#lore update;

HISTORY 101; HEARTS

Two thousand and twenty four years ago, under the ruling of Emperor Gwan Emir, our fair city and the continent at large were a bit different. Though the factions did not exist as they do now, there were still distinct differences in each corner of the city that led to the differences we see in our modern factions today.

Today’s lesson will cover Heart Territory. Where the Diamonds were the nouveau riche, Heart ancestors were old money, specifically the upper echelon of nobility in the Empire. Not only did they have inherited wealth, land, and businesses; they had what our own ancestors did not: political power. Forged via. marriages, long-kept alliances, and diversified portfolios, Hearts has always been a land of extraordinary interconnectivity and wealth.

After the Empire’s fall, little changed. The Zuihuo Clan, who were already a dominant and powerful force within that territory, took up the fallen reigns and became rulers. Where the Clubs chose lawlessness and the Diamonds chose diplomacy, the Hearts chose a blend of the two. Their ‘laws’ come from, and are solely enforced by, the ruling clan. In turn, the ruling clan is based solely on the amount of money a clan has.

The reason I use ‘Clan’ here instead of ‘family’ is because of the greater presence of the Fae in Hearts than any other faction and their own culture dynamics at play. The importance of one’s kin and clan has impacted the way Hearts still operate to this day. While some of the Empire’s nobles had amassed and maintained enough wealth to hold onto their power, many others fell to the mid-ranks as the Fae Clans stockpiled their money and surpassed those families. These changes in status account for, at least partially, the rank superiority we see today from Heart mid-rankers and the vast difference in wealth between them and mid-rankers from other factions.

How do you think coming from old money affected the formation of Heart territory? What do you think of basing ranks solely on money? What about the lack of government outside the ruling clan?

Professor Theodora Thompson Earth Elementalist

ETIQUETTE 101; MARRIAGE I

Marriage in Kadeu is strongly rooted in traditions hailing from the Old Empire, especially in Diamond and Heart territories where noble traditions were followed. Across factions, it is generally expected that the higher ranked individual be the one to propose marriage. This expectation stems from the Old Empire, where the higher ranked noble family would propose unification between households via marriage. If both individuals are the same rank, the one from the stronger family should be the one to propose but really, either partner has the right to ‘pop the question’ as it were.

Engaged individuals usually trade meaningful pieces of jewelry in Diamond and Heart factions but this tradition has changed to the exchange of weapons or armaments in Club and Spade factions. For jewelry, the higher ranked partner usually proposes marriage by offering their significant other a necklace or a bracelet of fine quality with a gemstone that is the color of the giver’s eyes or hair. This is meant to symbolize giving a part of themselves to their partner. If the proposal is accepted, the partner is then expected to have a piece of jewelry of equal value crafted that represents themselves which they will then give to their fiancé.

While the exchange of weapons is common in Club territory, it is just as common to see jeweled proposals in Spade territory as it is weapons. In Clubs, the marriage knife has seen an increase in popularity over the last forty years. The marriage knife is a small knife hung around the neck and the hilt is decorated with a stone for each child they have. The color of the stone indicates whether the child is male (white) or female (red), and the color of the stone's setting indicates whether or not the child is still alive, and if not, the manner of his or her death, whether in a duel (red) or otherwise (black). If a child is of age for a duel and he or she refuses one, his or her stone is pried out by many Clubs. The stone for the marital partner is usually the largest stone and is set in the handle of the knife. The color of this stone usually matches the color of their partner’s hair or eye color, like the jewelry Diamonds and Hearts trade.

Spades that trade weapons usually trade practical every-day weapons that have their partner’s names engraved either on the blade or on the handle. As many Spades view their weapons as their way to express their individuality while in uniform, some couples choose to collaborate on their proposal gifts so as to get their partners something they’ll actually use. There are also couples that exchange decorative weapons that are then paired together and hung in the family home and used as the new coat of arms for the couple. Spades that exchange jewelry usually opt for tight-fitting bracelets or anklets so there’s no risk of their jewelry interfering with their ability to wield their weapons or move about. Occasionally, instead of wedding bands they will add on to these pieces of jewelry with a matching set.

Many wedding ceremonies are held in Aphrodite’s Temple in Heart territory, but such is not always the case. Sometimes, individuals craft (or have crafted) a shrine to Aphrodite at the location of their choice which they are then married before. This is one of the only tributes to the gods that persisted through the long absence of the deities. That being said, some of these altars are not tributes to the goddess, but are instead called “marriage altars”.

At the wedding, there is a short ceremony, usually performed by a mutual friend or one of the parents. After the exchange of vows, wedding bands are traded, the formal ceremony ends, and the celebration begins.

HISTORY 101; CLUBS

Two thousand and twenty one years ago Kadeu was a very different city. Rather than the four factions we’re accustomed to today, our fair city, and the continent at large, were all ruled by a single monarch: Emperor Gwan Emir. Though the factions did not exist as they do now, there were still distinct differences in each corner of the city that led to the differences we see in factions today.

In this lesson we will cover the history of Club Territory. If any of you have been over there, its history as the city’s slum should come as no surprise to you. Many of the people who lived in this section of the city were heavy laborers, criminals, unemployable degenerates, hostlers, and the poverty-ridden. Aside from menial physical labor, these people didn’t contribute to society. Their long history of violence and love for insurrection were likely aggravated during the power change.

After the uprising of year zero, those in this territory (who were strictly regulated in the Empire thanks to the physical power differences between their species and the noble’s species) were so obsessed with maintaining as much freedom as possible they refused to accept a new government. Their adamancy in maintaining any and all freedoms from regulations contributed greatly to the decision to split the city into factions and is what led to the lawlessness nature of their borough.

