Post by kihaku on Jan 10, 2009 2:48:44 GMT
History: The original Lavertia had been a place of tranquility and peace. Never wanting for anything, the country had consisted mostly of a farm population that could take care of themselves while never forgetting about their neighbor. All was good, especially with the disappearance of so-called “Legends” that seemed to do nothing but roam their land and get into fights that would destroy whole towns if left unchecked. Their lives were finally as easy as they could be, until that fateful day the celestial missile flew from the night sky and crashed against Dragonian earth.
The whole country was in an uproar about what had happened. Several conspiracy experts theorized that the Legends had returned with a vengeance and had already begun a clash that would destroy the planet, but most of the population kept a cool head and bent industriously to fix their broken water lines. They knew that, if nothing else, water was a precious commodity one never wasted. It was this that probably saved their lives.
The Meteor Fire was a great conflagration that blanketed the world in a blaze so devastating, the very fabric of civilization was collapsing all around the Lavertian people. However, leaders stepped forth amidst the chaos, and rather than let people attempt to protect their homes, they knew there would be nothing if they could not save their food. A person can survive without a hand-made shelter for months, but without food, only a few weeks, and if they wasted their water on attempting to save mere material items of sentimental value, maybe a few days.
It was a hard-fought battle, but the tough farmers weathered out the fires and saved more than half of their livestock and farmlands, leaving them better-off than most. Months passed and word seemed to spread about whole cities in Lavertia, just south of the mountains, having food and water, and that if you worked for it they would share their goods. The first hundred or so were good people, and they kept their promises of labor for food and shelter. However, the inevitability of deviance in terms of strife and hardship brought with it the dregs of society that would rather beg than work. The honest-working, weather-beaten, and fire-hardened farmers took little pity on the people sitting on the side of the roads, and after nearly a year of being ignored, they turned violent.
Raiding parties of dirty, ragged, desperate individuals pillaged the farms that stood away from the main town. They killed and stole livestock, raided pantries and store-houses, and made off with the odd female or two. Finally, the people of Lavertia had had enough. Congregating together, the closed off their boarders and used every possible contrivance as a weapon to keep the unknown away and outsiders where they belong. Without any sort of tools for fighting, they turned to their agricultural backgrounds as well as their foresting abilities to take to the easily defensible woods.
As the centuries passed, spirituality to temper the hot-blooded work eventually washed over most of the people, turning them on to what most would call “magic.” At first, they believed it merely to be the last vestiges of what their grandparents had called “Legendary Powers,” but in the here and now, there were no more legends, only the work that needed to be done. They turned these magics into even more complex tools that allow them to keep their work steady and their homes safe. Soon, all was forgotten about the Meteor Fire except its name and the ghost of a story to teach children to be careful with open flame. As their tongue pulled away from original Dragonian, their country, bathed in bark and leaf, became known as Leiversia to all who cared to learn it.
Culture: Hard work has always been a core value of a Leiversian family, and it is only natural that it would permeate all other aspects of their life. In the family, the mother and father, as the hardest working of all, are the ones who stand at the head of the household. Easily riled, the Leiversian male does not tolerate excuses and will resort to violence to punish if they believe it to be warranted. The females, to balance, always confer with their husbands or brothers before such an outcome is reached. Just as intolerant, however, their punishments result in stringent rules and harder work for the guilty party.
The families are grouped together by trade, the exchange of ideas and work ethics create a specialized work environment that allows for little interruption. When deliveries must be made or picked up, the youth, who are still playful and have yet to learn the value of hard work, are sent to do so. The elders, who are no longer able, are given seats of respect for their many years spent laboring for the good of their people. Though not directly in charge, their opinions are regarded as pearls of wisdom and taken into account whenever given.
A single community will have at least half a dozen such specialized groups, as well as two others: Dark Riders and Councils. The Dark Rides are usually a single familial dynasty that defends the community from outsiders. Often considered border-patrol, they also act as a police force when the situation necessitates their skills of hunting, fighting, and magical ability. They are also the keepers of the secrets of poison, and have many different kinds for many different uses. If one is cut by a Dark Rider weapon, death is certain.
Councils are only ever three families of, relatively, low esteem. Their work is that of language and word-play; in other words, they’re politicians. When a crime is committed, it is their duty, as objective, intelligent people to dole out punishment as the Councils see fit.
