[PEACH] Chess World (Working Title, all placeholders up, feel free to comment now)

[Knight9910]

This is a world I've been working on for a while. It first started because one of my friends created a character based on a chess pawn (which he since gave to me and she became Joan, who you'll hear about here eventually). From there I added onto it, writing more characters and kingdoms for it. Eventually it grew into this.

Before we go any further, know that I am aware that the kingdoms bear a resemblance to the five colors of Magic: The Gathering. That wasn't the intention. Actually the kingdoms' philosophies are based on the four suits of the tarot. I can only assume M:tG did the same thing.

So as not to overburden readers (and because I don't have all the writeups finished) I'll post them one at a time, but I decided to leave teaser messages in my placeholders.

Right now all I really have for this is an outline of sorts. My goal for this is to create a fully functioning DnD system for this world. (Well, maybe...if I'm not too lazy for that.) I am open to PEACH, as well as any suggestions, advice, ideas, additions, etc. A few things to mention, though...

• The world is normal magic and does have monsters, but is human-dominated. Orcs do not exist. Dwarf is just a word for a small human. Elves do exist but are more akin to fairies and are almost never seen. Most humans will never see an elf in their lifetime.

• Wyverns are common, especially in a certain kingdom. It is known that true dragons did exist at one point in history, but it's not known if they still do or not. They are widely believed to be extinct.

• The setting's religion is monotheistic, based on judeo-muslim theology. That said, although there is only one God, there is more than one source for divine spells. Divine spells can also be drawn from the power of the Fallen Angel, or from the power of your own ambition and philosophy.

• Demons and angels both exist. They can speak to mortals from across dimensions but almost never appear in the material world themselves. Angels can manifest but almost never do, preferring to allow humans to solve their own problems. Demons can not manifest directly without being instantly destroyed or banished. Demons can enter the material plane by possessing mortals, thereby allowing themselves to hide from divine wrath, but this is uncommon. A demon-possessed human would be considered a boss-level encounter.

• The necromancy spell school exists, but the ability to create undead of any kind does not. Only "natural" undead exist, beings that became undead through their own will. There are vampires, ghosts, wights, and at least one lich, though all are extremely rare.

[Knight9910]

Kingdom of the Red Flood (Chaotic Neutral)
The army of chaos and ecstasy, servants of the bloodthirsty immortal.

Though only two hundred years old the Red Kingdom claim the most territory of any kingdom in the world. The only true citizens of the kingdom, however, are the Red Army: the semi-nomadic followers of Asher Naran, the immortal Red King.

The Red Army are known as quick-tempered and passionate warriors. Their love is deeper than any other love and their hate is deeper than any other hate. Of all the great kingdoms they alone are true warriors; the White considers the morality of their actions, the Blue considers the outcome, and the Black considers the benefit. The Red Army have no patience for such hesitation. Their bold action gives them the benefit of the initiative in battle but also tends to result in rash decisions. They don't mind this however, for when the battle turns against them is when they shine brightest. They have often been called demons, and a demon's true home is in the most hellish of battles.

Despite all of this the Red King has begun to feel disappointed in his kingdom. During the most recent war against the Black Kingdom they suffered tremendous casualties due in large part to cowardice; many soldiers, more concerned with their lives than their comrades or honor, broke rank and fled only to be easily slaughtered by the merciless Black Army. In response to this Asher created the honor guard: skilled soldiers who share his distaste for cowardice, led by the half-immortal damphir, to help him cull the kingdom of distasteful elements.

The symbol of the Red Kingdom is a wineglass emblazoned with a burning heart, a representation of their belief in living life to the fullest. They are an army of chaos and their preferred element is water, which can give life as easily as it takes it away. They are as at home on the open sea as they are on land.

Appearance
Conquerors by nature the Red Kingdom's sphere of influence extends over much of the known world, however most of these people are not considered true citizens. The kingdom proper, where the true citizens live, is in a vast mountain range on the eastern edge of the continent. From the air one can see vast iron deposits in the mountain range, as if a giant brush left erratic splotches of black and red-orange all across the highlands. Walled communities dot the mountains as well, usually comprised of miners working the iron deposits or searching for other valuable minerals.

