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seyntes2026-01-14 09:20 pm
andsinners) wrote in seyntes2026-01-14 09:20 pm
setting & info
SETTING & INFO
Culture - Language - Religion - Crime - Divinity - The Forest - Profanity - Sexuality/Gender - Communication
Setting & Info
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DIVINITAS AND ITS CULTURE
Despite its relatively small size for a state, Divinitas has a flourishing, varied culture in part thanks to its key location on a major trading route. Alongside the permanent shops, regular markets are held bringing in wares from all over the area. The occasional coffee house rests next to a more traditional inn. Rumors of spices like cardamon and saffron circulate amongst the locals, but are only ever tasted by the tongues of nobles.
The Prince-Archbishop's personal holdings contain splendors to rival the Pope and the Emperor. Some of their fine collection is on permanent display in the Cathedral and at their Residence, for those lucky enough to attend any official ceremonies. Many of the world's finest artists from the last several centuries have graced Divinitas with their works. This wealth is reflected throughout the City, with many of the City center homes painted with luscious frescos and adorned with wooden statues and carvings.
Alongside these permanent displays of splendor and variety, Divinitas regularly hosts dignitaries, academics, and travelers who give lectures or teach new skills. Tournaments draw the best knights from all over the Empire and beyond. The local university (sponsored by the Church) teaches on the most cutting-edge of academia.
Players are welcome to develop the City to suit their desires in storytelling. In general, the City should feel like a flourishing Medieval city in Central Europe. Although the strongest elements are Germanic and Slavic, the City also has elements from neighboring areas, most strongly Italian, Hungarian, and Ottoman (in that order) and to a lesser extent any place beyond that. Local culture typically favors this diversity and even foreign businesses are seen positively. Players are free to record any NPCs, businesses, or locations (either their own or those belonging to NPCs) by commenting on the NPC & Locations page.
Despite its relatively small size for a state, Divinitas has a flourishing, varied culture in part thanks to its key location on a major trading route. Alongside the permanent shops, regular markets are held bringing in wares from all over the area. The occasional coffee house rests next to a more traditional inn. Rumors of spices like cardamon and saffron circulate amongst the locals, but are only ever tasted by the tongues of nobles.
The Prince-Archbishop's personal holdings contain splendors to rival the Pope and the Emperor. Some of their fine collection is on permanent display in the Cathedral and at their Residence, for those lucky enough to attend any official ceremonies. Many of the world's finest artists from the last several centuries have graced Divinitas with their works. This wealth is reflected throughout the City, with many of the City center homes painted with luscious frescos and adorned with wooden statues and carvings.
Alongside these permanent displays of splendor and variety, Divinitas regularly hosts dignitaries, academics, and travelers who give lectures or teach new skills. Tournaments draw the best knights from all over the Empire and beyond. The local university (sponsored by the Church) teaches on the most cutting-edge of academia.
Players are welcome to develop the City to suit their desires in storytelling. In general, the City should feel like a flourishing Medieval city in Central Europe. Although the strongest elements are Germanic and Slavic, the City also has elements from neighboring areas, most strongly Italian, Hungarian, and Ottoman (in that order) and to a lesser extent any place beyond that. Local culture typically favors this diversity and even foreign businesses are seen positively. Players are free to record any NPCs, businesses, or locations (either their own or those belonging to NPCs) by commenting on the NPC & Locations page.
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LANGUAGE
Several languages are spoken in Divinitas as a result of its multi-cultural population. Characters will have the ability to understand any language spoken in Dinivitas (including those from characters' home worlds) with two exceptions. Characters will recognize that they are understanding a different language and will be able to differentiate between the languages being spoken to them. They will also have the option, if they focus enough, to speak a language with another person without the translation, if they are intent on it.
The two exceptions to the language translation are Latin, which is the official language of the church, and Glagolitic Slavonic, which is the language of the Pagans. Characters can learn these languages as they die and are reborn through the relevant processes.