The Councils are regarded as low-ranking because they do no actual work, only sitting around arguing all day. However, there is more to this banter than meets the eye. Amongst the three families, children are allowed to play and interact with one another, filial loyalty not quite as important at this age. When they reach adulthood, these play-times are often used to analyze their once-play mates’ actions to determine what they may be thinking. Using a cunning amalgamation of leverage and lies, the three Families often form loyalties within themselves and amongst one another to confer punishment as they see fit. A man guilty of murder may receive a far lighter sentence than he deserved because he was the friend of one of the families, who in turn has the loyalty of another. If the Councils decide something, then it must be done. The hard-working Leiversians have no time to try and work out economics, politics, or punishments. All they have is hard, honest, work.
Physical Characteristics: The Leiversian hasn’t changed much in the past one-thousand years. The average male stands six to five and a half feet tall, and weighs around two-hundred pounds, the average female anywhere from five-seven to four-eleven, and around one-hundred and twenty pounds. Their bodies, honed from constant labor, are athletic, but not overly muscular, unless their work demands it of them. Usually without an ounce of fat to be seen, the Leiversians aren’t overly attractive as a people, though a certain ruggedness can be seen of the males, and a hot independence burns in the heart of females.
To prevent it from getting in the way, both males and females cut their hair short, usually no longer than the base of their neck, though the occasional pony-tail may be seen amongst females who do not work around dangerous machinery. Black is the only color seen throughout the populace, as well as hazel, brown, and green eyes. Their ears, however, have become slightly pointed as evolution has caused their hearing, sight, and sense of smell to become heightened to alert them to the presence of danger.
Race-specific abilities:
- Resistance: Immunity to poison and mental-based techniques.
- Claim: The Leiversian version of elemental affinity. Rough's tend to be physically superior to the average person, and Blazes are usually smarter and quick-witted. (Earth or Fire affinity)
- Brush-back: No matter what a Leiversian may Claim, if they do at all, all Leiversians have the innate “Brush-back” ability. Any weak to low-level moderate elemental attack thrown their way will most likely miss due to an innate ability to partially divert the offensive measure to one side, and move their bodies in the other. This is done sub-consciously, and they usually have no idea they can do this. It is usually attributed to their opponent’s poor aim. The Brush-back is more powerful if the attack against them happens to be the element of their Claim. (Weaker elemental attacks are diverted)
- Life Works: The Leiversians do not believe in "magic" as it is described to be, but rather instead believe that it is the energy within a person manifesting itself to assist in whatever endeavor they have begun. This limits their magical talent, but creates some interesting side-effects. (Can be a Potential-level Knight for free.)
The whole country was in an uproar about what had happened. Several conspiracy experts theorized that the Legends had returned with a vengeance and had already begun a clash that would destroy the planet, but most of the population kept a cool head and bent industriously to fix their broken water lines. They knew that, if nothing else, water was a precious commodity one never wasted. It was this that probably saved their lives.
The Meteor Fire was a great conflagration that blanketed the world in a blaze so devastating, the very fabric of civilization was collapsing all around the Lavertian people. However, leaders stepped forth amidst the chaos, and rather than let people attempt to protect their homes, they knew there would be nothing if they could not save their food. A person can survive without a hand-made shelter for months, but without food, only a few weeks, and if they wasted their water on attempting to save mere material items of sentimental value, maybe a few days.
It was a hard-fought battle, but the tough farmers weathered out the fires and saved more than half of their livestock and farmlands, leaving them better-off than most. Months passed and word seemed to spread about whole cities in Lavertia, just south of the mountains, having food and water, and that if you worked for it they would share their goods. The first hundred or so were good people, and they kept their promises of labor for food and shelter. However, the inevitability of deviance in terms of strife and hardship brought with it the dregs of society that would rather beg than work. The honest-working, weather-beaten, and fire-hardened farmers took little pity on the people sitting on the side of the roads, and after nearly a year of being ignored, they turned violent.
Raiding parties of dirty, ragged, desperate individuals pillaged the farms that stood away from the main town. They killed and stole livestock, raided pantries and store-houses, and made off with the odd female or two. Finally, the people of Lavertia had had enough. Congregating together, the closed off their boarders and used every possible contrivance as a weapon to keep the unknown away and outsiders where they belong. Without any sort of tools for fighting, they turned to their agricultural backgrounds as well as their foresting abilities to take to the easily defensible woods.