The largest city and capitol of the Red Kingdom is Savanih Szamo, a massive city/fortress surrounded by thick stone walls studded by razor sharp iron blades. Inside the wall is a wide open area and then a second wall. Within this outer perimeter is a sea of tents and makeshift battle yards, reeking of blood, sweat, and alcohol. Inside the second wall are all of the city's permanent structures: shops, forges, temples, and homes for the higher ranking officers. In the very center is the palace of Asher Naran, a castle crafted of gneiss and black marble. Three tall spires rise up from the palace, stretching into the sky and topped by wyvern nests.

History
Two hundred years ago there were only three great kingdoms, though there was a rising power which appeared as though it would become a fourth, a coastal kingdom ruled by an intelligent but narcissistic man named Jubal. Jubal's best friend and general was a man named Asher Naran. Asher served Jubal faithfully. He understood Jubal's weaknesses but loved him as a brother and would have fought to protect him to the end.

But Jubal began to distrust Asher. His minister, Caleb, spoke lies to him and told him that Asher coveted his throne. Over time Jubal began to believe these things. He sent his men to find Asher and bring him back in chains.

Cornered and alone Asher found himself facing his former comrades. Among them was Shani, a close ally. She offered Asher her sword, that he might die honorably rather than be humiliated by the snake Caleb. Asher accepted and plunged the blade through his body.

Of all the spectrum of human emotions there are two which death can not hold sway over. The first is love, and the second is hate. Asher's love for his brother and his hatred of Caleb would not allow him to die, and so he didn't. After five days Asher Naran rose from the grave to seek his revenge.

Asher gathered about himself warriors loyal to him. Shani and others came to him when they saw he lived again. Marching under the banner of chaos they arrived at the capitol. Asher Naran's wrath descended upon the city and erased it completely, leaving not even a single brick to mark that it had ever been there, nor a single survivor to tell the tale, only a river of blood.

To Jubal, Asher gave a quick death but Caleb, who had turned Asher's brother against him for his own selfish reasons was shown no such mercy. He was bound and flogged repeatedly for twelve days, then molten silver was poured down his throat, and finally he was torn limb from limb and the pieces thrown into the crimson river.

His vengeance complete, Asher Naran still felt a longing for the world that had been denied to him. He decided now he would take this world for all the pleasure it could give. He allowed Shani to drink of his own blood so that she also would gain his gift of immortality. Together they created the Red Army to conquer the world in the name of chaos. Eventually Asher founded his capitol city of Savanih Szamo high in the eastern mountains, both for the defensive value they provided as well as the challenge of living in the harsh and forbidding highlands.

Foreign Relations
Anarchists at heart, the Red Kingdom do not work with concepts such as enemies and allies. In the words of their queen, alliances are “short and meaningless things that only last as long as is convenient.” They treat others on a case-by-case basis. Those who do right by them may become lifelong friends, while those who show them disrespect rarely live long enough to regret their mistake.

The Red Kingdom has made a habit of “testing” the other nations with periodic assaults. While closer kingdoms are tested more often for obvious reasons, even distant nations can count on dealing with an attack at least once a generation.

The Black Kingdom in particular have become something of rivals to the Red. Part of this is due to their philosophical differences, with the Red Kingdom believing in chaos and the Black in unwavering order, but much of their rivalry also stems from their proximity, the Black Kingdom being the closest of all the great kingdoms to the Red. The Red Kingdom's assaults were finally put to an (almost certainly temporary) end recently with a vicious sneak attack from the Black Kingdom. Though the Red Army drove off their attackers they lost over a third of their forces in the fighting and were forced to withdraw back to their capitol.

Important NPCs

Asher Naran, Red King
The immortal ruler of the Red Kingdom appears as a human save for his visible fangs and red and gold eyes. He is a notorious hedonist and a lover of chaos. Although a king he allows his followers to exist in a state of controlled anarchy, moving his hand only enough to let them know he is still in charge while allowing them the freedom they desire. When he chooses to engage in combat himself his style may give the appearance of little more than random chaos, but he is in fact an expert fighter and tactician. He is a master of hand-to-hand combat and specializes in counter-attacks.

Shani, Red Queen
Though Asher has taken many wives only one has ever had the power and dedication to be called the Red Queen, and that is Shani. She revels in chaos and confusion and has been known to toy with her enemies before defeating them. Though she often leaves her foes humiliated and destroyed she is not cruel and those with promise are often offered salvation as members of the Red Army. There are those who say Shani is the reincarnation of the long dead Queen of Monsters.

