Beyond the game's unexplored "Naropa", there exist lands with inhabitants and nations. In this era long after the collapse of the Mughal (Mongol) Empire, the Tamarlene Empire (Timurid Dynasty) dominates the central continent, while in the Far East, the Meng Dynasty (Ming) holds sway. The people of the old continent have experienced diseases like smallpox and the plague, yet the existence of the new continent remains unknown, making it a pre-Columbian world. With no prevalence of syphilis, the people of Naropa are known to take baths!
The in-world setting of 'Brigands' Quest' closely resembles the real-world from the 13th to 14th century. The reason for the similarities in geography, fauna, and even the history, culture, and religion being a botched imitation of the real world is attributed to the influence of the "reincarnators", individuals whose souls (or personalities and memories) from the real world are sent into the characters of this fictional world.
The phenomenon of individuals being transported into the in-world characters at birth or during dire situations has occurred numerous times in the world depicted in the story, dating back to ancient times. However, most of these individuals are often treated as lunatics or end up being killed. In the real world, proclaiming oneself as a 'reincarnator to another world' would likely meet similar outcomes. Just having a different set of values or knowledge, like seeds, doesn't necessarily guarantee they will take root, much like how only pine trees may grow in salt-damaged soil.
Certainly, there have been individuals who leveraged their experiences from before reincarnation to bring innovation to society and technology, but they, themselves, were unable to realize the futures they dreamt of. No matter how rich their ideas might be, it's akin to trying to build a third floor in mid-air without constructing the second, as the saying goes...
Behold the Man! The Formation and Spread of the Wheelism The Holy Site Heliosalam, a sacred place for Wheelism. The Western Church has embarked on numerous Holy Campaigns, akin to Crusades but known as 'Wheelades,' to conquer this land. The former emperor in the game led one such campaign, which, upon its failure, became a distant cause of the chaotic turmoil in the central basin.
Then, were the reincarnators unable to exert significant influence on history? This question can be definitively denied by the existence of the man I am about to discuss—Jesus of Nazareth.
He was reincarnated as the child born to the virgin Maryam (Maria) and the carpenter Yosef. Whether his mother was truly a virgin remains unclear, but you can understand that even a virgin can conceive by viewing the erotic scenes of the princess knight in the game.
What is crucial is that he, born of non-Black parents, was Black. His actions, teachings, and death mirrored those of the real-world Jesus. Under the rule of Original church(similar to Judaism) and an empire called the Imperium Remianum, which resembled Rome, his death and teachings gave rise to a ecumenical, interracial world religion similar to Christianity in the real world, called Wheelism. This world's Christianity is also known as Wheelism because the instrument of execution was not a cross but a wheel.
(The inspiration for his life is Michael Moorcock's SF novel "Behold the Man", where a man who wants to see Christ in person time travels and becomes a "Imitatio Christi".)
The spread of Wheelism also reached Naropa. The namesakes, Nausicaä and Europe, suggest the presence of a reincarnator familiar with Greek mythology. The great migration of the Groman tribes(Germans) and the collapse of the Remian Empire split Wheelism between the Eastern Ecumenical Church(Orthodoxy) of the Omantine(Byzantine) Empire and the Western Authentic Church(Catholic) of the Frankish Empire in Grolomany(Charlesmagne).
Subsequently, in the Middle East, Muaddib laid the foundation for the Southern Canonical Church and witnessed a spread similar to Islam in the real world.
In this way, the game's world created a stage called Naropa, resembling the real-world Europe, and a religion called Wheelism, akin to a failed version of Christianity.
The Autumn of the medieval Naropa, Paradice(prison) of nations
Stretching from east to west with a complex coastline and diverse climates, Naropa incorporates real-world language families such as the Indo-European, Semitic, Berber, and Turkish, which migrated across the grasslands. Embracing ethnic groups even further east, numerous peoples have invaded, integrated, and diverged throughout history. In Naropa, cultural and linguistic diversity flourishes, yet simultaneously serves as the spark of conflicts among its people.
If you look at the map of Naropa, you'll see flourishing cities in various regions. At the zenith of feudalism and the church, with the end of the Holy Campaign(Crusades), Naroppa is in its medieval autumn. With the spread of a monetary economy, people and goods move and gather, and ripe culture blossoms in the cities. There still are manors and chivalry, and monks who dedicate themselves to prayer in the grand cathedrals of the church.
