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CruelWorld
Star
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2023
Hello! Welcome to my new thread. This one is specifically dedicated to building a deep and involved world that is a mix of classic fantasy and semi-steampunk. Initially this world's beginnings were a part of an arranged marriage plot, and I keep coming back to how interesting the world is so I'd like to do more RPs set in the same world, perhaps even with a similar plot. Below, I describe the world's basics and leave open some areas where we can discuss details so that anyone who wants to talk things over will likely have a slightly different version of the world than anyone else (assuming anyone actually wants to discuss it at all).
Having said that, this thread is VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS.
You'll notice I don't have any specific plots listed quite yet, and that's because I am open to a variety of plot ideas for this, with or without adult content, though any character I play will have their private kinks and obsessions. However, those things might not ever come up in our story, or if they do only rarely, or perhaps they might play a central role! It's up to us to discuss things and see where it goes.
My preference right now is to play a male character from "House 2" below, but I could also play a lady in a F/F pairing for any house if the idea is good. NPCs obviously will come in a lot.
As for me as a partner - I reply with as much detail as the scene merits, which could be anywhere from 2 paragraphs to 7 or 8 depending on what's going on. I am comfortable playing many NPC's and also capable of coming up with ideas on a whim, so if we want to not give names to every house, for example, then we can simply come up with them whenever/if they become relevant.
As far as kinks and limits go, my main kink is bondage, especially really tight, longer term bondage (aka, over a weekend or something). My preference is for casual teasing, but I also enjoy body worship, particular of female features like breasts and ass.
I generally need to really get into the RP for sex scenes to happen. I rarely enjoy them or find them exciting, so I stick with the teasing for a while first. I don't like lewd dirty talk at all, and bathroom activities stay in the bathroom. For more specific limits you can visit my general thread here.
As I said, originally the world was made on the fly for an arranged marriage idea, but if you read about the world below and your mind goes somewhere with it I'd love to hear any idea you might have.
On to the world as it stands at present!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The world of Avalon (name is negotiable) is a mix of fantasy and steam-punk settings that draws a lot of inspiration from Jim Butcher’s Cinder Spires series. Most of the world has a kind of medieval fantasy mystique, but there are more steampunk elements and machines, and some more primitive guns.
Magic: There is magic in the world, but genuine magic is very rare. What is not as rare are crystals that possess properties that can manipulate the world in certain ways. For example, crystals of a certain sort can manipulate gravity and help an airship float above ground. Other crystals are used for electricity to power engines or light homes. Still others might be used as a heat source, etc. In this world, almost everyone can manipulate crystals in a minimal way - everyone can drive a horseless carriage, for example - but some (perhaps even most) people have a specific attunement to the crystals so that they can do more with a specific type of crystal than everyone else. The type of crystal and how they are identified are negotiable, as is the process by which attunement is discovered.
Generally, crystals are used in weapons to fire bursts of energy, and as armor that shields against other crystal energy to a degree. With one exception (see House 2 below).
There are those who can manipulate crystals more fully, and this is basically the rare ‘magic’ in the world. Wizards and sorceresses wield staggering power that interacts with crystals in ways that even the attuned could not comprehend - in a sort of psychic connection with the crystals themselves. Such people are often a bit crazy, and are universally very dangerous (though they aren’t all villains or unstable - just a bit nutty in the head). Most realms have one or two that they employ simply as a countermeasure to other wizardry types because crystalline weapons will hardly work against such foes.
Politics: The world of Avalon is separated by hierarchy of houses with the nobility each having a ‘house’ under which their family resides and are granted a voice. Noble houses are arranged according to their social power and status, which works differently in each realm. One thing that is the same across realms, however, is that there is a singular Great House that essentially runs the realm (think Game of Thrones - the house on the throne is the Great House who makes most decisions with the somewhat democratic support of the lower houses in court). The house’s first born always inherits, regardless of gender, though at the time at which our story begins, thus far no two great houses have ever had their firstborn’s wed without one of them abdicating. Such a thing would mean two realms merge into one, and none have been so bold (so far).
Each Realm is well known for something, typically some sort of export that gives them economic leverage and also supports their defense against other realms. Over the centuries the desires and needs for specific goods have essentially stabilized the world’s political structure so that there are rarely wars and disagreements between realms plays out in small skirmish battles that rarely escalate to full scale war because everyone has a common interest in everyone else’s survival.
The number of realms and what they are known for is negotiable, but there should be at least five, and two that are essential, I think.