Janan, Honor Guard
One of Asher Naran's most trusted and most dangerous generals, she caught her lord's attention by defending him from an attack by a black psychic during the second summit of the great kingdoms. He allowed her to drink a diluted concoction of his blood, turning her into a half-immortal damphir. Janan was already a skilled and powerful wyvern rider before her transformation. Her increased reflexes, strength, and resilience have made her a match even for her own wyvern. She has since become commander of Asher's aerial corps.

Inanna, Sub-Commander
Janan's lover and sub-commander, Inanna is more powerful than the average soldier, but still somewhat lacking. She can't use magic, and doesn't have a wyvern to call her own. What she does have is of particular rarity in the Red Army: a mind for logistics and strategy. It was this (along with her kickin' body) that made Janan select her as her sub-commander. Inanna takes care of all of the business and tactical decisions for their unit, and leaves the business of fighting to her commander.

Red Pieces

Red Rook: Ignis Fatuus
Alien beings from the world of spirits, ignii are beings of pure energy possessing incredible illusion powers, which drift into our world for reasons unknown to humans. They feed on emotion, which draws many of them to the Red Kingdom, where they are recruited into Asher's service. To hide their true nature they create the illusion of a human body, holding their true self inside a lantern. Their primary weapon is misdirection and confusion, though they can also release waves of pain-inducing energy when threatened.

Red Knight: Wyvern Rider
Distant relatives to the apparently extinct dragons, wyverns are enormous flying reptilians with lethal claws and spiked tails. Twice the length of a horse when full grown, it takes tremendous strength just to survive an encounter with a wyvern, much less to ride one. The knights of the Red Army have this strength in spades. A red knight does not tame or control her mount, however. Rather, wyvern and human work together, each respecting and caring for the other.

Red Bishop: Sorceror
Though the Red Army doesn't discriminate against any form of magic, it has been mostly denied to them. The Creator refuses to allow them access to light magic, knowing they would only use it for their own selfish ends. Lucifer only grants his magic when it suits his purposes, which is unacceptable to the Red Army. As such the red bishops are sorcerors, magicians who learned to command magic by willpower alone, denying both light and dark.

Red Pawn: Barbarian
The soldiers of the Red Army are called barbarians by every one of the other great kingdoms. They are trained not in camps or gyms, but on the battlefield, in gladiatorial combat, and in street brawls. They are ruthless and vicious, though also prone to hedonism.

[Knight9910]

Kingdom of the Black Earth (Lawful Neutral)
The empire of man, which defies both Heaven and Hell.

The Black Kingdom is an empire of darkness. Forged by demonic power, they were nearly destroyed once when their evil patron grew angry with them. Under the command of the first Black King they recovered and from their loss they learned the value of self-reliance. Every individual in the kingdom is encouraged to strive to be the best he can, thereby strengthening the kingdom as a whole so that they will never again have to be subject to anyone else's whims.

What the Black Kingdom values most is development of one's self, but contrary to common belief they are not cruel or selfish. They simply believe actions that don't benefit oneself to be impractical. The Black Kingdom are also not liars or traitors. They still follow the teachings of the first Black King, believing that one's neighbors, friends, and family are just as important as one's self and to betray them is blasphemy.

The Black Kingdom of today stretches from corner to corner of their dark forest, with a sphere of influence that extends much further. Many lesser kingdoms owe their allegiance to the Black, enjoying a peaceful existence while firmly under the thumb of their Black Kingdom governors. While many of these kingdoms are very loyal others despise their rulers, accusing the Black King of denying them the chance to live up to the same ideals of ambition and self-reliance he claims to promote.

The symbol of the Black Kingdom is five diamonds arranged to form a pentacle, symbols of wealth and well-being. Their favored element is earth, as it is earth which gives them life. The volcanic soil of their tropical forest is full of nutrients and rare minerals, and they have become very good at making the most of these resources.

Appearance
Built in a lush rainforest in the shadow of a dormant volcano the igneous, nutrient-rich soil of the Black Kingdom has a deep black color, hence their name.

The architecture of the kingdom has changed but still borrows much from its ancient roots. Stone structures are common and those of multiple levels often take on a stepped pyramid design. Because it rains so much plazas and bazaars are rare and always covered. A thousand years ago monolithic stone heads were a popular form of sculpture and these can still be found throughout the kingdom, though in the last few hundred years their style has moved more toward realism.

The kingdom's greatest artistic marvel is doubtlessly the royal palace. The palace was built by the first Black King to give his people a symbol of prosperity to rally around, and over the centuries it has been built onto by each successive king. Around the outer courtyard are five towers topped with gold. The towers are connected by covered walkways in the form of a pentacle surrounding the central pyramid, which stands seven levels high. Within the palace sculptures, tapestries, and paintings from every artistic era of the kingdom's history can be found, along with elaborate reliefs carved into every wall.

