Post by Dunce on Oct 18, 2015 18:55:32 GMT -6
The Valar Kingdom of Duncetochi
A map of the kingdom.
A map of the kingdom.
Overview
Duncetochi, a fairly new nation in Libertas, is a byproduct of many years' struggle to unify a series of warring Elven states, all fighting for control of a supposed magical epicenter, now the location of the nation's capital, Valvishie. After a century of recovery, Duncetochi now stands as a rapidly growing military power, heavily realiant on magical resources and Elvish 'magi-tech' to crush resistance when it arises. The current monarch, Queen Sa'al Ridias, is described by her subordinates as cold, but fair: A sentiment that could be shared with the whole of the young kingdom. A cultural marvel and a military powerhouse, Duncetochi is slowly becoming one of the greater powers in the region.
...And rumors spread of her need to consume even more magical resources.
A shrine of Vita. Often seen near pockets of magical residue.
Geography
Duncetochi could best be described as temperate. Surrounding the various cities and towns, venerable woods of towering evergreens and cascading rivers paint a serene picture picture of a lazy nation in the midst of an era of peace. Initial looks are often deceiving. The winters in the region are short at best, leaving light snowfall in the highlands and a crisp frost in the forests. Nothing incredibly destructive. The beaches are often littered with thick jungles of bush and shrubbery that tease the golden sands hidden below the tides. The mountains to the East of Valvishie are tipped with snow, and provide a picturesque view of the entire kingdom from the peak, provided one can survive the climb.
...And rumors spread of her need to consume even more magical resources.
A shrine of Vita. Often seen near pockets of magical residue.
Geography
Duncetochi could best be described as temperate. Surrounding the various cities and towns, venerable woods of towering evergreens and cascading rivers paint a serene picture picture of a lazy nation in the midst of an era of peace. Initial looks are often deceiving. The winters in the region are short at best, leaving light snowfall in the highlands and a crisp frost in the forests. Nothing incredibly destructive. The beaches are often littered with thick jungles of bush and shrubbery that tease the golden sands hidden below the tides. The mountains to the East of Valvishie are tipped with snow, and provide a picturesque view of the entire kingdom from the peak, provided one can survive the climb.
Culture
Elvish culture is, of course, the mainstay of Duncetochi. Magic is considered both a resource and something spiritual, with shrines built within pockets of high magic, where many elves make pilgrimage to drink from a fountain and pray to their gods, Vita and Morte, the alleged forces of life and death. The motif of creation and destruction is something that runs rampant in Duncetochian culture. Newborns are seen as gifts from Vita and are immediately evaluated for their 'magical ability'. The dead are burned so that they might pass into the next life faster, to live with Morte in his kingdom of everlasting elves, one of the reasons there are no graves in Duncetochi. "Tutto vive e tutto muore", or "everything lives and everything dies" is the inscription carved below the crest of the Ridias royal family, showing the dedication of the people to their gods.
A result of this duality between gods is also visible in the magic of Duncetochi. Priests and mages of Vita find uses for magic in healing and construction primarily, while priests and mages of Morte focus on one thing: destruction. The philosophy is that magic has two purposes: creation and destruction. One cannot exist without the other, or the universe will be off balance. Either nothing will exist, or everything will swallow itself. Practitioners of Vita and Morte thus never find themselves in conflict with one another, primarily because they know that the other /MUST/ exist for things to function. Balance is key, so to speak.
Science is also a massive mainstay of Duncetochian culture. If a young elf is 'gifted', he or she is sent to Valvishie's massive college for mages, the University of Magical Application. constructed on the base of the magical epicenter near the south of the city. The university defies all laws of physics due to the constant magic exposure, causing it to often change shape to the unaided or un-gifted eye. The short life-span of mages lands them as officers in Duncetochi's military, where they weave incredible feats of magic that devastate rebellions and border conflicts, with the help of the living magical 'batteries' they are often paired with.
A result of this duality between gods is also visible in the magic of Duncetochi. Priests and mages of Vita find uses for magic in healing and construction primarily, while priests and mages of Morte focus on one thing: destruction. The philosophy is that magic has two purposes: creation and destruction. One cannot exist without the other, or the universe will be off balance. Either nothing will exist, or everything will swallow itself. Practitioners of Vita and Morte thus never find themselves in conflict with one another, primarily because they know that the other /MUST/ exist for things to function. Balance is key, so to speak.
