A peace bargain is struck with the attacks and broken eleven days later. The people of Krome burn the foreigners ships and reinforcements from Warrick take a trail through the Burning Mountains to flank what remains of their forces.
350: Fort Venora and fort Warrick are established.
372: Fort Krome is established.
420: A pass from Nora’s Rest all the way to Warren’s Peak is discovered.
428: Fort Gawyne is established.
440: Fort Burhan and Endor are established.
448: Watchtowers along the Burning Mountains are constructed to alert distant establishments to the sightings of foreign ships on either coast.
457: The City of Andaris is attacked and the Prince is taken hostage.
459: The Prince is beheaded by his captors and war erupts within the city again.
461: The city is finally reclaimed after a war that lasted almost four years.
473: Work on the city moat begins.
487: The moat is finally complete and water is redirected from the sea across land to fill it.
492: City plumbing redirects waste from the city to the moat. The health benefits are quickly recognised.
504: Plans to build Fighting Pits and a Grand Arena are submitted to the king, work begins the following year.
513: Work on the Fighting Arena is finally complete and games are held in celebration of what will now be an annual event to find The King’s Champion. Many slaves meet their end in the arena.
536: Year of the first Jacadon rider since Verne Andaris. The woman's name is Skye Verath.
572: Darcy Andaris becomes the first king to ever fight in the arena.
618: Fights break out in the streets after Malcolm Luther is named King of Rynmere. After years of the title belonging to those of the Andaris line, people are not happy to see the title of king handed over to a stranger and buildings are burnt to the ground in protest.
663: William Luther, the younger brother of King Owen Luther, is killed after an attempt on the king’s life was made in the city marketplace. William moved to protect his brother Owen and was struck through the neck by an arrow with a golden arrowhead.
671: A Seeker Cell is constructed alongside the university, people are unsure of what this means for the city and tensions remain high.
673: Two rebel leaders of the Seers faction are captured, stoned, and hung after being discovered standing over the body of one of the Seekers.
710: The king and queen’s ship is attacked by pirates and sunk out at sea, leaving their only living son, Cassander, to rule in their place.

Legend

The Legend of Rynmere and The Sacred Seven

The world had burned and from the ashes, the survivors crept forth, starving and blinking at the dawn of a new world. Idalos was young again but a fresh start only meant more bloodshed. Tribes and villages were formed, followed by towns, and later cities until the age of men seemed to thrive once more. An adventurous young man by the name of Verne Andaris, Lord Commander of The First Shields, set sail with his young wife Cynere Venora from where historians believe was located within the central-west part of Idalos, on a ship built by his childhood friend Rahiko Burhan. During their endeavor to find and settle new land to escape the chaos of the new world, Andaris led a small army of men and women on a voyage that many believed would be the death of them.

Excerpt from the journal of H. Warrick.
“Our gracious captain points us north this eve after picking up a stranger from the eastern shores of Idalos. Gawyne, The Half God, some of the men have deemed him, was found wandering along the beach by one of our hunting parties. Andaris has dubbed him Warren, of the shore people, for he tells tales of the earth and great beasts that dwell in the belly of the world. I worry for my friend’s sanity, for Andaris has always been a dreamer, and tonight we look to the sky, chasing this stranger’s fables, searching for a giant Jacadon named Rynmere, lost pet of the gods.”

Andaris and his fleet sailed along the west coast of Rharne, following the Scar in the Sky further and further north until they found the nest of the Jacadon, a floating island hidden above a wall of mist, far from the reach of their ship masts and arrows. Rynmere was nowhere to be seen, and after three days and nights of wild weather, their boats were forced to dock on the rough west coast of Viden, tucked away in a bay behind a small island that sheltered them from the storm.

While exploring the strange shore and hunting to ensure that the army was fed, the earth shook and the sea roared, and from the depths the Jacadon emerged to lay waste to their ships with but a swing of his tail. Andaris and his wardens raced to the beach with their hooks and spears to face the beast. Of their fleet only one ship remained which Andaris and his brave crew sailed under the cloak of the island’s shadow and out to sea where the Jacadon swam through the water like a serpent, only the points of his jagged spine, as big as mountains, in view.

Excerpt from the journal of H. Warrick.
“There were bodies everywhere, the sea was a mess of blood and the mangled remains of our troops. We pulled a young man aboard who had lost one of his arms, I’ve never seen so much blood. The beast rose up out of the sea and blocked out the sun, slamming into the tide where a great torrent of water almost capsized our vessel. We fired at Rynmere with our crossbows and spears, but it was Andaris who brought the serpent down, blinding the creature with a gem he wore around his neck, which saw it crash into the floating isle and fall from the sky to rest in the sea. Shards of broken rock rained from the sky and pierced the heart of the Jacadon, and we watched as the beast coiled about his death, groaned, and turned to stone.”

The remains of the floating island became Sunset Isle, the one and only place Jacadon go to breed, and still to this day call the Isle home, raising their young and protecting the sacred stretch of land with their lives. Every year, keen hopefuls from all across Rynmere flock to the island in the hopes of bonding with a Jacadon, though few are ever successful. The Jacadon will only accept those with a spirited soul, who are brave and true of heart, like Verne Andaris, who is rumoured to be the very first Jacadon rider in all of Idalos. Today, Jacadon riders are called Blazers, fearless men and women that work for The Order of The Sacred Seven.

[Kingdom]

Andaris

Walls: The walls of Andaris City have stood the test of time, defending the city itself for over five hundred years. The secret to its success has been its three tier system. Andaris City itself is surrounded by a large, deep moat at least fifty metres across. The first walls at the base of the hill is a sheer fifteen metre drop straight down into the moat. Earth from the construction of the moat was carried into the city to make sure the first layer sat a metre shy of being level with the outer wall, providing the residents with plenty of sunlight during the winter and a good view of the surrounding landscape.
The first level is home to most of the city’s defence force, stables, and businesses. The second tier saw another fifteen metre high wall of solid stone cut off the next layer of the city from the first, with the ground level raised to fall a metre short of the wall, insuring that children and livestock do not go over the edge to their deaths. This second level is home to most of the city’s families. The third wall surrounds the castle and adjacent monastery. The land here was not raised, instead the cut the top of the hill away to fill the second tier and built high walls around a second moat that protects the castle from siege weaponry. The castle is only accessible by boat, which is guarded at all times by some of the city’s most trusted Knights.
The three walls took over fifty years to complete as the landmass within the walls consists of almost one hundred square acres of land. The Andaris region was all but stripped of stone to see the completion of all three walls and today stone is carted all the way from Venora in order to make repairs and keep the city well maintained. All along the first wall, small towers, called nests, play host to the armies Volareon and Jacadon, offering them a place to take shelter or house them for the knight. An intricate drainage system funnels water from all around the city through hidden pipes under ground and in the walls, where it then flows out of stone carved Jacadon heads into the moat.

Roads: A zigzagged, cobblestone road leads up from the city gates to the second tier and castle gates. A horse and cart can navigate the winding bends with ease, though anything bigger might find it has trouble. Each level of the city has a Main Street that circles the second tier and castle, with smaller roads and pathways stemming from this. Houses are packed together tightly and narrow walkways often make the city feel a lot like a maze. To anyone raised in Andaris, the city is their playground, and more often than not the locals can pick out a stranger in the crowd as they tend to lose their way quite easily. Andaris would make for a thief’s paradise if it weren't for all the Knights posted on patrol, and the residents can rest at ease knowing that the Moseke Knights watch the walls night and day.

Castle: Andar Castle is one of the most beautiful buildings in the Northern Territory of Idalos. The aged, multi-levelled stone and walls dressed with ivy make it easy on the eyes. A single boat ferries the royal family across the moat between the castle and the city’s monastery. Seven tall towers reach skyward from the midsts of the castle, one to represent and fly the flag of each region within Rynmere, and small, narrow windows flood each of the one hundred and forty rooms inside, including the grand hall, throne, and ball room. No less than fifty Knights stand guard day and night, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the first Rynmere bloodlines.

Monastery: The monastery was constructed long after the deaths of the Sacred Seven, in fact none of them ever saw the completion of the city but all have been immortalised in the seven windows that light up this holy place. The windows on either side of the building and one large one at the head see that the wooden floors are bathed in coloured light, each depicting a scene from history. Andaris bringing down the mighty Jacadon, Rynmere, Venora’s knighthood, Warrick slaying the giant, Hunter, from The Burning Mountains, Endor discovering The Lost Labyrinth, Burhan building the first ship that carried the Sacred Seven to the land of Rynmere, Gawyne and The Scar in the sky, and finally, Krome and his three wives, Sacrifice, Justice, and Fate. The building is gothic in style with high, vaulted ceilings that expose the natural beauty of the timber beams supporting the weight of the dark stone walls and single tower.

Rynmere University: The university is almost as old as the city itself. Founded by Rahiko Burhan, the Patron Saint of Knowledge, the university takes up ten square acres of land on the second tier of Andaris City, equal to the amount of land retained within the walls that surround Andar Castle. The university itself stands three stories high and sinks another four into the earth, and has a sports field, a battle arena, a swimming pool, four workshops, its very own morgue, infirmary, library, and miniature animal farm with an on site veterinary clinic.

