The War of the Sapphire Crown is a project I have been planning and contemplating for a very long time now; an ambitious project to craft a mod centered in a fictional yet realistic medieval universe. Further still, the mod aims to craft the world itself in a manner the community would have it built- the various castles, towns and villages being products of individual community members or clans. The clans of the community would make up the various Houses, Mercenary bands, and peoples of the fictional world we craft together.
BackstoryIt’s a warm summer day in the year 987, somewhere along the southwestern border of the Bluewood. Prince Alec Mauer surveys a once-peaceful meadow that is now only a field of dead men and horses with flocks of carrion peering at their next feast. The occasional twang of sword clashing can still be heard as the rebel army under his brother Samuel are fully routed. Alec searches in earnest for his eldest brother, King Saul, who led the counterattack through the center of the fighting, which caused the rebels’ flight. Alec finds Saul fallen amidst many of his household knights, with half a dozen arrows riddling his torso. With no heir, the crown of Ostwen now belongs to Alec.
That night, Alec’s scouts report Samuel’s army retreating north to Cellebourm. With naught the strength left in his army to pursue and destroy the rebel forces, Alec is forced to march home to Ostwenwald to marshal more troops; however, when he arrives, various sworn vassals take their men and march them home with no more will to continue fighting. The treasonous Samuel of Cellebourm is allowed to safely return to his lands, where he will be able to raise troops, supplies, and support for his claim on the throne.
[Fastforward]
It is now Spring in the year 1015. Though Samuel of Cellebourm has since succumbed to age, he has passed his envy and ambition to his son Hendrik, who has mustered vast quantities of troops, wealth, and supplies as well as the support of many Great Houses of Ostwen. Hendrik raises his troops, hires many sellswords, and calls many Ostwenian vassals to widespread revolt against the now-elderly King Alec.
In Ostwen, a majority of the Great Houses have risen in rebellion; however, in the Northlands, referring to the areas of the Velbe and Neubelia, many Houses are persuaded to aid the Loyalists by House Mauer of Riverhill. Many surrounding kingdoms and lordships remain officially neutral, but their men eagerly join local sellsword companies which are being hired on a massive scale by both sides. To make matters more complicated, many Lords and Chiefs make their own side, fighting for full autonomy or mere monetary reward.
Planned Mod Structure This mod will have two initial factions: The Loyalist Faction, and the League of Cellebourm (Rebels). Both of these factions will be set up in much the same way; they will have a wide array of generic medieval troops of different styles, as well as foreign and exotic mercenary troops. Variety and flavor will be added to these troops by the heraldry of the various houses, orders, and bands that the community come up with (examples later).
Members of the community will be encouraged to come together in various forms of clans: Feudal Houses, Tribal Bands, Mercenary Companies, etc. It is hoped that these groups will come up with unique and interesting history, which will eventually compile with the community as a whole to make a vibrant and dynamic world. A
Hall of Heraldry and
World Map will be maintained by the team to ensure a repository of ideas.
Current Houses and ForcesAn example of what community-made houses would appear like.Arms | House | Holdings/Titles | Allegiance | Current Head |
| Mauer of Ostwen | High Lordship of Ostenwald, Kingdom of Ostwen | Loyalists* | King Alec Mauer |
| Mauer of Cellebourm | High Lordship of Cellebourm, Claimant to Kingdom of Ostwen | League* | Lord Hendrik Mauer |
| Mauer of Riverhill | High Lordship of Riverhill | Loyalist | Lord Hyle Mauer |
| Marban | High Lordship of Clefharrow, Ostwenian Vassal | Loyalist | Lord David Marban |
World Map Below is a rough sketch of the world map.
Red font indicates names of terrain features,
Blue font under settlements indicates it is a Loyalist holding,
Orange font below a settlement indicates it is a League/Rebel holding,
White font under a settlement indicates it is neutral,
icons indicated a bridge,
indicates a fortified holding and/or castle,
indicates a town or village, and
indicates a tribal holding.