Several languages are spoken in Divinitas as a result of its multi-cultural population. Characters will have the ability to understand any language spoken in Dinivitas (including those from characters' home worlds) with two exceptions. Characters will recognize that they are understanding a different language and will be able to differentiate between the languages being spoken to them. They will also have the option, if they focus enough, to speak a language with another person without the translation, if they are intent on it.
The two exceptions to the language translation are Latin, which is the official language of the church, and Glagolitic Slavonic, which is the language of the Pagans. Characters can learn these languages as they die and are reborn through the relevant processes.
†
RELIGION
The majority of the population of Divinitas believes in what they refer to as the True Religion. They refuse to give it another name. For characters familiar with Catholicism, everything about the True Religion feels a bit like looking at Catholicism with a broken mirror. All of the trappings are there. The Prince-Archbishop is an Archbishop, Divinitas boasts a Cathedral (in both the liturgical and architectural sense), Mass is held on Sundays, and they speak of one God (who might be three people). Mass is always held in Latin, which will not magically translate for characters with low levels of Divinity.
And yet, it always seems just a bit different. The Prince-Archbishop, like much of the upper echelon of the True Religion, is agender, as they believe that gender is the stuff of mortals and to forego gender is closer to Divinity. Mass leans heavily on Justice and Divinity in a way that always feels a bit like a rally before a battle. This is not brimstone and hellfire, but a true sense of calling a purpose, and the suggestion that holy war may just be around the corner.
Those who practice the True Religion take it seriously, organizing their lives around a set of Virtues that have some overlap with Christian Virtues but also add a few extra for good measure. There is a greater emphasis on emulating Virtues than avoiding Vices or sin, although members of the Church do regularly attend confession. Divinitas is also home to a flourishing Abbey, and the monks (gender-neutral) can be seen at services or in town doing good works.
The True Religion gets away with having a name like that primarily by pretending that no other religions exist. This is both a positive and a negative. On the one hand, no one is hassled for practicing something else. On the other hand, they have no particular protections. Places of worship for other religions exist but do not have the same level of wealth or opulence of the Cathedral or the Abbey.
The new Seyntes, however, are expected to attend mass. Neighbors will ask nicely for the first few times that they skip, and then more forcefully, and then eventually call for the Prince-Archbishop's guard. Although it pains them to bring any negativity to the life of a Seynt, the guard will imprison them for this offense. Rather than being thrown in the dungeon, a Seynt will be locked in the catacombs of the Cathedral to contemplate the importance of their role. Hopefully the guards remember to let them out before they starve to death! That would be an unfortunate way to go!
The majority of the population of Divinitas believes in what they refer to as the True Religion. They refuse to give it another name. For characters familiar with Catholicism, everything about the True Religion feels a bit like looking at Catholicism with a broken mirror. All of the trappings are there. The Prince-Archbishop is an Archbishop, Divinitas boasts a Cathedral (in both the liturgical and architectural sense), Mass is held on Sundays, and they speak of one God (who might be three people). Mass is always held in Latin, which will not magically translate for characters with low levels of Divinity.
And yet, it always seems just a bit different. The Prince-Archbishop, like much of the upper echelon of the True Religion, is agender, as they believe that gender is the stuff of mortals and to forego gender is closer to Divinity. Mass leans heavily on Justice and Divinity in a way that always feels a bit like a rally before a battle. This is not brimstone and hellfire, but a true sense of calling a purpose, and the suggestion that holy war may just be around the corner.
Those who practice the True Religion take it seriously, organizing their lives around a set of Virtues that have some overlap with Christian Virtues but also add a few extra for good measure. There is a greater emphasis on emulating Virtues than avoiding Vices or sin, although members of the Church do regularly attend confession. Divinitas is also home to a flourishing Abbey, and the monks (gender-neutral) can be seen at services or in town doing good works.