Fighting Arena: Perhaps one of the oldest traditions in Rynmere, The Fighting Pits have entertained generations for hundreds of years. The arena had just had an overhaul, making it bigger and better than enough, with enough seating to host over four thousand guests. Every year, the king hosts a tournament, with jousters, fighters, and cart racers from all reaches of the seven regions coming along to retry their luck at winning the title of the king’s champion. Once every full moon, slaves are out against each other in a battle to the death, where the winner walks away with his freedom and enough coin to start a life for himself. There is big money to be made in placing bets, making this sport a gamblers paradise.

The Fighting Pits: A place where not so honest people go to make wagers on underground fights between slaves, captives, paid mercenaries, and other unfortunate souls that find themselves pit against their foe here in a fight to the death. The winner makes his master a lot of gold and the loser is swiftly forgotten.

Villages

Journey	Foot	Mount	Caravan	Boat	Air
Andaris - Venora	6 days	3 days	6 days	NA	1 day.
Andaris - Warrick	14 days	7 days	14 days	NA	3.5 days.
Andaris - Krome	8 days	4 days	8 days	NA	2 days.
Andaris - Burhan	28 days	14 days	28 days	5 days	2.5 days
Andaris - Gawyne	12 days	6 days	12 days	NA	3 days.
Andaris - Endor	28 days	14 days	28 days	9 days	4 days

Fort Venora: Nicknamed The Garden Capital of Rynmere, Venora is known for vast fields of fruit trees, grapevines, and endless crops. Venora supplies Rynmere with just under thirty percent of the year’s food trade, shipping goods as far as Endor. The stone outpost is decorated with elegant statues, sweet smelling gardens, and ponds filled with a vast array of interesting and colourful fish. Venora is the region of peace, tranquility, and love.

Fort Warrick: Set amongst the grassy plains at the northernmost point of the Kyo Rover, Fort Warrick is one of the oldest communities in the kingdom. The people of Warrick use a strong mix of sand, lime, water, and stone to build their houses, which are more often than not only one story high, with only the very wealthy building anything higher than that. Farmsteads are scattered right across the region, famous for raising some of the most beautiful horses in all of Rynmere. Most of the people that call Warrick home work as farmers, animal handlers, glass blowers, and hunters, making the most of the long, warm summers and fertile land. Responsible for producing just over fifty percent of the nations food, Warrick is considered one of the most important regions for growing.

Fort Burhan: One of the hardest outposts to get to in all of Rynmere, Burhan is walled off by swamps in the north, Rocky Mountains to the west, and the powerful Avari River and Lake Krome to the south. It's dense woodlands make it hard to traverse and the roads are windy, overgrown, and difficult to navigate. The outpost is stationed deep within the Burhan forest, where a large, single tower stands so tall against the trees it seems to touch the clouds. This is The Heart of Rynmere, a place tucked so deeply within the land, few outsiders have ever set eyes on it and lived to tell the tale. Burhan is connected to the maze of underground tunnels that stretch all the way from Venora in the south, to Gawyne in the north. Its location is tactical, providing enough shelter to house half of Andaris City in times of war. Most of the surrounding dwellings are made of wood, boasting some of the finest log cabins Idalos has ever seen. If one is ever in need of a shipwright or builder, look no further than Burhan.

Fort Endor: A small outpost on Norr Bay oversees the thriving trade business of Endor’s precious stones and metals, though the people of Endor live much, much further down within the mountainous terrain. Over hundreds of years, Endor’s miners have carved their homes in the rock below the mountains, where iron ore is plenty, and there is gold enough to fill one’s boots. Gem-crafters, metal smiths, and masons call this part of the kingdom home, growing fat and rich on the fruits of their labour. The burly men of Endor make their jobs look easy, but this is no place for the faint of heart, where the City of Andaris sends slaves by the boatload to work in the mines: crooks, thieves, and bandits better off put to work than sit rotting in the city’s prison. Endor is also rumoured to host and maintain the most secure bank in all of Rynmere and possibly Idalos, buried deep underground; few know of its exact location.

Fort Gawyne: It it here in the northern most region of Rynmere that troops from all divisions of Rynmere’s Army are sent to train for at least one year of their internship as squires, sea and airmen. Here the weather is bad and the food is worse, pushing every man and woman to their very limits. Fort Gawyne is an outpost made of iron, wood, and stone, that spends most of the year buried under two or three feet snow. Gawyne sons are raised tough, though most of them end up in the Rynmere Navy as U’frek Sailors, spending most of their youth fishing along the rugged North Coast.

Fort Krome: No region knows how to throw a bigger party than the people of Krome, who make the most of their geographical location, utilising the lake and nearby rivers to trade with Burhan and the City of Andaris. Their houses are made of flat stone, piled on on top of the up to make beautiful dome shaped buildings with tall stacks for chimneys and no windows, keeping as much warmth as they possibly can during the cold winter months. They like to brew beer and cider, importing most of their ingredients from the region of Venora, where a lot of Krome’s young people travel to celebrate Nora’s birthday every year. The sons and daughters of Krome have a long, prestigious history serving as the Moseke Knights, and are a very proud people, valuing trust and honour above all else. A deal that ends with a handshake in Krome is said to be stronger than any contract written on paper.

[Kingdom]

Climate

Andaris: Being one of the largest and oldest cities in the north, Andaris relies on its farming community and trade system to keep things running smoothly. The city keeps a large store of grain and it is said that the explorers of Andaris has collected samples from all types of fruits, vegetables, trees, rocks, and animals to keep stored in their research facility under the university. The city experiences mild snowstorms each year, and a thick cover of fog often lingers across the land in the winter, but summers are warm and pleasant with lots of work to be done. Rebirth is a time of celebration, just as it is in the region of Warrick, and it is usually during this season that the rains come, filling up the city moat and revitalising the land.

Venora: Known for its rich, fertile farmlands and sunny vineyards, Venora’s is one of the biggest outposts in all of Rynmere. Winters here are mild with the odd frost from time to time and enough rain to see that the region is green all year round. Summers seem to go on forever, warm and inviting, it's no wonder people from all over Rynmere flock here during the warmer seasons to celebrate Nora’s birthday and make the most of the fine weather. Rebirth is a busy time of year with a lot of Venora's farmers spending time planting their crops and selling the leftover of the winters stores to other regions. In winter, most of the trees and vines are cut back, insuring that they will grow bigger and better the following year.

Warrick: Warrick sees little to no snow in the winter, though the sandy West Coast tends to get battered by the sea and rain. In the summer, the lush, green grass on the plain turns gold, and the strange Wickon Trees, found only in this region of Rynmere and the world of Idalos, lose their small, pointed leaves in trade of a large blue fruit (similar to a persimmon). Rebirth is kind in Warrick with lots of new life and celebration. The region grows many different types of fruit trees on the lower southeast part of the map which spread out all the way into the neighbouring region of Venora. The warmer climate in the south of Rynmere makes Warrick the perfect region to raise livestock and live off the land.

Burhan: Situated in the centre of Rynmere, Burhan hosts the largest density of woodlands in the whole Kingdom. It is bordered by swamps along its northernmost ridge, and walled off by mountains and the river Avari in the south. Burhan sees plenty of snow and frost in winter, when most of their trade focus switches from wood to caribou or moose hide and meat. Most of the buildings in Burhan are made from logs, with the majority of the wood cabins situated in the south near the fort and Avari River, which are heavily fished during the cold winter season. Summers are unbearably humid, as too is the rebirth season. It takes a person strong of will with well honed survival skills to succeed in Burhan, as it is accessible by no roads and completely self reliant.

Endor: Best known for its fishing and metal, is a rugged, harsh environment, suited only to those hard of heart. What land isn't counted as mountain range tends to be rocky, growing little grass, and well suited to goats. Winter sees a lot of heavy snowfall like the neighbouring regions of Gawyne and Krome, but the people are able to keep warm in their mountain dwellings, carved into rock, hundreds of metres deep. Summers are warmer than Gawyne but not quite as kind as Krome, with heat being trapped by the mountains, or rising up from the thermal pools. The coastline is rough, targeted by many Pirates for the precious metals to be found within the mines, but Norr Bay is made up of a fine, pebbly rock, smooth underfoot, but soft in areas. Rebirth is unpredictable, blowing warm one year and cold the next. Houses are kept warm by burning a fire pit in the middle of the living area with underfloor ventilation that sucks heat up through the walls and traps it, warning the area throughout.

Gawyne: As the northernmost region, Gawyne gets a lot of snow, frost, and fog in the winter, and unlike The Burning Mountains, Warren’s Peak is snow capped all year round. The northern coast is rocky with jagged rocks like Jacadon’s teeth rising up out of the sea, making it impossible to dock a ship nearby. All trade is sent by horse and cart, and in the winter when the ground is too thick with snow to get horses in, Skyriders traveling by Volareon fly to the city in order to deliver food supplies and take away exports of unique stone and leather from the outpost. The rebirth season is cold, wet, and frosty, and the summers are mild with just enough heat to grow spinach, carrots and radishes.

