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Welcome to James Kemp's Wiki
This is a collaborative web platform that allows people to edit1) the web pages to provide additional content for some of the stories I have written and the roleplaying games that I am involved in, whether as a player or GM.
There are several namespaces operating slightly different wiki subjects. These are, in no particular order:
- Skyss - Story Background - a fantasy novel I wrote for NaNoWriMo 2016.
- Perfects - background for the near future story and some police roleplaying that I ran in that universe
- Theocracy of Daprav - A D&D campaign that I ran with Glasgow University Games Society around 2002-3.
- Jim Wallman's Universe - a roleplaying by e-mail campaign that I play in, this is an unofficial wiki and none of it is canon unless Jim says it is.
- Interstellar Freelance Unlimited - subset of the Universe pages covering the activities of a mercenary company that we are currently roleplaying every Full Moon.
- Earth Imperium pages. These cover the activities of the Government of the Solar republic (aka Earth Empire) in Jim's Humanity Will Prevail campaign, including the Earth Imperium News Items.
- Free Worlds Alliance - covering the activities of another emerging polity in the Humanity Will Prevail campaign. Mostly contributed by Eric Moroney.
- Universe Background - page collecting the various bits of background info that have come up in various e-mail discussions for the campaigns set in Jim Wallman's Universe.
- Master map of the Universe (6Mb PDF, as at 3212).
- Delta Green - some roleplaying campaigns about horror and conspiracy. The main one was set in Berlin in 1953.
- Free games rules - a collection of free rules for wargames and other sorts of face to face games that I have designed or run.
- Wargames rules - I'm not just a player of games, I also do rules for them from time to time as well as one-off games. A primary outlet for this is through Chestnut Lodge Wargames Group.
- Other free rules - at the moment just those for the 1689 (Orange or Lemon? and Bonnie Dundee, respectively about the debates in the Scots Parliament and then the military campaign of Viscount Dundee during 1689) and The Other Side of the COIN (about what makes people become insurgents). All games that I have have produced for Chestnut Lodge Wargames Group.
- Background for a near future universe where I have written some fiction and also run some roleplaying games in.
Comments and complaints to me at webmaster@full-moon.info please.
James Kemp
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King's Keep
Summary
The King's Keep is the royal palace and primary seat of power for the Ranald Dynasty in the capital city of Dalreoch. Located upon a prominent hill surrounded by the capital city of Dalreoch, the keep serves as the administrative, ceremonial, and residential heart of the Kingdom of Dael Riata.
Architecture and Exterior
The keep is a magnificent light grey stone structure featuring four primary turrets. Each turret is crowned with a golden dome and flies the green flags of the royal house. Unlike the more austere fortifications found elsewhere in the realm, the King's Keep was designed to function as a palace while maintaining formidable defensive capabilities. Its design is notable for several ornate features:
- Golden Domes: Each of the four turrets is topped with a golden dome that stands out against the sky.
- Royal Standards: Green flags, representing the Grand Duchy, fly atop the domes.
- Historical Reconstruction: While it contains much of the original ancient keep, it was significantly rebuilt and converted into a palace by King Alasdair II following his “grand tour,” during which he adopted several foreign architectural ideas.
- Inner Bailey: The road to the keep opens into a stone-flagged square dominated by a building featuring many pillars and statues, topped with a green verdigris dome. For formal arrivals, an open-sided pavilion with a cloth-of-gold roof is often erected, housing gilded chairs on a carpeted dais.
Internal Layout
The Keep is divided into several functional levels and specific chambers used by the royal household:
Living Quarters
The royal apartments are located in the upper sections of the tower and are designed around a central light well. These include:
- The King's Chambers: Includes a bedchamber, a dressing room, and an ante-chamber where visitors wait for a private audience.
- The Queen's Chambers: Mirroring the King's layout, these include dedicated galleries and a specific Queen's Garden area.
- Galleries: Internal walkways and galleries overlook the central light well, provide access to the various rooms, and viewing areas that overlook the lower courts and the River Reoch.
Public and Functional Spaces
- The Grand Hall: Located on the lower floors for formal events, meetings of the nobility, and state dinners. The Grand Hall is the central space for state functions, featuring a massive fireplace that serves as the backdrop for royal feasts and diplomatic negotiations. It is here that the King and his senior nobility gather to keep the King's Peace and manage the affairs of the Estates.
- The Roof: The top of the keep features lanterns and allows for observation over the city and the River Reoch.
- Cellars and Services: The base of the tower and adjacent wings house the necessary support services for the palace.