The True Religion gets away with having a name like that primarily by pretending that no other religions exist. This is both a positive and a negative. On the one hand, no one is hassled for practicing something else. On the other hand, they have no particular protections. Places of worship for other religions exist but do not have the same level of wealth or opulence of the Cathedral or the Abbey.
The new Seyntes, however, are expected to attend mass. Neighbors will ask nicely for the first few times that they skip, and then more forcefully, and then eventually call for the Prince-Archbishop's guard. Although it pains them to bring any negativity to the life of a Seynt, the guard will imprison them for this offense. Rather than being thrown in the dungeon, a Seynt will be locked in the catacombs of the Cathedral to contemplate the importance of their role. Hopefully the guards remember to let them out before they starve to death! That would be an unfortunate way to go!
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CRIME
Given their unique place in society, the Seyntes are allowed leniency that others are not. Minor crimes and petty offenses will typically be overlooked, unless they become an undeniable pattern. Greater offenses, especially those that call into question the Seyntes' morality, will be judged more harshly.
Punishments should match the crime. On the low end, a petty thief may be asked to give alms to the poor or work for free for the person they stole from. On the severe end, a criminal may be tortured or even executed. With Seyntes, punishments may also have a morality component, such as attending extra services, reading the Word (or trying to, if they don't understand Latin), or simply being made to contemplate their actions.
Amazingly, despite the otherwise harsh penalties for murder, characters who kill Seyntes and are caught are always given lesser sentences that require them to contribute to the Church in some meaningful way.
Given their unique place in society, the Seyntes are allowed leniency that others are not. Minor crimes and petty offenses will typically be overlooked, unless they become an undeniable pattern. Greater offenses, especially those that call into question the Seyntes' morality, will be judged more harshly.
Punishments should match the crime. On the low end, a petty thief may be asked to give alms to the poor or work for free for the person they stole from. On the severe end, a criminal may be tortured or even executed. With Seyntes, punishments may also have a morality component, such as attending extra services, reading the Word (or trying to, if they don't understand Latin), or simply being made to contemplate their actions.
Amazingly, despite the otherwise harsh penalties for murder, characters who kill Seyntes and are caught are always given lesser sentences that require them to contribute to the Church in some meaningful way.
†
DIVINITY
A character who dies and is resurrected by the Prince-Archbishop gains a level of Divinity. This allows the character to have a new power, typically in the form of a miracle, which is more powerful than the last one they received. At higher levels of Divinity, this may include body changes and modifications, such as wings or halos. Characters will also be more likely to understand Latin as their Divinity levels increase.
As they become Divine, however, they must also lose a piece of their humanity. How that occurs is up to player interpretation, but as a typically this means a greater adherence to a Virtue. These Virtues may be classical virtues (chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility), but may also involve other elements that comport with the True Religion's beliefs (such as justice, righteousness, tolerance, mediation, or a sense of purpose). These are not complete lists, however, so players are free to have fun with it. In general, the trait should be taken as a negative consequence and change the character even if it is only in subtle ways. A character who loves drinking might find that drink no longer gets them drunk; a character might find themselves more drawn to completing projects their detriment; or a character's newfound love of justice may make it harder for them to side with their friends in petty squabbles.
Please submit any deaths on the death page, along with a brief description of the character's newfound powers and consequences for tracking purposes.
A character who dies and is resurrected by the Prince-Archbishop gains a level of Divinity. This allows the character to have a new power, typically in the form of a miracle, which is more powerful than the last one they received. At higher levels of Divinity, this may include body changes and modifications, such as wings or halos. Characters will also be more likely to understand Latin as their Divinity levels increase.
As they become Divine, however, they must also lose a piece of their humanity. How that occurs is up to player interpretation, but as a typically this means a greater adherence to a Virtue. These Virtues may be classical virtues (chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, kindness, patience, and humility), but may also involve other elements that comport with the True Religion's beliefs (such as justice, righteousness, tolerance, mediation, or a sense of purpose). These are not complete lists, however, so players are free to have fun with it. In general, the trait should be taken as a negative consequence and change the character even if it is only in subtle ways. A character who loves drinking might find that drink no longer gets them drunk; a character might find themselves more drawn to completing projects their detriment; or a character's newfound love of justice may make it harder for them to side with their friends in petty squabbles.