Although beautiful, the Black Kingdom has somewhat of a drab feel. The nearby mountains trap rainclouds over their kingdom and the stone architecture gives the kingdom a very gray, dull appearance.

History
Although surprising to some, the Black Kingdom began as just another one of many small tribes in their tropical forest. Their Chieftain signed a pact with the Fallen Angel that he would be given a mighty kingdom. With ruthless ambition and the backing of evil magic he quickly conquered the surrounding villages and tribes, creating an empire.

Just as he was set to move into the outside world Lucifer appeared before him again, demanding that the empire join his rebellion against the Creator. The Chieftain refused. He knew well what happens to those who challenge God and, though merciless and ambitious, he would not betray his people by involving them in a battle they couldn't win. The Fallen Angel was enraged and vowed to take back what he had given. Demons took possession of the Chieftain's only son, driving him to assassinate his own father, and then to burn the palace with himself still inside.

Fire consumed the capitol city. With no heirs left to the throne the Chieftain's generals all attempted to seize control, tearing the kingdom apart with civil war. Just as it seemed all would be lost the first Black King appeared. He had been a philosopher before his kingdom's civil war and he was a wise and charismatic man. He spoke out against the generals, saying their desire to rule had led them to betray the people they were sworn to protect. With his message of self-reliance, ambition, and loyalty he gained the peoples' support and exterminated the warring generals one by one, unifying the kingdom once more.

Over two thousand years later the Black Kingdom still follows the teachings of the first Black King. They deny the Fallen Angel, though he has long sought to bring their kingdom back under his dominion. In order to avoid another civil war they do not follow a divine right of succession. The new Black King is whoever manages to prove their potential to the current king.

Foreign Relations
The Black Kingdom's philosophy of self-promotion at the expense of others has always put them at odds with the White Kingdom who feel it is their duty to destroy this perceived evil. The Black Kingdom in turn sees the White Kingdom as evil, believing their message of helping others at the cost of yourself and your friends amounts to betrayal. The two have been at war almost continuously throughout their history and regularly clash over territory.

The Black Kingdom are presently at peace with the other two Great Kingdoms, though it hasn't always been that way. They have fended off attacks from the Red Kingdom on numerous occasions before putting a -likely temporary- stop to it with a devastating surprise attack on the Red Kingdom's capitol that cost the lives of over a third of the Red Army.

The only hostilities the Black Kingdom has had with the Blue was a single occasion when they stole and attempted to reverse-engineer some of the Blue Kingdom's magic crystals. They were forced to abandon the attempt when they realized Deep Blue's connection to the crystals made utilizing them without his knowledge impossible. Despite all their precautions and defenses the Blue King still overran their research facility and destroyed it by detonating the crystals within. The distance between their kingdoms prevented things from escalating and aside from that single incident the Black Kingdom has had little reason for war with the Blue.

Important NPCs

Seraiah, Black King
Although still a child and not the result of any breeding program, Seraiah's has always been a special existence. When still young he discovered the power of black magic in his blood and came to understand his true nature and destiny. He is half angel, immaculately conceived under the providence of the Fallen One himself, fated to become ruler of his kingdom and to bring it back to the path of evil. Seraiah has accepted half of this destiny, gladly taking over as the new Black King with his predecessor's death, however he will struggle until the end of time to never allow his kingdom to fall into Satan's hands.

The Creature, Black Queen
A creature which has long since lost its name, this being was once an ordinary human, appointed as Seraiah's guardian, and the boy's closest friend. This was in the time when Seraiah first began to realize his true nature and the King's top general, fearing the prince's growing power, betrayed the kingdom in order to slaughter the boy. The creature gave everything he had to protect his young charge. So great was his love for his prince that it would not allow him to die, and so even after his bones were shattered and the last of his blood flowed out from his wounds he still continues to fight. As long as Seraiah lives the Creature will still exist, fighting to protect his beloved master.

Black Pieces

Black Rook: Juggernaut
While every kingdom uses breeding programs to produce better horses, dogs, and other animals, only the Black Kingdom has dared to carry on such programs with humans. The strongest -though not necesarily the most powerful- of these super-humans are the juggernauts, ten foot tall muscular monsters with the strength of a dozen lesser men, but with the minds of mere children.