Krome: Windswept and beautiful, the region of Krome is battered by the sea in the north and graced by the most stunning lake and rivers in the south. Winters in Krome are cold, wet, and snowy, but being the trade capital of fur, the people of Krome have adapted to the unpredictable seasons. Rebirth is mild and usually sees a lot of rain, and summers are warm but windy. The North Coast is rocky, hence the shipwrecks in Pathos Bay, and the East Coast is very akin to the pebble like stones found in Endor, later blending into long sandy beaches further south close to Zor River. During the height of winter, most of Lake Krome freezes over, putting a halt to the Burhan river trade.

Surroundings

Overview: Rynmere looks southeast for expansion, less concerned about the icelands of the north and cities in the west that are separated from them via long journeys are sea. The east and central regions of Idalos are considered good farming lands by the people of Rynmere, and therein lies their plans to conquer all.

Viden: Rynmere has no intention of becoming king of the ice, and for the most part has left Viden’s shores untouched, save for the odd piece of land they have started farming in recent years east of Andaris city across the water. As the population slowly grows, food is becoming more and more of an issue, forcing Rynmere to look outwards and forge new alliances.

Rharne: Rynmere often imports goods from Rharne as it is a reasonably small trade city, sending them precious metals in return that the city struggles to access as easily in its surrounding lands. Rynmere’s young king has plans to take over Rharne and use the land for farming but wishes to start a family first and sire an heir before these notions are acted upon.

Cahryst: Rynmere has long had people working within Cahryst to foster a good working relationship. With their plans to take over Rharne someday, Rynmere sees Cahryst, which is a small city, as a stepping stone and intends to take over and establish a base for its vast army there. From there they believe taking Rharne will be all too easy and have already started recruiting the locals, training them in the art of swordsmanship.

[Kingdom]

Demographics

Population of Rynmere: 19.3 million people.
63% Human
12% Biqaj
10% Mixed
8% Sev'ryn
7% Other

Regional Population (registered citizens, traders, and slaves)

Andaris 7.4 million
Venora 2.8 million
Warrick 3.9 million
Burhan 2.2 million
Krome 1.7 million
Gawyne 0.8 million
Endor 1.3 million

Religion

The Sacred Seven: Unlike the majority of Idalos, who worship the immortals, the people of Rynmere continue to idealise the first men, and women, of Rynmere, placing mortals above immortals, and following the rules and age old traditions set and agreed upon by the Sacred Seven, a practice that has gone on for hundreds of years.

Beliefs and Values: Rynlism
The people of Rynmere honour the memory of their founding forefathers by keeping their seven virtues alive in a practice called Rynlism. A Rynlist is any man, woman, or child, of any race, who believes in and lives by the word in the Creed of Silence, which highlights the Seven Virtues.

Fate: The Sacred Seven are often referred to as ‘The Fates’. Though many Ryns do believe in the immortals, the majority choose not to acknowledge them, instead attributing positive or negative experiences to ‘fate’. A house burns down, riverbanks break and water floods the fields, or a man loses his hand in battle, is all fate. If a woman gets pregnant after years of trying without success, a person is left a lot of money in a will they weren’t expecting, or something finally goes right for someone, this too is fate. After all, Ryns believe that the spirits of the dead sometimes linger and watch over them, just as they believe the Sacred Seven supposedly still reside and watch over the people and land of Rynmere.

Scripture: The Creed of Silence
No one knows who first wrote the Creed of Silence, though it is believed all of the Sacred Seven put forth their beliefs and values to be published in the book. It is said that Gawyne, who mysteriously disappeared after visiting the caves of Warren’s Peak, left the book to be found, which Burhan had helped him write both in Rakahi and the Common language. Discovery, loyalty, conquest, memory, justice, knowledge, and perseverance are the seven virtues highlighted in the ancient text. Under the heading of each virtue is a collection of stories and acts undertaken by the Sacred Seven which are designed to help people through hardship and help them make the right life decisions.

The Seven Virtues:
Thou shalt Discover. (Andaris, Patron Saint of Travel)
Thou shalt not Betray. (Venora, Patron Saint of Honour)
Thou shalt Conquer. (Warrick, Patron Saint of War)
Thou shalt not Forget. (Krome, Patron Saint of Death)
Thou shalt be Just. (Endor, Patron Saint of Justice)
Thou shalt seek Knowledge. (Burhan, Patron Saint of Knowledge)
Thou shalt Endure. (Gawyne, Patron Saint of Life)

Rynlism Monks
The monks are overseen by the Empress, a religious figure voted into power by the seven Dukes and Duchesses of Rynmere Kingdom. The Empress is in charge of the day to day running of the Monastery while the monks act as teachers, preachers, and caretakers of the monastery and surrounding grounds. All monks are considered peaceful, holy figures with the city and are often treated with the utmost respect by the people of Rynmere. There are four levels to becoming a monk, Observer, Obeyer, Brother, and finally Monk. The main perk of being a monk is that they get to live for free in the monastery accommodation, they don't pay any seasonal expenses or taxes, and they are the only people in Rynmere that can use Arcane without a permit.

Monk: Meditation (50), Writing (50), Storytelling (40), Singing (40), Arcane of choice (30), Teaching (20), Musical Instrument (10), and five languages.
Servant: Meditation (40), Writing (40), Storytelling (30), Singing (30), Arcane of choice (20), Teaching (10), and four languages.
Obeyer: Meditation (30), Writing (30), Storytelling (20), Singing (20), Arcane of choice (10), and three languages.
Observer: Meditation (20), Writing (20), Storytelling (10), Singing (10), and two languages.

Holidays

Nora’s Birthday: On the third day of Ashan people from all across Rynmere gather at the foot of Nora’s Rest to celebrate the birthday of the first queen of Rynmere. Nora was beloved by all and her kindness and generosity has echoed through the ages. Some say Nora was a witch with the ability to see things unfold long before they took place, though many laugh at this notion, stating that if she had such gifts, why then was she unable to foresee her untimely death at the young age of twenty two. Nora had twin boys and all twins are celebrated on this day. While the third of Ashan is a day of enjoyment and rest for most, sharing wine and fond stories, this day also sees a faction called The Seers rise up from their underground dwellings, climbing the mountain to the vineyards with the rest of the partygoers in secret to preform an age old ritual that is seldom discovered by authorities before it is too late.

The First Hunt: An age old tradition started by Henry Warrick, who during the rebirth season would go out with a team of hunters in search of the biggest buck, bear, or wolf they could find. The meat of this animal was often gifted to the less fortunate and the pelt would be expertly preserved as a gift for esteemed guests visiting his home. These days every region is Rynmere takes part in the hunt, tracking, trapping, and hunting down the biggest animal they can find, and making sure nothing from their kill goes to waste; even the bones are boiled, dried, and used for carving, medicines, rituals, and other crafts.

The Sacred Seven: On the first day of Ymiden (summer), the people of Rynmere honour The Sacred Seven, when the founders of Rynmere are celebrated for their discovery, loyalty, conquest, memory, justice, knowledge, and perseverance, but this is not a day of feasts, instead all Rynlists across the land who believe in the values of the Creed of Silence go without speaking or eating for the entire day in order to pay homage to their saints, Andaris, Venora, Warrick, Krome, Burhan, Endor, and Gawyne. Most businesses are closed on this day and people are free to stay home from school and work without fear of reprimand. On this day Andaris City and many of the regional outposts resemble a ghost town.

The Scar in the Sky: During the height of summer in Saun the scar in the sky symbolises the hatching season of the Jacadon and can last up to two weeks. During this time the sky seems to get darker of an evening and takes a long time to lighten in the morning. Even on a moonless night one can still see the big, red scar in the sky, which is said to have pointed to the initial location of Rynmere, the giant Jacadon shot out of the sky by The First Shields. People are forbidden from climbing the slopes of Sunset Isle during this time as anyone who attempts such is sure to be quickly eradicated by one of the parent Jacadons guarding their nests and newborn hatchlings. The Great Climb takes place at the end of winter, when young Jacadon are old enough to fend for themselves, though many remain with their parents for much longer than this. Skyriders from all over Rynmere gather at this time to climb the cliffs and attempt to form a bond with a young Jacadon in the hopes of one day taking to the skies on the back of the great winged beasts.

Winter Mist Festival: Celebrating the first snow isn't to everyone's tastes, but the people of Rynmere understand that everything has a season, and with the snow comes the promise of new life. Planning for the masquerade takes place before the first snow and is swiftly celebrated come the eve of the first light dusting on the northern peaks of Endor and Gawyne. Many couplings are formed during this time, when young people get together and dance the night away to good music, with only Venora’s best wine in hand. Prizes are given every year to the best dressed, and most creative masks on show.

Marriage & Divorce

Arranged marriages within noble lines are very common in Rynmere and often women don’t have a choice regarding who they marry, especially if their parents or even grandparents find a suitable match for them before they do. It is not unusual for two people to wed without ever having previously crossed paths, and couples generally begin their journey together as man and wife as complete strangers. Though love is not always formed within these sorts of arrangements, a strong working relationship is typically built over the years (arcs) as divorce is out of the question, in fact it doesn’t even exist within the Kingdom of Rynmere.

Rules of engagement are simple, with no women under the age of fifteen and not men younger than seventeen being permitted to marry, the only obvious exception being the king. Unlike other territories across Idalos, it is the male’s side of the arrange who must put their best foot forward, offering a handsome dowry of a sum amounting to no less than one thousand gold nels, or a house on an acre of land. A woman has no power to refuse a noble suitor if their parents are in agreement and the terms of their exchange are met.