Science is also a massive mainstay of Duncetochian culture. If a young elf is 'gifted', he or she is sent to Valvishie's massive college for mages, the University of Magical Application. constructed on the base of the magical epicenter near the south of the city. The university defies all laws of physics due to the constant magic exposure, causing it to often change shape to the unaided or un-gifted eye. The short life-span of mages lands them as officers in Duncetochi's military, where they weave incredible feats of magic that devastate rebellions and border conflicts, with the help of the living magical 'batteries' they are often paired with.
The University of Magical Application, according to one artist's depiction.
The Military and 'Magi-Tech'
Traditional Valar armor is elegant in design,
allowing the user easy movement at the cost
of protection. Additionally, it's not nearly as
flamboyant as Valar elite knight armor, making it
more practical in combat.
A nation almost entirelly reliant on ports, Duncetochi developed one of the stronger naval forces in the region, with several fleets armed with a newer advancement of the era: cannons. Although impractical on smaler boarding vessels, these cannons show their usefulness when strafing enemy vessels and the like. The queen has even gone so far as to hire human mercenaries as 'privatiers' to attack vessels from nations that are deemed enemies.
The armies of Duncetochi rely primarily on two things: calvary and archers. As such, spears, short-swords, long-bows, and throwing spears have become some of the favorites of soldiers in the nation. Even infantry men are more skilled with a lance or spear than they would ever be with something more traditional, such as a mace or long-sword. It's earned the infantry and calvary the nickname of 'Pike-Dicks' across Libertas. Archers of the nation are trained to prioritize accuracy of arrows over amount of arrows fired. As such, the more specialized archers earn themselves positions as scout-units in smaller engagement encounters, often equipped with magi-tech enhanced bows and poisoned arrows for maximum effectiveness.
A traditional long-bow.
Being almost waterlocked has provided Duncetochi with quite a few military disadvantages, also leading to the need for rapid military development. Using the mineralized form of magic, mages have found a way in recent years to imbed sigils into weapons such as swords, shields, and bows, for interesting effect. These can range from things such as seemingly reducing the weight of a blade, to heating the metal to cut more easily. The enchantments are entirely dependent on the skill of the craftsman and mage who create them. Magi-tech ruins can also be used for purposes other than weapon enhancement, such as setting sigils that explode on contact,
An example of a Magi-Tech symbol. This particular one is used for improving bow accuracy.
The Tree
The Military and 'Magi-Tech'
Traditional Valar armor is elegant in design,
allowing the user easy movement at the cost
of protection. Additionally, it's not nearly as
flamboyant as Valar elite knight armor, making it
more practical in combat.
A nation almost entirelly reliant on ports, Duncetochi developed one of the stronger naval forces in the region, with several fleets armed with a newer advancement of the era: cannons. Although impractical on smaler boarding vessels, these cannons show their usefulness when strafing enemy vessels and the like. The queen has even gone so far as to hire human mercenaries as 'privatiers' to attack vessels from nations that are deemed enemies.
The armies of Duncetochi rely primarily on two things: calvary and archers. As such, spears, short-swords, long-bows, and throwing spears have become some of the favorites of soldiers in the nation. Even infantry men are more skilled with a lance or spear than they would ever be with something more traditional, such as a mace or long-sword. It's earned the infantry and calvary the nickname of 'Pike-Dicks' across Libertas. Archers of the nation are trained to prioritize accuracy of arrows over amount of arrows fired. As such, the more specialized archers earn themselves positions as scout-units in smaller engagement encounters, often equipped with magi-tech enhanced bows and poisoned arrows for maximum effectiveness.
A traditional long-bow.
An example of a Magi-Tech symbol. This particular one is used for improving bow accuracy.
The Tree
Smack dab in the middle of the nation rests a tree. A tree so massive that it extends beyond the heavens, emitting enough magical particles to kill anyone within a fifty meter radius. As such, it's considered the prize of Duncetochi, and is interpreted by many as the passage to the kingdom of Morte, possibly even the birthplace of elven kind. The current queen takes an active interest in the Tree, funding researchers from the University of Magical Application to conduct all sorts of tests and experiments within the Tree's vicinity. Wars are fought with the neighboring Valar Kingdoms over the Tree due to the sheer mystery and wonder of it. It's become both a symbol of elvish dominance and of elvish hubris.