Black Knight: Panther Warrior
The black knights are not knights in the traditional sense at all. They are specially bred assassins and infiltrators, capable of maneuvering past enemies and obstacles as easily as the most skilled cavalryman. In emulation of the great jungle cats they dress in all black and practice a style of martial arts based around the use of steel claws. A potent hemotoxin extracted from jungle plants is forged directly into their blades and even the slightest scratch can lead to death in moments.

Black Bishop: Psion
The creation of the black bishop began as an experiment in breeding for high intelligence, hoping it would make one better at magic. Instead, the children created through the program began to exhibit the ability to read and direct weak minds, and in some cases a limited telekinetic ability. The programs were quickly turned toward maximizing these abilities and the result was the psions. Highly specialized, most psions aren't even capable of speech, communicating only with telepathy. They are quite possibly the most dangerous of the Black army's soldiers. Only the very strongest of minds can resist their onslaught, in which case the foe will be pounded into paste with telekinetic shockwaves instead.

Black Pawn: Conscript
It is law in the Black Kingdom that every citizen must spend at least five years of his or her life in the military. These conscripts make up the bulk of the kingdom's army. Though they may lack the inherent strength or skill of the other pieces, these conscripts are encouraged -like any member of the Black Kingdom- to do their very best for themselves and their nation, and many end up meeting or even surpassing the abilities of the kingdom's super-soldiers.

[Knight9910]

People of the island that fell from the sky, followers of the god built by men.
(Placeholder post)

[Knight9910]

Kingdom of the White Flame (Lawful Good)
The chosen people of God, protectors of His beloved creation.

The Kingdom of the White Flame, better known as the White Kingdom, is a spiritual kingdom of temples and ancient castles, steeped in history. Over two thousand years old, the kingdom unified a century before the Black Kingdom, making them the oldest of the four great kingdoms.

The White Kingdom values morality and tradition above all else. They follow a complex code of behavior that emphasizes introspection, charity, humility, and moderation, with the end goal of developing oneself into a better person who can take pride in himself and his works. Though they place importance on intellectual and social progress as well, their devotion to the ways of the past makes them slow to change. Though they abolished slavery and the use of the dark arts long ago women in the kingdom still possess few rights and, with the sole exception of the White Queen, are forbidden from serving in their military or holding public office.

The White Kingdom's symbol is a staff topped with a clover. Since the clover is an edible and nutritious plant it symbolizes the bounty provided by the Creator. All of their clergy and mages carry such staves and the symbol of the clover adorns all their citadels and temples. Their preferred element is the holy fire of Heaven, which purifies the unclean and lights the path to Celestia.

Appearance
The White Kingdom is the second smallest of the four great kingdoms, due to their unwillingness to subjugate other lands. Their kingdom rests at the northwestern edge of the continent, on a fertile grassy plain, surrounded on two sides by ocean. The White Kingdom is a beautiful place, free from pollution and refuse. This is not by accident; the people of the kingdom believe their entire realm to be sacred land and to plunder or sully it in any way is blasphemy.

The White Kingdom believes it is important to have pride, both in yourself and your works, and this is reflected in their architecture. Buildings in the kingdom are created for form as much as function, especially religious and political structures. Domes and spires are common in these buildings, and all of their structures tend to incorporate large windows to let in as much of the sun's light as possible.

While sculpture and paintings are common most artists in the White Kingdom prefer to work with tile mosaics. These mosaics are usually of a mystical or philosophical nature, often depicting holy symbols and text, as well as images from the kingdom's history and mythology.

History
Three thousand years ago there lived a farmer named Ibrahim. Ibrahim had many wives, many servants, and many acres of land. Moreover, he was a good and righteous man. He treated his servants with compassion, the land with care, and he always shared what he had, both when his goods were plenty and when his goods were scarce.

One year there came a terrible draught. The stream which gave water to the fields dried up. Ibrahim's crops died, his livestock began to wither. It was during the hottest day of summer that two travellers came upon his farm. By their looks he knew they had neither eaten nor drank in days. Even though his well was nearly dry and his food stores nearly empty, he took them in and gave them food and drink and a place to sleep.

The next day, one of Ibrahim's guests went into the field to speak with him. A fire as bright as the sun burned within the man's eyes, and with every step into the field the soil darkened and the once-dead crops began to grow. The man spoke to his benefactor and, though his voice was only barely more than a whisper, the entire world shook with each word, for these were the words of the one who came before all else, who would still be when everything else was gone. These were the words of God.