After arrangements are made a public notice is put up in the city and any local newspapers in order to ensure that there are no grounds for prohibiting the binding, a close blood relation, existing spouses, children, debt, or religious vow all to be acknowledged by family or members of the public who might know more details. If the terms are agreeable and no nasty rumours come forward, the wedding date is set and the marriage goes ahead as planned, however, if there are grounds for concern the parents have the power to call off the wedding with the other party publically shamed for their misdeeds.

Under two Virtues of the Seven (thou shalt not betray, and thou shalt endure), there are no grounds for divorce for the noble or common man, including heinous acts of rape, adultery, and even incest. Taking a barren wife (for it is always believed to be the female at fault), is no excuse for a marriage to be dissolved, and couples are expected to live under the same roof for the rest of their days. Even those forced to endure a torturous binding dare not speak of what they suffer, for if any ill fate were to befall one of them, the other would be suspected of arranging their murder and spend the next season in the dungeon awaiting a (un)fair trial, where they are later put to death by way of hook, blade, hanging, or fire, depending on several factors including the method in which their spouse was slain.

For a noble, marriage cannot take place in a season with an odd amount of days (trials), or during fasting in Cylus, both of which are considered extremely bad luck. This means all weddings take place in the season of Saun, the hottest part of the year (arc). Commoners, on the other hand, are able to get married during any season bar Cylus. Treasures are exchanged during the ceremony, and though these have traditionally been family heirlooms, rings, or swords, it is up to the individuals involved to choose what it is they gift the other, with men going all out to outdo their forefathers, siblings, and friends.

After the wedding, the couple are locked in a room for three nights, with no food, but access to water and sweets. It is believed that during this time the marriage will be consummated with even the bitterest of rivals emerging as two bodies now one of mind. In the event of a second marriage (obtainable only by commoners), often viewed as a sign of wealth outside of noble lines, this tradition is forfeited in the belief that only one marriage can be sacred, even while a second is and sometimes must be tolerated.

The Ceremony

The ceremony of marriage is rumoured to have started with the original wedding of the Sacred Seven and has only been slightly adjusted over time.

The Seas and Rivers of Rynmere are important to its people. In coastal regions, (all bar Burhan) it would be highly unusual if the wedding did not take place on a beach. In Burhan they take place on the banks of the Avari River. The only exception to this rule is for Nobility who marry in the Temple in Andaris, beside an impressive water feature that has water falling through seven small pools before pumped back to the top through a feat of engineering ingenuity. The seven pools represent the original Sacred Seven.

Nobility and Commoners alike have a tendency to wear their best clothing to the celebration. There is no traditional colour for Brides or Grooms to wear, however in recent years fashion has tended toward Greens in the wedding party, symbolic of new life and hopeful fertility.

All Ryns, either by themselves or by their ancestors have arrived on the island by boat. A couple seek to enter a marriage with the past left behind, which is symbolised by the burning of a small wooden boat. This is the beginning of the ceremony.

The couple will then exchange a single promise and request with each other. Suggested wording is: ‘What I ask of you, I promise in return…’ with both participants able to choose their promise. Promises such as love, and fidelity are strongly encouraged, though something as simple as protection or adventure is sometimes sworn.

Once promises are exchanged, the couple share a cup of wine, the celebration can begin!
Here is where the divide in Noble and Common weddings becomes apparent as Noble houses tend to host a mighty feast in their region in celebration. However, for all others, wedding guests traditionally bring a plate of food or a bottle of wine to be shared at the celebration. This would usually be when the couple privately exchange a gift.

For any wedding to be valid and legal there must be a minimum of three witnesses. One witness should be a person of ‘good standing’. A member of nobility, a master craftsperson or a member of the Iron Hand ranked as a Captain or higher. It is the responsibility of the three witnesses, led by the person of ‘good standing’ to ensure that the marriage is registered in the regions public records. Traditionally, the three witnesses are ‘a thinker, a maker, and a fighter’ with the hope that no matter what obstacles arise, they are able to find a way around them in order to register the marriage. It is generally believed that at the wedding of Ser Verne Andaris and Lady Cyrene Venora, Warren Gawyne was the original thinker, Rahiko Burhan the maker, and Henry Warrick the fighter, but this discussion fuels great debates on the subject and is a popular argument among wedding guests.

Once the celebration has ended, the couple is traditionally locked in a room for three nights, with no food, but access to water and sweets. In the event of a second marriage (obtainable only by commoners), this tradition is forfeited. After they emerge (or after three trials), it is the first task of the couple to ensure that the marriage is rightfully recorded.

The ceremony itself recognizes the importance of all elements of Idalos, water by its location, fire by the burning of the boat, air by the promises made, and earth in the wine that is taken. Those who believe in ancient Immortals may also include a final addition to the ceremony in which they toast the Immortals before sharing the cup of wine.

Food

The people of Rynmere have hunted and lived off the land for generations and to this day their diets consist of what they are able to hunt and gather, supplemented by foods that can be produced in the city that they might not be able to acquire within any of the regional outposts, such as cakes, pastries, and specialised long life goods. For the most part fruits, vegetables, dried or fresh meat, and grains make up the majority of what the average person will eat. Flour is not rare, but sugar is an imported ingredient and as such is used sparingly. Sea salt is often used for the flavoring of savory dishes.

Music

Rynmere is best known for the masterful use of the ‘Hang Drum’ also known as the ‘Space Drum’ to many. It is often played at ceremonies, festivals, celebrations, or just in the busy marketplace to keep people entertained and maybe make a few extra copper nels on the side. The flute, war drums, and harp are among some of the other most popular instruments in the Kingdom of Rynmere. People who posses the skill to play a musical instrument are often held in high regard within Andaris City, a place where knowledge and improving one’s self through the advancement of any art or trade is highly respected.

Language

Common is the most commonly spoken language across Rynmere with Rakahi placing a close second. Children are taught both languages in school, though it is not uncommon to meet someone who only speaks a single language and there are opportunities for work as an interpreter within some of the local businesses.

• Slang:

• Hay fever: a term that can be used as both an insult, and an endearment of sorts. It means that someone is excited over something to the point of silliness/insanity/stupidity. It implies that whoever has "hay fever" is running around half cocked, and babbling to all who will listen about whatever idea holds them in thrall, much to the amusement or irritation of those around them.
  
  Credit: Lei'lira

[Kingdom]

Education

Schooling: Most children attend the local school for free from the age of seven, leaving by the time they are fourteen. Some families choose to homeschool their children, both options being highly respected in the city. Education is important to the people of Rynmere and all children are expected to undergo some form of schooling. The public school is run by Monks.

Rynmere University: The Andaris University holds some of the oldest documents and relics in Idalos. Countless documents have been restored, transcribed, or protected for future generations to enjoy. One of the most famous artifacts on record is the journal of H. Warrick, an original member of the Sacred Seven.
Fees: Tuition to attend Rynmere University starts at 600 gold nels a year, costing an extra 600 gold nels for those seeking to familiarise themselves in the arcane arts (theoretical knowledge only). For this price, students can pick one of the arcane arts to study (and gain knowledges for). These prices cover tuition only, accommodation and other expenses are to be arranged and covered by the student or their family. The onsite residence hall costs 2sn a night for students paying to attend the university.
Loans: Citizens of Rynmere Kingdom can apply for educational loans of up to 1000 gold nels a year. They will then have one year in which to repay the money before they can apply for a second loan of 2000 nels. Though the loan amount increases, the time in which they have to repay the money does not. If the participant passes all of their chosen classes the loan remains interest free, if however they fail any of their classes, they must pay an additional 5% in interest on the total value of the loan (on top of the 15% interest they already pay).
Scholarships: Each region offers a scholarship once a year to the highest achieving student from their region. This covers a year’s tuition at Rynmere University in Andaris City, excluding the costs of for learning the arcane arts. (Players with 50 skill points in their chosen academic area of expertise can apply for a scholarship from their home region).
Knights: Upon receiving a knighthood, knights get one academic subject free for one year in which they can attend lectures, classes, and demonstrations free of charge. (Must be earned - character starts as squire).

Employment

Work Ethic: Everyone in Rynmere is expected to work from the age of fifteen to sixty-five unless they are furthering their education. There are no handouts in the Kingdom of Rynmere and anyone who can't provide for themselves or their family is sent to work on a farm or in the mines as a last alternative. Military personnel are allowed to retire at the age of fifty while everyone else is expected to work at least fifteen years longer.

Andaris: Blacksmith, Knight, Monk, Lady in Waiting, Farmer, Courtesan, Baker, Merchant, Squire, Fishermen, Bard, Doctor, Groom, Teacher, Scribe, Poet, Tax Collector, Jailor
Venora: Fishermen, Hatmaker, Piper, Farmer, Herbalist, Beekeeper, Gardener, Artist, Dancer, Musician, Dairymaid
Warrick: Huntsman, Farmer, Weaponsmith, Tanner, Fletcher, Farmer, Animal Handler, Butcher, Saddler, Bowyer
Burhan: Shipwright, Arborist, Architect, Builder, Archer, Falconer, Bandit, Carpenter,
Endor: Miner, Metalsmith, Gem Cutter, Armorsmith, Pirate, Banker
Gawyne: Philosopher, Teacher, Pioneer, Sailor, Ropemaker
Krome: Brewer, Fishermen, Mason, Scout, Cobbler

Economy

Seasonal Expenses: Everyone must pay living expenses (known as tax) once a season (every two months). These costs include the 4% tax to the King of Rynmere of your wages is 'commoner' or higher.