Great House 1 (name up to us): This house is situated on a realm where 75-90% of the crystals are mined and refined. As such, they are extremely wealthy and wield a great deal of international power, as all the other realms rely on them for their ‘good’ crystals (perhaps with 1 exception depending on the story - an antagonist realm with their own small crystal supply? Who knows). I envision this house as being highly sophisticated and aristocratic, very obsessed with appearances and etiquette. They often leave outdoor activities to the lower houses and tend to value financial acumen and the management of ‘business’ more than acquiring skills that require the use of one’s hands and one’s strength. I also envision them as having stunning good looks that are the result of good genes and good selection in arrangements of political marriages for their first born.
Great House 2 (name up to us): This house has long been known for their blacksmithing, but just in the last century they have made the discovery that will change the realms forever - gunpowder. This discovery changed everything because projectiles that are flung at high speeds without crystal energy are not blocked by conventional crystalline shielding. Hence, this great house controls the secret to defeating crystal weapons with weapons of their own. Naturally the airship navies of every realm are eager to get their hands on gunpowder cannons, and so this house is nearly as powerful and well off as House 1. I envision this house as generally more woodsman, rough-around-the-edges types. Everyone hunts and fishes, and they enjoy their fests and more fur-lined clothing than silks and fancy colors of typical aristocracy. They are not barbarians like some of the other Great Houses see them, but they are generally more capable in terms of working knowledge of mechanics and metal work as well as tracking, archery, and obviously marksmanship with rifles and pistols (if we decide they have them).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am open to a variety of plot ideas for this, with or without adult content, though any character I play will have their private kinks and obsessions. However, those things might not ever come up in our story, or if they do only rarely, or perhaps they might play a central role! It's up to us to discuss things and see where it goes.
My preference right now is to play a male character from "House 2" below, but I could also play a lady in a F/F pairing for any house if the idea is good. NPCs obviously will come in a lot.
As for me as a partner - I reply with as much detail as the scene merits, which could be anywhere from 2 paragraphs to 7 or 8 depending on what's going on. I am comfortable playing many NPC's and also capable of coming up with ideas on a whim, so if we want to not give names to every house, for example, then we can simply come up with them whenever/if they become relevant.
As far as kinks and limits go, my main kink is bondage, especially really tight, longer term bondage (aka, over a weekend or something). My preference is for casual teasing, but I also enjoy body worship, particular of female features like breasts and ass.
I generally need to really get into the RP for sex scenes to happen. I rarely enjoy them or find them exciting, so I stick with the teasing for a while first. I don't like lewd dirty talk at all, and bathroom activities stay in the bathroom. For more specific limits just PM me.
I am open to ideas for this. As I said, originally the world was made on the fly for an arranged marriage idea, but if you read about the world below and your mind goes somewhere with it I'd love to hear any idea you might have.
On to the world as it stands at present!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The world of Avalon (name is negotiable) is a mix of fantasy and steam-punk settings that draws a lot of inspiration from Jim Butcher's Cinder Spires series. Most of the world has a kind of medieval fantasy mystique, but there are more steampunk elements and machines, and some more primitive guns.[/left]
Magic: There is magic in the world, but genuine magic is very rare. What is not as rare are crystals that possess properties that can manipulate the world in certain ways. For example, crystals of a certain sort can manipulate gravity and help an airship float above ground. Other crystals are used for electricity to power engines or light homes. Still others might be used as a heat source, etc. In this world, almost everyone can manipulate crystals in a minimal way - everyone can drive a horseless carriage, for example - but some (perhaps even most) people have a specific attunement to the crystals so that they can do more with a specific type of crystal than everyone else. The type of crystal and how they are identified are negotiable, as is the process by which attunement is discovered.
Generally, crystals are used in weapons to fire bursts of energy, and as armor that shields against other crystal energy to a degree. With one exception (see House 2 below).
There are those who can manipulate crystals more fully, and this is basically the rare 'magic' in the world. Wizards and sorceresses wield staggering power that interacts with crystals in ways that even the attuned could not comprehend - in a sort of psychic connection with the crystals themselves. Such people are often a bit crazy, and are universally very dangerous (though they aren't all villains or unstable - just a bit nutty in the head). Most realms have one or two that they employ simply as a countermeasure to other wizardry types because crystalline weapons will hardly work against such foes.
Politics: The world of Avalon is separated by hierarchy of houses with the nobility each having a 'house' under which their family resides and are granted a voice. Noble houses are arranged according to their social power and status, which works differently in each realm. One thing that is the same across realms, however, is that there is a singular Great House that essentially runs the realm (think Game of Thrones - the house on the throne is the Great House who makes most decisions with the somewhat democratic support of the lower houses in court). The house's first born always inherits, regardless of gender, though at the time at which our story begins, thus far no two great houses have ever had their firstborn's wed without one of them abdicating. Such a thing would mean two realms merge into one, and none have been so bold (so far).