"I have watched you for a long time, Ibrahim. You are a kind and generous man. You are the very embodiment of everything that I have wished for my children to be." He held out his hand toward the farmer. "Please," he said.

Confused and awestruck, the old farmer took the young man's hand. In an instant he found himself looking down from atop a high mountain. He saw a fertile plain, dotted by gleaming white cities. "From this day forth your people are my people as well. You shall serve me and I shall take glory in your worship. As you care for your land and your kin, so shall your descendants care for this entire world. What you are seeing is their world, the world I shall give them. A world of prosperity and righteousness."

Ibrahim had not the courage to speak, but the man knew his thoughts nonetheless. He continued, his voice still a whisper. "You need not fear your worth, Ibrahim. In time I will make my presence among your people known. For now, you need only believe in me and follow the voice of kindness that lives within your own heart."

Just as rapidly as the vision had come, it was now gone. The young man and his companion, as well, were nowhere to be seen. Still, Ibrahim knew that they would be with him and his kin forever.

Foreign Relations
Although the second smallest of the four great kingdoms, the White Kingdom have many allies among the lesser kingdoms of the world. This coalition of allied nations, along with the blessing of the Creator, give them power to rival the greatest of the other kingdoms.

Throughout their history the White Kingdom has gone to war with each of the other great kingdoms. They have fended off attacks from the Red Kingdom, of course, and are currently involved in ongoing conflicts with the Blue and Black kingdoms.

The Blue Kingdom has attempted many times to leave their island and seize a foothold on the mainland. They committed numerous atrocities in their quest to conquer the mainland, prompting the White Kingdom to step in. The Blue Kingdom was driven back and forced to surrender, though they have recently neglected to renew their peace treaty, opting instead to attack the White Kingdom.

The Black Kingdom as well has always been the nemesis of the White Kingdom, due in part to the dark empire's policy of self-promotion at the cost of others and in part to their history. The Black Kingdom was founded with the aid of the Fallen Angel, the enemy of God, and in the eyes of the White Kingdom this makes them evil.

Important NPCs

__, White King
The White Kingdom follows a divine right of succession, all Kings must be the direct descendant of Ibrahim, the grandfather of the kingdom. As with those before him, the current White King is King and General, a just mediator, and an expert tactician, though he is often accused of being stubborn and self-righteous.

Kristen, White Queen
The only woman to ever be allowed to serve in her Kingdom's military, the White Queen won that right with unmatched conviction and skill. Often called the Angel Queen, she is intelligent, righteous, and compassionate and is the White Kingdom's greatest champion.

White Pieces

White Rook: Golem
Longing to be more like their creator, the magicians of the White Kingdom attempted to create life themselves. The result was the rook golems, humongous creatures of stone and clay, given animation through magic. Lacking the breath of life, however, they are not actually sentient and can not even speak.

White Knight: Paladin
The paladins are a sect of militaristic warrior-monks, knowledgable in religon and history, as well as expert swordsmen and equestrians. Though they may seem to lack the power of the Blue Kingdom's mechanical steeds or the Red Kingdom's wyverns, they are driven by a righteous fury and are capable of calling upon God' power to fuel their attacks.

White Bishop: Light Mage
Although sorcerors are detested and the dark magic of the fallen angel is illegal, light magic is considered a gift from the Creator. Half wizard and half cleric, the light mages study and practice this magic and can use it to heal the injured or sick or to rain destruction upon their foes. The highest ranks of the light mages have the authority to call upon the Creator to speak His divine Word, altering reality in more drastic ways.

White Pawn: Coalition Soldier
It can be said that there are two militaries within the White Kingdom. First is the military of the church, which produces the paladins, light mages, and golems. Second is the Coalition, a far more secular military organization formed of soldiers from each of the White Kingdom's allied nations. Though they all may look different, have different backgrounds, and even practice different fighting styles, they are united under the goal of defeating their enemies and protecting their homeland.

[Knight9910]

The newest of the kingdoms, those who dare to seek peace.
(Placeholder post)

[Knight9910]

Believers in the end of days who seek to accelerate the world's destruction.
(Placeholder post.)

[radmelon]

The name "Chess World" immediately brought to mind the battlefield in homestuck, a planet sized chessboard. (That is also a planet.) Was this intentional?

[Knight9910]

No. I should probably change the name. It is kind of silly, isn't it? ^^;;

[radmelon]

Not at all!
That was what made me click the link!