Beggar x 0.00
Poor x 0.05
Commoner x 0.10
Luxury x 0.15
Aristocracy x 0.20

Taxes: Everyone living in Rynmere (of a common or higher wage) pays 4% of their overall seasonal wage to the royal family in order to ensure that roads are maintained, troops are well cared for, doctor visits are subsidized, and the elderly are looked after.

Imports:
Andaris: Slaves, leather, sugar, stone, metal, and livestock.
Venora: Timber, gems, metal, and livestock.
Warrick: Timber, armour, and medicines.
Burhan: Wheat, metal, and cider.
Endor: Food, leather, timber, and paper.
Gawyne: Food, medicines, livestock, and timber.
Krome: Food, metal, and slaves.

Exports:
Andaris: Books, corn, wheat, salt, pumpkin, medicines, cheese, and cattle.
Venora: Dried corn, potatoes, black pepper, honey, cotton, barley, wheat, carrots, walnuts, peanuts, pumpkin, and wine.
Warrick: Furs, horses, honey, pelts, clothing, leather, bows, cured meats, and rope.
Burhan: Timber, boats, rice, straw, gold, and paper.
Endor: Iron, silver, copper, precious metals, gems, armour, shields, swords, axes, rock, and slaves.
Gawyne: Leather, rare stone, bone carvings, and timber.
Krome: Beer, cider, furs, and cheese.

[Kingdom]

Government

Dukes: Each region in Rynmere is governed by a Duke, who oversees all of the dealings that go on in and around the outpost. These Dukes and Duchesses are summoned to Andaris City to sit in court at Andar Castle, sending a representative (Baron) in their place if they cannot attend. It is a Dukes job to advise the king and keep him informed as to the happenings in each region. Dukes are treated like generals and have their own forces to command, ensuring that their assigned region is kept trouble free.

Emperor and Empress: The Emperor once held the position of Duke and was more than likely voted into power by his peers. The Emperor is in charge of overseeing city business such as taxes, education, trade, and city planning, while the Empress oversees the running of the monastery. Despite the titles, the two are never related as before becoming Empress of Rynmere, any girl picked for the task is one that had dedicated her life to the beliefs and values of Rynlism, often working at one of the shrines dedicated to each region. The Empress is not permitted to marry or ever lie with another person, be it man or woman, as she is viewed as pure, holy, and untouchable. An Emperor on the other hand is usually married with many sons and has a good mind for business.

King and Queen: The strongest title known to man, the King of Rynmere is all powerful, loved, and respected. He alone commands what goes on inside and outside of Rynmere regarding religion, law, land ownership, and the movement and whereabouts of his vast army, including the Moseke Knights, U’frek Sailors, and Xiur Skyrifers. He works closely with The Lord Commander, and has the final say in all things.

History of the Royal Family

I. ♔ Nora Warrick (nee Andaris)
m. Henry Warrick II
-Brom Warrick
-Ramsay Warrick
Ruled between 197 and 218

II. ♔ Ramsay Warrick
m. Judith Warrick (nee Burhan)
-Alice Warrick
-James Warrick
-Victoria Warrick
Ruled between 219 and 250
Note: Alice Warrick ran away with a commoner and was stripped of her title as Princess of Rynmere, and James Warrick died fighting bandits in The Burning Mountains.

III. ♔ Victoria Endor (nee Warrick)
m. Edward Endor
-Dedrick Endor
-Edwin Endor
Ruled between 251 and 302

IV. ♔ Dedrick Endor
m. Cyrus Endor (nee Gawyne)
-Leonide Endor
Ruled from 303 to 348

V. ♔ Leonide Vladimir (nee Endor)
m. Victor Vladimir
-Royce Vladimir
Ruled from 349 to 354
Notes: Victor murdered his wife after planning to rule the Kingdom of Rynmere until his son came of age. Unfortunately, the boy never got the chance as Oberon Andaris, descendant of Verne Andaris, killed Victor, known to most as 'The Common King' and his son Royce before taking the throne for himself with the blessing of the people and the Dukes of Rynmere.

VI. ♔ Oberon Andaris
m. Lacey Andaris (nee Burhan)
-Philip Andaris
-Sarah Andaris
-Jonathan Andaris
-Jethro Andaris
Ruled from 355 to 411
Note: Philip Andaris died in action and young Sarah passed away due to illness before her tenth birthday.

VII. ♔ Jonathan Andaris
m. Ira Andaris (nee Warrick)
-Minos Andaris
Ruled from 412 to 429
Note: Queen Ira died giving birth to Minos Andaris.

VIII. ♔ Minos Andaris
m. Mary Andaris (nee Krome)
-Godric Andaris
-Emmett Andaris
Ruled from 430 to 472
Note: Prince Godric is taken hostage and later killed by his captives.

IX. ♔ Emmett Andaris
m. Judith Andaris (nee Endor)
-Hector Andaris
-Bennett Andaris
Ruled from 473 to 528

X. ♔ Hector Andaris
m. Chloe Andaris (nee Gawyne)
-Caius Andaris
-Darcy Andaris
Ruled from 529 to 570
Note: Caius is mysteriously poisoned two nights before his arranged marriage.

XI. ♔ Darcy Andaris
m. Odette Andaris (nee Kornel)
-Vanessa Andaris
Ruled from 571 to 617

XII. ♔ Vanessa Luther (nee Andaris)
m. Craig Luther
-Owen Luther
-William Luther
Ruled 618 to 655

XIII. ♔ Owen Luther
m. Estelle Luther (nee Tudor)
-Adele Luther
Ruled from 656 to 687

XIV. ♔ Adele Renault (nee Luther)
m. Stephen Renault
-Cassander Renault
Ruled from 688 to 710
Note: Adele and Stephen's ship sunk out at sea after being set upon by pirates. Their only son Cassander, now fifteen (as of Ashan 22nd 716) is set to rule in their place, and is betrothed to a much older woman, Freya Sail, twenty-six.

XV. ♔ Cassander Renault
m. Freya Renault (nee Sail)
Ruled from 711--

Ceremony: When one ruler steps down, passes away, or is forced to give up the title of rulership, a new ruler cannot rise to power before the first day of rebirth (1st Cylus). It is considered extremely unlucky to take the throne before this time, a ceremony that is favoured by the people of Rynmere. There is no age restriction, a king or queen can be as young or old as fortunes permit, but any ruler under the age of twenty and over the age of seventy is guided by the seven dukes and a majority vote must be passed in order for any action to be taken, the king’s closest advisors, however, remains the Knight Lord Commander, Emperor, and Empress of Rynmere.

Combative Force

Titles

King and Queen: The rulers of Rynmere, an inherited title passed on from one generation to the next.
To be addressed as: "Your Royal Majesty" and thereafter "Your Majesty"
Crown Prince and Princess: Future rulers of Rynmere, inherited through the bloodlines of royal families.
To be addressed as: "Your Royal Highness" and thereafter "Your Highness"
Prince and Princess Consort: The spouse of a crown prince or princess.
To be addressed as: "Your Highness"
Emperor and Empress: The rulers of Rynmere law, not an inherited role, are elected into the power by the Ducal Senate. Both are simply addressed by their given titles Emperor and Empress.
Duke and Duchess: A keeper of a duchy, their spouse, or the offspring of a prince and princess.
To be addressed as: "Your Grace"
Baron and Baroness: The holder of a large farmstead or tract of land, their spouse, or the offspring of a duke and duchess.
To be addressed as: "My Baron/Baroness" or "My Great Lord / Lady" and thereafter "My Lord / Lady"

Military Ranks and Advancements

Moseke Knight Ranks

Knight Lord Commander: The Lord Commander is the highest ranking knight in Rynmere, a position currently held by Thomas Endor. Thomas Endor is in charge of Rynmere’s army and naval fleet, answering directly to the king.
Lord: Golden Shield. An honoured title for a knight who has seen war and defended the realm. Knights honoured with this award are gifted land in the region of their choice (up to ten acres) and offered the title of baron/baroness. These men and women oversee larger armies anywhere from 100 to 1000 strong.
Warden: Four Swords. Charged with overseeing smaller armies of at least one hundred men. A warden answers to the Duke that oversees their region, or any higher ranking officers.
Captain: Three swords. Oversees a group of ten knight stewards, usually tasked with watch duties or small missions. (Players can make up to ten NPC knights).
Steward: Two swords. Tasked with taking care of new knights, teaching them the ropes and leading small patrols, usually in the city or any one of the outposts. (players make five NPC knights for their group)
Knight: One sword. Any man or woman who has earned a knighthood.
Squire: A person training to one day become a knight, usually ages between 15 and 22 years old. These young men and women are trained by knights and stewards.

Moseke Knights (Knights are usually from Krome, Andaris, and Venora. Knights are the only men and women who can work their way up to the rank of Knight Lord Commander).

