Rivals Monarchy
Structure
Overall, the ruler with most favor is the Queen, despite the religious and cultural obsession with duality. The Twin Kings have evolved into being heads of state, taking care of culturally significant events and deep rooted parts of their culture, while the Queen handles the actual day to day duties of running the Kingdom as head of government. While not exactly seen as a progressive stance in the rights of women to rule, the fact remains that the true leader is the Queen.
The Monarchy rules with a firm hand, the Queen is well liked by her people, and the country is prosperous. There is an issue with crime in the larger cities and the outer farmlands, as the country is also home to Deepforge Bay. Once a stronghold in the Civil War, it is now home to a town of criminals and scum who operate the world over, but centralize their work in The Monarchy. Despite years of attempts to wipe the citizens of the Bay out, the natural formation of Deepforge has prevented any real success in this endeavor.
The Monarchy rules with a firm hand, the Queen is well liked by her people, and the country is prosperous. There is an issue with crime in the larger cities and the outer farmlands, as the country is also home to Deepforge Bay. Once a stronghold in the Civil War, it is now home to a town of criminals and scum who operate the world over, but centralize their work in The Monarchy. Despite years of attempts to wipe the citizens of the Bay out, the natural formation of Deepforge has prevented any real success in this endeavor.
Culture
The culture of Rivals Monarchy is closely tied to the Crown Family and the Church that has sprung out of their legends. Most citizens are heavily religious, worshiping the Twin Gods Brandish and Fell and their deeds. They firmly believe that the Twin Kings' lineage descends directly from the Twin Gods.
The culture is obsessed with duality and twins, due mostly to the Monarchy and Church, much of their art and songs are based around duality and the Twin Gods. The prevailing idea that dual anything brings luck is deeply rooted in their culture. As such, it is not unheard of to find homes with dual windows on the doors, dual knobs, double vaulted roofs, etc.
The culture is obsessed with duality and twins, due mostly to the Monarchy and Church, much of their art and songs are based around duality and the Twin Gods. The prevailing idea that dual anything brings luck is deeply rooted in their culture. As such, it is not unheard of to find homes with dual windows on the doors, dual knobs, double vaulted roofs, etc.
Assets
The people of the Monarchy are also quite proud of their exports, especially the metallurgy they produce in towns such as Silvergrove. Rivals Steel, as the unique alloy they produce are nicknamed, are famed across The World for their durability and edge retention. In fact, a popular saying in The Monarchy is "Rivals Steel quells wars if not for Serpents", meant to evoke strength betrayed by wealth, in reference to Dunnywild winning the civil war only due to the crashing of the Monarchy's monetary markets from the exodus of Serpentkin and their commerce, as well as the general embargo most of the World had at the time.
The people of The Monarchy share a deep culture of trade with the country of Kvinnlig Krigare, due to their proximity and production-consumer reliance; this has resulted in The Monarchy and Kvinnlig Krigare sharing the least hostility of all the countries, but the same cannot be said of their relationship to Ríocht. Originally a penal colony established by The Monarchy for all the other countries to utilize as a place to 'humanely' deposit their criminals, Ríocht eventually became its own sanctioned land and has strained relations towards all the other countries. Despite their origins and strained relations, most if not all learned People in The Monarchy were trained in the prestigious schools of Ríocht. In fact, the educators that teach the Royalty are directly hired from these schools as well; this has led to a "soft spot" in Ríochtan culture for the Queen, particularly the current Queen.
The people of The Monarchy share a deep culture of trade with the country of Kvinnlig Krigare, due to their proximity and production-consumer reliance; this has resulted in The Monarchy and Kvinnlig Krigare sharing the least hostility of all the countries, but the same cannot be said of their relationship to Ríocht. Originally a penal colony established by The Monarchy for all the other countries to utilize as a place to 'humanely' deposit their criminals, Ríocht eventually became its own sanctioned land and has strained relations towards all the other countries. Despite their origins and strained relations, most if not all learned People in The Monarchy were trained in the prestigious schools of Ríocht. In fact, the educators that teach the Royalty are directly hired from these schools as well; this has led to a "soft spot" in Ríochtan culture for the Queen, particularly the current Queen.