Each Realm is well known for something, typically some sort of export that gives them economic leverage and also supports their defense against other realms. Over the centuries the desires and needs for specific goods have essentially stabilized the world's political structure so that there are rarely wars and disagreements between realms plays out in small skirmish battles that rarely escalate to full scale war because everyone has a common interest in everyone else's survival.
The number of realms and what they are known for is negotiable, but there should be at least five, and two that are essential, I think.
Great House 1 (name up to us): This house is situated on a realm where 75-90% of the crystals are mined and refined. As such, they are extremely wealthy and wield a great deal of international power, as all the other realms rely on them for their 'good' crystals (perhaps with 1 exception depending on the story - an antagonist realm with their own small crystal supply? Who knows). I envision this house as being highly sophisticated and aristocratic, very obsessed with appearances and etiquette. They often leave outdoor activities to the lower houses and tend to value financial acumen and the management of 'business' more than acquiring skills that require the use of one's hands and one's strength. I also envision them as having stunning good looks that are the result of good genes and good selection in arrangements of political marriages for their first born.
Great House 2 (name up to us): This house has long been known for their blacksmithing, but just in the last century they have made the discovery that will change the realms forever - gunpowder. This discovery changed everything because projectiles that are flung at high speeds without crystal energy are not blocked by conventional crystalline shielding. Hence, this great house controls the secret to defeating crystal weapons with weapons of their own. Naturally the airship navies of every realm are eager to get their hands on gunpowder cannons, and so this house is nearly as powerful and well off as House 1. I envision this house as generally more woodsman, rough-around-the-edges types. Everyone hunts and fishes, and they enjoy their fests and more fur-lined clothing than silks and fancy colors of typical aristocracy. They are not barbarians like some of the other Great Houses see them, but they are generally more capable in terms of working knowledge of mechanics and metal work as well as tracking, archery, and obviously marksmanship with rifles and pistols (if we decide they have them).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a possible starter for an arranged marriage version of the plot. This one is M/F:
And here's a F/F version that begins a couple weeks after the wedding:
House Crystalis was the richest and most powerful house of Avalon. This was due in no small part to the discovery of the largest crystal deposits in the world just outside of the city of Carrollton, which they essentially governed with several minor houses. Until recently, crystals essentially ran the world. They were used in everything from the horseless carriages that zipped about on the roads to the giant naval fleets of airships in the sky. House Crystalis having the only real crystal refinery in the world, and the largest deposits that had crystals of every color and elemental attunement - including neutral, which anyone could use - meant that they essentially controlled both the world economy and, more importantly, they controlled the militaristic attitude of the world.
White, neutral crystals were used as the basis for shielding, which protected people from the energy bolts that came from the gauntlets issued to all guards and military personnel. The gauntlets had a copper mesh into which a small crystal fit and fired from a crystal until the copper overheated or the crystal's power diminished. Similarly, the shielding used copper meshing to conduct the energy and protect the wearer against the gauntlets until it overheated or the crystals power diminished. Hence, controlling the flow of crystals meant House Crystalis could cripple an army by simply refusing shipments.
That was, until about 15 years ago. That's when something began to show up that no one foresaw. Gunpowder. When it was first encountered a battalion of men were wiped out by just two snipers wearing crystal shielding. No gauntlet fire could touch them, but the shielding did nothing to stop the lead balls coming out of the rifles aimed the opposite direction. Ever since, the world had changed radically. Suddenly crystals weren't the only thing necessary for security.
Fortunately for Tyrone Crystalis, the current House patriarch, he was a very intelligent man. He had a daughter who was, in short, perhaps the most beautiful woman that had every existed in Avalon. Big, incredibly round and impossibly firm and perky boobs, a small waist lined with just the barest hint of muscle, sloping, wide hips that curved around to thick, strong-but-soft thighs and an ass that was heart-attack inducing! Coincidentally, she was also the heir to the house, which meant she was a political tool he could wield. After a decade of investigation, it turned out that House Donaghue had been rapidly increasing their power in the world. It made sense that they would be the inventors of this gun powder. They were, by most accounts, a bit more uncouth than the other 6 leading noble houses. Apparently they all, even the women, hunted and fished and weren't afraid of hard work.
This, Tyrone thought, would be good for Jasmine who had grown up in nothing but opulence and luxury. She was very intelligent when it came to book learning and, especially, where the mines and refinery's books were concerned. She ran that very well, but she was also naive, a little self-centered, and a bit too aware of her own beauty. Perhaps she needed someone who could tame her. Show her the ropes, so to speak. She had a good heart, but she just wasn't very self-aware regarding her shortcomings.