Knight Lord Commander: Moderated Thread & Voted into power by the Dukes.
Don't Pay Rynmere Tax

[columns=2]Melee Combat (90)
Investigation (80)
Mount (70)
Shield (60)
Tactics (50)
Leadership (40)
Interrogation (30)
Stealth (20)
Siege Weaponry (10)

Ranged Combat (90)
Investigation (80)
Mount (70)
Unarmed Combat (60)
Tactics (50)
Leadership (40)
Interrogation (30)
Stealth (20)
Siege Weaponry (10)[/columns]
Lord
Don't Pay Rynmere Tax

[columns=2]Melee Combat (80)
Investigation (70)
Mount (60)
Shield (50)
Tactics (40)
Leadership (30)
Interrogation (20)
Stealth (10)

Ranged Combat (80)
Investigation (70)
Mount (60)
Unarmed Combat (50)
Tactics (40)
Leadership (30)
Interrogation (20)
Stealth (10)[/columns]
Warden: Moderated Thread
Don't Pay Rynmere Tax

[columns=2]Melee Combat (70)
Investigation (60)
Mount (50)
Shield (40)
Tactics (30)
Leadership (20)
Interrogation (10)

Ranged Combat (70)
Investigation (60)
Mount (50)
Unarmed Combat (40)
Tactics (30)
Leadership (20)
Interrogation (10)[/columns]
Captain

[columns=2]Melee Combat (60)
Investigation (50)
Mount (40)
Shield (30)
Tactics (20)
Leadership (10)

Ranged Combat (60)
Investigation (50)
Mount (40)
Unarmed Combat (30)
Tactics (20)
Leadership (10)[/columns]
Steward: Moderated Thread

[columns=2]Melee Combat (50)
Investigation (40)
Mount (30)
Shield (20)
Tactics (10)

Ranged Combat (50)
Investigation (40)
Mount (30)
Unarmed Combat (20)
Tactics (10)[/columns]
Knight

[columns=2]Melee Combat (40)
Investigation (30)
Mount (20)
Shield (10)

Ranged Combat (40)
Investigation (30)
Mount (20)
Unarmed Combat (10)[/columns]
Squire

[columns=2]Melee Combat (30)
Investigation (20)
Mount (10)

Ranged Combat (30)
Investigation (20)
Mount (10)[/columns]

U’frek Sailor Ranks

Admiral: Golden Cross. Awarded with a Tall Ship, admirals command a fleet of ten Galleons, each manned by their own lieutenant. Admirals answer only to the Knight Lord Commander or the King of Rynmere.
Lieutenant: Four gold stars. Answer to the Duke that oversees their region, or any higher ranking officers. Awarded with a Galleon ship, overseeing a crew of 50 to 100 men.
Captain: Three gold stars. Responsible for a crew ten men strong. (Players can make up to ten NPC officers and are awarded with a two mast Schooner). Must answer to Lieutenant.
Officer: Two silver stars. In charge of five seamen. (players make five NPC knights for their group). Must answer to Captain.
Seaman: A man or woman who had earned their first silver star.
Recruit: Squire equivalent, generally aged between 15 and 22 years old. These recruits are trained by Seamen and Officers.

U’frek Sailors (Sailors are usually from Burhan and Gawyne).

Admiral: Voted into power by the Dukes.
Don't Pay Rynmere Tax

Seafaring (90)
Swimming (80)
Ranged Combat (70)
Navigation (60)
Siege Weaponry (50)
Leadership (40)
Tactics (30)
Cartography (20)
Melee Combat (10)

Lieutenant: Moderated Thread
Don't Pay Rynmere Tax

Seafaring (80)
Swimming (70)
Ranged Combat (60)
Navigation (50)
Siege Weaponry (40)
Leadership (30)
Tactics (20)
Cartography (10)

Captain

Seafaring (70)
Swimming (60)
Ranged Combat (50)
Navigation (40)
Siege Weaponry (30)
Leadership (20)
Tactics (10)

Officer: Moderated Thread

Seafaring (50)
Swimming (40)
Ranged Combat (30)
Navigation (20)
Siege Weaponry (10)

Seaman

Seafaring (40)
Swimming (30)
Ranged Combat (20)
Navigation (10)

Recruit

Seafaring (30)
Swimming (20)
Ranged Combat (10)

Xiur Skyrider Ranks

General: Golden Wings. Awarded the title of ‘Blazer’ and permission to visit Sunset Isle in the attempt of forming a bond with one of the Jacadon, Generals command a wing of 100 to 1000 Volareon fighters. Generals only answer to the Knight Lord Commander and the King of Rynmere.
Colonel: Four wings. Answers to the Duke that oversees their region, or any higher ranking officers. They oversee a wing of 50 to 100 men.
Captain: Three wings. Responsible for a wing ten men strong. (Players can make up to ten NPC officers and are awarded with a full set of armour). Must answer to Colonel.
Major: Two wings. In charge of five Sergeants. (Players make five NPC knights for their group and are awarded with their first Volareon)
Sergeant: One wing. A man or woman who has earned their first silver wing.
Airman: Squire equivalent, generally aged between 15 and 22 years old. Airmen are trained by Sergeants and Majors.

Xiur Skyriders (Skyriders are usually from Endor and Warrick)

General: Voted into power by the Dukes.
Don't Pay Rynmere Tax

Ranged Combat (90)
Animal Husbandry (80)
Mount (70)
Animal Training (60)
Investigation (50)
Leadership (40)
Navigation (30)
Stealth (20)
Tactics (10)

Colonel: Moderated Thread
Don't Pay Rynmere Tax

Ranged Combat (80)
Animal Husbandry (70)
Mount (60)
Animal Training (50)
Investigation (40)
Leadership (30)
Navigation (20)
Stealth (10)

Captain

Ranged Combat (70)
Animal Husbandry (60)
Mount (50)
Animal Training (40)
Investigation (30)
Leadership (20)
Navigation (10)

Major: Moderated Thread

Ranged Combat (50)
Animal Husbandry (40)
Mount (30)
Animal Training (20)
Investigation (10)

Sergeant

Ranged Combat (40)
Animal Husbandry (30)
Mount (20)
Animal Training (10)

Airman

Ranged Combat (30)
Animal Husbandry (20)
Mount (10)

Law

No Theft: Fines of up to 20 gold nels for minor theft and a larger fine of up to 200 gold nels plus jail time for major theft. Minor their might be a loaf of bread, a person’s satchel, or an unguarded pet. If the knights manage to track the thief down and the item or animal is returned safely, the crime will result in little more than a fine. Larger thefts, such as cleaning out a person’s house, business, or stealing their wagon loaded with goods and two horses will not only land the thief with a large fine up to two hundred nel, but also get them thrown in the dungeon until there is time for them to plead their case in court. This was can anything from a few trials to a full season, and time spent in a dark, dingy old cell is no holiday.
No Murder: Anyone caught at the scene of the crime will have to prove their innocence at trial or hang for their crime. Rynmere takes murder very seriously and in most cases a team of Knights or Skyriders will be sent to the crime scene to investigate the area, interview suspects and witnesses, and collect evidence (weapons, bloody clothing, letters, etc). A lot of innocent people have been killed for crimes they didn't commit because proving one's innocence is very difficult in Rynmere, especially if they can't afford a good representative to argue their case.
No Factions: Illegal groups such as The Seers are hunted down and thrown in jail or forced into manual labour. Setting up, running, or funding an Illegal group or organisation in Rynmere is against the law. Smuggling rings, factions, and underworld dealings are more often than not put to an end with many people jailed or sent to the Endor Mines to work as slaves. Sentences at the mines lasts anywhere from five to twenty arcs, though most people don’t usually live that long due to the conditions. Anyone found to be affiliated with these factions can also be charged and often do time in the local dungeons.
No Piracy: Each region has a small fleet of patrol ships moving back and forth along the coasts, any pirate ships will be fired upon. The sea in the north is very rough and the coast is jagged, plagued with impassable rocks and hidden dangers. The northern coast is littered with shipwrecks and only the best sailors are able to navigate the seas here. To the west Endor is the only port and is often attacked by pirates looking to raid and hunt for precious metals. In the east the coast is easy to access but heavily patrolled by The Iron Hand on land, air, and sea. To the south Warrick and Venora are fairly easy to access and Warrick has less patrols than Andaris but pirates should watch out for Skyriders and their Jacadons who have the ability to melt a man’s flesh from his bones with powerful, hot steam.
No Arcane: Residents must apply for a permit in order to use the arcane of their choice. Permits cost one hundred gold nel per season and allows citizens to use Arcana in private, practicing and honing their craft. Public use of their chosen art could land them with a fine and get their permit revoked which will have them put on a blacklist for the next two arcs. The only people who are allowed to use arcane magic in public are mage knights and members of The Seekers. The people of Rynmere have a low tolerance for magic and of those who use it. The Seekers are not well liked and made to feel uncomfortable, especially regarding recent events where bodies of mages have been found dead in and around the capital city.
No Assault: Be it sexual or otherwise, the punishment is jail time or work in the Endor Mines. Physical and sexual assault in Rynmere is treated quite seriously, even in the case of slave versus owner. House slaves are to be treated as one would any other citizen in Rynmere and any accusations are investigated. The charges for physical assault range from a fifty gold nel fine and a few nights in the dungeon, all the way up to a two hundred gold nel fine and an extended sentence which might see someone serve time in the Endor Mines. Sexual assault on the other hand is dungeon time, the removal of a finger, and a small brand over the knuckle of the missing limb to mark that person as a threat and shame them for their wrongdoings.
No Blacklisted Races: Avriel, Elite Ratherion, and Raskithecal are all unwelcomed races in Rynmere. Some are taken as slaves, others are killed on sight.
No Divorce: It simply isn't an option. The only way to leave a binding is for one of the couple to die, and any unusual deaths are investigated. In the likelihood that one of the two does die, the remaining man or woman is allowed to remarry one arc later.

