#da.muse

[darkagesmusings]

DARK AGES AESTHETIC #3

Dark Ages is a medieval rp that focuses on court life in the fictional Kingdom of Oscana, where nothing is as simple as it seems. As the alliance between Oscana and the neighboring Kingdom of Ryhule falls apart, those at Oscana’s Court are trying to keep years of secrets and scandal under wraps.

[darkagesmusings]

DARK AGES AESTHETIC #2

Dark Ages is a medieval rp that focuses on court life in the fictional Kingdom of Oscana, where nothing is as simple as it seems. As the alliance between Oscana and the neighboring Kingdom of Ryhule falls apart, those at Oscana’s Court are trying to keep years of secrets and scandal under wraps.

[darkagesmusings]

DARK AGES AESTHETIC #1

Dark Ages is a medieval rp that focuses on court life in the fictional Kingdom of Oscana, where nothing is as simple as it seems. As the alliance between Oscana and the neighboring Kingdom of Ryhule falls apart, those at Oscana’s Court are trying to keep years of secrets and scandal under wraps.

[darkagesmusings]

Oscana and Ryhule’s rivalry began generations ago when Oscana raised tariffs on goods Ryhule attempted to trade through their lands. In retaliation, Ryhule refused to supply Oscana with food. After a long, terrible winter where many of Oscana’s people suffered from starvation, Oscana and Ryhule’s conflict was cemented.

There have been a few brief periods where the countries made trade agreements, but all of those trade agreements have ended with one country, or both countries, reneging on the contract. Skirmishes on their borders occur often and have required military reinforcements on numerous occasions.

Oscana’s officials know that there is a lucrative market for smuggled luxury goods to the wealthy upper class in Ryhule, and when the smugglers are caught in Oscana, they are punished severely. On the other hand, Oscana has a history of employing spies to infiltrate Ryhule’s Court to sabotage trade deals with other countries. Ryhule is especially cruel to Oscana spies if they are caught.

[darkagesmusings]

The Kingdom of Ryhule

Ryhule is a vast, but entirely landlocked country. Bordered to the north by harsh tundra, the west by impassable mountains, and a vast desert to the south, the only viable trade route is to the east, through Oscana. They have a large river that winds from the mountains in the west all the way to the coast that is ideal for trade, but it has to pass through Oscana to reach the ocean, where Oscana’s formidable navy awaits. While Ryhule has their own impressive army, as long as Oscana can cut off their trade, an invasion is ill-advised.

A lush and fertile land, Ryhule has very productive farmlands and forests that are suitable for both hunting and forestry. Primarily a farming nation, their population is largely lower class, supporting a bloated aristocracy that controls most of the country’s wealth. Because of the difficulty in securing a trade deal with Oscana, there is a lucrative market for those able to smuggle luxury goods to the wealthy upper class.

[darkagesmusings]

The Kingdom of Oscana

Oscana is a small, but wealthy country positioned on the rocky shore of the ocean. Their location affords them control over trade routes to the inland countries. In addition, they produce luxury goods such as silk and jewelry. The lower, working-class mainly consists of fishermen and dock workers. To protect their ocean border, Oscana has a well-trained, formidable navy. Oscana’s ruthless leaders have used the navy to choke off trade to those neighboring countries who dare to threaten them in the past.

While the view of the water is beautiful, especially from the ocean-side castle, the cliffs at the seaside are very dangerous to the unskilled sailor and those on land. Thunderstorms, strong winds, and harsh winters make it difficult for the country to produce its own food. During the winter months, they rely solely on trade to keep their people fed. Oscana’s land borders are dangerous to navigate, and the terrain makes it difficult to invade from Ryhule.