The People of Destance and beyond

In Destance there happens to be several different groups of people, and that's not including the _____(A desert country outside of Destance that I have yet to name). I find that it would be simpler to give separate information dumps about each of these groups of people instead of trying to give it all at once.
So, here I go:

I. The Rebels


Background -


The Rebels actually have not been long in existence. They first began when Takeshi Mori escaped from the prison carrying his newborn daughter. The mother had died only hours before, one of the few guards that still seemed to care deciding that he couldn’t watch the newborn be torn from its father, and managed to help the man free. Takeshi gathered followers and soon the band, although small in numbers, began to come together.
They did not make their first appearance until 10 years ago, and even then it was small. Posters showing up in the cities, pictures of escaped prisoners and how they’d looked when they got out. People began to disappear from the city, others starting to talk. Flyers started to appear then, followed by the original mark for the rebels, a simply ‘R’ in the center of a circle.

It is from that, that the brand declaring that someone is a rebel was originated. Pictured above (once the picture is up), it features a simple ‘X’ across the original design.

In the prison they have a nickname for the rebels, _____. It goes with the idea that once you're caught and recognized as one, you’re not coming out. After a short time the rebels disappeared again, the pressure being too much for the small population of people.

Over the years they would show up, then disappear again as things would cool down/heat up respectively. Finally, around a year ago, they resurfaced for good, staging small raids on the prison and cities. Although not much was accomplished this first time, their message was clear. That they were back, and more influential than ever. Their numbers are unknown, as is the leader to the general public and the government of Destance. He happens to be the same man who started it all so many years ago. Many speculate that either his daughter, Shikiro Mori, or his adoptive son, Derrick Tennyson, would be the ones to take over if he was to fall, those who know him at least.


Standing with other groups:

Shia: Most don’t know if the Shia are real or not, still believing the idea that they are a myth. The few Shia that have joined don’t speak up and say that’s what they are, in turn people don’t ask questions of them. It’s a mutual understanding that some people don’t want to talk about their past.


Common People: They may help out, there are some sympathizers among the people, but most tend to avoid any known rebels. It’s understood that you don’t turn them in, but you don’t talk to them either. Besides, the fact that there are rebels is being suppressed to the best of the Government’s ability. Information is power.

Prison and all guards in general: Definitely bad, if caught all rebels are imprisoned, most likely for life. Few exceptions.

Bounty Hunters: Most have no problems with the rebels, they may even do some jobs for them if paid well enough. Of course, that could be lined up with the Bounty Hunter ideals, which will be discussed later. The majority are friendly with the rebels.

Nobles and Royalty: Despise the rebels, turn them in if they can. The only exception being Levi, the prince, and a few choice people.

(Desert People): On as good terms as they are with any Destance group, which is horrible. Depends on the person really.

Slaves: Depends on why the person is a slave, so much like the desert people.



Life as a rebel:


Well, to break this down the first thing you have to look at is the fact that where you originally came form affects how you live. Most rebels either come from the prison or directly from the cities. Although the Shia who join up seem to almost just appear from the forest one day. Takeshi has a sort of understanding with the Shia that allows this. The reason that things like that aren’t questioned goes back to the whole understanding that people don’t question each other about their pasts. If you do you sort of end up being outcasted among the people which would most likely end ultimately in your death.

So now, to get to the point of this section of the rebels, explaining the ways different rebels spend their days.

When discussing the first group there is a sort of arrangement that you have to understand. It is unspoken in some ways, but also tends to be arranged discretely as to not insult the people it effects, although most of them might not even pick up on the orders if spoken right in-front of them. You see when some people escape the prison they are doing good to manage to put one the one foot in front of the other that it takes them to walk. Some refer to these people as the walking dead. Many of them have eyes that are simply haunted and can’t seem to manage a simple conversation with someone. Late at night these are the people that can be heard screaming their nightmares into the forest, if they sleep at all. The arrangements that I mentioned is for the care of these people. Duties are rotated among among things, although some will care for these people all the time, and other rebels make sure that these people eat and take care of themselves. Some of these people will eventually come out of this and join the rest of the rebels, others never seem to escape it.

To move on, there are the rebels that are considered the rebellion’s equal of the guards, although I wouldn’t call them that when they’re around. They do the grunt work, patrolling wherever the rebel camp happens to be at the moment and keeping watch over certain people, such as Takeshi and his daughter. These are the same people that go on the raids of the prison and cities. Their normal day consists of getting up, when depending on when they work. Probably doing some stretches or such if they were really into their position, eating whatever meal is available at the time that the rebel woman will prepare, then moving onto their assigned job for the day. Their down time tends to be after they finish working, although most don’t travel too far beyond the camp’s edges without reason.