Notes: It it is not against the law to purchase, smoke, snort, drink, or consume drugs in Rynmere if you can afford to do so, however, authorities will not tolerate any disturbances to the peace in Andaris City or any of the outposts that fall under its banner. People are free to practice any religion they want in the privacy of their own homes but should be aware that public worship outside of the Rynlism Religion is frowned upon. Polygamy is also allowed in the city amongst the commoners and often considered a sign of wealth for a man to have more than one wife.

Crime & Punishment

The Knights of Rynmere are main law enforcers, and as such, have the power to reprimand criminals as they see fit. However, the use of excessive force can and often is reported by witnesses and just because the Knights are tasked with dishing out punishment, doesn't mean they themselves are above it. Anyone who breaks one or more of the seven laws is likely to be ordered to pay a fine, spend time in jail, stand trial, or be sent to the mines and forced into manual labour, a task many don't last more than a few years in. Some law breaks would beg for the mines knowing the alternative, as a lot of the kingdom's most ruthless law breakers are sent to one of the Ducal Houses as a slave, fated to live out the remainder of their days in chains before being sent into the fighting pits for sport and the odd bit of coin. Few slaves have ever been able to earn their freedom, but a skilled warrior might be fortunate enough to seen the ring of the fighting arena and earn their Duke enough gold to buy their freedom; that's if they live long enough in a place that would deem them kill or be killed.

[Kingdom]

The Seers

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A small, powerful group of arcane users that deal in the dark art of Necromancy, a practice that is frowned upon in the Kingdom of Rynmere. The Seers have honed their Necromancy skills over many generations and it is believed the group was first formed in 370 by the four Cane brothers, rumoured grave robbers of their time. It wasn't until arc 618 that they adopted the use of arcane in the form of Necromancy, before that only dabbling in what they believed to be psychic readings and communication with the dead. Today authorities believe there are at least sixty members in the group, one that is very selective about who they invite to join their ranks and often leave cryptic messages around the city providing details on meeting times and places for those who know what they are looking for. Their most popular yearly gathering takes place in Venora during the celebrations of Nora’s birthday up amongst the well kept vineyards on Nora’s Rest. To be considered for membership you must have at least 26 points in Necromancy.

VII

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II

High atop The Burning Mountains on a cliff face called Raven’s Point, The Mountain Men hold the forgotten fortress of Vulken, the rumoured son of an immortal, given life by a mortal mother known only as Sura. The road to Vulken’s Fort is treacherous, long, and accessible only on foot or the back of a Ramthor mount, taking over three to four days to arrive at the iron gates. On the edge of the cliff face in the depths of the fortress, a three by three metre chute (nicknamed the 'Mouth of the Jacadon') is used to send intruders to their deaths onto the rocks over seventeen hundred feet below.

Here bandits have lived, thrived, and hoarded their treasures for hundreds of years without much quarrel from outsiders. Unique to this group, every member born into the clan is given a name that begins with the letter V (not commonly known) in honour of Vulken’s legacy, and a secret tattoo (pictured right) under their left armpit on the side of their chest. For generations they have robbed, terrorised, and killed the people of Rynmere, especially in the regions of Warrick and Endor, but have been quiet for the last five to ten years, leading people to believe their numbers are dwindling, while others feel The Mountain Men of Vulken are planning something big.

The group is led and run by a woman named Vishal, with seven key members making up the leaders of regional bandit groups, one assigned to each city or village in Rynmere, running unlawful businesses, scams, and taking whatever they want. Trial by combat is the only way to escape sentencing and usually an untimely end with a trip into the 'Mouth of the Jacadon'. Anyone can challenge the leader of VII in an attempt to overthrow her, and while many have tried, none have even come close to defeating Vulken's Savage.

The Seekers

Rynmere University hosts the only Seeker Cell in the realm and from here The Seekers are free to come and go. The Seekers are not well liked by the rest of the community as Ryns don't appreciate outside forces coming along and setting up their own rules. Many Seekers have gone missing or been found dead since their initial set up in the city and things have only worsened as time has passed.

Ouroboro Guard

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Motto: One Is All More Information

The history of the Royal Guard began in the 197th arc, in which Queen Nora Warrick hired various mercenaries to pledge their full loyalty to her, and be unhindered in their capacity to serve and protect their Queen. This relatively small faction did not see many improvements or enjoy privileges for the next 150 arcs, not until Victor Vladimir, popularly known as ‘The Common King’ and his infant were struck down by Oberon Andaris’ own men. The men, responsible for Oberon Andaris’ successful claim to the throne, were immediately bathed in multiple treasures and admitted into Oberon Andaris’ Royal Guard. Only then the Ouroboro Guard was established as a proper faction, and ever since it has been used to do the King and Queen’s bidding, be it for good or evil.

The Ouroboro Guard pledge their loyalty and services to their King and Queen. They become their personal guards, their advisors, and anything else their patrons demand from them. Their main use throughout history is simple protection to the Royal family, although it ranges all the way to include the elimination of rivals to their reign, be it specific foreign threats or family members with a legit claim to the throne. Due to the nature of their duties, which are occasionally of dubious moral alignment, they swear loyalty to no other than their King and Queen. The Oath of the Ouroboro was eventually implemented, consisting of a sacred oath that justified every action taken by the Ouroboro Guard as the King's will and demanded complete loyalty towards the throne. Ever since, the Ouroboro Guards have enjoyed increased privileges, prestige, and plenitude due to their commitment.

The Oath: Blood In, Blood Out.The Oath of the Ouroboro, blood in, blood out, is a contract signed in blood. The newly appointed mem per cuts their thumb to sign his contract and if he breaks the contract in any way, shape, or form, the 'blood out' payment is taken, this usually ends in the member's death.

Qe'Dreki

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Led by Veljorn Burhan, the Qe'Dreki, or 'Warriors of the Dragon' have slowly been gathering forces in the west for many arcs. Backed and funded by three of the major noble houses, the group is now an army, one big enough, perhaps, to take on The Iron Hand, the true strength of the King's Army and power in Rynmere.

The Qe'Dreki believe that the king should only be a man of old blood, a descendant of the one of the Sacred Seven, and for this reason, they have easily gained the backing of the people of Rynmere, especially those who feel ill at ease with a foreigner in power, rumoured to want to take a foreign wife as his queen. Veljorn Burhan epitomises everything that the people of Rynmere hold dear. He is a man of noble blood, descendent of Ser Rahiko Burhan, captain of the U'frek Sailors, and leader of the Warriors of the Dragon.

Jorick's Keep currently houses a fraction of Veljorn's army, tucked away in The Burning Mountains, while the majority move among the people freely, slaves, carpenters, blacksmiths, knights, and nobles alike, they are invisible, but have full faith in their leader, and when the time comes, have sworn to fight by his side.

[Kingdom]

Race Relations

Aukari: [-10 fame] The Aukaris’ temperament and lack of control makes them a dangerous race to house in such an important city, and most are turned away at the gates or City Dock. The people of Rynmere love and fight for their royal family and oppose the idea of any people as dangerous as these being let loose to roam the city as they please. This is not to say that they believe all of the Aukari to be bad, wild, or out of control, they just prefer not to put their own in danger. A handful of Aukari work as Moseke Knights, but the people as a whole have not been able to establish themselves in the Kingdom of Rynmere, other than some parts of Gawyne and Endor.

Avriel: [-10 fame] As a very exclusive and unpredictable race, any Avriel caught in the Kingdom of Rynmere are killed on sight without trial unless gifted a special item by Syroa which allows them to assume the disguise of a normal human.

Biqaj: [+10 fame] Two of the Sacred Seven were members of the Biqaj race, and their people as a whole have managed to establish themselves firmly in Burhan and Gawyne, where they make up the majority of the population. Human and Biqaj partnerships are becoming more and more common, though the race prefers to stick to their own kind. A large part of the kingdom’s navy is made up of Biqaj men and women, who know the waters in these parts like the back of their hands.

Eídisi: [+10 fame] Being a very intellectual race, the Eidisi find themselves very welcome in Rynmere where the people value knowledge above all else. Like any other race, Eidisi are welcome as long as they manage to keep the peace.

Elite Ratherion: [+10 fame] Many fear the unknown and while the people of Rynmere like to stay informed, studying an unwelcome race is often difficult. Ratherion, due to their tempers and ability to transform, have been excluded from the list of races able to enter Andaris city or any of the regional outposts.

Ellune: [+10 fame] This frozen race are tolerated but not exactly welcome. Some feel they are a well informed, intelligent race and often admir their stories while others fear they due to their outward appearance. Though they are not barred from entering the lands of Rynmere, they are closely watched.