Autumn is a season of harvest, but ripe fruit also rots and falls. Those once excluded from the countryside and liberated into the air of the city now look down on new waves of migrants, engaging in mimicry of nobility with the coins they've gathered. The nobility themselves indulge in infidelity and gambling matches in the name of chivalry.
Struck by an plague, the noble man laughs by dead of his old wife. But his subjects, the source of his meals, are also dead, made him to lament.
Merchants who can read and write frown at the greedy priests' masses and are branded as heretics. Livestock runs through narrow streets, and men drenched in sweat frequent bathhouses to shed 'a different kind of sweat'.
However, to call it simply 'dark age' would be a waste. The lively impurity mixed with vitality is neither of royal nobility nor modern individuals; it's the 'Medieval Naroppa' where nameless and lawless Brigands' rampage!
Great empires of East and West, bustling kingdoms
The Eastern Empire (Oriental Empire, Oriens)
The eastern side of Naropa, including the Mediterranean coast, bears the deep scars of the Mugali(mongol) invasion more than a century ago. The waves of a mixed army led by nomadic horsemen destroyed the once great empires of the Middle East and, simultaneously, assassinated the religious leader (Caliph) of the Southern Ecumenical Church. Even after the dissolution of the Mugali Great Khagan's empire, the Middle East saw conflicts among various factions, including Saracens (Arab), Tartars (Turkish mercenaries)in Assia (Anatolia), and the remaining states of the ancient Remian (Roman) Empire, such as the Omantine (Byzantine) Empire.
Seizing the opportunity, the Western Empire (Holy Roman Empire) cunningly intervened. The successor to the Mugali Empire, the Tamerlan Empire (Timurid Dynasty), posed a renewed threat to the Middle East, prompting the warring nations to unite under the nominal pretext of the East Empire of Remia. A loose alliance formed, combining the bureaucratic system of Omantine, the legacy of ancient Remia, the religion and commerce of the Saracens, and the military strength of the Tartars. This collaboration, further reinforced by marriage policies in the Sultan's harem, withstood attacks from both the east and west.
The failure of the Western Empire's former emperor's holy campaign to the sacred site of Heliosalam, as narrated in the story, only fueled the momentum of the Eastern Empire.
A chimera-like setting featuring an Islamic Empire, reminiscent of the amalgamation of Rome, Byzantium, and the Ottoman Empire.
Khaganate and Golden Fleece Horde
The once-mighty Great Khaganate has splintered, with the core Khaganate yielding control of china proper to the budding nation of Meng (Ming), the central lands to the Tamarlan Empire, and the wilderness (the steppe along the northern coast of the Black Sea) to the Golden Fleece Horde.
In the region associated with the Golden Fleece in Greek mythology, a nomadic state, the Golden Fleece Horde, thrives, comprised of a ruling class of Mugali descent, a warrior class of Tartars, and settled peasants of East Slavoi (Slavic origin). The city of Muskieva (Moscow and Kiev), home to the Patriarchal See of the Eastern Ecumenical Church (Eastern Orthodox Church) that fled from the Eastern Empire, has taken over taxation from the nomadic ruling class and is gradually amassing power, much like the historical Principality of Moscow.
To the west, they contend with the Konfederacja (Poland-Lithuania), to the north, they border and oppose the Nordic Respublika (Novgorod). Despite the hostilities, trade flows through the grasslands and major rivers created by the Nordic and nomadic people. Along the Black Sea coast, trade routes established by adherents of the original faith (Judaism) since ancient times exist, and far into the Mediterranean, the fortress-controlled ports of the Laguna Republic (Venice and Genoa) dominate.
Northern Respublika
The ancient city of Novengard (Novgorod) serves as the capital, where a council of powerful merchants and nobles (Boyars) governs the nation symbolized by the Grand Prince (Velyknyaz) of the Nordic people.
The land is cold, with limited agricultural productivity, and the country suffers from the typical "resource curse" where the vast wealth brought in by exporting fur to the west hinders the growth of domestic industries.
Konfederacja
A union of states modeled after the historical Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, consisting of Baltic people (Baltic) and West Slavoi people. Regardless of diverse ethnicities and religions, the country is a formidable power where the noble class, known as Szlachta, serves as honorable Hussar cavalry responsible for national defense and governance.
