The Red Valor Campaign Setting

[Elven Doritos]

I'm not too sure if I'll repost information from my website or not. I'm getting a bit tired of cross-posting, so I may just list updates here and ask for feedback.

http://www.freewebs.com/red_valor

Today's updates include a campaign-specific portion of the site that will include the changes that are going to be made to Arvia. I also added an article about Arvia itself, and updated the Kettan article and a few minor details. I fully encourage people to examine my site and point out any typos or inconsistancies so that I can correct them: Much of the information I have has gone through several revisions, and some material draws from different sources of those revisions than others.

Also, I encourage people to check the archived thread at the old CBG boards out.
The link can be found here: http://www.shadowfell.org/CBG/viewtopic.php?t=68&start=0

-Elven Doritos
Open to advice

[Elven Doritos]

All right. Let's do it this way:

Anything and everything that you want information about from the Red Valor world, post here. I'll do my best to answer the majority of the inquiries.

-Elven Doritos
Here we go!

[CYMRO]

The site is coming along swimmingly.

Is the art yours?

[Numinous]

no, it's his friends artwork.  I already asked

[CYMRO]

no, it's his friends artwork.  I already asked

Nothing like forcing friends and relations to contribute to one's enterprises. ;)

[Raelifin]

I'm having trouble diving in. Perhaps you could add section to the introduction on where to start?

[Elven Doritos]

As for the artwork: It's all done by a friend, as Nat-20 mentioned. His name is Cole Mitzelfelt, and I'll pass along the interest. I sort of commissioned the art, and he really helped the setting come to life.

As for "having trouble diving in"... Well, I don't know really how to make things 'pop' any more. What sort of things would you like to see in the intro?

-Elven Doritos
Pop goes the weasel!

[Elven Doritos]

I've modified the Deities section some, and have implemented a new format for several. Anything past Sicloran on the Deities page has the new format.
http://www.freewebs.com/red_valor/deities.htm for the main list.
http://www.freewebs.com/red_valor/veloria.htm for an example.

[Epic Meepo]

A few quick and mostly-minor comments about your Red Valor site:

On the introduction page, the description is somewhat cliche; consider adding a few points stressing what is unique about the Red Valor setting.  Also, consider replacing the phrase "not-interacting deities" with something that sounds more mysterious, like "distant deities."

Also, on the deities page, consider adding a brief description of each deity; a list of names and domains doesn't inspire me to play a cleric devoted to one of these under-developed beings.

[Elven Doritos]

The "under-developed beings" have links that you can click to go to, and a lot of the later ones in the alphabet are better developed. I've got more content for them, but I'm working about three other projects (mostly school-related) right about now. Oy.

I'll take the non-interactive thing into consideration. I'm not entirely sure what makes the setting unique. I'm mostly going for a traditional campaign without a great deal of innovation or modification, a fantasy world where about any story can be told.

[Elven Doritos]

I put a good deal of effort into an article today:

Go here:http://www.freewebs.com/red_valor/churchofsicloran.htm for the pretty version.