Please submit any deaths on the death page, along with a brief description of the character's newfound powers and consequences for tracking purposes.
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THE FOREST
The area outside of Divinitas consists of farmland and Forest. People who speak of The Forest seem to always be doing it in a way that implies it is capitalized, and with a vague sense of dread. To hear the stories (surely they are just stories), The Forest is full of wildlife, or monsters, or witches, or pagans, or perhaps just women running about naked.
The truth is something like all of the above.
The Forest is indeed home to many dangerous creatures, and there are people that run around naked sometimes on the full moon and sometimes around ceremonial fires. It is also home to a vibrant community of The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings (who the True Religion have all deemed to be pagans, notwithstanding their relation to any other group or belief system). Simply put, The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings think the True Religion is full of shit. They were here first, they are more in touch with nature, they understand the land and its people in a way the True Religion cannot. In fact, the Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings believe they are in touch with their True Selves far better than any True Religion believers.
Some of The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings live in homes out in The Forest, but many of them live in the City and are not readily identifiable because they are, of course, just like anyone else when they aren't drinking wine and partying or holding sacraments in The Forest.
The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings would really rather that the True Religion did not gain anymore Seyntes, as powerful beings of the Divine are some what antithetical to their continued existence in the Forest. The True Religion may tolerate other organized religions within the City, but The Forest is seen as a lawless place. So the Seyntes may find themselves being invited to explore another path. One with cheerful celebrations and bonfires, dancing naked in the forest, and maybe casting the occasional spell. The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings services are less formal than True Religion services, but when speaking from the heart or addressing a crowd about their beliefs, members The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings often use Glagolitic Slavonic, which will not be translated for characters unless they have been resurrected by the Forest-Speaker and gain levels of Profanity.
The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings have embraced the multiplicity of life in stark contrast to what they believe is the stifling nature of the True Religion. Many of the longstanding members of the Order are genderfluid, especially those who live in the Forest.
The area outside of Divinitas consists of farmland and Forest. People who speak of The Forest seem to always be doing it in a way that implies it is capitalized, and with a vague sense of dread. To hear the stories (surely they are just stories), The Forest is full of wildlife, or monsters, or witches, or pagans, or perhaps just women running about naked.
The truth is something like all of the above.
The Forest is indeed home to many dangerous creatures, and there are people that run around naked sometimes on the full moon and sometimes around ceremonial fires. It is also home to a vibrant community of The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings (who the True Religion have all deemed to be pagans, notwithstanding their relation to any other group or belief system). Simply put, The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings think the True Religion is full of shit. They were here first, they are more in touch with nature, they understand the land and its people in a way the True Religion cannot. In fact, the Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings believe they are in touch with their True Selves far better than any True Religion believers.
Some of The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings live in homes out in The Forest, but many of them live in the City and are not readily identifiable because they are, of course, just like anyone else when they aren't drinking wine and partying or holding sacraments in The Forest.
The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings would really rather that the True Religion did not gain anymore Seyntes, as powerful beings of the Divine are some what antithetical to their continued existence in the Forest. The True Religion may tolerate other organized religions within the City, but The Forest is seen as a lawless place. So the Seyntes may find themselves being invited to explore another path. One with cheerful celebrations and bonfires, dancing naked in the forest, and maybe casting the occasional spell. The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings services are less formal than True Religion services, but when speaking from the heart or addressing a crowd about their beliefs, members The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings often use Glagolitic Slavonic, which will not be translated for characters unless they have been resurrected by the Forest-Speaker and gain levels of Profanity.
The Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings have embraced the multiplicity of life in stark contrast to what they believe is the stifling nature of the True Religion. Many of the longstanding members of the Order are genderfluid, especially those who live in the Forest.
