In a world defined by conflict, the Dominion of Thorne stands as ambassador to those in strife.

Under the leadership of Houses Kymerion and Thorne, the duchy is dedicated to exploring the world of Elyria and uncovering the mysteries of its past, to expanding the horizons of our knowledge and advancing the capabilities of our people, and to playing a diplomatic role in the world order so that we may promote stability throughout the world.

We are dedicated to exploring the world of Elyria, to discovering lands beyond our continent and making contact with foreign tribes, to chasing down and unlocking some of the mysteries hidden in Elyrian lore.

As part of our charter, we will fund exploration beyond the known world. Practically speaking, this means that we’ll pay to cover the expenses involved in exploration on a contractual basis; Things like the ships, gear, rations and possibly even the soldiers to give explorers the resources necessary to explore a dangerous world.

In exchange, we would require that all new lands that are discovered are done in our name, that any noteworthy discoveries are returned to us so that we may decide how best to act upon them, and that we have ownership rights to any artifacts or similar historical items found through these expeditions. Explorers may also be considered for vassalage in any new territories they discover and be awarded land and title commensurate with their desires and level of fame.

THE WORLD NEEDS HEROES

“Some say that heroes are born, marked by fate at the advent of their lives. Others believe that they are made, created in small moments of great consequence. I only ever knew one in my life, and he died a heroic death. But whether a hero is made or born, I only know this; That were it my choice, I would choose to have stories written of me than to read stories written of others, because a life worth writing about is a life worth living! And that, it must be said, is why the world needs heroes.”

— The Explorer Miranda Rose, in the Year of our King 349

Schools and universities are central to developing and disseminating knowledge. Language in particular – learning, studying, translating and teaching especially those of an ancient origin – is important to us because of the role it may play in understanding the ancient myths of Elyria and in communicating with other tribes that we hope to discover through the exploration of the world.

We are also committed to funding and supporting institutions that accelerate skill development in all facets of the game and that allow our citizens to have greater impact on the duchy and world around them. From crafting to swordplay, those who wish to teach or to study, and those who seek to expand our understanding of things — especially about the ancient relics spoken of in our legends — will find kindred spirits here.

We are determined to play a diplomatic role in the world order, insofar as there are others interested in collaboration and finding common ground. One of our primary initiatives will be to establish a political quarter within our capital where acquiring and sharing knowledge can be the focus of our engagements. It is our hope that by fostering cooperation between kingdoms and people, we can lay the groundwork for greater wealth and prosperity for ourselves.

POLITICAL AFFILIATION(S) OF THORNE

Based on the kingdom selections that have taken place, we are currently expecting to be pledged to the Kingdom of Tyria. However, until duchy selections occur and all choices are locked in, nothing can be deemed official or declared with finality. But regardless of whose authority we ultimately fall under, we hope to be able to work constructively with our neighboring duchies and contribute positively to the atmosphere of the kingdom we reside in.

THE GRAND DUCHY OF VANDIIR

Having long had good relations with the Duke and Duchess of Vandiir, our acquisition of the Free Mann tavern has opened the door to greater collaboration between our respective communities. It is with this in mind that we have now formalized an alliance with our old friends in the Grand Duchy of Vandiir.

The structure of our government will not deviate from the de facto hierarchy in the game. All decision-making authority will rest with the Duke and Duchess or those designated to act on their behalf. However, we will seek the counsel of our vassals, particularly on issues that may have an impact on the counties they govern.

Citizens will also be granted the power to elect their own judges and sheriffs. These elections will be conducted as in-game events on a periodic basis and allow players to have a more active hand in determining who fills these positions, and ultimately, who the people are that dispense justice on a day-to-day basis. However, the Duke and Duchess will always maintain their authority to appoint judges or sheriffs as they deem necessary to maintaining law and order within the duchy.

