Avenir

Each mask has a role to play, as if we are in theater. Some of the masks are more active than others, so they need more people to play them. If you do something that the mask doesn't like, that doesn't follow it's "persona", it prickles at your skin, heating your face like fever until it starts burning unbearably. The Masked Guard watches us at all times, still as stone. Only on the blind moons do they rest, and only then will I get a chance to run. I will be arriving a bit late this season, love.

— A letter from Thaeri Lavaille, addressed; "To Kaevorn: Regarding the Masks".

Demographics

Population Distribution

People Residing in Cities/Towns
People Residing in Settlements
Itinerant, Isolated, or Outcast

2,870,927
280,743
3,195

Kingdom Population Distribution

Lurid Kingdom
Vivid Kingdom
Ashen Kingdom
Unclaimed

22%
22%
22%
34%

Social Class Distribution

Nobility
Upper Class
Merchants
Middle Class
Lower Class

1%
3%
16%
50%
30%

Government

Avenir is split into three Kingdoms; the Lurid Kingdom, the Vivid Kingdom, and the Ashen Kingdom. Each is ruled by their King and Queen, who often have many personalities (multiple people who play the role of the same mask). The Kings and Queens have advisers and nobles that help them control the kingdoms within their Palaces, along with a certain number of Masked Guard that act as each Kingdom's army. In the end, it is up to the Kings and Queens to ultimately decide how to run each kingdom.
The Village of the Unmasked is the only village that is outside the Kingdoms' territory. It is run by a council of five; four members who are in charge of the four sections of the village, and a fifth who can be from any section to break any tie votes.
The Masked Guard itself is a separate entity. No one is sure where they came from or who commands them; they simply arose, wearing the masks. They do not speak or make a sound, and seem impossible to fight. They enforce that every personality plays the role of their mask properly, and that no one removes or steals a mask. What is done with those law breakers they take away is unknown. No one is safe from the Masked Guard except the Village of the Unmasked, where the Guard seems unwilling to step unless there is an abandoned mask. On the day of the blind moons each month, when when both moons are in their new moon phase, the Masked Guard becomes dormant. Their chins fall to their chests and they are like statues where they stand, immovable. On this day, the Kings and Queens rely on their own guards to keep order, but most people remove their masks to be truly themselves. Some may even risk attempting escape from or entry to the Kingdoms.

Show spoiler

Unknown to the entire Province except the Kings and Queens, the Masked Guard is under the control of a mysterious man known as The Marquis. He watches from his hideaway in the mountain, where he sees through the eyes of the Masked Guard with his mirrors. The Marquis makes sure all masks have as many people as they need to play the correct parts, and sends the Masked Guard after people that the mask wishes for. The Marquis' own mask whispers the needs of the other masks to him. During the blind moons, his secret lover comes to visit him and they remove their masks.

History

Avenir was once a rich and thriving country where once a year a game was played; The Festival of Masks was a day for all to become someone else, and play the part of the Mask they were given. The Queen's Mask required a regal air and poise, and one had to be polite yet kind as they wore this mask. The Artist's Mask had the personality become creative and always searching for inspiration in even the smallest things. This Festival was a way for people to try being different, and not worry about who would see them, as telling the name of who is behind the mask wasn't allowed.
The second year after the Borders rose, one of the Festivals changed. The masks latched onto the faces that wore them and began whispering commands into their minds. Disobedience was met with a fierce burning sensation, though there was no heat. The entire province fell into a panic. The next morning, the Masked Guard began to appear, and when the seeing moons passed and the masks stopped clinging, the Masked Guard forced them to continue wearing the masks anyway. Soon people fell into their respective roles like it was merely a play. One could only entirely remove their mask safely if they remained alone in their room, or on the blind moons each month.
The strip of mainland that belonged to Avenir, which became the Town of the Unmasked, held the people who refused to wear a mask, or had managed to escape without the Masked Guard finding them. As the three Kingdoms became richer and more prosperous with the firm control, the Unmasked became poorer and fragile.

Show spoiler

The masks became possessed when the Marquis entered the province with his own mask, unknown to be an ancient artifact at the time. When the seeing moons' light struck the mask, it regained its life and began summoning the souls of those from an ancient civilization that used to live in Avenir's place to possess the other masks at the Festival. The Marquis was unable to remove the mask at all, and so was forced to do its bidding.

Architecture

Though each Kingdom has a unique architecture to it, most buildings in the large cities are built of the pale grey-purple stone that is mined from the mountains. This stone is often colored with special dyes that stain it; popular colors vary depending on kingdoms. Less important buildings inside the cities are built with stone bases and brick and/or wooden walls.

Settlements are generally build with simple wood, though important buildings may get stone bases. Architecture in general settlements are usually very simple; square buildings are most common, with a pyramid-shaped roof in order to reflect any falling rain from pooling. Wood is cut into flat planks; porches are common, which often span the front of the house, or around to the side. There tends to be few windows in order to keep the buildings better-insulated. Any yard-space is usually filled with home-grown gardens or space for small livestock.

Geography

Avenir is a taiga, a large island off the coast of $CONTINENT NAME$. Large rivers flow through thick coniferous forests, with numerous streams branching from them and other water reserves inside the mountains. Hot spring are rare, and the chance of finding one that hasn't been built upon for money is slim. Due to the rich minerals of the mountains, hot springs are exaggerated to be extremely healing. Avenir tends to be cold most of the year, though hardy plants have grown and been bred to withstand the harsh weather, leaving green to last longer and return quicker.

Natural Resources

Though Avenir is quite cold most of the time, the forests are thick and have plenty of forage to find, as well as animals who brave the cold available for hunting. The soil is rich, allowing for good farming, while the mountains have much stone and marble but not much else. The nearby sea is plentiful; fish come easy and often, crustaceans and other delicacies are easy to find, and precious pearls and shells are found often.

Type

National Territory

Population

3,154,865

Inhabitant Demonym

Aveniran

Included Locations

• Ashen Kingdom

Owner/Ruler

The Marquis

Related Tradition (Primary)

• Masks of Avenir