On the other hand, the Colonial Order of Knights (Teutonic Order) constantly threatens the Baltic people, Slavic magnates mistreat martial new nobility, and along the Black Sea coast, fleeing peasants are organizing Cossack groups practicing a mixed lifestyle of farming and herding.
Skaanen Union
Modeled after Denmark and Sweden, Union was once a Viking nation that raided throughout Naropa as pagan warriors. However, after converting to the Western Church, it has become a mid-sized northern power. Although it shares borders with Albion to the west and the Republic to the east, the boundaries are protected by cold and marshy terrain, making invasion difficult.
Fjörsee(Norway), the ethnic roots of the Nordic people, lies to the north across the mountain range, with no current political dominance by Union.
The Union has strengths in commodities like iron ore and herring, but it competes for dominance in trade with rivals such as the Republic to the east and the Vandijk Trading Compagnie (Hanseatic League or the Netherlands).
Vandijk Trading Compagnie
Prospering in the economically advanced region between the Western Empire and the Kingdom of Galouis (France) known as the Low Countries, the Vandijk Trading Company is an international commercial guild protected by the mercantilist policies of the House of Gorwaars-Rochepoort (modeled after the Valois-Burgundy family). The guild has formed alliances with free cities along the northern coast of the Empire, engaging in extensive commercial activities with a focus on processing and trading goods such as wool.
While serving as the official merchants of the duchy, supporting the splendid court culture, the company finds itself facing restrictions on its trade routes due to the territorial ambitions of the duchy, leading to a deterioration in international relations.
The Kingdom of Albion
The Kingdom of Albion, a land that contorts the British Isles, has witnessed the repeated influx of diverse ethnicities throughout its history. Presently, the ruling class consists mainly of the Britoni, a people who speak Middle English and share linguistic ties with the Galouis Kingdom across the southern shores.
In regions such as the West (Wales), dominated by Celtic traditions, and the North (Scotland) with its North-Gaelic influences, there are factions aspiring for independence from Albion's rule. Even the once-rampaging Vikings, represented by Fjörsee, are now subjects of Albion, though their sparse population contributes little to tax revenues.
Albion finds itself amidst the turmoil of the Hundred Years' War, stemming from the inheritance dispute involving the Duchy of Portagne (Portugal-Aquitaine) and persisting conflicts with the Galouis Kingdom. In this era, the influence of the parliamentary voices of the lower nobility resisting conscription and increased taxes, alongside the upper, affluent commoners, is on the rise.
The impoverished commoners, so destitute that they cannot afford representation in the parliament, are beginning to be influenced by heretic ideologies as they seek political reforms.
The Kingdom of Galouis
The Kingdom of Galouis, inspired by France in historical terms, inherits the legacy of the ancient Remian Empire and the Groman tribes. The abundant land and a thriving population have brought prosperity to this nation, especially with the rise of commerce. However, this prosperity has historically led to the power struggle between the royal authority and large nobility.
The prolonged wars with Albion, driven by the desire for the rich Albion territories, have gradually weakened the influence of the large nobility. Many nobles faced demise or decline due to war casualties, allowing the monarch to strengthen their authority. The king utilizes the growing urban population and imposes taxes on the sacred territories by the antipope, a puppet ruler, further consolidating the royal power.
The Duchy of Portagne
The Duchy of Portagne, inspired by Portugal and Aquitaine, emerged as a result of the Reconquista, gaining expansive vineyards producing high-quality wines and access to a rich sea teeming with seafood. Despite becoming a source of conflict between Galouis and Albion, the duchy has maintained a passive stance in both the Hundred Years' War between Galouis and Albion and the religious wars in neighboring country that also grew through the Reconquista.
The Duchy attempted to monopolize maritime trade in Naropa by serving as an intermediary for both northern and southern shipping routes. However, it faces tough competition in its struggles against the advanced commercial regions of the Vandijk Trading Compagnie to the north and the Laguna Republic to the south.
In response to these challenges, similar to historical events, the Duchy has initiated explorations along the African coast and endeavors to establish trade routes with the Middle East.
The Viceroyalty of Touloude
The Viceroyalty of Touloude, inspired by Spain but drawing influences from regions such as Castile, Occitania, and Catalonia, is a nation characterized by its territorial and religious ambitions. The name Touloude is a portmanteau of Toulouse in France and Toledo in Spain.
