This is an interest check for a realistic medieval strategy role play using European Dark Age era tactics and technology. The goal of this role play is to create an environment of tension and intrigue using diplomacy and negotiation, as well as through military stratagem. I'm currently working on a world map to clear up any geographical confusions.



The role play takes place on the continent of Iurid, centrally in the peninsular nation-state of Gjedagrud. It was settled four thousand years ago by nomads from the eastern steppes, who developed an isolated culture in the bosom of the mountain-edged basin.

The society developed over two thousand years, growing a stable agricultural society using pockets of isolated collectives called "ketans". From there, recorded history is unclear until the first raids from the northern region of Haemmorlund ravaged the population. The invaders led a pattern of raze and retreat over nearly a century until a final invasion was led by Gjeda Fjorduger the "Iron Badger", an exiled king. His combined force of sea-raiders from the west and berserkers quickly defeated the native farming and hunting society, nearly wiping them out until all that was left was a small minority pushed to the east coast.

While many raiders from Haemmorlund mixed with the population on the peninsula, it was only under Gjeda that Haemmorkin peoples settled and established a society in the area that was to be named Gjedagrud in the decades after the berserker king's death. Most of the Haemmorkin created towns and manors on old ketan soil, exchanging goods with other regions in the land. The population began to call themselves Gjedakin, which is a mix of Haemmorkin and eastern nomad blood. Eventually, a clear system of vassalage developed along with the creation of fiefdoms within feudal divisions, ruled by "velds" who owed loyalty to the "heimsveld", or overlord. The four principle provinces as established by Gjeda and his descendants are as follows:
-Gjedeheim, home of the heimsveld. Backed by mountains to the south defending it from direct invasion from the sea, the region is generally flat and agricultural. The people live off of trade with other provinces as well as the cultivation of grain. Goats from the mountains are commonly domesticated for food and trade, and cows are brought in from the east through sea trade. Because this is the capital province, Gjedaheim is ruled by dictation from the one manor of the heimsveld.

-Durseheim, named after the son of Gjeda Fjorduger, Durse. It is a fishing and manufacturing province north of Gjedeheim. It is ruled by four fiefs and the veld. It formerly stretched from the western coast of Gjedegrud all the way to the eastern mountain ranges of the Tyveds, inhabited by the reclusive monk-warrior Tyve peoples, and further north to the southern edge of Haemmorlund, called "dugetinge", or the beast's tongue. Extensive expansion under the veldhood of Durse found extended opposition from both the Haemmorkin and Tyve who already lived in the respective areas, leading to a civil war named the Rage of the Mountains. The result was the partition of the newly conquered areas of Durseheim, the execution of Durse, and the formation of two new provinces. Durseheim still exists, albeit in a smaller form.

-Kevadheim, named after the Tyve-Haemmorkin people called the Kevads, is a province created as a result of the partition of Durseheim in the Rage of the Mountains. It is split into five fiefdoms. Though the majority of Kevadheim are Kevads, it is ruled by Gjedakin vassals. Tension exists between Kevads and Gjedakin, who although share a common Haemmorkin lineage, have clearly different cultures. Kevadheim benefited from trade with southern sea-merchants until the Bazaan War, which cut off a key coastline from all provinces of Gjedagrud. It is now a purely agricultural province, and is dealing with economic problems.

-Tingeheim, named after the Haemmorkin dominant dugetinge region. It is also one of the provinces created after the Rage of the Mountains. The Haemmorkin living in Tingeheim rule it (the veld during the rule of Gjeda Fjorduger was an exiled lord in Haemmorlund), and though it maintains good relations with the rest of the provinces as well as the heimsveld, it remains a black sheep because of its trade and mining focused economy, and its relatively good relations with Haemmorlund. However, its inclusion and cooperation with the other provinces is vital for both parties, because Tingeheim lacks the climate for sustained agriculture, and the rest of the nation require the raw ore from the province.

All of these provinces were established during the Gjeda dynasty, and under the jurisdiction of the heimsveld; except for one.

-Jurde originated as a small port town on the eastern Gjedagrud coast, established by the descendants of western sea-raiders brought by Gjeda Fjorduger. It has since grown into a thriving province existing off of trade with Curze sea-merchants from the west and from Bazaan trade from the East, and became a cosmopolitan center of trade and commerce between continents.



The Bazaan War saw the invasion of the east coast of Gjedagrud by the Empire of Bazaan, who by that era has invaded much of the steppes of eastern Iurid. Their native land in Gezadaar lies far east across the Kyrgina Ocean.

After two centuries of trade with Gjedagrud, the invasion of Jurde by the Bazaan Empire came as a surprise to the veldhus, or council of velds from each province. The counteroffensive led to extensive warfare in Jurde between the legions of the Bazaan and the warriors from each province of Gjedagrud. Faced with the onslaught of thousands of troops under the command of Bazaan general Il Baradir, "the Anvil", the veldhus sent for help from the kingdom of Curze from the west, the emperor of Haemmorlund, and the warrior-monks of Tyver to the East. Only the Curze responded; the tiny but deadly sea-raiders from the West won a decisive victory against the Imperial Bazaan navy off the coast of Morodo Island near Jurde in the Battle of Morodo.

With sea support from Curze and Bazaan reinforcements cut off, Gjedagrud won a quick victory in Jurde under the command of Eirdis II the heimsveld and the Curze general Dakke.

Peace was delayed after tensions arose between the Curze and Gjedagrud over the occupation of Jurde by the Curze. The western Curze demand partition of the coastline and the return of Vardegrad, a massive port city in the province, with the argument that sea-raiders from Curze in the invasion of Gjeda established Jurde.

Sides were quickly taken between the nations of Iurid, with the Bazaan supporting Curze and Haemmorlund supporting Gjedagrud. Jurde remains under dispute.



The role play will center upon this dispute from either side. If you are interested in this role play, fill in the character sheet below;

Name:
Age:
Alignment (Haemmorlund, Gjedagrud, Tyved, Curze, Bazaan, Kevad):
Province (if Gjedagrud):
Veld? (if Gjedagrud; I will personally pick the best applications for these): Yes/No
Appearance:
Backstory:

This RP is basically a nations RP. It concerns the relations between medieval-styled nations of different cultures and backgrounds, and between leaders of different personalities and backgrounds. Before you apply, please read the history and consider the role of your nation in international affairs, as well as what your respective nation or province would do in this situation. Because this particular RP is centered in Gjedagrud, I will look favorably upon applications that are Gjeda aligned and have a good idea about their province's backstory. If you need any help deciding this, please PM me.

I've also taken the liberty of drawing approximate similarities between the nations in this universe to nations and cultures that already exist, to give you an idea.

Haemmorlund - Norse, aggressive and warlike.
Gjedagrud - England, divided and cosmopolitan, quarreling lords.
Bazaan - Ottoman Empire, overextended but lethal, have plenty of slave soldiers.
Curze - Spain, centralized and aggressive, focus on naval force.
Tyver - Japan, ascetic but warlike, spiritual and isolationist.
Kevad - Native Americans, a repressed minority.



Haemmorlund and Gjedagrud are based on Nordic and Germanic cultures (respectively), so some things are pronounced differently. For example, the "j" in Gjedagrud is pronounced "y", and the "u" is pronounced "oo".