And so it was that Tyrone reached out the the leader of House *insert your house name here* and suggested an alliance, a combining of houses through marriage. The eldest, and heir of Donaghue was *YC name - female*, who also had a hell of a reputation herself, as Tyrone would learn as time wore on. The deal was to marry the two women. They would share a home in Carrollton with a vacation home in House *insert your house name* main city. Donaghue saw the benefit in the arrangement immediately and agreed.
It was a lovely wedding, lots of celebrating and cheerful dancing and food......and drinking. Lots of drinking. It turned out that House *insert your house name* could drink most of Crystalis under the table without doing anything uncouth, but poor Jasmine just had a little too much and made a bit of a scene. Nothing bad, just a little too loud, laughing a little too much, draping herself all over several of the women of minor houses in line of sight of *YC name*....that sort of thing.
But two weeks had gone by and they were cordial enough. They didn't argue, or fight. They simply lived together in a large, private cottage on the estate of the Crystalis' palace. What Jasmine didn't know, because of her lack of self-awareness and sligh self-centered attitude, was that, despite not sharing beds or even bedrooms, she was constantly getting on Ramona's nerves. Either she was lounging about in her underwear in clear view of the windows without drawing them closed, or she was having a little too much wine and snoring as she fell asleep on the fainting couch in the upstairs sitting room. She would leave her keys, or shoes in the middle of the floor....things like that. Any time *YC name* scolded her about it she'd just smile and laugh it off and give *YC name* a flirty look that she expected would simply solve the problem because of her beautiful body.
After two weeks of this it was no small wonder that *YC name* had, very curtly excused herself and left the house to go have a walk and calm down, perhaps with a drink. Jasmine didn't know and hardly cared, because today a box had arrived and she'd been looking forward to this for a long time. She opened it and saw the piles of clothing from another of the great houses, House Slovis, who had perfected fashion. She pulled out an absolutely stunning set of undergarments that were made of pure, glistening satin, glossy and red. They were bikini style, and a thong so the 'bra' was just two supporting triangles made of the shiny material, though Jasmine's perfect boobs hardly needed the support.
"Ohhhhhhh maybe *YC name* will finally enjoy the look of me in this," she said to herself, biting her bottom lip. She had a lot of desire for her new wife to look at her with a bit more desire. That would be nice. She put it on, leaving her ass cheeks utterly bare save for a small triangle where the cheeks separated at the top, and her boobs covered and half-bare. They sat slightly apart and looked amazing with the shiny red clinging over them. She decided to lounge in the living room on the first of the two floors in the cottage, where Ramona would see her immediately. She then picked up her accounting book and began to do a bit of work while she waited for her wife, hoping to see some sort of positive reaction for once.
Having said that, this thread is VERY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS.
You'll notice I don't have any specific plots listed quite yet, and that's because I am open to a variety of plot ideas for this, with or without adult content, though any character I play will have their private kinks and obsessions. However, those things might not ever come up in our story, or if they do only rarely, or perhaps they might play a central role! It's up to us to discuss things and see where it goes.
My preference right now is to play a male character from "House 2" below, but I could also play a lady in a F/F pairing for any house if the idea is good. NPCs obviously will come in a lot.
As for me as a partner - I reply with as much detail as the scene merits, which could be anywhere from 2 paragraphs to 7 or 8 depending on what's going on. I am comfortable playing many NPC's and also capable of coming up with ideas on a whim, so if we want to not give names to every house, for example, then we can simply come up with them whenever/if they become relevant.
As far as kinks and limits go, my main kink is bondage, especially really tight, longer term bondage (aka, over a weekend or something). My preference is for casual teasing, but I also enjoy body worship, particular of female features like breasts and ass.
I generally need to really get into the RP for sex scenes to happen. I rarely enjoy them or find them exciting, so I stick with the teasing for a while first. I don't like lewd dirty talk at all, and bathroom activities stay in the bathroom. For more specific limits you can visit my general thread here.
As I said, originally the world was made on the fly for an arranged marriage idea, but if you read about the world below and your mind goes somewhere with it I'd love to hear any idea you might have.
On to the world as it stands at present!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The world of Avalon (name is negotiable) is a mix of fantasy and steam-punk settings that draws a lot of inspiration from Jim Butcher’s Cinder Spires series. Most of the world has a kind of medieval fantasy mystique, but there are more steampunk elements and machines, and some more primitive guns.
Magic: There is magic in the world, but genuine magic is very rare. What is not as rare are crystals that possess properties that can manipulate the world in certain ways. For example, crystals of a certain sort can manipulate gravity and help an airship float above ground. Other crystals are used for electricity to power engines or light homes. Still others might be used as a heat source, etc. In this world, almost everyone can manipulate crystals in a minimal way - everyone can drive a horseless carriage, for example - but some (perhaps even most) people have a specific attunement to the crystals so that they can do more with a specific type of crystal than everyone else. The type of crystal and how they are identified are negotiable, as is the process by which attunement is discovered.
