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As a group, you will serve as retainers/knights/mercenaries/whatever to the current royal siblings, and rulers of the kingdom, Prince Gunvard and Princess Eydis. While ordinarily this would be an eventful, if dull, job thanks to peace times, recent happenings in and around the kingdom have forced them to act. Specifically, the entire Cult situation, which means a lot of traveling, life threatening situations, and talking to other people. I’ve tried to keep the details of the story limited specifically so backstories can be as unrestricted as possible, which means you can have any connection to the royal siblings as long as it makes sense. A retainer who swore their life to them, a mercenary just getting a bit of payment for once, or an old friend who just stuck around. Eydis is more likelyto have made friends in her youth, both commoner and noble alike, due to her more outgoing nature, while Gunvald is a bit more reclusive, not having the best personal connections but is more willing to hire mercenaries for protection or other tasks.

Ultimately just, go wild. I'll let you know if you go too far.

The overall political expanse of Lastreodal only encompasses a small area of the world, dubbed “Manoran” to its people. A collection of various islands, Manoran is a large area situated between two continents, essentially making itself into a glorified lake filled with enough land and resources to support multiple kingdoms with ease. Most people living in Manoran worship the Goddess, an enigmatic figure in history who gifted the Executors the weapons to slay Ragnarok, along with being the sole reason why humanity wasn’t wiped out before by protecting them.. A savior through and through, her teachings are meant to enforce the belief of protection of life. Unfortunately, despite how spread out the teachings are, the churches scattered across the land lack a true hold over most kingdoms, merely being a choice one can live with.

The Kingdoms of Manoran are spread out and heavily populated, retaining tense relations with each other due to their closeness and the lack of expansion they can do. Multiple wars have been fought between kingdoms time and time again, but over the last few hundred years there has been a peace between them… At least to the point where none of the kingdoms openly declare war on each other. Border disputes, assassinations, and bandit raids between kingdoms are their ways of ‘fighting’ each other, but otherwise, each kingdom remains at a standstill with the others.

Kingdom of Lastreodal
Capital: Alovine
The Land of Prosperity, and where the Black Dragon was said to have passed away long ago. Lastreodal was originally ruled with an iron fist by the fifth King, Ingvar, and his Queen, Eldrid. At least, until a closely guarded trip outside of the kingdom for their twentieth honeymoon led to their deaths by an assassin, leaving their children, Gunvard and Eydis, to rule in their stead. Young, inexperienced, and far too optimistic, the two siblings aren’t currently seen as the most optimal rulers for the kingdom, resulting in some unease in the general populace. Ordinarily, this wouldn’t be too much of a problem, but due to the recent actions of the cult surrounding Ragnarok, tensions within the populace are high, increasing the security and general distrust of the higher class.

Lastreodal’s economy is mostly marked by its abundance of iron, gold, and other valuable ores. Unfortunately, this results in a low amount of suitable farming land, forcing Lastreodal focus on trade with other nations in order to have a food supply. In addition, the large turnout of mountainous regions makes a perfect home for Wyverns, allowing Lastreodal to make up for its personal lack of horses by using Wyverns for industrial purposes.


Attentäter
A small organization located somewhere in Lastreodal, originally founded by one of the warriors that killed Ragnarok. Shrouded in mystery, the only thing outsiders know about the group is the fact that they train famous assassins and spies, the art of deception being an art all their members are proficient in. Practically every major assassination can easily be traced back to the group, but due to the fact that no one actually knows who leads the group, or even where their base is located, not even members in the group itself, there’s not much a single kingdom or noble can do to deal with them. Regardless, Attentäter holds no allegiance to anyone kingdom, merely offering their services to any employer that can contact them.

Of course, most of the organization has gone silent since the Cult appeared. Due to the close bound information found in the group, no one really knows what’s going on, not even its own members.


Kingdom of Cestulon
Capital: Shesa
Lastreodal’s neighbor, and its rival, founded by the leader of the Executors after Ragnarok was slain. While Lastreodal has a land rich with minerals, Cestulon has more farmland at their disposal, allowing them to support a much larger quantity of civilians, including animals such as pegasi and horses. Despite being described as a kingdom however, Cestulon is run as a form of democracy, with a single council being voted for every twenty years by the general populace, who hold the nation’s entire power as a group. Because of this, many noble houses exist in its lands, all of them struggling for more influence over the kingdom  Unlike Lastreodal, Cestulon is largely a rather religious kingdom, following the teachings of the Goddess as best as they can.

The military might of Cestulon tends to focus on numbers rather than individual might. However, due to recognizing the importance of keeping their troops alive to maintain their advantage over other nations, Cestulon’s military training largely consists of tactics drilling and mock battles between groups of soldiers, resulting in a high turnout of competent tacticians.


The Keepers
The watchers of Dragon Head Island, sworn to protect the island from intruders from the nearby kingdoms for unknown reasons. As such, the group has tense relations with the outside world, yet is never under threat due to the fact that Dragon Head Island isn’t a competed area, nor is it rich in resources. Despite its general isolation however, the Keepers allow their own members to leave the island of their own accord… With the one condition that they are never allowed to step foot on the island again once they leave, no matter what. So while there has been a history of Keepers leaving for different lives, only a few actually do. Regardless, those who leave never talk about Keeper related secrets, especially since said secrets are closely guarded by the most loyal of Keepers.