Born and expanded through the Reconquista, this nation is rich in territorial and religious ambitions. By remaining loyal to the Western Church and attacking countries that adhere to the Southern Church, it has expanded its territories. However, it doesn't constantly engage in warfare. The nation excels in hard power diplomacy, intervening in the internal conflicts of southern nations to gain advantages or invading countries that have fallen behind in "donation to kingdom."
The Magrib Head Episcopric
The Magrib Head Episcopric is a Southern Church state spanning across the Gjabal strait (Gibraltar). Once, it held territory south of the Galouis Kingdom's mountains until defeated by the Groman people's leader, Grolomagne (Charlemagne). Although it has only a small piece of land remaining on the mainland due to internal strife and the Reconquista, it extends its holdings symbolized by the head episcopal into the Maghreb region in the northwest of Africa.
A century ago, the death of the Southern Church's religious leader due to the invasion of the Great Mughali Khaganate caused turmoil, but one of the candidates for succession survived. With the assistance of the desert nomads, the Berbari(berber), one of the successors fled far west from the Middle East and was established as the nominal ruler of the Magrib, giving rise to the Magrib Head Episcopric.
Despite its nature as an exile government, the Magrib Head Episcopric is tolerant of political and religious refugees. Followers of the original church, inspired by Judaism, have sought refuge from forced conversions and persecution in other lands of Naropa. In the capital, Ahamar, stands an impressive Grand Mosque next to an academic institution said to rival the lost House of Wisdom from the wars with the Mughali, showcasing a sophisticated culture.
However, geopolitically, its position is challenging. The Gjabal Strait is heavily patrolled by armed merchant ships of the Western Church nations. To the north of the strait, the expansionist Touloude eyes the Magrib, while the lack of land armies forces them to employ mercenary troops with low morale or religiously zealous factions' fervent warriors. Additionally, their naval power is unreliable, and they must rely on the hard-to-control pirates along the North African coast.
The Maritime Order
The Maritime Order, also known as the "Knights Monastic Order under the Auspices of the Blessed Virgin Maryam(Maria) of the Sea," draws inspiration from the Knights Hospitaller on Rhodes and Malta. However, despite the monastic order title, it is essentially a pirate fleet with a privateering license issued by the Pope.
Operating in a manner similar to the Hospitallers, they raid ships of non-believers and collect protection racket from Western Church vessels. Despite being fellow Western Church members, they occasionally "mistakenly" attack ships of the Laguna Republic, a maritime power in the Mediterranean that clashes with the Pope over conflicting interests.
The order engages in piracy along the North African coast and opposes the Berbari(Barbray) pirates based there. Comprised of individuals notorious for their sins—murder, plunder, rape, alcoholism, gambling—these members surpass even regular Brigands in their wickedness. Despite their transgressions, the Pope turns a blind eye due to their contribution to securing sea routes and maritime defense.
The repbulic of Laguna
The "Most Serene Republic of Laguna," modeled after Venice and Genoa, is a maritime empire that reigns supreme in the Mediterranean. Surviving the chaos following the collapse of the Remian Empire under the protection of the current Eastern Empire, the Omantine Empire, it has expanded its influence to become the hegemon of the Mediterranean. As an oligarchic city-state led by aristocratized merchants, it flourishes through trade and financial activities with its powerful fleet of armed merchant galleys. Even the kings and princes of Western Naropa, as well as the Pope, find themselves relying on the Republic, making it a resented yet indispensable entity.
The Republic holds sway over many strategically important islands in the Mediterranean, including the territories administered by the exiled regimes of the Wheelader States(Crusader states) during the Great Holy Campaign (Crusades) in the Mashriq (Levant). The proxy administration of the East Mediterranean's Khrodea Islands (Creta and Rhodes) governed by the exiled regimes of the Wheelader states has fallen under the control of the Republic. By controlling the reins of the Khrodean nobility, who assert claims to the throne (King of Jerusalem) in the Holy Land, the Republic has the means to apply brakes to any Papal-led Wheelades.
With fortified seaports and "concessions" not only on the islands of the Mediterranean but also along the Black Sea coast, the Republic possesses trade privileges, even in the face of conflicting interests with Eastern Empire merchants who resent them. On the other hand, due to its involvement in handling difficult commodities such as slaves, contraband, and sacred relics in the trade between Eastern and Western non-believers, the Republic is both resented and acknowledged as a necessary evil.