   The Church of Sicloran was the first truly organized religious body to emerge from the chaos surrounding the Rionian coup and the ascension of the current pantheon. Shaken by the loss of their patrons, the Kettonian Empire was on the verge of political and military collapse. The solidification of the Church of Sicloran within the Western Principalities of the Kettonian Empire was a leading factor to the Kettonian Civil War, and the fierce devotion that the early members of the Church displayed for the people of the Western Realms helped the Siclorians gain the trust and support of the populace. When the Kettonian Civil War broke out, the Church still lacked an organized hierarchy and a definitive structure. This uncertainty lasted until 3 RA, when a newly-converted vicar of Sicloran received a vision from his deity about how the Church should be structured. This man, Coreph Denostrian of Valgaard, became the central figure within the early Church and helped established the principles and doctrines still practiced presently.
   Coreph, a former acolyte of the deceased god Galloth, understood the dangers of a highly regimented clergy and set guidelines designed to curtail abuse, corruption, bureaucracy,  incompetence, arrogance, and untruthfulness within the newly titled Blessed Church of Sicloran the Savior. Coreph collected these guiding principles in his work the Nature of Power and Celestial Mandates, which soon became known as one of the leading documents that challenged contemporary idealogy of rulership and power. It was also the first known text to place higher value on both tradition and divine right to the throne than on a ruler's character, a fact that has been disputed since its inception. Current philosophical opponents to the Nature of Power and Celestial Mandates include Chancellor Hiru Mentalli of Vestin, Emperor Kolann I of Ketta, Allander d'Vortin (an influential philosopher from Arvia) and Emperor Kozuma of Azran.
   Another key point of Coreph's newly established hierarchy was the status of visionaries within the Church. Too long had the prophets of the Dethinian Gods been ignored by established states, and it is believed that this directly led to the fall of organized Dethinan faith and also the collapse of the Kettonian Empire. As a reminder of this, Coreph prophesied that true prophets would immediately ascend to command of the Church by order of Sicloran himself so that the Savior's direct link could shape the religion effectively and quickly. Coreph also established the secretive Trials of the Prophet, the method used for determining the legitimacy of a prophet of Sicloran. The nature of the Trials would later become the leading influence of the Rites of Rulership in Torinnia after the ex-communication of Fellior Treth the False Prophet.
   Another legacy of the collapsed Kettonian Empire within the Church of Sicloran is the usage of the old names of Kettonian principalities for the titles of the various dioceses. This practice has been heavily debated throughout the history of the Church primarily because of the rather bloody legacy the Kettonian Empire has in the annals of history. However, in keeping with church doctrine, the tradition has been preserved.
   Since the death of Coreph, there have been a total of twelve Grand High Prophets of Sicloran. Each has played an influential role throughout the history of the Church and their appearance often coincides with a key political or cosmic event (or both). The Church has expanded into every nation on the Tare and has missionaries in both Delphia and Dontorr. Today, there are approximately three million worshippers of the Savior.

Grand High Prophet of Sicloran: Given to rare visionaries and confirmable prophets, who are then granted considerable authority within the church. It should be noted that this formal styling  is the only in which the phrase "of the Church" is omitted, indicating a closer relationship to Sicloran than the other members of the clergy enjoy. The official styling of a Grand High Prophet of Sicloran is rarely shortened, even in casual address.
   The current Grand High Prophet of Sicloran, formerly Elect Bishop Andioch Lozar of the Western Principality of Kalumarc,

Sacred and Divine High Priest of the Church of Sicloran: The highest-ranking priest within the church of Sicloran, the High Priest is selected by a vote of the College of Holy Cardinals. The High Priest is the administrative head of the Church during times of which there is no Grand High Prophet of Sicloran, and is also an administrative aide to the Grand High Prophet of Sicloran during their reign.
   The current High Priest of the Church of Sicloran is Anthros Kirin of Cathedral. Due to the statutes laid out in Nature of Power and Celestial Mandates,  Anthros is automatically the Bishop of Cathedral due to its unique position as not only the "official base" of the Church of Sicloran but also because of the Church's legal sovereignty within the bounds of Cathedral. Should the Church's authority legally extend beyond this, then it is unknown whether the bishopric will be expanded into other dioceses or if new boundaries will be established.  

Glorious Lord Commander of the Church of Sicloran and Consecrated High General of the Righteous Army: The only member of the Church's military wing, the Righteous Army of Sicloran, to have a status within the hierarchy of the church proper is that of the Lord Commander. The only military post established by Grand High Prophet Coreph, it is the canon of the Church's teachings that it was Coreph's intention for the High General to command and independently manage the affairs of a standing military dedicated to the destruction of evil and the preservation of Siclorian values. As such, the Righteous Army's activities have rarely been challenged by the College of the Holy Cardinals primarily because the army's bulk is of paladins (whose relationship with Sicloran transcends the Church's authority according to Nature of Power and Celestial Mandates).
   The current Lord Commander is Ivan Holyshield, a well-respected Vestin native who gained a good deal of prominence during the Vestin Civil War. Well respected by both armies, there was some demand for him to run for election to the Council of Sages. Holyshield declined, wishing to turn his service away from a national identity and towards his god. His rank was transferred to the Righteous Army, and after the death of his aged predecessor, Ivan was chosen by the leadership of the Righteous Army as its leader and representative within the Church's hierarchy. Holyshield's warmth, kindness, and respectable record have earned him many political allies both within the Church and without.