Defences and Garrison
The keep is protected by a series of concentric defences, including an outer wall and a heavily fortified inner bailey. The gatehouses are manned by the City Guard, identifiable by their green shields with red diagonal stripes. The inner chambers and the person of the King are guarded by the elite King's Life Guard, who wear polished green enamelled armour.
The Keep is the headquarters of the King's Life Guard, led by their Knight Commander Iain Alpin.
- The Life Guard: These veterans wear polished green-and-gold enamelled armour with matching helmets featuring horsehair plumes.
- Sentries: Green-armoured guards in full plate provide 24-hour security, challenging all who approach the private royal areas.
- Access: The inner bailey is protected by a gatehouse where twelve trumpeters traditionally signal the arrival of high-ranking dignitaries.
History
The King's Keep stands on a site that has been inhabited longer than living memory. While the original foundations were laid by early lords (potentially of House Sioltach), the modern palace was largely rebuilt by Alasdair II. Inspired by his travels abroad, he transformed the martial fortress into a grand palace during a period of relative peace and prosperity.
The keep has remained the stable anchor of the monarchy throughout recent turmoils. During the Queen's War, it was a strategic prize for the rival coalitions. Following the assertion of his personal rule in 769 King Alasdair V used the keep as a place of safety and a staging ground for his efforts to unify the noble houses.
In 775, it was prepared for the royal wedding to Lady Elizabeth Wallis, a festive occasion that saw the city and the bailey extensively cleaned and decorated with the banners of the great houses.
Relationships
People
- King Alasdair V: The current Sovereign and Grand Duke of Reoch.
- Sir Iain Alpin: Knight Commander of the Life Guard, responsible for the keep's internal security.
- Lady Elizabeth Wallis: The future Queen of Dael Riata and resident of the keep.
- Diarmid Murchadh: The 7th Earl of Uisdean, who performed his oath of allegiance within these walls.
Places
- Dalreoch: The capital city surrounding the keep.
- Gallows Market: The site of royal proclamations located just outside the keep's walls.
- Water Gate: A major city entrance leading toward the merchant district and docks.
- Caer Suibhne: A neutral castle where the King occasionally holds summits away from the capital.
Military History of Dael Riata
The history of Dael Riata is defined by a culture of raiding and internecine warfare. While much of the violence occurs via bloodfeuds governed by specific rules of engagement, the realm has seen several major wars and civil conflicts over the last three centuries.
~528–547 Wars of Independence and Liberation
Following the death of Ruaridh IX in 528, the Ruary dynasty began to fail, plunging the land into nineteen years of war.
Belligerents: The Ranald coalition (supported by House Sioltach and Malcolm Murchadh) against the fragmented remains of the previous dynasty and Bernician interventionists.
Notable Events:
- Bernician Invasion: King Edmund I of Bernicia invaded to claim the Daelian throne. The conflict only ended when the Daels united against the foreign threat.
- Rise of Ranald: Fearchar and Alasdair Ranald successfully won the crown in 547, rewarding their allies with the first Earldoms (e.g., House Sioltach as Earls of Duffjord and Malcolm Murchadh as Earl of Uisdean).
665–672 The Bernician Invasion
This war was sparked by Bernician attempts to avenge King Harold V, who had been killed by Daelian forces.
Belligerents: Dael Riata (under King Alasdair II) vs. Bernicia (under King Edmund II).
Notable Engagements:
- Battle of Dalry (666): A massive engagement where Earsaid Murchadh (3rd Earl of Uisdean) was killed.
- The Heroism of Iain Murchadh: The 4th Earl of Uisdean stopped his contingent from being wiped out and fought through the Life Guard to engage King Harold V in a duel, killing the Bernician monarch and effectively ending the battle.
Outcome: The war continued for several years until Edmund II was persuaded by his nobles to seek peace.
690-699 The Nine Years' War
A foreign conflict where Daelian forces fought internationally.
Belligerents: Dael Riatan volunteers supporting the Kingdom of Salicia.
Outcome: The war was fought primarily overseas, with Daelian veterans gaining significant combat experience.
710 Black Diarmid's Rebellion
A domestic uprising led by a bastard son of Alasdair III seeking to assert a claim.
Belligerents: Black Diarmid and his followers against the Dael Riatan Crown.
Notable Engagement: Battle of Grisholm, where the rebellion was ultimately contested/defeated. Duke Simon of Goddodin (a prominent noble from the neighbouring kingdom of Bernicia) fought in this battle as a young squire. He reportedly distinguished himself well during the engagement and was knighted on the field.