Der Bund(The Confederacy)
The nations north of the Alps (Transalpina), including the Galouis Kingdom and the Western Empire, have limited routes to the southern Remian States(Cisalpina). The Alpine mountain dwellers, making a living through guiding, escorting, and collecting tolls along these routes, initially sustained themselves on meager lands through livestock farming. However, the strengthened control of the House Aargau (von Aargau,based on House Habsburg), who would later produce emperors, led to the exclusion of mountain communities from these activities.
In response, these mountain communities, organized into cantons, formed a league known as "Der Bund" and waged a protracted guerrilla war for independence against the Aargau family. The financial foundation of the House Aargau was undermined, leading to their failure in securing the hereditary imperial seat. Subsequently, Der Bund effectively seceded from the Western Empire.
As an alternative Alpine crossing route was developed, diminishing the economic advantage derived from the exclusive control of Der Bund's route (though increasing the importance of the central basin in the game's setting), the mountain dwellers resorted to exporting their martial expertise, offering mercenary services regardless of faction or religion, to sustain their independence.
The Prosperity and Turmoil of the Remian States
The Remian States, named after the ancient Remian Empire that dominated the regions corresponding to Greece and Italy, are informally referred to as Remia ( Italian peninsula). However, during medieval times in Naropa, there was no unified rule in the Remian territory. Apart from the Papal States, numerous city-states and principalities coexisted. One reason for this fragmentation is the legacy of the ancient empire, providing each state with a combination of a favorable climate, rich resources, and well-developed urban infrastructure, allowing even small entities to possess significant strength.
Southern Remia combines characteristics of Two Sicilies and Greece. Its ports bustle with ships from the East and West, laden with abundant products such as barrels and amphorae filled with seafoods, wine, and olive oil. While there are mid-sized states like the Despotate of Mythenae (Mycenae and Athens), the Principality of Dorinthos (Dorians and Corinth), and Cassilia (Sicily), the higher-ranking positions, such as the Kings of Both Sicilies, have long remained vacant. Taking advantage of allegiance to the Western Church and the influence of the Holy See, the Kingdom of Touloud has been extending its sway over this region.
In Central Remia lies the Papal States. The control of the Papacy by the Kingdom of Galouis, which had persisted for a long time (known as the Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy), came to an end. However, the conflicting interests of various kings led to the proliferation of rival popes during the Great Schism. The resolution of this schism occurred during the reign of the former husband of the Empress in the game and the father of the princess knight, the former Emperor, who convened a ecumenical council.
During the Great Schism, corruption within the Church and the spread of heresy took place. Currently, the Papal States, utilizing the Holy Order of the Knights, are working to bring this to an end. By redirecting the conflicts among Western Church nations towards the seemingly outdated Holy Campaign, and by involving the overly powerful late Emperor in their leadership, despite the failure of the Wheelades, the Papal States have managed to increase their influence in Western Naropa.
Furthermore, the massive plundering of relics in the Holy Site has turned the sacred city of Latio (Vatican City) into the focal point of religious tourism, known as pilgrimage.
The northern Remia have long been a contested ground between the Western Empire(Ghibellines) and the Papal See(Guelphs). Divided into factions within cities and even within city districts, the area has witnessed numerous political upheavals, coups, and external wars incited by foreign intrigue. However, despite the turmoil, this land remains prosperous.
The convergence of trade routes from Western Naropa toward the Holy City of Latio has contributed to the flourishing commerce and industry. The scars of frequent wars quickly heal, thanks to the economic resilience driven by periodic political changes, allowing for the continuous renewal of influential factions and a fluid social structure. Notably, the industrial city-state of Medolo, also known as Midland (Milan), and the artistic and commercial city-state of Etrusa (Etruria, Florence) serve as major centers where wealth and expertise from around the world converge.
Yee-haw! It's end... for now! Thank you so much to everyone who read this.
But you know ? I haven't introduced the Empire (West Empire) and the Central Basin, which are the settings for the game!
I'll give you a hearty introduction, so brace yourselves!
So, the theme for the next time is:
"The Not-So-Holy, Not-Even-an-Empire Holy Empire"
Be a brigand,Let's burn down villages more and more!