Holy Cardinal and Celestial Minister of the Church of Sicloran: The praetors and foremost religious scholars within the Church of Sicloran, the Holy Cardinals hold a good deal of authority and influence both within the religion and also within the regions where the Church is predominate. As an example, from the end of the Era of Chaos in 614 RA until the end of the Crown Wars in 834 RA, the Cardinal of Armnevestin (roughly situated within the three southernmost quarters of Vestin) was a legal aide responsible for the any domestic travel and affair within the the Kingdom of Vestin. The College of the Holy Cardinals is the leading body within the Church, and it is this body that advises the Grand High Prophet of Sicloran and the High Priest.
   Currently, the College of Holy Cardinals consists of one hundred members.

Chosen Archbishop and Beloved Sage of the Church of Sicloran: The only position within the hierarchy not explicitly defined in Nature of Power and Celestial Mandates, the nature of the Archbishopric is a bit complex within the Church. Typically, an Archbishop of Sicloran oversees three bishoprics, and in return, three Archbishops report to an individual cardinal. Created to ease the workload of Cardinals, Archbishops have often been cited as lacking anything other than the most basic administrative powers. This criticism, in addition to the absence of archbishops in Nature of Power and Celestial Mandates, has often been used to dispel the position altogether. As of yet, the College of Holy Cardinals has not considered this proposal.
   Currently, there are exactly three hundred Archbishops of he Church of Sicloran.

Elect Bishop and Virtuous Mentor of the Church of Sicloran: The bishopric is the most basic administrative district within the Church and Bishops hold a decent amount of political and religious influence in the regions that they are charged with. Their primary obligations remain the coordination of the priests within their diocese and monitoring local events. Also, they are placed in charge of barons, dukes, and lords who pledge themselves as Presbyters.
   Currently, there are about nine hundred Bishops of the Church of Sicloran.

Regal Presbyter and Honored Regent of the Church of Sicloran: An interesting position lined out in Nature of Power and Celestial Mandates is that of local rulers who pledge themselves both to a national liege and to the service of Sicloran. Although Grand High Prophet Coreph wisely omitted any mention of influence over a national ruler (due to the high political tensions of his time), many kings in both Arvia and Vestin have been awarded the title periodically. Currently, there are only three Presbyters of the Church of Sicloran.

Blessed Priest and Devout Father of the Church of Sicloran: This is the general title given to clerics who are trained in holy magic and are ordained within the doctrines of the Church. The obligations of priests include managing the affairs of an individual temple, delivering weekly sermons, advising the faithful, and proselytizing to locals. Winning converts and performing acts of selflessness are the most common methods that priests gain prestige within the Church. The other ranks of the Church, excluding Presbyters and perhaps the Lord Commander, are drawn exclusively from the ranks of the priesthood.
   There are approximately one thousand priests per bishopric. Due to their invested interest in people's well-being and their lack of serious commitments, priests are the most likely individuals to be adventurers.

Faithful Acolyte of the Church of Sicloran: This term refers to laypeople who have received a degree of religious training. They assist priests and handle the everyday matters of larger temples. Acolytes are the most likely individuals within the hierarchy to have an occupation unrelated to the Church and also the least likely to advance further in the hierarchy. They are also the least likely to be adventurers.
   Considering the ambient nature of acolytes, there is no solid estimate for their number.

[Epic Meepo]

I stand corrected about the deities.  For some reason, I was being silly and not thinking that the names on the table were links.  Your pantheon is quite interesting.