739 The Invasion of Bernicia
An ill-fated offensive campaign launched to press a claim on the Bernician throne.
Belligerents: Dael Riata (under King Alasdair IV) vs. Bernician nobility.
Notable Events:
- The Ambush of 739: While attempting to march south, the Daelian army was ambushed by Bernician nobles.
- Noble Losses: King Alasdair IV was killed in the fighting, alongside many great nobles, including Iain Murchadh (4th Earl of Uisdean), who fell while attempting to repeat his earlier feat of killing a Bernician king.
754-755 The Queen's War / The Civil War
The Queen's War was a brief but bloody civil war triggered by the deposition of Queen Caoimhe.
Belligerents: The Regency Council (King's Side): Alpin, Murchadh, and Aonghus. The Loyalists (Queen's Side): Sioltach, Suibhne, Ahearn, and Gilranald, with military backing from King Edmund IV of Bernicia.
Notable Engagement: Battle of Drumfada Ridge (754).
The Duke of Glasholm (Loyalist) routed the Murchadh infantry but was killed shortly after. The Aonghus cavalry (Regency) mounted a direct attack on the Queen's command post, causing her to flee the field.
Outcome: The Suibhne house was effectively decapitated, losing three generations of leadership. The war ended with the Queen returning to Bernicia and the installation of the infant Alasdair V as King under a regency.
Recent Hostilities (774)
While not a formal war, a significant violent incident occurred at Caer Suibhne that has sparked a new feud.
Participants: King Alasdair V and his Steward (Iain Alpin) vs. the Murchadh brothers.
Notable Event: During a dinner under the rules of hospitality, the 5th Earl of Uisdean and his brother Fearchar were killed by the King's Steward. The King claimed they attempted to assassinate him, while the Murchadh bannermen view the act as premeditated murder.
King's Life Guard
Summary
The King's Life Guard is the premier elite military unit of Dael Riata, dedicated exclusively to the protection of the Sovereign, the Queen, and the Royal Heir. The unit is composed of battle-hardened veterans and is currently commanded by Sir Iain Alpin, the Knight Commander.
Description
Recruitment and Membership
The Life Guard does not recruit from the general population; instead, members are hand-picked from the King's companies based on marked prowess in battle and skirmishes. Every member is a veteran, ensuring the unit consists of individuals who will not panic in high-pressure situations. While many members possess heroic bloodlines, such as the current Commander, not all are consciously aware of or able to use magical abilities [7, 8]. Members of the Life Guard are required to remain unmarried during their service.
Duties and Organization
The primary duty of the Guard is the physical protection of the Royal Family. They operate in shifts or “watches” to provide 24-hour security at the King's Keep and during royal travel. Interestingly, the Life Guard's oath of service is noted for its pragmatism, even including the duty of “warming up mistresses” for the Sovereign.
When not on active watch, the guardsmen engage in rigorous training and frequently participate in tournaments to maintain their combat skills. The Unicorn Troop is a specialized cavalry unit attached to the Life Guard .
Equipment and Heraldry
The Life Guard is known for its immaculate and distinctive appearance:
- Armour: Highly polished green enamelled breastplates and cuirasses featuring a gold stag in the centre.
- Weapons: Shined halberds decorated with green tassels where the wooden staff meets the blade.
- Helmet Plumes: Guardsmen wear coloured horsehair plumes on their helmets to identify their specific watch or division. These colours include green, white, yellow, blue, red, and black.
- The Knight Commander: Sir Iain Alpin wears a unique side-to-side semi-circular green horsehair brush on his helmet, matching the colour of the King’s banner. His armour features intricate gold patterns inlaid around the green enamel.
History
The Life Guard has played a central role in recent Daelian conflicts. During the Queen's War (754), many members remained loyal to Queen Caoimhe, following her into exile in Berenicia. The unit was reconstituted and significantly empowered when King Alasdair V asserted his personal rule in 769. Under Sir Iain Alpin's leadership, the Guard supported the King against the interference of the erstwhile regents [15]. Most recently, the Guard provided the formal escort for the arrival of Lady Elizabeth Wallis in Dalreoch.
Relationships
People
- King Alasdair V: The Sovereign to whom the Guard is sworn.
- Sir Iain Alpin: The current Knight Commander.
- Lady Elizabeth Wallis: The future Queen, currently under the Guard's protection.
- Sir Diarmid Murchadh: A former associate of Sir Iain Alpin during their time in exile.
Places
- King's Keep: The primary station and barracks for the Life Guard.
- Dalreoch: The capital city where the Guard performs most of its public duties.