Generally, crystals are used in weapons to fire bursts of energy, and as armor that shields against other crystal energy to a degree. With one exception (see House 2 below).
There are those who can manipulate crystals more fully, and this is basically the rare ‘magic’ in the world. Wizards and sorceresses wield staggering power that interacts with crystals in ways that even the attuned could not comprehend - in a sort of psychic connection with the crystals themselves. Such people are often a bit crazy, and are universally very dangerous (though they aren’t all villains or unstable - just a bit nutty in the head). Most realms have one or two that they employ simply as a countermeasure to other wizardry types because crystalline weapons will hardly work against such foes.
Politics: The world of Avalon is separated by hierarchy of houses with the nobility each having a ‘house’ under which their family resides and are granted a voice. Noble houses are arranged according to their social power and status, which works differently in each realm. One thing that is the same across realms, however, is that there is a singular Great House that essentially runs the realm (think Game of Thrones - the house on the throne is the Great House who makes most decisions with the somewhat democratic support of the lower houses in court). The house’s first born always inherits, regardless of gender, though at the time at which our story begins, thus far no two great houses have ever had their firstborn’s wed without one of them abdicating. Such a thing would mean two realms merge into one, and none have been so bold (so far).
Each Realm is well known for something, typically some sort of export that gives them economic leverage and also supports their defense against other realms. Over the centuries the desires and needs for specific goods have essentially stabilized the world’s political structure so that there are rarely wars and disagreements between realms plays out in small skirmish battles that rarely escalate to full scale war because everyone has a common interest in everyone else’s survival.
The number of realms and what they are known for is negotiable, but there should be at least five, and two that are essential, I think.
Great House 1 (name up to us): This house is situated on a realm where 75-90% of the crystals are mined and refined. As such, they are extremely wealthy and wield a great deal of international power, as all the other realms rely on them for their ‘good’ crystals (perhaps with 1 exception depending on the story - an antagonist realm with their own small crystal supply? Who knows). I envision this house as being highly sophisticated and aristocratic, very obsessed with appearances and etiquette. They often leave outdoor activities to the lower houses and tend to value financial acumen and the management of ‘business’ more than acquiring skills that require the use of one’s hands and one’s strength. I also envision them as having stunning good looks that are the result of good genes and good selection in arrangements of political marriages for their first born.
Great House 2 (name up to us): This house has long been known for their blacksmithing, but just in the last century they have made the discovery that will change the realms forever - gunpowder. This discovery changed everything because projectiles that are flung at high speeds without crystal energy are not blocked by conventional crystalline shielding. Hence, this great house controls the secret to defeating crystal weapons with weapons of their own. Naturally the airship navies of every realm are eager to get their hands on gunpowder cannons, and so this house is nearly as powerful and well off as House 1. I envision this house as generally more woodsman, rough-around-the-edges types. Everyone hunts and fishes, and they enjoy their fests and more fur-lined clothing than silks and fancy colors of typical aristocracy. They are not barbarians like some of the other Great Houses see them, but they are generally more capable in terms of working knowledge of mechanics and metal work as well as tracking, archery, and obviously marksmanship with rifles and pistols (if we decide they have them).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am open to a variety of plot ideas for this, with or without adult content, though any character I play will have their private kinks and obsessions. However, those things might not ever come up in our story, or if they do only rarely, or perhaps they might play a central role! It's up to us to discuss things and see where it goes.
My preference right now is to play a male character from "House 2" below, but I could also play a lady in a F/F pairing for any house if the idea is good. NPCs obviously will come in a lot.
As for me as a partner - I reply with as much detail as the scene merits, which could be anywhere from 2 paragraphs to 7 or 8 depending on what's going on. I am comfortable playing many NPC's and also capable of coming up with ideas on a whim, so if we want to not give names to every house, for example, then we can simply come up with them whenever/if they become relevant.
As far as kinks and limits go, my main kink is bondage, especially really tight, longer term bondage (aka, over a weekend or something). My preference is for casual teasing, but I also enjoy body worship, particular of female features like breasts and ass.
I generally need to really get into the RP for sex scenes to happen. I rarely enjoy them or find them exciting, so I stick with the teasing for a while first. I don't like lewd dirty talk at all, and bathroom activities stay in the bathroom. For more specific limits just PM me.
I am open to ideas for this. As I said, originally the world was made on the fly for an arranged marriage idea, but if you read about the world below and your mind goes somewhere with it I'd love to hear any idea you might have.
