Kingdom Divided takes place in a country called the Belllands. Over 500 years ago a religious crusade came and conquered these lands, making them in to the domains and noble houses you see today. While there is a central government it is corrupt, and has pushed the country in to a proletariat revolt. The general feel is a gilded age failing where those already in power are pushing to get more while others lose.
- Magic: While there is magic and supernatural creatures in the world, each generation it becomes less and less. You are now at a point where there is the crazy witch in the wood, or the court appointed wizard they are not common. (think about as common as wargs in GoT)
- Gender Roles: There is not a Tabboo about women fighting as there has been in our world. But because of much easier ways to earn a living most female combatants are specialist, archers, spies, ect. Almost never front line troops.
- Politics: The head of the country is an Emperor. They come from a family line, but it is not entirety unknown to have a major civil war remove an Emperor, (Its is called they lost their "Majestic Grace"). The Emperor's court appoints bureaucrats, peacekeepers, and has a standing army to keep the peace, but they have grown corrupt and petty, leading to the rise of families being the key power in regions, but unable to have power on a nationwide scale. :Category:Great Houses
- Education: Education only occurs from rich people paying traveling teachers, or a method known as The Tested. The Tested is mostly for poor people who can elect to go to a school for the government. Each time they wish to rise in a rank of education, they have to take a test, failure in the test means death. At the last level of 5 tests even those that pass are made infertile. (Both men and women are allowed in this, but only the most dedicated reach the higher ranks) If a person reaches this 5 rank though they have a guarantee of a position in the noble courts, and are the largest group in the Imperial Courts.
- Faith: Religion in the country is seen more as an overwhelming god who influences the world in a song of his own hearing. Terrible times are know as a "ringing of a bell". Great heroes, and scions of families are believed to be in the court of this god and can come back to earth to do good or evil things. Church of the Bells There are also those dark spirits, who try to make disharmony, as well as nature spirits who hold no alliance. There are rumors of other gods as well who thrive far away from this land that is protected by the bell.
- Technology: There is metalworking to the point of steel, but there are ancient methods using creatures long dead that make better weapons, (ala dragonscale armor ect.) Basic chemistry is known by the experts but you would not get more then most fireworks now. "bombs" are more Firestarter's then explosives. And are only used by specialists. Horse riding is common by those who can afford it as well are palanquins for reasonable prices for distanced travel, Enclosed carriages are really only seen in the north where the constant rain makes the hassle worthwile. There is siege weapons, (but still starving out a castle is a more common way of beating it vs breaking a wall down).
- Concentration of the Populus: Cities, Almost every few miles there will be a small farming village, of about 20 buildings. Then about a day away there are larger towns of about 50 buildings and commonly a walled city, Above that you only have Major regional capitals exist with about 100 to 200 buildings in their walls. There is no "great" city that is 4 or 5 times better then any regional capital. :Category:Cities
- Class Wealth: Poverty is extreme. most of the population will never see more then their next meal. To get out of that people either join up with a great house, take the tests or turn to becoming an outlaw. The "middle classes" are all the crafters or employees of the great houses or the Imperial Seat. As poverty and corruption as become rapant many poor people put their support behind a populus uprising called the Saffron Society
- Races: There are 5 Races or "ancestries" they are more common genetic traits, then fully another race. :Category:Ancestry
- Geography: The Lands of the Bell Ringer, is an island continent about the size of China on earth. The most of the people actually came and conquered this land but it was a very long time ago 750 years. Only the Enisen where native to this land. About that time a grand canal was built though the middle of the country. There are island nations off the coast but other then for trading most people do not bother with them due to social conflict that they believe other faiths. There is also a lot of piracy off the coasts.
- Starting Players: You will be playing movers and shakers of a major house known as House Silverridge . The system has a concept of how old you are, changing the balance of the game, (more skills for older people, more "merits" for younger) . Some of you might be in the line of the noble house, while others mercenaries, Teachers or even other lesser noble friends.)