However, that was not enough for some of them. They now fight for the “freedoms” of everyone in the city. I am, of course, talking about the resistance, as it has long been recognized that their presence in Club territory is far greater than it is in any other faction. The lawlessness of the Clubs as well as their complete lack of regulations are what have allowed that foolish group to flourish so greatly.

Based on their history as the lowest caste in the previous empire, what similarities can you see between where they are now to where they were under empiric rule?

Professor Theodora Thompson Earth Elementalist

MANACORES 101;

While the power to control mana is largely genetic, there are many cases where children of Magical Adepts come out unable to sense the mana around them. A recent census showed that roughly one in twenty five children within Diamond territory are able to sense mana, but the extent of which could only be tested when their manacores fully developed - anywhere from early adolescence to their late teen years. As many of you know, it’s apparent when an elementalist first awakens by the initial repellence of ambient mana when their mana core manifests. This oftentimes results in the destruction of surrounding objects, which I’m sure many of your parents still complain about.

Though manacores will form naturally over time, it is my sincere belief that this process can be expedited by consistent and diligent meditation. After all, once our manacores form it has been proven meditation allows us to grow our manacores to their full potential by collecting the fragments of mana within our bodies and guiding them towards our cores. Why should we have to wait for our manacores to be formed to do this? Young and gifted children who are diligent in their practice should be able to sense their own mana fragments within their bodies and aide in their own awakenings. 

Of course, I stipulated ‘young and gifted’ because this is an arduous task for both body and mind. Moving mana fragments towards your core is intensely slow and provides little payoff without repetition and a high willpower. There are some of you in this room that won’t reach your full potential until fifty years of age because you lack the discipline to meditate for a few hours every day. Don’t look so insulted, I speak only the truth, fifty is the average age elementalists max out the size of their manacores.

The size of your manacore is decided by your genetics. There are currently no known ways to artificially increase the size of your manacore. You are, of course, able to make your own decisions, but I shall warn you now that the few who have attempted to force their manacores to grow either died horribly, shattered their manacores, or went mad. Practice diligently, gather all the thousands of mana pieces within your body into your core, and then accept what you are left with. Things could be worse, you could be human.

NEW LOCATION :THE YELLING SECRETS

Hello anon, great questions! Admin G would love to see some older muses (especially those with older faceclaims) who are either only old for their species or are genuinely ancient and simply Tired with the youths today. Admin Y would like to see more humans that are settled with to the status quo of Kadeu. These humans could be defectors who haven’t been able to climb higher for whatever reason and have strained relationship with their sponsors but still trust in the system. Given the current events, Yan would love to see how that affects this personality.

As for laws and regulations, I’ll cover all the factions just in case the information makes you change your mind! 

Clubs are a lawless people, literally. Most have a strong sense of honor and community and will reach out if they see others in trouble but some are equally as likely to join the aggressors. There is currently no force dedicated to policing the Clubs and if one tried to pop up, they would likely be met with great resistance.

Diamonds have a more structured system of laws and regulations as well as a Law Enforcement Agency. The Chief Enforcer ( LEA Chief ) has a seat on the Academy council and all Enforcers are paid by the council. Thus, they work for the faction and not an individual, though they can be hired as a guard while off-duty. Regular Enforcers ( what we would call ‘beat-cops’ ) would be ranked around 7-8 so they could carry enough rank-weight to keep the lowrankers in line. LEA Corporals (9/10), LEA Sergeants(J/Q), and LEA Captains (Q/K) have specific ranks they would take on while LEA Detectives could range from 8-K depending on experience and the cases they normally take on. 

As far as actual laws, it is important to note drugs are legal in this territory. Outside of that, there are laws that protect business owners’ rights to deny anyone service. If owners have signs posted stating none under the rank of six may enter, this must be enforced. Of course, if the Enforcer is not ranked high enough to enter the business a Corporal or a Sergeant will be sent in their stead. It is also important to note the phrase “the highranker is always right” is the unofficial motto of LEA. 

Hearts are generally left to their own devices. Business owners, unless involved with the Zuihuo Clan, must hire their own guards and bouncers to guard their belongings and enforce their rules. Lowrankers do not have an agency to go to report crimes but they can request audiences with highrankers to ask for a ruling. Highrankers, of course, are under no obligation to agree to an audience nor to do the ‘right thing’. These requests are usually accompanied by large amounts of money or substantial goods/favors. Street Justice is a common alternative. 

As far as actual laws, Heart territory is similar to Diamond territory though less structured. Drugs are legal in this territory as are business owners’ rights to deny service, they are just enforced by the business owner or the Clan rather than a territory-run law agency. Private investigators are often hired if something needs to be investigated.

Spades are a military force. Superior officers generally take care of any problems but there is also what equates to a ‘Spade Human Resources’ building where people may go to report crimes. The soldiers in charge of investigating and/or righting crimes rotate so none become corrupted by the power nor can be bought off. 

Drugs outside of caffeine and alcohol are banned in this territory. There are very few places here that require a certain rank to enter - most require a clearance level that separate from one’s rank. Spade Territory operates off a lot of lists.

There are jails in Diamond, and Spade territories. The Academy Council presides over the cases of those that end up in the Diamond jail and decide punishments. The Spade jail is normally used for those outside their territory who they’ve caught stealing from the Spades. For their own faction members, if they’re a civilian (1) they’ll be thrown from the territory if their crime was bad enough. For their soldiers, they’ll be demoted or forced to do the worst jobs for a certain period of time.