[A-RP] Stormwake Allegiance - A Realm at War

The land is swept in chaos. House Stormsong, whose ancient name the very rivers and hills of northern Kul Tiras have adopted as their own, has turned its back on the people. Colluding with forbidden powers and heretical gods, Lord Stormsong’s ambitions have set the country asunder and burst the very fabric of society.

Rumours stir from Sagehold that the priesthood is falling apart at the seams, tidesages turning on their sworn brothers like starved beasts in the wake of divided creed and leadership. Few have felt the strain more than the commonfolk, who are made slaves to their overlord’s whims at the threat of a hangman’s noose. Peasant mobs have risen to push back against the oppression — despondent miners, fishermen and swineherds wielding nothing more than sharpened pitchforks and hungry torches, rallying by the hundreds. They look to the silence of their local liege lords in disgust, torn between appealing for their patronage and throwing them to the wolves.

However, as the tides of civil war arise, so must the strident banners clawing for supremacy. While some of the nobility shut their gates to wait out the storm, there are yet those who hear the throes of their subjects and acknowledge the danger of inaction, marshalling their loyal swords to answer the outcry with both ink and steel. Saddled with an increasing threat to their station and the integrity of their feudal houses, they look to each other for shared strength and new means of protecting their legacies.


Disclaimer: Some details in this post are liable to change depending on the final lore Blizzard releases for Kul Tiras.

The Stormwake Allegiance is an endeavour to revitalise the genre of medieval-inspired roleplay on Argent Dawn. Built around the lore and geography of Kul Tiras in the forthcoming expansion, we aim to portray a localised feudal setting with an immersive and interactive environment, replete with political strife and religious instability. The guild centers around a coalition of three noble houses and a monastic order, or so-called subfactions within the guild, that deal with both the larger and smaller problems plaguing their home of Stormsong Valley.

Each subfaction offers a completely unique experience with their own distinct lores and histories, and all prospective members must choose one to pledge themselves to upon recruitment. This initial choice won’t be permanently binding, but only ample OOC or IC reasoning will justify a faction change in most cases. The factionalism is designed to enhance the feudal aspect of the guild rather than separate the player base, and many of our events will still be directed at all members of the community, regardless of faction choice.

While we could technically be considered an umbrella guild, the intention is to provide a more streamlined narrative that specifically concerns itself with the religious and aristocratic institutions of Stormsong Valley, rather than a more general, all-encompassing take on Kul Tiras roleplay. Our events will revolve around the provincial conflicts of the local region, from heavier themes of civil war to less prominent territorial disputes inspired by political intrigue. Events of a more social climate will involve such things as regional tournaments, feasts and banquets, religious festivals and quieter activities between military campaigns.

The link below contains the official draft for the Stormwake Allegiance, which goes into much further detail about the guild concept and its subfactions.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JaXESBo8HqAtKXZa7PyCJezsx6oMJ_m8rFnmsAIqjZI/edit?usp=sharing


On an OOC level, we expect a high standard of respect and maturity from our players. This is absolutely vital in sustaining the big-tent community that comprises our guild. As such, we prefer any prospective recruits to be at least 18 years of age. Other common sense rules apply: don’t be toxic or hostile OOC. If problems arise between individual players, they must be dealt with like adults, lest the officer team gets directly involved.

We’re expected to launch a month into Battle for Azeroth, giving people ample time to explore the game content and familiarise themselves with the new Kul Tiran setting. Anyone interested in joining can apply through our Discord server, which contains the recruitment instructions upon entry.

https://discord.gg/Hp75eat

Feel free to post any further questions below, and we’ll contrive to respond with an FAQ that covers the most salient.
Narrative Overview:

Act I: Rebellion
Answering an urgent call to arms sent from Tidehaven, the Houses Fawcett, Mercer and the Order of the King Tide join House Dryden in its rebellion against the secessionist forces of Stormsong Valley, pledging their loyalty unto one another in Unity Square, Boralus. Bound by urgency and common purpose, they form the Stormwake Allegiance to oppose the powers that be, hell-bent on liberating their people from enslavement and imminent slaughter.

However, tensions remain high amidst the tempest-tossed companies, and the lords' divided ambitions ever prone to eclipse their minds for solidarity. Time will tell whether this fledgling alliance can weather the many storms to come, or if their united front shall break against the rocky shoals of adversity.

After barely escaping a perilous storm en route to the Valley, the Stormwake Allegiance are left stranded on the seashore without any immediate recourse, encamping themselves in an uninhabited cove. While their ships did sustain some damage, neither the Rook nor Neptulon's Fury took any blow to their structural integrity, having come out of it in reasonably good shape. The unnatural storm that nearly swallowed them, however, lingers on the sea further afield, held in place by presumably occult forces.

They must spend their next days wisely if they are to get past the obstacles ahead, repair their ships and undo whatever sorcery is preventing them from entering native waters.

Overcoming the defiance of House Stafford after engaging with the Sunderstorm in a fierce battle on the sea, the Stormwake Allegiance steer their immediate course north by west, making for the Mercers' home of Eastbank as the crow flies. However, what awaits them in the merchant lord's fortified port town may be a far cry from the haven for which the rebels fight, as cruelty is dispensed upon the commonfolk within its walls as without.

The early hours of the morning saw steel in the streets of Eastbank. House Stafford successfully launched a sneak attack against the sleeping port town and caught half of it in flames, but the quick reactions of the Allegiance saw them put out before anything too devastating was lost to the fires.

The Champion of Sunderstone, Sir Rylan “Rosegold” Stafford, was brought to heel and parted with his legs from the knees down, permanently crippled. With such a valuable, albeit severely maimed hostage in their possession, what will the banners of Stormwake make of their prized captive?
Reserved
Super concept, and what great guys, honestly.
Great concept, looking forward to seeing it take off!
Risen From The Depths!
Let's go lads.
Alright, I can see where you are going with this and as such I have a question. From what I’ve read to this very moment this sounds like a very promising roleplaying concept and the amount of effort put into it to this very moment seems like a lot.
However, how exactly are you going to ensure that the guild members will avoid OOC drama which occurres fairly often when it comes to roleplaying connected to lands (feudalism) and politics?
An interesting concept to say the least. It's very clear, reading the google doc you provided, that you've poured heart and soul into this for some time now. I wish you the best of luck, and I look forward to finding you guys on the isles!
:)
:ok_hand:
Stoked for this, can't wait to Roleplay with these great guys.
Looks entertaining.
[Encouraging words]

[Thankful words]

[Funny quip]
This looks so amazing. I wish something like this existed when I was young!
A well-written post!

Best of luck—I really hope you can pull off such an ambitious concept.
A question I do have is; are you guys remaining loyal to House Stormsong, or to the Lord Admiral? If it's the prior, then we look forward to potential events in which we have to put down your doomed insurrection!
Wish you the best! Concept sounds great - hopefully see you on the battle fields one day bros
Beautifully written.
Where will you actually be roleplaying, given Kul Tiras is likely to be phased and sharded until next expack?