Then you have the normal people. The ones who escaped and joined for whatever reason, most likely accompanying someone else who had more of a reason to be there and joined up with the previously mentioned part of the rebels. These people tend to do the little duties such as watching over the before mentioned ‘walking dead’ people, cooking, digging the latrine, all the normal duties that need done.

Children tend to have duties as well, although some of them are training to fight and join the guard like rebels one day. Others learn how to gather berries and hunt, or heal the sick and injured. Most children that are happy and playing are those who were born outside of the city. Those who are born outside of the city, no matter what the age, are known as the unregistered. Being one of these, depending on the age, is either a sentence to prison or the academy the moment you are caught. The biggest thing about this is that the people are free to choose what they do. Never know the guidelines that are set up before those people that were once part of the society.

Over all of them sits the leader, Takeshi, who makes sure that everything is running smoothly. He normally spends his day going from person to person and finding the problems, soothing them out, figuring out where their supplies should come from and where to raid/attack next.

The rebel camp moves about once every month. They have tents, although some build small wooden cabins because they will be able to come back to them eventually, although perhaps not for an entire year or longer.

I believe that is all that’s needed. Any other questions ask me. I’ll add onto the rebel post as needed.

II. Shia

Shiavo:

Background -

The Shia began as a simple group of families in the higher parts of Liche back at the beginning of Destance. Around year 85 A.F. they came together, discussing how things had began to turn from the original plans for the country. They wanted the peace that had been promised, something to prevent the world from coming together and fighting again. Yet they didn’t want the poverty that was beginning to show in the lower parts of the city, and it was generally understood that things were going to get worse. All of them were natives to the area, and they began to form a plan. They would leave the city and live in the wild forests around there. Being in the highest section of Destance they knew the plans for the different structures planned to be built over the years, and so they planned different locations for a camp that would keep them clear of the people.

And so one evening they left. They managed to leave the entire city without being seen by a soul. This is how they began to be known in some circles as the ‘Seishins’, meaning spirits.

After their escape they headed indirectly to the planned place of their first camp. They didn’t want to be trailed, and is little chance of that as there was, they didn’t want to be caught. Once settled all that had come met in the middle of what would become the longest inhabited settlements of the Shia. In that meeting all of them made one of two vows. This created the small separation between the two kinds of Shia. One, the Shiavo, vowed to never commit any kind of violence except in the protection of another human being, or in protection of the location of their villages. The other, the Novoshia, made a vow to never commit a violent act towards another human being, no matter the cost.

Together the two groups made one last vow. To never involve themselves in the affairs of the Destance government. If asked to give shelter to a fugitive, they would do so, within reason, but they would never raise an arm against them in order to change things. They left to give themselves a new life, but meant to leave the people still there to the life that was being built for them.

Destance only grew to know of one of the two tribes, that one being the Novoshia. Even then, they are known as a legend. Among the people there is no actual proof that the Shia exist, unless you dive into the depths of the prison. There are no Shia, even the ones who have left to join the rebels or Bounty Hunters, forsaking their vows, will speak of where they came from.

Around almost 700 years later was when the camp was finally broken. By then there were several more camps for the Shia and even though this camp itself was completely demolished besides a few refugees, the Shia continue to live on.



Standing with other groups:


Rebels: Most don’t know if the Shia are real or not, still believing the idea that they are a myth. The few Shia that have joined don’t speak up and say that’s what they are, in turn people don’t ask questions of them. It’s a mutual understanding that some people don’t want to talk about their past. The leader of the Rebels does know of the existence of the Shia though, and he has a sort of understanding with them. He shelters those who want to leave them, keeps their existence a secret, and sends messengers back and forth between the groups.

Common People: Again, most don't know that the Shia exist. They've heard rumors of a group who deserted the city and most don't understand why they would do that. They know that these people are supposed to be peaceful, some don't believe this part though. They're sure that if someone would abandon Destance society it must be because they are violent, or freaks. As it is there is no interaction between these groups of people, the Shia not seeing a need for it.

Prison and all guards in general: Only the higher ups know that they really do exist. If they are high enough to know, then they are on horrible terms really. The Shia are all considered traitors to the crown's authority and imprisoned the moment they're caught. If they don't die within a year or so of imprisonment, they're lucky. Most are tortured to try and get out the location of the Shia camps. They never get the information though, that's only happened once, causing the destruction of the first Shia camp. Some Shia carry poisons with them and will commit suicide upon capture.

