Post by warwick on May 3, 2023 20:18:29 GMT
Dev-blog 5 - House Kostka of Radim
"In the fall of 1251, I came across the Elain Valley, a pocket of beauty and peace, wherein a handful of disparate Swado-Vaegir border communities lived in harmony with one another. Chief amongst them was Radim, a sprawling collection of agricultural estates all sworn to a particularly old Dhirimite lineage; a lineage belonging to one Radovan Kostka. Only the Maker knows what happened to splendid Elain, little Radim and old Radovan Kostka - but Tilbaut is lost, and likely Elain and her people are all long gone..."
Hello everyone! This week's development blog is the second of our faction spotlights. Today, we'll be looking at House Kostka of Radim, an aristocratic, agricultural faction of mixed Swadian-Vaegir heritage, straddling the Manud River, in an old and peaceful part of the map. Radim controls the on-map fields and vineyard, as well as two of the twelve workshops on the map. Next week we'll be tackling the Nords of Hallvatlar. Furthermore, we'll be slowly releasing relevant lore threads, so that players can become more familiar with the scenario's setting. We are also beginning to gauge an appropriate time for launch.
The History of House Kostka
Chaos and deceit have gripped Elain Valley in their wretched claws, ever since the Vaegir Invasion. For the last 10 years, various political, militant, religious and mercantile groups have vied for power, influence and control over the resource-rich dale of Elain, with the state of affairs only regressing after the fall of Tilbaut. Despite this seemingly never ending state of anarchy, despair and desperation, one small village has remained outside of the dark grasps of demise. The Village of Radim, a humble yet picturesque village-estate led by the noble and brave Antonin Kostka, sits on the eastern slopes of the Elain Valley beside the River.
Radim village is an old settlement which can trace its origins back to the golden age of the Calradic Empire, boasting a rich and illustrious history. It was not until 100 years ago in 1175 that House Kostka established their fiefdom in Radim, however; ever since, the village has undergone what can only be described as a spellbinding series of adventures which have forever changed the valley and its inhabitants.
At first, House Kostka served the Duke of Dhirim from within the city walls, owning a small district of residential and commercial properties. At this time, their responsibilities were limited to district management, maintaining law and order and, of course, following their liege-lord into the clutches of demise during war. It was only when an engagement along the Swadian border with the Kingdom of Vaegirs became imminent that Franz Kostka, the first Lord of Radim, had to fulfil his duties in battle. Despite his limited combat experience Franz, located with cavalry on the western flank, managed to strike a decisive blow to the oncoming Vaegir infantry which forced them to route. Franz rode home with a belly full of beer, pork and the promise of a large and lucrative fiefdom in the countryside.
Upon arrival to Elain, Franz and his sons remained isolated from the other groups and settlements, using their city-funds to improve, grow and renovate the village without much local help. This trend continued throughout the years but, as the local village population grew, the need to integrate into Elain’s system followed. Radim’s vineyard and farm establishments erected as the result of years of toil and tears, gave the village good standing in the community, resulting in the village’s nickname “the bread-basket of the Valley”, allowing them to employ significant political and cultural pressure on their neighbours. The steady and consistent governance of House Kostka as well as the hard work and trouble undergone by its inhabitants have produced a stable and prosperous community second to none, on both sides of the river. While Radim’s neighbours offer peculiar, perhaps freakish, religious and cultural traditions, House Kostka offers respite, in the form of a well-connected, pious and dignified community.
Radim’s structure and setup is fairly simple and traditional. The house is currently headed by Lord Antonin Kostka who inherited the village and estate from his Father Radovan but 8 years ago. His son, Filip is the Heir to the estate, village and all things Kostka whilst simultaneously serving as captain of Radim’s Ranging brigade, who protect the villagers and the town’s interests from brigands, poachers and the like. The Vineyard and Farmhouse are run by the Osek and Jelinek families respectively, contributing hugely to the community and the region at large.