⁕
PROFANITY
Characters who are resurrected by the Forest-Speaker instead of the Prince-Archbishop are said to become more Profane. This may happen willingly, because a character asks for the Forest-Speaker's intervention, or unwilling either because of an accident in the forest or a corpse-kidnapping to elude the True Religion. Profane powers are earthly and rooted in nature in some way. A character may develop powers that allow them to interact in new ways with nature, or they may develop monstrous or animalistic traits. These traits can be constant, used at will, or triggered by specific events (i.e., turning into a werewolf with the full moon). Characters will be more likely to understand Glagolitic Slavonic as their levels of Profanity increase.
This comes at a cost. Characters who are resurrected by the Forest-Speaker began to embrace nature. These personality changes may cause them to embrace the natural world (taking a more protective role with it, wanting to spend more time outdoors), reject societal constraints (becoming irritated in city spaces, or unwilling to attend noble social gatherings), or embrace their own base desires (having heightened desires for things like sex, food, or alcohol).
Profanity is not mutually exclusive with Divinity; characters can mix-and-match their deaths to get an array of powers and side-effects.
Please submit any deaths on the death page, along with a brief description of the character's newfound powers and consequences for tracking purposes.
Characters who are resurrected by the Forest-Speaker instead of the Prince-Archbishop are said to become more Profane. This may happen willingly, because a character asks for the Forest-Speaker's intervention, or unwilling either because of an accident in the forest or a corpse-kidnapping to elude the True Religion. Profane powers are earthly and rooted in nature in some way. A character may develop powers that allow them to interact in new ways with nature, or they may develop monstrous or animalistic traits. These traits can be constant, used at will, or triggered by specific events (i.e., turning into a werewolf with the full moon). Characters will be more likely to understand Glagolitic Slavonic as their levels of Profanity increase.
This comes at a cost. Characters who are resurrected by the Forest-Speaker began to embrace nature. These personality changes may cause them to embrace the natural world (taking a more protective role with it, wanting to spend more time outdoors), reject societal constraints (becoming irritated in city spaces, or unwilling to attend noble social gatherings), or embrace their own base desires (having heightened desires for things like sex, food, or alcohol).
Profanity is not mutually exclusive with Divinity; characters can mix-and-match their deaths to get an array of powers and side-effects.
Please submit any deaths on the death page, along with a brief description of the character's newfound powers and consequences for tracking purposes.
⁜
SEXUALITY, GENDER & RELATIONSHIPS
The people of Divinitas do not discriminate in terms of gender or sexuality. Many people marry, but marriage is only one option through the True Religion, and is not to be undertaken lightly. Although the Church does not demand that anyone marry, it is loath to break a marriage once entered into and divorce is extremely rare because marriage is meant to be a commitment that is not rushed into. Many people in Divinitas are in organized relationships of two or more people that are clearly defined. It is not uncommon for these relationships to involve contracts that state how many people may participate in the partnership, and whether or not the partners are free to seek sexual attention outside of the partnership. Marriage is typically, but not always, between two individuals.
Although many committed members of the clergy are agender, most of the population is not, in part from a pressure from the Church to treat it as something holy and attainable only through strict adherence to their Religion. Other gender expressions are visible throughout the population, although the full and true genderfluidity of the Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings is typically kept in the Forest. Members of the Order who live in the City often express their gender(s) in different ways when they are out of The Forest. Members of the Order find the True Religion's stance of gender hypocritical in may ways, but they would say that is true for most of the True Religion's practices.