[Knight9910]

Yeah. When people are posting just to say "the only reason I even bothered looking at your well thought out and well written idea that you've obviously put a lot of thought and emotion into is because the name made me think it was something from a webcomic I read" then yes, I think it's definitely a good idea to change the name.

[radmelon]

Point, I suppose. Doesn't mean I won't keep watching this though, it looks quite interesting.

[Knight9910]

Sorry for yelling at you. ^^;;

[polity4life]

It's curious that you picked water to represent this carpe diem faction. Water has typically been affiliated with peace, goodness, or the natural order of things. To summarize Mencius:

The nature of water is to flow downhill, not up.
Human nature is good is like water flowing downhill and doing evil is like going up.
Hence, human nature is good

I could imagine this kingdom being briefly described as, "The brightest flame burns fastest". They seem expansionist, untrustworthy in global or regional affairs, and prone to declaring war without a valid casus belli. Even though leadership is seemingly immortal, it appears that they could be undone if convinced that nothing remains for them on this world and they would cease to be revenants and pass on (correct me if I'm wrong though).

It seems that other countries would face little resistance in forming coalitions to destroy this powerful upstart. Whether or not they would have the stomach to do so is another question.

What do you think?

[flabort]

When you pour water on a single spot, does it stay there? No, it spreads out, filling the maximum possible area.
When you wet a paper, does it grow stronger? No, it soaks inward, dissolving the paper away.
When wind blows across a sea, do the three story waves bring prosperity to the merchant ships? No, it brings them to the bottom of the ocean, wrecking their cargo.
When you stick your head under the water, is it to catch your breath? No, were you to breath it, it would kill you.

Water can be pretty destructive. Moreso if you include ice as a subsection of water, rather than a separate element.

[SamBurke]

It's curious that you picked water to represent this carpe diem faction. Water has typically been affiliated with peace, goodness, or the natural order of things. To summarize Mencius:

The nature of water is to flow downhill, not up.
Human nature is good is like water flowing downhill and doing evil is like going up.
Hence, human nature is good

What do you think?

The problem with this argument is premise #2. If you assume humanity as basically good, then, yes, I'd say there's some weak connection (metaphorically speaking) to water being good. It's certainly a common theme in history. However, don't let tropes and cliches pattern ANYTHING!

[polity4life]

When you pour water on a single spot, does it stay there? No, it spreads out, filling the maximum possible area.
When you wet a paper, does it grow stronger? No, it soaks inward, dissolving the paper away.
When wind blows across a sea, do the three story waves bring prosperity to the merchant ships? No, it brings them to the bottom of the ocean, wrecking their cargo.
When you stick your head under the water, is it to catch your breath? No, were you to breath it, it would kill you.

Water can be pretty destructive. Moreso if you include ice as a subsection of water, rather than a separate element.

Anything can be pretty destructive. My point is that water traditionally has been associated with things that provide for and sustain life. If you want to argue that water is manic in nature, that it can do both that but be very destructive then I would buy that.

However, the description of this kingdoms has more of a feel of an adrupt addition rather than something that has been present eternally though suddenly altered. Furthermore, the leadership of this particular kingdom is competely slave to passion, emotion, and sensation. They are in it for the kill, to promote the values of chaos.

Just going with traditional conceptions here, but that seems to go in line with fire moreso than water. This kingdom has the feel of a spark in a dry field that's engulfing everything with alarming rapicity.

Those are just my thoughts on what was written. The OP can take them or leave them.

Other than that, the rest seems thought out and described well enough for an outsider to the setting to understand what kind of people these Reds are. I'm interested in seeing how they relate with the rest of the world.

[flabort]

The problem with this argument is premise #2. If you assume humanity as basically good, then, yes, I'd say there's some weak connection (metaphorically speaking) to water being good. It's certainly a common theme in history. However, don't let tropes and cliches pattern ANYTHING!

Although purposely letting tropes pattern things is pretty fun.

Here's a challenge, click "random" in the tropes page three times, and see if you can make anything out of what you get (although you can play with it, for example a triple subversion + lampshading).

So I got Spirit World, Find the Cure, and Pointy haired Boss.

...yeah, um, if I can figure ANYTHING out with those three tropes as the leading tropes, I'll let you know and post a thread. Try your own challenge!

[Knight9910]

Hehe. That's always an interesting experiment, flabort, though maybe more something for Silly Message Board games. Just saying. Hmm...this talk of water vs. fire makes me think maybe I should post the kingdom I have for fire next, see what people think.