Faction Relics & Faction Mechanics
• The Emperor's Band: Before the Kingdoms of Swadia, Sarria or the Vaegirs, the Empire governed much of Calradia and it is known that each Emperor held a special ring with which they would seal their letters, impressing the ring on wax in order to validate their commands and wishes. This small circlet features, on the inside, a small inscription which details the initials and birthday of the third last Emperor of the Southern Calradic Empire. Once belonging to Marcus Alerious, a renowned introspective and philosophical Emperor, this ring was acquired by Franz Kostka during a Dhirimite Tournament, where he won first place. While it is impossible to ascertain whether this ring really belonged to the Emperor of old is impossible, however; no doubts are ever spoken in the presence of House Kostka’s Lords and ring-bearers. This ring, now in the possession of Radim’s Lord, serves as Antonin’s personal seal as well as a fancy piece of historical, but flashy jewellery.
• The Sabre of Saint Peter: Saint Peter lived over 500 years ago, during the early days of the Calradic Empire, in what is known today as the borderlands of the Sarranid Sultanate and Rhodok Kingdom. Although a seemingly minor saint under Makerism, Saint Peter achieved great popularity in eastern Swadian teachings due to the devotion and piety with which he treated his fellow Makerists. Lord Zybnék Kostka, the Father of Franz, commissioned this large, two-handed steel sabre in Dhirim to gift his son for his wedding. Zybnék was a very churchly man who held Saint Peter very close to his heart and, due to this, he instructed the smith to inscribe several holy-quotes. Ever since, the blade has passed to the heir of the Kostka family, so that they may grow strong and brave, just as their father had before them, now serving Filip Kostka, the village heir.
The growth or stagnation of Radim’s local economy is predicated on whether the Osek and Jelinek families can leverage their control of the region’s food supply to create consistent enough revenue to fund their further expansion. Their relative isolation is balanced by their command over vast tracts of land - something they can utilise both economically and defensively, should the need arise. Although Radim does not boast the same manufacturing power as many of its Elain Valley peers, they still host a tailor’s hall of great local renown, as well as a fletchery. In addition, they boast a river-port second only to that of Wayfarer’s Ford, and enjoy easy access to the plentiful trout of the Manud River, which flows through the valley.
"In the fall of 1251, I came across the Elain Valley, a pocket of beauty and peace, wherein a handful of disparate Swado-Vaegir border communities lived in harmony with one another. Chief amongst them was Radim, a sprawling collection of agricultural estates all sworn to a particularly old Dhirimite lineage; a lineage belonging to one Radovan Kostka. Only the Maker knows what happened to splendid Elain, little Radim and old Radovan Kostka - but Tilbaut is lost, and likely Elain and her people are all long gone..."
Hello everyone! This week's development blog is the second of our faction spotlights. Today, we'll be looking at House Kostka of Radim, an aristocratic, agricultural faction of mixed Swadian-Vaegir heritage, straddling the Manud River, in an old and peaceful part of the map. Radim controls the on-map fields and vineyard, as well as two of the twelve workshops on the map. Next week we'll be tackling the Nords of Hallvatlar. Furthermore, we'll be slowly releasing relevant lore threads, so that players can become more familiar with the scenario's setting. We are also beginning to gauge an appropriate time for launch.
The History of House Kostka
Chaos and deceit have gripped Elain Valley in their wretched claws, ever since the Vaegir Invasion. For the last 10 years, various political, militant, religious and mercantile groups have vied for power, influence and control over the resource-rich dale of Elain, with the state of affairs only regressing after the fall of Tilbaut. Despite this seemingly never ending state of anarchy, despair and desperation, one small village has remained outside of the dark grasps of demise. The Village of Radim, a humble yet picturesque village-estate led by the noble and brave Antonin Kostka, sits on the eastern slopes of the Elain Valley beside the River.
Radim village is an old settlement which can trace its origins back to the golden age of the Calradic Empire, boasting a rich and illustrious history. It was not until 100 years ago in 1175 that House Kostka established their fiefdom in Radim, however; ever since, the village has undergone what can only be described as a spellbinding series of adventures which have forever changed the valley and its inhabitants.
