It's here, it's finally here. The long-anticipated (at least two of us have been anticipating this for a long time) Ember's Wake is here!
This thread will be set in Ember approximately three years after the events of Grain of Sand. Although A Grain of Sand was supposed to be over (it's far from that), we'll have to base any references to the events of A Grain of Sand by estimates and hypothetical postulations. Yes, we have to guess. Historical inaccuracies will be corrected later.
We need to know the members of this before we really start, so if you would, please post your character's bio or a link to their bio (link, preferably) in this thread.
Here's what's going on. As posted earlier in the Countdown thread:
Here's a few last updates that you'll need to know.
Talaveral can not trust the Brutes, so he has set up a personal guard of his own known as the Ignis Guard. They're loyal to Talaveral, well trained, and extremely cruel. Aggravatingly cruel, in fact. As we open, they'll be staging a "purge" of a medioriche part of town (a less loyal medioriche sector). What they don't realize is who the local sword smith is. This area of town around the time of the "purge" is available as a starting place for players.
The other opening scene is the Hammer and Anvil. A rather depressed and drunk Borkeau waits for the dreaded announcement of the formal disintegration of the Brutes. The Hammer and Anvil is an upper-class bar with lots of gambling and drinking. Although the bar is pretty clean with few bar fights, shady characters still like to visit the place since it's one of the few taverns still free from the prying ears of Talaveral. This is the other opening scene for players to join.
If you would like to start somewhere else, please post the character and a description of the special circumstances you propose. We will be quite happy to hear your proposals.
Now, without further ado, let the sign-ups begin.
This thread will be set in Ember approximately three years after the events of Grain of Sand. Although A Grain of Sand was supposed to be over (it's far from that), we'll have to base any references to the events of A Grain of Sand by estimates and hypothetical postulations. Yes, we have to guess. Historical inaccuracies will be corrected later.
We need to know the members of this before we really start, so if you would, please post your character's bio or a link to their bio (link, preferably) in this thread.
Here's what's going on. As posted earlier in the Countdown thread:
History of Ember's Wake said:It all started shortly after the Emberian Wars.
Without the war to fuel the economy, Ember's militant leader needed a new economic policy to keep his city one of the greatest trading cities in all of Christia. Not only the greatest trading city, but the most advanced, prosperous city as well. I am sure that on looking back at this time period, Christia's historians will label the time under Kalt following the Embering Wars "Ember's Golden Age."
In order to pay off war debts, Kalt had to impose heavy taxes on the people. He also had to keep the people's love, however. Kalt had two obstacles at this point: an upper class of extremely wealthy merchants who had great influence who did not wish to pay the taxes and a very poor class that did not have the money to pay the taxes. Kalt formulated a very simple and yet effective strategy. Tax deductions could be made for every worker hired by a wealthy merchant or industry. Further deductions could be made based on the amount of money invested into growing businesses. Kalt had figured out a way to appease the masses. The wealthy now had a way to get around the heavy taxes. The poor now had jobs. And the increase in investment allowed Ember's economy to boom.
Now, the most important thing that came out of this new economic arrangement and the thing that pertains most heavily to our story is the creation of a new class of Emberian citizens: the Medioriche. The old poor class began to slowly dwindle as more and more joined the working class. This then evolved into the Medioriche. The Medioriche rarely owned their own business, but they usually had a decent income, enough money to eat, sometimes own a house, and even buy a few luxury items for themselves. In fact, the growth of this class was so fast that they soon came to be the vast majority of the population.
When Kalt died, he left behind a prosperous, glorious city, and no leaders. His long time friend and confidant Borkeau assumed control over the city. He kept all of Kalt's policies, including martial law that had ruled the city for the past decade and a half. With Kalt's loyal Brute Squad as his enforcing body, Borkeau soon reestablished order.
For a few years, the prospering city continued to grow under Borkeau. Then, a certain man named Lord Talaveral arrived in the city. He was not only tall, handsome, and charismatic, but he had impressive, revolutionary ideas. Using the ever-popular city pubs as a place to speak, Lord Talaveral began to publicly defame Borkeau and the martial law of the city. He spoke of Borkeau's "Oppressive" rule, "freedom" and "liberation" for all. But most importantly, he spoke of a reduction of taxes.
Although prospering under the current system, the medioriche saw taxes as the last hurdle that kept them from reaching true wealth and lives of ease. The medioriche soon rallied behind Talaveral. Rallies, and soon out of control mobs, began to form in the streets of Ember. The rule of Borkeau was seen as even weaker, for Borkeau had fallen ill just as Lord Talaveral rose to fame. Constrained to his bed and too weary to even speak, Borkeau could only cough and sputter as his advisors warned him of the oncoming tide.
Then, suddenly, Talaveral struck. Passing out a large number of swords and bows to the growing mass of people around him, he ordered an attack on the city hall. There was nothing the Brute Squad could do but protect Borkeau and remove him from the Hall for his own safety. Some of the angry mobsters called for the death of Borkeau, but Talaveral restrained them. The Brutes had taken Borkeau into exile among the extremely wealthy merchants. Talaveral knew it would only be a matter of time before even the wealthy would grow tired of Borkeau and give him up to be dealt with. In the mean time, Talaveral established his own rule. Acting in the name of the Medioriche, Talaveral abolished all "unnecessary" taxes.
And so, the powers of the city on that day were divided. Borkeau and his Brutes ruled the economy of Ember through the wealthy merchants who sill supported him and pledged their allegiance to him. The rest of the city, however, was ruled by Talaveral and his medioriche followers. Thus, the established rule of Kalt Hammer came to an end.
Here's a few last updates that you'll need to know.
Talaveral can not trust the Brutes, so he has set up a personal guard of his own known as the Ignis Guard. They're loyal to Talaveral, well trained, and extremely cruel. Aggravatingly cruel, in fact. As we open, they'll be staging a "purge" of a medioriche part of town (a less loyal medioriche sector). What they don't realize is who the local sword smith is. This area of town around the time of the "purge" is available as a starting place for players.
The other opening scene is the Hammer and Anvil. A rather depressed and drunk Borkeau waits for the dreaded announcement of the formal disintegration of the Brutes. The Hammer and Anvil is an upper-class bar with lots of gambling and drinking. Although the bar is pretty clean with few bar fights, shady characters still like to visit the place since it's one of the few taverns still free from the prying ears of Talaveral. This is the other opening scene for players to join.
If you would like to start somewhere else, please post the character and a description of the special circumstances you propose. We will be quite happy to hear your proposals.
Now, without further ado, let the sign-ups begin.