Humans: [+10 fame] Three of the Sacred Seven were human, though Venora’s origins have often been in question, many believe her to be the first woman ever offered a knighthood. Their numbers are prominent in the south where the winters are mild and the summers are long. Most of the men and women within power in Andaris City are human, though mixed bloods are becoming more and more common, they are hundreds of years from being accepted as the norm. The current king of Rynmere and his queen are both human, thus the power of Rynmere remains in their hands.

Hyludin: [+10 fame] The Hyludin are a welcome people in Rynmere, though the majority of the population for in the Kingdom of Rynmere know very little about them. Like all powerful beings though, people of often cautious when it comes to the unknown and most Hyludin’s tend to lead very private lives, peaking the odd individuals interest even more. Most of their people tend to stick to regions like Gawyne, Burhan, and Venora.

Ithecal: [+10 fame] Noble, trustworthy, and hardworking, the Ithecals, unlike the Raskithecal, often find themselves welcome in the city of Andaris. Of course, they half snake, half human appearance often earns them a few sidelong glances, but for the most part they will find their stay in Rynmere trouble free as long as they steer clear of making any trouble themselves.

Mer: [+10 fame] The tribal Mer people of Idalos are often spotted dotted along the shore or swimming out in the ocean by passing ships. Krome welcomes this race, allowing them to come and go as they please in the north. The busy waterways of Andaris and Venora are less welcoming, and any Mer spotted in Cynere Bay are usually chased from the area as to discourage them from lingering too long or getting in the way of boat traffic. There is a story about the youngest son of Warrick falling in love with a Mer woman, but for the most part the people of Rynmere don't know much about this strange and beautiful race.

Mixed Race: [+10 fame] Certain mixed bloods are tolerated in Rynmere, though the majority of them are human crossed with another accepted race within the kingdom. A child born of a human father and Biqaj mother, for example, is a perfectly understandable mix, but a human crossed with a Avriel is unacceptable and might be slain if not banished from the lands first. Any mixed blood living in Andaris knows to watch their back, for not everyone feels the same way and idealists can be deadly.

Mortal Born: [+10 fame] Known Mortal Born are welcome in Rynmere due to Gawyne's role in the history of the kingdom. Often, these children of the gods try their hand in the arena, in an attempt to become the King’s Champion, and claim land within one of the seven regions to farm.

Naerikk: [+10 fame] The Naerikk don’t often make it to the shores of Rynmere and when they do they are greeted with a quiet respect, known right across the land by their well-traveled tales. Naerikk are not unwelcome but they are watched closely, often admired for their beauty and grace in battle. A handful of Naerikk have settled in Burhan and lived there peacefully for some years now.

Qi'ora: [+10 fame] Native to the Hotlands, these well known crafters are often sought after by the region of Endor to help with crafting raw materials into metal bars for export. They are the best masons in Rynmere and are often hired to work around Andaris City, helping maintain the vast amount of walls and closely packed buildings. Qi’ora are seen as a peaceful race by the people and Rynmere and don’t often run into any trouble.

Raskithecal: [-10 fame] These less than noble sanke people will not find themselves welcome in Rynmere and have a long history of being used to fight into the pits. Rynmere has taken them as slaves for a long as the history books show after the Raskithecal launched an attack on Andaris City many years ago. It is feared they will never be welcome and for that reason alone, the race don’t often push their luck, sailing well clear of the Rynmere Kingdom.

Sev'ryn: [+10 fame] The Sev'ryn people are welcome in Rynmere, a kingdom famed for its greed for knowledge. The people believe that Sev’ryn are wonderful storytellers and often inquire about their travels through Idalos. A small community of Sev’ryn have been permitted to make a place for themselves in Warrick and the current Empress of Andaris is one of their kin.

Wisps: [+10 fame] As it is almost impossible to detain a ghost, Wisps are seen every now and then moving across the land, seemingly without purpose, though it is said that only linger if they have unfinished business. The people of Rynmere are used to seeing Wisps and do not fear them, though some will be asked to move along from time or time least any haunt become too popular.

Yludih: [-10 fame] Shapeshifters with the ability to change between the various races, Yludih are difficult to point out in a crowd and for that reason alone the people of Rynmere tend not to trust them. Known to most of the people of Rynmere as ‘a beautiful lie’ it is impossible to ever truly know whether or not one is dealing with a Yludih, as their true forms are only revealed in death.

Views on Arcana

Illusionism: The use of Illusionism within Rynmere is forbidden without a permit. Anyone caught using this arcane magic must pay a fine of X amount. Illusionism is used by some Rynmere doctors to help people who have suffered from traumatic experiences, pain, or other mental and physical problems. Repeat offenders will be issued with a mark of shame on their right cheek.

Gravitation: The use of Gravitation within Rynmere is forbidden without a permit. Anyone caught using this arcane magic must pay a fine of 50 gold nel. Gravitation is generally used by minors in Endor, and shipwrights in Burhan in order to move large, heavy objects from place to place. Gravitation was used to build the majority of the city’s walls over five hundred years ago. Repeat offenders will be issued a mark of shame on their right hand or be forced into hard labour for one season.

Attunement: The use of Attunement is permitted in Rynmere as it is believed everyone should be able to sense and protect themselves from the presence of arcane magic. Most military personnel are required to learn this magic at higher levels in their career in order to warn their troops to the dangerous presence of magic, magic traps, or powerful artifacts. Misuse of any magic, however, is not permitted and anyone caught doing so must pay a fine of 50 gold nel.

Amplification: Channeling mana into the body and using it to amplify one's existing physical abilities. Forthcoming.

Abrogation: The use of Abrogation is permitted in Rynmere as it is believed everyone should be able to protect themselves and their homes from magical attacks. Most military personnel are required to learn this magic at higher levels in their career in order to protect themselves and their troops from magic attacks. Misuse of any magic, however, is not permitted and anyone caught doing so must pay a fine of 50 gold nel.

Empathy: The use of Empathy within Rynmere is forbidden without a permit. Anyone caught using this arcane magic must pay a fine of 50 gold nel. Empathy is used by some Rynmere doctors to help people who have suffered from traumatic experiences, pain, or other mental and physical problems. Repeat offenders will be issued with a mark of shame on their left cheek. Xiur Skyriders at a higher level are permitted to learn Empathy in order to bond with and ride a Jacadon.
Artifice: Arcana that is centralized into an object and bound into it, such as a conduit or an arcane artifact.

Electromancy: The ability to fuel artifacts with outsourced mana to enhance their abilities. Forthcoming.

Necromancy: The use of Necromancy within Rynmere is forbidden without a permit. Anyone caught using this arcane magic will be thrown in prison if they survive the punishment of having their right hand cut from their limb and a mark of shame carved into the skin on their forehead. Repeat offenders will be taken to the gallows, stoned, and hung.

Trinketry: The creation of arcane automata and feats of mana infused engineering. Forthcoming.

Slavery

There are three types of slaves in Rynmere: House Slaves, who work for their masters, branded as property of the person they belong to; Fighting Slaves, often aspiring to reach the title of Gladiator and be marked as such, for with this title comes true freedom; and Pleasure Slaves, who are for hire at the local brothel and unable to be kept as personal pets.

Note: All slaves in Rynmere are twice marked, once with the symbol of Rynmere (always placed on their side under their left arm), and secondly with the brand of their master. There is a third mark offered only to free slaves (usually gladiators) which is a small sword brand (

†

) on the flesh over their right cheekbone. Historically, slaves in Rynmere were branded on their right thigh, which is still a popular spot for owner marks. See FAQ for more information about Rynmere Slaves.

OOC Note: All slaves, whether NPC or PC, must have monies exchanged for their complete value. If you do not pay for the slave, Prophets reserve the right to penalise PCs of money in awards, until payment has been made.

Being a slave comes with some OOC perks (the biggest one being that they do not have to pay for expenses). However, it is the strong belief of the Prophets that there should be a penalty for this perk that slaves have. And we believe this penalty is a fair one. History shows us that slaves are property, thus they cannot own property. Idalos should be no different, therefore slaves in this world are not entitled to own any property of significant value (other than clothing or small trinkets). They must also have just cause to have any monies in their ledger. OOC and IC reasoning must add up.

All slaves/Masters must follow certain rules in Idalos:

• ● PCs with NPC slaves must pay for their slave's expenses.
  ● PCs with PC slaves must pay for their slave's expenses.
  ● PCs with NPC Masters must have said NPCs approved by a Prophet or through Narrator Support. If a player is active in any given season, they must write at least one 'job' thread so show their servitude in order to earn their keep.
  ● PC slaves upon starting will not start with any amount of money in their ledger.
  ● Unless under special circumstances, PC slaves who are captured post-creation will also lose money.
  ● Any items of high value (ie other than clothes/trinkets) will also be lost upon slavery.
  ● It is at a Master's discretion whether 'pocket-money' is granted to a slave.
  ● For ease, any items bought for a slave may be listed in a slave PC's CS, but it belongs to the Master officially and the Master/Prophet reserves the right to remove said item.
  ● Items purchased for a slave by an NPC Master must be agreed upon by a Prophet.
  ● Any wages earned by a PC slave will be given immediately to a PC Master (as normal, this must be discussed with a Prophet first).
  ● Some PC slaves (who meet certain criteria) are entitled to retain half of their wages for their ledgers.

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