At first, House Kostka served the Duke of Dhirim from within the city walls, owning a small district of residential and commercial properties. At this time, their responsibilities were limited to district management, maintaining law and order and, of course, following their liege-lord into the clutches of demise during war. It was only when an engagement along the Swadian border with the Kingdom of Vaegirs became imminent that Franz Kostka, the first Lord of Radim, had to fulfil his duties in battle. Despite his limited combat experience Franz, located with cavalry on the western flank, managed to strike a decisive blow to the oncoming Vaegir infantry which forced them to route. Franz rode home with a belly full of beer, pork and the promise of a large and lucrative fiefdom in the countryside.
Upon arrival to Elain, Franz and his sons remained isolated from the other groups and settlements, using their city-funds to improve, grow and renovate the village without much local help. This trend continued throughout the years but, as the local village population grew, the need to integrate into Elain’s system followed. Radim’s vineyard and farm establishments erected as the result of years of toil and tears, gave the village good standing in the community, resulting in the village’s nickname “the bread-basket of the Valley”, allowing them to employ significant political and cultural pressure on their neighbours. The steady and consistent governance of House Kostka as well as the hard work and trouble undergone by its inhabitants have produced a stable and prosperous community second to none, on both sides of the river. While Radim’s neighbours offer peculiar, perhaps freakish, religious and cultural traditions, House Kostka offers respite, in the form of a well-connected, pious and dignified community.
Radim’s structure and setup is fairly simple and traditional. The house is currently headed by Lord Antonin Kostka who inherited the village and estate from his Father Radovan but 8 years ago. His son, Filip is the Heir to the estate, village and all things Kostka whilst simultaneously serving as captain of Radim’s Ranging brigade, who protect the villagers and the town’s interests from brigands, poachers and the like. The Vineyard and Farmhouse are run by the Osek and Jelinek families respectively, contributing hugely to the community and the region at large.
Faction Relics & Faction Mechanics
• The Emperor's Band: Before the Kingdoms of Swadia, Sarria or the Vaegirs, the Empire governed much of Calradia and it is known that each Emperor held a special ring with which they would seal their letters, impressing the ring on wax in order to validate their commands and wishes. This small circlet features, on the inside, a small inscription which details the initials and birthday of the third last Emperor of the Southern Calradic Empire. Once belonging to Marcus Alerious, a renowned introspective and philosophical Emperor, this ring was acquired by Franz Kostka during a Dhirimite Tournament, where he won first place. While it is impossible to ascertain whether this ring really belonged to the Emperor of old is impossible, however; no doubts are ever spoken in the presence of House Kostka’s Lords and ring-bearers. This ring, now in the possession of Radim’s Lord, serves as Antonin’s personal seal as well as a fancy piece of historical, but flashy jewellery.
• The Sabre of Saint Peter: Saint Peter lived over 500 years ago, during the early days of the Calradic Empire, in what is known today as the borderlands of the Sarranid Sultanate and Rhodok Kingdom. Although a seemingly minor saint under Makerism, Saint Peter achieved great popularity in eastern Swadian teachings due to the devotion and piety with which he treated his fellow Makerists. Lord Zybnék Kostka, the Father of Franz, commissioned this large, two-handed steel sabre in Dhirim to gift his son for his wedding. Zybnék was a very churchly man who held Saint Peter very close to his heart and, due to this, he instructed the smith to inscribe several holy-quotes. Ever since, the blade has passed to the heir of the Kostka family, so that they may grow strong and brave, just as their father had before them, now serving Filip Kostka, the village heir.
The growth or stagnation of Radim’s local economy is predicated on whether the Osek and Jelinek families can leverage their control of the region’s food supply to create consistent enough revenue to fund their further expansion. Their relative isolation is balanced by their command over vast tracts of land - something they can utilise both economically and defensively, should the need arise. Although Radim does not boast the same manufacturing power as many of its Elain Valley peers, they still host a tailor’s hall of great local renown, as well as a fletchery. In addition, they boast a river-port second only to that of Wayfarer’s Ford, and enjoy easy access to the plentiful trout of the Manud River, which flows through the valley.