A couple of weeks ago I had a two week workshop on world building with Martin Rauff, who is mostly famous in Denmark for creating a kids live roleplaying tv show called Barda.
Here is an introduction to the world Moderne Royalty(working titel) that my classmates
Bob Lundgren,
Kristian Bay Kirk and
Muir Jover and I created.
Along with some of the artwork we made for the presentation as well.
Modern Royalty Idea
(written by Bob Lundgren)
Introduction,
This is a
world where all the basic forms of government were pushed aside, through changes
in history, in favor of Monarchy. Today’s known religions never got organized
and the monarchs of the world took their place as deities. To keep bloodlines
pure the entire notion of marriage between royalties never happened. Instead if neighboring countries wanted peace
they would arrange mass weddings and marry enormous groups of low class
peasants, this would make it harder for nations to fight each other, when they
would be marching against their own family. An idea exists amongst the nobles
that they are better than their lower subjects because of their pure blood.
They use the mass weddings as currency but also as a way to mix and muddy up
the peasants bloodlines so they won’t be able to claim royalty.
To save
bloodlines there is a lot of inbreeding resulting in physical handicaps and
mongoloid features. This is fought by putting a lot of resources into medical
science like plastic surgery etc. Nobles
are made to look like their original ancestors. This medicinal advancement is
purely done in secret. The royal families have secret castes of doctors who do
these procedures and researches ways to keep the blood lines pure. The newest
breakthrough in their research is the ability to clone the ancient kings and
completely purify the bloodlines. This caste of doctors is publicly known as
the clergy. They disguise themselves as priests and bishops serving the gods
but in reality they are a collection of the smartest people from all the
classes. This caste is behind all the technological advances made in this
world.
Mood pieces ( by me ASR)
The
hierarchy of this society is class based. On top we have the Kings and emperors
acting as gods who rule with absolute power over state and government advised
by their secret caste of doctors, this caste of doctors is a borderless
organization that exists in every kingdom. Under the supervision of the royal
family are the nobles. Some have distant ties to the royal family and others
have earned their title and status by serving the crown. The function of the
nobles consists of managing all the affairs of the state too insignificant for
the royal family to handle. Like high ranking military positions or leadership
within different industries. Next in line is the police force and the military,
the highest position in society available to the common people. The police
mostly consist of bastards and half-nobles whereas the military is a more
diverse group of classes. Ranging from peasants and workers as infantry,
middleclass as infantry officers (sergeants, lieutenants and captains), and
trained Special Forces carry out missions with the use of modern technology.
Military and Bastard police design by Kristian
and a quick bastard police I did
High
officer posts are controlled by the nobles and in special circumstances a noble
will go to battle as a knight to fight for chivalry and honor. Lowest in the
hierarchy we find the peasants and workers. The only way for peasants and workers to
advance to a middleclass position in society is through military service.
In the judicial system the nobles and the
royals have all the power. They act as judge, jury and executioner by voting
through a reality show captured on a live video feed by the police force. This
video feed is controlled by a national broadcast editor who gained this power
by working in the shadows together with the Clergy.
just some of the clothes and char design by Muir ( she made a LOT)
Technology
like ours today is present, but not available to the public because there never
was any mass production. Industry is
controlled by the nobles and corporations and companies are hereditary within
the noble families. Industrial fabrication is all handmade in assembly lines
which also further limit the availability of products. Because there is less
waste of resources without mass production the world is better off. There is no
global warming or lack of natural resources like oil etc. No pollution.
Modern technology like vehicles, radio,
television and computers are controlled by the nobles and helps to keep control
of the public. “The town crier” is a big monitor situated in the center of
villages and gives information from the nobles to the public.
Registration
and monitoring of the public is the job of the police, registration is done
through a blood database that has the DNA of every citizen on record from
birth. This database is a vital tool for choosing which families are fit to
advance in society, but also as a way of knowing exactly where each citizen is
currently within the kingdom. Whenever you enter or leave a city you go through
a border control office that registers your movement.
The look
and design of this world is filled with contrast, you have a lower class of
people that lives like they did in the dark ages with poorly constructed houses
with straw roofs (farms) and right next to them is modern technology
(skyscrapers, glass buildings). Common people ride around in horse carriages
and nobles have vehicles. The town center is modern with monitors conveying
orders from the monarch but still surrounded by simple shops like blacksmithing
or masonry. The police and military wear handcrafted uniforms with broidery and
ornaments along with video cameras and communication devices.
War is more
common than peace and it’s not rare for a country to fight on more than one
front. Peace treaties and alliances are common but only if both parties gain a
lot from it and it rarely lasts long. Protecting Denmark from the south is the
legendary Viking line of defensive fortifications called Danavirki through the
ages this place has grown into one with the oldest city of Denmark called
Hedeby. (på norrønt: Heiðab)
Together these two massive constructions protect the nation.
Rough 2 page story test by Muir. Written by Bob Lundgren
Examples from the judicinal reality tv system