On to the world as it stands at present!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The world of Avalon (name is negotiable) is a mix of fantasy and steam-punk settings that draws a lot of inspiration from Jim Butcher's Cinder Spires series. Most of the world has a kind of medieval fantasy mystique, but there are more steampunk elements and machines, and some more primitive guns.[/left]
Magic: There is magic in the world, but genuine magic is very rare. What is not as rare are crystals that possess properties that can manipulate the world in certain ways. For example, crystals of a certain sort can manipulate gravity and help an airship float above ground. Other crystals are used for electricity to power engines or light homes. Still others might be used as a heat source, etc. In this world, almost everyone can manipulate crystals in a minimal way - everyone can drive a horseless carriage, for example - but some (perhaps even most) people have a specific attunement to the crystals so that they can do more with a specific type of crystal than everyone else. The type of crystal and how they are identified are negotiable, as is the process by which attunement is discovered.
Generally, crystals are used in weapons to fire bursts of energy, and as armor that shields against other crystal energy to a degree. With one exception (see House 2 below).
There are those who can manipulate crystals more fully, and this is basically the rare 'magic' in the world. Wizards and sorceresses wield staggering power that interacts with crystals in ways that even the attuned could not comprehend - in a sort of psychic connection with the crystals themselves. Such people are often a bit crazy, and are universally very dangerous (though they aren't all villains or unstable - just a bit nutty in the head). Most realms have one or two that they employ simply as a countermeasure to other wizardry types because crystalline weapons will hardly work against such foes.
Politics: The world of Avalon is separated by hierarchy of houses with the nobility each having a 'house' under which their family resides and are granted a voice. Noble houses are arranged according to their social power and status, which works differently in each realm. One thing that is the same across realms, however, is that there is a singular Great House that essentially runs the realm (think Game of Thrones - the house on the throne is the Great House who makes most decisions with the somewhat democratic support of the lower houses in court). The house's first born always inherits, regardless of gender, though at the time at which our story begins, thus far no two great houses have ever had their firstborn's wed without one of them abdicating. Such a thing would mean two realms merge into one, and none have been so bold (so far).
Each Realm is well known for something, typically some sort of export that gives them economic leverage and also supports their defense against other realms. Over the centuries the desires and needs for specific goods have essentially stabilized the world's political structure so that there are rarely wars and disagreements between realms plays out in small skirmish battles that rarely escalate to full scale war because everyone has a common interest in everyone else's survival.
The number of realms and what they are known for is negotiable, but there should be at least five, and two that are essential, I think.
Great House 1 (name up to us): This house is situated on a realm where 75-90% of the crystals are mined and refined. As such, they are extremely wealthy and wield a great deal of international power, as all the other realms rely on them for their 'good' crystals (perhaps with 1 exception depending on the story - an antagonist realm with their own small crystal supply? Who knows). I envision this house as being highly sophisticated and aristocratic, very obsessed with appearances and etiquette. They often leave outdoor activities to the lower houses and tend to value financial acumen and the management of 'business' more than acquiring skills that require the use of one's hands and one's strength. I also envision them as having stunning good looks that are the result of good genes and good selection in arrangements of political marriages for their first born.
Great House 2 (name up to us): This house has long been known for their blacksmithing, but just in the last century they have made the discovery that will change the realms forever - gunpowder. This discovery changed everything because projectiles that are flung at high speeds without crystal energy are not blocked by conventional crystalline shielding. Hence, this great house controls the secret to defeating crystal weapons with weapons of their own. Naturally the airship navies of every realm are eager to get their hands on gunpowder cannons, and so this house is nearly as powerful and well off as House 1. I envision this house as generally more woodsman, rough-around-the-edges types. Everyone hunts and fishes, and they enjoy their fests and more fur-lined clothing than silks and fancy colors of typical aristocracy. They are not barbarians like some of the other Great Houses see them, but they are generally more capable in terms of working knowledge of mechanics and metal work as well as tracking, archery, and obviously marksmanship with rifles and pistols (if we decide they have them).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a possible starter for an arranged marriage version of the plot. This one is M/F:
The Slovis Kingdom was in the midst of some difficult times. A series of disastrous events had caused a large shortage of crystals after several had shattered unexpectedly and the energy release had put two grain mills out of commission for months while repairs slowly moved forward. Fortunately, the Slovis family held the secret of gunpowder, a secret sought after by all the other realms because of it's immunity to crystal force. A cannon or rifle firing gunpowder could be volatile, but it also couldn't be stopped by crystal energy. They had also developed an air defense against cannon balls, called webbing, which was also a closely guarded secret. These assets kept their kingdom relevant, but they also were not a resource one could eat or use for anything agricultural. Hence, they needed trade badly.
