Solarean Adventures LARP Lore
Avarin
Avarin is known as the most industrial country in the world. After the fall of the Zanshian Empire, Avarin succeeded from Solarea wanting to rid themselves of the influences from their former rulers. The borders of the country represent the limit of their greatest source of power: Osiden. Osiden is a volatile, liquid substance mined from the body of a great and powerful creature Mosiden, a loyal servant of Creyati who fell during The Great War at the hands of Kur-Lamash, The Crystal God. Osiden powers the technology of Avarin, but loses its effectiveness once the substance reaches a maximum physical distance from the resting place of Mosiden, thus making the borders of the country the unofficial limits of the nation's power.
Table of Contents
History
General Information
Geography:
Most of Avarin's mainland is urban with scattered areas of farmland to support nearby towns and cities. Avarin's coastlines tend to be rocky.
Government:
Avarin is a democratic republic, lead by the current Prime Minister, Gideon Heidelberg, and a 12-member parliament elected to represent Avarin's various counties by eligible citizens.
Major landmarks and cities:
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The Front
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Innovia
Cultural Inspiration:
British Isles and industrialism, Aetherpunk aesthetic.
History
After the fall of the Zanshian Empire, Avarin split off from Solarea to form its own sovereign state. With coastline to the north, west, and south, Avarin has dedicated many resources to its navy, both for military and trade purposes. In an attempt to leave the rule of the Zanshians behind, Avarin embraced the pursuit of their own technological advances. A substance called Osiden was discovered to make an excellent power source for their machines. However, the half-life of Osiden is very short once exposed to oxygen and must be kept in airtight vessels until use. Due to its unstable nature and ties to its origin, attempts to smuggle Osiden out of Avarin have been unsuccessful. Osiden is mined from deep under the surface of Avarin (the only known deposit) and can only be accessed by those with the highest level of government clearance. Restrictions have recently been put in place by Prime Minister Gideon Heidelberg regarding access and use of Osiden with an eye towards the future. Osiden is to be rationed and only mined every three (3) years.
While it is an excellent source of power, Osiden exposure can be dangerous. For one, the substance becomes extremely unstable and combusts when exposed to magic. As a result, magic use is greatly restricted within the borders of Avarin under the consequence of steep legal penalties. Exposure to unrefined Osiden can also lead to a variety of adverse health effects for organic beings. The process to refine Osiden into a usable power source is Avarin’s greatest kept secret.
Wildlife is unusually scarce in Avarin, especially around the mines and locations of great industry. Much of Avarin's natural habitats have been disrupted and destroyed.
Since Avarin's succession, relations have been tense between Avarin and its neighbor, Solarea. The border between the two countries is imply known as "The Front," where there have been intermittent skirmishes but never a formal declaration of war. The boundaries of the Front change on occasion, but not by much. Both countries guard the lines religiously, and very few are allowed passage from one country to the other without paperwork showing official business, or a hefty bribe.
Although motivated by their separation and rejection of Zanshian rule, Avarinians still tend to favor Aspectism over attachment to any particular deity from the Twelve.
(Writing Credit: Kaylah Crepps, Alex Shepard)
Landmarks
The Front
The line between Avarin and Solarea. It is considered independent of the two counties. There have been skirmishes in the past between the neighboring lands that occur within The Front, but never a formal declaration of war.
(Writing credit: Sahil Vaid)
Innovia
The capital of Avarin. One can always tell how close to power an Avar is based on how strictly they follow the formal greetings listed below.
Polite greeting, to equals
Head bow that extends to dropping shoulders forward a small amount. Eye contact is not mandatory. Equivalent to “pleased to make your acquaintance”, used for new introductions, name and title can be stated before or during.
Polite greeting, to superiors
Similar motion but slightly lower, with one hand pressed against the chest (typically the right) Fingers are straight and together, palm is down on the chest. The other arm is extended slightly behind. Equivalent to “it's an honor to meet you” and as an introduction to new people. Performed after you have been introduced by someone else.
Military salute
Right arm across the chest to the left side over the heart with hand in a fist, palm toward the chest. A slight head bow with eye contact accompanies the actual toward a higher ranking officer. Back should be straight, feet together, left arm to the side.
More casual greeting, to equals
Raised hand (typically left but can be either),with palm facing the other person. The fingers are together, thumb tucked to the side of the hand. Fingers are then curled loosely to the palm, before the hand is dropped (Think a pageant wave but a single action). It's casual, but not a particular warm greeting, like meeting a slightly unfamiliar acquaintance in a bar.
Acknowledging someone in a lower cast, military
A sharp, upward nod, typically with hands behind one's back. For high ranking officers specifically.
Acknowledging someone in a lower cast, servant
Similar head nod upwards, though the action is held until the other individual uses the correct greeting.
(Writing credit: Sorrel Coble)
Those among the upper sects of society of Avarin would know or would have learned the following social customs:
Six years of age: Start learning with a governess.
10 years of age: Start with either a tutor or a charm school.
13 years of age: Affirmation, affirming that you are going to be a member of Avarin society. Transition to boarding school if needed.
15 years of age: Presentation to society (hosted by an important family, it rotates each year)
16-17 years of age: Your family hosts coming out ball. Permitted to begin courting. Transition to finishing school if needed.
18 yearsof age: Age of majority, entitled to marriage and inheritance. Start at military academy or university, in which case marriage is pushed back until graduation.
(Writing credit: Roswell Davis)
Other Locations
Greater Dunsmouth
Greater Dunsmouth (Done-smuth), the larger companion of Lower Dunsmouth, is a mid-sized urban center. It is mainly occupied by members of the lower and working classes who work in the factories throughout the north side of the city. The factories of Greater Dunsmouth produce primarily the clockwork elements required to keep much of Innovia ticking, though there is also some textile production and food processing. The wealthier portion of Greater Dunsmouth in the south side of the city occupy their days at the dirigible race course The Greater High-Speedway, which is a point of pride for the city. The action isn't nearly riveting enough for the rest of the city, who prefer to spend their time at velocipede races or scrap automaton fights, depending on their comfort with illegality.
(Writing credit: Roswell Davis)
Lower Dunsmouth
Lower Dunsmouth (Done-smuth) is a relatively small urban setting, the companion of the larger Greater Dunsmouth. It's mostly populated by merchant class and middle class individuals, with the working class living outside of the town boundaries, and some posh blokes from Innovia have retired there. Lower Dunsmouth prides itself on having Avarin's second greatest semi-annual native botanical display.
(Writing credit: Roswell Davis)