Bounty Hunters: The Bounty Hunters actually have a very high opinion of the Shia. They all know about the existence of the Shia, although they wouldn't admit it even to the government normally, even if they're employed by them. Many of the Bounty Hunters that weren't employed by the government, but brought into the profession by blood or situation, came from the Shia at some point, whether it be a parent, grandparent, or the person themselves. This saying they have connections to their roots and are as loyal as Hunters can be, even if their work is forsaking the Shia values.

Nobles and Royalty: Highly detest the Shia, viewing them as traitors to the crown. They also have a disgust for the fact that they would leave all that the nobles/royalty worked for. Although again Levi and a few others are exceptions to this rule, viewing the Shia as if they made the right choice and wish they could have gone with them. Most would turn a Shia in at the drop of a hat, though.

(Desert People): Do not know of the existence of the Shia so they don't really have any opinion of them. They'd most likely automatically lump them in with the rest of the Destancians, so dislike to the max.

Slaves: Again, don't really know of the Shia.



Life as a Shia:

The first thing you have to consider when looking at how you would live, is which oath you have taken, if you are old enough to have taken one. If you are not, then it depends on which your parents took. Most commonly you will take the same oath as your parents, although it is generally accepted by most if the choice is made to switch sides. Because as a whole, one Shia group cannot function without the other.

-Novoshia
These Shia are mainly the workers, such as the timber workers or the tailors. They provide the things the community needs in order to continue living on their own. Many run a family owned business, although money isn’t a certain thing among the Shia. They don’t have the ability to mine their own copper, silver, or gold, so they have to make do in other ways. Mainly, trading.

They’ll trade for resources as needed, among other producers. Or perhaps they’ll pay you in what they have for babysitting their child for a night, whatever it is. They’re not very picky as they understand that people need to be able to survive. It isn’t that uncommon to simply give things away to a customer. Especially if they are one of the Shiavo, who are considered to be paying for their things simply by protecting the village.

The children of the Novoshia spend most of their time either learning their parents trade, learning how to read and write, or simply having fun. They have no uniform school, so there is no set level of education. Many of the Shia will take the time to find someone to tutor their children though, because their history and other things considered important to learn.

The Shia are married by their current Governor, and are granted a week to themselves. Normally during this week simply giving things to the couple is expected, seeing as this is their vacation/honeymoon type thing. If a woman does become with child, she is allowed to stay home if she chooses, not having to work at all until the child is born and old enough to be left on their own with a sitter.

-Shiavo
These Shia are the fighters. From the moment they are old enough to hold a weapon many of them have been holding it and learning to wield it in deadly precision. If they choose, some of these will leave the Shia and take up the name Bounty Hunter, finding the current leader and being marked as one. They’re never turned away, because those who know of the Shiavo’s existence, which is even fewer than know about the Shia in the first place, know that they can kill anyone who stands in their way. They won’t hesitate to either, if it means protecting their people, or protecting someone’s life.

Normally they rise whenever their duty is, and dress for it. They’ll either patrol the area around the camp, or outside of it depending on their assignments at the time. Some Shiavo will be assigned to take equipment with them and set out on a one or two day patrol, camping in the woods. This is to make sure that no one at all is able to get close enough to the current camp in order to find it.

The Shiavo children will begin their training shortly after they get up, in whatever weapon they’ve shown a skill for. They can rest when able, but the Shia are not a place for the lazy. Those who aren’t able to deal with the trials of training won’t take the vow to become a Shiavo when they are fifteen.

The Shiavo marry and deal with children much in the way that the Novoshia do.

All the Shia live in large tents that are easy to move, although there tends to be a makeshift cabin built to stand in as a hospital when they reach a camp that will be used for some time. They also have permanent settlements that are cycled between uses for winter time.

III. Life in the Cities


Background -

The main background of Destance would go here, which actually is too large to put in this section. It will fall under a different guide, The History of Destance. (url will be provided)

Life in the cities is actually much different than anywhere else in Destance. Although, you first have look make sure that you understand that when I say life in the cities I mean the civilians, not the royalty or the nobility. In the normal areas of Destance you can only compare the life to perhaps the slums of modern day cities. Even then, there are no cars, or horses. Anywhere you go, you walk. There aren’t many places to go though. In every city the civilians are confined to their section of the city, which depending on the city, is labeled by either a section of the alphabet, or a number, or both. The city that most think of when looking at Destancian culture is the capital, Liche. Following that is the slave city Noboru, and the lake-side town of _____. Those are described in a separate guide (here). Each of them are different and mostly secluded.


i. Liche

*working on it now~*

IV. The Guards
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V. The Bounty Hunters
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Background --

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