EDIT: As for the question of whether the Red King could be convinced there's nothing left for him in this world, here's my answer: Asher's existence is not so fragile that one moment of depression will cause him to wink out of existence. He's not a ghost, but more like a vampire. ...well, actually he IS a vampire, but I was trying not to use that word. :p

The point is, he's a soul returned from the afterlife taking up residence in a quasi-living body. In order for him to pass on he would have to kill himself, which isn't an easy thing to do. Asher isn't destroyed by sunlight, or water, or garlic. No one knows how to actually destroy him. He might not even know how to do it himself.

That said, convincing him there's nothing left for him in this world is also easier said than done. Let's just say it'll take a lot more than a high diplomacy roll to make that one work. :p

[Knight9910]

As I (actually didn't) promised, the next up is the Kingdom of the White Flame. Along with this, I decided to post up my own thoughts on the water vs. fire debate.

((Also, I do realize the White King's name is currently "__". I couldn't think of one so I decided rather than make something up on the spot I'd leave it blank for now.))

On Earth, a culture's religious and philosophical beliefs having to do with the elements are often based on their own interactions with said elements. For example, in Egypt, water was not particularly dangerous, except through its scarcity. Being located where they are they wouldn't get tsunamis or floods, with the single, notable exception of the Nile's flood season, which they had already learned to predict and schedule around. For them water was never dangerous, it was life, it was what they needed, so water would have been deemed good.

Contrarily, we have the Norsemen. The Norse lived on a peninsula and used the ocean as both a source of food via fishing, as well as a way to get from place to place. As well, the ocean is much more wild than a river; even a skilled sailor could head out into it and not return. The Norse knew very well that water was a source of life, but also that it could be extremely dangerous. The Greeks as well are a good example here. If you look at sea gods like Aegir and Poseidon and compare them to an Egyptian water-based god like Hapi, there's no comparison. Aegir and Poseidon are quick to anger, at times downright bloodthirsty, while Hapi is a benevolent deity of fertility and nourishment.

Our modern beliefs associated with the elements mostly come from the medieval and renaiisance eras. By this time most of our maritime travel was conducted along the relatively calm Mediterranean Sea. Water was not commonly seen by us as a destructive and dangerous force. Fire, on the other hand, was closely associated with foreign and pagan religions, many of which included sun gods in their pantheons. As such, it became seen as a thing of evil. Add to that the works of artists like Dante Alighieri, who created depictions of Hell as a place of fire.

To put it simply, our entire concept of what the elements represent is entirely rooted in our own preconceptions. The truth is that the elements themselves are without alignment. You say that fire is chaotic because it burns down houses, razes farmland and forests. But what about the forge, which uses fire to create something more powerful? What about the sun which gives us warmth and light? What about a volcano, pouring lava into the ocean, creating an island on which people can live? Are those chaotic and destructive? Of course not.

In this way, the Kingdom of the White Flame can be seen as fire element via the sub-element of providence. The Red Army, on the other hand, are like a storm: sudden and destructive, but once it's over the rainwater soaks into the ground and the grass grows stronger. Notice that the Red Kingdom is chaotic neutral, NOT chaotic evil. They don't practice total war, and in fact those they've conquered may find that life under Asher's protection might even be better than what they had before.

The Red King giveth and the Red King taketh away, as it were.

[Trobby]

To make a somewhat poor historical comparison, the Red King is a bit like Genghis Kahn. Wrathful to his enemies, but benevolent to his subjects. Incredibly indulgent, yet also incredibly wise and passionate.

Now imagine Genghis Kahn as a 'vampire'. And try your best not to laugh.

[Knight9910]

Hey, guess what! I added the Black Kingdom to the list! Yeah, it finally happened!

[noob]

What is chaotic neutral and why is red chaotic neutral?
Also you speak of blue kingdom mechanical steeds in the paladin description but describe the blue kingdom nowhere.

[Knight9910]

Chaotic Neutral / Lawful Good / Etc. refers to the 9-part Dungeons and Dragons alignment system, where alignment is divided according to a combination of moral (Good/Neutral/Evil) and ethical (Lawful/Neutral/Chaotic) tendencies.

Chaotic Neutral, in this case, means that they believe strongly in personal freedom and individuality, with no particular tendencies towards either benevolence or malice.

As for the Blue Kingdom... I just don't have the write-up for them posted. It's going to go into one of those blank placeholder posts.