Orthula Empire
“Capital”: Obraso
The ancient empire that was the origin of the group that killed Ragnarok, founders of the religion that worships the Goddess, and an empire whose history is largely used as an example of a horrible downfall. Originally a superpower that controlled most of the known world, possessing numerous cities that covered mountains, grand treasuries of riches, and fielding armies that could none could rival, Orthula has long since destroyed itself through civil war, it’s own troops and civilians slaughtering one another to leave behind broken fragments that could barely count as villages.  Ever since, Orthulians have merely lived their own lives, trying to pick up the pieces of their civilization. Because of this, Orthulians tend to be the most religious people in Manoran, clinging onto whatever hope they can.

Orthula is notable for having a rather poor relation to Lastreodal and Cestulon, the latter especially so for their desire to expand their land, and for their disagreements for how to worship the goddess. Ultimately though, Orthula lacks to proper military/economic force to challenge either kingdom head-on, instead resulting in more underhanded tactics to get their way. In fact, it is a common rumor that Orthula is the single most profitable civilization for Attentäter.

Arkensheen
An independant city to the north of Lastreodal, founded only a hundred years ago by an explorer whose name has been lost to history. Originally a colony belonging to the Kingdom, Arkensheen successfully managed to free itself from Lastreodal control with a bloody revolution, and has maintained its solitary peace for generations. However, they keep a rather close relation with Lastreodal, still functioning as one of its major food sources in exchange for minerals and other valuables.

Dragon Head Island
An island shaped similarly to a dragon’s head, North-East of Lastreodal. For unknown, presumably magic reasons, the island is stuck in an eternal winter, and with a generally rocky landscape, is very difficult for large communities to survive in. Regardless of this, the Keepers make their home here, making it difficult for anyone to figure out the situation with the island.

The Lake Heart
A large lake located inside of the River Vein, which flows between Lasterodal and Cestulon, with a small island being an area rich with natural metals and magic. Unfortunately, a thick, poisonous miasma constantly surrounds the island, preventing people from getting close to it for extended periods of time to take advantage of it.

Ikhada
An island colonized by Lastreodal to further its territory for food, founded by the third king of Lastreodal. Ikhada history is a rather small and unnoticeable one, due to the fact that it is out of the way of most comings and going. However, it is known as the birthplace to King Ingvar, and Princess Eydis.

Yastua
The island that houses the remnants of the empire that was destroyed by Lasterodal’s ancestors. A ravaged and burned land that should not be able to support life, Yastua is incredibly rich with magical energy, garnering the attention of mages across the world to harness its magic for their own purposes. Several villages also remain on the island, but they are sparse, only supported by several families at a time. Bandit activity is common in the area, but only to have a sort of power between each of the villages, as no true lord “rules” the island.

The Outerlands
While Manoran is home to influential kingdoms, those kingdoms have never been much in the way of going out to expand. Solitary to their core, both Cestulon and Lasterodal merely see the world outside their lands as the same, dubbing them “The Outerlands”, for anything past the Orthula Empire or Arkensheen. Manoran itself can attract outsiders to its various landmarks, and is in fact how Orthula came to be as expansive and powerful as it was, but ultimately they’re seen as nothing more than travelers or merchants.

Eydis
Princess of Lastreodal, and true heir of King Ingvar. Eydis, unlike her brother, is far more energetic and brash, lacking in most “royal” attitude, but making up with grit, determination, and a thirst for battle. She values herself as one of Lastreodal's finest, being the first to charge into battle and having the natural talent of garnering loyalty. But, while she is to become the Queen of Lastreodal once the ceremony is prepared, she actually believes her brother is a better choice due to his general compassion for the people, while she is more suited for war.



Gunvald
Prince of Lastreodal, and the bastard son of King Ingvar. Gunvald is a rather gentle and soul, spending his time studying history, investigating the inner workings of the kingdom, and simply trying to be as helpful as he can to the kingdom at large. Yet despite this, he doesn’t see himself as good material for a ruler, citing that his sister, being the legitimate daughter of the previous King, would be a natural fit thanks to her will and ability to garner respect. Regardless, even if he doesn't see himself as great or powerful as Eydis, he does what he can as an extra mind to help her, and to at least keep the kingdom running at peak efficiency.


Fersand
An Attentäter assassin who swore his life to King Ingvar, turning into an experienced retainer of fifteen years, now loyal to his children. A master of deception, stealth, and killing, Fersand carries himself with an air of mystery expected from an assassin… Yet is rather quick to let down his facade and enjoy the basics of life. Such as drinking, gambling, drinking, partying, drinking, and drinking. Regardless of his personal tastes, he manages to have a vault of experience that he tries to pass down, even if most of it is more of bad decisions he made than good ones.


Maximilian Stickler
The current head of the Noble house that runs Cestulon. Maximilian’s upbringing is one that was filled with unlikely occurrences, originally being a mere, broke orphan with no chance at life, only to be taken in by the Stickler family, raised as their own, gaining the title of the house once his father passed away, and managing to win the populace over to put him in power. A lot of the details behind these events are unknown, such as why the Stickler, having five children already, decided to take an orphan in and make them their heir, but what is known is the person that is Maximilian. A man who won the kingdom over with his genuine interest in helping the people, already having made steps to doing so, including forging an actual positive relationship with Lastreodal. Past that, Maximilian manages to keep most of his cards close to himself, making it difficult for people to figure out what he truly is, if his cheerful demeanor isn't a facade.