THE SOCIAL HIERARCHY

The social hierarchy of Thorne rests upon the hierarchy within the game. However, we’ve adopted a more local flavor that better fits with the style of our duchy, so most of the positions have been given variations on the names.

No duchy can exist — nor duke hold dominion over lands — without an army. No realm can prosper without security. It's what creates the space necessary for civil society to exist and for people to be able to focus on their own goals.

The responsibility for the security and defense of the duchy is divided between two branches of government: the military branch with a command structure organized around baronies that defend against foreign invaders and the civilian branch with a system of justice organized around counties that handle domestic criminals. The military in particular will be further divided between land based and naval based warfare.

Our primary goal for defense is to field a force capable of countering any army marshalled by our enemies and employing a variety of battlefield strategies that may be needed to defeat them. In general, this means fielding horsemen, footmen and bowmen trained in the use of a range of weapons and tactics.

THE FOUR WARDENS OF THORNE

For more effective communication and coordination in the defense of the duchy, our lands will be divided into four principal regions each overseen by a Warden (with their own respective lore):

Wardens will be elevated from the ranks of our barons and will be charged with ensuring that the baronies under their command are battle-tested, geared and ready to fight.

THE HUNTSMEN OF CASTELYN

“Gentle Lady, rose of mercy, warm our hearts and light the way,
Spare our sons and save our daughters, this and more we pray.”
— The Mother's Prayer

Charged with keeping the peace within Thorne, the Huntsmen are a specialized collection of warriors under the authority of the Duchess. While predominantly focused on her safety, they do intervene frequently on her behalf wherever great crimes and injustice can be found. It is in her name that the common people of Thorne often give thanks when they return to the warmth and safety of their hearth.

OATHS OF FEALTY

Barons are the bannermen of Thorne who owe military service to their duke in exchange for the creation and maintenance of a barony. As part of their contract, all bannermen pledge fealty to the duke at the time of their signing by repeating the Bannerman’s Oath.

Breaking the oath automatically severs the contract and such barons are thereafter treated as Oath Breakers to suffer the consequences that follow.

Central to our success and survival is our economic well-being, so it’s important to define goals that focus on the ways in which we hope to drive our economy forward. Our primary economic goals are: a) Creation of trade routes (or bolstering of existing ones), b) Funding schools and universities to accelerate skill development, and c) Encouraging activities that form the basis of a self-sufficient economy.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The backbone of any economy is infrastructure. This largely consists of the roads and bridges that interconnect our settlements and facilitate the movement of both goods and people throughout the duchy. To ensure that our infrastructure is adequate for our needs, we have budgeted an allotment of EP for each county to help our counts make the necessary investments in the lands they oversee.

THE VIRTUOUS CYCLE

While it’s often tempting to want to focus a duchy on any one trade, craft or activity, an overly narrow focus is not something that is likely sustainable in the long run. A healthy economy provides for the needs of those who exist within it and maintains a balance between production and consumption. And with the right combination of producers and consumers, a virtuous economic cycle can emerge where production is fueled by consumption and fed into taxation in a never-ending cycle.

FIGHTING AS ENTERTAINMENT

One area in which I think a virtuous cycle can be achieved is with crafting and combat. One of my ambitions to that end is to create venues that offer fighting as entertainment throughout the duchy in the form of arenas. This gives warriors a tangible occupation to hone their skills over time and stay sharp, creates a domestic market for craftsmen to serve with their skills and goods, and allows us to construct interesting social events around it all, from run of the mill tournaments to a full-blown sporting league where counties and settlements can compete for bragging rights.

THE VANITY FAIR

The Vanity Fair is a player exposition that originated within the Vale of Vainglory, the ancestral lands of House Kymerion. Often called The Honor Fair among those born outside the Vale, it is an event dedicated to the celebration of beauty and achievement. At its heart however, the Vanity Fair is understood to be a contest through which the individual qualities celebrated by Kymerion lords are encouraged and rewarded.