Crystals were the thing needed most, and naturally the Hawkridge family were very interested in gunpowder, so the two had a mutual alliance waiting in the wings. Historically, the Hawkridge kingdom had always viewed the Slovis clan as uncouth and uncultured, using their non-crystal based weapons like barbarians. And the Slovis clan often considered the Hawkridge family and kingdom snooty and overly beholden to arbitrary rules of fashion and etiquette, rules that made little sense to the other kingdoms.
Spencer Slovis was the eldest son, having turned 25 just five days prior, and his hand in marriage to Liliana Hawkridge would be the glue the fused the bond between two nations that culturally couldn't be more different. He sighed as he stood at the alter, looking over the congregation of people and noted how his family and various powerful figures in the community sat exclusively on his side of the aisle and the Hawkridge house and their lower houses on the other. Not a single person from either realm intermingled.
He leaned over to his best friend and personal liege, Hubert and spoke softly, "You could cut the tension in here with a damned knife."
Hubert smirked and patted his shoulder, "I know, but in just a second you're going to see why you're the luckiest person in the room."
"Why? Because a woman I've never met, who probably hates just the idea of me, is going to walk down that aisle, forced to wed me because of our father's designs? Do you know, they insisted, insisted that I was the one who had to move to their realm, and father simply caved to that demand. Not exactly making us look strong, is it?"
"Aye, but that's the way of it mate. You know our situation is desperate. We had no leverage and they did. Trust me, in about thirty seconds, you won't think about any of that," chuckled Hubert.
Hubert was a stout man, though a bit on the short side with dusty blonde hair that was long enough to fit into a ponytail. He was strong, with broad shoulders and a square jaw, clean of any whiskers. Spencer, on the other hand, was not clean shaven, preferring the light shadow of dark stubble. His hair was dark brown and he was wiry thin, not skinny, but his strength was more deptively hidden than Hubert's. Both of they wore silk pants and tunics with the Slovis family crest of two flintlock pistols crossed over an airship silhouette.
Crystals were the thing needed most, and naturally the Hawkridge family were very interested in gunpowder, so the two had a mutual alliance waiting in the wings. Historically, the Hawkridge kingdom had always viewed the Slovis clan as uncouth and uncultured, using their non-crystal based weapons like barbarians. And the Slovis clan often considered the Hawkridge family and kingdom snooty and overly beholden to arbitrary rules of fashion and etiquette, rules that made little sense to the other kingdoms.
Spencer Slovis was the eldest son, having turned 25 just five days prior, and his hand in marriage to Liliana Hawkridge would be the glue the fused the bond between two nations that culturally couldn't be more different. He sighed as he stood at the alter, looking over the congregation of people and noted how his family and various powerful figures in the community sat exclusively on his side of the aisle and the Hawkridge house and their lower houses on the other. Not a single person from either realm intermingled.
He leaned over to his best friend and personal liege, Hubert and spoke softly, "You could cut the tension in here with a damned knife."
Hubert smirked and patted his shoulder, "I know, but in just a second you're going to see why you're the luckiest person in the room."
"Why? Because a woman I've never met, who probably hates just the idea of me, is going to walk down that aisle, forced to wed me because of our father's designs? Do you know, they insisted, insisted that I was the one who had to move to their realm, and father simply caved to that demand. Not exactly making us look strong, is it?"
"Aye, but that's the way of it mate. You know our situation is desperate. We had no leverage and they did. Trust me, in about thirty seconds, you won't think about any of that," chuckled Hubert.
Hubert was a stout man, though a bit on the short side with dusty blonde hair that was long enough to fit into a ponytail. He was strong, with broad shoulders and a square jaw, clean of any whiskers. Spencer, on the other hand, was not clean shaven, preferring the light shadow of dark stubble. His hair was dark brown and he was wiry thin, not skinny, but his strength was more deptively hidden than Hubert's. Both of they wore silk pants and tunics with the Slovis family crest of two flintlock pistols crossed over an airship silhouette.
And here's a F/F version that begins a couple weeks after the wedding:
Jasmine Crystalis
House Crystalis was the richest and most powerful house of Avalon. This was due in no small part to the discovery of the largest crystal deposits in the world just outside of the city of Carrollton, which they essentially governed with several minor houses. Until recently, crystals essentially ran the world. They were used in everything from the horseless carriages that zipped about on the roads to the giant naval fleets of airships in the sky. House Crystalis having the only real crystal refinery in the world, and the largest deposits that had crystals of every color and elemental attunement - including neutral, which anyone could use - meant that they essentially controlled both the world economy and, more importantly, they controlled the militaristic attitude of the world.