Theories of gender and sexuality deeply divide the True Religion. Divinitas and its Prince-Archbishop answer to one Pope, but characters will quickly come to find out there are two additional Popes, even though each claims that they have a direct connection to God. The Pope In The East believes that the Word was mistranslated, and that God and her Daughter were women and the clergy is thus made up exclusively of women. The Pope In the West also believes the Word was mistranslated (shocking!) but has determined that God and his Son were men, so the clergy is made up exclusively of men. The believers in Divinitas feel blessed that their home was not corrupted by the schisms in the Church
The people of Divinitas do not discriminate in terms of gender or sexuality. Many people marry, but marriage is only one option through the True Religion, and is not to be undertaken lightly. Although the Church does not demand that anyone marry, it is loath to break a marriage once entered into and divorce is extremely rare because marriage is meant to be a commitment that is not rushed into. Many people in Divinitas are in organized relationships of two or more people that are clearly defined. It is not uncommon for these relationships to involve contracts that state how many people may participate in the partnership, and whether or not the partners are free to seek sexual attention outside of the partnership. Marriage is typically, but not always, between two individuals.
Although many committed members of the clergy are agender, most of the population is not, in part from a pressure from the Church to treat it as something holy and attainable only through strict adherence to their Religion. Other gender expressions are visible throughout the population, although the full and true genderfluidity of the Order of the Benevolent Forest Folk Siblings is typically kept in the Forest. Members of the Order who live in the City often express their gender(s) in different ways when they are out of The Forest. Members of the Order find the True Religion's stance of gender hypocritical in may ways, but they would say that is true for most of the True Religion's practices.
Theories of gender and sexuality deeply divide the True Religion. Divinitas and its Prince-Archbishop answer to one Pope, but characters will quickly come to find out there are two additional Popes, even though each claims that they have a direct connection to God. The Pope In The East believes that the Word was mistranslated, and that God and her Daughter were women and the clergy is thus made up exclusively of women. The Pope In the West also believes the Word was mistranslated (shocking!) but has determined that God and his Son were men, so the clergy is made up exclusively of men. The believers in Divinitas feel blessed that their home was not corrupted by the schisms in the Church
⁜
COMMUNICATION
Aside from simply walking over to say hello to a neighbor or sending a letter along with a helpful looking courier, characters will have the ability to communicate via telepathy with each other. Characters may be able to communicate telepathically with the Prince-Archbishop if they are not busy. Characters with at least one level of Profanity may also be able to communicate with the Forest-Speaker. Characters cannot communicate telepathically with any other NPC at this time.
The power of the telepathic connection also depends on the characters' individual power levels. A character with a single level of Divinity and nothing else can send basic messages. A character who has died a few times might be able to send complex messages that include memories. A character who has died many times might be able to send emotions through the connection. We leave this up to player discretion within that basic guide. Note that all text posts are sent in Medieval blackletter, with some sweet illumination as levels increase.
Players can use the main community for any type of post. Just note in the title what the nature of the post is (action, telepathic, written letter, posting in the town square, etc.), whether it is open, and any relevant content warnings.
Aside from simply walking over to say hello to a neighbor or sending a letter along with a helpful looking courier, characters will have the ability to communicate via telepathy with each other. Characters may be able to communicate telepathically with the Prince-Archbishop if they are not busy. Characters with at least one level of Profanity may also be able to communicate with the Forest-Speaker. Characters cannot communicate telepathically with any other NPC at this time.
The power of the telepathic connection also depends on the characters' individual power levels. A character with a single level of Divinity and nothing else can send basic messages. A character who has died a few times might be able to send complex messages that include memories. A character who has died many times might be able to send emotions through the connection. We leave this up to player discretion within that basic guide. Note that all text posts are sent in Medieval blackletter, with some sweet illumination as levels increase.
Players can use the main community for any type of post. Just note in the title what the nature of the post is (action, telepathic, written letter, posting in the town square, etc.), whether it is open, and any relevant content warnings.
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SOMETHING ELSE?
Feel free to drop a question in the comments if you have one or if you just want to brainstorm with us! We are happy to give guidance to help shape the story whenever, and we might work it into the info pages or a plot post sometime!
Feel free to drop a question in the comments if you have one or if you just want to brainstorm with us! We are happy to give guidance to help shape the story whenever, and we might work it into the info pages or a plot post sometime!