- Gallows Market: The site of the King's proclamation of personal rule, secured by the Guard.
Diarmid Murchadh
| Gender | Hero | Allegiance | Role | Apparent Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Yes | Dael/Ranald | Supporting | 35 |
Stories/Function
Diarmid Murchadh serves as the 7th Earl of Uisdean, acting as a reluctant but vital bridge between the rebellious “Sea Kings” and the central authority of King Alasdair V. Having succeeded to the title following the controversial death of his cousins, his primary narrative function is navigating the blood feud between his house and the Crown while maintaining the stability of the Kingdom.
Description
Diarmid is a dark-haired man with the first signs of grey showing at his temples. Born in 739, he was the grandson of the 4th Earl and never expected to inherit the Earldom. Consequently, he received a sophisticated education, matriculating at the University of Dalreoch in 753 to study Liberal Arts and Philosophy. He is a Master of Arts and a seasoned traveller, having visited Berenicia, Zushonia, and Skyss as a courier and assistant to the Secretary of State.
Politically, he is strategic and cautious. He is a veteran of the Queen's War, where he served as Agitant of the Unicorn Troop. Though he lacked a mount, he campaigned with the troop in support of Queen Caoimhe. Following the Queen's exile, he developed a close friendship with Iain Alpin while acting as a courier to keep links with the exiled monarch open.
Marriage and Scandal
Diarmid’s personal life and succession are mired in tragedy and political tension:
- First Marriage: He married Niamh Sioltach, the youngest daughter of the Earl of Duffjord, in 756 as a reward for his service to the Unicorn Troop. Niamh died in childbirth in 763, though their son, Diarmid, survived.
- Second Marriage: In 773, he married Senga Riata, a woman highly educated in statecraft and household management. They recently welcomed a daughter, Caoimhe.
- The Succession Scandal: Diarmid became Earl in 773 only after his cousins, the 5th and 6th Earls, were killed by the King at Caer Suibhne. While the King claims they attempted treason, Diarmid is privately convinced of their murder and the breach of hospitality, though he has been forced to swear an oath of allegiance under threat of extirpation.
Relationships
People
- King Alasdair V: His sovereign, whom he distrusts but serves to preserve his family lands.
- Senga Riata: His second wife and close confidante.
- Sir Iain Alpin: A long-time friend from their years in exile and service to the former Queen.
- Diarmid Murchadh: His eldest son and heir (born 763).
- Murdo Sioltach: His former father-in-law and a key naval ally.
Places
- Uisdean Mor: His ancestral seat and the heart of the Murchadh raiding power.
- Dalreoch: Where he spent his youth as a student and courtier.
- Caer Suibhne: The site of his cousins' deaths and his own forced oath of allegiance.
Alasdair Suibhne
Alasdair Suibhne (born 740) is the 7th Earl of Douglas and head of House Suibhne. He is a mature lord of 34 years who has governed his lands since the age of 14.
Biography
Birth: 740 at Caer Suibhne.
Accession: Succeeded the 6th Earl in 754 following the 6th Earl's death in the Queen's War war along with several other senior Suibhnes, including Alasdair's father, elder brother and great uncle. H
Lineage: Great-great-grandson of the legendary Amma Suibhne.
Role: A senior noble and host of the King's Peace negotiations in 774.
Character & Standing
Alasdair is known for upholding the strict rules of hospitality associated with his house. He is a Unicorn Rider of the second generation, possessing the “fairy blood” necessary to bond with the creatures. Though officially a loyal subject, he is currently involved in a discreet effort to spread evidence of the King's “murders” at Caer Suibhne to ensure justice is served for the breach of his home's sanctity.
Family
He is currently married to Laura Caoimhe Gilruary (born in 743 in Dalmuir). She and Alasdair were married in 755 in Dalmuir by order of the Regency Council who were keen that there would be early heirs to all of the noble house in the wake of the civil war. They have ten children
- Mairead Ealasaid: Born in 762 (12 years old).
- Eorwen Eilidh: Born in 763 (11 years old).
- Alasdair Archibald: Born in 765 (9 years old).
- Niamh Eleanor: Born in 767 (7 years old); she is the elder, non-identical twin.
- Bhaltair Ruaridh: Born in 767 (7 years old); he is the younger, non-identical twin.
- Niamh Senga: Born at the end of 767 (7 years old).
- Fearchar Alasdair: Born in 768; he was premature and died the same day.
- Fearchar Ruaridh: Born in 770 (4 years old).
- Eilidh Caoimhe: Born in 772 (2 years old).
- Aifric Mairead: Born in 774 (infant/0 years old).