And don't sell yourself short when it comes to your setting being unique.  Unique doesn't have to be a wierd gimmick.  It could just be a sentence or two of fluff that sums up the feel you want your world to have, or an interesting quote that captures an angle that the reader might not otherwise have thought of.

EDIT: I'd be curious to hear at the opening why the name Red Valor was chosen for your setting.  I noticed that there is a legendary blade named Red Valor, but what about the nature of Red Valor makes it a central theme in your world?  If the answer to that question is concise, I think it would make for a nice opening remark to add some more flavor to your Red Valor intro page.

[Elven Doritos]

RV: 1301
With a final strike from his pick, Braddle stepped through the crevice he had bore into the black stone wall. With a wipe of his brow, the somber gnome slowly looked around the massive chamber, a sense of awe pervading his normally pragmatic and crass mannerisms seemed to melt away. Richly decorated walls and a lavish throne marked this as the tower's centermost room. Braddle looked curiously to the statue that sat upon the throne, head bent low with a long, golden beard reaching to meet its knees in a somehow dignified manner as long hair of the same hue cascaded downn its back. Braddle walked softly toward the statue and looked at it curiously, prodding it in the knee.

This was no statue! With a flash of movement, the long-dormant figure pinned Braddle against the marble floor, a flash of confusion in his weathered golden eyes. With a mighty rumble akin to the crackle of thunder, the being demanded, "Who are you, so foolish to invade this sepulchre of the glory of past?"

Braddle quivered uncharacteristically and stammered, "Good sir... By all accounts, this tomb was empty!"

Anger flooded into the bearded man's face. "This is no tomb. This is my home, good gnome, and you are but an intruder"

Braddle bristled and hastily replied, "Please, m'lord, I meant no harm. I will leave."

With a quick toss, the man released Braddle from his grasp. After a long silence, he quietly spoke. "I... apologize for my behavior. Tell me.... what year is it?"

Braddle looked to him curiously. "It is the Seventh Year of the New Age, marked by the fall of the hated Empire."

The man looked down, taking a seat on his throne. "What year, on the Rionian calender?"

Braddle closed his eyes, doing a quick calculation. "1301, sir, though the Rionian calender is rarely used in the East."

The man shook his head again. "Then much has changed in the past thirty years."

Braddle's eyes snapped open with a flash of realization. "Then you're Ka-"

A quick gesture from the seated man halted the gnome's revelation. "I forswore that name when I was forced into solitude. What has happened since I began my isolation?"

Braddle sat on the dusty floor, sighing deeply. "This will take a while, m'lord, but in short, the Era of Legend is over. An age, named the Time of Heroes, is upon us."

Intrigued, the weathered man leaned forward, his eyes watching the gnome. "Tell me everything."

-----
In short, I'm working on a revolutionary project for the Red Valor setting that will revolutionize and revitalize the "canon" material of the setting. The official setting date is going to be advanced about 50 years during which many key events will cause the emergence of several new nations, deities, historical events, and virtually every other aspect of the setting.

This is a project, mind you, and is still in the developmental phases. If you have any input (beyond "Don't do dat!", unless you have reasons that back up your sentiment), feel free to contact me through the many means provided on my site and here on CBG. I'm accepting all kinds of criticisms and ideas, because at this point, 1301 is a rough concept with a few main ideas sketched out.

~Elven Doritos
Master & Commander

[Numinous]

My opinion is that if you feel this will make the setting better, then by all mean continue.  On a nice related note however, i'm glad to recognize Braddle, even if he is not the same character I remember.

[Elven Doritos]

Project 1301 Update

It is an age of new nations.
After the strife and chaos that led to the Maximelian Imperial War and the Artorian Conquest, the former nations of the Tare have formerly dissolved and fragmented into smaller nations that vary from kingdoms to theocracies, from magocracies to brutal dicatorships. New nations are drawn along lines of religion, prestige, tradition, military power, race, and natural resource.

Also, the official homepage of Project 1301.

Here's a teaser-- the current map of the new countries of the Tare.
[spoiler=Map][/spoiler]