White, neutral crystals were used as the basis for shielding, which protected people from the energy bolts that came from the gauntlets issued to all guards and military personnel. The gauntlets had a copper mesh into which a small crystal fit and fired from a crystal until the copper overheated or the crystal's power diminished. Similarly, the shielding used copper meshing to conduct the energy and protect the wearer against the gauntlets until it overheated or the crystals power diminished. Hence, controlling the flow of crystals meant House Crystalis could cripple an army by simply refusing shipments.
That was, until about 15 years ago. That's when something began to show up that no one foresaw. Gunpowder. When it was first encountered a battalion of men were wiped out by just two snipers wearing crystal shielding. No gauntlet fire could touch them, but the shielding did nothing to stop the lead balls coming out of the rifles aimed the opposite direction. Ever since, the world had changed radically. Suddenly crystals weren't the only thing necessary for security.
Fortunately for Tyrone Crystalis, the current House patriarch, he was a very intelligent man. He had a daughter who was, in short, perhaps the most beautiful woman that had every existed in Avalon. Big, incredibly round and impossibly firm and perky boobs, a small waist lined with just the barest hint of muscle, sloping, wide hips that curved around to thick, strong-but-soft thighs and an ass that was heart-attack inducing! Coincidentally, she was also the heir to the house, which meant she was a political tool he could wield. After a decade of investigation, it turned out that House Donaghue had been rapidly increasing their power in the world. It made sense that they would be the inventors of this gun powder. They were, by most accounts, a bit more uncouth than the other 6 leading noble houses. Apparently they all, even the women, hunted and fished and weren't afraid of hard work.
This, Tyrone thought, would be good for Jasmine who had grown up in nothing but opulence and luxury. She was very intelligent when it came to book learning and, especially, where the mines and refinery's books were concerned. She ran that very well, but she was also naive, a little self-centered, and a bit too aware of her own beauty. Perhaps she needed someone who could tame her. Show her the ropes, so to speak. She had a good heart, but she just wasn't very self-aware regarding her shortcomings.
And so it was that Tyrone reached out the the leader of House *insert your house name here* and suggested an alliance, a combining of houses through marriage. The eldest, and heir of Donaghue was *YC name - female*, who also had a hell of a reputation herself, as Tyrone would learn as time wore on. The deal was to marry the two women. They would share a home in Carrollton with a vacation home in House *insert your house name* main city. Donaghue saw the benefit in the arrangement immediately and agreed.
It was a lovely wedding, lots of celebrating and cheerful dancing and food......and drinking. Lots of drinking. It turned out that House *insert your house name* could drink most of Crystalis under the table without doing anything uncouth, but poor Jasmine just had a little too much and made a bit of a scene. Nothing bad, just a little too loud, laughing a little too much, draping herself all over several of the women of minor houses in line of sight of *YC name*....that sort of thing.
But two weeks had gone by and they were cordial enough. They didn't argue, or fight. They simply lived together in a large, private cottage on the estate of the Crystalis' palace. What Jasmine didn't know, because of her lack of self-awareness and sligh self-centered attitude, was that, despite not sharing beds or even bedrooms, she was constantly getting on Ramona's nerves. Either she was lounging about in her underwear in clear view of the windows without drawing them closed, or she was having a little too much wine and snoring as she fell asleep on the fainting couch in the upstairs sitting room. She would leave her keys, or shoes in the middle of the floor....things like that. Any time *YC name* scolded her about it she'd just smile and laugh it off and give *YC name* a flirty look that she expected would simply solve the problem because of her beautiful body.
After two weeks of this it was no small wonder that *YC name* had, very curtly excused herself and left the house to go have a walk and calm down, perhaps with a drink. Jasmine didn't know and hardly cared, because today a box had arrived and she'd been looking forward to this for a long time. She opened it and saw the piles of clothing from another of the great houses, House Slovis, who had perfected fashion. She pulled out an absolutely stunning set of undergarments that were made of pure, glistening satin, glossy and red. They were bikini style, and a thong so the 'bra' was just two supporting triangles made of the shiny material, though Jasmine's perfect boobs hardly needed the support.
"Ohhhhhhh maybe *YC name* will finally enjoy the look of me in this," she said to herself, biting her bottom lip. She had a lot of desire for her new wife to look at her with a bit more desire. That would be nice. She put it on, leaving her ass cheeks utterly bare save for a small triangle where the cheeks separated at the top, and her boobs covered and half-bare. They sat slightly apart and looked amazing with the shiny red clinging over them. She decided to lounge in the living room on the first of the two floors in the cottage, where Ramona would see her immediately. She then picked up her accounting book and began to do a bit of work while she waited for her wife, hoping to see some sort of positive reaction for once.
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