History
The country has a long-standing stigma among The People of Ávra, due to the purge of Serpentkin a few centuries ago. During a particularly dark period in the kingdom, the then-current Twin Kings utilized the church to sow mistrust and anger toward Serpentkin, blaming them for The Shatter. The people, enamored with their Kings and brainwashed by their church, followed in step. This event became known as "The Serpent's Culling", and forever left a mark on the culture of The Monarchy.
It was also directly responsible for the territory of Dunnywild seceding from the Monarchy and forming its own kingdom. The people of the Dunnywild territories were aghast at the actions of their Twin Kings, and formed a revolutionary government, formally seceding two years into the Culling. Any Serpentkin left in the Monarchy were openly invited to migrate to Dunnywild. This mass exodus of Serpentkin (and their commerce) crippled the Monarchies markets and ability to fund their side of the civil war. The Monarchies loss to Dunnywild is felt today in the outright misinformation sowed by the Church, regarding what transpired. The Civil war is referred to as "The War of Dunnywild Aggression ", in an attempt to sway the minds of the people in sympathy for The Monarchy. To mark the end of the war, and birth of a new set of Twin Princes, the Church and Monarchy claimed divine intervention of the Twin Gods ending the Serpents Culling, thus marking themselves the heroes and saviors of the Serpentkin in the minds of the People of the Monarchy. Despite the 'forgiveness' of the Twin Gods for the perceived 'sin' of the Serpentkin, deep rooted mistrust remains in the Monarchy against Serpentkin. It is unknown why the Naga were not included in the Culling, and Serpentkin still within the Monarchy and abroad hold some resentment towards them for not being culled, or actively helping to prevent the culling.
It was also directly responsible for the territory of Dunnywild seceding from the Monarchy and forming its own kingdom. The people of the Dunnywild territories were aghast at the actions of their Twin Kings, and formed a revolutionary government, formally seceding two years into the Culling. Any Serpentkin left in the Monarchy were openly invited to migrate to Dunnywild. This mass exodus of Serpentkin (and their commerce) crippled the Monarchies markets and ability to fund their side of the civil war. The Monarchies loss to Dunnywild is felt today in the outright misinformation sowed by the Church, regarding what transpired. The Civil war is referred to as "The War of Dunnywild Aggression ", in an attempt to sway the minds of the people in sympathy for The Monarchy. To mark the end of the war, and birth of a new set of Twin Princes, the Church and Monarchy claimed divine intervention of the Twin Gods ending the Serpents Culling, thus marking themselves the heroes and saviors of the Serpentkin in the minds of the People of the Monarchy. Despite the 'forgiveness' of the Twin Gods for the perceived 'sin' of the Serpentkin, deep rooted mistrust remains in the Monarchy against Serpentkin. It is unknown why the Naga were not included in the Culling, and Serpentkin still within the Monarchy and abroad hold some resentment towards them for not being culled, or actively helping to prevent the culling.
"May thy path always be one of purpose and meaning; may it bring thee closer to the divine duality." ~ Commandment of the Divine Duality, The Scripture of the Divine Duality
Maps
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Brothers Landing
Pronunciation
ˈraɪvᵊlz ˈmɒnəki
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Alternative Names
The Monarchy, The Cult, The Rivals, RM, The Twins
Demonym
Monarchists, Rivalians
Ruling Organization
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Official State Religion
Related Traditions
Neighboring Nations
Cities and Towns
Brothers LandingBrandish Keep
Fell's Keep
Branston's Field
North Port Rival
South Port Rival
West Hopes Gate
Blessed Hopes Gate
Seer'sooth Gate
Dunewich Port
Crystalwinds Hollow
North Bayport
South Bayport
Finnport Gate
Skullport Gate
Siobhan Gate
Deepforge Bay
Silvergrove
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