~Lover's Quarrel~
We set our scene in the year 2723, during the Era of the Thousand Kingdoms. The US government had long since dissolved, and with it, so did society at large. What exactly caused the fall of the American Empire is still debated among historians, but most reputable academics agree the main causes that led to the event were repeated environmental catastrophes, such as massive hurricanes and earthquakes, along with sea level rise and political instability. Of course, not long after, all the other countries on Earth collapsed in a similar way. Chaos and anarchy reigned on Earth as countries were divided into clans, as small polities waged war on each other, as small groups struggled for the resources that remained. Yet, six hundred years following the collapse, the fire of war had mostly calmed, leaving only sparks of flame. Where there was chaos, people began to find stability and even hope. Yet quality of life then was still significantly worse than it was during the Second Antiquity - comparable to the Renaissance period, perhaps.
Aristeia was the princess of the Planina Kingdom, which was in reality a small area of land in what is present-day Colorado. Her father was the King, and from birth she was expected to be a proper lady and perfect Princess. Any deviance would be harshly punished, and she quickly learned to accept her lot in life. She was comfortable, after all - she lived in a big castle in a beautiful country, with her every need fulfilled. How could she dare to ask for more? But deep down, her heart ached with loneliness. She had friends, sure - fellow nobles and her servants, but none of them truly understood her, and she didn't even know if any of them cared for her at all. And she knew she would have no choice in who she could marry - like her mother before her, she would be married off to some prince or noble for political advantage. True love was something meant for other women. Over time, Aristeia would find that no material comfort in the world could dull the pain of being alone.
Datisi, a young man from Croatia - a country in Southern Europe - was a commoner, and had worked as a travelling merchant for most of his life. Born in Dalmatia, he moved around Europe's major settlements - from New Paris to Ionnanina - trading luxury items like furs and silk. He sought anyone, or
What Datisi didn't know was that when Aristeia first saw him, she felt love at first sight. She longed to talk more to the rugged, handsome and mysterious knight, but she was nervous about doing anything her father might perceive as being out of place. However, she would sometimes send him a smile or a wave, or start a short conversation between her meetings. These moments would bring joy to her day, and also to his. Over time, these short conversations gradually became longer and more involved, until they began to spend a conspicuous amount of time together. They would spend nights in the tower, stargazing and talking to each other, and falling more and more in love. One day, Datisi brought Aristeia a purple lily from the river valley, and confessed his love to her. Aristeia told him she shared his feelings, and that night, they kissed for the very first time, holding hands and watching the fireworks.
But suddenly, Princess Aristeia grew cold. She would spend less time with Datisi, forcing herself to spend more time working. At first, Datisi felt upset and betrayed, believing she had played with him and then threw him away like he was nothing. But some of his contacts in the Royal Castle told him the true reason why this had happened - the King himself had intervened, noticing the Princess' erratic behaviour, and gave her a lecture on how her marriage was vital for the entire kingdom, and she may not do something so selfish as to marry a commoner for the sake of love. Upon hearing this, Datisi hatched a plot. With the help of his friends and allies, he would infiltrate the court of the Princess. Once he had her ear, and control over her schedule, he was confident he would be able to convince her to marry him. But Aristeia noticed
Aristeia was the princess of the Planina Kingdom, which was in reality a small area of land in what is present-day Colorado. Her father was the King, and from birth she was expected to be a proper lady and perfect Princess. Any deviance would be harshly punished, and she quickly learned to accept her lot in life. She was comfortable, after all - she lived in a big castle in a beautiful country, with her every need fulfilled. How could she dare to ask for more? But deep down, her heart ached with loneliness. She had friends, sure - fellow nobles and her servants, but none of them truly understood her, and she didn't even know if any of them cared for her at all. And she knew she would have no choice in who she could marry - like her mother before her, she would be married off to some prince or noble for political advantage. True love was something meant for other women. Over time, Aristeia would find that no material comfort in the world could dull the pain of being alone.
Datisi, a young man from Croatia - a country in Southern Europe - was a commoner, and had worked as a travelling merchant for most of his life. Born in Dalmatia, he moved around Europe's major settlements - from New Paris to Ionnanina - trading luxury items like furs and silk. He sought anyone, or
anything
, that could melt his frosty heart and make life feel worthwhile. That's why, after building up a fortune of his own separate from his mother and father, he bought a ship capable of crossing the blue waters of the Atlantic. Such a journey was perilous and foolish, as his father told him in no uncertain terms. But he was attracted to the unknown that lay across the ocean - America at this point was almost a legend, as few people had made the crossing over the ocean since the collapse of the Second Antiquity. When he arrived in North Carolina, he felt alive for the first time in years. He made his way across the continent, making his way by trading gold for grain and other essentials. His original goal was to find the mythical 'California' and the gold mines he believed he could find there. But on his way, he rested in the city of Freshwater in the Planina Kingdom, and laid his eyes on a beautiful princess in a silky lilac dress. He was smitten at first sight, and decided to extend his stay in the city. However, he didn't know how he could get the chance to talk to her again. Against his better judgement, he chose to settle down in Planina permanently. Using skills he picked up as a merchant, he trained as a knight, riding on horseback and skilled in swordplay.What Datisi didn't know was that when Aristeia first saw him, she felt love at first sight. She longed to talk more to the rugged, handsome and mysterious knight, but she was nervous about doing anything her father might perceive as being out of place. However, she would sometimes send him a smile or a wave, or start a short conversation between her meetings. These moments would bring joy to her day, and also to his. Over time, these short conversations gradually became longer and more involved, until they began to spend a conspicuous amount of time together. They would spend nights in the tower, stargazing and talking to each other, and falling more and more in love. One day, Datisi brought Aristeia a purple lily from the river valley, and confessed his love to her. Aristeia told him she shared his feelings, and that night, they kissed for the very first time, holding hands and watching the fireworks.
But suddenly, Princess Aristeia grew cold. She would spend less time with Datisi, forcing herself to spend more time working. At first, Datisi felt upset and betrayed, believing she had played with him and then threw him away like he was nothing. But some of his contacts in the Royal Castle told him the true reason why this had happened - the King himself had intervened, noticing the Princess' erratic behaviour, and gave her a lecture on how her marriage was vital for the entire kingdom, and she may not do something so selfish as to marry a commoner for the sake of love. Upon hearing this, Datisi hatched a plot. With the help of his friends and allies, he would infiltrate the court of the Princess. Once he had her ear, and control over her schedule, he was confident he would be able to convince her to marry him. But Aristeia noticed
something
was amiss in her court - and started taking action to root it out. That's how the story began...A mafia game designed by Ausuka, and reviewed by Skygazer.
Playerlist
Abc
Spoiler: In the Court
Spoiler: Expelled from the Court