As the centuries passed, spirituality to temper the hot-blooded work eventually washed over most of the people, turning them on to what most would call “magic.” At first, they believed it merely to be the last vestiges of what their grandparents had called “Legendary Powers,” but in the here and now, there were no more legends, only the work that needed to be done. They turned these magics into even more complex tools that allow them to keep their work steady and their homes safe. Soon, all was forgotten about the Meteor Fire except its name and the ghost of a story to teach children to be careful with open flame. As their tongue pulled away from original Dragonian, their country, bathed in bark and leaf, became known as Leiversia to all who cared to learn it.
Culture: Hard work has always been a core value of a Leiversian family, and it is only natural that it would permeate all other aspects of their life. In the family, the mother and father, as the hardest working of all, are the ones who stand at the head of the household. Easily riled, the Leiversian male does not tolerate excuses and will resort to violence to punish if they believe it to be warranted. The females, to balance, always confer with their husbands or brothers before such an outcome is reached. Just as intolerant, however, their punishments result in stringent rules and harder work for the guilty party.
The families are grouped together by trade, the exchange of ideas and work ethics create a specialized work environment that allows for little interruption. When deliveries must be made or picked up, the youth, who are still playful and have yet to learn the value of hard work, are sent to do so. The elders, who are no longer able, are given seats of respect for their many years spent laboring for the good of their people. Though not directly in charge, their opinions are regarded as pearls of wisdom and taken into account whenever given.
A single community will have at least half a dozen such specialized groups, as well as two others: Dark Riders and Councils. The Dark Rides are usually a single familial dynasty that defends the community from outsiders. Often considered border-patrol, they also act as a police force when the situation necessitates their skills of hunting, fighting, and magical ability. They are also the keepers of the secrets of poison, and have many different kinds for many different uses. If one is cut by a Dark Rider weapon, death is certain.
Councils are only ever three families of, relatively, low esteem. Their work is that of language and word-play; in other words, they’re politicians. When a crime is committed, it is their duty, as objective, intelligent people to dole out punishment as the Councils see fit.
The Councils are regarded as low-ranking because they do no actual work, only sitting around arguing all day. However, there is more to this banter than meets the eye. Amongst the three families, children are allowed to play and interact with one another, filial loyalty not quite as important at this age. When they reach adulthood, these play-times are often used to analyze their once-play mates’ actions to determine what they may be thinking. Using a cunning amalgamation of leverage and lies, the three Families often form loyalties within themselves and amongst one another to confer punishment as they see fit. A man guilty of murder may receive a far lighter sentence than he deserved because he was the friend of one of the families, who in turn has the loyalty of another. If the Councils decide something, then it must be done. The hard-working Leiversians have no time to try and work out economics, politics, or punishments. All they have is hard, honest, work.
Physical Characteristics: The Leiversian hasn’t changed much in the past one-thousand years. The average male stands six to five and a half feet tall, and weighs around two-hundred pounds, the average female anywhere from five-seven to four-eleven, and around one-hundred and twenty pounds. Their bodies, honed from constant labor, are athletic, but not overly muscular, unless their work demands it of them. Usually without an ounce of fat to be seen, the Leiversians aren’t overly attractive as a people, though a certain ruggedness can be seen of the males, and a hot independence burns in the heart of females.
To prevent it from getting in the way, both males and females cut their hair short, usually no longer than the base of their neck, though the occasional pony-tail may be seen amongst females who do not work around dangerous machinery. Black is the only color seen throughout the populace, as well as hazel, brown, and green eyes. Their ears, however, have become slightly pointed as evolution has caused their hearing, sight, and sense of smell to become heightened to alert them to the presence of danger.
Race-specific abilities:
- Resistance: Immunity to poison and mental-based techniques.
- Claim: The Leiversian version of elemental affinity. Rough's tend to be physically superior to the average person, and Blazes are usually smarter and quick-witted. (Earth or Fire affinity)
- Brush-back: No matter what a Leiversian may Claim, if they do at all, all Leiversians have the innate “Brush-back” ability. Any weak to low-level moderate elemental attack thrown their way will most likely miss due to an innate ability to partially divert the offensive measure to one side, and move their bodies in the other. This is done sub-consciously, and they usually have no idea they can do this. It is usually attributed to their opponent’s poor aim. The Brush-back is more powerful if the attack against them happens to be the element of their Claim. (Weaker elemental attacks are diverted)
- Life Works: The Leiversians do not believe in "magic" as it is described to be, but rather instead believe that it is the energy within a person manifesting itself to assist in whatever endeavor they have begun. This limits their magical talent, but creates some interesting side-effects. (Can be a Potential-level Knight for free.)