Contests in the fair range from combat to crafting to the arts, and as the most prominent social event of the octennial (every 2 months Earth time), nobles and aristocrats, gentry and commoners are all invited to attend the spectacle of the fair. Citizens from across the duchy come to fashion a name for themselves, and while participation always raises the profiles of the participants, the worthiest of contestants — those who demonstrate something remarkable — can earn a tribute from the Duke and Duchess.

There will be a heavy emphasis on culture within the duchy. As the architects of our setting, we will have the opportunity to create a world built upon a unique history where ancient things can be introduced to make that history tangible. Collectively, this history serves as a foundation for developing our stories and traditions — what we generally call lore — all of which adds a sense of realism to the world.

Our goal therefore is to create a setting rich for storytelling and to encourage players to act and be involved in ways worth commemorating. Paintings, sculptures and even monuments may be erected as tributes to the deeds of players in this way. We also hope to foster the cultural attitudes of the duchy through regular in-game events.

SYMBOLS & ICONOGRAPHY

Every culture venerates imagery and creates its own symbols. From the most primitive tribes to the most advanced civilizations, symbols have always had a deep meaning and represented our connection to things that are important and valuable to us. Within Thorne, the most prominent symbols are rooted in our lore and form the basis of our own Trinity – the Lion, the Flame and the Rose:

The most common depiction of the Trinity of Thorne takes the form of a rose wrapped around a fire-breathing lion. This depiction is frequently found in works of art throughout the duchy, from jewelry to paintings to sculptures, and is used as the seal of the Duke & Duchess of Thorne.

ROLEPLAY IN THE DOMINION OF THORNE

Roleplaying isn’t just a word we use. If you’ve read this far, then you can probably tell that we have a lot of ideas and that we like to focus on storytelling. All of our ideas ultimately revolve around creating opportunities for players to interact with one another and play their roles.

So, if you want to tell an epic story, go out and perform epic deeds. This is the style we intend to promote. While tavern roleplaying is a perfectly acceptable way to engage with others, playing your role in the world instead of talking about it can lead to more natural roleplay and a more real and fulfilling experience overall.

TRIBAL EVOLUTION

It is our expectation that tribes at launch are at their most primitive states and thus the starting point of their cultural evolutions, not the end point. Consequently, we expect that much can be done to change tribes over time.

For the most part, we intend to be laissez faire in our approach to the cultural evolution of tribes in Elyria, with one exception: the Kypiq. Should we have a significant Kypiq presence within the duchy, we would like to orchestrate a managed evolution of the tribe toward a more Elven-like culture. This is predicated on ultimately transforming the tribe into a Neran/Kypiq hybrid where Neran styles can be integrated with Kypiq affinity for nature and trees.

ARCHITECTURE

We are especially interested in architecture in Thorne. We strive not only to build beautiful cities and towns, but also high functioning ones that can sustain growth over time. While we cannot dictate how people build things or what they choose to build, we do have some basic guidelines in mind that serve as a good basis for building beautiful cities and spaces, which we will go into more detail elsewhere. Here’s a quick overview.

Stylistically, we want Thorne to be a marriage of strength and beauty. It is a mix of the old with the new. And we sincerely hope to be able to see this reflected in the architecture of our settlements so that it can shape the character of the duchy.

TEMPLE OF THE SUN

What was once a Wonder of Elyria and an active temple many centuries ago has now fallen largely into disrepair and neglect. It is believed that the temple was once home to a cult dedicated to the worship of Daemon, which revered the Sunstone as a holy relic imbued with his spirit. What became of the cult remains a mystery to this day, but their disappearance has been linked to the disappearance of the relic.

Today, the Temple of the Sun stands as tribute to the past and is merely a shadow of its former glory. What lies within – or beneath – is the subject of a lot of local gossip, and adventurers who have traveled there have often never been heard from again. Whether that’s because of the riches they discovered or their untimely demise, nobody truly knows.